Danie Stirling

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this in hardback as a gift.

Thoughts: This was adorable and does a great job of showing the challenges couples face in their college years as they grow and move on.

The story follows Ray and Laurie. Ray goes to the same coffee shop every day in hopes of seeing Laurie, the barista, there. They really start to hit it off, but their lives are pulling them in different directions. Laurie is trying to make it as a professional musician, while Ray is trying to become a full member of the magical Council through an internship in the Scrolls department. They are both struggling to figure out what their dreams are and make them a reality. Added to this are the struggles of trying to make a relationship work when two people are being pulled in different directions and have a lot of external demands on them.

I loved the artwork here; it was colorful, cartoony in style, and did a great job of conveying emotion. I also loved the unique world here. It is somewhat like our modern day world but with magic woven in.

I also love the complexity of our characters, they each have their faults but are willing to work with those faults to make a relationship work. I also love that at some point, they realized that in order to be true to themselves, they have to let things move in different directions. The characters in here grow a lot throughout the story and make mature and thoughtful decisions.

There is a lot about family, friendship, love, coming of age, and being true to one's goals and personality. It is all put together in a way that is heartwarming, entertaining, and thoughtful. I think my only small complaint is that the ending feels ambiguous, but it is in keeping with the story to let the reader decide on their own how things ended.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really loved this and am happy I read it. It is a beautifully put together graphic novel with wonderful colorful illustrations and a cute, heartwarming story that is thought-provoking. I loved the subtle magical elements to the world as well. I would recommend to those who enjoy modern day fantasy graphic novels about coming of age, love, and friendship.… (more)