Finished this in one sitting, it was cute and I could definitely see the comparisons to Heartstopper.

I liked the story, the characters, the art style, it was a great read! It was quite short though so things happened quite quickly and I would have loved to see the romance develop slowly over time.

LGBTQI rep.

(tw/cw: transphobia, sexual assault, fat shaming)

Thanks to the publishers for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

This graphic novel is so incredibly sweet! Like the description suggests, it's perfect for fans of Check, Please! as the cutesy tone is very similar and of course the LGBTQ+ rep and commentary is present (and great!) in both. The art style is lovely and light with a great flow throughout, along with flawless character designs and facial expressions. The dialogue is realistic and witty and the characters themselves are precious (especially Annie, what an icon). The story is superb and completely transports you into a tangible, fully realised world. There better be a sequel to Bebe and Annie's story or I will most definitely kick off.

Thank you so much to Oni Press for this e-arc, and for continuously publishing such fabulous graphic novels!

I loved everything about this book! It reminds me a lot of Check, Please! Cheer Up is about Annie and Bebe, two girls who you would not automatically see and think cheerleader. Annie joins the cheerleading squad under parental and teacher pressure after being told she isn’t well rounded enough for college application season. Bebe is in her 2nd year on the team, and is the newly elected captain. Bebe made waves last year when becoming the first trans cheerleader on their school's squad.

The body diversity in this graphic novel is incredible, both on and off the cheerleading squad. Annie is praised for her muscle and power, and Bebe explores the stereotypes of being a feminine girl. The relationship between Annie and Bebe was adorable and I really hope this will be a series, I am not ready to part with any of these characters.

Cheer up is a really cute story about a socially awkward, plus sized girl and a trans gender girl joining a team, learning from eachother and falling in love. These characters were very flashed out and it felt like I got to know the main characters as well as some of the side characters.

I thought the art style was really cute and I really like how diverse it is. I’m not own voices on this so you should read other reviews, but there are a lot of issues brought up in this specifically about transphobia which really showed me some perspective.

It just felt like a lot happened in a very short time. Especially the romance didn’t feel well developed because the story is very short. There’s a lot going on in this story, you get to learn about different side characters, family relation ships and the relationship between the main characters while there’s also the cheerleading going on and they’re studying and there’s a homecoming dance. All of these things are great (American) fun, but it felt like the story rushed through them very quickly and I would’ve liked for it to be longer.

Cheer Up was such a sweet, funny and heart-warming graphic novel. It is centred around a plus sized lesbian mean girl and a biracial trans-female cheerleader who is seemingly living a perfect life who are unlikely childhood friends and their relationship.

It is of course focussed on cheerleading, which isn't usually something I am interested in (I don't like reading anything sporty in general), but this one just drew me in. I love anything sapphic. It was such a short read, but felt so well developed. I went on a whole journey with these girls, and whilst I would've loved it to be longer, it was perfect.

It also wonderfully tackled the subjects of sexuality, identification, protectiveness, pressure and being an ally to anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community and what that should and shouldn't look like. These characters were brave, treading new water and it was wonderful to read. Despite the harder topics, it remained light, sweet and fluffy.

I devoured it and it was a wonderful time.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this Graphic Novel in exchange of an honest review.

I have never read any graphic novels before, but Cheer Up! has been popping up all over my social media. When I looked into it and saw it was a quick wholesome comic filled with representation, I decided to pick it up! Who wouldn't like an adorable quick read that is meant to lift your spirits?

I am so happy I read this. I got emotional seeing how accepting everyone was and seeing a trans cheerleader be accepted by their squad. I also loved the sunshine/grumpy trope. Bebe and Annie were such a joy to read. I can't believe how many issues and bonding happened in such a organic way while still being a quick read. I am starting to understand the hype for graphic novels!

My only criticism is that at first it felt the cheer squad was using Bebe for diversity rep and not for Bebe herself. At the end it seems they always cared for her. I was a bit confused and would have liked to see more of the squad dynamics.

Overall, if you need to "cheer up" and have your faith in humanity restored, give this a go.

I am now going to make a coffee in honor of my girl, Annie!

This was such a cute read! CHEER UP is a sapphic graphic novel about Annie and Bebe: Annie is relatively antisocial but is forced to join the cheerleading team to round out her college applications, and Bebe is a trans girl newly elected cheer captain who struggles with overprotective parents, her identity, and other issues. I liked how the author was able to illustrate both Annie and Bebe's development and the issues that they faced, such as microaggressions and battling societal stereotypes, while keeping the graphic novel light-hearted. I also loved the representation with the characters and how diverse the cast was! The only reason that this isn't 5 stars is that it left me wanting more -- some plot points felt a bit rushed, so I would've loved greater fleshing out of the relationship between Annie and Bebe or some of the conflicts that they encountered. Overall, I would definitely recommend CHEER UP!

Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so grateful to NetGalley and Oni Press for giving me the opportunity to read "Cheer Up" in exchange for an honest review!

"Cheer Up" was so cute and I will definitely recommend it to my book club! Readers get to go on a short journey with the main characters, BeeBee and Annie, from the start of the senior school year to an October Homecoming. Annie joins the cheerleading team as a strategy to get into college, but rediscovers BeeBee, a former friend, and they get closer as the school year progresses. "Cheer Up" is the perfect blend of heartwarming and impactful.

It is the delve into BeeBee's character that makes it a fantastic read. I loved her!!! Her story was explored with plenty of care and nuance: queer and trans readers will feel seen and allies will learn a new thing or two. Allyship in particular was explored quite a bit, as BeeBee's well-intentioned but at times indelicate teammates learned how she wishes to be supported. The graphic novel understands exceptionally how to put the person first, but also what it takes to support them in their trans identity best.

If you’re looking for something short and possibly the most wholesome graphic novel there is, I’d highly recommend Love and Pompoms! Despite being a relatively short story the pacing didn’t feel off which I find is the case a lot of the time in graphic novels. The illustrations were beautiful and I especially loved the coloring choices and how different colored backgrounds fit different feelings. I thought the two main characters were characterized well and I loved the different sides of each other that they brought out. My only gripe was that I felt that Beatrice’s resolution with her father was a little sudden and I would’ve liked to see her express more that her transition shouldn’t be seen as a choice.

This may include some small spoilers, so proceed with caution! :)

This was so cute! I really liked having a trans main character. There's lots and lots of different representations in this graphic novel, which makes it so good. Like I said, I loved the trans main character, but I would have loved to learn more about one specific character that identifies as non-binary.

Also, can I say that this really makes me want to try out cheer? Even though I can't do handstands, cartwheels and all of that stuff? I just really like it and it's always interested me, but that can also be because we don't have cheerleading and all of that extra school stuff over here in the Netherlands.. :( But nonetheless, I quite enjoyed this one and it reads really fast. I wasn't a huge fan of the artwork, but that didn't necessarily make me enjoy the story any less. Would recommend this one!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Super cute and adorable. I loved the inclusion and diversity and the over all message. I'd be happy to read more from the author and the artwork is gorgeous!

4 out of 5 wine glasses.

I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

YES! A million times yes! Cheer up features our two main characters, Annie and Bebe. Annie is an outcast, who needs an extra curricular for her college applications. Bebe is the first trans girl at school and also a cheerleader. Cheer up follows the two friends growing back together and fighting some of the stresses of being different in high school.

I LOVED the rep in this book. The art style was gorgeous. I want more ASAP

Super cute and wholesome story queer cheerleading romance. I really hope there’s a sequel because this was amazing.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Just read #CheerUp by Crystal Fraisier, a brilliant high school graphic novel.
Packs in LGBTQ+ characters, friendship a sweet romance, social pressures, parents, tests and grades, & being a cheerleader!
One for the wish list not out until August.
Thanks #NetGalley

A queer cheerleading romance? A million times yes! Readers of the series Check Please! will be familiar with this level of charm and wholesomeness in a queer sports story.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I am in love with this comic, this one is going straight on my favourites shelf becasue OMG!
The general story reminded me very much of that "Work-it" movie where there is one person wanting to go into college but having no clubs and such to show "Personality" so they have to get into one.
But when that happened in the comic I was shook with the other main character Bebe, the fact that she was trans was so interesting. When looking at the art style the artist was smart enough to give her a feminine and masculine face when it came to face shape so it was so interesting how you could still see "The man" in her since she was transitioning.
I loved everything in this comic so much and I think it's such a worthy read.

This is only my second graphic novel, but I loved it. The imagery was exactly what I'd expect from a graphic novel and was really well done. I love the storyline and the way the story tackled some complex issues around gender and sexuality and thr process of discovery. As an ex-cheerleader I also loved the cheer aspect.
I would recommend this for secondary school kids as I think it teaches some important lessons.
I'm really hoping this is a series because I want to hear more from the main characters!

This is such an adorable graphic novel! It felt really reminiscent of Alice Oseman's Heartstopper series and Check Please! It's a wholesome story exploring gender, friendship and love. The story has so much heart, it's adorable! Such an uplifting story about being your authentic self and uplifting others, this is definitely one to look out for. I want more from these characters. It's so short and sweet, there has to be a sequel!

It was such a cute and sweet read! I loved the character representation and the relationship between the main characters. The book is really diverse, which I absolutely loved - you could see people trying to explore their sexuality and gender identity. Apart from that, the art was really beautiful and the character designs were amazing too! The plot was in a way like slice of life, it wasn't one with major plot happening but rather of self-discovery and forming relationships. Totally loved it!

Trigger Warnings: Micro aggressions, Transphobia,

"Cheer Up" manages to discuss difficult topics with ease and emotion! The cast of characters is very diverse and realistic, with most characters being both flawed and lovable, and the relationships (romance, friendships and family) are all very wholesome and evolve with the progression of the story. I also enjoyed how cheerleading is portrayed, liberating it from the more typical idea of the "clicky-famous-girls-only" high school sport that most media tend to show. The art suits the story really well, I really liked the style and colours. Overall, a very diverse, light hearted read that still discusses serious topics with lovely art, highly recommend!