Celestial Summer

by Lorraine Avila, Nyanza D (Illustrator), Antoinette Thomas (Letterer)

Via a psychedelic trip on the eve of July 4th, 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, and a war on Black bodies, lovers grant each other permission to take off their masks and love up on each other in a Harlem apartment. CELESTIAL SUMMER is an intimate exploration of Black love, intimacy, sexual healing, and vulnerability in a world where deceiving others and building walls to keep people out is the norm. CELESTIAL SUMMER tells the story of Layleen, a woman searching for ways to be held, and Keith, a man coming to terms with the reality of commitment. Two characters who make the decision to let each other in and face their shadow selves in order to make space for the explosive and promising love the Universe is cooking up for them.

80 pages, Paperback

Published August 22, 2022

Reviews

[Amarilis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The visuals in Celestial Summer are absolutely stunning. It’s a deep exploration of self love, trauma, sexual dynamics, vulnerability, and so much more. Would easily read a part 2 or continuance to this story.

[Nia Ita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true NYC love story — #IYKYK

[Phylicia Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorraine truly outdid herself with this graphic novel. This long anticipated graphic novel hit my inbox and I was so excited I started reading it right away. I did not put my phone down until I completely finished it. In approximately 45 mins- 1 hour. It is just that good. Layleen and Keith are the characters in the book. It opens with them taking shrooms. The novel then goes through 3 acts in which we see both Layleen and Keith be super vulnerable in different points on their psychedelic trip. Truly a black love story written and illustrated by and for BIPOC.

[Jazmin Desangles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been excited to read this novel since I saw glimpse of the early pages. The story does not disappoint. We’re taken on a psychedelic trip that fosters space for healing and honest conversations between the main characters. A wonderful story with amazing illustrations.