A review by jess_mango
Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala

4.0

Be Dazzled is an LGBTQ+ YA romance set in the world of cosplay. Raffy has a well-known artist as a mom and has inherited some of her creativity. Raffy has a passion for creating cosplay and even has his own social media channel about it where he posts videos of him making the outfits. His mom doesn't think highly of cosplay though. Then Raffy meets Luca, a soccer player from his school who has a secret love of anime. The two hit it off and Raffy starts teaching Luca about cosplay and takes him to a convention. The two develop feelings for each other but Luca hasn't come out yet. They end up going their separate ways. The book moves back and forth between current day when Raffy is in a big cosplay competition and the past when Luca and Raffy met and hung out.

This was a sweet teen romance that appealed to my inner geek. I've taken my kiddos to a couple of comic conventions where we saw people in cosplay. The book has a lot of creative characters who are very passionate at what they do. This was a fun peek behind the curtains of the cosplay world. Raffy is a talented and likable character and the book feels totally relevant and modern. As a reader, I couldn't help but root for Raffy and Luca.

I listened to the audio book and the narrator totally captured the spirit of Raffy.

What to listen to while you read...
Cosplay by Panda Bear
Rhinestone Eyes by Gorillaz
Wrap Me in Plastic by CHROMANCE
Hello Kitty by Avril Lavigne
Applause by Lady Gaga
Dress You Up by Madonna

Thank you to the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!