Thank you NetGalley for a copy of the book for a honest review.

TW: parental neglect, closeted and coming out (secondary character), mourning of a breakup, severe anxiety/panic attacks


Be Dazzled is a cute rom com drama that takes place at a Con but it also has that Project Runway vibe. The story was so realistic I felt like I was there living the dream and going through the pain, the heartbreak, the ups and downs with Raffy.

As someone who experiences anxiety/panic attacks, those parts of the story were rough on the senses. But overall the story was very enjoyable. The romance was also catching. Well done Mr. La Sala!

4/5 stars

One of my favorite books so far in 2021. My library bought the book and I've passed it around to two staff/ Everyone needs a Raffy.

"And the only way to understand how we fell apart is to understand what made us 'us' in the first place."

Raffy’s story of a Comic Con + Project Runway life is like a crafter’s dream of love & work with sparkly rhinestones on top, this was such a fun audiobook to listen to!

But don’t let the glitter distract you, underneath those well designed cosplay costumes fool you, this book is truly a gem about self acceptance, first loves & friendship.

As someone who worked in paper crafting for years & someone who has always wanted to attend Comic Con or equally as amazing trade shows [OR combine the two, because crafty trade shows PLUS cosplay sounds like the ultimate] this was an obvious must read for me. The play on words title + Ryan La Sala's social media WITH bedazzled books had me SO excited to get my hands on an advance listening copy of this book thanks to NetGalley + Dreamscape Media!

This narration was spot on, and I am now a Ryan La Sala fan forever, 4.5 stars from me!

This was such a cute story! I loved all the characters and it was great to get a glimpse into the world of making cosplay. I do wish the story wasn't told in the flashback, it was confusing at first and now I feel I have to go back and listen to the beginning again. I feel it messed up the pacing a little bit. Otherwise this was a really good book where you got to know Raffy and Luca and root for them both equally. I liked that both were flawed but worked to better those problems, I love me some good character development.
But this was one of those great books that kept me thinking about it even when I wasn't reading it. What had gone wrong, how would they work together, and who would win? I couldn't get it off my mind and I needed to read more as soon as possible!
The narrator did a really good job with all the different characters, no one felt cartoony or mocked but you always knew who was talking.

This book was so fun. I loved the narrator and enjoyed the transitions between the pst and present. I fell in love with Luca and Raffy as a couple, and enjoyed seeing their romance develop. This book is such a great fit for fans of Becky Albertalli, Rainbow Rowell and John Green.

Currently listening to. Fantastic narration and all the nerdy things.. I am loving everything about this so far, right down to him calling his mother by her first name. LGBTQ+ friendly also! Updated review to come this weekend.

Brilliant follow up to Reverie for Ryan La Sala to continue solidifying his voice in YA. I heard a rumor that horror is next and I am thrilled! Be Dazzled and Reverie have been a great book to have for all age groups and walks of life at the store!

“He’s here. Luca Vitale is here. My biggest competition. My worst nightmare. My ex-boyfriend. ”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
So I saw the audiobook on Netgalley and thought “Why Not?”. What the heck??? Why did no one think to tell me about this book!? Maybe I loved it because of the amazing narrator who really brings Raffy to life or maybe I just really miss cons, but yeah this book was awesome.

Be Dazzled is about Raffy, a cosplaying genius, who is as determined as he is talented to win Contraverse. The only thing in his way is that his ex-boyfriend just showed up, in full cosplay, really good cosplay.

I really really liked this book. Starting with the formatting, I really loved that the book goes back and forth between the two timelines of 1. When they first met and got together, to 2.After they had broken up and were competing. It had the really convenient effect of the characters always being happy at one point and oh so very sad at another. Great balance in the story.

Which brings me to my other point is that the book had excellent pacing. Part of this was the writing, there was a lot of humor and attitude that made the whole book flow. It’s a very laugh out loud book that doesn’t feel like it’s trying to hard to be funny.

Listening to the audiobook, the narrator was fun and expressive. I didn’t want to stop listening even when I had already gotten to work. The book went by before I really realized it.

I also really love the love this book has for conventions and fandoms. Don’t know if y’all know this, but since the pandemic…conventions haven’t been around. And I really miss them. Reading this really gave me the sense of being in a big crowd again. Ya know, breathing in the same air, bumping shoulders with other people…crazy.

As for Raffy and Luca. Be still my heart, these two cuties are so adorable. Spending time together making cosplays, watching anime, sounds like the best time. I loved their whole journey together. Especially for Luca, who was so adorable.

TL;DR: Don’t sleep on this one! If you miss conventions and nerd fests like me, you’ll love this one!

Audiobook provided by Netgalley and Publisher in exchange for an honest review. All quotations and opinions are my own.

I am so glad I got the chance to listen to this book and see the world through Crafty Raffy’s eyes. Adorable and wonderful and such a fun read.

I'm so sad to report that I DNFed this. I was just not as invested in the story as I wanted to be right now. There was a lot of nerdy con stuff, which I didn't mind but I wasn't invested in the love story part of it enough to see past the con stuff. This book was also WAY out of my comfort zone, which was really cool because I think it could be good for a lot of my students who are into cosplay or anime or the world of cons. I just wish that I found the main characters more relatable or likable to want to finish the book.

Ryan La Sala’s second novel is, at the risk of using a bad pun, dazzling. Raffy is a closet crafter, son of a mother who is an art snob and doesn’t approve of cosplay or crafting. He sneaks into Controverse, the biggest fan convention in Boston, with the hopes of winning the cosplay competition with his friend May and use the money for art school. The problem arises when Raffy’s ex boyfriend, Luca, shows up with a new partner and Raffy’s stolen cosplay idea. Drama ensues, which is in keeping with the con scene. By the end, partners have been switched, secrets revealed, and costumes be-dazzled which all culminates in a surprisingly satisfying conclusion.

Be Dazzled was everything I look for in a book: fun, emotional, with a good plot and lots of character growth. As a cosplayer and frequent convention visitor, I felt that the experience was authentic both in the costuming stages and the convention atmosphere. I also enjoyed the time jumps in alternating chapters that reveals backstory without weighing down the excitement of the present plot. My only critique is that the flashbacks sometimes seemed repetitive and towards the end broke into the plot a little too much. I listened to the audiobook via NetGalley and really enjoyed the speaker, who did a good job bringing the characters to life.

This was such a fun, entertaining, binge worthy, GAY book!!! I'm personally not a cosplay fan, but I love reading books about it, especially if there's a competition involved.

The dual timeline was cleverly done, and it really contributed to give depth to the book, as well as keep the readers' attention (not like it's hard to binge this book lol). I truly believed in the romantic relationship, I could just FEEL their attraction. & I just loved the two characters involved. I did hate some of the other characters, but it was obviously the author's goal, so mission accomplished 😅

alsooooo, the cosplay part was so well done, if I had any talent for sewing, this book would definitely make me want to pick up the craft 😁😆 I definitely recommend!

I really loved reading this book! Set in a unique world of Cosplay, this novel had me intrigued from page 1. I loved the way the story flipped between the past and the present to show the relationship trajectory of the characters while keeping the intrigue up. I also really enjoyed all of the drama surrounding a competition on who could build the best cosplay. I will definitely be purchasing a copy of this book for my high school classroom.

This was a really sweet mlm love story! It hit the dramatic beats well, there were a lot of sweet moments. You could feel the ache of longing, you can feel the anxiety of competition, and yes, you can feel the joyful moments too. La Sala is masterful at evoking emotion. If you are looking for lovers to enemies to lovers story, look no further.

I would have loved the convention setting to be more fully realized. There was very little of that aspect of it despite being the central focus. It would have been fun to see more of it. I also felt at time the overall story hit the tropes of a YA romance pretty hard, there was not much here I had not seen before.

However, overall, it was a fun journey. If you are looking for a romance with a more dramatic tint, you will enjoy this.

The audiobook was wonderful! The narrator put so much pathos in his performance!

This was such an adorable, humorous,relatable down to earth gay romance novel. The narrative did an excellent job reading the story it was an enjoyable experience to a wonderful. Narrative.

This is the first book I have read from Ryan La Sala, and I am so glad I chose this one. Raffy, our narrator, is very relatable for anyone who ever felt a little outside the normal in high school. His passion is costume designing for him and his friends for all of their comic conventions. The subject of this story was super fun, considering I’ve always wanted to go to these conventions but have never been able to. While listening to this audiobook, I was able to live vicariously through the characters. While I loved the relationship dynamic between Raffy and Luca, I think the most meaningful moment for me was Raffy’s difficult relationship with his mom. I think many people will be able to relate to the idea that one’s passions are not always supported by their parents, and the entire time I was hoping his mother would see the potential and talent that Raffy had. This books was sweet, fun, and made me smile so much while listening to it that I would recommend it for anyone who is looking for a feel-good read.

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.

<b>What to listen to while you read...</b>
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

There are times when the reader and the story blend well together... and then there are times when the reader becomes the story and the characters. Be Dazzled is that audiobook.
I had to listen to portions of this audiobook a few times becuase they rang so loudly with truth, honesty, and humor. This is the type of book I wish was available to me when I was growing up.

Disclaimer: I received this audiobook from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Be Dazzled

Author: Ryan La Sala

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Gay MC, m/m relationship

Recommended For...: contemporary readers, ya readers, LGBT+

Publication Date: January 5, 2021

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (language, drug usage, alcohol mention, sexual content, and slight gore for cosplay)

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 336

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.

Review: I really like this book. I thought that the concept would be a bit tropey, but I am so glad that I was wrong. The two main characters were not at all enemies to lovers or vengeful x or anything like that, they felt like real people in the book. They had their tips and everything but the whole book didn't dwell on those little tips, but rather their relationship as a whole. I thought that the characters were wonderfully well developed and the world building was amazing. I really liked the concept of the book and that it takes place during conventions and with cosplay, something that I don't see a lot in books. I also thought that the book was wonderfully well written and the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life.

the only thing that I really had an issue with was the way that the story was told. I really did like how the story was told for the most part, and that the book is told in this back and forth between the now and the then. But the story got a little bit metal towards the end, and I wish that the author took the last two chapters of the then and combine them into one big chapter and then left the last two chapters of the now complete. But the book is very poetic in that sense because while you're seeing the relationship fall apart in the then you are seeing it come back together in the now and there's something that's just epically poetic about this and I am so happy that I got to listen to this book. I highly recommend this book if you're interested in cosplay or if you're looking for those one of the million best ya romance contemporary books.

Verdict: Highly recommend!

DNF
I had no time to read it, especially on audio, but I hope to pick up a physical copy in the future