Verona Comics

(Paperback)

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From the author of Hot Dog Girl comes a fresh and funny queer YA contemporary novel about two teens who fall in love in an indie comic book shop. From the author of Hot Dog Girl comes a fresh and funny queer YA contemporary novel about two teens who fall in love in an indie comic book shop. Now available in paperback! Jubilee has it all together. She's an elite cellist, and when she's not working in her stepmom's indie comic shop, she's prepping for the biggest audition of her life. Ridley is barely holding it together. His parents own the biggest comic-store chain in the country, and Ridley can't stop disappointing them--that is, when they're even paying attention. They meet one fateful night at a comic convention prom, and the two can't help falling for each other. Too bad their parents are at each other's throats every chance they get, making a relationship between them nearly impossible . . . unless they manage to keep it a secret. Then again, the feud between their families may be the least of their problems. As Ridley's anxiety spirals, Jubilee tries to help but finds her focus torn between her fast-approaching audition and their intensifying relationship. What if love can't conquer all What if each of them needs more than the other can give "A deep dive into first love while learning to manage significant mental health challenges . . . Dugan's strength is in creating a diverse cast of characters. Ridley is bisexual, Jubilee struggles with how to identify and label her sexuality, and most of the supporting characters are queer-identified." --School Library Journal

Reviews

An ALA Rainbow Book List Pick

"You've Got Mail gets a queer YA twist." --Teen Vogue

"A deep dive into first love while learning to manage significant mental health challenges . . . Dugan's strength is in creating a diverse cast of characters. Ridley is bisexual, Jubilee struggles with how to identify and label her sexuality, and most of the supporting characters are queer-identified." --School Library Journal

"Dugan takes her cues from Romeo and Juliet, empathetically exploring mental illness, suicide ideation, and the stigmas of each . . . A smart, compassionate love story to and for teens." --Booklist

"Dugan infuses her characters with a warm sense of depth and compassion, particularly the socially self-conscious Ridley, a boy plagued with immense anxiety and frequent suicidal thoughts . . . This one's a winning choice. Breathlessly sweet." --Kirkus Reviews

"Part fresh romance, part honest exploration of the impact of depression and suicidal ideation on individuals and relationships, Dugan's story--told in alternating first-person narratives--encapsulates an inspiring level of compassion from its flawed, endearing protagonists and an inclusive secondary cast." --Publishers Weekly

"This heartfelt story of young love turned codependency offers an honest, sympathetic portrait of depression and anxiety . . . Give this to fans of Greens Turtles All the Way Downand readers who want their adorable-couple stories with a healthy dose of introspection and emotional heft." --BCCB

"Rom-com lovers will readily embrace [Verona Comics] . . . However, not all of the story is light; the plot also centers on Ridleys anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts . . . Sexuality is another topic that is discussed frankly throughout the book, depicting several queer characters of various sexualities, including the main characters themselves. All of these issues are presented realistically." --School Library Connection

Author Bio

Jennifer Dugan is a writer, a geek, and a romantic who writes the kinds of stories she wishes she had growing up. Her debut young adult novel Hot Dog Girl was called "a great fizzy rom-com" by Entertainment Weekly and "one of the best reads of the year, hands down" by Paste Magazine. She is also the writer/creator of two indie comics. She lives in upstate New York with her family, her dogs, and an evil cat that is no doubt planning to take over the world.