*4.5 stars

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a digital advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really sweet story that is the perfect quick read for the summer. This takes place in a theme park and follows our main character Tabitha, better known as Tabi. She starts her dream job at Sommerland in the summer, where all she wants to do is create magic for others like the park has created for her. Ideally, she would like to be cast as her favorite character- a princess. However, her coworkers and managers at the park don't think she fits the image because she's plus size. Her main supporter throughout the story is James, who also believes in the magic of the park and encourages her to continue working hard. Although Tabi may have been a bit too perky and optimistic at times for me, I genuinely love that she didn't stop trying for what she deserved and didn't let others' mean words stop her. Her perseverance and dedication to inspire others was really admirable. Eventually she was able to achieve dreams she hadn't even imagined. I liked how Tabi and James' relationship blossoms from friendship to romance, and they were always uplifting each other. Some other interesting supporting characters are Kyra- Tabi's roommate, the costume designer, and the elusive park owner. At first Kyra is kind of rude and ignores Tabi, but I think she redeems herself by the end in helping Tabi. I loved the art style- the colors are beautiful and vibrant and I loved the diversity in the characters. Ultimately, this was a very enjoyable and enchanting graphic novel with themes of body positivity, friendship, romance, acceptance, and determination.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publish for providing me a with a free e ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was adorable. The art was absolutely lovely. Every character had a vibrant personality all their own. Knowing some of the people I know, Tabi's aspiration for her summer job is a very believable aspiration. The romance was believable, and there were so many choices made for the directions of some of the characters and all the right ones were made. I loved the message of this piece, on various subjects. Body positivity, friendship, even just a smidge of family in there.

That was adorable!

Tabitha has always believed in true love, even after her parents got divorced. She grew up obsessed with Sommerland magical universe and her dream is to be the cast actor for her hero, Princess Madeline.

So when she’s 17, she applied for Sommerland summer program. She’s willing to be placed anywhere because she planned to audition as a cast actor ayway. Turned out, it wasn’t as easy as she thought, especially since she doesn’t have the typical princess appearance. Still that didn’t stop her, only drove her to try harder.

It’s obvious what exactly inspired Sommerland, but since every elements related to it are made-up, it makes the setting fresh while retains the magical vibes. Tabi & James were SO cute and I’m glad they met each other! While I found some things nagged me, overall I still enjoyed the story. Absolutely wholesome and lovely.

I also want to give a shoutout to Joelle Murray because her illustrations for this book are PERFECT. Very atmospheric and eye pleasing, and most importantly I love the facial expressions🥰🥰

I’ll admit, I went into We Could Be Magic a little skeptical of how the body positivity and fat-shaming themes would be handled. But I was pleasantly surprised and found myself enjoying the story far more than I expected. It’s delightfully cute and full of heart.

Tabi is such a wonderfully positive and relatable character, her confidence and charm will resonate with so many readers. The romance was sweet and subtle, perfectly balanced as a side story that never overshadowed the core message. And the artwork? Absolutely adorable. I’m obsessed with the color palette…soft, warm, and magical in all the right ways!!

This is a lovely read that I think will especially appeal to upper middle grade and YA readers. A charming story with a powerful message, wrapped in beautiful visuals.

I received a copy from NetGalley and MacMillan Children’s Publishing group.

I loved this story. It’s a great middle grade read but it’s also relatable for adults especially anyone who loves the world of fairytales and princesses and visiting those magical theme parks.

The story is simple enough. Tabi finds happiness watching Princess movies and wants to work at the Themepark as a princess. She gets into a summer program and learns how difficult becoming a princess can be but never waivers on her commitment to make park guests feel magical.

The artwork is adorable and Tabi is such a great FMC. The wholesome book doesn’t come off as to childish either. There’s a lot Tabi has to overcome so there’s a big storyline about persevering

The ending felt a bit quick is my only complaint. The story reads like a standalone with a clear ending but I can’t help but hope we get more Tabi stories she’s so precious.

4.75/5

4.5 ⭐️

Super cute and wholesome graphic novel. Tabitha has always dreamed of working at Sommerland, and she finally got her wish. she remained positive throughout the challenges thrown her way.

I loved the body positivity and how moments of doubt were handled. I liked that she didn't stay quiet and spoke out when she needed to.

This was super fast-paced, but nothing was left out. The graphics and colors used were perfect for the story.

**thank you to Netgalley and macmillan**

I adore Marissa Meyer, and this graphic novel did not disappoint! I remember as a teenager, my dream job was also to work at a very famous theme park as a princess. Life got in the way, but I still think of how wonderful it would be for my job to be making dreams come true in the happiest place on Earth. I loved seeing Tabi work hard to make her goals happen despite adversity. It was refreshing to also see a depiction of real life struggles even though the story is fictional. This was such a cute, sweet story, and it made me nostalgic for my teen years. It also made me want to spend all my money to visit you-know-where so I can remember what it is like to suspend reality for a little while and just be a kid again.

I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley in return for my honest review.

It's been a while since I have read a wholesome graphic novel that accurately represents diversity. The storyline is simple and perfect to finish in one sitting. Would definitely recommend my younger cousins to read it!

This book was so sweet and delightful. Young readers who grew up with Disney princesses will love the story. Lighthearted and fun, this will appeal to a wide variety of readers, even those who aren’t theme park fanatics.

"I like to think that she saw me and knew it was okay to believe in dreams and love and fairy tales. Just like I had when I saw Princess Madeline all those years ago." - Tabitha Laurie.

✨ A Feel-Good Fairytale With a Modern Twist ✨

✨ BLURB:
We Could Be Magic follows Tabitha Laurie, a girl who has always believed that true love exists, especially in a magical place like Sommerland. As she grows up and joins the summer program working behind the scenes at Sommerland, her dream is to become Princess Madeline. However, management insists that the princess must be thin. Determined to prove herself, Tabi works hard and comes up with her own strategy to chase her dream.

✨ MY THOUGHTS ABOUT IT:
This was such a magical read I’ll never forget! Like many kids, I believed in fairy tales and magic growing up. This book brings that feeling back, telling a modern fairy tale that shows kindness, hope, and determination. Marissa Meyer did an incredible job spreading magic through her characters, not just through the setting.

One of the things I loved most was Tabi’s determination. Despite all the mockery and obstacles, she smiled through it all, poured love into her work, and never gave up. And then there's James, who supported her endlessly and believed in the same magic she did. Their bond felt more real and swoon-worthy than any prince on stage.

We Could Be Magic is a beautiful reminder that kindness is free, being helpful costs nothing, and goodness still exists. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance, middle-grade stories, and a little bit of real-life fairy tale magic.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for letting me experience the magical world of Sommerland with Tabitha and James.

✨WHAT I LIKED:
📌 Tabitha applying to Sommerland while waiting for the audition
📌 Tabi meeting James during the party
📌 James choosing to step down as a Prince
📌 Tabi standing up to Prince Henry
📌 Kyra’s huge character development
📌 That adorable Tabi and James kiss! (OMG!!!)

✨TROPES:
📌 Modern Fairytale
📌 Grumpy x Sunshine
📌 Supportive Love Interest
📌 Chasing Dreams
📌 Found Confidence
📌 Workplace Romance
📌 Unlikely Allies
📌 Overcoming Stereotypes
📌 No Spice

First I need yall to know that I almost had a breakdown when I fully realized the premise of this book! As a Disney College Program Alumni (and going for my second program in august) We Could Be Magic hit so so so close to home especially as a girl who ended up in the kitchen in Magic Kingdom (not anyone’s first choice lol) but Tabi held every bit of my love and nostalgia (I was there in january but still) the feelings of creating magic and James the character attendant (aka my hopeful job for my next program) exhibited exactly how to make magic. This book is truly a piece of Di-Sommerland magic!

Tabitha Laurie was a big fan of Sommerland. She dreamed about being a part of the magic and being a princess. When she got there, she quickly realized that princesses were thin, and they did not want to cast her. We see Tabi work towards her goals, make friends, and find love.

This was so cute. I love reading about Tabi and her desire for her own happily ever after. I loved the meaning in the storyline. The illustration and colors were beautiful. I would highly recommend.

There is no doubt in my mind that this book is magic. From the art to the characters to the plot line, everything about this book is stunning. I loved that Tabitha took fate into her own hands. She knew what she wanted to do, and she was willing to do anything to help make her dreams come true. I also loved that she found someone who loved the magic just as much as she did in James. Magic is what you make it and sometimes you must try and bend the rules so that it becomes what you know it always could and should have been. This book is stunning, and I can’t wait to get it into readers’ hands.
Thank you so much to Macmillan Children’s Publish Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

A little bit of a slow start, but this graphic novel was so delightfully hopeful and sweet. As a Disney (and theme park) fan, I can see the influences. But the story was wholly its own, and I could see this as the next adorable teen rom-com. Tabi was a fab lead, and James was the sweetest supporting character/love interest.

And the art and the colors were awesome as well!

Tabi loves everything about Sommerland (a Disney-like company with books, moveis and theme park.) She knows every character, every storyline, and her greatest wish is to be a princess in the park. She gets a summer job at Sommerland, but behind the scenes isn't as "magic" as she hoped. For some people, it is just a job, and they grumble about all the normal work stuff, like coworkers and schedules. She does meet another pure Sommerland fan, and they become fast friends. Tabi could be having the time of her life, except she doesn't fit the park's idea of what a princess should look like.
'We Could Be Magic' is a coming of age story mixed with a behind the scenes story of working at a theme park. It is interesting to think about the day to day of people who work to make people's dreams come true. And the characters are thoughtful, fully realized people who deal with persceived shortcomings. Overall, it is a hopeful, sweet teen romance about idealistic people finding each other and working to make others happy.

This book is equal parts warm and fuzzy. Its wholesome and sweet.
It takes place in a themepark and that adds to the whimsical nature of the book.
Its YA and covers body image/positivity.

Ive never read this author before but its a welcomed palate cleanser from my usual reads. i would recommend it to someone that needs to get out of a reading funk or just willing to try something new.

We Could Be Magic is a fun, feel-good read with a main character full of charm, confidence, and unstoppable energy. It’s a great addition to any high school library, with empowering themes of body positivity and chasing your dreams no matter the obstacles.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian Children's Group for the opportunity to read and review this graphic novel. This was an adorable story that I wished was created while I was a teenager. The art is gorgeous, the characters are great, and the world-building is great. My only complaint is that the plot needed more for me. Because of these points, I have to give this a 4 out of 5 stars.

Tabitha Laurie is a hopeless romantic which was reaffirmed by Princess Madeleine and Prince Henry’s ‘love’ at Sommerland. (Imagine the similarity of princesses and princes at Disney World.) Tabi’s father took her to Sommerland when she was 6 years old and it was the most magical place with happy endings that she ever imagined, especially after the devastating divorce of her parents. Her dream was to be part of the magic at Sommerland so that she can help create beautiful memories for young kids, just like it happened with her. Tabi’s dream comes even closer when she interviewed as a high school junior to work at Sommerland’s summer program. Her goal is to be one of the character roles but her ultimate dream is to be one of the princesses. Tabi passes the interview and attends orientation. Unfortunately, her first job is not all so glamorous; she works at the Mama’s Nacho food stand, but it’s just temporary.

After hearing endless whining and complaining from the Sommerland team members, Tabi is determined that she won’t let their negativity let her forget about her dream. When she bumps into team member James, they quickly befriend one another. He is attracted to her and becomes her ally and support. When auditions are called for character actors, it is made clear to Tabi that she doesn’t quite fit the princess mold that Sommerland has in mind – she is black and a plus-sized girl. She is perfect for another character role and with James by her side, she excels at it. This does not deter Tabi from attaining her ultimate dream to be a princess. She studies and researches how to have the dance skills, persona and spirit of the perfect princess. Will she be able to get that coveted princess role and find the magic that she has long sought after?

This graphic novel was truly magical! I absolutely loved the story. Even though there were elements of “mean girls” from team members of all genders, it never was over the top. There were always words of encouragement and support. This was an uplifting story of reaching for your dreams. The artwork was beautiful and the colors vibrant. It’s a perfect story for all those aspiring princesses in real or imaginary minds.

Not every princess wears glass slippers or fits into society’s idea of what a “princess” should look like. Tabi is the kind of main character I wish younger me had in books, bold, big-hearted, and determined to make magic her way. Even when the odds were stacked (and she’s posted up at the nacho stand instead of in a princess gown), she finds her people, her voice, and maybe even a little love.

This was such a fun, affirming read that reminded me that our dreams don’t have to shrink just because we don’t “fit the mold.” Tabi created her own fairytale and I was here for every page. More of this in YA, please.