I really wanted to like Rhiannon. I liked the art style and the concept, but I had a really difficult time getting into the story. I was attributing that to my general disinterest in coming of age stories, but other reviewers seem to echo my thoughts that the story just felt disjointed. There are a lot of things going on with Rhiannon, and they're all depressing. It's hard when a novel is bouncing between multiple disheartening threads.
While I will not be purchasing for my school library (too mature), I don't recommend against adding it to a high school collection.

This was a sweet story that I can see working very well as a nostalgic summer movie ala My Girl or Stand By Me. I loved all the musical references and the relationships between the characters. It felt a little rushed at times, and I didn't really buy why a 17 year old would want to hang out with two twelve year olds all summer, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Honestly, I had trouble getting into this one. While its art style is nice and the premise is interesting, it felt a bit unfocused. That being said, I think the author did a good job overall, and I think my patrons will enjoy this book.

A fleeting but heartfelt slice of time--teen readers should relate to feeling at home yet out of place. The intercuts of 80s songs add a bonus multimedia layer to the reading experience, and the slow unraveling of everyday mysteries and family secrets are paced well. Rhiannon captures the liminal feeling of a 12-year-old's summer, that in-between that drifts by but means everything.

Well, damn! Triple homicide. This book was one dark event after another.

Rhiannon is the story of hypochondriac Rhiannon and honestly, a bunch of struggle happening all around her. Her bestie feels on unclear terms with her regarding their relationship… her aunt grandma hasn’t left their home in nine years… and they’re surrounded with others who have experienced seemingly nothing but tragic circumstances and heartbreak. Their neighbors were led to this community via losing loved ones, either to marriage or Alzheimer’s. There is both quite a lot and also nothing happening here. Possibly a -true to someone- slice of life story. An interesting read, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it and I definitely wouldn’t read again. That being said, this might be great for someone! It does touch on a LOT, however it doesn’t dive too DEEPLY into any one.

My favorite lines were a tie between “Hank said that sleeping is like dancing. You have to let go and trust your body, because the more you try, the harder it becomes.” and “ I think you might just be screwed up enough to be a good writer.” “Thanks”

Rhiannon by Kiara Brinkman is a YA coming of age graphic novel. The main character lives with her aunt in a retirement mobile home community. She does not have many friends at school and waits for summer for a neighbor's grandson Kit to visit. The two have feelings for each other, but their summer is disrupted by a new girl named Elizabeth who challenges them both and their families in different ways. There are mature concepts in here with teen pregnancy, but overall the story follows these three teens over the summer. The art is easy to follow; there are a lot of references to 70s/80s music that let readers engage more. 

Overall the story may be enjoyable for a high school audience. The Elizabeth character is a bit too literal, which is probably OK for a younger target audience, but it was a little over-the-top for an adult. And, honestly, the "Native American name" and "spirit animal" bits seem a bit unnecessary. Despite these parts, the story works out in the end.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGally for the ARC.

I loved the illustrations, but I found myself bored a lot and struggling to make my way through the book. I wish there had been more resolution or background to the pregnancy storyline. That's just my thoughts.

Such a beautifully done story. I feel like I haven't read something like this in a good long while. Nostalgic, heartfelt, and vulnerable. High school me would have loved this, and adult me does too. Rhiannon's complicated feelings around Kit and Elizabeth are portrayed so well, it really brought me back to my own messy feelings around that age. The little community of characters has depth without distracting from the main characters. You know everyone has their history and entanglements and can see how it carries through into daily life. I particularly loved Rhiannon's connection to her Aunt Gran, the need to know her story, and the gradual building of a friendship with Elizabeth. Highly recommend.

A poignant coming-of-age YA graphic novel. The narrative is lyrical and haunting, weaving together past and present as Rhiannon unravels the truth about herself and the mysterious forces that shape her world. Themes of love, loss, and resilience shine through every page, making it an emotional journey that lingers long after the final panel.

Interesting and moody graphic novel about three teens who spend (at least) the summer living with their elderly relatives in the Golden Canyon Retirement Community trailer park. Two are summer visitors to their respective grandmothers, while the eponymous Rhiannon is a year round resident. Rhiannon is subject to ongoing bullying from the local teens that never quite makes sense, but a mild TW is probably worth offering. TW for teen pregnancy and lost pregnancies as well

Good coming-of-age graphic novel. There was a lot of teen angst and emotions to keep the pages turning and the characters were just quirky enough to be interesting.

I really couldn't get into this one. It felt like it jumped around a bit too much. It made sense that the main character felt that she was having "elderly" medical issues because it's all she knew....but the coyote felt like an extra that wasn't needed and some of the characters aren't built up enough.

Kira Brinkman's "Rhiannon" was a sweet coming-of-age story that dealt with tough topics, new and old friendships, and multi-generational family dynamics. I adored the story being set in a retirement community and how the teenagers interacted with each other, but also with their grandparents / guardians. I will definitely be purchasing a copy for my library! Thanks for the ARC!

Rhiannon is a coming of age graphic novel that deals with a lot of teenage angst. Between first loves, pregnancy, and finding oneself, this novel has it all. I would recommend for those looking for a graphic novel that actually deals with real life teen stuff. Even for those of us that are well past our teen years, we can appreciate the struggles.