What do you think?
Rate this book
Pillow Talk: An Inclusive YA Graphic Novel About Competitive Pillow Fighting Sports and Friendship
Grace Mendes a.k.a. Cinderhella is a fierce competitor in the PFF, a pillow fight federation that’s part roller derby, part professional wrestling. But in this fresh, coming-of-age YA graphic novel, Grace needs to learn to overcome her biggest herself. For fans of Check, Please and Bloom.
When college freshman Grace Mendes reluctantly attends her first pillow fight match, she falls in love with the surprisingly gritty sport.
Despite her usually shy, introverted, and reserved nature, Grace decides to try out for the Pillow Fight Federation (PFF), a locally famous league of fighters with larger-than-life personas like Pain Eyre, Miss Fortune, and champion Kat Atonic. They may battle with pillows, but there is nothing soft about these fighters. The first and only rule to pillow fighting is that the pillow needs to be the first point of contact; after that, everything else goes.
Grace struggles with deep-seated body image issues, so she is especially shocked when she makes the competitive league and is welcomed into the fold of close knit, confident fighters. As her first official fight performing as newly crafted alter-ego/ring persona Cinderhella looms on the horizon, the real battle taking place is between Grace and her growing insecurities. What if people laugh or make fun of her? Why did she think she could pillow fight in the first place when she doesn’t look like your “typical” athlete?
Turns out, no one is laughing when Cinderhella dominates her first match in the ring. And as her alter-ego rises through the ranks of the PFF, gaining traction and online fame (and online trolls), can Grace use the spotlight to become an icon for not just others, but most importantly, for herself?
Pillow Talk is an inclusive, high-octane, outrageously fun graphic novel that aims a punch at the impossibly high standards set for women in sports (and otherwise) and champions the power of finding a team that will, quite literally, fight for you. A knock-out!
When college freshman Grace Mendes reluctantly attends her first pillow fight match, she falls in love with the surprisingly gritty sport.
Despite her usually shy, introverted, and reserved nature, Grace decides to try out for the Pillow Fight Federation (PFF), a locally famous league of fighters with larger-than-life personas like Pain Eyre, Miss Fortune, and champion Kat Atonic. They may battle with pillows, but there is nothing soft about these fighters. The first and only rule to pillow fighting is that the pillow needs to be the first point of contact; after that, everything else goes.
Grace struggles with deep-seated body image issues, so she is especially shocked when she makes the competitive league and is welcomed into the fold of close knit, confident fighters. As her first official fight performing as newly crafted alter-ego/ring persona Cinderhella looms on the horizon, the real battle taking place is between Grace and her growing insecurities. What if people laugh or make fun of her? Why did she think she could pillow fight in the first place when she doesn’t look like your “typical” athlete?
Turns out, no one is laughing when Cinderhella dominates her first match in the ring. And as her alter-ego rises through the ranks of the PFF, gaining traction and online fame (and online trolls), can Grace use the spotlight to become an icon for not just others, but most importantly, for herself?
Pillow Talk is an inclusive, high-octane, outrageously fun graphic novel that aims a punch at the impossibly high standards set for women in sports (and otherwise) and champions the power of finding a team that will, quite literally, fight for you. A knock-out!
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2024
10 people are currently reading
3546 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Cooke
28 books181 followersStephanie is a writer based out of Toronto, Canada. Some of her graphic novels include ParaNorthern, Oh My Gods, and The Racc Pack. She's additionally worked on titles such as My Little Pony, Cat Ninja, Archie Comics, and more. She’s an avid reader, gamer, movie watcher, and pun connoisseur. She can often be found curled up with her snuggly cat…that she happens to be very allergic to.
Her debut young adult graphic novel, Pillow Talk, is out now. Find out more about her at stephaniecooke.ca.
Her debut young adult graphic novel, Pillow Talk, is out now. Find out more about her at stephaniecooke.ca.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
April 25, 2024
In Toronto, Grace is confident as a student, but not so much in the rest of her life...until she's introduced to the Pillow Fight Federation (PFF) and reincarnates herself as Cinderhella, a competitor to be reckoned with in the ring.
I love roller derby (watching, not playing), and I suspected that this would have a similar vibe—and indeed, the PFF of this graphic novel reads like a cross between roller derby and wrestling. Think all the drama of a wrestling match (and wrestling personas) mixed with the supportive environment of roller derby...and with the athleticism of both. (I learned from this book that professional pillow fighting is in fact a thing, and I'm ten percent disappointed that it's not a work of the writer's imagination but 90% delighted that, you know, it exists.)
Grace struggles with confidence and body image throughout the book, and I love love love that 1) while these things are matters of discussion, there's never a point at which anyone—including Grace—puts the focus on weight loss and 2) the answer to the riddle, so to speak, is not 'finding someone who's into you will solve your confidence problems'. Among other things, this keeps the book feeling fresh.
I'm not as sold on the artwork, which is competent but generally feels more 'comic book' than 'graphic novel' to me in style; partly that's the way the characters are drawn and partly it's how many of the backgrounds are either very simple line work or plain with a simple gradient. I'd also have loved to see a bit more of a journey for Grace as a pillow-fighting athlete—she's good from the very beginning, and as nice as it is to see her succeed, it also feels more relatable (and realistic) to see a character have more ups and downs with their new sports etc. But if you're a comics reader—or a roller derby enthusiast—this is worth the read.
Thanks to the authors and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I love roller derby (watching, not playing), and I suspected that this would have a similar vibe—and indeed, the PFF of this graphic novel reads like a cross between roller derby and wrestling. Think all the drama of a wrestling match (and wrestling personas) mixed with the supportive environment of roller derby...and with the athleticism of both. (I learned from this book that professional pillow fighting is in fact a thing, and I'm ten percent disappointed that it's not a work of the writer's imagination but 90% delighted that, you know, it exists.)
Grace struggles with confidence and body image throughout the book, and I love love love that 1) while these things are matters of discussion, there's never a point at which anyone—including Grace—puts the focus on weight loss and 2) the answer to the riddle, so to speak, is not 'finding someone who's into you will solve your confidence problems'. Among other things, this keeps the book feeling fresh.
I'm not as sold on the artwork, which is competent but generally feels more 'comic book' than 'graphic novel' to me in style; partly that's the way the characters are drawn and partly it's how many of the backgrounds are either very simple line work or plain with a simple gradient. I'd also have loved to see a bit more of a journey for Grace as a pillow-fighting athlete—she's good from the very beginning, and as nice as it is to see her succeed, it also feels more relatable (and realistic) to see a character have more ups and downs with their new sports etc. But if you're a comics reader—or a roller derby enthusiast—this is worth the read.
Thanks to the authors and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
February 14, 2024
This was such a fun, empowering, body positive graphic novel set in Toronto about a fictional "Pillow Fight Federation" (PFF) which features young women of all colors and sizes. A mix between rollar derby and wrestling, each woman has a fun, campy name and story - some being 'heroes' and some 'heels'. The start of the story is newbie, Grace aka "Cinderhella," a plus size college student who finds newfound confidence and female camaraderie when she joins the group. Full of found family and female friendship, this was pure entertainment with tons of heart and I loved every minute! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: fatphobia
CW: fatphobia
March 18, 2024
*3.5 stars
The introverted Grace Mendes joins the PFF (pillow fight federation). The PFF is some sort of wrestling competition where girls reclaim pillow fights as a non-sexual activity that actually portrays women as powerful beings. By becoming the character Cinderhella, Grace is able to slowly crawl out of her shell, but being in the spotlight does come with difficulties.
This story has such a unique concept! I absolutely loved reading about Cinderhella, Rapunchel, and the other female pillow fighters. Next to the unique storyline and the theme of female empowerment, it also includes women of different sizes and colors, and a few people using they/them pronouns. My only small “issue” with this book is the ending that felt a bit rushed. Grace faces some difficulties throughout the book, especially in the last 50 pages, and I would’ve liked it if the book had used more pages to address this issue. All in all, I very much recommend this one!
TW: Bullying, fatphobia
Thank you to HarperCollins for sending me an e-ARC <3
The introverted Grace Mendes joins the PFF (pillow fight federation). The PFF is some sort of wrestling competition where girls reclaim pillow fights as a non-sexual activity that actually portrays women as powerful beings. By becoming the character Cinderhella, Grace is able to slowly crawl out of her shell, but being in the spotlight does come with difficulties.
This story has such a unique concept! I absolutely loved reading about Cinderhella, Rapunchel, and the other female pillow fighters. Next to the unique storyline and the theme of female empowerment, it also includes women of different sizes and colors, and a few people using they/them pronouns. My only small “issue” with this book is the ending that felt a bit rushed. Grace faces some difficulties throughout the book, especially in the last 50 pages, and I would’ve liked it if the book had used more pages to address this issue. All in all, I very much recommend this one!
TW: Bullying, fatphobia
Thank you to HarperCollins for sending me an e-ARC <3
May 2, 2025
This was really cute and I loved the body positive representation in it.
A professional pillow fight federation is such a cool idea, the way it's portrayed here and I loved how shy college student Grace becomes a part of it.
Grace's emergence from her cocoon into a world where she gains confidence and even navigates being the centre of attention was amazing.
The female friendships and camaraderie in this story are incredibly written. I especially loved Grace's vivacious best friend Callie who supports and encourages her so much.
The message that there is no standard body shape that is beautiful and that it is possible for everyone to claim the way they look and be successful and happy with friends is so important. There was emphasis on not judging anyone and being supportive in so many different ways and that was wonderful. I loved the artwork too.
A professional pillow fight federation is such a cool idea, the way it's portrayed here and I loved how shy college student Grace becomes a part of it.
Grace's emergence from her cocoon into a world where she gains confidence and even navigates being the centre of attention was amazing.
The female friendships and camaraderie in this story are incredibly written. I especially loved Grace's vivacious best friend Callie who supports and encourages her so much.
The message that there is no standard body shape that is beautiful and that it is possible for everyone to claim the way they look and be successful and happy with friends is so important. There was emphasis on not judging anyone and being supportive in so many different ways and that was wonderful. I loved the artwork too.
December 17, 2024
*3.75
Guess what - this is a real sport!
Pillow Talk stars Grace Mendes, a fat college girl who falls in love with the sport of professional pillow fighting. Through the support of her best friend and new teammates, Grace develops her fightsona of Cinderhella and learns how to stand up for herself and accept her body - and how to swing a pillow!
The diversity in this book is off the charts. And let me tell you, the friendships! This book is so strongly focused on the siblinghood between these fighters, but my favorite dynamic was Grace and her best friend Callie! She's been in Grace's corner from day one, and their friendship is just wonderful. So supportive, so adorable, so good! This is honestly my favorite function of most literature: platonic relationships at the core with some queer romances sprinkled in.
OTOH - I could just be sheltered, but I've never heard of pillow fighting as being something "inherently sexy." When I think of pillow fights, I think of playing with my friends during a sleepover. As kids. But there are multiple points in this book where they pull up an image of two girls in underwear holding pillows and giggling and say "this is what everyone thinks of when they hear pillow fight!" Or online trolls say "make pillow fighting sexy again!" Is this really a thing?
Also, I'm gonna be a mom and shake my finger at the ending. There's a parallel at the beginning and end - in the first part, Grace and Callie are in class and Callie tries to text Grace. Grace ignores her but finally picks up the phone and scolds Callie for texting and trying to distract her during class - after all, they're paying for them!
In the end, however, they're back in class and this time Grace is texting Callie! And she encourages Callie to leave class early (on a Thursday, but this wouldn't be any better if it were a Friday) and they lie to their professor to get out. This is supposed to be a huge moment for Grace to be more confident and less insecure, but come ON! Attend your classes, guys!!
I really don't get how being loud in class, causing a disruption, and interrupting the professor is supposed to mark character growth. Come on, Grace, you were doing so well!
But hey, I at least liked how Grace coming out of her shell emboldened her to break others out of theirs. 3.75/5 stars!
Guess what - this is a real sport!
Pillow Talk stars Grace Mendes, a fat college girl who falls in love with the sport of professional pillow fighting. Through the support of her best friend and new teammates, Grace develops her fightsona of Cinderhella and learns how to stand up for herself and accept her body - and how to swing a pillow!
The diversity in this book is off the charts. And let me tell you, the friendships! This book is so strongly focused on the siblinghood between these fighters, but my favorite dynamic was Grace and her best friend Callie! She's been in Grace's corner from day one, and their friendship is just wonderful. So supportive, so adorable, so good! This is honestly my favorite function of most literature: platonic relationships at the core with some queer romances sprinkled in.
OTOH - I could just be sheltered, but I've never heard of pillow fighting as being something "inherently sexy." When I think of pillow fights, I think of playing with my friends during a sleepover. As kids. But there are multiple points in this book where they pull up an image of two girls in underwear holding pillows and giggling and say "this is what everyone thinks of when they hear pillow fight!" Or online trolls say "make pillow fighting sexy again!" Is this really a thing?
Also, I'm gonna be a mom and shake my finger at the ending. There's a parallel at the beginning and end - in the first part, Grace and Callie are in class and Callie tries to text Grace. Grace ignores her but finally picks up the phone and scolds Callie for texting and trying to distract her during class - after all, they're paying for them!
In the end, however, they're back in class and this time Grace is texting Callie! And she encourages Callie to leave class early (on a Thursday, but this wouldn't be any better if it were a Friday) and they lie to their professor to get out. This is supposed to be a huge moment for Grace to be more confident and less insecure, but come ON! Attend your classes, guys!!
I really don't get how being loud in class, causing a disruption, and interrupting the professor is supposed to mark character growth. Come on, Grace, you were doing so well!
But hey, I at least liked how Grace coming out of her shell emboldened her to break others out of theirs. 3.75/5 stars!
June 3, 2024
3.5/5 for me, rounded up.
College student Grace gets dragged to an event at the Pillow Fight Federation, a pro wrestling-style pillow fighting league in which women dress up and give themselves larger-than-life characters and then battle with pillows to claim victory. She falls in love with it, tries out for the league and begins a meteoric rise to the top under the name Cinderhella.
This is cute fun. The characters are all likeable, the punny pillow fighter names are delightful (some of my favorites are Kat Atonic, Killeesi, and Aphromighty), and Grace's struggles with body image and impostor syndrome are well portrayed and quite relatable.
Where I think this could have been stronger is that there just isn't much conflict.
The art is well done for the most part, though the action sequences sometimes lose me a bit. Since PFF is basically pro wrestling with pillows, I hoped for a bit more over-the-top craziness in the pillow fighting scenes. As an on-again, off-again pro wrestling fan, I think this was a missed opportunity to bring a little more personality to some of the secondary characters who didn't get a lot of page time. There are a few crazy stunt moves, but I think it would've been cool if there were more.
Still, overall this was a fun, quick read and I would recommend it to fans of pro wrestling, pillow fights, or graphic novels about female empowerment.
College student Grace gets dragged to an event at the Pillow Fight Federation, a pro wrestling-style pillow fighting league in which women dress up and give themselves larger-than-life characters and then battle with pillows to claim victory. She falls in love with it, tries out for the league and begins a meteoric rise to the top under the name Cinderhella.
This is cute fun. The characters are all likeable, the punny pillow fighter names are delightful (some of my favorites are Kat Atonic, Killeesi, and Aphromighty), and Grace's struggles with body image and impostor syndrome are well portrayed and quite relatable.
Where I think this could have been stronger is that there just isn't much conflict.
The art is well done for the most part, though the action sequences sometimes lose me a bit. Since PFF is basically pro wrestling with pillows, I hoped for a bit more over-the-top craziness in the pillow fighting scenes. As an on-again, off-again pro wrestling fan, I think this was a missed opportunity to bring a little more personality to some of the secondary characters who didn't get a lot of page time. There are a few crazy stunt moves, but I think it would've been cool if there were more.
Still, overall this was a fun, quick read and I would recommend it to fans of pro wrestling, pillow fights, or graphic novels about female empowerment.
April 8, 2024
This is a great coming of age story. We follow Grace, who's very anxious and doesn't have many friends. Her best friend and roommate drags her to PFF (Pillow Fight Federation), which is roller derby combined with wrestling, where they use a pillow to fight. She thinks everyone is so badass, but there's no one who looks like her so she feels like she wouldn't fit in. Then someone else enters the ring, and she's also fat, like Grace, so Grace suddenly feels confident enough to join. This changes a lot for her: she gains friends and confidence, which was so great to follow along with.
July 21, 2024
god this was sooooo cute & wholesome 😭😭😭😭 such a quick, fun read about female friendship & gaining confidence. had me tearing up for real 🥲
August 18, 2025
THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ THIS YEAR! hands down!! great queer representation and I love the art so much! would recommend this book to anyone!!
December 31, 2024
Fun book with cute art in which the characters have very mature and honest conversations with one another. Also love to see representation of queer folks, people of color, and women (especially fat women!) in fighting sports!
January 26, 2024
thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for a review!
i have never played or watched roller derby. why, then, do I keep reading books about roller derby? because roller derby is cool. its cool women doing sports. that's so awesome.
while the pillow fight federation in this book is not, in fact, roller derby, it is similar in that it features cool women doing sports in cool outfits, which makes me like it already. i love all the side characters in this book. there is not a single side character that I am not somewhat attached to. they are relentlessly welcoming and also did i mention cool? because they're very cool.
i loved grace and her storyline. i like that she makes the choice to join the pff independently -- while callie supports her wholeheartedly, she never pushes grace into it or forces her to do anything she's uncomfortable with. i also appreciated that grace didn't have a romantic storyline, because she didn't need one! the prevalent thing she's dealing with is her own anxiety, and that's definitely big enough for one novel. however, i did like all the cute side pairings---callie turning out to be queer was unexpected but awesome!
very nice graphic novel! longer than i expected it to be (yay more content!) but still super quick and fun :)
i have never played or watched roller derby. why, then, do I keep reading books about roller derby? because roller derby is cool. its cool women doing sports. that's so awesome.
while the pillow fight federation in this book is not, in fact, roller derby, it is similar in that it features cool women doing sports in cool outfits, which makes me like it already. i love all the side characters in this book. there is not a single side character that I am not somewhat attached to. they are relentlessly welcoming and also did i mention cool? because they're very cool.
i loved grace and her storyline. i like that she makes the choice to join the pff independently -- while callie supports her wholeheartedly, she never pushes grace into it or forces her to do anything she's uncomfortable with. i also appreciated that grace didn't have a romantic storyline, because she didn't need one! the prevalent thing she's dealing with is her own anxiety, and that's definitely big enough for one novel. however, i did like all the cute side pairings---callie turning out to be queer was unexpected but awesome!
very nice graphic novel! longer than i expected it to be (yay more content!) but still super quick and fun :)
August 19, 2025
Cute book :) Grace and Callie’s friendship carries the story. I appreciated how the other characters didn’t fall into one specific trope. Cool to see all the Toronto references as well! Also TIL the Pillow Fighting Championship (PFC) actually exists. Kinda curious about book 2… two queer women can just be super close friends, but I also ship it 👀
June 12, 2024
“i created Cinderhella to be a hero. i wanted to show other women who looked like me that we can be the fairy-tale princess. the hero, and not the sidekick.”
💫 representation: Grace is a POC fat FMC, Callie is bi, Lynn Masters is sapphic and uses they/them pronouns, Erin is sapphic and a single mom, Jessie is Black and sapphic, BIPOC and queer and plus-sized sides
💫 content warnings for: anxious thoughts, fatphobia, (cyber)bullying
4.5 🌟
Pillow Talk was an absolute joy to read! i loved seeing multiple plus-sized, BIPOC, and queer characters in powerful and important leading roles. i hardly ever see that and i think the representation here was handled great. it's needed more in the graphic novel world! i adored everything about Grace and the PFF (including Callie! i want her as my best friend) -- their dynamics, friendship, diverseness, inclusivity, and the conversations of reclaiming narratives, like in their hero/heel roles and how that can outwardly and inwardly transcend into being the "hero" or the "villain" were so good. i especially liked how they went into how fat folks are often painted as evil or "the villains" and Grace's inner conflict with that. i loveddd the discussion of how they desexualized pillow fighting too.
THE CHARACTER DESIGNS ARE ALL SO GOOD AND PRETTYYYY!! i want them all to kiss… i want to kiss them… and most importantly, i want to BE them. cosplaying as Cinderhella (i want to hug her), Killeesi (Queen of Feral Cats, also known as my queen, my beloved <3 (i wish i were the queen of feral cats)), Pain Eyre (love a good classics reference, this pun made my librarian heart happy), Rapunchel (my fave fairytale princess), Miss Fortune (can i steal the green hair and outfit PLEASE?), or really all of them would be a dream. special shoutout to them for making me love this book so much.
i had a bunch of favorite scenes, but the scene where Killeesi says, “my loyal subjects, i have need of your aid! help your queen!” and plush cats reign down from the sky is my favorite. it’s so good. also the scenes where all the girls were together were my favorites. especially during the panels where they convinced Grace to come back and comforted her, and then celebrated her after she became the champion. let’s go fat, queer girl power!
i related a lot to Grace. i didn’t have a lot of confidence growing up. in fact, i would tell you i had zero confidence. and it was true. i couldn’t talk to people, couldn’t take compliments, hated speeches and presentations. heck, i couldn’t even answer the door without panicking and hiding behind my couch. most of that was also because of my social anxiety. i wasn’t sure of myself. i knew who i was, but i thought that person had to be locked away. i kept myself alone behind four walls, and then four more. annnd that got lonely. i searched for ways to put myself out there, like Grace, through my original character personas in costumes, art social media, and online roleplaying forums. i gained confidence because i was someone else, but still me deep inside. i could be myself. i was the hero. that’s why Cinderhella hits so close to home. i had my own Cinderhella.
i also struggled with what Grace struggled with. i was bullied when i was younger. i grew up not knowing the difference between people laughing at me or just laughing. with that and my ever-growing social anxiety and depression, i began automatically assuming everyone i met hated me. i saw soooo much of myself in Grace that it hurt seeing her be mean to herself the same way i was. but i get it, and i love her. i loved watching her grow and seeing how she began to choose herself first. it was healing for me. i wish her the best in her self-love journey <3
if you liked this, i definitely recommend The Avant-Guards, Vol. 1 and Grand Slam Romance! ⋆˙⟡♡
°ᡣ𐭩 . ° . kin list: Grace, Pain Eyre, Killeesi, Rapunchel, and Miss Fortune
~ Morgan Shadow 🐺👑🏹🌊💫
💫 representation: Grace is a POC fat FMC, Callie is bi, Lynn Masters is sapphic and uses they/them pronouns, Erin is sapphic and a single mom, Jessie is Black and sapphic, BIPOC and queer and plus-sized sides
💫 content warnings for: anxious thoughts, fatphobia, (cyber)bullying
4.5 🌟
Pillow Talk was an absolute joy to read! i loved seeing multiple plus-sized, BIPOC, and queer characters in powerful and important leading roles. i hardly ever see that and i think the representation here was handled great. it's needed more in the graphic novel world! i adored everything about Grace and the PFF (including Callie! i want her as my best friend) -- their dynamics, friendship, diverseness, inclusivity, and the conversations of reclaiming narratives, like in their hero/heel roles and how that can outwardly and inwardly transcend into being the "hero" or the "villain" were so good. i especially liked how they went into how fat folks are often painted as evil or "the villains" and Grace's inner conflict with that. i loveddd the discussion of how they desexualized pillow fighting too.
THE CHARACTER DESIGNS ARE ALL SO GOOD AND PRETTYYYY!! i want them all to kiss… i want to kiss them… and most importantly, i want to BE them. cosplaying as Cinderhella (i want to hug her), Killeesi (Queen of Feral Cats, also known as my queen, my beloved <3 (i wish i were the queen of feral cats)), Pain Eyre (love a good classics reference, this pun made my librarian heart happy), Rapunchel (my fave fairytale princess), Miss Fortune (can i steal the green hair and outfit PLEASE?), or really all of them would be a dream. special shoutout to them for making me love this book so much.
i had a bunch of favorite scenes, but the scene where Killeesi says, “my loyal subjects, i have need of your aid! help your queen!” and plush cats reign down from the sky is my favorite. it’s so good. also the scenes where all the girls were together were my favorites. especially during the panels where they convinced Grace to come back and comforted her, and then celebrated her after she became the champion. let’s go fat, queer girl power!
i related a lot to Grace. i didn’t have a lot of confidence growing up. in fact, i would tell you i had zero confidence. and it was true. i couldn’t talk to people, couldn’t take compliments, hated speeches and presentations. heck, i couldn’t even answer the door without panicking and hiding behind my couch. most of that was also because of my social anxiety. i wasn’t sure of myself. i knew who i was, but i thought that person had to be locked away. i kept myself alone behind four walls, and then four more. annnd that got lonely. i searched for ways to put myself out there, like Grace, through my original character personas in costumes, art social media, and online roleplaying forums. i gained confidence because i was someone else, but still me deep inside. i could be myself. i was the hero. that’s why Cinderhella hits so close to home. i had my own Cinderhella.
i also struggled with what Grace struggled with. i was bullied when i was younger. i grew up not knowing the difference between people laughing at me or just laughing. with that and my ever-growing social anxiety and depression, i began automatically assuming everyone i met hated me. i saw soooo much of myself in Grace that it hurt seeing her be mean to herself the same way i was. but i get it, and i love her. i loved watching her grow and seeing how she began to choose herself first. it was healing for me. i wish her the best in her self-love journey <3
if you liked this, i definitely recommend The Avant-Guards, Vol. 1 and Grand Slam Romance! ⋆˙⟡♡
°ᡣ𐭩 . ° . kin list: Grace, Pain Eyre, Killeesi, Rapunchel, and Miss Fortune
~ Morgan Shadow 🐺👑🏹🌊💫
May 20, 2024
not only is the concept unique, but the execution was flawless 🕊️
Read
May 2, 2024A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Pillow Talk is a really sweet and affirming coming-of-age story. It’s a very quick read full of friendship, solidarity, and overcoming fear. Grace is filled with self-doubt and anxieties from her intense body-image issues. Because of bullying and an acrimonious relationship with her stepmother, Grace struggles to believe that random strangers and people she meets don’t hate her. Callie is there to coax her out of her shell, but only Grace can take the steps needed to be her best self.
I think Pillow Talk will speak to younger audiences, as well as the piece of almost everyone filled with self-doubt, and make those who share marginalized identities feel seen. I think it’s a very empowering and lovely story of self-worth and friendship many will enjoy.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Pillow Talk is a really sweet and affirming coming-of-age story. It’s a very quick read full of friendship, solidarity, and overcoming fear. Grace is filled with self-doubt and anxieties from her intense body-image issues. Because of bullying and an acrimonious relationship with her stepmother, Grace struggles to believe that random strangers and people she meets don’t hate her. Callie is there to coax her out of her shell, but only Grace can take the steps needed to be her best self.
I think Pillow Talk will speak to younger audiences, as well as the piece of almost everyone filled with self-doubt, and make those who share marginalized identities feel seen. I think it’s a very empowering and lovely story of self-worth and friendship many will enjoy.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
June 12, 2024
Thank you so much to Harper360 for providing me with an arc in exchange of an honest review.
This graphic novel brought me so much JOY!
It was so positive and just what I needed. The diversity of characters was great and awesome to see! This graphic novel felt like a big hug! It tackles sometimes difficult to talk about topics such as body image issues but I feel like this deals with it in a great way. There was such a sense of community and acceptance and I absolutely adored it!
I would love to have my own PFF persona and get to compete in something so absolutely kick ass! The illustrations are wonderful and the bright bold colour palette really emphasises the awesome characters.
This graphic novel brought me so much JOY!
It was so positive and just what I needed. The diversity of characters was great and awesome to see! This graphic novel felt like a big hug! It tackles sometimes difficult to talk about topics such as body image issues but I feel like this deals with it in a great way. There was such a sense of community and acceptance and I absolutely adored it!
I would love to have my own PFF persona and get to compete in something so absolutely kick ass! The illustrations are wonderful and the bright bold colour palette really emphasises the awesome characters.
May 31, 2024
Did I know that I was needing to know about professional pillow fighting? No, I didn't, but now I am so glad I have heard of it! I loved seeing multiple plus-sized characters and how the protagonist works through her relationship with her body and her persona. Her struggle and worries felt real! And it was comforting to see her come through it all being super awesome! The references and puns for their stage names made me so happy, and the character designs/styles/outfits were SO COOL I want to be Cinderhella for Halloween!!!
March 1, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
This title was a really good "finding myself" book. The main character, Grace, is a college student who just wants to take her classes, but her best friend, Callie, is very outgoing. One day Callie drags Grace to a Pillow Fighting Federation match and the rest is history.
This title was a really good "finding myself" book. The main character, Grace, is a college student who just wants to take her classes, but her best friend, Callie, is very outgoing. One day Callie drags Grace to a Pillow Fighting Federation match and the rest is history.
September 6, 2024
i thought the artwork was beautiful and i liked the story, although i felt it could’ve been more fleshed out. everything seemed to work out a little too easily and simply for the main character.
March 15, 2025
I don't think I could have guessed that a graphic novel about a women's sport about pillow fighting would be my next read. I'm new to graphic novels but I was given a copy of this book in January when I attended the Ontario Library Association Super Conference in Toronto, so I decided to dive into this book that initially gave off a 'roller derby meets wrestling with pillows' vibe.
What I liked about this book:
- Toronto setting
- shows how confidence, body positivity and women supporting each other can have a BIG impact!
- LBGTQIA2S+
- how these young women took something (pillow fighting) which has been sexualized by society and turned it into something that made them feel powerful
What I struggled with:
- the story was just okay. There wasn't enough struggle - Grace is new to the PFF (Pillow Fight Federation) but from the get-go she's great at it. Really?
- the artwork was just okay
- the dialogue was a little awkward
Overall, I loved the unique setting and the great, positive messaging, but it fell a little flat in the storytelling.
Disclaimer: Thanks to HarperAlley for this complimentary copy that I was given at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference.
July 1, 2025
loved the casual queerness throughout and how there's so much diverse representation and exploration of identity. an inviting color palette and nuanced commentary on body diversity. I do wish that some of the art style was more varied with character design, since some faces were very similar, and that the narrative wasn't so rushed in the last quarter
May 22, 2024
liked the story overall but the graphics were a little too webtoon-y for me. to really hit home with me, a graphic novels needs good art.
October 25, 2024
4.5 stars
Fun! Love the concept of a semi-pro Pillow Fight Federation meets inclusivity & body image.
Fun! Love the concept of a semi-pro Pillow Fight Federation meets inclusivity & body image.
February 27, 2025
A fun, low-stakes adventure in professional pillow fighting. Lots of positive body positivity and found family!
March 10, 2025
Cute graphic novel with great representation, storyline and artistry.
Read
October 8, 2025I rented this on a whim from the library, and I was pleasantly surprised! :) Wonderful (and witty) character development even with secondary characters.
July 10, 2024
2 stars for the art style. story did not speak to me.
January 13, 2025
Read dates approximate
June 20, 2024
This was SO fun, I love all the body diversity! The writing was a little clunky; the moral messaging was bit too strongly delivered at times (like the random PSA on registering to vote). But overall it was so nice to see a group of friends—many of them women—supporting each other, having a good time, and feeling empowered. Reminded me of SLAM! but queerer and more wholesome. The artwork was super cute, too! (even if everyone's noses looked the same lol) (also, soft side-eye to reviewers saying the art is too "comic"-y for a graphic novel... y'all... graphic novels are comics, ffs🙄 There's no one way that the art style is "supposed to" look like.) 3.5 stars
TW: fatphobia, internalized fatphobia, mention of past bullying
My thanks to the publisher for providing this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
TW: fatphobia, internalized fatphobia, mention of past bullying
My thanks to the publisher for providing this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
March 1, 2025
This was a fun, fluffy (pun intended), quick read! Wasn't a huge fan of Callie in the beginning—she seemed big on peer pressure and every time she called Grace "Gracey" I felt like she was infantilizing her—but I warmed up to her pretty quickly once Grace said she wanted to join the PFF and Callie was immediately her biggest cheerleader, from waking her up at the crack of dawn to train and handling her social media presence. Their friendship was heart-warming though a little unrealistic. In fact, the total lack of conflict between the women in this book was surprising and refreshing but hard to believe. I'm always calling authors out for unnecessarily pitting women against each other in stories, and while I was glad to get a break from that here, I think it's unrealistic that all the women got along perfectly and were insta-besties. IRL women can be catty and petty and create drama, and even if you don't have a problem with someone, you might not be interested in being their friend. I think it would have been a lot more convincing if some of the women, like Erin, were only interested in doing their own thing and not making friends. There's nothing wrong with being neutral or apathetic but professional with your teammates; not everyone has to be friends!
I also wasn't a huge fan of Grace's "special snowflake" syndrome. Her biggest critic is herself because of her insecurities, but from an outsider's perspective she really has nothing to be insecure about. She's smart and gets straight As in all her classes, she excels at pillow fighting the first time she tries it, and everyone seems to like her immediately... I don't know, her "underdog" story would be a little more convincing if there was more texture to it. It would've been nice to see her suffer some actual lows (like losing pillow fights or failing a test) and learning to deal with it. I also didn't think it was realistic that all the PFF girls would quit the championship match to support her and not a single one of them felt frustrated or resentful or conflicted about it.
In short, this is Grace's world and we're just living in it. But sometimes maybe we need that kind of unrealistic escapism!
Also... I have never heard of "pillow fighting" being a sexualized thing... I thought it was just a children's play-fighting sort of game. Not sure if that's something the author just made up for the story?
I also wasn't a huge fan of Grace's "special snowflake" syndrome. Her biggest critic is herself because of her insecurities, but from an outsider's perspective she really has nothing to be insecure about. She's smart and gets straight As in all her classes, she excels at pillow fighting the first time she tries it, and everyone seems to like her immediately... I don't know, her "underdog" story would be a little more convincing if there was more texture to it. It would've been nice to see her suffer some actual lows (like losing pillow fights or failing a test) and learning to deal with it. I also didn't think it was realistic that all the PFF girls would quit the championship match to support her and not a single one of them felt frustrated or resentful or conflicted about it.
In short, this is Grace's world and we're just living in it. But sometimes maybe we need that kind of unrealistic escapism!
Also... I have never heard of "pillow fighting" being a sexualized thing... I thought it was just a children's play-fighting sort of game. Not sure if that's something the author just made up for the story?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews