‘Cheer Up!’ is one of the best graphic novels I’ve had the pleasure of reading; it made my heart so warm and fuzzy.

The main thing I loved about this graphic novel was the friendship between the members of the cheerleading squad, and the positive development of those friendships throughout the story. After a rocky start with Annie and the squad due to Annie's behaviour, their friendships just got stronger as the story played out and if there’s one thing I love in a novel it’s a strong female friendship. The representation of a trans character, and how she was supported throughout by Annie and the cheer squad really made for a brilliant read.

I would have loved it to be a little bit longer, but that's because I just adored the characters, but the length doesn't take away just how much I enjoyed reading it

Side note: I adore Annie’s mum!

TW // transphobia, sexual harassment, controlling parents

THIS IS SO SWEET!

It’s a fast paced, cute and wholesome sapphic graphic novel.
So much great representation and a lovely story. I loved the art style and that it touched on some important issues.

What’s not to like?!

This was such a sweet and powerful YA read!
I really enjoyed this graphic novel and all the themes it includes. Annie was just waiting to come out of her shell and she truly did shine in the cheerleading team. Also, seeing Bebe find her voice and speak her mind was great, you could actually see that she needed to do that so bad. Moreover I really liked how the concepts of friends and being there for each other were explored.
I would totally read more adventures about this cheerleading squad!

This was such an enjoyable graphic novel that I instantly want to recommend to so many people - It's wonderful to see LGBTQ+ teens represented in a way that feels normal. There are issues, and complications, but no more than a straight teen would go through. There needs to be so many more stories where there can be Trans and Lesbian characters without tragedy. If you want to read a lovely story with fantastic art about fitting in, I cannot recommend this more

This is an EXTREMELY adorable title and the comparison to Check, Please! is right on the money: another feel-good sports romance that isn't going to waste time trying to be subtle. Cute art, diverse body types, respect for the sport of cheerleading, a very believable friends-to-romance arc, well-meaning people screwing up how they treat the trans heroine being CORRECTED because good intentions are not enough! And a big heartwarming homecoming dance finale as the tropetastic cherry on top. Takes place in high school but I think this would be very a very appropriate title for middle-grade readers; there's some kissing but no nudity and no sex, not even implied.

MY HEART!

I totally see why this would be recommended for those who enjoyed ‘Check, Please!’ because this one was such a wholesome read!

Talk about representation across the board, WE STAN! It was really just so nice to get to know Bebe and Annie and then see this sweet romance blossom between the two. It was just too damn cute for words.

I do seriously wish it was longer, especially given around the conflict between Bebe and her father. There was a lot left unsaid, but I also understand that it’s not always something so linear.

Overall, I really enjoyed and seriously!!! MORE PLEASE!!!


*TW: transphobia

This is such a cute, short graphic novel!! It races through a lot of topics relating to trans identity and relationships, which would have been nice to see in a little more detail. However, I really enjoyed the mix of characters and I would love to read a longer GN about them with a more fleshed out story where you get to know all of the team members better!

Cheer Up! provides such seamless and natural representation, including the struggles many teenagers face, regardless of gender or sexuality. School can be a particularly difficult time, but Frasier and Wise work together to put together this story of friendship, support, and attraction that would be perfect for both middle and high schoolers! I've already preordered a physical copy, and would recommend to everyone.

5 out of 5 Stars

This is the first time I have ever read a graphic novel, and I loved it, the characters are amazing, I love the message in this book, if you want a good short read and love LGBTQIA rep, then this is the graphic novel for you.

Absolutely delightful graphic novel with wonderful LGBTQ representation. I honestly don’t believe that I’ve ever read a real graphic novel before and this was a great introduction to the medium. I can see middle school and high school readers really enjoying the book. It’s a story friendship, acceptance, love, and self-love. The characters were fun and multi-dimensional. The art style was great and provided wonderful visual diversity of both body size and race. I would very happily read another graphic novel with the same characters or new ones from this author and illustrator.

Thank you to NetGalley and One Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

giving this 4.5 stars :’). first i want to start off with the transgender rep, and plus-size lesbian main character. these are such strong powerful characters, and the representation in this book was immaculate. I LOVED how bebe had to tackle real life situations for trans people, for example the change rooms at the cheer comp. this was a realistic scene, and many transgender people have to go through tough situations like this one. therefore i think this would be a great book for people coming out and dealing with inappropriate comments about their transition, they could most likely relate to these problems and feel included. now for the romance i think it was developed incredibly well, i loved how their relationship always had challenges and they taught each other new things, this book managed to include a lot of detail in a short story without the book feeling rushed, which can sometimes be hard to find in books. the illustrations were just AMAZING. out of this world really, i adored the art style. i would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family.

This book was a warm, sugary, heartwarming tonic - reading it after a bad day truly lifted my spirits and warmed my heart.

Sometimes with graphic novels, I feel a certain disconnect with the characters, but this was certainly not the case with this one. Each character felt real and complex, and I have to say I fell a little in love with Bebe. The romance was so lovely to read, and I felt genuinely invested in the girls. There were a few moments where it felt a little rushed, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the story.

I also loved that this did not shy away from the everyday microagressions faced by members of the LGBTQIA community. Everything was handled sensitively and with great care - this would be a perfect book for younger graphic novel readers as an introduction to issues faced by trans people in particular, in addition to being a wonderful story. I would highly recommend this to anyone!

This is a really wholesome story about a transgender cheerleader, who is struggling both mentally and academically at school. In this story we see her team up with an extremely book smart girl who struggles with regards to being part of a social group.
This graphic novel definitely brings up some interesting and important topics and it is amazing to see both transgender, queer and non-binary representation in the story.
I did, however, find that it felt a bit rushed and felt like the characters where jumping to conclusions some of the time.
All in all I would recommend this graphic novel and really enjoyed it.

Ohmigawd this was so cute I'm crying.
Sapphic cheerleaders? Umm, yes, please!
So, Annie is a lesbian, badass, friendless nerd, and she needs to join a team for her college applications. Bebe is a sweet cheerleader and a trans girl, and she's too afraid to speak up for herself. When Annie joins the Cheer Team, they start becoming friends and helping each other with their fears. Annie learns how to be part of a team, and Bebe learns to stop saying sorry for absolutely everything.
And they also, maybe, fall for each other. Because this is absolutely that beautiful kind of novel.
The art is really pretty, and the story is moving and cute and just what everyone needs in their lives when life gets hard and they need something happy that also feels real and kind of restores they're faith in humanity.

I am glad I grabbed the opportunity to read this short but adorable graphic novel, 'Cheer Up!' by Crystal Frasier and Val Wise. I loved the style of the art and the themes dealt with wonderfully in the story. Annie joins the cheerleading team as a way of bolstering her college applications, allowing her to reconnect with Bebe, a transgender girl who is head cheerleader and a bit too much of a people pleaser. Their flourishing relationship was heartwarming and lovely to witness, Annie's vivacious and confident personality gradually helping bring gentle Bebe out of her shell and be true to herself.

Frasier and Wise manage to pack the story with some important moments, the most powerful of which is the evolution of Bebe's relationships with others, including her friendship with the other cheerleaders. When they treat her as a novelty to help boost their popularity and profile, they do not realise the hurt they are causing, particularly making comments about Bebe being 'like a girl'. Their learning and growing helped Bebe develop a true support network in school, especially due to her and Annie becoming an adorable couple.

Overall, this is worth a read and packs some wonderful character development in its pages. Definitely one which will be enjoyed by young adults and young adults at heart alike. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An absolute delight!

I read it in one sitting, smiling like a maniac the whole time.

Based on the cover it looked fun and sweet, which it was, but I didn't expect it to touch on serious topics as well. Being happy and emotional at the same time is the best feeling ever.

It would be so amazing if this was a series like Heartstopper. I love it like this, but even if it's nicely wrapped up, I feel like Bebe's story is not over yet. She just started to stand up for herself and the teammates have a lot to learn, too.

Reading it was such a cozy experience, I would read anything with these two girls, or with their teammates as the mcs. This story/universe could grow so much bigger.



And because I wouldn't be me if I didn't mention something that reminded me of Simon vs./Love, Simon, here it is:

"Did you want to kiss me last night because I'm not really a girl?"
"Bebe, I like girls. I like you because you're a girl."

Is the equivalent of

"Did you date me because you think I look like a guy?"
"No. No, I actually broke up with you because you don't look like a guy."

'Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms' is an incredible sport-romance graphic novel about an aggressive lesbian and a passive trans girl falling in love. It is wholesome and so damn cute, filled with interesting and complex characters, and featuring so much growth an development despite being so short. The length didn't take away from the story and I still managed to get attached to the characters and care about their journey. It is funny but also deals with serious and relevant topics such as transphobia, microaggressions and harassment. The art style is beautiful and the plot is fast-passed.
There was a lot of representation, with the protagonists Annie, being a plus-sized lesbian, and Beatrice/Bebe, being a biracial trans girl. The side and background characters also vary in body shape and race, and we even have a character come out as nonbinary.

Now for the characters:
Annie was extremely confident and I loved that about her. She was also a history nerd which really appealed to me (as a lover of history). She begins the story as tough and confident, yet aggressive and lonely, and it was very interesting seeing her become more polite and gentle yet still maintain her toughness. It was great seeing her apologising for her mistakes and making friends with the team.
Beatrice was such a passive character who had to deal with so much. Carrying her parent's expectations while trying to deal with the entire school's attention. She had no confidence, was terrified of saying no and constantly apologised for everything. Watching her grow more confident, stand up for herself and say no, was a beautiful arc that was extremely well fleshed out. Seeing her improve her relationship with her parents though her gaining the confidence to tell them how she feels, was so inspiring.
Annie's mum was iconic, I loved how supportive and kind she was. I still can't get over the quote "no fires and no summoning the devil" it now lives rent-free in my mind. Bebe's parents were a whole other story. I hated how they acted like her being able to transition was a privilege that they could take away, as if it were a phone instead of her life. Their overprotectiveness was excessive but still added to the characters. Seeing them back down and become more supportive was great to see but they still have a long way to go.
The cheer team also had a huge arc, watching them try to overcome their microaggressions was a great character arc that defied a lot of stereotypes, making each character a refreshing asset to the story. Them growing more supportive and putting in the effort was effectively developed. The entire dynamic of the team was interesting and complex.
The author and illustrator so perfectly conveyed these characters, that I was able to feel strong emotions for all of them, even those who were only present for a couple of pages.

The SHIP:
The ship makes or breaks any romance, and I can 100% guarantee that the ship In this novel was SOO CUTE! They balanced each other out and were incredibly supportive. While it was hinted at from the start their actual getting together seemed a little rushed, yet it fit their characters and the story. And the rest of the book enhanced their relationship and provided us with so many adorable moments.

The ending was perfect and was incredibly fitting. I would love to see these characters again in a sequel.

is there a sequel for this because I want more Annie and Bebe!! It all happened so fast that I felt like everything happened in a blink. But in a good way, definitely.

I love the art, the story, the root of it all. And I love the growth of our main leads. It's a very quick read but packs a lotta punch.

This was a delightful read that I devoured in one sitting. Characters to root for and a sweet LGBTQ romance. I think a lot of readers would enjoy this one!

this is such a wholesome sapphic graphic novel!!

i love both bold & abrasive annie and sweet & brave bebe. we quickly learn that they used to be friends years before, and it's interesting to watch them rediscover their friendship in a new context. the romance is soft and light, and our main characters share warm and fuzzy friendship moments with many members of the cheer team, too.

while bebe does face some blatant transphobia, there's also insight here into the emotional toll on trans people even when they don't experience a barrage of outright transphobia from their peers. bebe navigates her overbearing parents, microaggressions and harassment under the guise of support, and the pressure to be perfect in her new identity. her very serious struggles are balanced nicely with the sweetness of romance and friendship, as well as some humor.

my only criticism would be that the family conflict is tied up so quickly. it's a really short book, and perhaps additional length would have allowed for more depth. it also reads really young, even though our characters are 17.

definitely recommended if you want an adorable and fluffy sapphic read with sweet and diverse characters!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.