This audiobook version of this new YA read, GAH, was so cute and the audio format just totally immersed me in the characters. This audiobook, narrated by Pete Cross, is so entertaining and I'm obsessed by the first chapter alone. This book reminds me of 'Red, White & Royal Blue' meets Ashley Polston's geeky fangirl slash cosplay YA romances, and that's what has my heart from the start. It's described as "project runway" meets comic con to make an epic queer love story, and that is one thousand percent an accurate description. Here, we follow Raffy who has a passion for fashion and design and yearns to make his mark at this big cosplay competition to help jumpstart his future in the business. In the present timeline, his main competition is his ex-boyfriend Luca. As seen in different flashback chapters, they were the perfect team until Luca's insecurities and Raffy's perfectionism imploded everything. Back to the present, they are forced to team up once more on the most impressive cosplay comp yet, juggling unresolved romantic feelings, self-doubt, and working to build their most ambitious build yet. This book is chock full of funny, witty, and relatable language that reads as so authentic and engaging. This language is just so witty and rich, and I'm obsessed. Then, the narrator really nails each emotion and tone of every character. This audio version brings listeners the perfect way to envision every scene and feel every single emotion and vulnerability. The narrator brings so much personality to each character's dialogue to differentiate and sells everything to me. Each character is so distinctive, rich, complex, and dynamic, and this audio version truly shows that. This engaging and authentic language feels like each character is so authentic, honest, and vulnerable. It's so much fun by the first chapter and I already just want to keep listening. We jump back and forth between the present day competition and different flashbacks to demonstrate these boys' journey to the current timeline. This couple, boy, are they absolutely adorable! Even from the beginning where they were hiding their relationship because Luca's not out or the beginning of their feelings and craft sessions, or even openly pining present day at the competition, just, GAH, precious. These two just have such a precious banter and are just so dang cute, like totally squeal-worthy. This book's pacing feels just right and authentic, which keeps me engaged and wanting to read more.

Be Dazzled tells the story of a crafty cosplayer who desperately wants to win a competition to show up his ex-boyfriend and finally prove himself to his artist mother. I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Ryan La Sala in audiobook form, as narrated by Pete Cross. The dual timelines in this book are expertly woven together to build suspense and maintain narrative drive. The story is gripping from the start. The characters feel believable and likable with all their flaws. It's a win all around!

While the cosplaying, crafting, and convention culture aspects of the story might be a turn-off to some, I hope people will give this book a chance. At every moment, we're given just enough information to understand what's happening in that world but never bogged own with detail. The costumes worn throughout the story are similarly described using the most vivid details to bring them to life without becoming overindulgent. Factor in the emotional stakes of Raffy managing his ambitions, anxieties, and personal relationships, and the story soars.

I have to take a moment to acknowledge La Sala's debut, Reverie. While delightful in many ways, that story felt underserved by being too heavy on visual description and action sequences and too light on character and ideas. Be Dazzled strikes a perfect balance that is appropriately dazzling. Combined with his quirky and fabulous public persona, I hope we'll be seeing a lot more Ryan La Sala in the future!

Raffy wants to be the greatest Cosplay artist possible, and loves LOVES crafting, but his mother, who is a famous artist in her own right, does not believe this is serious art, so he must do it in secret. Luca, also must craft in secret and he also has to love in secret as his parents are not okay with his bisexuality. He loves both Raffy and the fun of creating Cosplay costumes, and spends as much time as he can with Raffy outside of his other world with his family and his soccer team. They seemed to be making it work too, until something went awry at a Comic Convention and it seemed like their Cosplay partnership and romance was coming to a crashing end. Might they get a second chance? Might Raffy be able to prove that he is a superior crafter? Is there a happy ending here? You will have to listen to this audiobook to find out.

I loved Ryan La Sala's first book Reverie, and was so excited to find out that he had a new book coming out. This one felt different from his first, tackling young love and the world of cosplay in a funny, enjoyable listen. The narrator did an excellent job with this book, making it an easy listen with clarity of who was speaking, and he was so fun to listen to! Probably would have given this book 4 stars if I had not listened to Reverie first which was a 5 star book, and makes this one shine a bit less in my eyes, but still worth the listen!

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to preview this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not a big romance reader. I’ve been known to completely skip over the genre all-together, so I’m not totally sure why I was so hyped to read Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala. It might be because this book is YA contemporary, and if I’m going to do a romance, it’ll probably be that sub-genre. It also might be that I’m already a fan of Ryan (despite this being the only book of his I read whoops) after watching a couple of interviews he’s given & videos he’s posted. I went into this hopeful that some of the energy he brings to social media would carry over into his work.

And I’m happy to say it did! Be Dazzled exists in the exciting world of competitive cosplay, set during the convention known as Controverse. Raphael ‘Raffy’ Odom is the son of a famous artist, Evie Odom, and has to deal with her exacting creative expectations, as well as the pressure he puts on himself. The story begins right before this final competition, but is interwoven with flashbacks where Raffy first meets his future boyfriend-turned-rival, Luca. Having the sweet and heartwarming moments the two of them shared broken up by their current estranged relationship is as saddening as it is captivating. I was speeding through this book trying to find out what could have happened to blow up what seemed to be a promising love story between Raffy and Luca.

Raffy is such a strong and compelling main character. He’s funny and easy to root for, and in a story about a high-stakes cosplay competition, that’s an important attribute! I loved how La Sala walked us through his designing and planning process for each different project Raffy was working on. It really helped the reader be able to visualize not just the end product, but how each component went into creating the entire look. Raffy’s social media presence and live-streaming was also a realistic course for this type of character and setting.

Another thing I liked in this book was that there never ended up being a ‘true villain’. Yes there are characters who make mistakes or act poorly, but there is not really a ‘bad guy’ at the end. Everyone is just responding to the hand they’re dealt, and sometimes natural conflicts arise as a result. (And for any romance readers wondering, yes, there is a HEA.)

This was such a fun read, especially considering it’s not the usual thing I gravitate to. You don’t have to be an expert on cosplay or Comic-Con or art & design at all to appreciate the accomplishments of these characters and get invested in what they’re doing. I could totally see this being a Netflix movie or something, the perfect feel-good rom-com for younger millennials and zoomers. Be Dazzled is a witty, charming and all-together endearing novel that will be sure to delight its readers!

Oh my gosh, this could not have been better. I'm not a YA contemporary reader generally, but I absolutely love cosplay, shows like Face Off and Project Runway, and competitions. This included all of that on top of an adorable and believable romance that made me smile and laugh on numerous occasions.

The writing in this is accessible but not in an amateur sense of the word. There was snark, some very quotable sentences, and a few sad and happy tears shed.

I loved the character development of both Raffy and Luca. The friendships and conflict felt very realistic, not contrived from lack of communication for the sake of having conflict.

The strained parent relationships created tension on the reader as well as within the character's relationship. There were plenty of moments that I wanted to reach through the pages and hug these sweeties.

Overall, I just loved every second of this.

This was a cute story over all but not really my kind of story. I loved the comic-con meets Project Runway vibe of this story. The cosplay descriptions were amazing. I would have loved for there to have been some rough sketches but again that is just me.
Sadly the atmosphere is all I loved about this book. I wasn't a huge fan of the romance which is really what this book was all about. I liked the characters but just them together did not work for me. There was nothing inherently wrong with it I just don't think it was for me.
Overall this was a solid book with a great setting and some great characters it just wasn't for me. I would definitely recommend this book to others who I know will love it.

Project Runway meets Comic Con!!! Yes, I am totally down for that! I enjoyed Be Dazzled so much. I enjoyed it so much that I could not stop listening to the audiobook and finished it in one day.

Ryan La Sala made me love Raffy and Luca even when they both were being idiots that I just wanted to shake some sense into. I also felt completely heartbroken for Raffy and the lack of support from his mother for his art. It made me so frustrated for him.

I have never competed in any kind of cosplay competition before and am not actually crafty enough to make my own costume but I enjoy that world and have so much respect for people that are in that community. I loved the descriptions of the costumes and honestly wouldn't have minded more focus on building them.

This really is such a fun book and I cannot wait to read more from Ryan La Sala.

Be Dazzled is a really cute story of a group of friends who share a love of cosplay and all things nerdy.

Raffy and Luca are hiding big parts of their lives from their parents, and their relationship gets in the way. It gets harder for them to hide their love of crafts and each other from their families, and it ends their relationship. Now, they are competing against one another in the biggest competition of Raffy's life.

I loved the story, and the characters were endearing. My only qualm with this was I wish there wasn't the flashbacks in between chapters, and that it was just one continual plotline.

This was very good! I had fun reading it, and found myself enjoying both the past and present timelines. The narrator did a very good job bringing the story to life, and the author had very strong characters and plot. Overall, it was great! 10/10 would recommend.

I just reviewed Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala. #DreamscpeMedia #NetGalley

This was so sweet. Even though I don’t think I am the target audience this was so cute. If you have a LGBTQIA+ Youth in your life, this is just for them.
Raffy and Luca are the sweetest couple. They compliment each other. They are there for each other for all the hard parts. They have issues with their parents and they lean on each other.

Comic con, cosplay, queerness, and the rise and fall of a first love...you get it all in Be Dazzled! In a voice that is funny, sarcastic, and thoughtful we get this story of two boys falling in love: with each other, and with the joys of competitive cosplay.

Now: Raffy is getting ready to compete in the cosplay competition of his life and prove the worth of what he does to his snooty artiste of a mom. Nevermind that it's with his best friend instead of the boy who broke his heart....

Then: Raffy livestreams his cosplay work and is out and proud in highschool. Luca is a secret admirer and closeted bisexual who plays on the school soccer team. But they fall for each other and try to make things work, despite their differences and family difficulties.

This is a really charming story of first love, being queer, finding joy in fandom, and working through relationship challenges. It's fun and funny, but can also be serious. I am loving Ryan La Sala as a new voice in queer YA fiction and this is a very strong second novel. The audiobook is also performed wonderfully! You really get a feel for the voices of the characters. I received an advance copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5 stars for this YA Contemporary read! Great for fans of Queens of Geek and Geekerella! Perfect blend of nerdy and queer. Adorable characters! Narration was great! Definitely recommend if you need a nerdy read!

*i received this book from Netgalley in exchange for honest review* It releases January 5th 🎉