*I received this eARC from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
TW (trigger warnings): homophobia

"Be Dazzled" by Ryan La Sala is a heady mix of artistry, first love, cosplay conventions, unsupportive parents and finding out who you really are, all wrapped in a YA queer novel. (4 stars)

Description from the publisher:
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.

I really liked this book. The first couple chapters were kind of meh for me but after that I got sucked in. The main character, Raffy, is a well-rounded character that I totally fell in love with. I'm not a cosplay fan or even very arts and crafty but the details about Raffy's creations and how he made them was amazing. Luca I liked a bit less, just because of how Raffy feels betrayed by him, but he was also a complete, realistic character you cheered for. The parents in this book were not well-liked and didn't understand their kids at all. This trope seems to be very popular in YA novels but La Sala did it well, wrapping things up well at the end. The highs and lows were great with lots of teen drama and backstabbing which is a thumbs up from me.

7/10 | 3,5/5
This book was so much fun! Although it didn't reach all my expectations, it is still a relaxing reading experience with an important message about fighting for your dreams and to be with the right people next to you to achieve that.

The Up's: the narrative in two timelines (the 'Now' and 'Then') is a great tool used by the author, so it built 'the rise and fall' of Raffy and Luca's past relationship without using infodumping, also creating some charisma for the two protagonists (specially, for me, in Luca). I also enjoyed the family approach on the book's plot in both protagonists, which were very real and relatable (in Luca's case). Raffy's family drama was a bit hard for me to buy at first, but along the book the author could work really well in this aspect.

The Down's: not gonna lie, but I feel that Raffy is such an annoying protagonist, and the first-person narrative just made that statement stronger, making my reading experience difficult at the point that the book didn't attracted my attention anymore sometimes. Also, some resolutions for the problems created in the book were solved quickly, in a simple way or just in such a convenient way due to the situation in question.

Ryan La Sala does it again! And by "it" I clearly mean build a world of growing, exploration, self-discovery, and glitter.

Raffy, serious cosplay crafter and eternal disappointment to an artiste mother, seeks solace in a world of crafting and fabrics with friends May and Inaya. When Luca enters the chat everything changes. Luca is an adorably sporty closeted bisexual boy who falls for Raffy but the two aren't quite meant to be (or are they?) in "Be Dazzled." Their story is told in alternating storylines, not between the two of them, but in before and after their eventual break up. Forcibly reunited at the most important moment of Raffy's cosplay career, the two team up after a series of mishaps and betrayals.

Admirably, one of the best aspects of La Sala's work is that it is not entirely a coming out story. Such queer stories are absolutely important but they are not the only queer story to tell. Raffy is out as gay though its not a conversation piece for him and his mother and Luca is bi but not fully ready to let the world know. Mostly this is a story of two people learning about themselves through their connection to one another. A perfect addition to any library.

Seeing this described as "Project Runway goes to Comic-Con" was the perfect hook for me. As a casual cosplayer and cosplay enthusiast, mourning for the lost cons of 2020, getting to read this novel was just so much fun. This book was campy, crafty, and full of the best kind of drama (the kind with a happy ending. Within the pages of this novel, you'll find yards of fabric, piles of glitter, ribbons, and sequins! And of course, cosplay, drama, romance, and kissing. Raffy, our anxious crafting genius, is SO stressed, and SO determined to do well at this year's cosplay competition. Nothing is going to stand in his way. Of course, who should show up but his one-time maybe boyfriend Luca, dressed in his own cosplay with a new crafting partner. Cue the drama as Raffy and Luca are pushed to work together and everything will come down to one amazing weekend.

I enjoyed this book SO much. The cosplay, the drama, the romance, the kissing - all delightful. I will admit, there were moments that I was super stressed and I do think that if you are an anxious reader this might be a challenge. However, the tension and anxiety do serve a larger purpose and help us better get inside Raffy's hed. I also really enjoyed the way the novel was structured, with alternating chapters past and present. It gave the story great pacing, and allowed for the slow build of Luca and Raffy's romance to really hit. The fact that this novel comes out on January 1st means that this is the perfect book to ring in the new year. So pop some bubbly, grab some sequins, and enjoy the show!

This book blew me away with its beating heart. The pages bled with the author's love and respect for crafting, crafters, and pop culture. I feel like I learned so much about the intricacies of crafting and the hours of work that people put into their projects. On top of that, there's gay romance! The main conflict is between two ex-boyfriends who compete against each other in a cosplay contest at a comic con. There is SO MUCH drama. (That probably contributes to just how queer this book feels XD) The chapters go back and forth in the time line, so the story of how the relationship between these two fell apart is slowly unfolded.

✨ＢＥ ＤＡＺＺＬＥＤ✨

You have no idea how happy I was when I was approved to read this. I have been dreaming of reading this book and heck did my fanatics come true. This book is a calling to all dweebs, nerds and artists with dreams. To those who feel neglected by their peers and loved ones. To those who are confident in their things they do and love, and will not stop to prove themselves. THIS was absolutely spectacular and I was in tears from the pure joy it gave me. It was wholesome, downright adorable, and absolutely exactly what i wanted.

I loved Raffy, with his love for crafts and cataclysmic creativity, and how he was utterly prepared to prove to his snobby mother, to knock her hideous socks off with his talent, and yet she always found a way to criticize him for his unique art . I hated her from the first page.

I could relate so much with Raff, especially with his anxiety and constant need to be working at all times, as if he would fall apart if he wasn't doing something productive, and hell did that resonate with me on a whole other level.

To be honest, i sometimes felt conflicted over the dynamic of the relationship in the book, even though it was ADORABLE, but i could understand why Luc, the love interest, was so hesitant at times. I really came to adore him as the chapters progressed and as I got a better insight on his character, his relentless enthusiasm, his insecurities and fears. They were absolutely perfect for each other, two complete opposite balancing each other.

I really appreciated the whole cosplay aspect to the book and how much it meant to so many people, much like our bookish community, a place where you felt understood, a place where you belonged, instead of being ridiculed for your obsessions.

I urge everyone to read it and i hope you come to love it as much as i did. This was wholesome, downright adorable, and absolutely exactly what i wanted.

[E-GALLEY RECEIVED FROM NETGALLEY AND PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE OF AN HONEST REVIEW]

This novel is perfect for fans of queer romance, and just wrap my heart in a warm hug. I recommend it 100%, a romance where two world collide and just explode in a big big big heartwarming something.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Raffy is a nerd, a cosplayer, a streamer, and a disappointment to his mother. Because she enjoys some fame in the art world, Raffy's mother looks down at his "crafting", and therefore, he must do it in secret. Still, he is ready to meet his moment of truth at Controverse, where he hopes to be crowned the cosplay champion, but will his plan go off the rails when he is reunited for the first time with the boy who broke his heart.

People! This book was so good! It was funny, sweet, and adorable, while also being jam packed with cosplay goodness. I loved the way La Sala wove the design and competition aspects into this story of first love. Alternating between Then and Now allowed me to watch Raffy and Luca's relationship begin, grow, and end in-between their unexpected face-off at the con.

Five things I adored about Be Dazzled:

1. It was fantastic being immersed in this world. I used to watch Heroes of Cosplay and found all the brainstorming, construction, and competition aspects of cosplay captivating. La Sala did such an incredible job pulling me into it all. I swear! I could see the sparkle of those bedazzled pieces. The love La Sala has for this world came through crystal clear, and his enthusiasm was contagious.

2. Raffy was hilarious! I laughed so much as I read this book. Raffy's observations, his over the top mother, the banter with is friends was very amusing, and I was glad to be a by-stander to it all.

3. Raffy and Luca were so flipping cute together. There was a time, in the beginning of the story, where I had my doubts about Luca, but then I got to know him, and I could understand what Raffy loved. I also understood him a bit better and recognized all the pressure he was under. He was in a difficult situation, but I think he eventually rose to the occasion.

4. Friendship was important to Raffy, and I was glad it worked its way into the story. It's subtle but an important part of Raffy's growth.

5. I was happy to see some people finally showed up. I found myself disappointed in characters, left and right, but in the end, they came through. There was even one scene, about 83% of the way through, that had me simultaneously cheering and crying, because I was just so happy.

This book was a romance wrapped in friendship and nerdy goodness, that stole my heart and left me smiling from ear to ear.

“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.”

Oh my god I absolutely loved this book! I love comic cons and whilst I am not a cosplayer, I definitely appreciate the time, thought and effort it takes to produce their costumes not to mention then having to walk around a hot exhibition centre with them on all day!

This book follows Raffy, who has a passion for cosplay. He builds costumes for every Comic Con he attends but he mother is a ‘serious’ artist and gallery manager and doesn’t approve of his “hobby” so he has to do it in secret. He streams his creating process on a streaming platform called Ion and one day receives the gems he needs from an anonymous source. And thus his relationship with Luca develops…
Luca’s family do not accept his sexuality or the fact that he likes geeky things like anime, video games and now cosplay and suddenly Raffy is on his own again, preparing for this year’s biggest cosplay competition. He knows that if he can win it, it could lead to bigger and better things and maybe his Mum finally taking him seriously. There's only one small problem... Raffy's ex-boyfriend, Luca, is his main competition.

This story is told in two timelines - now and then. Sometimes I got so into the current timeline that when it switched I had to remember where we were in the other timeline but that was just me and it only took a few sentences to remember.

“My anger fades beneath startling relief, and I realise that once again, my anxiety has been showing me a lowlight reel of what the future could be. Anxiety is awful like that; it shows you only the worst, and all at once.”

This quote especially hit home. I really identified with Raffy and his anxiety. I get anxiety at Cons and I also feel like I need to be in control of everything and that having other people ‘help’, isn’t always helping, like Raffy doing his cosplays by himself.

Overally, I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved the atmosphere, I loved the storyline. Easy 5 stars.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Sourcebooks for letting my read an e-arc of this!

An absolutely lovely, fun, a heart filling book. Truly a great escapist read that we all needed in 2020.

Okay, this was a super cute read! Raffy is pretty adorable and too sweet for his own good and I just want everything for him. Watching him fall in love, have his heart broken, then pick himself up and go after his dream was emotional, yet so much fun.

This book is divided into then and now, showing us how Raffy met and fell in love with Luca in the past and Raffy and Luca compete in a cosplay contest now. I felt so bad that Luca became his competition and the way their relationship ended. Raffy also lost a good friend in the chaos, plus he's dealing with a mom who doesn't support him. All of this would really bring someone down, but luckily Raffy still had his bff May to be there for him and encourage him to go for it.

I loved seeing Raffy become confident, stand up for himself, and get rewarded for his work. The only downside for me was that I didn't feel like Luca, Inaya, or Evie really apologized to Raffy and he definitely deserved it. But Raffy is an amazing person who is way more forgiving than I am and seemed pretty happy at the end, which is all I want for him.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGally in exchange for an honest review

Son of a millionaire artist turned gallery owner, Raphael ‘Raffy’ Odom doesn’t quite live up to the expectations his mother has. Preferring the feel of a hot glue gun and foam to anything else, Raffy is determined that this year, he will blow minds at the most important convention in the cosplay world – Controverse. Even if he has to compete against his ex-boyfriend and former duo partner to do so.
Raffy is a seventeen-year-old stress ball, stuffed with a good dose determination and pure talent. Cosplay is his passion, his mind a magic laden nest where small ideas grow into wonderful actualities. He is painfully aware that if he wants to follow his dreams with a formal art education, he will need to fund it himself, ideally through scoring sponsorship when he wins the top prize at Controverse. Winning at ‘Trip-C’, as it is called by the cool kids, would solve his future financial problems as well as proving to his mother that his creations are more than a hobbyist phase. His costumes are works of literal art built with his own hands and passion. Raffy is single minded in his pursuit of his goal, self-deprecating at times, he is mostly secure with who he is and is unequivocally himself. The one person who seems to truly put dents in his confidence is his mother Evie. She frequently demeans him, has nothing but animosity for the store Craft Club and would sooner die than have a child that does cosplay seriously. Forced to lie about his passions, Raffy is often on the back foot in their interactions, with Evie’s cutting remarks coupled with her apparent lack of caring about him in general. A few times a week, hidden away from his mother in their mostly unused backyard studio, Raffy streams himself creating his works of art out of any material imaginable. His online following validates him in way Evie doesn’t and provides an outlet to gush about his passion.
Luca Vitale is a bit of a jock, has a touch of dudebro going on at times and is really very lovely to look at, which he knows. He plays soccer and hangs out with ‘the boys’ and generally stays within that social lane. Or that is how it would seem to most. Luca is bisexual but does not have the easiest time at home because of this. His mother is determined that he follow a more ‘straight’ path to appease his father, believing that outside things influence someone’s sexuality. She dictates what he reads and watches, insists he keeps playing soccer and encouraging female relationships. Luca knows he is absolutely not allowed to be watching anime, browsing Craft Club for Sea Foam Dream #6 rhinestones and most definitely not watching the soft gay boy from school be dazzling artificial fins on a live stream. Luca spends more and more time with Raffy, trying to learn the ins and outs of cosplay and burning his ass in the process, literally. He is a sweetheart at his core, seeking acceptance for who he is entirely and unsure of how he can make all the pieces of his life work together but wants Raffy firmly in it. He is warm and genuine, supportive of Raffy and in awe of his ability to be entirely himself. The moments that show his judgemental side and insecurities make him real, even when the narrative has you thinking you should dislike, its hard to do so.
Told with a dual timeline, the past picks up just over a year prior working steadily towards present day. Starting with surprise rhinestones and pulling the reader through a growing relationship woven with the secrets they’re keeping from their own parents. Raffy opens up Luca’s world, letting him lean into who he is and who he wants to be without expectation or judgement. He indulges his ideas and is happy to be distracted by Luca, craft no longer his sole focus 24/7. Luca has some preconceived ideas about conventions and the people that attend but through Raffy he opens up to it all, eventually being as sucked in as everyone else. Their love story was sweet, organic but not without flaws, it wasn’t rushed or lofty, just people falling in love. The present narrative is spread over three days, Raffy barely able to contain his emotions when he spots Luca in his beautiful craft world. Trip-C is his dream and his future, he won’t let one ex-boyfriend derail that, no matter how much he hurts. When twists and roadblocks are thrown in the way, it ultimately forges their paths back towards each other, though Raffy isn’t sure he wants to be near Luca at all, let alone lose himself in that relationship again, even if it means losing out at Controverse.
Be Dazzled is adorable, soul warming and plain old fun, each page sucking you in more until you’re at the end and don’t quite know why or how there isn’t any more brilliance left to read. Raffy and Luca are wonderfully individual, neither of them having any sort of wild cliché extremes that would take away from their realism. Ryan La Sala stitches the then and now timelines together effortlessly, the dialogue and interactions read like teenagers and everything perfectly unfolds thanks to the authors natural talent for storytelling. Be Dazzled should find a place on every bookshelf to be read time and again, particularly when you need a book hug from what I have no doubt will become a favourite.

What a fun book. I'm so glad this storie has brought me joy and hapiness in such dark times. I really loved the main characters' relationship (which led the book, in my opinion) and their love for cosplay. I found it hard to connect with the supporting characters and coudn't really identify each other, so that's a negative point for me.
But, in general, it was a fun gay book, with fun characters and an amazing dinamic between them.

This was really cute, but it also didn't feel very substantial. The alternating timelines didn't always work for me, and that everything boiled down to my most-hated romance trope (The Great Misunderstanding) and some pretty dated coming out fears for one of the two leads was disappointing. The ending was also VERY abrupt and rendered so much of the anxiety and tension in the book moot.

A fun little distraction but nothing I'll think too much about or recommend too heartily.

Raffy’s dream is to win the Controverse Cosplay Competition and prove to everyone, including his art director mother, Evie, that he is capable of achieving greatness. He walks in to the convention center beaming, knowing his work will earn him and his teammate, May, top scores. That is, until he spots some of his competition – Luca and Inaya, Raffy’s ex-boyfriend and former friend. It’s been five months since their breakup, but Raffy is still bent up about their failed relationship. They tried to make it work, but insecurities and inability to accept anything but perfection left them scrambling apart But Trip-C has some big twists in store for its competitors, and maybe, just maybe, it could help both boys realize how good it feels to work together.

This was such a cute YA contemporary that is immersed in the cosplay and convention scene. The detail and thought that went into descriptions of their outfits and the aspects of the competition made me imagine myself as an audience member. I appreciated how even in the last hour, Raffy didn’t go back on his promise to May, because even though she offered to lend a hand, both would have been miserable knowing what was sacrificed in the process. The split timeline did surprise me, though it was interesting to see both how Luca and Raffy’s relationship started, fell apart, and came back together all simultaneously. Raffy and Luca both had their own obstacles to overcome, and even though their relationship hit a bit of a tumultuous end, in their time apart (even if Raffy didn’t realize it) they both came to understand why they didn’t work as a couple before, and how their mindset can be adapted to allow themselves to work in the present. I feel like this book is a love letter to nerd culture, to people who may not be accepted elsewhere but find what they do best and the people they want to share it with and make the most of it. It was great to read.

If there was anything I would have changed, I’d say I would have like to see the growth that Luca’s and Raffy’s parents undergo. In the timeline detailing the past, we are shown how unsupportive Evie is of Raffy’s passion for cosplay. There is even a moment when she screams and humiliates him in front of a Craft Club, where she calls his pursuits “childish” and cuts off access to his workspace, proclaiming its only for “real artists” to use. From Luca’s actions and choices, we are able to surmise that his parents are opposed to him pursuing any future in cosplay, especially if that future involves Raffy. Towards the end of the novel, their attitudes have changed, and both Luca and Raffy are delighted by the support. I just wish we could have seen more of that change (though I will acknowledge there is a gap of five months between the past and present timelines, which is certainly enough time for someone to change their perspective).

All in all, I’m rooting for Raffy and Luca every step of the way, and May (and even Inaya too). I’m interested to see what others think of this nod to cosplay and convention life. I hope they enjoy it as much as I did. **Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.**

It was really cool to see a book focus on cosplay. And the competition didn't disappoint. It was really interesting to see the past and now and how Ryan switched it so nicely. Over all it was a fun read.

Be Dazzled was so much fun!! This was one of my MOST anticipated releases of 2021 and it did not disappoint! I loved everything about this book: the cosplay, the second chance trope, the lovers to rivals trope, the queerness. Aside from all of those that made the story definitely fun to read, the pacing was so quick and easy to read. I highly highly recommend this book!

Next in Fashion goes to Comic Con in this dazzling romance by Ryan La Sala!

Raffy is a master of cosplay. Luca is a talented soccer player. They start to get involved little by little and build a beautiful relationship. But that relationship ended. Now, a big cosplay event is coming up. and they will compete against each other.

This book was written by the FANTASTIC author of Reverie, Ryan La Sala. It will come out in January 2021, and I received an ARC by NetGalley. Here are a few reasons why you can't miss it:

1. Expectations exceeded

I had high expectations for Be Dazzled, and yet they were exceeded. Starting with the characters: Raffy and Luca are complex, well developed, and have real fears and dreams. I was able to identify with anxiety attacks, family dynamics, and other issues.

2. Passion in every page

There is nothing more exciting than someone talking about their passions. I was not so interested in cosplay and sewing, but I was delighted with the possibilities after that book. Everything is stunning: from the descriptions of clothes and materials to the assembly of the pieces.

3. Surprises every time!

Each chapter in this book is exquisite. At all times I was surprised and impacted. I got so attached to the characters that I suffered and celebrated with them. Some scenes are very delicate, and the author always brings a message of hope and comfort.

4. The real message

Being Dazzled is a book about fighting for your dreams, even if your family doesn't believe you. It's about being around the right people, the people who love and support you. It's about celebrating your victories with the one you love too. It's about meeting someone and realizing that everything in your life has changed.

I stayed up late to finish reading Be Dazzled. Ryan La Sala used the right materials to sew my new favorite book, and the result was... well... dazzling.

This book was so fun to read. I'm not involved in the cosplaying community and I really loved getting to learn more about it through this book! To really see how much time and effort goes in to each costume and how much the competitions mean to them. I'm so happy I got the chance to learn more about that culture, especially since I don't know that I'll ever get the chance to be a part of it.

Besides getting to learn about something super interesting, this book was still amazing. The writing was fantastic. I mean, fantastic. I loved the writing style, but I mostly just loved how the characters were written. I feel like you truly got to know them in a real way, rather than just reading about them. They all had motives that made sense, rather than seeming unrealistic, and they all had realistic reactions.

I also loved how this book went back and forth between the past and the future. It was such a fun thing to see because you got to see their relationship unfold at the same time as seeing it fall apart. It was a unique dynamic that I was definitely there for.

The only criticism I might have of this book is I found Raphi to be a little dramatic, but that's also his personality, so it's not really a criticism. Overall, I loved reading this book and learning about the world of cosplay!

I like Ryan La Sala and have seen him at a conference before so I was excited to get this book. It took me a bit to get a feel for the story and the characters, but they are definitely bold and will dazzle you.

I think this is one many teens will like and see themselves in.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!