A huge thanks to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

There are some books that upon reading the first chapter (or in this case listening), you know this is going to be an amazing book. It could be something in the way the characters click, the amazing introduction by the author, or simply a magical feeling you get when you can picture what’s happening in your head. “Be Dazzled” by Ryan La Sala manages to do just that. 

“Be Dazzled” takes readers into the mind of Raffy, a cosplayer known for his beautiful, bedazzled cosplays that he streams for his followers, and his best friend as they compete at a convention together. The only problem is that Raffy’s ex Luca also happens to be competing, and Luca didn’t just break up with Raffy, he broke his heart. When the two are forced to work together, they are both faced with the problems that caused them to break up and learn how to grow from the heartbreak. But maybe there’s more to take away than personal growth, and maybe it’s not the end for them after all.

Immediately, I have to let out the biggest scream of all time. This instantly became one of my top 10 books of all time and went straight to my special row of books on top of my bookshelf. Ryan La Sala has created an absolute masterpiece and emotional rollercoaster with this book, and executed a flawless read. 

The first thing that stands out about this book is the structure it’s written in. The first chapter is Raffy in the present, arriving at the con and seeing Luca, but it changes for the next chapter and continues with this “every-other-chapter” layout. One chapter is in the present while the next is the beginning and growing relationship between Luca and Raffy. Sometimes this works, but other times it can fall flat, and it is done perfectly here. While readers get invested with the convention and the competition in the present, their relationship is both adorable and unnerving because you know the outcome is not pretty. Every chapter ends with readers wanting to return to the other point in time which makes it near impossible to put down. 

Another amazing feature about this book is its ability to keep readers entertained with all the talk of conventions and cosplay. To someone less educated on conventions or the hours of work that go into creating a cosplay, it could seem confusing or boring, but La Sala keeps readers entertained and educates them along the way to build the world up even more. Personally, I have read a few books where the main story takes place at a convention and oftentimes small details that help the reader imagine the setting or what a convention is like are left out, which is a bonus in addition to the entertainment this book provides. 

La Sala’s thoroughness means this book translates perfectly to an audiobook, which is what I received from NetGalley in exchange for this review. This is actually the first book I have ever listened to all the way through without reading it first, and it was such an amazing experience. Pete Cross has such an enthusiastic voice that captures the heart of the characters and stories into narration and makes it easy and enjoyable to listen to. It’s an audiobook that readers will never want to hit pause on because it’s just so captivating. 

The Verdict: I simply can’t stress enough how much I enjoy this book. Raffy and Luca make an adorable couple that readers can’t help but root for and love, but also learn from. Their struggles are ones that many teens, both in the LGBT+ community and not, can relate to and learn from. Ryan La Sala has made a book that shines brighter than a rhinestone and quite possibly one of the best books of the year. Whether listening to it on a ride home from work, or sitting down to cuddle up with it for hours, “Be Dazzled” is sure to entertain with its wit and charm, and keep readers enthralled for hours. 

My final rating: 5/5 stars

When I read the synopsis for Be Dazzled and saw gay and cosplay, I knew this would be the book for me.  And I was right.  
There is something about nerdy gays that just gets me.  I felt that same way about Conventionally Yours. Raffy was a delight.  Often in contemporary YA, I am turned off by the first-person narrative. But I never found Raffy to be whiny or immature like I usually do in other YA books.  It probably helped that he was basically an adult as his mother seems to all but abandon him regularly.  The story is told in alternating timelines - the present - in which Raffy has entered a cosplay contest at a con, and the past - which shows the progression of his relationship with Luca.   
I enjoyed switching back and forth, and I was interested in both timelines.  I wanted to know what happened with Raffy and Luca and the outcome of the cosplay contest.  The only thing I didn’t love was Raffy’s mom.  She seemed way over the top and almost unbelievable in the way she was portrayed.  It was almost too much.  But that was a small thing I can overlook, and I still absolutely adore this book.
The audio version of this was wonderful.  The narrator, Pete Cross, did an incredible job! His voice completely fit the character and he conveyed so much emotion it really pulled me into the story.  
If you are looking for a sweet nerdy read, look no further than Be Dazzled.

Synopsis: Raffy has a passion for cosplay, creating characters and he has a youtube video to document his process. When he finds that a boy at school has been following his videos and bought him bedazzles that he needed for a costume a relationship starts to bloom. Be Dazzled flips between the recent past and the present, where Luca and Raffy are broken up and are on another main competition at Contraverse. Raffy and Luca are then pushed to work together on the final round - can they put their differences aside and forgive past transgressions enough to make it through and win the competition


My Thoughts: This book is like Project Runway meets a ComicCon like cosplay competition and it is absolutely delightful. I enjoyed the dual perspectives of past and present so we could see not only the fallout of Luca and Raffy's relationship, but we saw their relationship begin and blossom. Through the book we watch Raffy not only find his first love, but really find himself along the way and I enjoyed every single second of it. 

Trigger Warnings: Emotional abuse, biphobia, homophobia, panic attacks/disorders

This book was very fun and nerdy. I loved how it covered family issues but also managed to say fairly light and happy. I also thought the relationship at the center was cute and pretty realistic. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Book Details:
✨YA romance
✨LGBTQ+ representation
✨ Set at a cosplay competition at comic-con

Timeline
This novel is told through two timelines: Then (11 months ago), when Raffy and Luca’s relationship started, and now, when they are broken up and running into each other for the first time since the break-up. Each timeline moves forward to show us how their relationship started and what is happening now that they are meeting again. It is a great way to see their relationship develop at two separate time points!

Characters
I was so invested in Raffy and Luca! They were both amazing characters.

Audiobook vs Physical Book
I loved the audiobook and the narrator, but I will say this isn’t the best audiobook to listen to while multitasking, because if you don’t hear the words “then” versus “now” at the start of each chapter, you may not know which time frame you’re in (in which case the physical book may be a better fit).

*Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review*

Be Dazzled is a story about a boy who loves to cosplay! This story was so cute. I loved it.
Raffy has a real talent for designing and creating outfits and has high hopes of wining a local convention cosplay competition. It is also a breakup story. Told back and forth between past and present you learn about the events leading up to the biggest competition, as well as the serendipitous meeting of Raffy and Luca, their love, and eventual unravelling of their relationship. I really liked the style in which this story was told, the jumps back to the past helped offer understanding to the actions of the characters. I loved that I started the story siding with one of the characters, and ended the story feeling maybe he wasn't so innocent in how things played out. 

I don't feel like there were any places in this story that lagged or weren't relevant. It was sweet and funny in al the right places.

..as NetGalley provided me with an audio version of this book I will also mention that the narrator was fantastic! A narrator can really make or break an audiobook for me, and I am happy to say this was a great one. 

I definitely recommend this story if you like sweet, queer, contemporary love stories, that are quirky, funny and well written!! ...and definitely if you love cosplay!

Thanks Net Galley for the preview!

This book was a delight-I loved it! This quote really cracked me up and instantly had me hooked: "Some kids do drugs. Some kids start fires. I embroider in the dead of night, for the attention of strangers."  Ryan La Sala wrote an adorable story with well developed characters who jumped off the page.  Raffy gave me total David Rose vibes on top of a total nerd and Luka was a total heartthrob and equally, if not more, nerdy! I loved their dynamic and the dueling timelines made the story even more interesting.  This book came at a wonderful time and I will certainly be buying the e-book version asap! I loved the audio book and the voice was even and pleasant.

I loved this YA Romance book so much! Described as 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. Perfect description!

This needs to be a Netflix movie!  The characters are so real and wonderful.  The love story is so sweet and heartwarming. The designs and crafty competitions are so fun and create excitement for the reader. It was such a wonderful read! I found myself smiling again and again throughout this read.

The overall storyline of being true to yourself, finding acceptance in others for who you are, more than just who you love, but truly who you are as a person and having the courage to take control of your life and accept yourself - it’s unfortunately still a constant struggle that so many people have to deal with. This story took all of that and wrapped it up in arts and crafts and IT IS LOVELY!

Be Dazzled was beautifully written to be not only entertaining and to be not only a romance but an overall story of love, support and bravery.

The narrator’s voice fit the story perfectly. Each character sprang to life and I didn’t think about the actual narrator reading the story to me.  Great job!

I really, truly, want to see these characters brought to life on screen! Can someone please call Netflix?

Thank you to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for making this title available in exchange for an honest review.

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala

First, I want to thank Netgalley for the ARC of this amazing book. I requested it because of its beautiful cover and I’ve only heard praise about the authors other book, Riverie. (Which yes, is on my TBR list) 
I don’t even have words for how much I loved this book. “Project Runway goes to Comic Con” describes it perfectly. Raffy is an inspiring cosplay designer who wishes nothing more but to be noticed and respected in this world of fashion that he adores. He soon finds an unexpected craft lover among his followers, a jock at his high school, Luca. Raffy soon discovers that Luca loves all the same “nerd stuff” as much as he does and their friendship blossoms from there. This isn’t the only thing the boys have in common; they are also hiding parts of themselves from their families. For Raffy, he hides his love of cosplay from his artistic mother that does not see his passion as an art. Luca’s family isn’t ready to accept that their son is bisexual, so he hides his relationship and love for anything that connects him to their displeasure. We follow the story of two boys in love, we see the battle of finding your true self, fighting for what you love to do and who you love and the heartbreak that comes along with it.

I felt like this book had so much to bring to the table. A mother who does not care about your sexuality, but what kind of art you produce. Another mother that doesn’t care what you do as long as it means you are a perfect heterosexual. Two totally different scenarios, yet so much alike. This book brought back so many feelings of when I was younger and found my first love. Hiding your true self from your parents and the thrill of connecting with someone who just GETS you. Raffy and Luca’s break up was heart wrenching, especially when you find out the reason. It was never because they disliked each other or fell out of love. I think those are the worst types of break ups because they truly never stopped loving each other.  

Crafting and cosplaying is something that is special to me in my life, so to hear about it in a book just filled me with so much glee! There is an entire universe full of people who dedicate their lives to cosplay and on the surface many people think it’s just “nerd stuff”. Almost looked down upon by most people, yet there is still an entire world like this that is thriving. Ryan did an amazing job of showing what crafting and cosplaying means to people and how it is an outlet to express yourself. 

Overall, I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone. If you like cosplay, are part of the LGBTQ community, have a child in that community, are an artist, enjoy story, this book is for you!

I really enjoyed this book! I liked the narration of the audiobook and I definitely want to read it physically at some point in its final copy. 

The main character was very realistically flawed, which I liked reading about, I also liked  seeing the differences between him now and him in the past, 

The alternations in chapters between the past and the present were an aspect of this book I found especially strong, I’m looking forward to reading more books by Ryan La Sala in the future!

Ryan La Sala, you never disappoint. Even though I was worried for a bit in the beginning that you would. But alas, I should've trusted you. You know better than me.

I loved Reverie. It was the epic gay fantasy I needed, full of rainbow superpowers and dimension bending.

Because of this, I was SUPER excited for Be Dazzled. I was lucky enough to get an audiobook ARC- thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media LLC for that- and I've been listening ever since.

At first, I'll admit, it felt a bit slow. I found myself hating some of the characters. Raf was hard to listen to mainly because his anxiety was so very similar to my own- that's a success, in my book.

But the MOMENT you hit the part where competing comes into play, it's like listening to Project Runway but with cosplay. As a lifetime fan of beauty and fashion tv shows (with very little fashion sense myself), I found myself at the edge of my seat. I was excited for every twist and turn in the conversation, imagined myself watching from home and wishing only the best for Raf.

This is a book that gives you all the second-chance romance feels you could want. It's heartwarming and romantic and funny. Even in the beginning when I was worried this may not steal my heart, I was still taken off guard by just how absolutely wonderful Ryan La Sala's writing style is. I'm so used to the twitter Ryan La Sala who is all jokes and self-deprecation and drama, that I had almost forgotten what a wordsmith he is. These books not only make me laugh, but they're beautifully written.

Congrats, Ryan La Sala, you did it again. Can't wait to see what's next.

BE DAZZLED was a thrilling ride through the mind of Raffie and his comicon trials. Following both a "now" and "before" timeline, we quickly learn about Raffie's family life and relationships and how the two begin to intertwine to the exciting final convention and contest that wraps it all up with a sparkly bow.

I really loved this book! I'm so grateful to have listened to the audio of it because the narrator did an exceptional job of building the characters in my mind. It made me feel like I was part of everything that was happening! It was a fun coming-of-age and realization story full of disappointing parents, loving friends, and everyday challenges that make the story relatable.

I honestly don't have anything negative to say about this book, every second I was engaged and excited to follow Raffie's story and figure out the results of the contest and his relationships!

Crafting is messy, but life is messier.

I can't possibly say enough nice things about this book. I loved it so much. It's like Ryan La Sala wrote it just for me.

Often when I select books to read, I only read enough of the marketing blurb to see if it would interest me. Be Dazzled was so much more than I ever could have imagined. It's magical and creative, heartwarming and hysterical. The characters leap from the page and in to your heart.

It's about coming out, self acceptance and finding love. It's about creativity and artistry and very much about friendship.

Raffy is adorable and felt like part of me. Luca, sexy and searching. The girls were perfect. Even though the cosplay world was a bit foreign to me, I find it completely fascinating. Especially the way it all plays out here.

This is a beautiful, positive, LGBTQIA story and a really exciting YA novel. I'll most definitely recommend it to friends and read it again.

In the audiobook version, Pete Cross is superb with his narration and characterizations. My heart fluttered the first time 'Luca spoke.' This is beautifully realized as an audiobook.

This book was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. The characters were all so full of personality that it was so easy to jump right into the story. Highly, highly recommended for those looking for an adorable light-hearted romance.

I listened to this as an audio and thought the voice acting was spot on. The narrator did a fabulous job at bringing all the characters to life and making the story experience that much better.

This was a cute book with fun characters. I did find it a little melodramatic, but that is kinda how teenagers feel. 

The audiobook had a great narrator.

I loved this book so much. I even cried at some parts. Such a good story and a unique concept that I haven’t read in a book before (cosplay competition)

This cute cross between Comic-Con and Project Runway is an emotional roller coaster. Both boys have parents that are disappointing for different reasons. You will never come across two characters that you want to root for more because their biological families are so truly awful. Luckily, they start a found family of their own.

A fun story set in a fully realized world. The attention to detail that La Sala uses to flesh out his cosplay world is delightful, and it's clear it's a world he's comfortable in. The descriptions of the costumes are particularly well done. I'm excited to read more from La Sala.

Be Dazzled (audiobook)
MMy Thoughts and Confessions:

I must confess, I was not sure this book would be one to hold my attention since I have an appetite for more adult queer romances. No, I have no shame. Yes, I am that dirty dame. **giggle… 

HOWEVER, “Be Dazzled,” was a dazzling delight. Told from the POV of MC, Raphael, a teenager who has a clever mind and Edward’s Scissorhands when it comes to design in the Cosplay World. 

The story is sweet and emotional and pulled at my heartstrings, taking me back to those days of dreams, and friends, and butterflies taking flight from a single kiss or glance. The teenage angst that comes with having to hide your boyfriend from your family, because the disapproval would be dire. Oh, such bittersweet memories. **sigh… 

The author does an amazing job of balancing the highs and lows, and quite ingeniously allows the reader to explore the world of cosplay. I must admit, I geeked out a bit myself. Looking up videos may have been involved, and I may be suckering my adult children into being my Guinea pigs for a con or Halloween. I totally blame Luca and Raffy. 

Not only was Ryan La Sala a new to me author, but the narrator, Pete Cross was new to my world as well. He was perfect in bringing Luca, Raffy, and the whole Craft World to life. I believed Raffy’s story as he told it to me. I experienced everything in real-time, both the scenes from “Then,” and “Now.” 

I bought it. All of it. Even those sequins Raffy needed a ton of for his oddly amazing, could smack his mother for even thinking of touching mermaid costume. 
Speaking of Raphael’s dilemma with his mom, I had hoped it would have worked its kinks out differently. However, Rome and all that, right?! 

If you are in search of a sweet coming of age queer romance, let your heart glimmer and shine as you are swept away by Ryan Ka Sala’s new audiobook, “Be Dazzled.”

The Story: 4.50 🌟🌟🌟🌟. ✨
The Narration: 4.00🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 4.25 🌟🌟🌟🌟. ✨

So I ADORED Be Dazzled as a book, and I ADORE it as an audiobook too!!!

The narrator, Pete Cross, does such a great job with all the voices, especially Raffy, capturing his enthusiasm and anxiety with authenticity that brought me into the story even more! I was so happy to be able to listen to this story, and hearing the voices of Raffy and Luca brought to life made me laugh out loud, smile, and ultimately filled me with love and hope. 

I would totally listen to another book from this narrator, he did a fantastic job!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.