Cosplay culture takes center stage in this winsome romance.Ramona Lambert has a hard time being herself. The Black high school junior's social life mostly takes place in the cosplay universes where she can thrive as Rel, the character she's created and has been dressing up as for several years. Ramona decides to email Caleb Woolf, the White boy from school she's crushing on-but as Rel. The pair begin exchanging long missives, and Ramona becomes unsure of what to do, especially when she develops a relationship with Caleb in real life, too. As Ramona struggles socially, she also feels misunderstood at home, where her parents question her dream of attending Savannah College of Art and Design's illustration program. Emrich's debut showcases a multidimensional protagonist navigating the predominantly White spaces of comic conventions and anime and manga fandom while trying to fit in at school, where there are few other Black students. Meanwhile, she's mocked by her cousins for her interests even as her college freshman sister earns accolades for joining a sorority, and her relationship with Caleb ebbs and flows. Ramona's yearnings to find her way and to be understood are relatable and angst-filled. The peek into the world of comic-cons and cosplay is fun and adds depth. The mother-daughter relationship, in particular, is well depicted.An enjoyable look at identity and what it means to belong and to stand out. (Romance. 12-17)

Gr 8 Up— Chic geeks everywhere will appreciate this new novel from Emrich. Sixteen-year-old Ramona, who is Black, often doesn't feel like she fits in at her almost all-white high school. She has cosplay and an online community of friends, but school is tough since her best friend moved away and the boy she has a crush on makes her feel invisible. While Ramona lacks confidence and has the usual teen insecurities, her cosplay alter-ego Rel is sure enough of herself to message Caleb, her crush. The pair begin exchanging messages and getting closer—but he still doesn't know it's Ramona. To complicate matters, Ramona and Caleb begin to develop a friendship in real life. Worried about how to come clean without losing Caleb and getting ready for a big cosplay convention, Ramona learns about the importance of honesty, forgiveness, and overcoming insecurities. VERDICT While the plot outcome is predictable, the characters are likable enough to make this a book worth having in secondary school libraries.— Sherri Crawford