Ready or Not

by Andi Porretta

An anxious teen hopes that a summer of adventure and offbeat dares will keep her friend group together after graduation in this luminous coming-of-age graphic novel with the feel-good vibes of Booksmart and Morgan Matson’s Since You’ve Been Gone.

With senior year finally behind them, Cassie and her three best friends are on their way to what’s next. Like their parents, the crew has always been there’s Marcy, the artist, for whom style is self-expression and sarcasm is a love language; Aaron, the future lawyer, whose good humor balances out his competitive streak; Nico, the musician, whose flirtatiousness, obliviousness, and recent interest in a rising senior are becoming increasingly unbearable to Cassie; and of course, Cassie herself, the only one who doesn’t have her future all figured out.

This summer is their last chance to make memories together in New York City before everyone but Cassie scatters across the globe for college—and she’s determined to make the most of it. Her plan? They’ll spend August playing the game of dares and risks they invented as kids! From adventurous to outrageous, these dares will definitely make for an unforgettable summer. Even better, Cassie is hopeful they’ll help the group stay friends no matter what…because she is not ready for a future without them.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT, Comics, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 2024

About the author

Andi Porretta is a Philly-born illustrator, storyteller, and rom-com watcher. She studied illustration and design at Pratt Institute and currently resides in Brooklyn with her best friends and pet cat. When she isn’t drawing, you might find Andi at her local coffee shop, palling around, or missing her subway stop (again). Ready or Not is her debut graphic novel.

Reviews

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The pros: I liked the illustration style. I loved the diverse rep and the body positivity. The colors of this graphic novel are gorgeous! The cons: I really disliked how the friends communicated with each other. I thought the "game" was manipulative and you shouldn't need to trick your friends into hanging out with you. I also thought many of the tasks were inappropriate (causing characters to get into trouble with their parents, or authority figures) and therefore the wrong messaging for young people about how to "have fun" with your friends. I did a lot of questionable stuff in my youth, so I'm not old fashioned enough to think young people don't do things like this, but I guess I didn't like that the messaging in this book was that those actions will pay off in the end with friends that love you and trust you, and a new boyfriend.

[hope h. · Rating 2 out of 5]

i would've given this a higher rating but the main character was so insufferably quirky i couldn't manage it. please, god, i do not care about this straight girl, or frankly any of these people, they're all SO ANNOYING. if i wanted to experience annoying american teenagers i would simply look outside my window <3

[alaska · Rating 3 out of 5]

i want to frame some of the art like WOAH

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie and her three best friends experience one last summer before they all split for college. It's a celebration of friendship and growing up, whether they're ready...or not.

I enjoyed it. I really liked the artwork.

And I liked the friend group and the dynamics of their growing pains, although I wish that Cassie's anxiety was explored just a little bit more and that Lyla hadn't been done quite so dirty (the ending relationship was not really to my taste because of how it went down—red flag city there).

[LOVEs_Reading♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such A Beauty 😍😍😍 Omg!!

Cassie,Nico,Marcy & Aaron are all so adorable. .

This is a story about growth & about what it means to accept that sometimes people have to grow apart so that they can be able to find themselves just so the can reconnect and build a better foundation of whatever relationships they would want to have in life.
This is a story that teaches us in so many ways 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝑹𝑼𝑬 𝑭𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑵𝑫𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑷𝑺 𝑯𝑨𝑽𝑬 𝑩𝑬𝑬𝑵 𝑩𝑼𝑰𝑳𝑻 𝑶𝑵 𝑳𝑬𝑺𝑺!

[rianne ✧˖° rianne.reads.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready to dive into the most heartwarming and vibrant graphic novel of the season with "Ready or Not" by Andi Porretta! This story pulls you into the world of Cassie, Aaron, Nico, and Marcy – a friend group that's the perfect blend of sweet and snarky, and sure to capture your heart from the very first page.

Set in that magical summer between graduation and the start of college, "Ready or Not" marks the end of an era for this tight-knit crew. We follow Cassie as she grapples with doubts and stress, watching her friends move on to colleges scattered across the country while she stays behind. Eventually, the group decides to play a game of dares set across the span of the entire summer and absolutely chaos ensues. Within this graphic novel, Porretta masterfully portrays the bittersweet reality of growing up and the fears of drifting apart from those you love.

Though I found myself wishing for more time with these characters (some parts felt a bit rushed), that really just shows how deeply I connected with them – a common feeling when devouring a great graphic novel! The ARC had only a handful of coloured pages, so I felt like I was missing out on the full experience, especially since each character has a unique colour and style that adds depth to the storytelling. Rest assured, I’ll be grabbing the full-colour version as soon as it’s out!

"Ready or Not" is a must-read if you’re hunting for a sweet coming-of-age story this summer. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this journey with Cassie and her friends. Happy reading!

Thank you to Andi Porretta and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an ARC of this book!

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. The FMC is a bit over the top, but its understandable given the plot of teenagers trying to have a last group summer before college and she feels like the one left behind. Really pretty art style.

[jess di angelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cassie and Marcy pissed me off and were bad friends. Nico and Aaron were sooo cute and I loved them. Lyla I would have NEVER fumbled you.

3/5 ⭐️

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

Ready or Not is a YA graphic novel.

This coming of age story features four best friends (Cassie, Marcy, Aaron and Nico) in New York City during their Summer right after high school.

The illustrations are beautiful. And I can't wait to see the entire book in color (the arc had only the first section in color).

I did like the friend group. And I did think that it was realistic that Cassie was worried that she was the only one in the group who did not have her future planned out. The other three were all going to college in September (Marcy for art, Aaron to be a lawyer and Nico for music).

The friends play a game of dares, Honestly it was a bit odd that nobody wanted to hang out with Cassie. And most of the dares caused the teens to get in trouble. So I guess I would have preferred that they were more fun vs things that they should not be doing.

I did really like that the graphic novel featured diversity and mental health rep. Overall this was an enjoyable read.


Thanks to Simon & Shuster Canada for allowing me to read this book.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

6/6/25
I understand what a lot of the reviews here about this book are saying.
But also, sometimes it’s just not that serious. And this book isn’t meant for, like, young kids? There’s some strong cursing, which I did not expect. But the audience it’s meant for (aka high schoolers) will appreciate the messaging of this.

The games were not manipulative; everybody consented to playing this game they’ve played for years. They all came up with the dares. And I don’t think Cassie is “tricking” her friends to hang out with her, it’s more like finding a reason to get everybody together. Which is SO DIFFICULT as you grow up.

Also I personally felt like the main character was super relatable to kids who don’t feel like they have it figured out or maybe can’t afford to go to college immediately after high school. Yes she could be kind of bratty, but she’s a hormonal teenager going through lots of life changes. Let her live.

And if you don’t like the book/characters/etc., just don’t read it. I personally enjoyed this and its characters a lot.

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adore this NYC-set YA graphic novel about the last few weeks in the summer after senior year of high school before everyone takes off for their new lives. The art is gorgeous, I love the coloring and how the text messages are color-coded by the person writing them, and it’s just so realistic. There’s a sweet romance (and some swearing, and one instance of drinking) but this is a very sweet and happy YA story about older teens still acting like kids with their best friends.

Source: school library hardcover

[tillie hellman · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty cute! it wasn’t my fav story ever but the drawings were great. all of the characters were so vibrant and i loooved the texture of the mcs hair. very nice color pallet too

[˗ˏˋ saoudia! ˎˊ˗ · Rating 3 out of 5]

lost a star because of the overuse of the word bitch and its variations and because cassie was mean to a black girl for no reason for the whole book. yes it is petty of me, no i don’t gaf

[Kendra ♡ Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this book, and the illustrations were BEAUTIFUL!!! If you love YA stories you will definitely love this one. It’s kinda like the era right before the coming of age ya know? like right before the actual change happens.

I only took off half a star because even though i have been a high schooler and i remember how silly i was (and also how o allowed people to treat me) I feel her friend DEFINITELY owed her a bigger apology… like girl you put your hands on me? Unless i put my hands on you first, you really have no excuse. Like you’re done🤣 but hey… it’s highschool what can i say.

Overall i’d totally recommend this read!!

[Maegan (maeganisreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this debut graphic novel. I think the art style is fun and I’m excited to see the finished copies with full colour. I really liked the cast of characters we are introduced to. I think they’re all relatable in their own ways but I felt like Cassie was the most relatable for me. Taking a year off between high school and college is hard, especially when your friends are going straight to college. It can be isolating and we see how Cassie deals with this life change. We get to see the characters deal with growing up, love, family issues, sexuality discovery, and so many more things. And I think they were all handled in a great way.

This book has great diversity and a fantastic setting with fun characters. I think if you’re looking for a quick YA graphic novel to kick off summer, then this one will be great to pick up when it releases July 2, 2024!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The detail and storytelling in this graphic novel is stunning! Andi's debut graphic novel 'Ready or Not' has a permanent place on my bookshelf 😊

[Helena Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleepover meets Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse! With breathtaking visuals, a heartwarming coming of age story, and laugh out loud characters, Andi Porretta absolutely shines with this debut graphic novel.

This novel is the ultimate love letter to New York and growing up — can’t wait to revisit and share with all my fellow New Yorkers. Also all the outfits and art were so fun!!!

[Estibaliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

The art was simply gorgeous, so colorful and fun, but the story was a little bit lackluster at times.

I mean, this is obviously a good story when it comes to the growing up part, becoming an adult and getting on with your life, even if that sadly means leaving some things (or people) behind. It was also an interesting portrait of friendship in modern times, and representation was greatly done.

However, it seems like the theme also implied a lot of feuds and romantic drama, and so no nice behavior here and there that, honestly, I might be slightly too old to really enjoy. But, hey, at least this novel is labeled as a YA read, so I'm sure the right audience will appreciate it much more than I did... which wasn't that little anyway, so...

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO. MUCH. FUN.

There's something special about seeing the inside of a brain you've always admired. Because Andi is a spectacular draftsman, you can feel the heat off the page. This book is pure summer. Adolescence distilled down to its most addictive elements.

Everything is changing and anything is possible! Welcome to the coming of age gang, Cassie <3

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Edelweiss for the free eArc!

A sweet, funny, and very real coming of age story that tells teens that it's okay to make mistakes as long as you own up to them. Forgiveness, friendship, found family, and first loves. A story that was equal parts fun, sad, and heartwarming.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️

loved the art style

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing visuals, fully realized characters and story! I love that this book captures how the friendships you have at that age can feel like they’re slipping away, at a time when you feel you need them the most, even if you are growing in different directions… and the angst that comes with that… hard to capture concept and Andi does it perfectly. Anybody else looking for the parent’s group college prequel?

[Mary Gael · Rating 4 out of 5]

this made me cry ❣️ classic summer before college story with gorgeous art that was so vibrant!!! loved the friendships between the parents that were passed down to their kids… exactly!

[Jenna-booklooksbyjenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

messy teens, i love you.

[Pierce Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was magical to read, you get to be fully immersed in the author’s visual world. Her drawing style complements art exquisitely. Its tender nature had me revisiting memories of my teenage years on the outskirts of NYC.

A beautiful book that leaves me excited for the next great piece by Andi Poretta

[Hannah Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 🌟
Goodreads giveaway!

I read this literally all today. I've never read a graphic novel before so it was an interesting experience. can't say it's for me. the art was pretty but I defo would've enjoyed it more if it was in color (arc was black and white). there's just nothing to say about this. it was cute but kinda surface level. nothing really happens at all the whole book. it was pretty fluff. I'm not complaining. I just didn't connect to the characters or the story. it was cute. that's all.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun and a great representation of teen angst and those summer before college feelings

[Raven (the.readingraven) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork is so good in this graphic novel! Hats off to Andi, I love the color palette of this graphic novel. I love the plus size and LGBTQIA+ rep! It felt so natural, I love books that add these elements and it not be this huge issue.

I sort of liked our story. We are following a group of friends that just graduated from high school, they have one last summer together before most of them head off to other states and countries for college. Our main character, Cassie, is struggling with figuring what's next for her, decides to stay home instead of going to college. Feeling she is losing her friends, decides to round them up in a final game of "double dare" for the summer. Throughout the story, we are seeing how the friend group is gradually pulling away from one another, dealing with their own aspects in their lives. We also see how they each could be better friends to one another, too. I think what bugged me most about this story is our main character, Cassie. I understand she feels lost and confused, but she sure loves to complain about her friends being absent while she is too. Not only that, but I also didn't believe the "love" connection either, I couldn't see the chemistry between two characters even though they do look cute together.

Overall, I did enjoy the story and do recommend it to most of my friends. This is a good coming of age and coming to terms story.

[Amanda Brenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ready or Not is a heartfelt YA graphic novel that perfectly captures the bittersweet summer after high school—when friendships are at a crossroads, the future feels uncertain, and everything is about to change. Andi Porretta does a fantastic job highlighting this pivotal season of life, something I don’t think gets explored enough in YA.

One of the novel’s biggest strengths is its characters. They feel like real teenagers—flawed, snarky, and sometimes messy, but also deeply connected. Their mistakes and interactions make them relatable, and it’s easy to see pieces of yourself in their struggles and emotions. The art style is another standout.

Overall, Ready or Not is a great coming-of-age story that would make the perfect summer read. If you enjoy stories about friendship, change, and the moments that shape us, this one is definitely worth picking up!

[Jessica Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ready or Not is a cute graphic novel with some adult language so probably best for older teenagers. Four friends have just graduated high school and are determined to enjoy their summer before everything changes with a game of dares. But Cassie is feeling stuck in her life and like she's being left behind since she's the only one not leaving for college. A few mishaps later and the friends hit some hiccups but they find out how to be friends forever. The art is cute and the story is an interesting take on the time between childhood and grown.