I give this book 4/5 stars. I was getting sucked into the book, I quite literally didn't want it to end. I related to Angelica so much, mainly because I'm also a teenager, and I feel connected to her because of her mental health. Everything she was feeling mentally really put it into perspective on how mental health is delicate and how it can genuinely affect so many people in what they do or are interested in. She is like the book version of me, and I can't wait for people to be able to get to know her and relate to her as well. This is going to become one of my favorite comic books I've read in a while; it has emotion and things I wish some comic books had. It talks about multiple topics in a discreet way, and I find that very fascinating and just cool. The drawings were amazing and very colorful. It was just overall amazing, like I can't say any more than that.
Thank you to the author, Trung Le Nguyen, for being able to come up with this creative piece of literature, and a big thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!!!

Angelica and the Bear Prince is a stunningly illustrated graphic novel that conveys a meaningful message. It explores themes of grief and the diverse ways people cope with it, as well as the importance of friendship and family. I appreciate how Trung Le Nguyen weaves together deep narratives with a blend of fairytale elements and whimsical visuals.

OMG I LOVEEEEEED THIS!!

I just fell in love with Trung Le Nguyen's writing back when I read 'The Magic Fish' a few years back. He has such a beautiful gift for storytelling!
I adored the characters so much I saw a lot of myself in Angelica which is I think why this book now has such a special place in my heart. At it's core this GN is about grief and acceptance and it was just soooo incredibly well done. I was fighting tears during some scenes while also holding back laughter in some parts, just incredible.

The art was stunning, it was perfect for the story-tale vibe. The colours were all chosen so well. I honestly can't praise this book enough.

This was so cute! I loved the artwork and the story that was a mix of a modern day YA story and a fairytale woven together.

It’s about grief, growing up, burnout, relationships with your friends and with your family and processing emotions. Graphic novels get so deep sometimes and they’re beautiful when they do it 😂.

This was a quick read, if you love graphic novels I recommend this one.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was an emotional gut punch in the best way. I’m a little older than the intended audience but that didn’t stop me from weeping. I love that

<spoiler>Gable being trans is just accepted. There’s no inner turmoil. I also love that while it is a story of grief there is also joy embedded deeply.</spoiler>

A stunning story.

The way that I was so excited to see a new book by Trung Le Nguyen - The Magic Fish is truly one of the best graphic novels I have ever read in my life!

The art in this one is absolutely gorgeous and tells such a good story. Angelica is a 17yr old girl that has started an internship at a theater - she's a reformed people pleaser and a chronic overachiever which is easy to relate to! This story was so heartwarmingly beautiful - the way that she finds comfort in the theater and in the story of a bear prince. That tale sounded a bit familiar to me but I wasn't able to place it. The entire theater portion was really a bit more in the background than I initially thought it would be, but I really loved the storytelling and the entire atmosphere of this story.

The themes that were mentioned - especially the mental health representation, is truly an issue that I love to see represented in books.

This would be such a fantastic novel to give to teens and I will be doing so once this book is released!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, and Random House Graphic for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Angelica is struggling to find her happiness and herself after suffering serious burnout. She decides to rejoin the world by working for a historic theater and its production of one of her favorite fairy tales. While she is trying to re-find herself, her friends and family are struggling to understand what she went through. She does find a listening ear, in a mysterious social media account of the historic bear costume at the center of the play she is working on. She finds new friendship with this mysterious actor and starts to find confidence and understanding in herself.

First off, I was a very big fan of The Magic Fish, so I was thrilled to hear a new title was coming from Trung Le Nguyen. This books did not disappoint. While it provided some substantive message about stress management, advocating for yourself and taking responsibility for your own actions, it was wrapped up in a sweet story with lovely illustrations. It was not too heavy or onerous for the reader. The humor and heart made this an enjoyable read. Once again, the story within the story element helped give elevation to the narration and added whimsy to some heavier moments. The romantic plot was obvious, but well-intentioned and adorable. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I will share with others.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Angelica and the Bear Prince!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👯‍♀️ have a long lost friend
👑 are searching for Prince Charming
🏳️‍⚧️ enjoy trans rep in your books
🗣️ just want someone to listen

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Angelica was the girl who could do it all—until suddenly, she couldn’t. Burnout hit hard.  Now, after some very low moments, she’s ready to get her life back together, thanks to her friends, and one very surprising source of comfort. 

A bear.

Peri is the mascot of the local theater. He’s been sending Angelica supportive messages from his social. They’ve become friends, and Angelica might even have . . . a crush?

Determined to find the human behind the bear costume, Angelica gets a summer job interning at the theater. She might never go back to being the girl who can do everything, but perhaps she is becoming the girl who can magically have it all.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was a really cute and colorful graphic novel. I enjoyed the pretty pictures throughout the story, especially the ones featuring the bear prince story. I wanted just a bit more of it, but I also enjoyed the true story of Angelica, aka Jelly, and her friend. The story brings a lot to the table, with a cheating boyfriend, a secret penpal, and reuniting long lost friends. I loved the mystery of the bear and how willing everyone was to help hide the identity of the person until they were ready to meet Jelly. While these are teenage characters, I enjoyed the fact that the dialogue was so mature for its age. I think that can be helpful for kids because I know that I didn’t think the way some of them were at that age!

"Angelia and the Bear Prince" by Trung Le Nguyen was genuinely such a joy to read. from the very beginning of the story i was completely enraptured by Angelica, or Jelly, and her overall sweet nature as a whole. as someone who also finds that she takes on way too many tasks/responsibilities than i should, i found myself really relating to who she is and how her thought process works. the way Nguyen discusses grief and the different ways individuals process such a hard emotion was truly heartwarming and made me tear up numerous times.

love love LOVED the overall art style, all the characters, and the sweet little love stories littered throughout the book so much! <3

This was absolutely beautiful. It’s my first experience with the creator’s work, but everything from the storytelling and character development to the artwork is a joy.

Angelica is a 17 year old over-achiever recovering from burnout when she’s accepted as an intern at the local theatre. She also has a penpal, an anonymous friend using the pseudonym Per the Bear, the costumed lead from the theatre.

The story is a glimpse into the lives of Angelica, her friends and her family over a few weeks in winter with occasional flashbacks. Mostly, it’s a story of grief. Grief over losing a loved one or losing a relationship and how you handle it. The cast of supporting characters was wonderful, including Jelly’s parents, best friend and neighbors and the graphic novel medium truly brought the story to full life.

I especially loved the mental health rep, the diverse cast, and the glorious winter festival art.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Random House and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was really cute! It's a quick and cozy read that centers around grief and connection. The artwork is beautiful, the prose impactful, and the cast diverse and endearing. What's not to love?

This would be a perfect read in the wintertime while swaddled in thick blankets and accompanied by hot chocolate or tea.

"East of the Wind, West of the Moon" has long been a favorite fairy tale of mine, so I'm always excited to see new adaptions of it. This adorably sweet tale shares a simplified version of it alongside a more poignant tale of loss, grief, and personal discovery. Angelica--or Jellybean--finds an unexpected connection with the Bear Prince as she tries to navigate her life after hitting her limit--and burning out--a year ago. But the Bear Prince is hiding a secret...

I loved how real each of the characters felt as their stories were shown alongside Angelica's, and although predictable, the plot was a fun and cozy afternoon read. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy fairy tale retellings!

Angelica and the Bear Prince is a stunningly magical story navigating the complexities of familial relationships, grief, and friendship.

Nguyen knocks it out of the park again with a fantastical retelling immersed in the ordinary realities of being a teenager who is struggling with loss both from a death in the family and the metaphor of losing one self. We truly get to know Angelica and her loved ones, from her family, neighbors, and friends all in the span of a couple of hundred of pages with intimacy, care, and wonder. It's magical. I also loved how some of our older side characters interconnected in a shared journey that felt like kismet, and I loved how effortlessly intergenerational friendships were portrayed. Lastly, the sprinkle of romance is *chef's kiss* It's so wholesome and sweet it will give you a toothache.

The art style is beautiful with panels that pop with color and flow effortlessly on page. The cast is diverse with a POC fmc in Angelica and a trans mmc in Gable (which I love so much it's like a nod to Clark Gable, the actor, and his grandfather Gabe).

Teens who are looking for a bit of sweetness in their life will love Angelica and the Bear Prince.

Angelica and the Bear Prince is a visually stunning graphic novel from Trung Le Nguyen, whose signature art style once again captivates with its dreamy lines and vibrant storytelling. Every panel is a piece of art, pulling readers into a fairytale world that feels both whimsical and deeply personal.

At the heart of the story is the complex relationship between Angelica and her mother, one that many young adult readers will find relatable. Nguyen handles themes of grief, identity, and familial tension with tenderness. The emotional depth, especially surrounding the fear of losing someone twice, once in reality and again in memory, is both heartbreaking and profound.

While the plot occasionally meanders, the emotional beats are strong, and the narrative's heart shines through. This is a story that lingers after the last page, not just because of its beauty, but because of the truths it tells about love, loss, and growing up.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this graphic novel.

The artwork is stunning. I adore the character designs and all the different body types included.

The story is okay. Jelly is an overachieving high school student who hits a wall and burns out. She is slowly getting back into things by getting an internship at a local theatre. Jelly isn't getting along with her mom and can get a little too involved in her friend's drama. But she's been messaging Per the Bear, or the person playing Per, from the theatre to help her cope.

The author claims they wanted to make a more light-hearted read, but failed. However, they succeeded in making a story about grief and how it affects everyone around us. Highly recommended for teenagers who have lost their grandparent or someone special in their lives.

3.5/5— Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC! The author’s previous work The Magic Fish is my favorite graphic novel, so I was eager to get my hands on this new work! Again, there is some absolutely beautiful illustration in “Angelica…”. Unfortunately, the story and especially the fairy tale aspect didn’t work as well for me as in his last book. I was confused at the end- How did the Angelina and Bear Prince in the fairy tale break the curse? The story was still moving and beautiful, but I also found it a little lacking in the development of the characters and their relationships.

Thank you for this ARC.

I liked how this story showed different characters dealing with grief and burnout in their own ways, especially through loss. As Angelica and Gable grow closer, their shared play is told in between, connecting everything together. Nguyen did an amazing job blending the characters’ stories and the play while keeping the deep themes strong. I did enjoy this graphic novel. It’s relatable, emotional, and teaches readers something important.

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen

5 stars

Thank you Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the eARC.

This graphic novel is adorable with the use of fairytale retellings. I love how the author addressed how he was aiming for something light and simple with a nod to the retelling East of the Sun, West of the Moon but I feel like this was so well done and would not change for anything.

Angelica, our main character, has been all go-go-go for the longest time. She does a bit of everything, never says no, and loves the busy moments in her life. One day, it just all comes crashing down on her as she feels very overwhelmed and she needs a break. Unexpectedly, she received a scholarship in her local theatre and found herself unexpectedly corresponding with the person wearing the Per the Bear costume. Will she be able to overcome this and find herself again?

“Things will always need doing. The dream is to find the thing you don’t mind doing whenever is comes up”

Angelica struggles with her current mindset of feeling overwhelmed as she went from being busy to managing one project. She tries to break down the issues by analyzing her feelings, and using logic to solve it. So much so that, it led to a huge argument between her and her best friend who just wanted her to lend a listening ear. She also struggles to reconnect with her mum as they both have similar mindsets when it comes to dealing with problems. It leads to the person behind Per the Bear to point out the why for her to realize this. I love how resilient her character is and how she strives to never give up!

I also love that the story also has great supporting characters with some of them holding their own personal side stories. We got to learn about Angelica’s best friend and her struggles with her current relationship, her parents and her mum’s struggles to connect with Angelica, the grief they went through when they lost her grandma, the history of the local theater and its founder, the grief it left behind when the founder passed and the fairytale of Per the Bear.

The artwork is phenomenal! The way the author handles serious topics like burnout, grief, filial piety, standing up for oneself and the struggles of being a teen is so great to see. It’s so great to see an assembly of diverse characters and how we are taken on this magical journey that is sweet, hopeful and adorable.

I would absolutely recommend it to everyone as it’s such a great read!

The story was about grief in its many forms. It showed how grief can strike at any time. So many characters depicted how there is no right way to grieve. There was also this beautiful storyline of community and friendship. Not just within the community theater, but also the neighbors. I honestly could read a graphic novel about each of them.

I loved the art style of this novel. It was simultaneously adorable and cool. I enjoyed the diversity in the characters depicted as well. If that adorable Per the Bear Prince plush is real, count me in!

This is one of the most adorable graphic novels I've read this year. Trung Le Nguyen does a beautiful job of mixing mental health struggles with magic and connection. While this book deals with grief it also gives the reader a magical journey that has you smiling on every page. The illustrator does an amazing job using the art to support the story. I could look at the pages all day. A sweet graphic novel I'd recommend to teens and adults alike.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Graphic for the ARC. All opinions are my own.