If you are looking for a diverse story with themes of found family and geek culture that also tackles important topics like mental illness, then I think you would enjoy this book.

[Check out my full review on my blog]

Quick Summary: Brilliant, beautiful, and so needed

My Review: Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe by Lindsay S. Zrull was a brilliantly written book. It spoke about a number of serious issues. From family and foster care to mental illness and how it is perceived at large - it was all there. More than that, this unique story addressed care management for those who suffer from a mental disorder as well as for those who serve those who suffer. It spoke of identity and friendship, as well as about forgiveness and reconciliation. It was beautiful.

My Final Say: This is a hidden gem. 💎It is very much worth a read. I plan to recommend it to my MCS teen group, in addition to my local librarians and their book clubs.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: YA, T, A
Keeper: Yes
Re-read: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own and have not been influenced by the aforementioned in any way.

* A Goodreads review has been posted.

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

A Goth girl fan of Edgar Allen Poe who is introduced to the geek culture and the world of cosplay, what do you want me to say, I was sold and I pretty much loved it.
I loved everything about this book and after finishing it I just wanted to hug it. It was such an enjoyable and heartbreaking story with some amazing characters that I ended up being so fond of them for they made me laugh, smile and cry.
The author's writing style was so good and I liked her way of treating about some difficult subjects like the foster system, the impact of mental health on families and the lives of young people and also the prejudices in the cosplay community. I want to say that I see this story as a message of hope and I wish that a lot of readers will like it as much as I did.

Jessica the goth girl has been bounced from one foster home to another, and to make things worse, at her new school everyone thinks she's a witch (she's just a little goth girl).
I enjoyed this book, I rarely see books written about the goth culture. I also like that it included serious topics like mental health, foster care system etc.

3.5 stars

Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe is a coming of age story about a young foster kid who is afraid to break down her walls and let people in. After being removed from the custody of her mentally ill mother, our main character, Jess, has been passed around from family to family. She has internalized the feeling of isolation so much that she distances herself from everyone, even people who care for her.

There is a lot of representation available throughout this novel, though I can’t speak to how accurate it is, so you’ll have to check ownvoices reviewers on that. The author is a former foster kid herself, so that part of the book is based off her own experiences. Other representations include a Mexican American main character whose father was undocumented and deported, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, goth culture, and bipolar disorder. It is a very character-driven novel, and I appreciated how much growth Jess went through to get to where she is at the end.

In regards to the writing, there were times where it got a bit too repetitive for me, but I did enjoy it for the most part. I read a few reviews that said they felt the writing was more MG than YA, but I would have to disagree with them. While there were a few times that the writing did sound like some MG novels that I’ve read, I would definitely say that this is in fact a YA novel. The story does a few deep dives into ableism in regards to mental illness, but other than that I think it would be suitable for an upper MG audience as well.

There are several great takeaways that I think readers can get from this novel: the importance of open and honest communication, the idea that family doesn’t start or end with blood, information on how deeply ableism is embedding in society and ways to recognize it, and an overall message of hope that things will work out in the end.

Surpresa é uma palavra que define muito a experiência desse livro para mim. Eu não esperava metade do que encontrei nessa trama e, mesmo que em alguns momentos tenha sido para o lado negativo, a maioria foi para o positivo.

A sinopse da história, depois da capa ter me chamado a atenção, resume bem um pouco do clima do enredo seguindo a protagonista, Jess, em mais um dos lares temporários a que tanto está acostumada desde que sua tutela ficou com o estado após sua mãe não conseguir criá-la em meio à esquizofrenia. Assim, é normal que a narrativa se apresente de forma distante logo de cara enquanto a Jess vai realmente mostrando quem é, do que gosta e seus objetivos para o leitor. Nesse ponto é um começo um tanto parado, mas melhora um monte quando, enfim, a aproximação de Oscar e a proposta para ajudá-lo num grupo de cosplay surgem para agitar a trama, bem como nos fazer conhecer, pouco a pouco, mais personagens.

São todos, desde à mulher que está tomando conta da Jess no momento, a Barbra, até o pessoal do cosplay, Oscar, Emily e Gerrit, muito bem desenvolvidos, ganhando profundidade ao longo da história e à medida em que a protagonista se relaciona com cada um deles e o quanto de abertura ela lhes dá. A relação dela com a Barbra em especial é uma das que mais me ganhou, pela sensibilidade com que esta se apresenta e todas as diferenças gritantes que ela representa para a Jess quanto ao padrão de pais de outros lares temporários que ela passou antes e dos quais não tem memórias muito boas. Dessa vez, ela se vê numa situação diferente, em que mesmo tentando prever o lado de Barbra, ela ainda é pega de surpresa por essa, e aliado à tudo que vai se desenrolar graças ao cosplay e sua exploração desse universo, o enredo só cresce.

"Cherish the good times you have, but don’t let old wounds hold you back from making new friends in the future either.”

E isso tudo sem nem citar, ainda, que o livro também fala muito sobre saúde mental. É uma abordagem tanto realista quanto esperançosa, uma vez que esclarece que qualquer que seja a doença, ninguém deixa de ser humano, jovem ou velho, ter uma carreira ou não, etc, por causa disso. Desde os exemplos mais comuns do dia-a-dia, como a ansiedade, até casos mais densos como o da esquizofrenia, a autora desenvolve muito bem a temática e gera um debate bacana, por vezes um pouco pesado, mas ainda com sensibilidade e eventual leveza nos demais momentos, fazendo os personagens, no fim do dia, serem muito mais do que pessoas com doença x ou y, da mesma forma que, com ou sem elas, todos precisam se cuidar de alguma forma.

Enfim, Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe foi uma aposta de leitura que eu não esperava muito, mas se mostrou um mar de emoções, descobertas sobre o mundo do cosplay junto à Jess, amizades, relações familiares além das da protagonista, e aprendizados sobre como encarar ou não a saúde mental e as variações dela.

"The world we live in wants us to believe that minds or bodies that look or work differently are somehow less, but that isn’t true."

First of all I would like to talk about the physical aspect of the book because it is something that stands out a lot. The cover is extremely beautiful, the art is incredible and the title is so powerful that it immediately catches the eye, I feel that both the author and the illustrator did an impeccable job in this aspect that will surely catch the attention of many readers, which is something worth mentioning.

Now, the content.

The book follows Jess, our protagonist, a teenage girl who from a very early age was left in the orphanage, since her mother could not take care of her because she suffered from schizophrenia, at her young age she has already passed through several temporary homes in where her caregivers saw her as a problem, and by several schools where she suffered harassment, so she decides to create some unbreakable rules or tips to survive the life of a 'foster kid', which makes her seem like a cold and closed person. One step at a time, her life changes when she moves into the home of her new caretaker, Barbra, and meets Oscar, a boy who likes cosplay and the geek culture in general, at school, who is impressed by her as much as her talent with makeup and dress and He asks her to join his small group and enter a cosplay competition, Jess is initially uninterested, but quickly realizes that such competitions could bring her closer to her bio mother.


I feel like Jess is such a real and complete character, it's easy to get caught up in her interests, to appreciate the way she identifies with Poe, her self-confidence, what her style means to her, but it's also easy to empathize with her. With her deepest thoughts.

Although she may seem cold, you understand the reason for her rules, you understand her desire to reunite with her biological mother even knowing that it is a bad idea and that Barbra is a great caregiver, and more than anything you understand her resentment and fear of one day suffering from schizophrenia just like her mother.

There are parts in the book where I just empathized with her so much that couldn't help but cry a little, all of her feelings become very real and personal to the reader.

But the good work that the author did does not end with Jess, the other characters are just as wonderful, although we do not know them in depth, none of them feel flat, stereotyped or repetitive, each one has their own identity and personality. Each one shines in their own way.

The author emphasizes how important representation is and this is just how it feels in the book, the characters are people we could meet, who could be our friends or even us. With Oscar I have experienced what is like seeing myself on a page, his fight against his anxiety is something that I know very well and that somehow made me feel truly accompanied. It made me feel no longer alone.


As a Psychology student, I feel that the author handled the subject of mental health very well, the approach is very positive and leaves you with a wonderful message that is something that we should all keep in mind: suffering from a disorder is not our fault, and that we all deserve both to be accompanied and to be loved even with these. Suffering from one or seeking help is not something we should feel ashamed of, and that we all, as a society, should do our best not to abandon people.



Accompanied by all this, the book is written in a very friendly language that both teenagers and adults will enjoy reading, the pace of the book is very good, although unfortunately I had to pause during reading, it was always easy for me to resume and follow the thread, mainly towards the last part where the story becomes so engaging that you don't want to take your eyes off the page.

I really applaud the author, this is her debut book and anyone who reads it would think that she has been in this industry for years because of the good work she did.

Without a doubt, it is a book that I would recommend to everyone and that will have a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.

I'm sorry - but I hated this book.

I found the characters to lack depth and be one-dimensional stereotypes. I could not buy Jess as a goth kid who doesn't know who Bowie is and has never seen a horror movie? I read every goth kid book when I was a teen, and I would not have liked this representation of it.

I tried to give Jess a pass because of her trauma - I think her distrust is real and natural - but one page she'd tell Barbara it was cool to be a geek and then a few pages later she wouldn't talk to Oscar because he was a geek. It just didn't make sense - she was a walking contradiction.

Additionally, I did not find the teen voice to be authentic. It feels aimed at younger teens, but almost reads more middle grade. And overall, the book just felt like an adult who wanted to show all the cool retro things they were into.

The last 25% was a little better- but not strong enough to redeem the whole book.

I really enjoyed Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe. The premise is really interesting and fun, and I enjoyed the way the book balanced the fun and creative moments of cosplay with more serious discussions of the toxicity of fan culture, the realities and stigmas surrounding mental health, and the foster care system. I feel like the book balanced all these plot points and tones well, and I found myself really engaged with the story from the beginning.

Jess is a fantastic and complex main character, Oscar is an excellent male lead, and all the side characters are well-developed and leap off the page. As someone who's never done cosplay or gone to a fan convention (so admittedly I can’t speak about how realistically it was portrayed), I really enjoyed the cons, which felt like a tribute to fan culture. All the scenes where the characters are building their costumes or exploring the conventions are super fun and had me smiling and planning out my own cosplay ideas, even though I can’t sew at all.

Overall, I feel like this book was a really fun and quick read that handled some serious topics really well. It had fun moments, heartfelt moments, serious discussions and kids allowed to love themselves, and more. If you’re looking for a contemporary YA book that explores fan culture, mental health, found family, and has a little bit of romance in it, definitely check this one out!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. This book is very fast paced and enjoyable. It keeps your attention from the first page. I absolutely adored Jess and Oscar’s characters. I had a absolute blast reading this book. I would highly recommend reading this book to anyone and everyone. This book is in stores for $14.99 (USD).

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and North Star Editions for providing me with an ARC copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book surprised me and in a good way! It was so much more than I was expecting!

Jess is a foster child and has been in several foster homes before the one she's currently in with Barb. Bouncing from foster home to foster home over the years, Jess created specific rules for herself in order not to get attached to anyone.

Although some might find it overwhelming, I enjoyed all the different topics/subjects this book covers. From foster care to mental health as well as the diversity of characters, body positivity, fandoms and cosplay and comic con. This book includes subjects that many stay clear of and does a great job touching on each, especially adoption, mental health and most of all.... family. The characters are so supportive of each other and each is different in their own way.

Add in a little fashion, cosplay and comic con fun and this was a read I fully enjoyed.

Did not finish at 44%
I really wanted to like this one. I pushed nearly to 50 percent – which is quite far as usually I know by 10 or 20% if it’s a book for me – but I kept trying to make it work for me. It had a cute cover, it looked like it was about something important and apparently it did find its audience – which is great! I’m glad that it was able to mean something for someone – just not for me.

It read like a book I could easily find in back in 2010s. We’re nearing the end of 2022 (still cant believe that) and reading this really felt like I was a teen again reading cringey reads. By cringey I mean unnecessary stereotyping of various characters just because they’re a cheerleader? A pretty girl must be one that has no ‘real’ thoughts and so on – I was very unimpressed and that was a big reason for me not wanting to read anymore.

I also didn’t like the style of writing – it contributed to my dislike of the book and also made it feel like a book stuck in the 2010s. It’s not that I didn’t like Jess, I I just didn’t think much of her because of how she saw everyone else. And okay, sure, I understand how that’s not her fault, her circumstances are much different and all that – but even that didn’t help my feelings towards her/the book.

I enjoyed this book but sometimes the main character was just over the top. I liked the idea of the story and I think teens will enjoy this more than me. Definitely will be up their alley.

A good YA Contemporary about a young goth girl moving from foster home to foster home. At her new school, everyone thinks she's a witch because her whole style is goth. Jess, our protagonist, shows her outfits every day on her Instagram handle and gets DM'ed by someone claiming to be her biological mother, which intrigues her. She wants to meet that woman and goes on a certain mission to be able to get to New York City, but not everything is as it seems and Jess is soon going to be plagued by second thoughts.

Thanks to TBR AND BEYOND for the spot on the tour.

15 Thoughts I had while reading Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe.

When you get a Kirkus starred review and a blurb from Francesca Zappia, I am EXCITED.
Great intro. As someone who usually tries to fit in, I already love Jess’s confidence.
Is the instagram handle real? Runs to instagram to check. It exists, but is empty. I’d love to see some goth looks here!
I love the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I really thought they’d all be Poe, but was happy to see it changed up every now and then. They definitely help set the mood for the chapter.
I really feel for Jess. I get that her mom wants to reach out, but as an instagram comment? That would stress me out and I’m not even her! I appreciate her cynical side.
Okay, Oscar’s basement….hahaha. And, I totally know a person that would be Oscar. I love it. And long live geek culture!
Any time there is an Emily in a book, I’m like, “please be a cool character and not a mean girl!”
I love that Jess’s foster mom is really trying to reach out and connect, even if it feels forced to Jess. I think she’s trying and wants to not change Jess, but I cannot imagine how hard that would be. Also, is Barbra a single mom foster mom? I’m for it!
Jess’s first experience with cosplay and a con makes my nerdy heart just explode. And I kinda want to be both more into cosplay and cons than I am.
There is a lot to unpack in this book. I’m glad Jess is willing to risk her Goth Girl exterior for something new.
I hate the part of books where there in conflict, even though I know it’s part of what makes books great.
I’m not sure Jess deserves Barbra. She’s the best foster mom and her past makes her the perfect person for Jess
Time for Jess to come clean. I already trust her friends more than she does.
This bench scene with Jess and Barb makes me cry.
The Princess Bride. Enough said.

Aside from having one of my favorite covers of the year, Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe also has a lot to bring to the table! This book discusses a lot of difficult topics including foster care and mental illness (which we should honestly be talking about a lot more). There are nerdy references, representation, and body-positive comments! This book will make you roll your eyes, laugh, cry, and warm your heart. Definitely worth picking it up.

Thank you tbrbeyondtours for letting me join the tour and FluxBooks for sending me a physical copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a lover of cosplaying and pop culture, this book exceeded my expectations by constantly tugging my heart strings (tissues for days). Jessica is a headstrong protagonist who addresses important experiences and topics about the foster home system, mental illnesses, body positivity, and the need for diversity in the cosplaying community. The fandom culture references were on point to drive the narrative and descriptions forward.

First person POV, Instagram DMs and dialogue allows the reader to feel Jessica's conflicting interactions and emotions with her foster mother and her biological mother, while the found family with Jessica and the misfits, develop their character and friendships by learning to accept each others' vulnerabilities and supporting their personal endeavors. This is truly an emotional and sparkling debut.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flux for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Jess has been in the foster care system long enough to know that there are rules, and even if you follow them, you can still get sent back - so she does not let herself get too comfortable. Her Gothic style seems to keep away the people at her Midwestern high school anyway - except Oscar. He thinks she's interesting, and recruits her for his personal cosplay team. As the group gets closer, Jess finds herself wanting to get comfortable with her foster parent, Oscar, and the cosplay world, but she can't help thinking about her bio mom's struggle with mental illness - is there a way that they can reconnect after all this time?

Oof the emotions in this one. There's representation for larger body types, nontraditional families (being raised by grandparents, foster care), mental illness, and identity. You can feel that it's a young adult book, but not in that it's childish (it isn't) - the emotions are just so raw.

This book is a lot to process emotionally, but it's a good one. A multitude of emotional gut punches.

CW: mental illness, parental abandonment, institutionalization, fat phobic comments

I quite enjoyed the writing and which made the read fast and steady. The book deals with a lot of heavy topics which definitely warrants user discretion. While there are some really good themes, the book seemed quite convaluted at times. I did, however, enjoy the characters and the read and would recommend the book especially for its diversity and representation. And for the Found Family. Can’t say that enough. It’s the best.

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*

For me this is the perfect book for you to read if you want to feel good it's such a nice story to read even with the heavy themes.the story have.
For me this book is a great mix of cheerful, fun, geek book with topics such as mental illness, bullying, family problems and other themes that are part of our lives especially when we are growing up.
This is a story that in my opinion all teenagers should read, if I had read it at that time it would have helped me so much that I want to buy it for my teenage sister.
For me, this book talks and understands what it's like to be a teenager.
All the themes that this book addresses for me were very well done, in fact there is nothing I didn't like about this story.
The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because I feel it's a juvenile book, but very well done to the point of perfection.
I recommend it to everyone, you will get something out of this story and you will laugh, fall in love, be enchanted and learn with our protagonist!