4 stars
This graphic novel opens with such a great start. From the opening spread of the café, I was immediately drawn in. There’s so much detail and things going in, I instantly wanted to get to know the characters and how they all connected with one another.
As the characters were introduced, I fell in love with each of them in turn. (Though of course, Chet is my absolutely favorite!) It was fun getting to know them and learning more about the world. The main relationship is absolutely adorable and I love the emphasis on friendship within the story.
Midway through each comic/chapter is a page from the in-world Pleasant Mountain Sisters series. These were a fun way to split up the comic and it was interesting how they characters mirror the emotions of the characters or what was going on in the main plot. At the end of each comic is also an Ask a Know-It-All advice column, which was very entertaining.
While the first half of this book was absolute perfection, for me the last two chapters weren’t as strong. I was confused by the sudden tension and change in dynamics between Julie and Selena. Also, while their budding romance is absolutely adorable up until this point, it was a bit odd how connected they were and how hard they were willing to fight for each other given that they’d had like two dates. The timing felt rushed and a bit off.
Also, the conclusion was very rushed. For how much time is spent on (interesting) side characters, the resolution to the main plot came pretty quickly without really developing what had happened. Everything leading up to this gets resolved in two pages. I’m hoping it’s developed further in the next volume.
Having said all that, I still LOVED this book. The characters are so fun and intriguing. The world setup is interesting and I want to learn more. The colors and artwork are amazing. I love all the details. And there’s so many puns, which is always a plus for me.
Such a fun read that despite parts that felt rushed to me, I still really enjoyed reading it. I’ve already requested the second book from the library because I am not ready to leave Blitheton any time soon. A great start to more adventures.