Tabitha--a superfan of the Disney-esque park Sommerland--is thrilled to get a summer job at the park. Her dream is to get a position as a princess character actor but there's one big problem. All of Sommerland's princesses are thin and she's, well, not. I don't know if Marissa Meyer actually did the Disney College Program or just researched it extensively but the details in the book are spot on. Anyone familiar with Disney cast member culture will spot all the homages and references. Tabi is a super likeable protagonist, willing to work on her flaws but still yearning for a world that is more inclusive. It's very easy to root for her and see yourself in her. The art is absolutely gorgeous--so bright and energetic. It made me wish I was at a theme park! The side characters round out the cast nicely and the story is so sweet. A BIG recommendation to anyone, but especially anyone who's a fan of the Disney Parks (or a recovering cast member looking to recapture some magic).

This was such a charming graphic novel. The characters were fun and sweet and the setting was magical and Disney-esque.

The art style was lively and colorful, which I entirely enjoyed. It was so cool to see a new Marissa Meyer story portrayed in this way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for providing an e-ARC.

Super cute graphic novel!

I loved the heart behind this book. It was sweet, Tabi was lovable, and I really enjoyed the journey. Loved the theme of hard work in addition to dreaming, loved that Tabi had such a good attitude when things got hard, and her friends lifted her up when she needed them. And the little love story was really cute.

By the end I was really rooting for her, and it was a really satisfying way to end the story. Loved the artwork as well, I can’t wait to buy it for my kids!

Tabi knows where dreams come true, Summerland. She gets a job for the summer but wants to be a character actor. At the first audition Tabi wasn’t expecting what to do, but her determination never weavers. Tabi does not let the cynicism of others get her down. When she meets James, he shares her love of the magic of Summerland. This was a super sweet graphic novel. The art and story match perfectly. It has Marissa Meyer’s tone for sweet but realistic. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

GENRE
-YA graphic novel

CONTENT
-🤬: one instance of mild language (h***)
-❤️: just kisses
-⚠️: divorce of parents

After Tabi's parents divorce when she's young, her faith in true love is restored at Sommerland. When she's in high school, she gets a chance to intern at her beloved amusement park. She's ecstatic but is surprised to find that not everyone interning and/or working there loves it.

I loved Tabi's optimism. She was a ray of sunshine! Her desire to create magical memories for the kids and all the patrons who came to Sommerland was delightful. She was hardworking and had grit and was all around a fantastic protagonist. As for James, I loved how he helped show her the magic of the place when her belief was waning a bit. They made a great team!

This is a super quick and super cute read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Marissa Meyer for the ARC. All opinions are my own. No positive review was required.

I absolutely loved this graphic novel! It was so lovely, the message of kindness was so well done and the art and color palette were gorgeous. The main character was so easy to root for, she was the sweetest person and worked so hard for her dreams even if the world told her they weren't attainable. Loved this and highly recommend!

I received an eARC thanks to Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends, all opinions are my own.

Cute! I enjoyed the art and the characters. The close comparison to Disney did pull me out of the story though.

One of the best YA graphic novels I have read to date, hands down. This book had so many green flags. Making childhood dreams come true, finding true friendship and love, body positivity, determination, and magic. Oh my gosh I loved this so much. Tabi is a phenomenal FMC. Strong willed, kind, hard working, funny, and willing to take chances to achieve her goals. I loved her attitude and even when we see her confidence fade she is so relatable and amazing. I liked that there is a romantic aspect to the story but it isn't what drives Tabi and it certainly isn't a source of drama. My favorite part of We Could Be Magic is the body representation. Tabi doesn't fit the traditional mold of what a princess should look like, but it doesn't stop her from putting herself forward and following her dreams. I absolutely loved this book and recommend it to everyone!

Such a cute wholesome graphic novel! Tabi has always dreamed of being a princess at Sommerland, a Disney like theme. When she lands a summer job at the park, she finally has a chance to go after her dream but soon realizes it wont be as easy as she thought. We could be magic is a story about determination, working hard for your dreams, and finding love along the way. This was such a fun quick read and I adored the artwork as well!

When I saw Marissa Meyer’s We Could Be Magic was available on NetGalley, I had to request it—and I’m so glad I did. This sweet, empowering graphic novel blends a charming meet-cute romance with a deeper message about believing in yourself and chasing your dreams, even when the world says you don’t fit the mold. Marissa Meyer writes characters you can’t help but root for, and this one is no exception—you just want them to have their happily ever after. I’ll definitely be buying a hard copy when it hits shelves.

4.5*
Thank you to Marissa and Feiwel & Friends for this digital ARC!
This was very sweet! I love everything Marissa writes, so when I heard she was coming out with a graphic novel, I had to jump on it. The illustrations are adorable and very expressive. It captured the characters beautifully and made it very engaging to read. The writing was fun and easy to read. This book is great for younger readers looking to explore the YA space. I loved Tori and her hardworking nature. She knew what she wanted and fought for it, which is very inspiring. She was very sweet and caring. Seeing her make magic for all the parkgoers was adorable. I appreciated how passionate Tori was and how she stuck to her morals. I enjoyed seeing her accept and love herself as the book progressed. Her relationship with James is so wholesome. It captured the awkwardness of crushes while providing Tabi with a great support system. I love James’ selflessness and passion he has. I appreciated seeing character development from all the characters, even the more minor ones. The theme park setting was so fun and magical. The whole book captured what it felt like to navigate being a teen and finding friendships and yourself. I really enjoyed it!
There was a brief kiss.

Really enjoyed reading 'We could be magic'. It was heartfelt and encouraging to follow your dreams, work hard, and never give up. I love the message of how you can always achieve your dreams in life. My favorite part is the ending, as a new character is created via inspiration of the main character. There is no need to fill an old role when you can create a whole new one.

4.5 stars. I'm a huge Marissa Meyer fan AND a huge Disney fan, so this mash-up was amazing! The main character, Tabitha, got a summer job at Sommerland (cough*cough*Disneyland*cough*cough). Sommerland had all the magical vibes that you hope for. Tabitha's dream since she was a little girl was to be a princess character at the theme park. The problem is that Tabitha doesn't have the body type of the iconic princess, but Tabitha is resilient. After the first round of auditions, she realizes that she needs to work on her dancing skills. So she practices and practices. Next round of auditions, she makes it past the dancing portion. She blows the judges away with her acting skills, BUT they still only cast her as a costume character. Again, this doesn't break Tabi's spirit. She will work hard to accomplish her dreams along with some help from some friends.

I LOVED the illustrations by Joelle Murray. I definitely plan to keep my eye on her future work.

I have been to Disneyland and Disney World as a child and an adult. I truly believe there is something very magical about these types of places. Marissa Meyer and Joelle Murray did a fantastic job capturing that magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for providing me an advanced copy.

What a cute graphic novel! The illustrations and colors were absolutely gorgeous, the perfect art style for this story. This is the representation every fat middle school/high school girl needs. And kids seeing a fat princess at a theme park is such amazing representation. Not only fat but also Black! Fantastic, spectacular. Also loved the two MCs friendship that blossomed into a romance, so so cute.

“We Could Be Magic” by Melissa Meyer is a joyful, feel-good graphic novel about chasing dreams and embracing who you are. It follows a plus-sized girl who longs to be a princess at a Disney-like theme park—and challenges the idea that magic is only for a certain look. With charm, heart, and a touch of pixie dust, this story is both empowering and uplifting. A quick read with a lasting impact, it’s a beautiful reminder that dreams don’t have a size limit.

Ever since she was a little girl, Tabitha Laurie has had one wish: to work at the magical theme park of Sommerland. When a summer job at the park opens up, Tabi finds herself one step closer to her dream. But working at the nacho stand is a far cry from being in the role of her favorite princess, and the daily grind soon makes her summer job more of a nightmare than a dream come true. But with courage, determination, and a little help from her own Prince Charming, Tabi discovers the true magic within as she steps into the spotlight at last.
“We Could be Magic” by Marissa Meyer is a delightful graphic novel about a summer job at the world’s number one theme park. I immediately bonded with Tabi as she shares her struggles and her dreams, and I absolutely adore how brave she is despite numerous setbacks. The storytelling drew me right in, and stellar art by Joelle Murray pairs perfectly with this magical adventure. The panels are easy to follow, and it was quite lovely to get utterly lost in this modern-day fairy tale as I turned the pages. Following Tabi’s first few days at work made me laugh out loud as I recalled my own first job.
But the best part of this story is how very real the characters are. James is a kind spirit who’s gone through some trials of his own, while Kyra shows incredible depth hidden behind my initial impression of her. Tabi faces prejudice due to her physical build, and I really liked how the author gently addresses this extremely relevant issue. People come in all shapes and sizes, and no one “standard” of beauty or build should ever define our image of ourselves. I also love that Tabi doesn’t let prejudice stop her. Tabi fights hard to follow her dreams, even if she’s afraid or fails at first. I have to say that Tabi is not only a relevant character, but an empowering heroine that we can all be inspired by as she works hard to find her own happy ending. After all, she reminded me of my own dreams as she steps up to save the day as only she can.
This beautiful story of working hard to follow your dreams earns a well-deserved five out of five stars for its relevant message of diversity, engaging storytelling, and phenomenal art. Suitable for readers 12 and up who love fairy tales, magic, and epic stories of determination, this lighthearted adventure is sure to bring a smile to your face as it lights up your heart.

I loved this book!! Like Disneyland, but better (don’t sue me), Sommerland and its stories were where Tabi found magic amidst her own sometimes magic-less life. So of course she ends up pouring her heart and soul into working there during a summer program.
Beautiful art, body positivity, and proof that everyone can be a princess with their own happily ever after. If anything, I wish it was longer!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

This is such a cute coming of age romance! It's a very simple story, but the characters are super lovable and relatable.

I loved seeing Tabi's growth as she learned to love herself the way she is and worked towards her dreams. Both the support and antagonism she received from the people around her shaped her journey. The romance was super cute, and although it was only a subplot, it added to my enjoyment of the book.

I don't usually read graphic novels because I find it hard to follow along with both the words and art at the same time, but I had a great time with this. The art style is literally so cute, and I thought the character designs worked perfectly with their personalities!

Overall, I thought this was a very cute and uplifting story about a teenage girl working towards her dreams!!

We Could Be Magic is a young adult graphic novel centered around our main character, Tabitha, as she fulfills her childhood dream of working at Sommerland. A theme park that provided her with so much magic and made her believe in true love, and now, it is her turn to do the same thing for a little kid just like her as a princess. Except, she wasn't offered the position of princess, and it seems like she won't ever be. With nothing going to plan and the clashing between her castmates, she is starting to feel like her dream of Sommerland is crumbling in her hands. This story was SO cute! I loved Tabitha's positivity and energy that practically glows off the page. Her love and enchantment with Sommerland felt so very contagious and I loved how the art style truly matched the vibrancy of her and this story. The pacing was so well done, no part of the story felt rushed in any way. It was fun to have a 'behind the curtain' feel of the castmates and how the magic of the park is created, and the romance felt very well paced too. This story discusses the beauty standards within the park industry and the industry as a whole's lack of body diversity and plus-sized princesses/actors in major roles. This kind of representation matters, and I loved the ending of this story and how all the conflicts ended up getting resolved.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for this free e-book ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This was an adorable YA graphic novel following Tabi, a high school senior spending the summer working at Sommerland, the most magical place on earth. 😉 She dreams of nabbing a princess character role, so when she’s assigned to the nacho hut, she must decide what she’ll do next to make her dreams come true.

This was a sweet story with nice themes of being true to yourself and chasing your goals. It reminded me a lot of Rainbow Rowell’s Pumpkinheads.