Published: January 5, 2021
Genre: Young Adult LGBTQ+ Romance
Source: Netgalley
Synopsis:
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.
*I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for an advance copy of the audiobook in return for an honest review*
All the nerdy, gay goodness you need in your life!
“Some kids do drugs. Some kids start fires. I embroider in the dead of night, for the attention of strangers.”
This story was able to pack such a punch with all of the emotions. It was an adorable look into the world of cosplay, the inner workings of a gay boy who enjoys making costumes with a mom who doesn’t believe that is real art and a cute bisexual love interest who is hiding his true self. We also got some really fun side characters who are immersed into the cosplay world as well!
I loved getting a look into the world of cosplay! Being a person who enjoys crafting from time to time and all the fun supplies I could totally understand how Raffy feels. I like that for the majority of the book it was light hearted, joyful and humorous, but that we also got some harder topics or sexuality, and relationships.
The story is told between two timelines, the present where Raffy and Maya are at a con competing in a competition. And the past year leading up to the current ongoings of the relationship and what happened between Raffy and Luca. The moments between Raffy and Luca were adorable and hearing Raffy’s inner thoughts about all of it were entertaining.
“Sometimes the broken bits are just the pieces you need to create something new, something better, something remarkable”
Overall this was a cute and messy story about two boys trying to figure things out, find themselves and accept themselves and each other. I listened to this as an audiobook and really enjoyed the experience. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the anxiety ridden and geeky gay persona of Raffy to life! This book celebrates being different , following your own path and love! It brought cosplay to the pages and let me experience something I haven’t before through Raffy’s eyes!
