Cheer up was such a short but sweet graphic novel, I flew through it and would recommend to everyone!

It was a warm, feel good read with some great illustrations throughout that made it all the nicer to read.

Watching the friendship and relationship unfold between Annie and Bebe was lovely, and there was so much really great representation throughout.

Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Cheer Up is an adorable graphic novel about Annie, an anti-social grump who is convinced to join the cheerleading team to round out her lacking college applications, and Bebe, a transgirl and captain of the cheerleading team. Bebe agrees to help Annie with her cheering if Annie agrees to help her study, and the once friends now friends again duo learn a lot more about themselves and each other than they bargained for.

This really is such a light, sweet sapphic story! It touches on expectations other people have for us, and how we feed into those. It touches on how even allies can sometimes be hurtful with their overzealous support. It touches on how we don't really have to have everything figured out, but we have to still stand up for ourselves and what we want and need to feel safe. All of this and a cute romance tucked into the pages of this graphic novel make it a quick but super satisfying read.

In this book, we follow Annie who in order to impress colleges on her applications joins the cheerleading squad even though she maybe is not the most cheerful person. Her former friend BeeBee a transgirl is also on the Cheer team and through the trial and error of cheer, they rekindle their friendship.

I really enjoyed this book but I thought it could have used just a little more backstory to the characters. I really loved reading a graphic novel about a transgender girl as this is something I haven't read before. Overall I think this was a well-rounded graphic novel, the illustrations were beautiful and the story itself was great.

Okay so few things, the fatphobia and transphobia, not good. Mean parents.. kind of cliché.. transphobic dad.. well that hit a bit close to home. Though it might be transphobia disguised as just a parent being scared for their kid?? Thank god there's one obviously supportive parent.

I thought some of the scenes were a bit rushed, liket he kissing scene. But the supportive cheerleading scenes made up for it and the ending where Bebe finally stood up for herself was really cute, and then the homecoming queen reveal, I mean we all knew what was going to happen.

All in all, really cute and I like they basically resolved everything in the end.

This graphic novel was pure joy!

Main characters Annie, an antisocial, plus-size lesbian and BeeBee, a biracial, trans girl, are strong leads in an equally diverse cast of characters. This story has it all sports, sapphics, and sisterhood! It handles themes of transphobia, prejudice, and being true to yourself with sensitivity and nuance. The beautiful illustrations highlighted the variety of body types and ethnicities represented in the story.

Cheer Up is a sweet, lighthearted, and quick read. The characters are lovable, and the message is important. Once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down.

Cheer Up is a beautiful graphic novel with stunning art and a wholesome story about friendship, love and acceptance. Bebe came out as a trans girl last year and found a home on the cheerleading team. Now, old friend Annie needs some extracurriculars for her college application and despite not looking like the cheerleading type, Bebe persuades the rest of the team to let her join. The pair rekindle their friendship (and more) while teaching each other how to be kinder when necessary and stand up for yourself when needed.

This was such a cute sapphic romance! It's a queer graphic novel about a transgender girl and an antisocial lesbian who used to be friends. Now they both get to challenge themselves in different aspects each of them.

I read it in one sitting and I really enjoyed it! It was fast paced, sweet, cute and gave some important lessons. Definitely recommend it, especially if you're into graphic novels. And if you've read and loved Heartstopper, I feel like you would also love this one as well. :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review

Former friends, Annie and Beatrice are an unlikely pair from the start. Annie is a straight A student but participates in no extra curricular activities mixes with her classmates like oil and water.Beatrice is the captain of the cheerleading team and a people pleaser through and through. She wants so badly to make everyone happy that she will bend over backward and completely disregard her own wants and needs to keep everyone else satisfied.

When Annie is allowed to join the cheerleading team, she and Beatrice team up to help each other. Annie coaches BeBe through history and standing up for herself. BeBe teaches Annie how to be a successful cheerleader and how to be true to herself without repelling everyone around her.

The budding relationship in this story warms my heart. I’m so glad that they found each other and work so well together. Sometimes opposites do attract and where one struggles, the other is strong.

The balance of intent versus impact and performative activism are huge parts of this book. So many people are speaking for and over BeBe when that’s not what she wants. At times their actions were very self serving, to look good, or put something unique on their college applications.

The greatest part of this story was Beatrice learning to be herself. She doesn’t need to please everyone. Her wants and needs are valid and she shouldn’t let others shove her into a box.

Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, Val Wise and Oscar O. Jupiter is an adorable YA graphic novel. Like all my favourite graphic novels, it is queer as hell and super cute. This one is out in August from Oni Press. Annie is a grumpy lesbian in her senior year of high school – and her mum and teachers are on her case because she lacks extracurriculars for her college applications (don’t get me started about how shitty I think THAT system is). So she reluctantly ends up joining the cheer squad – where BeeBee, the only trans girl for miles is basically bullied into being captain to make everyone else look and feel good. But Annie gets more than she’s bargained for when she falls for BeeBee and both of them find their confidence and shed their outward masks of “the rebel” and “the people pleaser” they use to cope. I loved this little story so much and I really hope that we get more installments – it’s perfect for fans of the Fence series!

This was such a sweet read. Representations were well considered while allowing for characters to have meaningful conversations about orientation and trans identity. The discussion around other characters treating Bebe as a token of their own altruism was particularly well done and really highlighted how allyship can sometimes be self serving rather than supportive - it was nice to see how these attitudes developed over the course of the narrative into something much more honest and understanding.

Cheer Up! is a lovely, wholesome short comic with beautiful art.

Cheer Up! introduces us to Annie - a badass who joins the cheerleaders of her school to have something to add to her college applications -, and Bebe - a cheerleader and trans woman still trying to find her place in the team and at school.

The story of Cheer Up! is simple but effective, giving voice to several queer characters and their struggles and wishes. The art is beautiful, and really brings forth the emotions of the characters.

Even with only 124 pages, the romance in Cheer Up! doesn’t feel rushed. The techniques behind the cheerleading really add to that. By showing Annie’s process in becoming a cheerleader (with only a few frames!), you know approximately how much time has passed and how much closer the characters have grown in that time.

Cheer Up! is incredibly wholesome and lovely, and I wish it was at least ten times as long. Highly recommended!

5 stars

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This was so cute and perfect and queer and I need MORE!! Bebe was the cutest thing ever and I want to protect them forever

** ARC provided by NetGalley for my honest review **

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was extremely adorable and oh my god what I would have given to have these type of graphic novels when I was younger!!
Every character is a badass and the message is so POWERFUL. Yes, to the yes, to the yes. Also, the dad oh my god, I almost shed a tear when he did that in the book (not gonna mention it because of spoilers but you'll see what I mean).

Wonderfully written, lovely story, the drawing style is so so so cute and such a perfect read to make you feel good. Also, perfect read for pride month!!

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this graphic novel, which focused on a high school cheerleading team led for the first time by a trans girl. When her former friend reluctantly has to join the team, the two rekindle their friendship and soon after end up realizing they have feelings for each other.

While the tone of the story was definitely lighthearted, it didn't shy away from some of the bad experiences that trans people and especially trans women have to face from the moment they are out. Even Bebe's friends and family end up making mistakes, and even Annie, who fiercely protects her, has to confront the fact that she should listen to Bebe's wishes more. I only wish the book was a little longer so that there could've been more space to show the characters learning, especially when it comes to Bebe's father, who has made some transphobic comments and I felt like those aren't erased by the explanation that they just want to keep her safe.

I would definitely recommend this to fans of sapphic stories and graphic novels and I think this would also make a good gift for a teen trans person or teens who want to learn more about how to be better friends to their trans classmates.

TWs: transphobia and microaggressions, harassment

This was a short and sweet graphic novel about friendship and first love.

The book follows two characters, Annie who doesn't see the point in socalising, and Bebe, who recently came out as trans and has been doing her best to fit in at school.

These two pollar opposite personality types works well together. When the story starts, we find out that Bebe and Annie were friends prior to the story and Bebe's transition. There isn't much talk in how they stopped being friends outside of Annie resenting Bebe for becoming popular. I actually would've liked to see them talk more about their friendship prior to the story although it is clear they were close.

Annie joining the cheerleading team was lot of fun to see as she slowly opened herself up to friendships. It was fun to see that as well as her and Bebe have a sweet puppy love romance.

This was a super quick read and a really nice one at that.

A fantastic graphic novel featuring two cheerleaders, one of whom is trans. One of the particularly excellent aspects of Cheer Up was the demonstration of more than just overt transphobia. Instead, the reader can see how the special attention, the added pressure, the way that she is made to feel like a burden, and more wear just as much as anything outright. Excellent for graphic novel collections in most libraries.

*Thank you to Oni Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC. All opinions are my own.*

Cheer Up is an adorable queer graphic novel following Annie, who reluctantly tries out for the cheer team for college applications, and Bebe, captain of the team, who just wants to fit in and please everyone.

I read this is one sitting, and it was absolutely amazing. Frasier discusses a lot of serious topics in a short story. Nothing is downplayed, but the graphic novel is still lighthearted and overwhelmingly positive. Its a story about self discovery, friendship, and yes...love.

The romance is predictable and cute. I enjoyed it so much, though I wish there was more development between the two MCs. The story is very short so a lot of the plotlines felt a bit rushed, but I didn't mind too much. Annie and Bebe work very well together, and they both have good dynamic arcs, despite the length of the story. We also have a romantic antagonist: Jonah. Jonah is going on the list of characters I would LOVE to drop kick.

I highly recommend this for fans of other graphic novels like Heartstopper, The Prince and the Dressmaker, or Check, Please!

Rep: plus-size lesbian MC, sapphic biracial trans MC, nonbinary side(minor) character

Content Warnings: transphobia, sexual harassment, microaggressions, fatphobia, controlling parents

I wish I could give this book 500 stars! I laughed, I cried, I cringed at mean characters. I wish I had this beautiful coming out story when I was a teen. There is a bit of transphobia, but I did like to see those characters' views challenged later in the book. I couldn't get enough of this wholesome romance and can't wait to buy a copy.

CW: transphobia, body shaming, fatphobia

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It was a quick read, but beautifully illustrated and presenting a powerful message! I loved seeing the general girl drama that is present in high schools with Annie who starts off and an edgy, honor roll, loner type, but the issues and ignorance Beatrice faces as a trans cheerleader. Not only do get a complicated relationship with her parents, but schools and students having a range of rude to supportive to performative support for Beatrice. This graphic novel really has something for everyone!

I absolutely loved this! It’s a very short graphic novel but it really packs a punch :)

I loved the LGBTQ+ rep which made it a perfect read for pride month!

Although at times I found it a little too young, and a bit explanatory I loved it and would have learnt a lot if I were younger

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for sharing this ARC copy with me :)

Will also be reviewed on link below in a couple of days time :)