Dreamover

In fact, this is a very sweet story about friendship, first love and life priorities. Good storyboard, good choice of colors. The author's drawing technique is pleasant. The story itself is warm, although quite naive, like all similar teenage novels.
Thanks IDW Publishing and NetGalley for e-copy.

During a school trip to the beach, a friend group is shaken up when two give into their feelings and become a couple. Amber and Nico lose themselves in each other and completely forget their friends. Slumber parties stop. Hanging out stops. When the friend group speaks up, Amber and Nico escape further into each other and into a dream world where everything is peaceful until Nico wants to return. Amber doesn’t. In her anger, Amber turns their dream world into a nightmare putting her remaining friendship at risk.

The excitement and newness of becoming a couple should not lead to abandoning your friendships. Dreamover shows us the danger of dismissing friends and losing yourself in one person. The full-color art draws you into the story. Each dream world has a unique color pallet. With limited words, the pages capture Amber’s and Nico’s feelings. You can feel why Amber doesn’t want to leave the dream.

VERDICT: A good addition to MG and YA spaces that will help readers navigate and value the balance of relationships. Will resonate with teens of all ages who lose themselves in one person or see their friends do such.

Thanks to NetGalley and Top Shelf Comix for the ARC of this graphic novel.

This is such a cute wee graphic novel about a first middle school/high school romance. I really loved the nostalgic nod back to the early 2000’s technology and communication. Dani really captures the essence of a first love in the early stages of high school and how easily it is to become infatuated with a person to the point of accidentally forgetting everyone else around you.

Nico and Amber are the epitome of little emo boyfriend with high energy sunshine girlfriend. Such a cute, feel good story. Highly recommend!