LOVED THIS GRAPHIC NOVEL! I’ve known Meyer from Cinder and beyond, but this one was such a sweet reintroduction. Loved the art style and the intentional character plots. Perfect for its audience and I’d read another in this universe in a heartbeat!

We Could be Magic is a love story to those who love Disney parks and fairy tales. But it also doesn't pull its punches when dealing with serious issues. When Tabitha Laurie was growing up she visited Sommerland, the Disney equivalent in this world. The actress who was playing her favorite character gave her an important piece of life advice. To believe in love even as her parents marriage fell apart.

It is years later and Tabitha is back at Sommerland this time to work as an employee for the magical summer program. This is somewhat like Disney's summer college program, where students take on different jobs within the park. Tabi is very interested in doing for other people what the actress playing her favorite princess did for her. She wants to give people a reason to believe in magic.

But the reality of working at Sommerland is nothing like the dream she's had growing up. For one thing her dream of playing a princess like the one who helped her in childhood is botched by a failed audition. Tabi is soon slinging nachos and trying to make the summer as magical as possible. However as time goes on she realizes that no everyone who works there believes in the magic of Sommerland.

The only exceptions to this are her new tour guide friend and her roommate. Thinking she will have another chance at the next audition Tabi practices her hardest only to learn there may be a reason behind why she isn't getting picked. This novel explores with a deft hand the way fatphobia and body standards for character actors can be a negative thing.

But when all of the actors who are playing the royal parts up and leave just before a parade Tabi must take her shot at being a princess and giving kids some magic, even if it means her job.

This was so sweet! I love the body positive message and the cute romance. The setting was simultaneously a nostalgic celebration and a valid critique of Disney.

The illustrations on my phone were often very pixelated, but maybe that’s normal for eARCs of graphic novels? This was my first time reading a graphic novel ARCs, so I don’t know. Assuming the final version won’t be so pixelated, from what I can tell, the illustrations are lovely.

Tabi was so incredibly lovely!! It was wonderful watching her love of magic and Sommerland grow and evolve. Just like any other growth, it can be a bit painful and sometimes awkward. But if she holds true to herself and her belief in magic, she may be able to find her own happily ever after!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc!

This graphic novel was very cute and although it is intended probably for younger audience, I still found joy in it. I like how Tabitha managed to hold on to the magic that Sommerland provided for her. Growing up, we had Disneyland and the Harry Potter world and although I haven't been to both parks - yet?-, I still understand and can imagine how it must feel to experience these characters in real. She also struck me as weirdly optimistic and determined whilst I am in a phase in my life where I am the exact opposite of Tabi.

Dreams do not come true but at least for her they did. She couldn't be princess Madeline so she became her own princess and I loved that for her.

oh my goshhhhh! This was the most adorable graphic novel EVER. The story, the characters, the illustrations, and the absolute HEART OF THIS STORY???? It was truly MAGICAL! It was also so inspiring, and filled with so much hope & positivity! Tabitha has my whole entire heart I just absolutely adored her the whole way through. I love her so much! I also just fell in love with the theme park Sommerland & how it was presented in the story! The way it was spoken of in the novel (especially alongside the GORGEOUS illustrations) just made it come alive to be so so fun & magical! I highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone looking for a relatable read that still has lots of positivity & magic. I cannot wait to reread it physically! A new favorite for sure.

Growing up, Sommerland was the symbol of true love for Tabitha. For as long as she can remember, it has been her dream to bring the magic of Sommerland to other families by being a princess. When she lands a summer job there, it’s the first step towards her dream.

However, the character auditions don’t quite go as Tabi planned. Turns out they’re looking for someone with a different body type than Tabi has. But when an opportunity to be a princess presents itself, Tabi has to decide if she wants to take it, even under the possibility of getting fired. Will she take a chance on her dream?

Thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an advanced copy of We Could be Magic by Marissa Meyer to review! This is Meyer’s first contemporary graphic novel, and I’d say that she hit it out of the park. The story lends itself well to the magic of the graphic novel illustrations from Joelle Murray.

Sommerland in this book sort of functions like Disney World, so if you’re a Disney Fan, you’ll probably love this book! From the beginning, Tabi is determined to fulfill her goal of becoming a princess, despite the comments she gets from other people. I loved her as a main character, and she has great chemistry with her crush. Getting to see how she interacted with the magic of the park, even when it wasn't exactly how she pictured, was so wholesome and lovely.

My only qualm is that I wish some of the side characters could have had a bit more room to breath. Other than that, this is a delightful graphic novel romance you should definitely check out this summer!

This is such an adorable and fun graphic novel and everything you would expect of a contemporary story from Marissa Meyer. Tabi is a fantastic protagonist, and I appreciate her upbeat attitude so much. Even when things don’t go the way she hopes, she puts her all into whatever she’s been hand keeps trying.

I also appreciate how much thought Marissa Meyer put into Sommerland and the character. While it’s obvious where she pulled her initial inspiration, she took the time to flesh out the ideas and make it her own. This book also has a lot of diversity, including different ethnicities, fat girl representation, and LGBTQ+ side characters.

The artwork is also amazing. Joelle did such a great job bringing the characters and world to life with such beautiful and colorful artwork!

Some plot aspects moved a little fast and I wish it had been a little longer to flesh out some of the relationship dynamics, but overall, it was super cute and heartwarming and exactly what you expected from the queen of fairy tale retellings.

Such a cute book! I don’t read a ton of graphic novels, but will if they look interesting enough. This book is sweet and positive, depicting how sometimes things don’t go the way you plan, but can turn out better. Our main character has dreamed of being a Princess at Sommerland, a magical theme park to rival Disney. Tabitha soon finds out that having the curtain pulled back on the magic isn’t always as fun as you might think. Her journey is cute and uplifting, even if it is a little predictable. Sometimes we all need a little magic in our lives. Definitely worth the read! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you so much for the arc!

This graphic novel was absolutely lovely! The art style is so gorgeous and bright and cheery. I loved all of the characters. Tabi is so hard working and dedicated, she’s so inspiring. This was such a happy and feel good read. The romance is super adorable too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC!

We Could Be Magic was an incredibly sweet and lighthearted read. I really enjoyed the illustration style and the overall story. I do wish that there was more to the romance plot considering it is a romance graphic novel but instead the majority of the plot is focused on Tabi trying to achieve her dream of being a princess. I liked the setting of it being a theme park but wish it hadn't been quite so Disney adjacent.

Overall, I enjoyed this story! It was a cute and quick read!

Summary: "We Could Be Magic" is a cozy coming-of-age story with elements of body positivity. It is the perfect lighthearted read with a diverse cast of characters. The story centers around Tabitha (Tabi) and the realities of working in a themed park. Although everything isn't what it was made out to be, Tabi finds comfort in being part of the magic and making guests experience the joy she once felt as a child while finding love along the way.

As a big fan of Marissa Meyer, I was very excited for this graphic novel. While I am very happy that the cast was very diverse, I am a bit hesitant about a Caucasian American author writing a story of an African American MC, especially when many BIPOC authors still struggle to get published.

Aside from that, this was still a cute theme park romance that ends with a very idealistic happy ending. There are barely any struggles or conflicts in this novel, making it a warm and cheerful read. However, that can also come across as having little content. Sequentially, making it feel like there was no character development.

Lastly, while I love the theme park setting, it was a one-for-one comparison of Disney. Which would take me out of the story rather than pull me in.

Overall, this is a great summer read for readers who don't want an overly heavy or investing story.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

This was perfection!!! I am an avid reader of Marissa Meyer, and I was so intrigued to see that she had written a graphic novel instead of sticking to her usual YA fantasies or contemporaries. She nailed this. I loved the spoof on Disneyland and all of its charm and whimsicality. Tabi is such a beautiful protagonist, she is fantastic plus-sized rep, as well as just naturally kind, brave, and charming. Truly I hope this sparks some more inclusive themes at Disney, because as the title says, this is truly what magic is!

Folks, I was wiping tears out of my eyes as I finished this book (despite the fact that I was sitting at my work desk attempting to look like a professional librarian.) I have not read a graphic novel with this much heart since Heartstopper. Tabi is passionate, hardworking main character, who believes deeply in the power of Sommerland to make magical memories for its guests, and she will do anything, maybe even break to rules to achieve her goal of portraying a princess. Along the way, she makes new friends, finds a crush, and experiences some magic of her own. To top it all off, the rich, whimsical illustrations captured the magic of Sommerland in a way that will bring you back just to browse the artwork. I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone who is looking for a sweet, summer romance.

This book was practically made for Disney park fans, especially those that were part of the college program. I went into it blind with only a love for Marissa Meyer’s previous work, but I couldn’t think of a better light read to take on a road trip or plane ride to Disney. It’s like it was made for me. The protagonist, Tabitha, is quite relatable. She could have been me when I was younger. She’s a dreamer and maybe a little naive. The story begins when she is little and just beginning her love of this world’s (not so subtly disguised) version of Disney. Then it takes you through her interview process for the high school summer program and her experience working there. It was so accurate to what I know about the Disney college program that it had me googling if Marissa Meyer had ever been part of the program or ever worked for Disney. She really must have done her homework, because I didn’t find anything of the sort in my search. I enjoyed all of the easter eggs and blatant references, but I’m not sure how someone who is not as invested in Disney would react to this story. Even those who aren’t Disney fans might relate to her relationship with her roommate, disillusionment, and not quite fitting the mold. There are a few differences between our world and theirs, but it is much more grounded in reality than the other works I’ve read by this author. In this world the creator of these parks, movies, etc is a very accomplished living woman. The princesses aren’t straightforward Disney knockoffs. They seem more like warrior princesses that have stepped out of some type of Dungeons and Dragons or Lord of the Rings fantasy world. Their version of Mickey Mouse seems to be part of the princesses possibly interconnected worlds and feels more like an anime character than anything. This was an interesting choice that stood out to me. As a fan, I know Marissa Meyer likes to turn fairytales on their heads. I want a companion book that goes through more of their stories, because it sounds like a fun time. Our girl has always dreamed of portraying one of the princesses, but she doesn’t have the look. That is, she’s considered too fat and, like in our world, they are strict on only casting practical clones of the animated versions of their characters. It is surprising that even in our world they haven’t had a larger leading lady yet. I can understand what it’s like not fitting someone’s version of perfection, and it’s certainly discouraging. Still, she picks herself up and remains persistent. The story is a little predictable, though I didn’t see everything coming. The part where she talks to the prince had me internally screaming. Her love interest is sweet and cute. I could see their meet cute really happening. I got a little misty eyed in the end. I would have liked to spend more time with some of the characters to see how their relationships developed, but I’m happy with the book the way it is. The art style is pleasant to look at and something about it vaguely reminds me of Steven Universe mixed with a few other modern animated series. I read it all in one sitting and really enjoyed it. I’m now super hyped for my plane to land so that I can start finding some hidden kitties- oops, I mean Mickey’s.

Meyer created a cute environment that will excite many readers. The main character will appeal to anyone who has ever visited a pop culture destination and longed to be one of the characters. The overarching acceptance theme is sweet and well done.

This was my first young adult graphic novel, and I absolutely LOVED how it brought alive the characters with incredible art. This was a dreams come true short story that gives hope through stereotypes in a world where a girl just wants to be a princess.

Adorable! This was exactly what I needed when I read it. It’s a heartwarming story about following your dreams and believing in yourself even as others doubt you. I loved the setting of Sommerland and the positive attitude Tabi had throughout. The artwork was fantastic and really brought the story to life. Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for allowing me to read this early.Filled with so much body positivity. Diverse and realistic characters. The plot was fast and engaging.

This is an absolutely beautiful tearjerker of a book. It is about chasing your dreams and not giving up, even (and especially) in the face of discrimination.

Filled with so much body positivity. Diverse and realistic characters. The plot was fast and engaging. And I read the whole thing in a single sitting, because I didn't want to stop.

Charming, inspiring, and uplifting. A gorgeous book with self-affirming subtext and an overarching message about finding the magic in every day life.

Always remember to keep chasing your own happily ever after!