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We Could Be Magic
A swoon-worthy young adult graphic novel about a girl's summer job at a theme park from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer.
When Tabitha Laurie was growing up, a visit to Sommerland saved her belief in true love, even as her parents’ marriage was falling apart. Now she’s landed her dream job at the theme park’s prestigious summer program, where she can make magical memories for other kids, guests, and superfans just like her. All she has to do is audition for one of the coveted princess roles, and soon her dreams will come true.
There’s just one problem. The heroes and heroines at Sommerland are all, well… thin. And no matter how much Tabi lives for the magic, she simply doesn't fit the park's idea of a princess.
Given a not-so-regal position at a nacho food stand instead, Tabi is going to need the support of new friends, a new crush, and a whole lot of magic if she’s going to devise her own happily ever after. . . without getting herself fired in the process.
With art by Joelle Murray, the wonder of Sommerland comes to life with charming characters and whimsical backdrops. We Could Be Magic is a perfect read for anyone looking to get swept away by a sparkly summer romance.
When Tabitha Laurie was growing up, a visit to Sommerland saved her belief in true love, even as her parents’ marriage was falling apart. Now she’s landed her dream job at the theme park’s prestigious summer program, where she can make magical memories for other kids, guests, and superfans just like her. All she has to do is audition for one of the coveted princess roles, and soon her dreams will come true.
There’s just one problem. The heroes and heroines at Sommerland are all, well… thin. And no matter how much Tabi lives for the magic, she simply doesn't fit the park's idea of a princess.
Given a not-so-regal position at a nacho food stand instead, Tabi is going to need the support of new friends, a new crush, and a whole lot of magic if she’s going to devise her own happily ever after. . . without getting herself fired in the process.
With art by Joelle Murray, the wonder of Sommerland comes to life with charming characters and whimsical backdrops. We Could Be Magic is a perfect read for anyone looking to get swept away by a sparkly summer romance.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2025
39 people are currently reading
20186 people want to read
About the author
Marissa Meyer
84 books132k followersI live in Tacoma, Washington, with my husband and beautiful twin daughters. Represented by Jill Grinberg. Learn more about me and my upcoming books at http://www.marissameyer.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 683 reviews
February 27, 2025
I won a goodreads giveaway for this ARC!!
I think it's a super cute and very wholesome book! I'd highly recommend it, it was just a bit too short. I love the characters--- it's such a sweet and cute plot. The art style is so fun and colorful and really does capture the magic of the setting.
One sentence summary: Tabi is so full of excitement to finally be working at her dream summer job, but there are many different things that break her perfect dream of what working there would be like.
It’s a lovely and body-positive book— I would have loved this growing up.
I think it's a super cute and very wholesome book! I'd highly recommend it, it was just a bit too short. I love the characters--- it's such a sweet and cute plot. The art style is so fun and colorful and really does capture the magic of the setting.
One sentence summary: Tabi is so full of excitement to finally be working at her dream summer job, but there are many different things that break her perfect dream of what working there would be like.
It’s a lovely and body-positive book— I would have loved this growing up.
July 15, 2025
3.5 Stars
We Could Be Magic is a cute graphic novel that I think a lot people will enjoy if they love Disney theme parks. The art by Joelle Murray is BEAUTIFUL and really captures the essense of the story. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the story for the most part, I felt like there were some pacing issues. I wanted to see the romance blossom between the characters a little more and I wasn't the biggest fan of the time jump. It's exciting to see more young adult authors create graphic novels, I just wanted to love this one a little more than I anticipated.
We Could Be Magic is a cute graphic novel that I think a lot people will enjoy if they love Disney theme parks. The art by Joelle Murray is BEAUTIFUL and really captures the essense of the story. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the story for the most part, I felt like there were some pacing issues. I wanted to see the romance blossom between the characters a little more and I wasn't the biggest fan of the time jump. It's exciting to see more young adult authors create graphic novels, I just wanted to love this one a little more than I anticipated.
March 19, 2025
Okay, I loved this!! Such a cute and wholesome graphic novel with a plus size main character who finds love and goes after her dreams. For anyone who has loved Disneyland and dreamed of working there (of course, for copyright reasons this theme park has a completely different name and different princesses, but basically Disney) We Could Be Magic has a character who does just that.
Tabi has dreamed of playing her favorite princess since she was a little girl and lives for the magic of the parks. So getting into a summer employment program is a dream. Or...it starts out that way. Because the truth is that not everyone wants to be there or cares about making magic for guests, and no-one thinks a plus-size girl could play a princess. But Tabi will do whatever it takes to prove them wrong, even as she becomes a little disillusioned with parts of it.
This was exactly what I would have wanted to see as a teenager who loved going to Disney parks every few years with family, and who really could have used this kind of body-positive representation with an adorable romance. If this sounds like your thing I definitely recommend it! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Tabi has dreamed of playing her favorite princess since she was a little girl and lives for the magic of the parks. So getting into a summer employment program is a dream. Or...it starts out that way. Because the truth is that not everyone wants to be there or cares about making magic for guests, and no-one thinks a plus-size girl could play a princess. But Tabi will do whatever it takes to prove them wrong, even as she becomes a little disillusioned with parts of it.
This was exactly what I would have wanted to see as a teenager who loved going to Disney parks every few years with family, and who really could have used this kind of body-positive representation with an adorable romance. If this sounds like your thing I definitely recommend it! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
June 13, 2025
This was so adorable!! I absolutely loved the art, and the characters were so sweet! 💕
I would definitely recommend this cute summery graphic novel with Disneyland vibes!
I would definitely recommend this cute summery graphic novel with Disneyland vibes!
March 9, 2025
This is the first book I've held in my hands to read in a long time and I absolutely loved the experience! I won an ARC of this graphic novel in a Goodreads giveaway. This cute tale set in a theme park was whimsical, enchanting, and had me rooting for the main character Tabi the whole time. What a sweet, feel-good, thoroughly enjoyable story! ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚
March 22, 2025
I think this was super cute and I liked the representation! I know it's a graphic novel but the pacing felt soooo fast.
March 9, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
i’ve missed marissa meyer’s writing style, and i really enjoyed joelle murray’s art style!
this was a sweet, wholesome, and inspiring graphic novel about a fictional theme park based off of disneyland, and it was interesting to see the behind the scenes/innerworkings of the cast and characters you see throughout the park.
i really enjoyed the message meyer/murray put forth: work hard, and never let the magic of your dreams dim ✨
i’ve missed marissa meyer’s writing style, and i really enjoyed joelle murray’s art style!
this was a sweet, wholesome, and inspiring graphic novel about a fictional theme park based off of disneyland, and it was interesting to see the behind the scenes/innerworkings of the cast and characters you see throughout the park.
i really enjoyed the message meyer/murray put forth: work hard, and never let the magic of your dreams dim ✨
July 9, 2025
4 stars
what i needed after the prison healer fs. this was so cuteeeee. it was literally so wholesome. i love the diversity of the characters (shoutout to the minor hijabi character) and i loved the plot and mc. the romance was not the main plot but it was still adorable. i binge read this in one sitting and was smiling and giggling. 🤭 i really recommend this if you’re looking for a cute, light and quick read <3
what i needed after the prison healer fs. this was so cuteeeee. it was literally so wholesome. i love the diversity of the characters (shoutout to the minor hijabi character) and i loved the plot and mc. the romance was not the main plot but it was still adorable. i binge read this in one sitting and was smiling and giggling. 🤭 i really recommend this if you’re looking for a cute, light and quick read <3
July 10, 2025
4 stars ✧.*
super cute! marissa meyer is so good at graphic novels, i would love to see her write a mystery one next!
super cute! marissa meyer is so good at graphic novels, i would love to see her write a mystery one next!
September 5, 2025
This was super cute! I really enjoyed it.
I also really like the illustrations.
I also really like the illustrations.
April 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
This graphic novel was so sweet. While it of course had a happily-ever-after, it had so many great themes and plot lines along the way. Growing up, I loved Raina Telgemeier and this was easily comparable. I really liked that the story was centered around someone who works at a place similar to Disneyworld who realizes that at first, it isn’t as glamorous as she’d expected. I think this is a reality that many people face when doing something like the Disney College Program so it was really nice seeing this represented. I also liked how persistent the main character was. She didn’t give up on her dreams after the few curveballs she was thrown. There are so many things in this book that young people can relate to. It was a quick and cute read that I really enjoyed and think many people will too come publication day.
All opinions are my own.
This graphic novel was so sweet. While it of course had a happily-ever-after, it had so many great themes and plot lines along the way. Growing up, I loved Raina Telgemeier and this was easily comparable. I really liked that the story was centered around someone who works at a place similar to Disneyworld who realizes that at first, it isn’t as glamorous as she’d expected. I think this is a reality that many people face when doing something like the Disney College Program so it was really nice seeing this represented. I also liked how persistent the main character was. She didn’t give up on her dreams after the few curveballs she was thrown. There are so many things in this book that young people can relate to. It was a quick and cute read that I really enjoyed and think many people will too come publication day.
All opinions are my own.
January 22, 2025
This was absolutely perfect in every way!!!!
Evoking the joy of the happiest place on Earth, Sommerland is a theme park that brings every guest magical moments and one-of-a-kind characters. Which, in turn, is why children grow up dreaming of being those characters. As adults, they reach for those nostalgic moments to bring back the memories of what made them special.
That’s exactly what happens for Tabi, who in the summer before her senior year in high school, applies to work for her dream job at Sommerland, with the hopes of becoming a character actor… a princess, to be precise. But every time she tells someone or mentions her dreams, they suggest a costumed character, with their face hidden away.
It’s definitely obvious from early on why they’re all in disbelief on why she isn’t understanding. It’s all about her weight. Which is confirmed later in the book when one of the princesses, who up until now have all been vapid and had a chip on their shoulders, tells her that she’ll never fit in the costumes.
As someone who loves a theme park, it would be so incredible if for once, there really was more representation in character actors, especially face ones. I get that we are stuck with this horrible beauty standard that we’ve grown into, but a small .001 percent of the world fits that. I’d like to see more plus size actors… but that is a tangent, which obviously fits in with the theme of the book, but is neither here nor there.
We Could Be Magic had all the magic and beauty I expect to see when thinking about the themes, but also the jaded attitudes and hate spewing from the mouths of minimum wage employees for a big corporation. It feels almost as if the author and/or illustrator has worked for D!$ney and know exactly what it’s like.
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of the book. I can’t wait to reread it when it’s released!!!
Evoking the joy of the happiest place on Earth, Sommerland is a theme park that brings every guest magical moments and one-of-a-kind characters. Which, in turn, is why children grow up dreaming of being those characters. As adults, they reach for those nostalgic moments to bring back the memories of what made them special.
That’s exactly what happens for Tabi, who in the summer before her senior year in high school, applies to work for her dream job at Sommerland, with the hopes of becoming a character actor… a princess, to be precise. But every time she tells someone or mentions her dreams, they suggest a costumed character, with their face hidden away.
It’s definitely obvious from early on why they’re all in disbelief on why she isn’t understanding. It’s all about her weight. Which is confirmed later in the book when one of the princesses, who up until now have all been vapid and had a chip on their shoulders, tells her that she’ll never fit in the costumes.
As someone who loves a theme park, it would be so incredible if for once, there really was more representation in character actors, especially face ones. I get that we are stuck with this horrible beauty standard that we’ve grown into, but a small .001 percent of the world fits that. I’d like to see more plus size actors… but that is a tangent, which obviously fits in with the theme of the book, but is neither here nor there.
We Could Be Magic had all the magic and beauty I expect to see when thinking about the themes, but also the jaded attitudes and hate spewing from the mouths of minimum wage employees for a big corporation. It feels almost as if the author and/or illustrator has worked for D!$ney and know exactly what it’s like.
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of the book. I can’t wait to reread it when it’s released!!!
August 6, 2025
⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺⁺˚
🎆~Genres~🎆
Contemporary/Romance/Graphic novel
🍦~Characters~🍦
(Tabitha "Tabi") FMC I i really liked her she was so determined to meet her goals.
(James) MMC I really liked him he was really nice but really awkward lol.
(Kyra) TABI'S ROOMMATE I liked her she was a good friend in the end.
🌟~Quotes~🌟
When I was five years old, I knew all about true love. True love was bold and fearless. True love was eternal. True love conquered all. True love always ended with a happily ever after.
James and I made a good team. Together, we made magic.
And there you have it. I became a princess. I fell in love and found my happily ever after. All my dreams came true...at least, until I dream up some new ones.
🦄~What I liked~🦄
The art style, The wishing pond, The ending, the epilogue, the tour, The plot, the cover, the writing style
🏰~What I disliked~🏰
Nothing
🎇~Content/Trigger Warnings~🎇
Divorce, fat shaming, fighting, a guy flirts with another guy
🧶~Language~🧶
Heck, Flipping, Hell
🎆~Genres~🎆
Contemporary/Romance/Graphic novel
🍦~Characters~🍦
(Tabitha "Tabi") FMC I i really liked her she was so determined to meet her goals.
(James) MMC I really liked him he was really nice but really awkward lol.
(Kyra) TABI'S ROOMMATE I liked her she was a good friend in the end.
🌟~Quotes~🌟
When I was five years old, I knew all about true love. True love was bold and fearless. True love was eternal. True love conquered all. True love always ended with a happily ever after.
James and I made a good team. Together, we made magic.
And there you have it. I became a princess. I fell in love and found my happily ever after. All my dreams came true...at least, until I dream up some new ones.
🦄~What I liked~🦄
The art style, The wishing pond, The ending, the epilogue, the tour, The plot, the cover, the writing style
🏰~What I disliked~🏰
Nothing
🎇~Content/Trigger Warnings~🎇
Divorce, fat shaming, fighting, a guy flirts with another guy
🧶~Language~🧶
Heck, Flipping, Hell
July 18, 2025
"Sommerland has many rules. But they can all be broken, in the name of magic."
4/5 — aww I really liked it!
Tabitha has always had a dream: to portray her favorite princess, Princess Madeline, at the Sommerland park.
Throughout the story, she tries her best to create magic for the guests, in every role from a worker at a Nacho stand to a beloved character actor. She forms friendships and dapples in romance, all the while striving for her dream. It’s not easy for her — as she is a plus-size girl, she has physical limitations of who she can realistically play. But that’s never stopped Tabi before, and it certainly isn’t going to stop her now. Because Sommerland is the place where dreams can come true.
Shoutout to Marissa Meyer for writing such a cute story! She is literally the absolute best at writing strong female protagonists. I love you, Marissa! Your name is amazing by the way!
And another shoutout to the illustrator!! She did SUCH a good job, this whole graphic novel was just the cutest!! I love the characters and the detailed costumes and backgrounds. So beautifully done!
I really loved the main character. Tabi was such a positive ray of sunshine, even when she wasn’t given the best of circumstances. Her work ethic and enthusiasm is infectious and honestly really inspiring.
James was… there. Sure, he and Tabi had some good chemistry and stuff but honestly, I didn’t love him. Which I was a little surprised at because I absolutely ADORE most Marissa Meyer men (just ask my friends about the hours I’ve spent talking about Carswell Thorne). Don’t get me wrong, the illustrator did a fantastic job with him (he was so cute!) but his personality just wasn’t for me. But I’m glad it worked out for Tabi!
Sommerland: the definitely Disney inspired princess theme park, trademarked the “happiest place on earth.” It was definitely definitely a ripoff of Disney. I’m not saying that every book with a princess theme park is a ripoff of Disney, but every aspect of Sommerland felt like a direct swap from the iconic Disney parks. From hidden “kitty wise”s to the “Sommerland princesses”, to just about everything in between, it felt very similar to a certain mouse-themed park I’ve heard of before.
Overall, I really liked it. This book was full of positive messages and fun characters. I will definitely be recommending to my fellow Marissa-Meyer fans!! :D
4/5 — aww I really liked it!
Tabitha has always had a dream: to portray her favorite princess, Princess Madeline, at the Sommerland park.
Throughout the story, she tries her best to create magic for the guests, in every role from a worker at a Nacho stand to a beloved character actor. She forms friendships and dapples in romance, all the while striving for her dream. It’s not easy for her — as she is a plus-size girl, she has physical limitations of who she can realistically play. But that’s never stopped Tabi before, and it certainly isn’t going to stop her now. Because Sommerland is the place where dreams can come true.
Shoutout to Marissa Meyer for writing such a cute story! She is literally the absolute best at writing strong female protagonists. I love you, Marissa! Your name is amazing by the way!
And another shoutout to the illustrator!! She did SUCH a good job, this whole graphic novel was just the cutest!! I love the characters and the detailed costumes and backgrounds. So beautifully done!
I really loved the main character. Tabi was such a positive ray of sunshine, even when she wasn’t given the best of circumstances. Her work ethic and enthusiasm is infectious and honestly really inspiring.
James was… there. Sure, he and Tabi had some good chemistry and stuff but honestly, I didn’t love him. Which I was a little surprised at because I absolutely ADORE most Marissa Meyer men (just ask my friends about the hours I’ve spent talking about Carswell Thorne). Don’t get me wrong, the illustrator did a fantastic job with him (he was so cute!) but his personality just wasn’t for me. But I’m glad it worked out for Tabi!
Sommerland: the definitely Disney inspired princess theme park, trademarked the “happiest place on earth.” It was definitely definitely a ripoff of Disney. I’m not saying that every book with a princess theme park is a ripoff of Disney, but every aspect of Sommerland felt like a direct swap from the iconic Disney parks. From hidden “kitty wise”s to the “Sommerland princesses”, to just about everything in between, it felt very similar to a certain mouse-themed park I’ve heard of before.
Overall, I really liked it. This book was full of positive messages and fun characters. I will definitely be recommending to my fellow Marissa-Meyer fans!! :D
May 31, 2025
"I like to think that she saw me and knew it was okay to believe in dreams and love and fairy tales. Just like I had when I saw Princess Madeline all those years ago." - Tabitha Laurie.
✨ A Feel-Good Fairytale With a Modern Twist ✨
✨ BLURB:
We Could Be Magic follows Tabitha Laurie, a girl who has always believed that true love exists, especially in a magical place like Sommerland. As she grows up and joins the summer program working behind the scenes at Sommerland, her dream is to become Princess Madeline. However, management insists that the princess must be thin. Determined to prove herself, Tabi works hard and comes up with her own strategy to chase her dream.
✨ MY THOUGHTS ABOUT IT:
This was such a magical read I’ll never forget! Like many kids, I believed in fairy tales and magic growing up. This book brings that feeling back, telling a modern fairy tale that shows kindness, hope, and determination. Marissa Meyer did an incredible job spreading magic through her characters, not just through the setting.
One of the things I loved most was Tabi’s determination. Despite all the mockery and obstacles, she smiled through it all, poured love into her work, and never gave up. And then there's James, who supported her endlessly and believed in the same magic she did. Their bond felt more real and swoon-worthy than any prince on stage.
We Could Be Magic is a beautiful reminder that kindness is free, being helpful costs nothing, and goodness still exists. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance, middle-grade stories, and a little bit of real-life fairy tale magic.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for letting me experience the magical world of Sommerland with Tabitha and James.
✨WHAT I LIKED:
📌 Tabitha applying to Sommerland while waiting for the audition
📌 Tabi meeting James during the party
📌 James choosing to step down as a Prince
📌 Tabi standing up to Prince Henry
📌 Kyra’s huge character development
📌 That adorable Tabi and James kiss! (OMG!!!)
✨TROPES:
📌 Modern Fairytale
📌 Grumpy x Sunshine
📌 Supportive Love Interest
📌 Chasing Dreams
📌 Found Confidence
📌 Workplace Romance
📌 Unlikely Allies
📌 Overcoming Stereotypes
📌 No Spice
✨ A Feel-Good Fairytale With a Modern Twist ✨
✨ BLURB:
We Could Be Magic follows Tabitha Laurie, a girl who has always believed that true love exists, especially in a magical place like Sommerland. As she grows up and joins the summer program working behind the scenes at Sommerland, her dream is to become Princess Madeline. However, management insists that the princess must be thin. Determined to prove herself, Tabi works hard and comes up with her own strategy to chase her dream.
✨ MY THOUGHTS ABOUT IT:
This was such a magical read I’ll never forget! Like many kids, I believed in fairy tales and magic growing up. This book brings that feeling back, telling a modern fairy tale that shows kindness, hope, and determination. Marissa Meyer did an incredible job spreading magic through her characters, not just through the setting.
One of the things I loved most was Tabi’s determination. Despite all the mockery and obstacles, she smiled through it all, poured love into her work, and never gave up. And then there's James, who supported her endlessly and believed in the same magic she did. Their bond felt more real and swoon-worthy than any prince on stage.
We Could Be Magic is a beautiful reminder that kindness is free, being helpful costs nothing, and goodness still exists. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance, middle-grade stories, and a little bit of real-life fairy tale magic.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends for letting me experience the magical world of Sommerland with Tabitha and James.
✨WHAT I LIKED:
📌 Tabitha applying to Sommerland while waiting for the audition
📌 Tabi meeting James during the party
📌 James choosing to step down as a Prince
📌 Tabi standing up to Prince Henry
📌 Kyra’s huge character development
📌 That adorable Tabi and James kiss! (OMG!!!)
✨TROPES:
📌 Modern Fairytale
📌 Grumpy x Sunshine
📌 Supportive Love Interest
📌 Chasing Dreams
📌 Found Confidence
📌 Workplace Romance
📌 Unlikely Allies
📌 Overcoming Stereotypes
📌 No Spice
December 26, 2025
*3 Stars*
Summary: A super cute amusement park romance that wears too-thick rose-tinted glasses without enough substance.
Overall, I’m bummed I didn’t enjoy this one more. I’m not the biggest fan of the art style (more so of the desaturated and pastel/cool-toned color palettes) so that didn’t help, but my real gripes were with the content and story arcs themselves. More about what I did and didn’t like below.
Things I Liked:
- The Setting: I don’t think I’ve ever read anything from the perspective of/set in the behind-the-scenes of an amusement park like Disneyland. It was super unique and made for interesting scenarios and a setting for the story.
- The Romance: For the most part, I enjoyed both characters in the romance and thought their development was believable and super sweet. That’s not to say it didn’t have its faults, but I was never rooting against them! I’m sure I would’ve loved them even more in novel format. What bothered me the most was that they never once spoke about their lives outside of the park. I don’t feel like I know who the love interest is at all outside of his job. (Also, what’s his age? He’s one year out of HS, so 18/19, right? And she’s a junior, so 16/17….???).
Things I Didn’t Like:
- Let me start with the main thing, because it’s what really took me out of the story. The amusement park in this is very blatantly meant to be a version of Disneyland, even down to the creator/owner living in the park. Now that’s totally fine, because, you know, copyright reasons. But the fact is that this fictional park is based in reality.
On Tabi’s first day, she’s bombarded by people complaining about what it’s actually like to work there (terrible conditions; boiling weather; rotten children; disrespectful adults, etc). Tabi is confused because she thinks the park is the literal happiest place on earth, so why should they complain? And then her views are backed up when the love interest enters and complains that the employees complaining are full of themselves and ungrateful that they get to work in such a magical place. Um, hello? Now, maybe it’s because I know a lot of the hidden stories behind the glitz and glam, from social media and from classes on the history of Disneyland, but I think employees are allowed to complain about terrible working conditions. I thought maybe that’s where Tabi’s general arc was going, that she would learn that her dreams (more about them later) weren’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s good to learn that. And her resolving to make the magic where she can despite the lack of perfection behind the scenes would have made a much more interesting arc. The way this story came across, we should all be praising these parks and getting annoyed when the employees don’t uphold the same beliefs. Glorifying the parks was just uncomfortable to read imo. And it never felt like Tabi was proven wrong.
- In the same vein as the above ^ — Maybe this is because the blurb spoiled the inner conflict, but how in the world does it take Tabi nearly the whole story to realize why everyone’s being so backhanded when they insist she can’t be cast as a character princess? She claims that this is her childhood, life-long dream, yet she is woefully unprepared for the auditions and doesn’t realize that in a park where “the authenticity of our characters is something [they] highly value,” none of the princesses are curvy or plus sized? How did this never dawn on her? And why wasn’t anyone being straight up with her about it at all? It’s like they were all dancing around the topic.
- The Deus Ex Machina Ending: No spoilers, but yeah. They were very convenient and unrealistic circumstances to get Tabi where she was for the finale. Also, when asked her name in a situation where she believes she’s getting fired, she has the nerve to stay in character as a princess instead of giving her real name lolllll
- Small Details: The blurb talked about how she’d be doing this with friends and a new crush, but she only ever had the new crush and one catty roommate who’s suddenly nice in the end. Also, the love interest plays a prince at one point who was drawn to be Asian throughout the rest of the book. They care so much about character authenticity, then let the non-Asian, lighter haired love interest be the prince with no talk of how that might appear? Also, they definitely pressured him into doing something he could’ve seriously gotten fired over.
- Another Small Detail: LI gives Tabi a penny for a wishing well. She says, “I can afford my own wishes,” before handing the penny back. Lol what
That being said, the overall summer and amusement park vibe was fun to read, but the story just didn’t take its own concepts and themes far enough.
Summary: A super cute amusement park romance that wears too-thick rose-tinted glasses without enough substance.
Overall, I’m bummed I didn’t enjoy this one more. I’m not the biggest fan of the art style (more so of the desaturated and pastel/cool-toned color palettes) so that didn’t help, but my real gripes were with the content and story arcs themselves. More about what I did and didn’t like below.
Things I Liked:
- The Setting: I don’t think I’ve ever read anything from the perspective of/set in the behind-the-scenes of an amusement park like Disneyland. It was super unique and made for interesting scenarios and a setting for the story.
- The Romance: For the most part, I enjoyed both characters in the romance and thought their development was believable and super sweet. That’s not to say it didn’t have its faults, but I was never rooting against them! I’m sure I would’ve loved them even more in novel format. What bothered me the most was that they never once spoke about their lives outside of the park. I don’t feel like I know who the love interest is at all outside of his job. (Also, what’s his age? He’s one year out of HS, so 18/19, right? And she’s a junior, so 16/17….???).
Things I Didn’t Like:
- Let me start with the main thing, because it’s what really took me out of the story. The amusement park in this is very blatantly meant to be a version of Disneyland, even down to the creator/owner living in the park. Now that’s totally fine, because, you know, copyright reasons. But the fact is that this fictional park is based in reality.
On Tabi’s first day, she’s bombarded by people complaining about what it’s actually like to work there (terrible conditions; boiling weather; rotten children; disrespectful adults, etc). Tabi is confused because she thinks the park is the literal happiest place on earth, so why should they complain? And then her views are backed up when the love interest enters and complains that the employees complaining are full of themselves and ungrateful that they get to work in such a magical place. Um, hello? Now, maybe it’s because I know a lot of the hidden stories behind the glitz and glam, from social media and from classes on the history of Disneyland, but I think employees are allowed to complain about terrible working conditions. I thought maybe that’s where Tabi’s general arc was going, that she would learn that her dreams (more about them later) weren’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s good to learn that. And her resolving to make the magic where she can despite the lack of perfection behind the scenes would have made a much more interesting arc. The way this story came across, we should all be praising these parks and getting annoyed when the employees don’t uphold the same beliefs. Glorifying the parks was just uncomfortable to read imo. And it never felt like Tabi was proven wrong.
- In the same vein as the above ^ — Maybe this is because the blurb spoiled the inner conflict, but how in the world does it take Tabi nearly the whole story to realize why everyone’s being so backhanded when they insist she can’t be cast as a character princess? She claims that this is her childhood, life-long dream, yet she is woefully unprepared for the auditions and doesn’t realize that in a park where “the authenticity of our characters is something [they] highly value,” none of the princesses are curvy or plus sized? How did this never dawn on her? And why wasn’t anyone being straight up with her about it at all? It’s like they were all dancing around the topic.
- The Deus Ex Machina Ending: No spoilers, but yeah. They were very convenient and unrealistic circumstances to get Tabi where she was for the finale. Also, when asked her name in a situation where she believes she’s getting fired, she has the nerve to stay in character as a princess instead of giving her real name lolllll
- Small Details: The blurb talked about how she’d be doing this with friends and a new crush, but she only ever had the new crush and one catty roommate who’s suddenly nice in the end. Also, the love interest plays a prince at one point who was drawn to be Asian throughout the rest of the book. They care so much about character authenticity, then let the non-Asian, lighter haired love interest be the prince with no talk of how that might appear? Also, they definitely pressured him into doing something he could’ve seriously gotten fired over.
- Another Small Detail: LI gives Tabi a penny for a wishing well. She says, “I can afford my own wishes,” before handing the penny back. Lol what
That being said, the overall summer and amusement park vibe was fun to read, but the story just didn’t take its own concepts and themes far enough.
March 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC!
This book is SO cute and heartwarming! As a fat girl who wanted to be a part of theater, but was told I'd never have "the look" this one hit close to home. I love how confident Tabi is, and how she is willing to work hard for her dream. The romance unfolds pretty naturally and is pretty darn cute. I got a good chuckle our of all the silly little nods to and pokes at Disney.
The artwork is lovely, all soft pastels and whimsy.
I can't wait to get this book into the hands of my readers!
This book is SO cute and heartwarming! As a fat girl who wanted to be a part of theater, but was told I'd never have "the look" this one hit close to home. I love how confident Tabi is, and how she is willing to work hard for her dream. The romance unfolds pretty naturally and is pretty darn cute. I got a good chuckle our of all the silly little nods to and pokes at Disney.
The artwork is lovely, all soft pastels and whimsy.
I can't wait to get this book into the hands of my readers!
May 1, 2025
Omg! I absolutely loved this book. Usually I don’t like graphic novels but this one was so good. The illustrations, the design, the words used.. All PERFECT. I loved Tabitha. Her character portrayed an extremely sweet teenager with the kindest heart even when people were mean and rude she kept smiling. I saw myself in her a lot :)
I’m definitely buying the actual copy of this book when it comes out!!
I’m definitely buying the actual copy of this book when it comes out!!
May 3, 2025
3.5⭐️
My opinion: I liked the cutesy drawing style but this book was just so short, it took me around an hour and a half to read. I did like the aspect of the park being like Disneyland but it did get a little bit too similar to Disney for my taste. There wasn’t as much romance as I thought there would be, which is fine, but based on the cover it looks as if romance would be the main aspect of the story when in reality, the plot revolves much more around character acting at the theme park. I do wish the author built up the relationship a little bit more before the end of the story, it kind of felt like we didn’t really get to see anything actually happen between the main characters before the epilogue.
genre: graphic novel, romance
pov: first person, past tense
trope: fish out of water, forced proximity
Age rating: 11+
Violence: a character punches a guy (who deserved it) in the nose, his nose bleeds
Romance: one kiss (not described in words at all, just a sweet illustration), a guy makes a park princess uncomfortable
Drinking/drugs/smoking: there’s a drunk looking guy to whom a character says “come back when you’re sober”
Language: 1 what the h3ll, a couple of unfinished almost swears (you piece of--)
Other: speculation on whether a popular park character is a she, he, they, or it; this was said to be an ongoing debate among the fandom
Trigger warnings:
- divorce
Publish date: 3-June-2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing a e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My opinion: I liked the cutesy drawing style but this book was just so short, it took me around an hour and a half to read. I did like the aspect of the park being like Disneyland but it did get a little bit too similar to Disney for my taste. There wasn’t as much romance as I thought there would be, which is fine, but based on the cover it looks as if romance would be the main aspect of the story when in reality, the plot revolves much more around character acting at the theme park. I do wish the author built up the relationship a little bit more before the end of the story, it kind of felt like we didn’t really get to see anything actually happen between the main characters before the epilogue.
genre: graphic novel, romance
pov: first person, past tense
trope: fish out of water, forced proximity
Age rating: 11+
Violence: a character punches a guy (who deserved it) in the nose, his nose bleeds
Romance: one kiss (not described in words at all, just a sweet illustration), a guy makes a park princess uncomfortable
Drinking/drugs/smoking: there’s a drunk looking guy to whom a character says “come back when you’re sober”
Language: 1 what the h3ll, a couple of unfinished almost swears (you piece of--)
Other: speculation on whether a popular park character is a she, he, they, or it; this was said to be an ongoing debate among the fandom
Trigger warnings:
- divorce
Publish date: 3-June-2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing a e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2025
Sometimes, after I read something, I really hope that I make somebody who follows me read it.
To be clear: this graphic novel is not good. I want somebody else to read it so that like. Somebody else witnesses this thing. So I know I'm not going crazy and that this was a story that was actually put into the world.
My completely unironic Disney Adult story. What does it mean.
Why do they let the 17 year olds be character actors. Why did Tabi not do any research on how character auditions work. And to be blunt, why was she so surprised that all of the princesses are skinny??? She's a superfan. She should know this.
It'd be one thing if she was well aware and like well I think that's unfair! I think anybody should be able to play a princess, as long as they've got the heart, so I'm going to prove it! But she just. Doesn't realize this until like. 70% of the way through the book?
Also Walt Disney herself came to deus ex machina and make a princess who looks exactly like Tabi at the end and everybody clapped.
I liked the love interest despite myself. A floppy haired brunette can go a long way for me, I guess. The idea of character actor x character attendant is a fun dynamic
To be clear: this graphic novel is not good. I want somebody else to read it so that like. Somebody else witnesses this thing. So I know I'm not going crazy and that this was a story that was actually put into the world.
My completely unironic Disney Adult story. What does it mean.
Why do they let the 17 year olds be character actors. Why did Tabi not do any research on how character auditions work. And to be blunt, why was she so surprised that all of the princesses are skinny??? She's a superfan. She should know this.
It'd be one thing if she was well aware and like well I think that's unfair! I think anybody should be able to play a princess, as long as they've got the heart, so I'm going to prove it! But she just. Doesn't realize this until like. 70% of the way through the book?
Also Walt Disney herself came to deus ex machina and make a princess who looks exactly like Tabi at the end and everybody clapped.
I liked the love interest despite myself. A floppy haired brunette can go a long way for me, I guess. The idea of character actor x character attendant is a fun dynamic
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2025
➳ 5 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
ugh this was so cute and fun and romantic and i loved it sm 🤭
tabi was such a likable mc and her and james were adorable together and their romance was one of my favorites
i also loved that this was a graphic novel even though I don’t read them that often bc the illustrations and all of the colors enhanced the story sm
the rep in this was wonderful and i think this book is so important ‼️ marissa meyer doing the lords work as always
i’m convinced this woman never misses and i will read anything and everything she writes!
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
ugh this was so cute and fun and romantic and i loved it sm 🤭
tabi was such a likable mc and her and james were adorable together and their romance was one of my favorites
i also loved that this was a graphic novel even though I don’t read them that often bc the illustrations and all of the colors enhanced the story sm
the rep in this was wonderful and i think this book is so important ‼️ marissa meyer doing the lords work as always
i’m convinced this woman never misses and i will read anything and everything she writes!
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
October 14, 2025
I get the feeling we’re not allowed to say “Disney” but… this was the cutest Disneyland story ever and it made me really believe in park magic for a little while
June 24, 2025
I loved this so much! The illustrations were gorgeous and the storyline had me smiling. This is why representation matters, especially where young readers are concerned! This story had me laughing, heartsick, and left me with happy tears in my eyes. I would absolutely read a sequel just to see more of these happy illustrations and more of Tabi!
Thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my thoughts and review are my own.
Thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my thoughts and review are my own.
November 28, 2025
3.5 stars
At its center it had a great message, but it felt a bit like it wanted to talk about fatphobia while still skirting around it. I would have loved to see a more explicit approach to it.
I also think it might have been better if it were longer (or divided in two volumes) to fully flesh out the story and possibly explore all topics more. It would have been nice to see her actually develop the friendship with her roommate, and the relationship with James also took a turn kind of out of nowhere and then suddenly they were together in the timeskip epilogue. Maybe controversial opinion, but taking out the relationship from the story and just focusing on everything else would have made this better and more fleshed out in my opinion.
At its center it had a great message, but it felt a bit like it wanted to talk about fatphobia while still skirting around it. I would have loved to see a more explicit approach to it.
I also think it might have been better if it were longer (or divided in two volumes) to fully flesh out the story and possibly explore all topics more. It would have been nice to see her actually develop the friendship with her roommate, and the relationship with James also took a turn kind of out of nowhere and then suddenly they were together in the timeskip epilogue. Maybe controversial opinion, but taking out the relationship from the story and just focusing on everything else would have made this better and more fleshed out in my opinion.
January 9, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced review copy
THIS WAS SO CUTEEEEEEEE
This is a YA graphic novel about our MC Tabi who dreams of playing a princess at her local theme park, and is dismayed when she is put at the nacho stand instead. But with the help of her new cute friend, she decides to shake things up and chase her dream anyway.
I loved everything about this, from the plus size rep to the Disneyland vibes to the cutesie little romance.
I’d say it’s good for fans of Hot Dog Girl, Pumpkinheads & just a good old time
THIS WAS SO CUTEEEEEEEE
This is a YA graphic novel about our MC Tabi who dreams of playing a princess at her local theme park, and is dismayed when she is put at the nacho stand instead. But with the help of her new cute friend, she decides to shake things up and chase her dream anyway.
I loved everything about this, from the plus size rep to the Disneyland vibes to the cutesie little romance.
I’d say it’s good for fans of Hot Dog Girl, Pumpkinheads & just a good old time
March 30, 2025
I ADORED this graphic novel!
Marissa Meyer is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to get an ARC of her newest graphic novel. There was a wonderful message of body positivity, set against the charming backdrop of a Disney-esque theme part called Sommerland. The art style was charming and cute, and Tabi was such a sweet character. I liked that she took her job seriously but always had fun with it. The art style reminded me a bit of Pumpkinheads which I also love. I would definitely recommend this gorgeous graphic novel.
Marissa Meyer is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to get an ARC of her newest graphic novel. There was a wonderful message of body positivity, set against the charming backdrop of a Disney-esque theme part called Sommerland. The art style was charming and cute, and Tabi was such a sweet character. I liked that she took her job seriously but always had fun with it. The art style reminded me a bit of Pumpkinheads which I also love. I would definitely recommend this gorgeous graphic novel.
August 16, 2025
I loved the bright artwork and the determination and kindness of the main character.
The downsides of theme parks were made clear in the story but the optimism of Tabi and James kept the magic alive for them and for the reader. I love the inclusion of Kyra's little character arc in regards to her attitude toward Tabi.
I really liked the character design of the dad and how the length of his dreads shows the passage of time even though he wasn't in the story much.
The downsides of theme parks were made clear in the story but the optimism of Tabi and James kept the magic alive for them and for the reader. I love the inclusion of Kyra's little character arc in regards to her attitude toward Tabi.
I really liked the character design of the dad and how the length of his dreads shows the passage of time even though he wasn't in the story much.
December 25, 2025
I don't read a ton of graphic novels, but this one came so highly recommended that I wanted to make a point to check it out. And it is super cute -- less so for the romance, which is fine but not as major an element as the publisher's blurb would suggest, and more for the real love story here, between the heroine and the Disney-style theme park where she works as a summer intern. Or perhaps "love/hate" would be more accurate, as author Marissa Meyer excels at conveying the uneasy push and pull that fans of such establishments know all too well. On the one hand, those kinds of vacation spots are magical destinations that bring dreams to life and have many true believers on staff who live to make the guest experience spectacular. But they're also unavoidably cutthroat corporate ventures with strict rules and conformist expectations behind the scenes, which is a tension that customers and employees alike must learn to navigate.
In this case, the protagonist longs to serve as a face character at Sommerland, rather than a food vendor or a masked mascot role. The problem is that she's a shorter and plus-sized girl, and although no one wants to come out and say it, none of the princesses look like her. (She's also dark-skinned, but that's one area where the fictional version outpaces its real-world counterpart, as the royalty lineup seems pretty diverse and there's no indication that racism is a factor anywhere in the book.) She gets given worse assignments because of her weight, while coworkers who clearly don't care as much about the intended mission of the job squander their ignorant privilege. It's realistically disheartening and exploitative, despite building to a triumphantly implausible feel-good conclusion in the end.
I'm of two minds about the Disney angle. The parallel to the off-brand corollary is so exact as to be distracting -- the park even has "hidden kitties" everywhere to find -- and it's obvious that the writer and her artist Joelle Murray are purposefully engaging with that established iconography, instead of aiming to tell a story about a wholly original type of circumstance. So wouldn't this be a stronger work if it dispensed with the pretense and simply featured the House of Mouse directly? On the other hand, fictionalizing it does license a few key departures, in addition to the plausible deniability that keeps Walt's lawyers at bay. Ultimately I suppose the overall piece is breezy enough to set such concerns aside, and just enjoy the atmospheric tale of a young person standing up for herself and the idea that she deserves representation like anybody else.
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In this case, the protagonist longs to serve as a face character at Sommerland, rather than a food vendor or a masked mascot role. The problem is that she's a shorter and plus-sized girl, and although no one wants to come out and say it, none of the princesses look like her. (She's also dark-skinned, but that's one area where the fictional version outpaces its real-world counterpart, as the royalty lineup seems pretty diverse and there's no indication that racism is a factor anywhere in the book.) She gets given worse assignments because of her weight, while coworkers who clearly don't care as much about the intended mission of the job squander their ignorant privilege. It's realistically disheartening and exploitative, despite building to a triumphantly implausible feel-good conclusion in the end.
I'm of two minds about the Disney angle. The parallel to the off-brand corollary is so exact as to be distracting -- the park even has "hidden kitties" everywhere to find -- and it's obvious that the writer and her artist Joelle Murray are purposefully engaging with that established iconography, instead of aiming to tell a story about a wholly original type of circumstance. So wouldn't this be a stronger work if it dispensed with the pretense and simply featured the House of Mouse directly? On the other hand, fictionalizing it does license a few key departures, in addition to the plausible deniability that keeps Walt's lawyers at bay. Ultimately I suppose the overall piece is breezy enough to set such concerns aside, and just enjoy the atmospheric tale of a young person standing up for herself and the idea that she deserves representation like anybody else.
Like this review?
--Throw me a quick one-time donation here!
https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--Subscribe here to support my writing and weigh in on what I read next!
https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
--Follow along on Goodreads here!
https://www.goodreads.com/lesserjoke
--Or click here to browse through all my reviews!
https://lesserjoke.home.blog
August 15, 2025
We Could Be Magic was a really beautiful graphic novel story! I absolutely adored the illustrations and I am so glad that Marissa Meyer and Joelle Murray paired up to work on this project together. In this story, we are following Tabitha Laurie whose visit to Sommerland as a young child affirmed her belief in true love. Years later, it has become her dream to play the role of a princess in this theme park and help create magical memories for theme park guests. I loved Tabi's determination in this and how persistently she worked to reach her dream of playing the role of a princess. She was a very fun character and it was a joy to watch her go on a journey of growing her confidence and self assurance. I loved getting to root for her in this graphic novel!
Her crush was really sweet and he is determined to do whatever it takes to help her reach her dreams which I absolutely loved. I appreciated how much they both believed in the mission of making magical dreams come true in Sommerland, especially amidst all of the other characters who were much more jaded. The other side characters in the story could be infuriating at times especially with the unspoken undercurrent which heavily implied that the reason Tabi could not land a princess role was because of her size. However, I loved how she and her friends are able to challenge this in the story and the ending really felt like a wonderful, full circle moment.
Overall, I thought that this was a quick and fun read! I think it'll be perfect for fans of Disney or theme park enthusiasts because the theme park setting was heavily prevalent within the story. I loved the message of reaching for your dreams even when it feels impossible to make them reality. It's clear that both Meyer and Murray felt connected to Tabi's character and her personal struggles. This was such a fun one!
Her crush was really sweet and he is determined to do whatever it takes to help her reach her dreams which I absolutely loved. I appreciated how much they both believed in the mission of making magical dreams come true in Sommerland, especially amidst all of the other characters who were much more jaded. The other side characters in the story could be infuriating at times especially with the unspoken undercurrent which heavily implied that the reason Tabi could not land a princess role was because of her size. However, I loved how she and her friends are able to challenge this in the story and the ending really felt like a wonderful, full circle moment.
Overall, I thought that this was a quick and fun read! I think it'll be perfect for fans of Disney or theme park enthusiasts because the theme park setting was heavily prevalent within the story. I loved the message of reaching for your dreams even when it feels impossible to make them reality. It's clear that both Meyer and Murray felt connected to Tabi's character and her personal struggles. This was such a fun one!
June 4, 2025
As a girl who dreamed of working as a Disneyland princess for a good portion of her teen years I have to say this book was written for me and I’m sure many more out there.
Tabi got into the summer employment program at the most magical place on earth… Sommerland and is beyond ecstatic to be on track to her real goal…playing her favorite princess in the park! Tabi is a ray of sunshine in the swarms of negative coworkers.. her dreams are shattered but that won’t hold Tabi back. She is more determined than ever to follow her dreams.
This is the second theme park setting I’ve read this year and I’m 👏🏻 here 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 it! The illustrations were magical and the park lingo was spot on. The nods to the infamous park we all know and love (Disney) was such a fun touch. This wholesome graphic novel is perfect for summer reading! Also happy to find out Marissa is a local Tacoma author 🙌🏻
Thank you Fierce Reads and Mac Kids Books
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
Tabi got into the summer employment program at the most magical place on earth… Sommerland and is beyond ecstatic to be on track to her real goal…playing her favorite princess in the park! Tabi is a ray of sunshine in the swarms of negative coworkers.. her dreams are shattered but that won’t hold Tabi back. She is more determined than ever to follow her dreams.
This is the second theme park setting I’ve read this year and I’m 👏🏻 here 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 it! The illustrations were magical and the park lingo was spot on. The nods to the infamous park we all know and love (Disney) was such a fun touch. This wholesome graphic novel is perfect for summer reading! Also happy to find out Marissa is a local Tacoma author 🙌🏻
Thank you Fierce Reads and Mac Kids Books
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
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