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Navigating With You
Neesha Sparks is a disabled, vocal community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is an optimistic surfer - and, like Neesha, a new kid at school. When the two girls discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become more than just fellow new kids. But it was more than just having read the same book series--neither of them had finished it! Soon, they become new friends on a mission - to track down the remaining Navigator Nozomi books. This slice-of-life romance follows the two girls as they adventure across North Carolina to find each book, with their story intercut with the tales of Navigator Nozomi. Neesha and Gabby find more than just the books though—they find acceptance, friendship, understanding, and love.
Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2024
37 people are currently reading
1240 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Whitley
403 books331 followersJeremy Whitley is the son of two teachers and the husband of a third.
Born in La Mesa, CA, Jeremy went to high school in Lenoir, NC and college at The University of North Carolina. He graduated with a Bachelors in English, and a minor in Creative Writing.
Jeremy lives in Durham, North Carolina with his wife Alicia and his two daughters Zuri and Amara.
Jeremy is the writer/creator of the comic series Princeless, Raven the Pirate Princess, School for Extraterrestrial Girls, and The Dog Knight. He is also the writer of the acclaimed Marvel series "The Unstoppable Wasp". His other works include extensive work for Marvel, the "Sea of Thieves" comics, and over sixty issues of My Little Pony comics.
Awards and Nominations:
3 time Glyph Winner
5 time Glyph Nominee
2 time Eisner Nominee
2 time Cyblis Nominee
2 time Bloomer Nominee
1 time Most Likely to Succeed Winner
Born in La Mesa, CA, Jeremy went to high school in Lenoir, NC and college at The University of North Carolina. He graduated with a Bachelors in English, and a minor in Creative Writing.
Jeremy lives in Durham, North Carolina with his wife Alicia and his two daughters Zuri and Amara.
Jeremy is the writer/creator of the comic series Princeless, Raven the Pirate Princess, School for Extraterrestrial Girls, and The Dog Knight. He is also the writer of the acclaimed Marvel series "The Unstoppable Wasp". His other works include extensive work for Marvel, the "Sea of Thieves" comics, and over sixty issues of My Little Pony comics.
Awards and Nominations:
3 time Glyph Winner
5 time Glyph Nominee
2 time Eisner Nominee
2 time Cyblis Nominee
2 time Bloomer Nominee
1 time Most Likely to Succeed Winner
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
April 20, 2024
4,5⭐️
Really cute and heartwarming story, tho I might have shed some tears along the way.
Looking for a comic series out of print two girls are also finding themselves and comfort in each other's arms. Definitely would recommend to everyone!
Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
Really cute and heartwarming story, tho I might have shed some tears along the way.
Looking for a comic series out of print two girls are also finding themselves and comfort in each other's arms. Definitely would recommend to everyone!
Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
January 10, 2025
aughhhh this was so cute...as someone who also got super into various obscure mangas as a kid i related HEAVILY. anyways everything about this was so sweet and had great representation without feeling forced or stilted at all, which is hard to pull off especially in ya graphic novels? i liked that it was a solid full length story without the pacing being super fast - it felt like there was room for the characters to breathe and develop which i always love to see in a graphic novel. and the manga sections were SO CHARMING AND CUTE!!!! the art overall was adorable and perfect for the vibes of the story. overall a really delightful read and kind of a breath of fresh air
May 3, 2024
4.5 ⭐
This was just so darn cute! I loved both our MC's so much! Neesha was such a great character, I loved her strength and how she always stood up for herself. Gabby really is a sweet character she really balanced out Neesha so much. The plot of them bonding over a manga series brought me back to my high school friend group which made me fall in love with the story that much more. I wish I would have had a cute bookclub with my friends back then! The art style is fantastic. I loved having the Manga incorporated into the story! Just such a great story about self love, friendship, falling in love, acceptance and just a heartwarming coming of age story. I was not expecting to cry at a graphic novel but here we are lol
Thank You Netgalley and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest review!!
This was just so darn cute! I loved both our MC's so much! Neesha was such a great character, I loved her strength and how she always stood up for herself. Gabby really is a sweet character she really balanced out Neesha so much. The plot of them bonding over a manga series brought me back to my high school friend group which made me fall in love with the story that much more. I wish I would have had a cute bookclub with my friends back then! The art style is fantastic. I loved having the Manga incorporated into the story! Just such a great story about self love, friendship, falling in love, acceptance and just a heartwarming coming of age story. I was not expecting to cry at a graphic novel but here we are lol
Thank You Netgalley and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest review!!
September 9, 2024
I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
Two girls, one manga, friendship and romance (ship ship shippity) ensue and I was fully in for it!
I loved that we got to see things from both of the girls POV (and I love how each had their own colour so you would know instantly who was talking, pink for Neesha and blue for Gabby). Not just see Neesha, but also see Gabby. Learn everything about these two. Their home situation. Both settling in with their new homes far away from things. Gabby who is still mourning the loss of her mom (and seriously that part that they were in the rental for a fun weekend and she had a PTSD episode about what happened made me cry so hard), Neesha with the fact that her parents are divorced. Neesha who has Cerebral Palsy and what she encounters on her way through life (some very unfair things that just made me angry). I am happy to see more rep. I don’t have Cerebral Palsy myself, but we need more rep in books.
And seeing two girls find out they like each other was just so cute and sweet! I loved seeing them go from acquaintances (and maybe in Neesha’s case OMG this girl talks so much WHYYY) to friends to lovers! It was just so sweet and I loved how well they matched together and complimented each other. I also love how mature they were with their relationship, how they were able to talk about everything (OK, maybe not instantly but they definitely didn’t make a drama out of things). Plus, seeing them bond over the manga + even have a little competition was just so fun.
Also, Gabby is BIIIII! And I love that as a Bi girl myself. We need more Bi girls!
I loved that we got to see the manga! Of course, probably just the shortened version, I mean, no manga is 5 pages per volume, imagine the costs! And no one would buy it then, haha. But I did appreciate it being added and I loved seeing what happened in each volume. It was a lot of fun and the story was great. Plus, I love love the direction it took and I would love to read the full thing now.
OH AND THAT CONVENTION! When they met the mangaka of the series! OMG I WAS TEARING UP AGAIN. This book!!!
The ending, or well last part, made me sad, but I am glad that these girls made the best they could, and I am sure that their relationship will survive this and they will just come out stronger and better. These two are just destined to be together.
Bonus points as well to Neesha’s mom. She was so sweet, but I also loved how she was just shipping her daughter with Gabby, haha.
I really liked the art in this one! Great character designs. Lovely backgrounds. Fantastic style of art, I need more of this artist!
Oh, and I love the bonus illustrations/designs which include the manga.
And Josh needs to fuck off. Not believing his girlfriend is Bi, dismissing her when she eats a bit more, talking about her tan/colour disappearing, geez.
All in all, this is one graphic novel I would HIGHLY recommend. Cute, fun, mature, sweet, and with two fantastic characters!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Two girls, one manga, friendship and romance (ship ship shippity) ensue and I was fully in for it!
I loved that we got to see things from both of the girls POV (and I love how each had their own colour so you would know instantly who was talking, pink for Neesha and blue for Gabby). Not just see Neesha, but also see Gabby. Learn everything about these two. Their home situation. Both settling in with their new homes far away from things. Gabby who is still mourning the loss of her mom (and seriously that part that they were in the rental for a fun weekend and she had a PTSD episode about what happened made me cry so hard), Neesha with the fact that her parents are divorced. Neesha who has Cerebral Palsy and what she encounters on her way through life (some very unfair things that just made me angry). I am happy to see more rep. I don’t have Cerebral Palsy myself, but we need more rep in books.
And seeing two girls find out they like each other was just so cute and sweet! I loved seeing them go from acquaintances (and maybe in Neesha’s case OMG this girl talks so much WHYYY) to friends to lovers! It was just so sweet and I loved how well they matched together and complimented each other. I also love how mature they were with their relationship, how they were able to talk about everything (OK, maybe not instantly but they definitely didn’t make a drama out of things). Plus, seeing them bond over the manga + even have a little competition was just so fun.
Also, Gabby is BIIIII! And I love that as a Bi girl myself. We need more Bi girls!
I loved that we got to see the manga! Of course, probably just the shortened version, I mean, no manga is 5 pages per volume, imagine the costs! And no one would buy it then, haha. But I did appreciate it being added and I loved seeing what happened in each volume. It was a lot of fun and the story was great. Plus, I love love the direction it took and I would love to read the full thing now.
OH AND THAT CONVENTION! When they met the mangaka of the series! OMG I WAS TEARING UP AGAIN. This book!!!
The ending, or well last part, made me sad, but I am glad that these girls made the best they could, and I am sure that their relationship will survive this and they will just come out stronger and better. These two are just destined to be together.
Bonus points as well to Neesha’s mom. She was so sweet, but I also loved how she was just shipping her daughter with Gabby, haha.
I really liked the art in this one! Great character designs. Lovely backgrounds. Fantastic style of art, I need more of this artist!
Oh, and I love the bonus illustrations/designs which include the manga.
And Josh needs to fuck off. Not believing his girlfriend is Bi, dismissing her when she eats a bit more, talking about her tan/colour disappearing, geez.
All in all, this is one graphic novel I would HIGHLY recommend. Cute, fun, mature, sweet, and with two fantastic characters!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 6, 2024
Phenomenal! Loved it! 5 stars! Charming well-developed characters, a fun and unique premise, and an excellent execution. Neesha’s identity as a lesbian disabled Black girl and Gabby’s as a bisexual Latinx girl were both handled wonderfully, with elements throughout that embrace and represent those aspects of their identities while still providing full and nuanced characters.
Gabby is a surfer and an older sister who loves her family and misses her mom she lost a year ago, and seeks to keep her memory alive through family recipes and traditions.
Neesha is a costumer who loves cosplay and does custom commissions for cons in her area, and a daughter who is close to her mom and struggling to stay connected to her dad after a recent divorce.
Both girls have hopes and dreams and hobbies and relationships outside any one aspect of their identities, and bond as new girls in school that loved but never finished the same manga about a girl 2nd in command in spaceship races.
They spend the year after they meet hunting down each volume overtime and reading together to discuss, while growing in friendship and developing mutual crushes. The manga serves as a fantastic tool of a story within a story that helps to represent their own real life struggles and pivotal decisions at key times, be it standing up for yourself or deciding to accept a chance to be vulnerable.
Topics like how to be a supportive friend or partner to someone who needs an accommodation like a slower pace, is in crisis and needs gentle comfort, or sharing a past experience in which struggles like racism or biphobia were invalidated are handled perfectly. We consistently see one of the girls respond respectfully and supportively to one another, and the positive response of how validating and affirming it is. For the bad we see either brief interactions of malicious or ignorant passerby getting it wrong, or a short retelling of a past experience. But the negative is always brief and balanced out by experiencing the positive now. It’s handled honestly but in a way that doesn’t force us to watch these sweet girls be mistreated, and emphasizes the way to support and encourage others.
Their friendship and eventual romance feels genuine and well-earned, and I loved that they got to know one another’s families as well. An absolute treat. And I was just excited to see how the manga would turn out as they were!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. Thank you Mad Cave Studios for approving me! What a fantastic graphic novel, my review is my (very enthusiastic) honest opinion.
I will absolutely check out more by the author and the publisher, and I’ve already recommended this to two friends today before writing this review.
Gabby is a surfer and an older sister who loves her family and misses her mom she lost a year ago, and seeks to keep her memory alive through family recipes and traditions.
Neesha is a costumer who loves cosplay and does custom commissions for cons in her area, and a daughter who is close to her mom and struggling to stay connected to her dad after a recent divorce.
Both girls have hopes and dreams and hobbies and relationships outside any one aspect of their identities, and bond as new girls in school that loved but never finished the same manga about a girl 2nd in command in spaceship races.
They spend the year after they meet hunting down each volume overtime and reading together to discuss, while growing in friendship and developing mutual crushes. The manga serves as a fantastic tool of a story within a story that helps to represent their own real life struggles and pivotal decisions at key times, be it standing up for yourself or deciding to accept a chance to be vulnerable.
Topics like how to be a supportive friend or partner to someone who needs an accommodation like a slower pace, is in crisis and needs gentle comfort, or sharing a past experience in which struggles like racism or biphobia were invalidated are handled perfectly. We consistently see one of the girls respond respectfully and supportively to one another, and the positive response of how validating and affirming it is. For the bad we see either brief interactions of malicious or ignorant passerby getting it wrong, or a short retelling of a past experience. But the negative is always brief and balanced out by experiencing the positive now. It’s handled honestly but in a way that doesn’t force us to watch these sweet girls be mistreated, and emphasizes the way to support and encourage others.
Their friendship and eventual romance feels genuine and well-earned, and I loved that they got to know one another’s families as well. An absolute treat. And I was just excited to see how the manga would turn out as they were!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. Thank you Mad Cave Studios for approving me! What a fantastic graphic novel, my review is my (very enthusiastic) honest opinion.
I will absolutely check out more by the author and the publisher, and I’ve already recommended this to two friends today before writing this review.
October 22, 2024
Very cute!
I was a bit concerned at the start because it was very in tune with the YA tropes that make me cringe, but it quickly builds into a story with a lot of heart. The diversity doesn’t feel forced and, at its core, it’s a story about 2 girls that fall in love while reading an old manga series.
I really liked how much each of the girl’s histories and mental health issues are discussed. There was no issue of it seeming as though Neesha just existed to help Gabby or vice versa. This book discusses ableism, thinly veiled racism, accessibility, grief, survivors guilt, biphobia, and even goes into the abusive tropes seen in manga romances with abusive male characters.
I can’t speak to the disability rep, but the book does delve into Neesha feeling self conscious about others knowing about her braces or using her wheelchair around people that haven’t seen it before. It also talks about her chronic pain issues.
As a bisexual, I kind of wish Josh was out of the picture earlier. Say, around the time she hangs up on him the first time. I understand it was meant to show that Gabby struggles with cutting people off, even when they’re abusive towards her. However, it reminds me of how many people think bisexuals are just two timers. Not saying the book was saying that, but it’s something I wouldn’t want to see discussed by members of the lgbt community who already treat us like we don’t belong.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this. I teared up a bit at the part where they meet the creator of the manga. That was really sweet. It’s a recommend from me. One of the YA comics I’ve read that didn’t necessarily feel like it was trying too hard to shove in a ton of YA tropes throughout the entire story.
I was a bit concerned at the start because it was very in tune with the YA tropes that make me cringe, but it quickly builds into a story with a lot of heart. The diversity doesn’t feel forced and, at its core, it’s a story about 2 girls that fall in love while reading an old manga series.
I really liked how much each of the girl’s histories and mental health issues are discussed. There was no issue of it seeming as though Neesha just existed to help Gabby or vice versa. This book discusses ableism, thinly veiled racism, accessibility, grief, survivors guilt, biphobia, and even goes into the abusive tropes seen in manga romances with abusive male characters.
I can’t speak to the disability rep, but the book does delve into Neesha feeling self conscious about others knowing about her braces or using her wheelchair around people that haven’t seen it before. It also talks about her chronic pain issues.
As a bisexual, I kind of wish Josh was out of the picture earlier. Say, around the time she hangs up on him the first time. I understand it was meant to show that Gabby struggles with cutting people off, even when they’re abusive towards her. However, it reminds me of how many people think bisexuals are just two timers. Not saying the book was saying that, but it’s something I wouldn’t want to see discussed by members of the lgbt community who already treat us like we don’t belong.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this. I teared up a bit at the part where they meet the creator of the manga. That was really sweet. It’s a recommend from me. One of the YA comics I’ve read that didn’t necessarily feel like it was trying too hard to shove in a ton of YA tropes throughout the entire story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
4.25 stars
A wonderful and heartwarming story about two girls finding each other and falling in love.
Neesha Sparks is a new student in Durham Western High School in North Carolina. Neesha is disabled, she's an activist and she's also a huge geek. In her first day of school, she's determined not to make friends, she wants only to observe and figure out the school dynamics. Enters Gabby Graciana. Gabby is also a new student from Florida. She's a very outspoken, very energetic, very persistent person. And she has decided to be friends with Neesha no matter what. When both of them realise they used to read the same manga when they were younger, they decide to form a book club between the two. However, this old manga is out of print, and the resale value is ridiculous, so they make a competition. They need to find the seven volumes and whoever finds more gets to keep the whole collection. And so, they start a journey through their new town searching for this manga, while getting to know each other and finding comfort and acceptance with one another.
This story is really cute, it's all about friendship, love, and trust. And honestly how could not be with Jeremy Whitley as the writer. When I saw his name, something clicked in my head and I realised he was the author of that beautiful run of The Unstoppable Wasp from years ago. I loved his work then, I love it now too.
Though I can't really talk about disabled rep, or BIPOC queerness, everything was handled with so much care and respect. It's beautifully written. Neesha's struggles, but more importantly, her resilience is inspiring. She has ups and downs but at the end of the day, she just wants to be respected. And Gabby is such a beautiful soul. Her joyful demeanor, however, hides the sadness from the last year of her life. Without spoiling Gabby's struggles, she does suffer from PTSD, and is also facing a lot of problems with her current long distance relationship. However, the way Whitley handles these mature themes makes this story such a precious gem.
The artwork by Cassio Ribeiro is fresh and fun. The character design fits the vibe of the story. Two young girls meeting each other, becoming friends, geeking out about their favorite childhood manga and then opening up and falling in love all in the course of a school year. I think Ribeiro made a great job illustrating both the manga and the main story. Both art styles are of course quite different, yet they fit perfectly together.
If you love coming of age stories, if you love reading about queer love and happy endings, if you want stories with disabled leads, or if you just want a beautifully written slice of life story about two teenage girls, please give this a chance. You won't regret it.
Navigating With You will leave you with a big smile, though you might shed some tears along the way.
4.25 stars
A wonderful and heartwarming story about two girls finding each other and falling in love.
Neesha Sparks is a new student in Durham Western High School in North Carolina. Neesha is disabled, she's an activist and she's also a huge geek. In her first day of school, she's determined not to make friends, she wants only to observe and figure out the school dynamics. Enters Gabby Graciana. Gabby is also a new student from Florida. She's a very outspoken, very energetic, very persistent person. And she has decided to be friends with Neesha no matter what. When both of them realise they used to read the same manga when they were younger, they decide to form a book club between the two. However, this old manga is out of print, and the resale value is ridiculous, so they make a competition. They need to find the seven volumes and whoever finds more gets to keep the whole collection. And so, they start a journey through their new town searching for this manga, while getting to know each other and finding comfort and acceptance with one another.
This story is really cute, it's all about friendship, love, and trust. And honestly how could not be with Jeremy Whitley as the writer. When I saw his name, something clicked in my head and I realised he was the author of that beautiful run of The Unstoppable Wasp from years ago. I loved his work then, I love it now too.
Though I can't really talk about disabled rep, or BIPOC queerness, everything was handled with so much care and respect. It's beautifully written. Neesha's struggles, but more importantly, her resilience is inspiring. She has ups and downs but at the end of the day, she just wants to be respected. And Gabby is such a beautiful soul. Her joyful demeanor, however, hides the sadness from the last year of her life. Without spoiling Gabby's struggles, she does suffer from PTSD, and is also facing a lot of problems with her current long distance relationship. However, the way Whitley handles these mature themes makes this story such a precious gem.
The artwork by Cassio Ribeiro is fresh and fun. The character design fits the vibe of the story. Two young girls meeting each other, becoming friends, geeking out about their favorite childhood manga and then opening up and falling in love all in the course of a school year. I think Ribeiro made a great job illustrating both the manga and the main story. Both art styles are of course quite different, yet they fit perfectly together.
If you love coming of age stories, if you love reading about queer love and happy endings, if you want stories with disabled leads, or if you just want a beautifully written slice of life story about two teenage girls, please give this a chance. You won't regret it.
Navigating With You will leave you with a big smile, though you might shed some tears along the way.
December 29, 2024
This was ok. I thought it was cute and I'm glad it centered two girls of color. But that’s about it. The art style didn't wow me and some of the attempts at racial in-jokes annoyed me. I always applaud nonblack authors who make genuine attempts to write black girls as main characters. I just feel like we could've left out the meta jokes about black people not being able to swim or how many locations in the South are named after Confederate generals. It’s cringe at best and disrespectful at worst.
The story didn't grab me either. I really enjoy love triangles in romance, typically. My exception is when a story features a sapphic romance with a male love interest looming over the story. In this book specifically, I understand why it's here. This is a YA book and it's clear that the message is to show teenagers that it's okay to break up with a toxic partner, especially one that's biphobic/hateful to them. The moral of the story is good but I just get tired of reading plots like this.
I was also annoyed that the word "lesbian" is never on the page, unless I'm mistaken. It's stated that Neesha only likes girls and the story has no problem with Gabby being openly bi. But like so many other LGBT novels for young adults, "lesbian" just does not appear. It's frustrating to me.
If you're looking for a YA graphic novel with similar themes, I definitely recommend Belle of the Ball. It also explores sapphic romance through the lens of media like shoujo manga. And the art style is wayyyyy better :3
The story didn't grab me either. I really enjoy love triangles in romance, typically. My exception is when a story features a sapphic romance with a male love interest looming over the story. In this book specifically, I understand why it's here. This is a YA book and it's clear that the message is to show teenagers that it's okay to break up with a toxic partner, especially one that's biphobic/hateful to them. The moral of the story is good but I just get tired of reading plots like this.
I was also annoyed that the word "lesbian" is never on the page, unless I'm mistaken. It's stated that Neesha only likes girls and the story has no problem with Gabby being openly bi. But like so many other LGBT novels for young adults, "lesbian" just does not appear. It's frustrating to me.
If you're looking for a YA graphic novel with similar themes, I definitely recommend Belle of the Ball. It also explores sapphic romance through the lens of media like shoujo manga. And the art style is wayyyyy better :3
June 21, 2024
Navigating With You is a fun WLW graphic novel about two young women who meet on their first day of going to a new school, and end up bonding over a manga series they used to read when they were younger. As their friendship grows, so do their feelings for each other, and throughout the book they go on adventures to hunt down all the volumes of their favourite story.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the fun mix between the two MCs POVs and that the book included scenes from the manga they were reading in the story. The characters were lovable yet flawed and wonderfully human. I loved the disability rep and that both the MCs came from different backgrounds where they had gone through difficult things. I felt the book explored this in a good way.
Thanks Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios for letting me read an early copy of this book. Navigating With You is out 13th of August.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the fun mix between the two MCs POVs and that the book included scenes from the manga they were reading in the story. The characters were lovable yet flawed and wonderfully human. I loved the disability rep and that both the MCs came from different backgrounds where they had gone through difficult things. I felt the book explored this in a good way.
Thanks Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios for letting me read an early copy of this book. Navigating With You is out 13th of August.
May 9, 2024
This was a really charming graphic novel with a lot of things to love about it.
Firstly, the representation. While I can’t speak on how accurately it depicts disability, race or queerness, I did really enjoy reading a story that incorporated all these elements. It is so rare to see main characters that have a disability, and I will always champion more diversity in storytelling. This is really such a beautiful aspect of the book and I appreciated the recourses that are included in the back of the book. (Also loved getting to see a glimpse of the character design process)
Furthermore, the relationship felt very genuine and loving. The girls were really there for each other and connected on so many levels. It was really wonderful to see. They also communicated well with each other but how they talked felt very appropriate for their age. It was really sweet to see it all develop.
One thing that did bring it down a little bit for me was the pacing. A full school year goes by, however that does make it so some moments feel a bit rushed and months go by with little insight into what happened. Also, while I fully understand why the manga series that they bond over was included the way that it was, I found that it took me out of the current story a bit.
These issues, were of course very much down to personal preference and I would still recommend it for anyone looking for a very sweet sapphic romance
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC
Firstly, the representation. While I can’t speak on how accurately it depicts disability, race or queerness, I did really enjoy reading a story that incorporated all these elements. It is so rare to see main characters that have a disability, and I will always champion more diversity in storytelling. This is really such a beautiful aspect of the book and I appreciated the recourses that are included in the back of the book. (Also loved getting to see a glimpse of the character design process)
Furthermore, the relationship felt very genuine and loving. The girls were really there for each other and connected on so many levels. It was really wonderful to see. They also communicated well with each other but how they talked felt very appropriate for their age. It was really sweet to see it all develop.
One thing that did bring it down a little bit for me was the pacing. A full school year goes by, however that does make it so some moments feel a bit rushed and months go by with little insight into what happened. Also, while I fully understand why the manga series that they bond over was included the way that it was, I found that it took me out of the current story a bit.
These issues, were of course very much down to personal preference and I would still recommend it for anyone looking for a very sweet sapphic romance
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC
April 28, 2024
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
I requested this on a whim when I saw it on Netgalley as it sounded fun. I don't read a lot of graphic novels, but I didn't give it much thought and hit request. I loved this book, the more I read the more I enjoyed it and I definitely want to try and read more graphic novels going forward.
Navigating With You tells the story of Neesha and Gabby who both start a new school. Gabby is this bubbly chatty character who keeps talking to Neesha and while at first Neesha seems to find it bit annoying, they quickly become friends and eventually fall in love. I liked the plot line of them connecting over a manga series they both read, but neither finished it and now they are collecting the books so they can read and finish the series.
This was just such a lovely read. I wasn't quite sure what to think of it at first, but just as Neesha's reluctance towards Gabby disappeared so did any of my doubts about this book. I quickly got hooked and wanted to keep reading. I loved reading about these characters they tight bond they form and then seeing them fall in love. I enjoyed seeing them banter together, spending time together, being there for the other and figure out where to get the next manga book. I liked how they both feel like real and their personalities really come to life.
I also appreciated how Neesha's disability was handled. It's clearly a part of her, but it's also not everything she is. I thought this was handled so well and the way it was addressed in the book was awesome. There are struggles she has to got through because of her disability and I thought those parts were well written even though they made me sad too. Then there is how Gabby loves her for who she is. How Gabby handles Neesha disability was great to see. Both girls also have some emotional baggage from previous relationships and I thought it was good to how that got addressed and how this relationship differs form their previous ones. There are also some mental health topics that get addressed, don't want to mention details as it's a spoiler for later in the book.
I loved how these two were there for each other. Their relationship was just awesome to see and most of all I loved how accepting they are of each other. It really was awesome to see.
At first I wasn't really sure about the artwork. I don't read a lot of books with art and most I've read are manga's, so this was a very different style and not really my favorite. As I progressed through the book the art style grew on me and most of all I just felt it fit the story well. Having the art alongside the story really adds another dimension and I forgot how much I can enjoy that. The way the art is part of the story is awesome.
I thought it was interesting how the manga series they try to find and read again is part of the story. There are some pages that tell the story of the manga they read and I liked how this made it possible for the characters to talk about the story and as the reader you know the plot of the manga too and can appreciate their conversations more.
To summarize: This was a lovely romance story and I really enjoyed it. This book took me by surprise with how much I loved it. It's about two girls who meet at their new school and become friends while trying to find all the books in manage series they both read, but never finished. I liked how the plot of them searching for this manga series progressed throughout the book. And I loved seeing the friendship and later romance develop between the two of them. They were so encouraging and accepting of each other and it was awesome to see. Neesha's disability was handled very well and there is some mental health representation as well. The artwork took some time to get used to, but by the end I liked it and thought it fit the story well. I like how the art is another dimension and adds to the story. Having pages of the manga they read be part of the story was a nice touch too. All in all this was an amazing read and I am really glad I picked it up.
I requested this on a whim when I saw it on Netgalley as it sounded fun. I don't read a lot of graphic novels, but I didn't give it much thought and hit request. I loved this book, the more I read the more I enjoyed it and I definitely want to try and read more graphic novels going forward.
Navigating With You tells the story of Neesha and Gabby who both start a new school. Gabby is this bubbly chatty character who keeps talking to Neesha and while at first Neesha seems to find it bit annoying, they quickly become friends and eventually fall in love. I liked the plot line of them connecting over a manga series they both read, but neither finished it and now they are collecting the books so they can read and finish the series.
This was just such a lovely read. I wasn't quite sure what to think of it at first, but just as Neesha's reluctance towards Gabby disappeared so did any of my doubts about this book. I quickly got hooked and wanted to keep reading. I loved reading about these characters they tight bond they form and then seeing them fall in love. I enjoyed seeing them banter together, spending time together, being there for the other and figure out where to get the next manga book. I liked how they both feel like real and their personalities really come to life.
I also appreciated how Neesha's disability was handled. It's clearly a part of her, but it's also not everything she is. I thought this was handled so well and the way it was addressed in the book was awesome. There are struggles she has to got through because of her disability and I thought those parts were well written even though they made me sad too. Then there is how Gabby loves her for who she is. How Gabby handles Neesha disability was great to see. Both girls also have some emotional baggage from previous relationships and I thought it was good to how that got addressed and how this relationship differs form their previous ones. There are also some mental health topics that get addressed, don't want to mention details as it's a spoiler for later in the book.
I loved how these two were there for each other. Their relationship was just awesome to see and most of all I loved how accepting they are of each other. It really was awesome to see.
At first I wasn't really sure about the artwork. I don't read a lot of books with art and most I've read are manga's, so this was a very different style and not really my favorite. As I progressed through the book the art style grew on me and most of all I just felt it fit the story well. Having the art alongside the story really adds another dimension and I forgot how much I can enjoy that. The way the art is part of the story is awesome.
I thought it was interesting how the manga series they try to find and read again is part of the story. There are some pages that tell the story of the manga they read and I liked how this made it possible for the characters to talk about the story and as the reader you know the plot of the manga too and can appreciate their conversations more.
To summarize: This was a lovely romance story and I really enjoyed it. This book took me by surprise with how much I loved it. It's about two girls who meet at their new school and become friends while trying to find all the books in manage series they both read, but never finished. I liked how the plot of them searching for this manga series progressed throughout the book. And I loved seeing the friendship and later romance develop between the two of them. They were so encouraging and accepting of each other and it was awesome to see. Neesha's disability was handled very well and there is some mental health representation as well. The artwork took some time to get used to, but by the end I liked it and thought it fit the story well. I like how the art is another dimension and adds to the story. Having pages of the manga they read be part of the story was a nice touch too. All in all this was an amazing read and I am really glad I picked it up.
May 28, 2024
On the first day of school, two new students meet for the first time. While one is determined to make friends, the other is adamant to keep to herself. But how long can one really hold up against the ever optimistic Gabby! So they bond over their favourite manga, mutual love and food.
This warm read doesn’t shy away from talking about important issues like loss, the trauma and guilt that comes with it, the struggle of living with disability, how hard it is to trust once you’ve been taken advantages of. And for that it deserves the praise.
There is this one line that stood out to me the most- “I haven’t really talked about her since she died and I really hate that, because she is such a part of me.” It stood out to me because my grandmother died more than two years ago and I still can’t talk about her. I have not once talk about her. It’s too painful and I feel so guilty because I think about her all the time. She deserves so much better. And I felt so seen reading such a seemingly insignificant line.
Saying that, it isn’t the most beautiful thing I ever read and it does have some issues I am hoping the author and people working behind it will pay attention to.
The first thing that comes to mind is in one conversation Gabby says to Nessa that she(g) has put on weight and refuses to eat. To that Nessa replies, “are you kidding? You are ridiculously hot”. They weren’t talking about if Gabby was hot or not. Nessa concluding putting on weight as the opposite of hot and thus reassuring her that Gabby is in fact hot seemed a little tone deaf to me. Specially when just few spreads ago Gabby’s then boyfriend tried to body shame her and imply she isn’t hot if she puts on weight(which by the way Nessa wasn’t aware of. So bringing up hotness doesn’t sound okay to me). So in my humble opinion the exchange between Nessa and Gabby should have been dealt more maturely.
Another minor mistake I noticed by the end is Gabby say “Radical honestly really confuses parents” and wouldn’t it be ‘honesty’ instead?
But the thing that bothered me the most was sometimes conversation or a scene would end abruptly. I had to check multiple times if I was skipping through pages.
Saying all that, do I recommend this book? I do. It is an enjoyable read and often times really sweet. If one doesn’t have problem with the issues I pointed out or if they are resolved, it would easily be a 4/4.5 ⭐️ read for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios/Maverick for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. It was a joy finding it on my digital shelf.
This warm read doesn’t shy away from talking about important issues like loss, the trauma and guilt that comes with it, the struggle of living with disability, how hard it is to trust once you’ve been taken advantages of. And for that it deserves the praise.
There is this one line that stood out to me the most- “I haven’t really talked about her since she died and I really hate that, because she is such a part of me.” It stood out to me because my grandmother died more than two years ago and I still can’t talk about her. I have not once talk about her. It’s too painful and I feel so guilty because I think about her all the time. She deserves so much better. And I felt so seen reading such a seemingly insignificant line.
Saying that, it isn’t the most beautiful thing I ever read and it does have some issues I am hoping the author and people working behind it will pay attention to.
The first thing that comes to mind is in one conversation Gabby says to Nessa that she(g) has put on weight and refuses to eat. To that Nessa replies, “are you kidding? You are ridiculously hot”. They weren’t talking about if Gabby was hot or not. Nessa concluding putting on weight as the opposite of hot and thus reassuring her that Gabby is in fact hot seemed a little tone deaf to me. Specially when just few spreads ago Gabby’s then boyfriend tried to body shame her and imply she isn’t hot if she puts on weight(which by the way Nessa wasn’t aware of. So bringing up hotness doesn’t sound okay to me). So in my humble opinion the exchange between Nessa and Gabby should have been dealt more maturely.
Another minor mistake I noticed by the end is Gabby say “Radical honestly really confuses parents” and wouldn’t it be ‘honesty’ instead?
But the thing that bothered me the most was sometimes conversation or a scene would end abruptly. I had to check multiple times if I was skipping through pages.
Saying all that, do I recommend this book? I do. It is an enjoyable read and often times really sweet. If one doesn’t have problem with the issues I pointed out or if they are resolved, it would easily be a 4/4.5 ⭐️ read for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios/Maverick for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. It was a joy finding it on my digital shelf.
May 19, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up to 5⭐️
A heartwarming story of love, acceptance, friendship, and understanding.
There’s something so tender and wholesome about sharing niche interests with a stranger, who becomes a friend (and eventually, girlfriend but we’ll get to that later!).
Through this story, Neesh and Gabby get to grow alongside each other, learn to overcome trauma, geek out over the manga they’re reading together, and support each other through it all.
I really appreciate that young queer latine and POC kids get stories like this. I would’ve loved to see such sweet relatable content growing up.
There were a few panels that felt disjointed and had me question if I was reading in the correct order or missed a page. Besides that, my heart was full of love reading this.
Also, the “breaking up with your manipulative, shitty boyfriend” plot was well-done and terribly relatable. Adored reading Gabby and Neesha providing comfort, support, and limitless love for one another. (I.e. “My girlfriend loves me and trusts me to push her chair!”)
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review!
A heartwarming story of love, acceptance, friendship, and understanding.
There’s something so tender and wholesome about sharing niche interests with a stranger, who becomes a friend (and eventually, girlfriend but we’ll get to that later!).
Through this story, Neesh and Gabby get to grow alongside each other, learn to overcome trauma, geek out over the manga they’re reading together, and support each other through it all.
I really appreciate that young queer latine and POC kids get stories like this. I would’ve loved to see such sweet relatable content growing up.
There were a few panels that felt disjointed and had me question if I was reading in the correct order or missed a page. Besides that, my heart was full of love reading this.
Also, the “breaking up with your manipulative, shitty boyfriend” plot was well-done and terribly relatable. Adored reading Gabby and Neesha providing comfort, support, and limitless love for one another. (I.e. “My girlfriend loves me and trusts me to push her chair!”)
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review!
January 4, 2025
This was very fun and sweet and charming! Sometimes it's just very pleasant to read a nice story where families are supportive and people take care of each other and are generally kind even when they're dealing with systems that don't want to be kind in return.
I imagine this has been called a girl version of Heartstopper more than once and while I can't necessarily fault the comparison, I did enjoy this more -- maybe because it's American, maybe because it felt more personally relatable to me, maybe because even though everyone is always trying to model good behavior it still just sounds like kids who were raised right instead of authorial therapy-speak, or maybe mostly because it's much, much funnier (that bit toward the end where Gabby talks to Neesha's mom on the phone absolutely killed) -- and I thought having the two different parallel narratives was also a nice way to include a kind of life lesson-y situation without it feeling preachy or heavy handed.
Anyway! Very enjoyable and I will be on the lookout for more of Whitley's stories.
I imagine this has been called a girl version of Heartstopper more than once and while I can't necessarily fault the comparison, I did enjoy this more -- maybe because it's American, maybe because it felt more personally relatable to me, maybe because even though everyone is always trying to model good behavior it still just sounds like kids who were raised right instead of authorial therapy-speak, or maybe mostly because it's much, much funnier (that bit toward the end where Gabby talks to Neesha's mom on the phone absolutely killed) -- and I thought having the two different parallel narratives was also a nice way to include a kind of life lesson-y situation without it feeling preachy or heavy handed.
Anyway! Very enjoyable and I will be on the lookout for more of Whitley's stories.
July 16, 2024
What the... how did such an amazing book just come out of nowhere?! This is a beautifully illustrated YA sapphic romance that deserves all the praise.
Neesha and Gabby are the new girls at a new school, both having recently moved to North Carolina. Despite Neesha's best efforts, Gabby is determined to be friends - and a shared love for an old manga series is the spark that kindles her success. As each girl learns and trusts enough to open up, their relationship grows into a close friendship - and maybe something more?
While there is a lot of sweetness and joy in this story, there is also hard realism and trauma. Both Neesha and Gabby have had to face difficult experiences in their young lives that deeply affect who they are. Their characters depictions are beautifully layered, from personalities to reactions. For what the opinion of someone with no personal experience is worth, the depiction of Neesha's daily life with CP seemed honest and well-handled. I love the way both girls' parents are present in their stories in a realistic and positive way - Neesha's relationship with her mom in particular is beautiful.
The story itself packs in so much detail and complexity that propels the story forward. Neesha and Gabby travel around North Carolina searching for an out-of-print manga, exploring and encountering all sorts of adventures while growing closer. There's joy and celebration in every indulgence of their nerdy hobbies. Each time they find another of the volumes, Navigating With You includes a sort of insert section of a few manga pages that sketch the storyline of the series.
Speaking of sketching, the art is so pretty in this book! Even without text, the drawings give Neesha and Gabby such vibrancy and personality. The coloring of text boxes gives glimpses into each girl's thoughts and words while making easily clear who is speaking. The variety between more traditional comic book framing, full page images with text conversations, and manga inserts keep the book dynamic.
One thing I didn't love -
I'm so happy I picked this wonderful book to read and I can think of about a dozen recommendation lists it needs to be added to immediately.
Thank you NetGalley and MadCave Studios for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.
Neesha and Gabby are the new girls at a new school, both having recently moved to North Carolina. Despite Neesha's best efforts, Gabby is determined to be friends - and a shared love for an old manga series is the spark that kindles her success. As each girl learns and trusts enough to open up, their relationship grows into a close friendship - and maybe something more?
While there is a lot of sweetness and joy in this story, there is also hard realism and trauma. Both Neesha and Gabby have had to face difficult experiences in their young lives that deeply affect who they are. Their characters depictions are beautifully layered, from personalities to reactions. For what the opinion of someone with no personal experience is worth, the depiction of Neesha's daily life with CP seemed honest and well-handled. I love the way both girls' parents are present in their stories in a realistic and positive way - Neesha's relationship with her mom in particular is beautiful.
The story itself packs in so much detail and complexity that propels the story forward. Neesha and Gabby travel around North Carolina searching for an out-of-print manga, exploring and encountering all sorts of adventures while growing closer. There's joy and celebration in every indulgence of their nerdy hobbies. Each time they find another of the volumes, Navigating With You includes a sort of insert section of a few manga pages that sketch the storyline of the series.
Speaking of sketching, the art is so pretty in this book! Even without text, the drawings give Neesha and Gabby such vibrancy and personality. The coloring of text boxes gives glimpses into each girl's thoughts and words while making easily clear who is speaking. The variety between more traditional comic book framing, full page images with text conversations, and manga inserts keep the book dynamic.
One thing I didn't love -
I'm so happy I picked this wonderful book to read and I can think of about a dozen recommendation lists it needs to be added to immediately.
Thank you NetGalley and MadCave Studios for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.
March 10, 2025
A YA slice-of-life graphic novel with sapphic romance featuring a half Puerto Rican-half Mexican bisexual main character.
An adorable story about two girls who begin the journey of their friendship thanks to Gabby's insistence of being friends with the fellow new girl at the school and their shared love for a manga series of which they both have not seen through the end!
And so, a book club, with just the two of them, is born. As they go on their quest in search of the rest of the series, they find much more than just the books, they find understanding and love.
This was adorable. A cute story that didn’t shy away from handling topics such as the harsh realities of living with a disability, dealing with trauma, PTSD, and bi erasure/biphobia.
I also liked that both the women were sapphics of color.
One thing I did not like, a thing that kept me from loving this book wholly,
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.
An adorable story about two girls who begin the journey of their friendship thanks to Gabby's insistence of being friends with the fellow new girl at the school and their shared love for a manga series of which they both have not seen through the end!
And so, a book club, with just the two of them, is born. As they go on their quest in search of the rest of the series, they find much more than just the books, they find understanding and love.
This was adorable. A cute story that didn’t shy away from handling topics such as the harsh realities of living with a disability, dealing with trauma, PTSD, and bi erasure/biphobia.
I also liked that both the women were sapphics of color.
One thing I did not like, a thing that kept me from loving this book wholly,
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.
April 29, 2024
Neesha is new to the school as is Gabby, and because they both get treated badly by the principal, they bond together, in more ways than one. Gabby is bisexual. Neesha is lesbian. Gabby has a long-distance boyfriend. Neesha has no one. Gabby is able bodied, and Nessah is disabled.
So, of course, they fall in love. Despite Gabby wanting to fill the silence with talk. Despite Neesha saying she is just a friend.
This is a sweet little romance of a graphic novel, where both characters think they aren’t in love, and don’t care, when they really do. They say they are just running a book club for a manga that they both love.
They love discussing what the manga means.
I enjoyed this, though I didn't get the need to show us the managa in the graphic novel, until it pointed to something that was hinted at when tye discussed it.
This book is coming out on the 13th of August 2024. Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
So, of course, they fall in love. Despite Gabby wanting to fill the silence with talk. Despite Neesha saying she is just a friend.
This is a sweet little romance of a graphic novel, where both characters think they aren’t in love, and don’t care, when they really do. They say they are just running a book club for a manga that they both love.
They love discussing what the manga means.
I enjoyed this, though I didn't get the need to show us the managa in the graphic novel, until it pointed to something that was hinted at when tye discussed it.
This book is coming out on the 13th of August 2024. Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
June 6, 2024
3.5*
This was adorable!! The characters fit so well together and had some rlly heartwarming moments. But it does not shy away from important issues like PTSD.
It is not my place to say wether the disability was represented well, but I do think whats important about representation is that it is talked about in the stories, but not have to big of a focus on so that it shows it is just normal, which this graphic novel did for that part.
The drawing style wasn’t my favorite. Also the principal scene in the beginning doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t think you can threaten your principal that you’re calling your mom if he doesn’t behave right. But it was cute how she defended the other girl.
I liked that we also got pages and the story therefore of the manga they read together. It really tied the story together.
The love confession was so random but so cute.
Plus the quiet girl x yapper duo is such a cute match.
Overall really wholesome graphic novel and would recommend!
This was adorable!! The characters fit so well together and had some rlly heartwarming moments. But it does not shy away from important issues like PTSD.
It is not my place to say wether the disability was represented well, but I do think whats important about representation is that it is talked about in the stories, but not have to big of a focus on so that it shows it is just normal, which this graphic novel did for that part.
The drawing style wasn’t my favorite. Also the principal scene in the beginning doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t think you can threaten your principal that you’re calling your mom if he doesn’t behave right. But it was cute how she defended the other girl.
I liked that we also got pages and the story therefore of the manga they read together. It really tied the story together.
The love confession was so random but so cute.
Plus the quiet girl x yapper duo is such a cute match.
Overall really wholesome graphic novel and would recommend!
April 20, 2024
This graphic novel in an absolute gem. In this story about finding oneself, the two main characters who go from friends to girlfriends exist outside of their relationship, they are never defined only by the fact that they are POCs, queer or disabled, yet everything is tackled with care. This is representation at its finest. The book also touches on subjects like mental health and abusive relationships.
Although they bond through their love of a manga, Gabby and Neesha have many different interests and we get to know them at the same time as they get to know each other and each other’s cultures. They are complex and interesting characters that you can’t help but find endearing and root for.
I can’t wait for this graphic novel to be released so I can recommend it to everyone.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
May 18, 2024
Navigating with you was a great story. I was intrigued by the idea of two friends that were on this journey to find this manga that they both had started but never finished. The concept of a manga within a manga was great. Two stories were happening congruently and the overlapping stories really meshed. While the young engineer was finding herself and realizing how much strength she possessed, Neesha and Gabby were navigating friendship, grief, love, and all the other things that life throws at a teen. It was so great to seeing a story written for the BIPOC queer girlies like myself. I also really appreciate the real conversations that Neesha and Gabby had about Neesha’s disability and Gabby’s PTSD/Anxiety.
Overall I think this book was amazing and everyone should read it!
Overall I think this book was amazing and everyone should read it!
May 8, 2024
What I would give to go on an adventure to find the lost volumes of my favorite series with my crush. This book was so cute. I loved how the two girls bonded over that book series and how it brought them together and helped build their relationship. I think it was great how we also got to see the manga they liked in the story so that we could see why they liked the book so much and why they both connected to it. Gabby and Neesha are both so fleshed-out characters that you are rooting for, and you want them to be happy. This is a book with a great coming-of-age romance about self-acceptance, love, friendship, and how books can connect us.
May 15, 2024
This book was an ARC from Netgalley.
WOW. A MASTERPIECE. Loved it from beginning to end. We’ve got bi representation, a sapphic relationship that is SO DANG CUTE, disabled representation, multicultural protagonists, the WHOLE SHABANG.
PLEASE give this one a read.
(Though I will say a minor nitpick, Gabby mentions in one scene that it is the first time Neesha wears her braces with shorts in front of her, when in the scene prior to that, she was wearing shorts with braces… made me do a double take LOL)
WOW. A MASTERPIECE. Loved it from beginning to end. We’ve got bi representation, a sapphic relationship that is SO DANG CUTE, disabled representation, multicultural protagonists, the WHOLE SHABANG.
PLEASE give this one a read.
(Though I will say a minor nitpick, Gabby mentions in one scene that it is the first time Neesha wears her braces with shorts in front of her, when in the scene prior to that, she was wearing shorts with braces… made me do a double take LOL)
August 13, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I found myself misty-eyed through most of this read 💗 This graphic novel is a stunning slice-of-life story, filled with depth and all the emotions. The representation of cerebral palsy and PTSD was handled with care and authenticity, and I appreciated the thoughtful exploration of healthy relationships and LGBTQIA+ issues. This might just take the top spot as my favorite graphic novel to date.
I found myself misty-eyed through most of this read 💗 This graphic novel is a stunning slice-of-life story, filled with depth and all the emotions. The representation of cerebral palsy and PTSD was handled with care and authenticity, and I appreciated the thoughtful exploration of healthy relationships and LGBTQIA+ issues. This might just take the top spot as my favorite graphic novel to date.
July 1, 2024
Summary:
Neesha Sparks and Gabby Graciana are two very different young women. While they met by chance, if it wasn't for one common passion, they may never have become so close. That passion? The love of a comic series (Navigator Nozomi).
Together, these two determined fans will hunt down the missing comics to re-read them – and hopefully, track down the conclusion they never got. There will be many adventures and life lessons along the way.
Review:
Navigating With You is not much what I was expecting, but it was a delight to read. It's the story of two passionate young women with vast dreams and a commitment to finding something they love.
In truth, I feel like the core of this plot will resonate with almost any reader—who here doesn't have a book or series they read when they were younger, only to somehow lose it (time, memory, damage, you name it)? I know it hit me hard, and so it wasn't hard to root for Neesha and Gabby.
Likewise, I enjoyed watching their budding friendship grow and transform. It's one of those slow-building (friends-to-lovers) romances but with a lot of heart. There are bumps along the way, which makes the story feel all the more human.
Highlights:
Young Adult
Coming of Age
LGBT+
Romance
Disability Rep
Book-within-a-book
Thanks to Maverick and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Neesha Sparks and Gabby Graciana are two very different young women. While they met by chance, if it wasn't for one common passion, they may never have become so close. That passion? The love of a comic series (Navigator Nozomi).
Together, these two determined fans will hunt down the missing comics to re-read them – and hopefully, track down the conclusion they never got. There will be many adventures and life lessons along the way.
Review:
Navigating With You is not much what I was expecting, but it was a delight to read. It's the story of two passionate young women with vast dreams and a commitment to finding something they love.
In truth, I feel like the core of this plot will resonate with almost any reader—who here doesn't have a book or series they read when they were younger, only to somehow lose it (time, memory, damage, you name it)? I know it hit me hard, and so it wasn't hard to root for Neesha and Gabby.
Likewise, I enjoyed watching their budding friendship grow and transform. It's one of those slow-building (friends-to-lovers) romances but with a lot of heart. There are bumps along the way, which makes the story feel all the more human.
Highlights:
Young Adult
Coming of Age
LGBT+
Romance
Disability Rep
Book-within-a-book
Thanks to Maverick and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
January 25, 2025
I ATE THIS BOOK UPPPPP. It was so cute! Everything felt real. There was never a moment that felt silly or that made me feel like it was fictional. I checked to see if this was a true story because it was so genuine. There was also a perfect balance of romance but genuine plot and inner struggle swell.
June 19, 2024
Neesha Sparks, a passionate disabled activist and costume designer, and Gabby Graciana, an optimistic surfer new to town, bond over their shared love for the manga series Navigator Nozomi. What starts as a common interest quickly blossoms into a deep friendship as they embark on a mission across North Carolina to hunt down the missing volumes of their beloved series.
Navigating with You is an immediate favorite— a heartwarming romance with an adventurous quest that will leave you smiling. This is the book I wanted to read growing up -finding friends over a shared love for books and searching for books together. I loved the storytelling and the art palette so much. We also get to read the Navigator Nozomi manga!
Neesha and Gabby's journey isn't just about finding books; it's about finding acceptance and understanding in each other's company. Their growing connection is portrayed with such warmth that you can't help but root for them. The representation of disability, activism, and LGBTQ+ identity is handled with sensitivity, making this book both an enjoyable read and an important addition to diverse reads.
If you like:
-Heartwarming WLW Romance
-Diverse Representation
-Themes of Friendship and Acceptance
-Lovely Art Style or simply crave a feel-good read, Navigating with You ticks all the boxes.
Huge thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC! I’m already looking forward to their next work.
Navigating with You is an immediate favorite— a heartwarming romance with an adventurous quest that will leave you smiling. This is the book I wanted to read growing up -finding friends over a shared love for books and searching for books together. I loved the storytelling and the art palette so much. We also get to read the Navigator Nozomi manga!
Neesha and Gabby's journey isn't just about finding books; it's about finding acceptance and understanding in each other's company. Their growing connection is portrayed with such warmth that you can't help but root for them. The representation of disability, activism, and LGBTQ+ identity is handled with sensitivity, making this book both an enjoyable read and an important addition to diverse reads.
If you like:
-Heartwarming WLW Romance
-Diverse Representation
-Themes of Friendship and Acceptance
-Lovely Art Style or simply crave a feel-good read, Navigating with You ticks all the boxes.
Huge thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC! I’m already looking forward to their next work.
October 7, 2025
The narrative is a little slow, but it is oh so rich and rewarding watching these two young women navigate their relationship and all the baggage they bring to it.
April 20, 2024
First off thanking the publisher for a copy to review, I’m so excited to get to try new voices and stories due to it.
This is such a wonderful story of learning and discovering yourself.
It touches the topics of disability, bisexuality, a bit into race, ptsd and it’s sooo wholesome. Easily should be for readers in middle/highschool, heck even adults will learn a thing or two for compassion. The artwork is super cute and lovely color palettes, easily reader friendly for ebook.
I adored our main ladies and the parents of them for being so in tune and supportive.Easily is a novel by itself, however there is room if one were to add to it.
This is such a wonderful story of learning and discovering yourself.
It touches the topics of disability, bisexuality, a bit into race, ptsd and it’s sooo wholesome. Easily should be for readers in middle/highschool, heck even adults will learn a thing or two for compassion. The artwork is super cute and lovely color palettes, easily reader friendly for ebook.
I adored our main ladies and the parents of them for being so in tune and supportive.Easily is a novel by itself, however there is room if one were to add to it.
June 6, 2024
Gah this was such a lovely, wholesome coming of age/love story between two young girls dealing with bucketloads of trauma.
It captures adolescence so perfectly: the way every day emotions are so high-stakes, how fandom can feel so consuming, but also the very real difficulties and darkness that come with being a human (see, facing ableism, PTSD).
Despite being a tight 200 pages, it handles character development so well, allowing space to breathe and landing its emotional beats so perfectly. There is so much tenderness in these two girls showing up for each other.
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
It captures adolescence so perfectly: the way every day emotions are so high-stakes, how fandom can feel so consuming, but also the very real difficulties and darkness that come with being a human (see, facing ableism, PTSD).
Despite being a tight 200 pages, it handles character development so well, allowing space to breathe and landing its emotional beats so perfectly. There is so much tenderness in these two girls showing up for each other.
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
May 2, 2024
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*
I love it!
If you want something cute, fun, light and good to read this is perfect for you.
I love the characters, the vibe and the whole plot.
Even the manga panels was a nice touch to read.
Highly recommend!
I love it!
If you want something cute, fun, light and good to read this is perfect for you.
I love the characters, the vibe and the whole plot.
Even the manga panels was a nice touch to read.
Highly recommend!
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