Look on the Bright Side

Go with the Flow #2

by Lily Williams, Karen Schneemann

The creators of Eisner-nominated Go With the Flow Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann are back with a funny and heartwarming story following four best friends Brit, Abby, Christine, and Sasha in the graphic novel, Look on the Bright Side. Perfect for fans of Maria Scrivan's NAT ENOUGH series!

With feelings running high and hearts on the line, will their friendship get them through a year at Hazelton High?

Old friends. New Loves. The future is looking bright.

A new year of school is starting, and Brit finds herself struggling with feelings for a seemingly rude boy from class who might have a soft side. Meanwhile, Christine can't deny that she likes her best friend Abby...as more than just a friend. The only question is, does Abby have feelings for Christine, too? And will their feelings for each other mess things up in their friend group?

Misunderstandings, betrayal, and jealousy are bound to get in the way.

But hey! Look on the bright side: They’re in this together. Always.

Heartful, romantic, and sizzling with the excitement of navigating first love, Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann's brilliant follow up to Go With the Flow is a bright spot you will not want to miss.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, LGBT, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2023

About the author

Lily Williams is the author and illustrator of the If Animals Disappeared nonfiction picture book series and graphic novels Go With The Flow and Look On The Bright Side (co-written with Karen Schneemann). Lily seeks to inspire change, engage audiences, and educate people of all ages with her artwork. Her work can be seen in films and books and on the web at lilywilliamsart.com.

Reviews

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very charming follow up to Go With The Flow, taking place over the friend group's following high school year. Brit, who was diagnosed with endometriosis at the end of the previous book, had a surgery to remove it over the summer. When she goes back to school, she finds her affection caught between two different boys. Christine has finally admitted to herself that she likes Abby as more than a friend... but telling Abby that is another matter. Abby is still working on her campaign of menstrual justice on campus, while Sasha struggles to balance her homework, sports, and time with her boyfriend. The girls learn, grow, make mistakes, and support each other.

[Larissa Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like its predecessor “Go With the Flow,” “Look on the Bright Side” is the exact kind of book I wish my younger self had while growing up.

This perfect continuation of Abby, Christine, Brit, and Sasha’s stories is genuine and relatable in a way a lot of MG and YA stories fail to achieve. I lost count of how many times Christine’s dialogue seemed to be a version of something I said myself as a kid! Nothing is contrived, and many situations these characters find themselves in took me back to when I was their age. I couldn’t stop smiling (or sometimes tearing up or cringing) when certain things hit too close to home.

Once again, Williams’ artwork is gorgeous, and a perfect complement to the story she and Schneemann weave. This duo has produced another instant classic that I can’t wait to recommend to every young - and young at heart - reader.

[pampampampampam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am an huge P&P fangirl. Huge. And I wonder if the P&P subplot in here was written for teens or for adult librarians and booksellers. It’s just so terribly on the nose: the Darcy character is Fitzgerald, Wickham is Jorge, and the English teacher is Mr. Collins. Britt’s younger sister is Lydia. Subtlety, thy name is not Look on the Bright Side.

The frank discussion of menstruation is what really made the first book stand out, but here it’s relegated to a minor plot point that handily resolves off page.

Also, I just really dislike that the lettering is straight sans serif typeface.

I’ll stick with recommending Go with the Flow because it really is something special.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same as the other one, great book, same premise as the first one but more about other things like school, and relationships. But still talking about period problems. Overall, a great book and series.

[Emory · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Jennifer Rinehart · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 friends going through real life school issues. Deals with crushes, coming out, choosing boys over school work, etc. Thought it was a cute graphic novel.

[Hailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

love the female friend group with 2 friends dating representation

[Eleonora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profondo e delicato, un elogio dell’amicizia più pura, di chi sceglie di esserci sempre e comunque, senza giudicare.

[vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a precious friend group. I enjoyed the first volume (Go with the Flow), but loved this one way more! I think it's because this is less focused on a singular issue (menstruation) and lets the friend group dynamic and each individual friend's issues shine on its own. They are going through normal teen girl growing pains: liking boys & girls, discovering their sexual identity, standing up for a more inclusive world, fearing failure at school, etc. The thing that makes it so special is the humor between the girls; they are overdramatic and silly, just like teen girls can be. But at the end of the day, the girls are there for each other, protect each other, and are great listeners/advice givers. This was just a sweet pick me up. I want to be in this friend group!

[Sophie_The_Jedi_Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I certainly didn't expect a sequel to Go with the Flow, much as I wanted one, so I was delighted that this book existed! While GwtF focused heavily on normalizing periods and providing resources for people who have them, LotBS was, at its core, a continuation and examination of these girls' lives. There's discussion about crushes, coming out, creating a healthy school-life balance, and being true to yourself. I liked how Sasha needed to make boundaries with her boyfriend so she didn't neglect her schoolwork, and Bri having a true P&P-worthy love triangle (complete with confessions in the rain!) was such fun. But Abby and Christine's shifting dynamic was the best part - their feelings are explored and discussed so well.

I just love how strong the friendship is between these four - they're always willing to be honest with one another, lean on each other, and give and receive advice. It's lovely.

4/5 stars!

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I didn't realize that this was a sequel. My library hadn't classified it as part of a series, and I didn't actually read properly what this was about before checking it out.
While I will be going back to read the first volume, what is fabulous about this book is that it is okay if you have not. Maybe there is some history I am missing, but the characters were dynamic from the get go. The plot could stand on its own. I liked the artwork. It had a good pace.
It was an enjoyable book and I would absolutely recommend it to others.

[maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO CUTE LOVED 🥰 pretty chill but I liked that they expanded on the characters

[Honor #literallyslayqueen ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

UGH I LITERALLY AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK! the writing and plot is amazing! I love the LGBTQIA+ community part in it! I love how everyone gets a relationship. Also, the way Tom dyed his hair darker orange? OOOOOH IT WAS GOOD. I love this book and my favorite part was when Christine and Abby kissed AHHHH I WAS
PRACTICALLY EXPLODING. I love how Abby made the pads and tampons free. And how the principal is now a GIRL SLAY QUEEN ✨

-Honor a.k.a Ally 🏳️‍🌈

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A companion novel to the MG graphic novel Go With the Flow.
☀️
A new school year is starting and the girls all have big changes on the horizon. After getting Hazelton High to take period positivity and menstruation more seriously, Abby is ready to continue the fight. She joins the Unicorn Club for #lgbtqia and allies to learn and organize for her next cause. Christine has just come out to her friends, but not to Abby yet because she has serious feelings for her best friend. Brit is struggling with her feelings for the grumpy guy in her AP English class and the new cute boy who’s giving her attention. Sasha is happily in love, but when her boyfriend takes up too much of her time, her grades start to suffer. With all this change, can the girls stick together?
☀️
Go With the Flow was chosen for the @yartxla Maverick graphic novel reading list while I was on it so I had to read this follow up and was not disappointed in the least. I loved all the issues the girls dealt with because they were relatable and inclusive with the problems and concerns the two authors shared in the story. I can’t wait to see what they write next!

CW: endometriosis, wounds, surgery (discussed), coming out (theme)

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how open the conversation is in these books.

[J MaK · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.0) Really good read and I have a continued appreciation for the friendship dynamic but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first install.

[eleanor :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh! So, so good!
I loved Go With The Flow and hoped a second book would be released for many years, so I took my time reading this one.

I love all the characters, they are all so relatable! My favorite is Brit because she is a huge fangirl like me!

I liked how the authors included talk of menstruation. It was not the main focus, like it was in book one, but it raised new points about who menstruates and what that can look like (spoiler alert: not just cisgender women)

ANYWAYS, I want another book! A third about the friend group’s high school graduation would be sweet :)

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick chapters and a romp back with our friends from Go with the Flow made this graphic novel an absolute delight and breeze to read. I loved getting to know each of the characters a little bit better and the short chapters made this book read faster than most graphic novels. While these characters are a bit older than I would typically put in my 8th grade classroom, there is nothing that I would consider mature or "too old" for my students. This is very age appropriate for middle grade readers and deals with relationships and stressors in a way that is accessible for most readers.

I'll definitely be looking for a copy of this one to add to my classroom library!

[Tianna Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great for high schoolers. The story is so modern and it touches on a lot of things teenagers are going through. Access to menstrual products in schools, crushes, keeping up with your grades, balancing relationships, crushing on a friend, etc. There’s also some cool queer representation!

[Shaunna MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sequel, but wish the issue tackled by Abby was more front and center like in Go With the Flow. Overall an enjoyable friendship story.

[Roxanne (The Novel Sanctuary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly so cute, and I am a SUCKER for the Pride & Prejudice sub-plot. Target audience reached.

[Lisa Smiroldo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[stella mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

as a teen lesbian, i genuinely cried over abby and christine (i shouldn’t relate to christine that much, and it meant so much weirdly)

[Megan Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first one so much and I loved this one too. While still focusing on period related issues, it focuses heavily on sexuality and sexual identity and how we don’t need to be fit into boxes with either one. Ugh, these are so great.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but not as strong of a tale as Go With the Flow, mostly due to how brief each chapter was, it felt like we were skimming all their character updates rather than actually experiencing them.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

they do not act like 11-12 grade high schoolers

[La Biblio Geek · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,7*

[Coffeecups · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had even more fun with this one than the first! I think that's because the drama was a little toned-down (some of the situations in Go With the Flow were rather extreme, IMO) and the characters are more developed. The focus moves from Abby's mission for menstrual issues/equity to the teens' interpersonal issues, how they navigate high school, friends, and emotions.

Was this perfect? Nope. But I really enjoyed my time with this one. I think Abby took a back-seat to the others' relationships & drama, which I think that's okay given how much she is focused on in the first book. (Though, like, her blog being down on views/hits/etc IS a big deal for her, I feel it was made into less of an issue than it is.) Brit could have used a tad more focus on her than her Austin-esque beaus. Sasha's academic woes could have had a bit more time on-page. (And, like, while I did like the better inclusion of her parents, I still feel we don't know much about what she does aside from homework, thinking about her boyfriend, and supporting her friends.) Christine didn't really have much going on outside her feelings toward Abby and what that all entails.
But I'm glad for where those story lines went! Especially Christine moving on from her pining, hopefully she will grow as a character now that she's not self-constrained/her sexuality all-encompassing for her. And I love seeing more about Brit, makes her seem less the support-character and more of a whole, dynamic person.
I do really like the "feel-good" place the four end up in, content with their current situations, a little hesitant of the future, comforted by the company of each other :3

I would love to see this series continue, the potential to follow these gals up through college would be grand.

[AitziST · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Go with the Flow (the first adventure of four best friends, Brit, Abby, Christine and Sasha), I was eager to see if creators Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann would come back to Hazelton High for a second story. And this is it! A new year, new romances…

I must say, I think Look on the Bright Side could work as a standalone itself. Yes, there are instances where the characters are talking about things that happened in Go with the Flow, but I am pretty sure any reader would be able to understand what is going on without needing any more information. That said, I recommend everybody to go and check Go with the Flow as well.
Once more, the four friends are the most realistic high schoolers I read about in a while. Their dramas, their doubts… it feels so genuine that it makes you forget high school happened a long, long, long time ago.
Another positive aspect I would like to pinpoint is the topics chosen for this reunion. I was so happy to see the way in which endometriosis was explained! As a sufferer myself, there are not many instances where you can feel so seen and understood (I know this is an issue that has been getting more attention lately, but it was such a nice, warm surprise nonetheless). The topic of identity is very well described and shown as well. What Christine is feeling is clear in every page, her gestures and faces amazingly accurate, her fear of messing things up a true depiction of what the reader could be going through.

To sum up, Look on the Bright Side is both the perfect sequel to Go with the Flow and an amazing high school comic in its own right.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's junior year, and besties Christine, Brit, Sasha, and Abby have new challenges, now that they've won the fight to have free menstrual products available in school bathrooms. Brit, who loves regency romances, is (unbeknownst to her) in her own version of Pride and Prejudice. Her Wickham is a hot boy with lots of rizz who makes her feel good, but also always wants to copy her homework. Her Darcy is a grumpy, sometimes rude boy who has a hard time expressing that he likes her, and she misjudges him. Sasha has a boyfriend she spends tons of time with, but to the detriment of her high grades--and she knows it. But what if she loses him because she needs homework time? Abby is looking for a new cause, and joins the LGBTQ group to learn more, so she can help be supportive of all menstruating peoples' needs. Christine is suffering from a longtime crush on her best friend, and (almost) literally tearing her hair out to know whether to tell her or not--her other friends say, yes! As soon as possible! But what if Abby doesn't like her back?

This was just as good as the first book, if more focused on the girls' individual struggles rather than the issue of period products. The diverse characters are likeable and make believable mistakes, but are always good friends to each other even so. Though they are in high school, I think this is fine for middle schoolers; there's nothing too extreme or mature in it, and the friendship is really sweet. Readers who like Raina Telgemeier, Svetlana Chmakova, Victoria Jamieson, and Babysitters' Club graphic novels will like this believable school story.