To the stars and back

Gr 8 Up--Peglo's comic, originally published on the Webtoon platform, is a boy-next-door queer romance with elements of a linear story. The book follows a blossoming grumpy sunshine relationship between two college boys, Kang Dae and Bo Seon. Kang Dae is a loner who has only had feelings for girls before, but when Bo Seon, who is outgoing, cheerful, and enthusiastic, moves in nearby, Kang Dae might be feeling a connection. Perhaps because this work was originally a Webtoon, the pacing is a bit choppy, and some plot points feel mismatched. The romance builds slowly, so dedicated readers will be eager for the next volume. The story explores trauma, bullying, and family abuse, providing hope and reprieve from those tough topics through loyal friendships, strong communication, and chosen family. The art style has a manga influence with a warm pastel palette, and Peglo has a special talent for beautiful skies. They also excel at crafting expressions that capture big feeling moments. Kang and Bo have tan skin and black hair, but with nearly identical haircuts, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate the characters. VERDICT This slice-of-life LGBTQIA+ romance is a secondary purchase where Webtoons or boys' love manga is popular.--Taylor Skorski

Grumpy meets sunshine in this college slice-of-life romance, originally published on WEBTOON. Kang Dae has always appreciated his solitude, but when Bo Seon moves into the apartment next door--and into his life--Kang Dae's quiet existence is immediately disrupted. Bo Seon seems to be made of sweetness and light, and even Kang Dae's quick temper doesn't get a rise out of him. Persistently cheery Bo Seon just won't get the memo that Kang Dae prefers to be alone. There's a valid explanation for Kang Dae's antisocial ways, but Bo Seon's kind and loving nature might just break him out of his shell. As the young men spend more time together, Kang Dae realizes two things: that maybe being alone is overrated and that he may have feelings for Bo Seon. This full-color graphic novel, which features cleanly drawn panels, many borderless or with plain white backgrounds, follows the young lovers as they navigate college, trauma, mental health, and first love. The storyline includes many funny scenarios that K-drama fans will recognize as classics and heartwarming misunderstandings that feel familiar for the genre. Kang Dae's journey to accepting his same-sex attraction feels authentic to his character's arc, and his experience of being taken in by Bo Seon's friend group is delightful. Hits all the right feel-good notes.(Graphic romance. 15-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.