The Stats
📖 BOOK REVIEW⠀📚
BOOK: Be Dazzled
AUTHOR: Ryan La Sala @ry_la_sa
Publisher: @sourcebooksfire
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Published: January 5, 2021
The Review
The Title/Cover Draw:
- After reading Reverie, I had to read more by Ryan LaSala. The premise of cosplay meets project runway sounded fantastic.
What I liked:
- The dynamic between Luca and Raffy as well as the more technical aspects described in making the costumes was the best. Lately I have been really into historical garments and cosplay and I understood so much of the sewing terminology.
What I didn’t like:
- Sometimes the past and present jumps got a little confusing.
The Characters:
- I feel like I did not know Luca as much as I wanted to. Since the story is told from Raffy’s point of view, you get to know a lot more about him and his motives.
The Narrator:
- Pete Cross adds a lot of unique quirks to his character that helps to differentiate between them.
The Ending:
- The end was cute with a lot of hope and promise of this to come.
Consider if:
- You like feel good stories about geeky things.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from Netgalley.
Summary:
Who’s ready to sparkle??
Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story about creativity, passion, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.
Raffy has a passion for bedazzling. Not just bedazzling, but sewing, stitching, draping, pattern making–for creation. He’s always chosen his art over everything–and everyone–else and is determined to make his mark at this year’s biggest cosplay competition. If he can wow there, it could lead to sponsorship, then art school, and finally earning real respect for his work. There’s only one small problem… Raffy’s ex-boyfriend, Luca, is his main competition.
Raffy tried to make it work with Luca. They almost made the perfect team last year after serendipitously meeting in the rhinestone aisle at the local craft store–or at least Raffy thought they did. But Luca’s insecurities and Raffy’s insistence on crafting perfection caused their relationship to crash and burn. Now, Raffy is after the perfect comeback, one that Luca can’t ruin.
But when Raffy is forced to partner with Luca on his most ambitious build yet, he’ll have to juggle unresolved feelings for the boy who broke his heart, and his own intense self-doubt, to get everything he’s ever wanted: choosing his art, his way.