You Belong Here

by Sara Phoebe Miller, Morgan Beem (illustrator)

A young adult graphic novel following Essie through heartbreak, star-crossed romance, teen drama, and the question on every high-school senior’s lips: where do I belong?

It’s the first day of senior year and seventeen-year-old Essie Rosen is already over it. Her best friend went off to college and barely responds to her texts, her brother’s on the other side of the country in rehab, every conversation with her mom becomes a fight, and her long-term boyfriend, Bruno, feels weirdly distant. Essie’s counting down the days until she can escape her Long Island hometown and join her bff at NYU, where she’s SURE she’ll get into the acting program she’s dreamed about for years.


But when Essie gets dumped AND botches her college audition, her entire trajectory changes. Instead of doing community theater, she ends up slumming it in the school play, where she’s cast opposite the unexpectedly charming Christopher Sun…the younger brother of the drug dealer who got Essie’s brother hooked. Is he the perfect rebound—or the worst decision Essie could make?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Coming Of Age, Comics, Family

256 pages, Hardcover

Published March 4, 2025

Reviews

[Rummanah (Books in the Spotlight) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted more of an exploration of the family situation and less of the problematic teen drama. I also thought the discussion of addiction and mental health was superficial.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll note upfront that the five-star rating might be a product of where I read You Belong Here: during a powerful, free outdoor symphony concert while sipping from a big glass of red wine. So, I was ready to be in my feels.

But I do think You Belong Here would be great under any circumstances. It's a fairly standard coming of age tale that's extremely well put together, from the evocative blue-scale art to the smart storytelling choices. As the book begins, Essie is starting senior year on a down note: her best friend is now in college, her brother's in rehab, and her relationship with her boyfriend is rocky, so she's simply ready to move on from the year and get to theater school in NYC. Affairs naturally get worse from there, then briefly better, then worse again, then better, etc. etc. The book is a roller coaster of emotions!

You Belong Here really accurately touched on a huge number of important elements of high school's senior year. You feel like your life is just about to begin and you have to pick the pathway that will define you. But there are still day-to-day things, like new loves and old flames and maintaining friendships and struggling with a family that's not talking about what it should be talking about. You Belong Here covers all of this and more, quickly and completely, so much so that you might just miss an entire concert because you can't take your eyes off the page.

[Amy's Book Cafe · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Jordan Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully told coming of age story. Nails those high school senior feelings so well.

[Zoe · Rating 1 out of 5]

art was nice but the main character OMG GIRLL no wonder your mom does not trust you!! you show at your house drunk the next morning after not telling her where you were!!!!
brooooo
also just two many plot lines

[Meggie Ramm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essie's perfect plan for senior year immediately goes awry when her boyfriend breaks up with her and she blows her big college audition. Her only hope for senior memories is joining the school production of Our Town and not falling in love with the wrong guy. 

Prepare to get drop kicked in the feels right back to high school, where every emotion is world shattering and the only person who understands you is your English teacher. Breaking up but getting back together, the world hinging on an audition, everyone thinks they know you but know one really KNOWS you, you know?

This book is an accurate capsule of teen angst, with things like drugs and depression entering Essie's orbit. But she's still a teen, so the thing that takes the driver's seat are her feelings, captured both in scenes and the journal she has to keep for English. Shout-out to Morgan Beem for making a one color book look lush as hell.

[K.C. Norton]

This was YA in the way where I felt too old for this particular drama, but I also suspect that a lot of young people who are about to graduate will find it relatable. I liked it, but it tread some familiar ground, and the end was a little too neat for my taste.

[Mysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 8
Originality: 7
Wow Factor: 8

You Belong Here delivers a compelling coming-of-age story packed with heartbreak, messy emotions, and the uncertainty of growing up. Essie is a flawed but relatable protagonist navigating friendship fallouts, family struggles, and the weight of her own expectations. The graphic novel shines, offering a diverse cast that feels authentic, and keeps the emotional stakes high as Essie’s world unravels.

The story set the stage for a gripping senior-year journey, but some narrative beats felt predictable despite Essie’s unique circumstances. While the romance between Essie and Christopher had its swoon-worthy moments, it leaned into familiar tropes without fully subverting them. However, its emotional depth—family, addiction, and identity are all handled with nuance.

Overall, this was a solid and engaging read with strong character dynamics, but it didn’t fully break the mold. Fans of high school drama, second chances, and complicated romance will find a lot to enjoy!

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 4 out of 5]

★ ★ ★ ★
Length: 262p
Source: ARC - TBR & Beyond, NetGalley, First Second Books
Release Date: March 4, 2025

◇ This graphic novel perfectly encapsulates the angst, drama, confusion, fear, butterflies, hopelessness, and courage that goes along with every teenager’s last year of “childhood.”

◆ Essie just started her senior year of high school. Her best friend is off at college and drifting away, and her boyfriend thinks they should break up. Her brother’s away at rehab and the boy she’s crushing on is the younger brother of the guy who got her brother hooked. Oh, and her mom is severely codependent and traumatized from her brother, she refuses to believe in Essie.

◇ So YEA, lots of teenage drama that really brought back those heavy feelings and emotions that make it seem like every decision is life or death.

◆ The artistry is unique! It looks hand-drawn but digitized so that combination created some spectacular scenes!

◇ This one isn’t technically a romance. It’s a coming-of-age. So the ending is fitting for its purpose but not for romance. BUT u had a feeling that was coming so I was prepared.

♡ ya graphic novel
♥ coming of age
♡ addiction/recovery
♥ love and breakups

{I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

[Bonnie Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this for my daughter for graduation, after reading that it was the perfect grad gift, especially for theater kids. She really liked it, but I read it today and thought it was okay. Clearly I’m not the target audience, and I don’t always understand the appeal of graphic novels, but I would’ve liked a little more depth.

Overall, it’s a good story dealing with relevant themes for those big life transitions in early adulthood. I do think the novel took on a few too many of those themes, and I would have appreciated more focus.

I would recommend this for 16 and up; there are a couple swear words and brief references to sex.

[rhizo · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was the right amount of light reading that touches on complex emotional topics such as depression, addiction and recovery, family dysfunction and the tension of moving into adulthood as high school ends. the illustration style was cute and the characters felt deeply realized.

[Scarlettblade0709 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A coming of age story that did great on touching the topic of depression and stereotyping. A nice short read that still had a lot to say message wise.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fracturing relationships both romantic and friends, struggling with family drama in the form of parental expectations and sibling substance abuse rehab: this book is a lot. Profane, moderately graphic, and yet, not that interesting?

[Gina Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Belong Here is a slice of life graphic novel about a girl named Essie in her senior year of high school.

Her best friend’s a year older and is kind of ghosting now that she’s in college. Her boy-next-door (literally) boyfriend broke up with her. Her brother is in rehab for addiction, and her relationship with her parents is tense because of it. Then she fumbles her drama school audition 🫠 Ls abound

So yeah it just follows her in the wake of all these life events - she joins the school play, meets misunderstood Christopher, who’s her brother’s dealer’s brother and is therefore off limits to her family, and just deals with her problems as they come.

Coming of age, coming of angst, it’s definitely more on the dramatic side but it had light hearted moments too! I read some really great graphic novels this month and this one wasn't one of my favorites, but it was still a fine read.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essie’s senior year is a hot mess - her boyfriend breaks up with her and dates her longest-known friend, her best friend in college doesn’t text her anymore, she bombs her college audition to her dream school, and her family’s in pieces as they navigate her brother Gabe returning home from rehab. She starts dating Christopher, a bad boy-turned-theater-kid whose brother sold drugs to Gabe, making everything even more messy. In the end, she learns not to be afraid of fear and to live her life for herself. She ends up staying home for college ?? And commuting ?? I think?

The blue/white color palette with water color was neat and the script fit the journal vibes. Representation - Essie is a fat Jewish teen, Christopher’s a depressed Asian teen, Gabe had an opioid addiction, and Bruno is a Black teen. Coming-of-age book for the theater kids.

Essie’s a bit dramatic (lots of crying and falling into bed scenes) but teens tend to be. Christopher’s a slight red flag and I was stressed so I’m glad they were not endgame. My main gripe with the work is that there were a lot of heavy things introduced in the book, but none of them were fleshed out well and I didn’t feel impacted much by the end as a result. Like…losing friendships? Breakups? Pressure from parents to be safe and perfect? Family stress due to handling her brother’s opioid addiction and rehab? Decisions in romantic/sexual relationships? Depression? Addiction? Stress and fear about the future and college and moving? Brother/sister dynamics after a life-altering event? All huge things. All addressed at the surface-level and concluded very neatly. Meh. I also wish they addressed Christopher’s problematic behavior and identified that as unhealthy.

Cursing. Sex (under blankets, clothes off, implied) and condoms. Mentions of drugs. Alcohol/drunkenness. Depression. Stressed family dynamics. Sexual harassment.

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just felt kind of superficial. A lot of things to and around main character Essie: her brother is a recovering addict, her mother is overbearing and unspportive, her father is basically absent, her boyfriend dumps her then immediately starts dating one of her closest friends, her best friend is ghosting her, her college dreams are crashing and burning. But the writing doesn't deeply engage with any of this. All of the emotions feel surface level, and the narrative doesn't dwell on any one thing long enough to explore it. This extends to the interpersonal relationships. I don't think a single character in this book shows that they care about Essie beyond the surface level, and I'm not sure if that's an intentional choice or just the same shallow exploration of emotion seen with Essie herself.

[McKenzy Hupke · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I often connect easily with YA (as technically, yes, young adult census goes all the way to 34, maybe not YA at the libary LOL), this is certainly meant to connect stronger with current high school-aged teens and not the older side of YA. None of her struggles are particularly focused on and covered in depth of how they affected her so it just felt a bit too jumbled.

[Ghostly Writer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t feel like there was much character/storyline development. Not my cup of tea…

[Lila · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art was okay but I didn't like the story or the main character. Also, cussing isn't edgy or cool, YA authors I'm looking at you.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and First Second Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Sara Phoebe Miller’s “You Belong Here” is a deeply emotional, beautifully illustrated graphic novel that captures the aching uncertainty of growing up when everything seems to be falling apart. With its heartfelt storytelling, stunning blue watercolor artwork, and a relatable, if sometimes overwhelming, sense of teenage drama, this coming-of-age story will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt stuck between the past and an uncertain future. I would definitely recommend this book to younger YA readers who will be able to the seemingly never-ending drama that comes with being a teenager.

The story follows Essie (Esther), a Jewish high school senior navigating one of the most turbulent periods of her life. Her best friend has moved on to college and started to drift away, her long-time boyfriend (and literal boy-next-door) has broken up with her, her brother is in rehab for addiction, and her relationship with her parents is strained and heavy with unspoken tension. After botching her drama school audition—a dream she’s pinned so much hope on—Essie feels like her entire future is slipping through her fingers.

Amid this chaos, Essie meets Christopher, a sweet, off-limits boy with ties to her brother's troubled past. Their tentative romance adds warmth and hope to Essie's story without overwhelming it. While the relationship touches familiar tropes, Miller handles it with care and nuance, making it feel organic rather than cliché. Christopher, along with Essie's complex, often messy friendships, adds layers of connection and growth to the story.

The graphic novel’s art deserves special praise. Rendered in striking blue monochromatic watercolors, the visuals perfectly mirror Essie’s internal turbulence, evoking both the claustrophobia of overwhelming emotions and the occasional peace of fleeting hope. Certain pages use dense illustrations and overlapping text to create a visceral sense of anxiety that pairs brilliantly with the story’s themes.

While “You Belong Here” offers an authentic, often cathartic portrayal of teenage uncertainty, it’s not without a few flaws. I found the story veered into “too much” territory—too much drama, too much self-absorption from characters, though it may be because I’m 10 years older than these characters and can’t relate to how high emotions are when you’re a teenager. This very excess of emotion is what makes the story feel true to adolescence, when every mistake and heartbreak feels monumental.

Overall, “You Belong Here” is a moving, gorgeously rendered portrait of a girl wrestling with heartbreak, identity, and the daunting leap into adulthood. It’s about surviving your worst moments, making mistakes, finding new beginnings, and realizing that even when it feels like you’re alone—you still belong.

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say it: Morgan Beem deserves awards. Full stop. Her artwork is nothing short of phenomenal. Rendered entirely in moody, blue-tinted watercolours, the visual language of You Belong Here mirrors Essie’s emotional state—at times washed out and numb, at others claustrophobic with tension. Pages become dense with overlapping text and panels, conveying a visceral sense of anxiety; elsewhere, space opens up, allowing for quiet reflection or tentative connection. Despite the limited colour palette, the book feels lush and kinetic—proof of Beem’s extraordinary skill in evoking mood and movement through monochrome. It captures that watery, wobbly feeling of being seventeen and heartbroken and totally at sea.

You Belong Here is a raw, emotionally resonant coming-of-age graphic novel that captures the sharp edge of adolescence with striking honesty. Set during Essie Rosen’s senior year of high school, it offers an immersive portrait of a girl in free fall—navigating heartbreak, a fractured family, the aftermath of her brother’s addiction, and the sting of a failed dream.

And Miller writes with a keen understanding of how overwhelming teen emotions can be, when every disappointment feels permanent and every moment is saturated with meaning. Essie’s not always likeable, but she is achingly real: self-absorbed, impulsive, wounded, hopeful. The English class journal she keeps becomes an effective narrative device, offering us unfiltered access to her inner chaos in a way that feels raw rather than performative.

Is the drama dialled up to eleven? Sure. Are the characters a little too self-absorbed sometimes? Absolutely. Is the drama dialled up to eleven? Absolutely. Are the characters a little too wrapped up in themselves? Often. But that is adolescence. Everything’s turned up. Reading this now, over a decade older than Essie, I did find myself rolling my eyes at some of her more dramatic spirals—but then again, I once cried over a Hi5 status like it was a personal betrayal. So… fair enough.

This might not be a book for readers who want neat narratives and perfectly “relatable” protagonists. While the story includes a romantic subplot—with Christopher Sun, the younger brother of the man who got Essie’s brother hooked—it resists a tidy romantic resolution. This isn’t a love story, but a story about rebuilding identity when everything you thought you could count on fails you. It’s a breakup book, a theatre kid book, a grief book, a sibling book. Above all, it’s a portrait of how it feels to be seventeen and stuck in a life you didn’t choose.

Also, yes, the theatre-kid energy is immaculate. If you've ever walked into a black box and felt like you belonged more there than at your own dinner table, this one’s definitely for you.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You Belong Here written by Sara Phoebe Miller and illustrated by Morgan Beem is a coming of age story about Esther Rosen and her senior year of high school. Full of drama, angst, and romance galore, You Belong Here is a true-to-life glimpse of one teenager's struggle to find out where she belongs.

Esther Rosen, Essie if you please, is more than ready to leave her hometown of Harborview. Luckily for her, it's her last first day of high school and she can't wait for school to finally end so she can graduate and get away from here! While it seems like the end may be far off in the future, time has a funny way of playing tricks. With her best friend off at Columbia living her best life, her brother across the country in rehab, and her mom turning every conversation into a fight, Essie is struggling to find her way. Essie should be able to turn to her boyfriend Bruno, but even he has become weirdly distant. Through all of these ups and downs, Essie knows one thing: she has a limited number of days before she will start school at NYU in the acting program of her dreams with her best friend.

It doesn't take long before Essie's plans start to unravel. Her best friend isn't responding to her texts, Bruno breaks up with her, and her mom's constant nagging about perfection ramp up her anxiety. After she bombs her audition, Essie is at a loss. She missed the audition window for the community theater group she usually works with and instead has to try out for the school play. When she's cast opposite Christopher Sun, Essie is conflicted. While Christopher is charming and attractive, he is also the young brother of the drug dealer who got her older brother hooked on drugs and caused all her family's problems. How can she be attracted to Christopher? Is he a rebound? Or is what she feeling for him real?

This young adult debut graphic novel was gorgeously written and drawn. The illustrator used blue watercolor tones to highlight the story, focusing on details and expression in each interaction. Even though the artwork is monochromatic, readers are easily able to see the big emotions play across each character. You Belong Here is ripe with teenage angst as Essie struggles with her family, friends, and feelings.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

• 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

1. Full of teenage angst and heartbreak, You Belong Here will give you all the feels.
2. If you’ve ever been betrayed by your best friend, then you’ll empathize with Essie.
3. Essie’s family makes her feel unseen and unimportant next to her brother’s problems. If you’ve ever felt unseen, read this to see how she tackles the issue.
4. Did you dream of getting into your dream school after high school? So does Essie.
5. Breakups are hard, but Essie shows us how to move past them and still reach for our dreams.

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

It’s the first day of senior year and seventeen-year-old Essie Rosen is already over it. Her best friend went off to college and barely responds to her texts, her brother’s on the other side of the country in rehab, every conversation with her mom becomes a fight, and her long-term boyfriend, Bruno, feels weirdly distant. Essie’s counting down the days until she can escape her Long Island hometown and join her bff at NYU, where she’s SURE she’ll get into the acting program she’s dreamed about for years.

But when Essie gets dumped AND botches her college audition, her entire trajectory changes. Instead of doing community theater, she ends up slumming it in the school play, where she’s cast opposite the unexpectedly charming Christopher Sun…the younger brother of the drug dealer who got Essie’s brother hooked. Is he the perfect rebound―or the worst decision Essie could make?

[Paige V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essie is navigating her senior year, which is filled with many twists and turns.

Esther, known as Essie, is a 17-year-old Jewish girl who is about to begin her senior year of high school. She can hardly wait for the year to end so she can attend university in New York. However, her love life and future become complicated. What challenges will she face, and how will Essie navigate them?

This book offers an incredibly relatable narrative, inviting readers into a world that feels both familiar and engaging. The art style boasts a beautiful watercolor quality, with a captivating range of blues that flow seamlessly across the pages, evoking a sense of tranquility and depth.

Essie stands out as a remarkably relatable character, her journey as a gifted actress unfolding with sincerity and passion. It’s inspiring to think that, even after the final page, she will continue to chase her dreams and embrace her talents. Bruno adds complexity to the story, his multifaceted personality keeping readers on their toes, while Christopher brings a delightful quirkiness and warmth that enhances the overall dynamic.

This book is a perfect gift for seniors who appreciate a narrative that resonates deeply and reflects their own experiences. It is also a compelling read for anyone who values a meaningful story.

Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚

Thank you, @tbrbeyondtours & @01firstsecond, for sending me a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Abigail Pankau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essie is starting her senior year of high school, and she has it all planned out perfectly. She’s going to spend lots of time with her boyfriend, nail her acting audition for her dream school, and catch up with her best friend who just started college. But then her boyfriend dumps her, she bombs her audition, and she never hears from her best friend. She also misses the audition for the community theater, so has to make do with the school play. Meanwhile she keeps bumping into Christopher Sun, the younger brother of the drug dealer that enabled Essie’s older brother before he was forced to go to rehab. Essie is trying to get her life back on track, but its hard when her mom doesn’t trust her to not turn out just like her brother. Can Essie figure it out, or is she going to have to learn to try something different?

A great YA graphic novel about the struggles of high school, especially that transitional senior year. It really captures the heartache of a big breakup, the frustration of parental expectations, and the sadness of losing connection with friends. I also really like the art style. Overall, it was a bit too melodramatic for my personal tastes, but still really good.

[Nick Marino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara and Morgan crushed it with this book! I read it all in one go and loved it. It really captured my attention with the fantastic character work, so relatable and emotive. Lots of clever recurring devices in there too like the journal, the fence, the ladder, etc. Smart!

I went to high school in western New York and I was a theater kid (for a time) who preferred community stuff over school plays so there was lots for me to personally connect with in this, which was nice. But even beyond my personal touch points, I really connected with the complexity of the characters. Everyone was so rich with contradictions and surprises.

Readers are really going to love this comic. Congrats to Sara, Morgan, and the team at First Second on a fantastic story!

(I was provided with an advance copy of this graphic novel by the writer.)

[Miss Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esther is entering her senior year of high school on Long Island and she has a very focused plan on how it will go. She will get into NYU Tisch school for acting, she will be the best girlfriend ever to her next door boyfriend, Bruno, and keep her brother’s stint in rehab a secret the way her family wants. However her boyfriend breaks up with her, she ends up being hung over for her Tisch audition, and she starts having a crush on the younger brother of the boy that dealt drugs to her brother. This chaos makes all of her plans go sideways. This graphic novel does an excellent job of depicting a senior year filled with realistic dilemmas, friendships, and outcomes that will resonate with most highschoolers. The Book does depict underaged drinking, marijuana use, and attempts at sexual intercourse. Highly recommended for any library serving teens in grades 9 through 12th.

[Valentino Zullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Belong Here is a beautiful story that will be recognizable to many: it’s about how life comes at you fast when you think it’s going to go slow. All Essie needs to do is get through senior year and then her life will take off, but that slow walk turns into a sprint when everything changes dramatically. While things happen fast for Essie, Sara Phoebe Miller and Morgan Beem create space for the reader to keep up. The art embraces the reader with a blue color wash and the script invites you to linger on moments big and small, slowing down the speed of life. This is a story for teens but also those of us who still have teens inside of us who want to feel the big feelings again, but this time land softly carefully guided by Miller and Beem.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE a "senior year teen angst" story. I know people find them formulaic, but I have empathy and nostalgia for kids going through such a tumultuous time in their young lives. Our main character is dealing with a lot of life changes and has a ton of feelings about them. And I was thrown right back into my messy senior year too. I couldn't put this graphic novel down once I picked it up.

There is a lot packed in this graphic novel, and I wish some of the threads had more time to develop. I was most invested in the family and friend dynamics, and less in the romantic drama, and I wish we could have made more space for the former. I wanted the character faces to be more expressive, given that the story revolves around our MC's emotions.

[aarushi · Rating 2 out of 5]

mmm i don't know how i feel about this book. i wish all of the heavier topics and themes had gotten more development instead of the brief and corny wrap-ups and clichés that they ended with, and the teen drama was a little too much for even me. i think the storyline could've been better as a whole prose novel? pretty art though.

other gripes:
essie decides that she's now anti-new-york-city-for-college because of *one* (weird, unrealisticly publicly rude) professor? girl, how are you going to survive anything else in the future?
maybe i missed it, but i'm not sure how the college plotline ended up? is she in california (which would not be less expensive than nyu, let me tell you) or staying in long island? either way, i was kind of just glad it was over.