Be Dazzled

by Ryan La Sala

Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story from the author of Reverie about creativity, passion, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.
Raffy has a passion for bedazzling. Not just bedazzling, but sewing, stitching, draping, pattern making—for creation. He's always chosen his art over everything—and everyone— else and is determined to make his mark at this year's biggest cosplay competition. If he can wow there, it could lead to sponsorship, then art school, and finally earning real respect for his work. There's only one small problem… Raffy's ex-boyfriend, Luca, is his main competition.
Raffy tried to make it work with Luca. They almost made the perfect team last year after serendipitously meeting in the rhinestone aisle at the local craft store—or at least Raffy thought they did. But Luca's insecurities and Raffy's insistence on crafting perfection caused their relationship to crash and burn. Now, Raffy is after the perfect comeback, one that Luca can't ruin.
But when Raffy is forced to partner with Luca on his most ambitious build yet, he'll have to juggle unresolved feelings for the boy who broke his heart, and his own intense self-doubt, to get everything he's ever wanted: choosing his art, his way.
Praise for Reverie:
B&N's YA Book Club Pick * Walmart Buzz Pick * Indie Next Pick * Book of the Month Club YA Box
"This outstanding debut novel will light readers' imaginations on fire...Imaginative, bold, and full of queer representation, this is a must-purchase for YA collections."—School Library Journal *STARRED REVIEW*
"This fantasy offers readers something wonderfully new and engaging...a gem of a novel that is as affirming as it is entertaining."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The story's many LGBTQ characters are prominently represented and powerfully nuanced."—Publishers Weekly
"A darkly imagined, riveting fantasy… thrilling."—Shelf Awareness
"Joyously, riotously queer... The themes of creating one's own reality and fighting against the rules imposed by the world you're born into will ring powerfully true for many young readers."—Kirkus Reviews

• ISBN10: 1492682691
• ISBN13: 9781492682691
• Publish Date: 5 February 2021
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Sourcebooks Fire
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I knew as soon as I saw the title and read "Project Runway" and "bedazzling" in the blurb that Be Dazzled was going to be adorable! The glittery book gods have smiled upon me! This was so freaking cute and such a quick read! Be Dazzled alternates between present day with Raffy and his friend May entering a major cosplaying competition, and thirteen to five months prior when he was just getting together and breaking up with his super hot boyfriend. Said boyfriend also turns up to the competition with an ex mutual friend and all hell breaks loose! Well, kinda. Raffy is extremely high strung and cannot deal with this distraction! Meanwhile, we're left wondering what the heck happened to bring him to this point.

Even if you're not into cosplay (I'm not, but think cosplayers are super talented!), I do think you'll enjoy Be Dazzled. While the competition is the setting, it's not the whole story. Raffy and Luca's relationship unfolding was the real highlight. I was expecting something super awful, but the more I got to know Luca, the less likely that seemed. I don't want to spoil what pushed them apart, but I think it was a good one. It felt believable and wasn't the typical teen drama. Luca and Raffy both had their own issues going into the relationship, tried handling them to the best of their abilities, but that's not always enough.

The only thing I didn't like about Be Dazzled was Raffy's mom. We're not suppose to like her, but that's not what I mean. She felt like a caricature of the "serious artist" who hates on cosplay as some lesser hobby. Everything she says and does, and Raffy's reactions to her, all felt way exaggerated and took me out of the story at times. Then her near 180 at the end felt out of place for how awful she was the entire time. I'm all for a happy ending, but that one was a bit too neat given the circumstances.

[helenfarch]

"Only now am I seeing a new truth: that sometimes the broken bits are just the pieces you need to create something new, something better, something remarkable."

Billed as Project Runway goes to Comic Con, I knew I just had to read this book.

Raffy has a passion for bedazzling. Not just bedazzling, but sewing, stitching, draping, pattern making--for creation. He's always chosen his art over everything--and everyone--else and is determined to make his mark at this year's biggest cosplay competition. If he can wow there, it could lead to sponsorship, then art school, and finally earning real respect for his work. There's only one small problem... Raffy's ex-boyfriend, Luca, is his main competition.

What follows is a story about believing in yourself, the power of creativity and friendship.

From the outside, Raffy and Luca have nothing in common.
Raffy is an incredibly talented artist, but he is meant to use his talent for "serious" art, not craft projects, according to his famous, art gallery owning mother.
Luca is meant to be the star football player, not a cosplayer and especially not a bi-sexual cosplayer. His believes ultra-conservative family would never accept him if they find out he isn't straight.

But the beauty of this story is that Raffy and Luca see past what they are "meant" to be and find their true selves.

The love story of Raffy and Luca is told in alternate timelines - how they met and fell in love, and where they are now, after breaking up and becoming rivals.

Since breaking up with Luca, Raffy's best friend May has become his cosplay partner for the competition he is counting on winning to increase his chances for a scholarship that will allow him to go to art school on his own terms. Their main competition is Raffy's former friend Inaya and Luca. Through the twists and turns of competition, Raffy realises just what his single-minded focus on his work may have cost him in his relationship with Luca and Luca begins to feel more comfortable with his true self and not hiding it away from the world.

It is fun, it is super nerdy and I loved it!

"I don't see the flaws. I only see the magic."

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the ARC.