I really loved this book! It was such a sweet read, and hope there is a sequel (or another standalone within the same park). I loved how it took on how much stories can mean to us, and how much they can bring even better stories to people while overcoming constricting ideals and norms. The art style was great and the characters were just as amazing! Will definitely keep an eye out for another book in this style.

I enjoy this so much!!!

What I like from this book:
- The artstyle!! The colour palette?! Very eye-pleasing
- James. Must protect at all cost. I love James and Tabi dynamic is warm, and supportive🌸
- Tabi 🩷🩷🩷 our FMC. She worked so hard and so deserved to earn the magical things floored in this book. The ups and downs. The never give up!!! And as a curvy myself, I feel seen, and appreciated and it feels nice to make magic with this kind of body 🫶🏾
- Loving how the plot centred around Tabi's struggles yet her determination to reach her dream. And what she got in the end exceeding my expectations.

Read if you like:
- light magical summer romance revolving wonderland and princess and kitty!!!
- graphic novel to be read in one sitting
- Strong determined FMC
- Loveable couples

Thanks for the arc in exchange for honest review ✨

This was absolutely perfect in every way!!!!

Evoking the joy of the happiest place on Earth, Sommerland is a theme park that brings every guest magical moments and one-of-a-kind characters. Which, in turn, is why children grow up dreaming of being those characters. As adults, they reach for those nostalgic moments to bring back the memories of what made them special.

That’s exactly what happens for Tabi, who in the summer before her senior year in high school, applies to work for her dream job at Sommerland, with the hopes of becoming a character actor… a princess, to be precise. But every time she tells someone or mentions her dreams, they suggest a costumed character, with their face hidden away.

It’s definitely obvious from early on why they’re all in disbelief on why she isn’t understanding. It’s all about her weight. Which is confirmed later in the book when one of the princesses, who up until now have all been vapid and had a chip on their shoulders, tells her that she’ll never fit in the costumes.

As someone who loves a theme park, it would be so incredible if for once, there really was more representation in character actors, especially face ones. I get that we are stuck with this horrible beauty standard that we’ve grown into, but a small .001 percent of the world fits that. I’d like to see more plus size actors… but that is a tangent, which obviously fits in with the theme of the book, but is neither here nor there.

We Could Be Magic had all the magic and beauty I expect to see when thinking about the themes, but also the jaded attitudes and hate spewing from the mouths of minimum wage employees for a big corporation. It feels almost as if the author and/or illustrator has worked for D!$ney and know exactly what it’s like.

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of the book. I can’t wait to reread it when it’s released!!!

Cute and sweet! Love a theme park behind the scenes story. The illustrations are colorful and brilliant. The cast is diverse. Very fun!

I love Marissa Meyer and I hope she continues to write graphic novels! I loved the Disney World/Land inspiration behind this story. This is a great message of never giving up on your dreams and knowing it’s okay to be different.

This was a very cute and wholesome read!! I loved reading it and wasn't ready for it to be over! I loved the body positivity message to the story and the ending truly was a 'happily ever after'!

Oh, I loved this! Right from the first page, I knew I would. The illustrations are beautiful. The pinks, purples, blues…and all of the characters are stunning. Their reaction faces made me laugh out loud sometimes. The whole story is so well done.

I love Tabi, too. I just wanted to give her a hug! She’s all sunshine and day dreams and happiness. No matter what was happening in her life, she never let it hold her back and it was so sweet to watch her succeed.

I also loved seeing her parents again in the epilogue! Just goes to show true love still exists - even if it doesn’t look how we thought it would. Kind of like beautiful princesses 😉

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy of the story!

Why am I crying before 6 AM lol, this book was SO cute!! It was a really sweet story and I absolutely loved the inclusivity and feel-good magic. I would recommend this as a palate-cleansing book. It’s a great reset after reading a longer/more intense book. Also, the artwork was so beautiful and perfectly suited for this type of story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advance digital copy to review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the e-ARC of We Could Be Magic!
5 / 5 ⭐
I was VERY excited to see a new graphic novel written by Marissa Meyer (the author of Cinder) and then doubly pleased to see it combined the magic of a Disneyworld-esque theme park and the importance of paving the way for other people who are being excluded or forgotten. We Could Be Magic is a cute body-positive romance for Disney adults - and teens! Would highly recommend.

Ahhh… such a sweet book. Totally reminds me of Disney folklore and all the rumors there. I liked that this version had much more inclusive princesses and tried to capture the idea of making everyday magic. I’d love a real life summerland! Great story also about young adults accepting themselves for who they are and that representation can change!

As a huge Marissa Meyer fan, I knew I had to check out her latest graphic novel coming out this year. The story (though predictable) was engaging, fun, and magical. I liked Tabi and appreciated how she was determined to follow her dreams no matter what. As a long-time Disney fan and avid theme park goer, I thought Marissa Meyer did an excellent job portraying the park, the guests, and the chaotic busy bustle that happens at theme parks. It was a quick and fun read!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced review copy


THIS WAS SO CUTEEEEEEEE

This is a YA graphic novel about our MC Tabi who dreams of playing a princess at her local theme park, and is dismayed when she is put at the nacho stand instead. But with the help of her new cute friend, she decides to shake things up and chase her dream anyway.

I loved everything about this, from the plus size rep to the Disneyland vibes to the cutesie little romance.


I’d say it’s good for fans of Hot Dog Girl, Pumpkinheads & just a good old time

Sweet graphic novel that combines the tropes of romance and coming of age stories. It focuses on a high school junior, Tabitha, and her experiences in a summer work program at what is clearly meant to be Disneyland (albeit by a different name, with different characters, and an obsession with cats instead of mice). Tabitha is initially disappointed to discover most of her colleagues have long since forgotten the magic of the theme park and are instead more focused on the miserable working conditions and her assignment as a food vendor in one of the park's less prestigious zones. Over time she identifies a friend who shares her wonder for the themepark and its capacity to make more memories for guests and ultimately lands a gig as one of the character actors (albeit not the princess she wants). A last minute crisis and the way Tabitha and her friends address it serve as the dramatic conclusion to and otherwise mostly meditative story. Themes include coming of age, coping with parental divorce, found family, and anti-fat bias. Overall tone is pleasant, whimsical, and caring.

Cute romance in a Disney-esque amusement park featuring a fat protagonist who gets to actually become a princess-- and inspire not only other fat girls that they can be princesses, too, but the whole world when the owner/creator dreams up a new princess who is fat! More positive fat storylines, please!

A YA romance set in a Disney-like amusement park named Sommerland, this story follows a Spiriter—a devoted Sommer superfan—during her dream summer job at the park. It’s a charming tale with great representation for girls.

I loved this a lot more than I thought I would. As someone who grew up on Disney, surrounded by “Disney adults,” I have a lot of criticisms about the company, along with a lot of love and nostalgia. This book shattered my expectations, and I ended up really identifying with the main character- dreaming of being a princess but not having the desired “looks” to be one. The romance was incredibly sweet, and I enjoyed the art style a lot! I will say that some of the story beats felt a bit off and some of the characters felt a bit underdeveloped, but the main two were perfect. As soon as our mom deems her old enough for romance, I’ll be giving my little sister this book to read.

This book is amazing! It is definitely fun to see a behind the scenes view of a large theme park. It also begs the question, "Why aren't there any bigger princesses?" So many people, including princesses, are not stick skinny. Why can't there be a fantasy princess that mirrors reality? Hopefully, this will become a trend. Thank you for being awesome, Marissa Meyer.

I received an ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via NetGalley. This YA romantic graphic novel has Tabitha wants nothing else but to work at the theme park Sommerland. Her goal is to get a character role, hopefully as a princess. Through strong work and determination, she truly believes this will happen. Tabitha wants nothing more than for other people to be immersed in the magic of Sommerland. However, many of her co-workers don’t have the same goals and don’t see her as the ideal princess. Tabi does meet James who shares her passion for Sommerland.

While the theme park is based off its own fantasy stories with its own creator Winda Sommers, there are definitely nods to Disney. The art style and cute characters were engrossing, the story felt magical, I just had a different hope for the ending. Very readable.

10000000/10!! SO SO good, ugh I LOVED this story!! I used to know someone who was a major Disney fan and worked at the parks as an intern, so this is way cool to see it featured in a story like this. Especially knowing that so much of the park is never as magical as you want it to be, if people are not 100% invested in bringing the joy and magic.

"We Could Be Magic" is a YA realistic fiction graphic novel written by Marissa Meyer and illustrated by Joelle Murray. Tabi grew up loving princess movies and believing in true love, until her parents got divorced. Afterwards, her father took her to Sommerland, a giant theme park with princesses, a castle, and magic, and the experience restores her belief in true love. As a college student, she gets accepted to Sommerland's summer internship program. Tabi wants to be a princess character actor, but gets a job as a food vendor. She tries out for a character job and is turned down the first time. She puts in the work and gets a character job in a giant furry suit, but she still dreams of being a princess, even though others bluntly tell her that she's too fat.
Tabi is a compelling and likable character that readers will root for. Disney fans will definitely enoy the parallels between Disneyland and Sommerland. The setting was mostly believable, thought the ending may seem a bit farfetched, it fits in perfectly with the Sommerland magic. A must-buy for YA graphic novel collections.