I liked Gao's first book but this one was a miss for me. It's a queer YA romance comic about a girl who is a top rock climber. Her dad passed away when she was young and she's grown up in a tight knit church so she hasn't told anyone she's gay. When she breaks her arm, she's forced to take an elective and joins the newspaper where she is assigned to the astrology column with a quirky, punk girl. There's way too much time spent on astrology and tarot that had me completely check out of this. I also have my doubts about how accepting a Texas church would be about gay members as well.

The art looks really rushed and unfinished. I couldn't tell who was who most of the time except for Bex whose punk hair cut made it look like she had a lamb sitting on her head.

After loving Laura Gao's MESSY ROOTS, I was thrilled to be given an e-ARC of KIRBY'S LESSONS FOR FALLING (IN LOVE). Alas, it paled in comparison to its predecessor. Where MESSY ROOTS soars with its richness in symbolism, plot development, character development, etc., KIRBY'S LESSONS FOR FALLING (IN LOVE) falls flat. The plot and character development both felt clunky. When we first meet Bex she felt like more of a caricature. That being said, Gao is at her best when she employs visual metaphors, and there are some strong moments--and I wish there had been more of these interwoven throughout the story. As much as I wanted to love Gao's sophomore piece, this just wasn't for me (and that's okay!). I look forward to Gao's next work.

Being a rock climber, one of the lessons Kirby learned since she’s little was how to handle a fall. But her falling experience was tested when she met Bex, a quirky astrology practitioner in the newspaper club she was forced to join (for a whole different context and with addition of some external factors).

I enjoyed the story, it’s fun and wholesome. Sometimes I found it hard to comprehend the scenes bc of the illustration style, it looked like a draft sketch I’m so sorry🥲 but then again, the storytelling was so good!

A pretty standard coming of age plot, but executed well with some really fun and interesting illustrations. I liked the characters and it managed to cover a lot in the amount of pages it had.

I loved following Kirby throughout this graphic novel as she discovered herself and learned to work through the fear of her everyday life.

While there were a few times I struggled to understand what was happening (which was probably more my fault than anything), the artwork was absolutely stunning and fun to follow. I loved the repeated use of falling throughout it as well.

I’m excited to read Laura Gao’s other novel as well!

a heartwarming YA graphic novel about sapphic first love, rockclimbing, astrology, tarot, grief, and figuring out yourself out while making mistakes along the way. there's also the heavy matter of reconciling coming out with religious family ties.

though there's nothing objectively wrong with the art style, i had a hard time vibing with it. some characters are hard to distinguish, and there were panels where i wasn't sure exactly what was happening.

however, the art does exude emotions - my favorite was the bao-making montage, filled with joy and culinary magic! the soft color palette is also lovely.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I really liked this book! Will fit perfectly on the shelf with the YA graphic novels and fans of Heartstopper. I loved the art style and the character design. The use of color to emphasize the characters' emotions throughout the book was a great way to convey the mood of the panel. As someone who also read the author's memoir and like this one as well, I can't wait for their next book!

When Kirby fractures her wrist while rock climbing, she is forced out of her comfort zone and pushed into working on the school paper. Kirby does not really want to be there, and she wants to work on the astrology column even less. But Bex, the writer of the column, and Kirby quickly warm to each other. As they crush on each other, Kirby's mom discourages the relatrionship. As a single parent (after her dad passed) who is religious, she only sees Bex as trouble. But this relationship may just be the thing worth fighting for.
A cute, queer teen coming of age/first love, Kirby's Lessons for Falling is a sweet read.

I enjoyed the story, but the art style at times seemed rushed and messy, and others it was beautiful. I'm assuming it was done like that on purpose, but it just isn't my favorite, stylistically. I did, however, enjoy the color theme. Lots of drama and great rep.

Nothing drives a YA novel quite like the intense, unshakable desires of the characters. With impressive straightforward clarity, Gao captures the life-or-death, heart-on-the-sleeve emotions that high schoolers experience--from the drive to win at sports, the aspiration of attending a particular school, the struggle to redefine relationships with family, and of course romance. Gao's expressive use of line in their illustrations brings to life the intensity and physicality of the characters as well as the deep emotions that drive the story, making this title a compelling, unputdownable YA graphic novel from start to finish.

Teen readers will love the astrology, tarot, and rock climbing in this one. When Kirby has to work with Bex to raise her English grade, the stars do not seem to have aligned. Kirby is still dealing with grief of the loss of her father, of her grandfather’s illness, and of the feelings she has around her church’s ideas against “rainbow people”. What comes is a balance between the light and joy of writing a relationship and advice column with the darker topics Kirby struggles with.
The art is a bit hard to follow, especially in a digital format, so I would recommend print!
For fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me.

I really enjoyed Gao’s first graphic memoir, so I was looking forward to reading her second release. While I found the color palette and plot interesting, I did not appreciate the illustrations as much. I will still recommend this book to teens I know who enjoy graphic novels and books about sports.

There are a lot of ways to fall in life, think trick is knowing how to get back up again.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Harper Collins for this copy of #KirbysLessonsForFallingInLove in exchange for my honest review.

If you've gotten your fill of Heartstopper and want a mixed-race, southern American, lesbian take on the slow burn queer high school romance give this book a chance. Kirby's Lessons for Falling does a great job at weaving so many elements of the two main character's stories to create an interesting narrative dealing with religion, queer acceptance, grief, and coming into oneself as a young adult.

I don't really want to say much else about it, as I think the story will speak for itself. Truly I only had a few small issues with this book - 1. The digital format split pages that are meant to be full spreads so I had to turn the page back and forth (always a nitpick for me), 2. The art style got a little muddy so sometimes things were hard to follow but the story line does a good job of leading you through that, 3. There's an attempted serial assault situation that caught me off guard. It's not graphic, the panels are short, and the friends put a stop to anything before something actually happens but it's there and something to look out for if that's sensitive for you.

Overall though, the messages are clear and important and worth checking out.

What’s the hardest part of learning fall? Remembering that someone will be there to pick you up. Kirby is a star at the local rock climbing club, but despite her success, she’s dealing with a lot — the passing of her father, her ailing grandfather, and the strain that comes with growing up queer in a religious family. When an injury and slipping grades force Kirby onto the school newspaper team, she meets someone who will teach her to trust fate, the stars, and, most importantly, herself. In this story, Gao brings fully realized characters that are forced to navigate a lot throughout this story, though readers may struggle to find their grip as they grapple with frequent flashback exposition. Romance seekers will adore the slow burn and the will-they-won’t-they plot, but it may become lost in the shuffle for others. The artwork presented is familiar and on trend, but the lack of distinct character design and busier pages can make it difficult to discern who’s who.: A heartwarming tale of trusting yourself and growing into your own. A supplemental purchase for those looking to expand their LGBTQ+ YA Graphic Novel offerings.

Thank you Netgalley and Harperalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Laura Gao’s “Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (In Love)” is a heartfelt YA graphic novel that focuses on romance and self-discovery with an honest look at identity and belonging. At its core, the story follows Kirby Tan, a rock-climbing prodigy whose world shifts after a falling injury forces her to step away from her sport. While recovering, she joins the school newspaper’s astrology column, where she’s paired with the outgoing and opinionated Bex. What starts as an unexpected partnership soon turns into something deeper, as Kirby navigates her growing feelings for Bex while struggling with the fear of coming out to her religious family.

Gao excels at capturing the highs and lows of high school life. The humor is sharp, with witty dialogue and small visual details—like club posters and exaggerated facial expressions—that bring the world to life. The supporting cast of queer friends adds warmth and authenticity, making the friendships feel both genuine and heartfelt. The slow-burn romance between Kirby and Bex is sweet, though it leans into some predictable YA tropes, such as jealousy and a third-act breakup. While the chemistry between them may not resonate with every reader, their dynamic offers a compelling contrast—Kirby’s cautious approach to life versus Bex’s unabashed confidence.

The story also tackles heavier themes, particularly around queerness and religion. Kirby’s struggle with coming out is complicated by her relationship with her widowed mother and the lingering impact of her grandfather’s stroke, which happened shortly after she came out to him. The story thoughtfully explores how religious spaces can be both a source of comfort and pain for queer individuals, as well as the judgment that can come from both inside and outside those communities.

While “Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (In Love)” is full of heart and important themes, some elements feel a bit underdeveloped. The sports aspect and the astrology club—both key parts of Kirby’s life—could have used more focus. The storytelling occasionally feels rushed or unclear, especially in the romance’s progression.

Despite these minor flaws, the story shines as a touching exploration of grief, identity, and the courage it takes to be yourself. The ending, though bittersweet, leaves you with a sense of hope and belonging. Perfect for middle-grade and teen readers, “Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (In Love)” is a charming, queer-positive read that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to carve out their own place in the world.

This is a beautiful graphic novel that grapples with a lot of important issues: growing up, religion, first love, self-doubt, etc. I can see multiple folks relating to this little snippet of Kirby's life, particularly teen kiddos. The events in the novel are sandwiched between Kibry falling and breaking her arm rock climbing, trying to reach the tallest point, and getting the courage to get back up and maybe fall again. There is so much going on in Kirby's life that would be a lot for an adult to deal with, let alone a senior in high school. I enjoyed seeing her interact and trying to make sense of it all with the wonderful supporting cast, especially Bex. The vibrant pinks, blues, and creams of the illustrations were so gorgeous, that I almost wanted to step into the graphic novel and swim around in them. I highly recommend all school librarians get a copy of KIRBY'S LESSONS FOR FALLING (IN LOVE) for their libraries ASAP.

Immense thanks to all involved for the ARC of this dazzling graphic novel.

Didn’t get a chance to finish this one in time before the book expired on my tablet. I will have to get the book and read it in person and then edit the review once I’ve finished.

"Kirby's Lessons for Falling (in Love) by Laura Gao" is a fun coming of age and first love story! The astrology aspect was really fun!

I really enjoyed Laura’s graphic memoir, so I was really excited to read their first work of fiction, and it was great! Full of heart and some surprisingly teary moments. I’m not sure how the final artwork looks, but the art style in the ARC made for some difficulty for me in telling some characters apart; other than that, I had a really great time reading.

✨ Review ✨ Kirby's Lessons for Falling by Laura Gao

Thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperAlley and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This is a super cute YA / coming of age graphic novel!

Kirby’s one of the top rock climbers in her state, but an injury forces her to get involved in a different activity while she heals. When she joins the school newspape, she befriends the quirky Bex. Bex and Kirby are very much opposites but in their schemes to match make to help their relationships column flourish they find a tentative friendship

This had lovely art and a sweet storyline though it was a bit slow paced for me. Lovers of queer YA graphic novels and coming-of-age stories will enjoy this one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: YA Graphic Novel, coming of age, LGBTQ+
Pub Date: March 4, 2025