Ryan La Sala

Project Runwaygoes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story 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 cosplaycompetition. 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.

Be Dazzled

Moth

Project Runwaygoes to Comic Conin 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--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 Be Dazzled: "A sequin-filled romance that's also a love letter to the craft and creativity of cosplay."--Publishers Weekly(STARRED REVIEW) "A charming, geeky love story filled with all the con drama readers could wish for."--Kirkus Reviews "A crafty queer romance about self-acceptance, and a delightful addition to YA collections."--School Library Journal "Heartfelt and hilarious, Be Dazzledis an artfully crafted ode to teen ambition and first love. From the book's charming cast to Raffy's quick-witted voice, La Sala's contemporary debut simply dazzles."--Phil Stamper, bestselling author of The Gravity of Us

Ilse

An epic queer love story set at Comic Con? Please take my money! I’m glad to have loved the story at much as I hoped I would. Immediately from the start I fell in love with Raffy’s humour. May and Luca were a true delight to read too, and I loved the dual timelines giving insight in the boys’ past and the lovely fast paced present. The boys are so cute together as couple, and I found myself only wanting to read more. I’m so happy at the ending, but sad it came and am gladly adding it to my to re-read list!

Julia

This book was such a delight!

The time jumps between the present and various points in the past make for a very interesting narrative and make this lovers to enemies to sorta-friends to lovers again so intriguing.
I was a very very big fan of the wittiness of the writing that lightened up the serious themes of the book without ridiculing them.
All the characters are so very thought through and interesting with a lot of character depth and development throughout the book, aided by the time jumps that give context to present events.

I enjoyed every minute of this.

Maria Luiza

** spoiler alert **
           "Have you ever considered that you can't be prepared for every future, but all the work you've ever done has prepared you for whatever happens in the present?"

This book was an absolute joy to read. The characters are all unique and have their own voices, the plot is really interesting and I loved that main bulk of the story happens in only three days. I always admire writers that can say so much in such a short period of time. 

"Luca and I are built from very different materials. If Luca is lined with enthusiasm, I am insulated with ambition. If we were even a little more alike, the difference would hurt us, but our contrast is beautifully stark. Our clash is one of power. One I'm learning to not just trust, but believe in."

Seeing Raff as this type A super organizer and super achieving person was like holding up a mirror. I love his growth throughout the book and him learning that he can still be happy without being number one, that his happiness doesn't depend on winning, and that he can delegate and trust other people was really beautiful and a lesson for me. 

"I used to think I always knew what came next. I used to think that my plans were as good as destiny, but that's never been true. I've just always been determined, and lucky, and determined to be lucky. But you can't design a future and expect it to just happen. Like art, you can only start with intent. Your hands build the rest. [...] Only now I am seeing the truth: that sometimes the broken bits are just he pieces you need to create something new, something better, something remarkable."

I'm so glad there's finally a book that encapsulates my hate of pretentious art people. I was tired of reading books about artists like Evie and I'm glad this book shines a different line at art (and at a different type of art, that is). Evie sounded so extreme at times, and I really felt Raffy's pain when trying to reason with her, and the detachment he felt in their relationships.

"[...] home still feels haunted with the person I was before this day tranformed me. Before I like myself change, I guess. I feel older now, but also brand new, like I can handle anything. [...] I can handle my own ambitions. And I can handle my heart, knowing now how much stronger it is after I put it back together."

I love the going back and forth between the present and the past. Reading about Raffy and Luca getting together knowing that in the present moment they are broken up is really different and addicting because I was so curious as to what had happened. Also, on the end chapters reading about Raffy being so sad in the past and then being so happy in the next was really overwhelming (in a good way) and I loved it. It was really intriguing and kept me interested throughout it.

Antonia Sonntag 

Anna Agarwal

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this audiobook from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Be Dazzled

Author: Ryan La Sala

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Gay MC, m/m relationship

Recommended For...: contemporary readers, ya readers, LGBT+

Publication Date: January 5, 2021

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (language, drug usage, alcohol mention, sexual content, and slight gore for cosplay)

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 336

Synopsis: Who's ready to sparkle??

Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story 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.

Review: I really like this book. I thought that the concept would be a bit tropey, but I am so glad that I was wrong. The two main characters were not at all enemies to lovers or vengeful x or anything like that, they felt like real people in the book. They had their tips and everything but the whole book didn't dwell on those little tips, but rather their relationship as a whole. I thought that the characters were wonderfully well developed and the world building was amazing. I really liked the concept of the book and that it takes place during conventions and with cosplay, something that I don't see a lot in books. I also thought that the book was wonderfully well written and the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life.

the only thing that I really had an issue with was the way that the story was told. I really did like how the story was told for the most part, and that the book is told in this back and forth between the now and the then. But the story got a little bit metal towards the end, and I wish that the author took the last two chapters of the then and combine them into one big chapter and then left the last two chapters of the now complete. But the book is very poetic in that sense because while you're seeing the relationship fall apart in the then you are seeing it come back together in the now and there's something that's just epically poetic about this and I am so happy that I got to listen to this book. I highly recommend this book if you're interested in cosplay or if you're looking for those one of the million best ya romance contemporary books.

Verdict: Highly recommend!

Cat Nunez 

This was my first book by the author and I enjoyed it but it’s not my favorite. I loved Raffi and the things he could do but I hated how his mom treated him and that made me like the story less. Besides we don’t know why he fought with Luca until the very end and I hate too that he forgave him too quickly. I’d have liked to find out at first about why they broke up and then understand all the rest of the story. Also, it was obvious their “friend” Inaya was just interested in winning and she didn’t care if they fought or whatever and at the end it was like nothing happened so that’s another thing I didn’t enjoy.

Becca Futrell

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an early Audiobook of Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala in exchange for an honest review!



Be Dazzled is glitter & sparkles incarnate & that’s that on that. I got along pretty well with Ryan La Sala’s second release (& now, really can’t wait to crack open my copy of Reverie) — crafting, conventions & all that jazz? Yes, please.

The Pitch: Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story about creativity, passion, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.

Did that reel you in? Because, honestly, it should have. It definitely got me excited. Anywho, in Be Dazzled we are introduced to Raffy who enjoys creating costumes for cosplay & has a goal of winning the year’s biggest competition. Winning would open a lot of doors for him, like getting into art school. But, alas, this is a book & we need something stopping Raffy from easily completing his goals — so, let’s sprinkle in his mother who’s totally against his love for cosplay, and his main competition who also happens to be his ex-boyfriend, Luca.

If you followed my previous blog, you may know that I have a special place in my heart for Geekerella by Ashley Poston. Be Dazzled gave me the same vibes, causing it to instantly win me over. However, it’s important to note that Be Dazzled can stand 100% on its own without being compared to a previous title.

Our cast of characters gets a 10 out of 10; they are all very easy to love, even when their flaws arrive on center-stage. Each of Ryan La Sala’s characters feels real — from their dialogue to their feelings. I’d easily recommend this book to someone in their teen years because I feel as if these characters would be very easy to relate to. My entire heart grew two sizes when we reach the conclusion, and see each character’s final book form.

Be Dazzled is also a lot of fun. Ryan La Sala’s personality shines throughout the pages. I laughed a lot & the book provided me with so many good vibes. La Sala also does a fantastic job at alternating between the past & present, making everything cohesive. All comes together seamlessly as it reaches its conclusion.

For those looking for the romance element, just yes. I found myself to be a huge fan of Luca; such a sweet & wonderful teddy bear.

I can definitely recommend the audiobook edition of Be Dazzled. The narrator does a brilliant job bringing Raffy to life. If you’re looking for a fun LGBTQIA+ romance/contemporary & love the convention scene, check this one out!

Cody

Can we rate books 6/5 on here? 10/5? Whatever the equivalent of “better than best” would be, Be Dazzled is it. 

This book is queer, it’s fun, it has a one-of-a-kind voice (just like the author himself), and is surprisingly emotional! You will laugh, you probably will laugh out LOUD, and you may cry... but ultimately, you’ll get the urge to immediately go buy some fabric and bedazzle something. 

Buy Be Dazzled, read it, stop in the middle of the page to text your friends about it, then convince them to buy it 12 pages later because you’ve sent at least 3 texts about it in the span of 20 minutes. ✨💅🏻

Geneviève Rouleau

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the audiobook through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun, entertaining, binge worthy, GAY book!!! I'm personally not a cosplay fan, but I love reading books about it, especially if there's a competition involved. 

The dual timeline was cleverly done, and it really contributed to give depth to the book, as well as keep the readers' attention (not like it's hard to binge this book lol). I truly believed in the romantic relationship, I could just FEEL their attraction. & I just loved the two characters involved. I did hate some of the other characters, but it was obviously the author's goal, so mission accomplished 😅

alsooooo, the cosplay part was so well done, if I had any talent for sewing, this book would definitely make me want to pick up the craft 😁😆 I definitely recommend!

Kate

4.5* This was an absolute freaking delight. A true breath of fresh air from start to finish. It made me smile, laugh and caused my heart to both squee and break on countless occasions. I loved being thrown into Raffy's world of cosplay and comic-con. His artistry came to life through Ryan La Sala's words in a way that truly transported me. Raffy's story, character and relationships were an utter joy to follow and I completely fell for him within a matter of pages. This book perfectly balanced humour and heartache with depth and some wonderfully strong and moving messages about family, friendship, love, mental health and creativity and I adored every moment of it.