Rave, a graphic novel that focuses on questioning conservative religious teachings, especially those relating to the LGBTQIA+ community, was just an okay read. The illustrations were nice, but the story itself wasn't anything special. There are definitely better graphic novels out there that deal with similar topics and I would not recommend reading this title.
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

Lauren comes from a bible thumping family who live their life by the Bible. (I mean they don’t even have internet!) One day in class she gets partnered up with a girl named Mariah who just so happens to be a Wiccan. Everything about Mariah should scare Lauren away but it only makes her more curious, the girls spend time together and a friendship blossoms.

This queer coming of age story honestly made me mad, the fact that people truly feel the way her church do about people who are gay or even women makes me want to stab someone.

The ending made me really sad, I wish we could’ve gotten a bit more between the two girls and maybe more of a conclusion.

I personally wasn’t a huge fan of the art style.

Thank you NetGalley and Drawn and Quarterly for sending me this as an ARC to review!

All opinions are my own!

3.5 stars. Rave follows Lauren as she toils with her feelings regarding her queerness and her faith. This is a really touching and compelling graphic novel that suffers from being too short--I think that if we had more time to see Lauren and Mariah's relationship bloom, its inevitable end would have felt more impactful. Every story beat seemed to happen within a page or so when it could have benefitted from more explanation. The ending was surprising and sharp, but lacked any kind of conclusive or satisfying sensation. I don't mind that it feels Lauren's life is vague and open to take on a new direction, but I needed a little more reflection for it to feel rewarding. Still a beautiful exploration of coming into yourself as a queer person!