We start off by learning about each of the main characters, Tam and Nova and their world of magic. Tam returns back to a town she once lives, while Nova works at her grandmothers' bookshop; she helps in the store where they loan out speel books and deal with supernatural things that happen in their town. Soon they learn about a demon in the woods. I enjoyed the magic and spells of the town but my favorite part of this book is the characters. I love Novas' grandmothers, they are sweet and care; open-minded and willing to help those who are in need.
Nova and Tam are too cute! I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow from childhood friends to where they are now. I also enjoyed Novas' parents not going to say anymore as that could be seen as a spoiler but I enjoyed how they play into the story. The magic in this book is well based, not overpowered while still being the main part of this story. I love the bookshop, the spell books are neat and somehow have their own personalities.
And now onto the part, I enjoy this style of art so much. It fits the story very well; I like the colors and the way magic is drawn into this world.
Overall, this book put a spell on me, once starting reading I couldn't stop; this magical bookshop pulled me in with these diverse that made me feels so much.

I loved this. This Graphic Novel does so many amazing things. One of our main characters is Non-Binary and when their preferred pronouns are brought up its not made a huge deal of its just accepted.
The art style is adorable and although this is an arc copy and the final third was the line drawings only it was still super cute and beautiful.
My favourite part of this was the woodland creatures, they were unique and cute and I was so happy that they played such a huge part!
I will definitely be checking out future work from Suzanne Walker!
4/5 Stars

After venturing into The Tea Dragon Society I decided to request another ARC for the amazing guys from NetGalley (it's still available right now, so enjoy it so much).
This time with Suzanne Walker as author, Mooncakes can be so cute and captivating that it's impossible to stop reading! I read him on the bus going to work, very good!

Speaking of art she's AMAZING is delicate, nice to see you know? Really enjoyed!

This was so dang cute! I had heard so many people rave about this in the book community, and after my friend read the ARC and loved it, I knew I had to give it a shot!

I definitely got Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown vibes from it because of the atmosphere. This is a quintessential fall read and really is sure to get you in the fall mood! I almost wish I had saved it for when the weather finally cooled down and I could curl up on the couch with a blanket and a hot cup of coffee to read. Instead I read it in the blistering hot weather of Florida pre-hurricane but even then I still felt the atmosphere of the story.

Nova was a badass witch in training and she did not let her hearing disability stop her from being such a kickass witch. In fact, she actually uses it to give herself a leg up in a fight later on and I really loved that that was thrown in there. Tam is Nova's childhood best friend who show's back up in town with a mysterious secret and seeds help. Tam also identifies as gender fluid so they use they/them pronouns which I hadn't seen in a graphic novel before so I really loved that. Tatyanna is Nova's best friend, magic skeptic, and science nerd; she's not in it a whole lot but she provided a lot of comedy relief, support, and helped keep the story from becoming kitschy in it's witchiness. There's also the lesbian Nana's where it's not explicitly said on page but hinted at.

Storyline wise, Mooncakes wasn't anything really original but it was enjoyable all the same. The 'villain' is obvious from the moment you see them on the page. There's really no big explanation behind the villain's plot either, which was a little irritating but not so much that it made me dislike the story. It could've been better, yes, but I enjoyed it all the same anyways. Drawing wise, Wendy Xu draws the best illustrations in such a cute, whimsical way. I loved her little easter eggs that were thrown in of YA book covers. I kept finding myself squinting and trying to figure out what the less clear ones were but there's a few that you'd find it hard to miss if you're at all a part of the YA book community.

All in all, a fantastic graphic novel! Lovely characters, fun atmosphere, and beautiful illustrations! 10/10 would recommend!

The artwork and the story is cute! The LGBTQ+ and diverse representation was very well done. It was a very enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this book! I was surprised first by the amount of representation that was displayed. There are characters that are non-binary, characters that are gay, characters that are hard of hearing...it goes on and on and it felt like it was just a natural part of the story. I also liked that it didn’t just focus on romance but also friendship. I liked the plot but wanted Tam to have more of a fight with the demon. I also wanted them to be able to explore their woof magic more. I don’t think it was thoroughly explained. The artwork was also phenomenal and I’m looking forward to seeing what the creators will come up with next if they decide to develop a second volume.

This was a beautifully drawn, inclusive story that swept me in with it's unique characters and story line. Heavy on the strong females it followed two young women, a witch in training, and a werewolf as they battle a demon in town. Friends growing up, Nova and Tam said goodbye when they were on the cusp of new and foreign emotions. When circumstances bring them back together they explore what could've been as they fight against the evil threatening their town.

I loved that the town knew about and accepted paranormal creatures. and the inclusions of different types of people, like those who identify with different pronouns, and handi-abled young woman who used a hearing aid. The total acceptance of who they were was beautiful, and the adventure was a fun one. Sprinkled with life lessons and coming of age background i read it in one sitting.

Sometimes stories come along that just tick all the boxes. The author managed to fit a diversity of gender, age, ability, and orientation all into one lovely story without it feeling forced...almost as if people with these traits you know, EXIST normally in the world and are all around us.
I have strong feelings for stories that can do this so seamlessly. I have even stronger feelings for stories that instantly draw me into their worlds and just let me escape for a bit.
Do yourself a favour and pick this up. You won't be disappointed in this quick but delightful afternoon read. I think my only downside to this is that it only felt like a beginning, and I look forward to reading more from them in the future.

I am basically not a fan of comics or illustrated books. But Mooncakes was such a treat for me. I loved both the grandmas. Such a diverse protagonists and a story which is not laughing anywhere. This book will be such a treat for comic lovers.

this is an incredibly sweet & lovely story, with so much effortless and respectful representation!! pls can we get more stuff like this??

so this is an urban fantasy kind of story, with werewolves and witches who care about nature & forest spirits (which i absolutely loved). there are some demons, some evil cults, some plot twists turning the whole thing even lovelier, some cute friends-to-lovers romance...

all in all, a great graphic novel and exactly what i needed right now

rep: bi/pan chinese-american mc using a hearing-aid, non-binary chinese-american li, side interracial sapphic couple

This is a total put-a-smile-on-your-face with positive vibes, warm and fuzzy graphic novel. I have nothing bad to say about it except that I'd hope for it to be a series with expanded scenarios and characters, yet it appears to be a stand-alone. Totally worth checking out though.

The main characters are diverse and the rep is wonderful. Nova and Tam are Chinese-American and Tam is non-binary. They're a cute couple and the romance is of a pure/sweet variety with no angst. Just a light and airy, healthy relationship with supportive family members. I'd call it friends-to-lovers, only the two are exes who aren't over each other and still great friends.

Nova works in an enchanted bookstore. Right from the get-go we see magical, ethereal books, talking werewolves, and Nova's witchy relatives and her own magical powers. One thing that sticks out to me is that while this volume has all the trappings of a YA-geared comic, the adult characters are smart, likable, and well-involved. There are some hints at conflict such as between Tam and her father, and a villain character that appears later, but overall this is such a relaxing and just cute read.

I want to make special note of the art style. Just adorable as the cover. But what really sticks out to me is the colorization. It uses a sort of autumnal color palette that is at once nostalgic and charming. Characters are distinctive in body type and facial features, and the style is just appealing and made better in color. I typically read Asian comics (manga, among others) that are in black and white so it was a real change to read in color and I can really appreciate the effort put into each panel's careful color choices. Speaking of panels, this flows very well with large panels and smooth pacing.

As an aside, I tend to prefer storylines that are high-stakes, high drama, tense and edgy with complex varieties of characters and whirlwind relationships. But sometimes I just want a break from all of that and I knew getting into it that Mooncakes has different aims. A very simple read but easy to like. Everything it tries to do is well done.

Overall Rating - 9/10

Why You Should Try It - Positive, upbeat, warm and fuzzy, basically every adjective for good that you can find will easily describe the mood of this one. The characters are smart and endearing. Really cute romance. Nice art.

Why You Might Not Like It - The plot could be considered too light and simple.

I absolutely loved this graphic novel! I felt that Suzanne Walker did a wonderful job preparing me for the Halloween season. The characters were believable yet complex and full of emotion.
I appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation as well. It is not often found in graphic novels and I thought it was fantastically done.

This was the cutest! The art work is so fun and gives an adorable witchy vibe. The characters were so so wonderful and such great representation for so many different people! Definitely one of my new favorite graphic novels and such a joy to read!

This book has gotten a lot of love and is often called cute. It is actually somewhat dark. The drawings are often cute, and the protagonists look like children and that threw me out of the story- which is actually quite sparse.

I enjoyed this book and I hope that the authors will continue with the story of Nova and Tam. It was nice to see diversity in the story plus liked the paranormal aspect of it. The reason for only 4 stars was that it was quick in the action and I wanted more. Will be buying the physical copy when it comes out to see the bonus material

Mooncakes is a cute book about acceptance and friendship and how much these two things impower you. I thought it was a decent read but unfortunately it didn't captivate me as I had hoped it would. I liked the idea that Tam turned into a white wolf and Nova is a witch. Overall it was a cute story but could use more excitement!

I have heard so many great thing about this comic book but I was worried because I typically don’t read comic books. However, I really enjoyed this, this was everything I hoped my first graphic novel would feel like. The romance was adorable and even though it was such a fast read it didn’t feel rushed. This left me wanting more and wanting to know more and I hope there is a second part to this cute story.

If you like cute, witchy romance stories then definitely check this one out.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The art was beautiful and the story was so enjoyable I finished it in one sitting.

I received a free e-copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

Note: this is NOT an enemies-to-lovers book, so my format is a little different

Possible tags for this graphic novel:
Childhood friends to lovers
Fluff
Queer romance
Modern witches

I saw so much praise for this graphic novel so I requested it myself. But after reading it, I'd only rate it 3/5 stars.

<b>What I loved</b>
THE WORLDBUILDING

<b>The worldbuilding is the best part of this graphic novel.</b> It's so fascinating and unique, and I honestly wanted to learn more. I mean... modern day witches who own a magical store? Werewolves and demons? A man with a pigeon-head and cheerful ghosts that visit their daughter? Spells and magical gemstones? Not to mention how beautifully illustrated all of this is... I fell in love with the universe immediately!

THE ART

Wendy Xu's art style is so lovely! It's so adorable, colorful, and cheerful. I love her <b>attention to details.</b> I'd zoom in on various panels just to see all the little bits she added. And Nova's outfits are very cute, which I appreciate.

THE FRIENDSHIPS AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS


The authors themselves stated they wanted to write characters with a good support system and they managed that successfully. Nova and her grandparents have such a sweet relationship, and her parents are loving even if they're a little critical. Her entire extended family comes to visit during a festival and they're fond of Tam as well. Nova's best friend Tatiana is also a spot of sunshine! And even if Tam's family isn't great, she finds a new family with Nova instead. The relationships are very warm-hearted and sincere.

<b>What I didn't like</b>
LACK OF CONFLICT

I know this graphic novel is supposed to be lighthearted and sweet, but every story still needs a proper conflict. The only real conflict was between our protagonists (Tam and Nova) and the villain who's been spreading demons around. Even so, it was only hinted at the start, and was only continued about halfway through. The middle chapters were mainly about the romance and the worldbuilding. The villain felt quite cartoonish and I didn't understand why they were acting in the first place. Furthermore, from the moment the villain was introduced, she was already suspicious and sneaky. It was so obviously a "plot twist".

Plus, I never felt like there were real stakes until page 177 of the graphic novel. Before then, I was never afraid for the characters or the universe. Was anything significantly bad going to happen to them? What are the consequences of them failing? These were never directly addressed or treated seriously enough early on.

By page 178, something dangerous happens to Tam, so I wanted to read on and see what would happen next. But it shouldn't have taken close to 200 pages for this.

LACK OF RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Tam and Nova are childhood friends who were separated for the longest time. After Nova discovers Tam in the woods post-transformation, they reunite, and the two quickly fall in love. Nova says she loved Tam ever since they were kids, but we don't have much context. <b>It felt very insta-love</b> to me, which I'm not a fan of. I prefer seeing a relationship progress rather than have the two characters automatically profess their love and kiss. All the other characters were also pointing out how much they mooned over each other, which was cute and hilarious, but like I said, I couldn't be invested. I wish the authors spent more time developing Tam and Nova's friendship before they confessed to each other. Or maybe provide more flashbacks so we know what we're working with. That way, their romance would seem more realistic and rewarding and not something that was just stated.

BONUS POINTS
Readers have been praising this graphic novel for its diversity and they're right. It's worth complimenting! Tam and Nova are both biracial Chinese-Americans. Nova is bisexual. Tam is non-binary. All of Nova's friends and family are supportive of their relationship. Nova wears a hearing aid but her deafness is never considered a weakness. And their diverse characteristics are never considered a plot point; they're just there, existing, as real life people do. It's normalized, which is great.

Other than that... I actually question the YA rating. I think this should've been a Middle Grade graphic novel instead. The protagonists are teenagers, yes, but the style seemed more suitable for a younger audience. Sure, a character says "sex" once and there are evil demons and cults, but it's nothing too frightening for children. The main couple never goes past kissing. All violence is cartoonish and non-gory. There's no strong language. Even the whimsical fantasy-adventure vibe gave it a younger feel.

<b>TL;DR It's a very quick, lighthearted read. If you want good representation and a light fantasy for younger readers, then it's for you. But personally it was not for me.</b>

I really liked it. I thought these characters were very sweet and real, I loved the diversity and understanding they received, how easy could be in our world. Of course, with magic everything would be easy and wonderful, right?
The eternal conundrum, will people be nicer if we could have everything at our fingertips? I think this book showed real friendship, without shame and with love for each other.
The art was so cute and colorful, I loved the palette and how everything felt so effortless. I cannot wait to read something else from them!
I will come back and add a link to my review closer to the release date!