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Be Dazzled Hardcover – January 5, 2021

by Ryan La Sala (Author)

183 ratings

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Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story from the author of Reverie about creativity, passion, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.

Raffy has a passion for bedazzling. Not just bedazzling, but sewing, stitching, draping, pattern making―for creation. He's always chosen his art over everything―and everyone― else and is determined to make his mark at this year's biggest cosplay competition. If he can wow there, it could lead to sponsorship, then art school, and finally earning real respect for his work. There's only one small problem… Raffy's ex-boyfriend, Luca, is his main competition.

Raffy tried to make it work with Luca. They almost made the perfect team last year after serendipitously meeting in the rhinestone aisle at the local craft store―or at least Raffy thought they did. But Luca's insecurities and Raffy's insistence on crafting perfection caused their relationship to crash and burn. Now, Raffy is after the perfect comeback, one that Luca can't ruin.

But when Raffy is forced to partner with Luca on his most ambitious build yet, he'll have to juggle unresolved feelings for the boy who broke his heart, and his own intense self-doubt, to get everything he's ever wanted: choosing his art, his way.

Praise for Reverie:

An Amazon Best Book of the Month * B&N's YA Book Club Pick * Walmart Buzz Pick * Indie Next Pick * Book of the Month Club YA Box

"This outstanding debut novel will light readers' imaginations on fire...Imaginative, bold, and full of queer representation, this is a must-purchase for YA collections."―School Library Journal *STARRED REVIEW*

"This fantasy offers readers something wonderfully new and engaging...a gem of a novel that is as affirming as it is entertaining."―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The story's many LGBTQ characters are prominently represented and powerfully nuanced."―Publishers Weekly

"A darkly imagined, riveting fantasy… thrilling."―Shelf Awareness

"Joyously, riotously queer... The themes of creating one's own reality and fighting against the rules imposed by the world you're born into will ring powerfully true for many young readers."―Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Boston teen Raphael Odom is a master crafter and cosplayer. His livestream views are picking up, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to win first place, and an art school scholarship, at Trip-C (the Controverse Championship of Cosplay). However, Raphael is also the son of Evie Odom: Renowned artist, gallery owner, and vehement anti-crafter. He hides his passion from her, secretly buying supplies and sneaking out to cons with best friend May. His anxiety and perfectionism are only manageable through the meditative process of crafting-alone. When playful, closeted jock Luca Vitale takes an interest in him, he's a beautiful distraction who disrupts Raffy's routine and forces him to embrace spontaneity. The novel explores Raffy's shifting relationship with cosplay, and with Luca, in intersecting chronologies; one story line follows present-day Raffy dealing with their break-up and Trip-C, while the couple's courtship is told in flashback. La Sala deftly builds the mounting tension of the competition alongside the budding relationship and its inevitable end-though a happy ending shines through. The heavier elements of the novel are buoyed by abundant humor, heartwarming romance, and the overall message of embracing your deepest, geekiest self. Raffy's introversion, and the way he processes his anxiety through creating, will resonate with anyone who finds strength and security in their hobbies. Luca is Italian American and Rafael's ethnicity isn't named. VERDICT Teen readers active in the con and cosplay scene will love seeing themselves depicted with the gentle humor of an in-group character. A crafty queer romance about self-acceptance, and a delightful addition to YA collections.-Ashleigh Williams, School Library Journalα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

"A charming, geeky love story filled with all the con drama readers could wish for" ― Kirkus Reviews

"A crafty queer romance about self-acceptance, and a delightful addition to YA collections." ― School Library Journal

"Heartfelt and hilarious, Be Dazzled is an artfully crafted ode to teen ambition and first love. From the book’s charming cast to Raffy’s quick-witted voice, La Sala’s contemporary debut simply dazzles." ― -Phil Stamper, bestselling author of The Gravity of Us

"La Sala (Reverie, 2019) crafts a fabulously gay story of hope, friendship, and love worth fighting for. Queer nerds, rejoice!" ― Booklist

"A sequin-filled romance that’s also a love letter to the craft and creativity of cosplay." ― Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sourcebooks Fire
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 5, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1492682691
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1492682691
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.3 ounces
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.09 x 8.5 inches
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL740L

Best Sellers Rank: #1,719,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #536 in Teen & Young Adult LGBTQ+ Romance
- #577 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Dating & Sex (Books)
- #4,036 in Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Customer Reviews:
183 ratings

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Ryan La Sala

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Ryan La Sala writes about surreal things happening to queer people. He is the author of wildly imaginative REVERIE, which was selected as a Barnes & Noble book club pick, a Kids’ Indie Next pick, and an Amazon Best Book of the Month, and the crafty breakup romance BE DAZZLED (also a Kids' Indie Next pick). His forthcoming YA horror, THE HONEYS comes out May, 3, 2022, with Scholastic. Visit Ryan at www.ryanlasala.com, or on social media: @theryanlasala

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183 global ratings

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Customers find the book engaging and well-written, with one review highlighting the excellent characterization of Raff. The romance receives positive feedback, with customers describing it as a cute love story.

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Characterization Readability Romance

4 customers mention "Characterization"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the characterization in the book, with one review highlighting the excellent portrayal of Raff.

"...It's such a cute love story but also a story of following your heart and doing everything you can to make your dreams real...." Read more

"...meets Project Runway theme had me groaning, the excellent characterization given to Raff, and a lesser extent Luca, pushed me forward...." Read more

"I LOVED this book. So cute, and fun. Very believable and interesting. Such a colorful story...." Read more

"Super well written and hard to put down. I could have read the whole thing without stopping." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read.

"Ryan La Sala's Be Dazzled was overall a fun read...." Read more

"I LOVED this book. So cute, and fun. Very believable and interesting. Such a colorful story...." Read more

"Awesome book..." Read more

3 customers mention "Romance"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, describing it as a cute love story, with one customer noting it's a realistic gay romance.

"I love this book so much I've gifted it. It's such a cute love story but also a story of following your heart and doing everything you can to make..." Read more

"...This book had everything: a cute yet realistic gay romance, fantastical costumes, complex familiar and platonic relationships, and various Cons,..." Read more

"...So cute, and fun. Very believable and interesting. Such a colorful story. I love this author and I was really excited for this book!..." Read more

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Sarah
cutest love story
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I love this book so much I've gifted it. It's such a cute love story but also a story of following your heart and doing everything you can to make your dreams real. I am always hestiant when it comes to a comic con - centric book, but Ryan La Sala NAILS it. You can tell they're a bonafide nerd.

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J. Hernandez
A good start with tons of drama
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2021
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Ryan La Sala's Be Dazzled was overall a fun read. While the Geek Culture meets Project Runway theme had me groaning, the excellent characterization given to Raff, and a lesser extent Luca, pushed me forward. Raff is broken in just the right ways to make him easy to empathize with as well as frustratingly real. While the entire story is told from Raff's point of view, we get enough details of other characters to fill them in, especially Luca. The message of being true to your creativity aligns well with another message of being true to yourself.

My only issue with the book came in how things were arranged. We are given a story in two parts, one, the past, and the building of a relationship. Another, the present, and the drama of a competition. Both are related to each other. I felt the breaks to the past often felt intrusive when it came to the action in the present. At first I was wishing the book had been arranged with the past in one section, and the current in another.

After finishing, I feel they could have kept the back and forth up till around 75% of the way through. A key resolution happens around there, and both parties move on from their past. From this point on, they are a team, and we are on our way to an HEA. However, while the current/future is set to rights, the past is still stymied by the history of this relationship. But, we already know things are good. Maybe they should have stacked more of the past into the front of the book? Or just be sure to have all the past drama done and revealed by 3/4's of the book. It felt odd to read happiness and love, and then the next chapter, we're back to betrayal and pain from the past.

A warning to readers, there is some serious abuse from the parent of one character. Some have pointed out resolution between the child and mom felt too rushed. While I can agree with this, I think it's more important to warn some of some very painful, truthful, moments. At times, I was stunned by it, and there is a point when the child even considers his treatment of abuse. Then it's brushed aside. But it was abuse, and I feel some may be triggered by it.

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Cory M
Awesome book
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2021
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
I really loved this book. It was sweet and funny and had me smiling so much. This book had everything: a cute yet realistic gay romance, fantastical costumes, complex familiar and platonic relationships, and various Cons, which I miss going to. If you like any of those things, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

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Mary Jo
*
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2021
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
I LOVED this book. So cute, and fun. Very believable and interesting. Such a colorful story. I love this author and I was really excited for this book! It met every expectation.

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B. M. O'Connor
Buy This Book
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2021
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Super well written and hard to put down. I could have read the whole thing without stopping.

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Sherry M.
Mixed feelings; 3.5 stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2021
Format: Kindle
While I liked several things about this book, the conclusion of one plot thread left me extremely disappointed.

I did enjoy a lot of the story. The crafting of Raffy’s cosplay looks was interesting, and I liked the cosplaying competition itself. The romance between Raffy and Luca was often very sweet, with Luca helping Raffy to relax and have fun, something Raffy desperately needs given how anxiety ridden as he is. Raffy’s anxieties put a damper on their relationship at times, but it’s Luca’s fear of coming out to his entire family that undermines their connection at the worst possible moment. I appreciated how Luca owned up to his mistakes and finally was open about his feelings for Raffy, which allows for a moment of healing between Luca and his mother, too.

That brings me to the one thing about the story that really didn’t work for me at all, and that’s the resolution of Raffy’s relationship with his mother. While there’s no physical abuse, she’s monstrously self-centered, neglecting Raffy other than to criticize him about things like his cosplaying, which she justifies as having high standards for him. It seemed to me that a lot of Raffy’s anxieties could be laid at her door, really, so her parenting was at least emotionally abusive. After an entire book where she is either not present or is making Raffy feel like nothing, the novel ends with her rather offhandedly changing her mind about his cosplaying in a telephone call. Now, maybe it’s realistic that she’s not going become mother of the year, but for Raffy to not even get a chance to confront her about how she’s made him feel left me cold.

If Raffy had gotten to have it out with his mom, I would have liked this book more, but that ending just undercut everything else for me.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

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Ashish
Dazzling
Reviewed in India on March 6, 2022
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

This is high drama from the first words. You feel the rush in the first chapter as Raffy drags May. The story is a cos player's dream come true.
This is only the second book I have read with alternating chapters between the past and present. The 'Then' and 'Now' concept works well, but after a point, the 'now' has become so intriguing that as a reader, you want to move fast to know what comes next. I will be frank; I skipped some of the 'Then' chapters.

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5.0 out of 5 stars cutest love story

4.0 out of 5 stars A good start with tons of drama

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book

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5.0 out of 5 stars Buy This Book

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed feelings; 3.5 stars

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5.0 out of 5 stars Dazzling

cutest love story

A good start with tons of drama

Awesome book

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Mixed feelings; 3.5 stars

Dazzling