Rating: 4.25
I was so pleasantly surprised by this graphic novel! I’m not someone who’s interested in Cheerleading but I love me some LGBTQ+ graphic novels so was excited to pick this up! And it was wonderful. There’s so many diverse characters and stories being told. However I felt like some of the other cheerleaders didn’t get much spotlight, and I would have loved just a few extra pages to really get to know some of our side characters. I feel like this would have explained their motivations / actions towards the main characters better.
This is super sweet as well as dealing with some important and difficult topics. A lot of these topics revolve around our main trans female character and it was fantastic to read from this perspective. I feel like I learnt a lot. The main relationship in this is also super sweet and made me squeal with happiness!
Think Heartstopper cross A Map to the Sun. If you’re a lover of either of these graphic novels, I feel like this is right up your alley. And if you’re looking for some more LGBTQ+ graphic novels to pick up - this one would be perfect too!

Well, now, I am obsessed.

I do love a found family, and if anything this ‘squad’ is definitely a found family for these incredibly warm and brilliant characters that shine on every page of this comic. Annie, a girl who is grumpy and academic student who joins the team to add to her college application and Bebe her former friend who has transitioned build a really cute and lovely romance on these pages that just charms you from the start of the novel.

The art style is just so nice and the colours allow the characters and the places to pop throughout, the mood of the scenes are really displayed through the use of colour that makes it such a joy to look at as much as it is for this to be read. The diversity of the characters really shows through the excellent art and I really love how the story is told throughout. This is such a beautifully delivered comic that just makes for a lovely read.

I loved every moment and I need more from this group of characters - it reminded me of two of my favourite graphic novels (Lumberjanes and Heartstopper) that leads me to think we have so many more wonderful things to come from this writer!

(I recieved an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).

TWs: transphobia, fatphobic comments, sexual harassment 

When I requested this from NetGalley I had really been hoping to get approved since it's sapphic!!! cheerleaders!!!! and Cheer Up: Love and PomPoms definitely didn't disappoint. Like most graphic novels, it's a pretty quick read, but it's so cute and left me with such a feel-good energy when I finished it.

Love and Pompoms follows ex-best friends, Annie and Bebe, as they have to learn how to get along again when Annie joins the cheer squad. As they grow closer, they both learn and grow from what they learn from one another, and their squadmates, and start to have feelings for each other.

I loved the character development in this story so much, Frasier did an excellent job with how everyone grew, including the background characters. This was peak grumpy girlfriend and sunshine girlfriend which always warms my cold dead heart, and will literally never get old. I do wish the story had been just a little longer to develop the romance between Annie and Bebe, but honestly, this is me nitpicking. I also felt like Frasier did such an excellent job of showing how awkward and alone you can feel as a teen, and the microaggressions and exhaustion that trans and non-binary people have to deal with on a daily basis.

If you're looking for a feel good graphic novel, definitely try picking this story up! It's super fun and cute while touching on some important topics. I'm definitely going to be requesting it at my library so queer teens can find and read it.

Antisocial Annie is a lesbian starting her senior year of highschool. Her mother encourages her to join the cheerleading squad to make new friends and round out her college applications. Beatrice, the team captain, and Annie's former best friend, is a trans-girl who is constantly trying not to draw attention to herself. Her parent's put a lot of pressure on her for their support in her transition. As the two girls rekindle their friendship, they begin to realize that there may be more between them than they once thought.

This was such a sweet graphic novel, with such loveable characters. I love how Annie didn't care what anybody thought of her, and how unapologetically herself she was. I loved how Annie stood up for Bee, and taught her to do so herself. The character development of not only Annie and Bee, but the entire cheer squad was wonderful to see. The story deals with many serious topics, such as transphobia, fatphobia, microaggressions and harassment in a very sensitive manner that I really enjoyed. I also really loved the art style of this! It pulled me right into the story and I was thoroughly invested in the first few pages.

The biggest complaint I have about this was that it was WAY TOO SHORT. I want more, and I want it now.

Cheer up- Love and poms poms is a graphic novel that talks about the relationship between Anne and Bebe who identifies as Trans.
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Anne is being brash and not on her best behaviour and her mother suggests her to join the cheerleading squad to utilize the pent-up energy towards something constructive.
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That is where Anne meets Bebe who is the captain of the cheerleading squad.
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But that's not all to the story. The graphic novel focuses on the preconceived notions set by media and how a trans woman or trans man is sometimes comes in the spotlight by the cisgendered world for the wrong reasons.
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The art work and the graphics beautifully captures the expression and what one often forgets in graphic novels that the words are not needed on every page.
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I like how the artists and the writers also talk about the slow building up of relationships and the sisterhood that exists in a cheerleading squad.
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Bebe was such a strong character and in the end when she asserts is what made me actually shout F*CK yeah!

Oh this was a wonderful, sweet and yes, adorable coming of age romance between an out trans girl, BeeBee, who is part of cheerleader and a stubborn lesbian with anger issues, Annie who while good at studies, is not exactly liked in her school. So her mother, and the principal give her an ultimatum to try out for the cheerleading team.

Annie and BeeBee were friends before; and now that Annie is trying out for the cheerleading team, that she only gets through because BeeBee in her infinite goodness takes responsibility for making sure Annie doesn’t create a whole lot of problems.

Both BeeBee and Annie are a joy to read - together they make such a wonderful and really cute friends and then later a couple. Plus, I loved the inclusivity of the members of the cheerleading team as well as the school itself.

Wish this was a series; but it was a short, cute and adorable read that will keep you company for a couple of hours; when it releases in August 2021!

I thought this was such a cute and fun graphic novel. Once I got started it was hard to put down. I love all the characters and the plot of the story. I love how BeeBee is a trans girls who came out in her high school and she has a great support systems from her parents and the cheerleading squad and she gets her friend Annie to be on the squad even though she is only there at try outs to please her mom. Overall I love the friendships and the lessons the story has about accepting people and standing up not only for yourself, but to be able to know that you have great support in your friends.

Annie is a top student, but her anti-social behavior makes the guidance counselor think she'll have trouble getting into college and recommends she tries some extracurriculars. Mom convinces her to try out for the cheerleading team. Through cheer, Annie reconnects with an old friend, Bebe, who has recently transitioned. Their friendship rekindles and blossoms (and maybe something more?) as they help each other - Bebe helps Annie be more kind and friendly, and Annie helps Bebe stand up for herself and be more confident.

This was such a cute and sweet graphic novel! Annie is hilarious and Bebe is inspiring. Their relationship was so adorable. I really loved the artwork too.

I haven't read Check, Please! which is what this book is being compared to, but now I need to. This book is so perfect. I love the messages it sends and the educating it does on LBTQ+ issues. We need more of these stories, and even better when they are accompanied with such cute and sweet illustrations.

This is such a cute, lighthearted story, I really enjoyed it! The graphics were really pretty and I loved the vibrancy of the colors, as well as the contrast in scenes that were more serious than others.

Bebe is a sweetheart. The novel shows her struggle with speaking up for herself and learning when to say no because she doesn’t want the label of “that trans girl”. Her growth is beautiful to see.

Annie is the opposite. She’s very opinionated, has no problem speaking out and shutting people down, but her delivery methods usually make her come off as aggressive and mean. I really loved her character and the fact that she took the time to listen to Bebe, so she didn’t overstep on boundaries.

Their relationship was so adorable. Ugh I’m a sucker for fluff.

Cons:
Some of these aren’t too big, but just stood out for me.

Bebe and Annie’s progress from friends to lovers was a little fast, but the novel is pretty short so that was understandable.

The lack of resolution with the transphobic comments made by some of the cheerleaders. I felt it should’ve at least been addressed in some way.

Bebe’s father suddenly being really understanding, which like yeah good for Bebe, but I think it conflicted with the way he was originally characterized. Do I think development was necessary? Yeah absolutely. But I just think it happened too fast.

Overall, I really did love this. I think it’s the perfect sapphic romance for anyone who needs a pick me up. I’ll definitely be recommending this to friends!

Final Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Oni Press for the ARC.

Rep: trans, wlw

TW: transphobia, harassment, misogyny

Cheer Up: Love and Pompomps was such a sweet and fun read, but it still managed to talk about a lot of different important issues like sexual harassment and transphobia.

Our main characters Annie and Bebe are ex best friends, who start talking again after Annie joins the cheerleading team. The story follows their friendship that develops into something more, as well as the issues Bebe faces every day being a trans woman.

The main characters were really likeable and I thoroughly enjoyed this book! But I wish that the side characters who had awful transphobic remarks towards Bebe would’ve seen their actions have consequences and were punished, instead of it being kind of brushed under the rug.

I also really wish we would’ve seen more of Annie and Bebe developing feelings for each other, their relationship felt a bit rushed.

Overall, this book was such a delightful read and I highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.

sweet sapphic story that ends in triumph.
Appeal Factors:
Character: Awkward, LGBTQIA diverse, Likeable, strong female
Storyline and Pace: Character-driven and fast-paced
Tone: amsuing, impassioned
Illustrations: cartoony, charming
CW: Transphobia and sexual harassment

The Art:
I'd totally recommend this graphic novel! I've included a few parts towards the beginning (feel free to skip over them if you want!) Visually, it is so colorful and appealing, and the paneling is excellent! I've included links because I am having trouble uploading the images. Goodreads needs to get in the 21st century.

Here is the first example

The Book:
I do feel like the romance was a bit rushed, the pacing with Bebe's family and their feelings towards her were resolved super quickly, and some of the negative comments made by the squad were never fully apologized for such. This graphic novel explores themes like tokenism and acceptance.

Here is the second example: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Jzk...

I'd totally read more about the squad as well as Annie and Bebe! I think the chemistry between all the characters was palpable and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Honestly, Adri summed up a lot of my thoughts perfectly.

I totally am getting this for the library!
~Net Galley ARC~

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Cheer Up! Love and Pom Poms

5/5 stars. Spoilers ahead and as always check trigger warnings

This is one of my favourite novels I’ve ever read. Not even favourite graphic novel, favourite novels. The illustrations, the plot line, the handling of tough topics like bullying, sexuality, harassment, feeling alienated in school, was discussed so well and wasn’t brushed over at all. I flew through this so fast and I am going to reread this asap.

As a lesbian, I can’t imagine how impactful this would have been for younger me. I hope that lgbtqpia teens read this and feel represented and seen. I hope they know that they deserve the cute, sappy, puppy love romance.

I won’t be commenting on the discussions of transphobia because, as a cis women, it is not my place. Please read and support reviews by trans reviewers.

If you’re a fan of Heartstopper by Alice Oseman or Check, Please! By Ngozi Ukazu then you’ll love this.

We follow Annie as she joins the cheerleading team at her moms urging. Annie is an anti-social lesbian, who finds herself alienated from her friends. We also follow Bebe, a trans cheerleader who is a people-pleaser. Together, Annie and Bebe rekindle their friendship, face micro-aggression and harassment, but realise there is more to their friendship. I adore the grumpy x sunshine pairing. Watching them grow and learn from each other was so sweet.

I’m going to this review here because I want to go reread this book.

If you’re still hesitant, I don’t know what to tell you, but listen: wholesome wlw cheerleading romance with a focus on friendship? Come on!

This was a super sweet graphic novel that was easy to follow the storyline. The characters had depth and a variety of expressions. I think this would go over well in the library.

I WANT MORE ANNIE AND BEEBEE
This comic was so cute - but more than that, it was important! The amount of representation alone in this comic was enough to make it both relevant and meaningful. But adding to that was the gravity of the subject. BeeBee and Annie are complete opposites in many ways - Annie doesn't care what others think of her, BeeBee cares perhaps a little too much. Being transgender, BeeBee is forever trying to not draw negative attention to herself in any way, which often ends of with her being taken advantage of in one way or another. This story is about standing up for yourself, about speaking up without speaking over, and that even good intentions fall flat when you don't listen. Very important and very sweet - I hope to see more of these two characters!

This was a super cute and super easy read. I felt like there could have been more to it, I was expecting it to be quite long but it was actually really short which made it easy to read but also kind of disappointing. Loved the characters and the representation. Annie was super relatable and I loved how the cheerleading team was so diverse with race, size and those in the LGBTQ+ community.

I loved this graphic novel! It was so beautifully crafted and it is exactly what high schoolers need. I feel like kids can relate to a variety of different characters depending on where they are in their life. I love the inclusion of the characters, it was so queer and so precious. The art style was also really beautiful and cute and quirky. I don't usually purchase physical graphic novels, due to how expensive they are (understandably) but this one might break that rule!

READ THIS. what else can I say? This is up there with bloom and heartstopper. Instantly charming and incredibly sweet. Loved it.

This is a wholesome sapphic graphic novel with a trans main character that emphasizes the power of friendship, self-love and standing up for yourself.

In an attempt to have an extracurricular activity to make her college applications more appealing Annie promises her mom that she'll join cheerleading. The squad reluctantly accepts her and she's reunited with her old friend Bebe. Bebe is the first trans girl to be on the cheerleading squad and she's also been elected cheer captain. The two rekindle their friendship, learn from each other, and slowly become more.

The character development of both Annie and Bebe and the entire squad was lovely to see. Bebe's overprotective parents learn a lot along the way as well. This graphic novel deals with some heavy topics: transphobia, fatphobia, harassment, microaggressions but it's presented in a way that's accessible and it's so heartwarming.

I enjoyed the art style. I adored the characters and would love to see more of this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely delightful graphic novel that is perfect for my library's Young Adult Graphic Novel collection.