This is not what I was expecting at all, and that is a good thing. I was expecting a cute, queer, witchy story. I got that and much more.

This was my first story that involved a Non-Binary character so it took sometime for me to get used to the them/they pronouns during dialogue. That being said, I loved Tam. I felt a connection to them, and just wanted to hold them and never let go. Nova is a cupcake, and her grandmothers are just the best. I would love more of these characters and can not wait until this is released this fall!

Mooncakes is a beautiful little queer graphic novel that follows a young witch, Nova, and her relationship with her childhood crush, Tam, a werewolf. The two deal with their feelings for each other and what it means for their friendship, whilst also battling demons and understanding the magic and witchcraft that they possess.

It was incredibly cute and I loved getting to meet these characters whilst having a glimpse into their lives. They deeply care about one another and have a strong sense of duty to one another as well as family. Family takes an important role in the comic which was an aspect I especially loved as I feel stories, particularly fantasy ones, often separate themselves from family and don't address the important role that a family plays in someone's life.

The story itself was lovely and intriguing and everything you would want, but another strong aspect that cannot be ignored is the beautiful illustrations and art that runs throughout the graphic novel. The style is really soft and detailed and it matches the story perfectly. Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu's work compliment each other and match very well.

Overall, this was a lovely graphic novel to read and I'm glad that netgalley gave me the opportunity to see it in it's working stages with the arc. I love the storyline, the art, the representation, the characters, and so much more. I definitely recommend picking it up.

I loved this graphic novel. It reminded me very much of Moonstruck in tone and had awesome queer and disabled representation. I reviewed it in full on my youtube channel: https://youtu.be/yACgRWxzkkI

Okay this was super cute. I especially loved the artwork and the character design, and the way the cute little animals looked!! Ahhh!! The last chapters weren’t in color yet and there were a few scenes I can’t wait to see in the final edition. Like I want some of the animals tattooed on my body. The Love is real.

This is literally one of the cutest graphic novels I have ever read!!! I am so glad I picked this up thanks to Netgalley and I look forward to getting a finished copy when it comes out.

The story and the artwork were both adorable and intriguing. I was quickly sucked in and captured by what was going on. The characters represented many diversities, and that is something I have come to appreciate more and more.

I would love to know if there will be more in the future. I am unsure if this will be a part of a series or not; however, if it is a series, I would love to read more from their stories! I haven't enjoyed a graphic novel this much in a long time!!!

It's one of my favorite graphic novel I read !!!

It was so cute and sweet and heartwarming. I really enjoyed the characters.

It was so magical and diversify. It has a hard-of-hearing witch ans a nonbinary werewolf. I love the evolution of the relationship between the two main characters.

I also adored the nanas, badass witches so kind and accepting.

The atmosphere was perfect, i loved the backroom with all the books, the cats, the creatures in the wood, everything was so magical and perfect.

The artwork was amazing too

I fall in love with basically every aspect of this book. The plot was enchanting and the adventure was super fun to follow. The characters are lovable and it's hard to resist to not root for them, especially our two main characters, Nova and Tam. Oh! And how could I forget about the lovely grandmas?! And the magical pokemon-look-alike wood animals?! (and even the demon looks adorable?!) So many representations included in this cute comic and I couldn't scream more about it. Lastly, the art™!!! I'm so in love with the drawing style and color schemes. I mean, how could I not when the first page looks like this?!

Thank you Lion Forge and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Final Rating — 4/5

This book was absolutely adorable. I found everything about MOONCAKES to be endearing and heartwarming. From the queer relationship to the found family, MOONCAKES hit all the right buttons for me. If you're a fan of Sabrina The Teenage Witch or magical girl anime like CardCaptors, or you just want something to cozy up with this fall, I highly recommend it.

Okay, I'll admit that I looked for, downloaded, and read this at midnight one night when I couldn't sleep. I had heard a lot about it and already had a lot on my shelf, but I knew I had to read it. So I downloaded it and I literally thought, wow. This graphic novel was truly spellbinding and amazing! I loved Nova and Tam so much. They were wonderful main characters and the story was immediately intriguing to me. The LGBTQIAP+ inclusion was wonderful; Nova has lesbian grandmothers and Tam is non-binary, identifying with they/them pronouns. I thought this was a wonderful thing to include in a YA-geared story, as this helps normalize these identities. Nova was inquisitive and smart and cared so much about her friend--well, crush. I could feel it radiating off the pages and I really enjoyed reading about their story and journey together. I always love witchy things, so the magical spells, books and creatures were right up my alley! This was a fairly short read for me and I have found that I love that about graphic novels. It's a wonderful way to break up narrative novel reading and this was no different. I can't say enough good things about this book because I really, really loved it. I will definitely be picking up a finished copy when it is released!

As evidenced by my rating below, I didn't dislike any part of this book, other than it seems to be a standalone and not a series. It was a really fantastically done--both writing wise and art wise--graphic novel that everyone should pick up.

I would recommend this to fans of YA graphic novels and anyone who enjoys LGBTQIAP+ inclusion!

I didn't really know what to expect hen I started reading this, I just wanted to read about witches and a queer pairing, and I'm glad I picked this one bec the magic and queer rep was perfect for my taste!

Nova is a young witch helping out on her grandmas' bookshop and has a pretty content life living as she always did. One day, while investigating what she suspected as a supernatural occurrence in their neighborhood, she discovers an archdemon in the woods, as well as a huge white wolf that was trying to subdue it. She helps the wolf and is surprised to find out later that it is a werewolf, and that it is in fact her childhood best friend Tam. They've been separated for a while so they found themselves both changed, but the connection is still there. Through the mystery plot with the demon, Nova and Tam goes through a journey that helps them find love, self-acceptance, and courage to push the boundaries they've set around themselves.

This was a really nice graphic novel, and although the copy I got was only half-finished, my love for it is whole and overflowing. I've had issues with the ages of the main characters, bec they felt younger to me somehow(?) and the romance happened quite fast,but maybe that's also bec the themes, of magic as well as societal issues, lean more towards a younger audience. The artwork is nicely done, mixing cutesy woodland creatures with intense demonic and cult-y parts; and the story is written steadily, though a little predictable to me.

This ends happily, I'm glad to report, and I'm looking forward to other graphic novels Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu comes up with next.

*The eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I see a very adorable graphic novel about witches and sweets, I automatically and unequivocally want to read.
No questions asked.
And it was worth it because it was soo cute and funny and lovely! I really loved it!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy for an honest review!

This is most definitely a graphic novel that celebrates difference and diversity in the absolute best way possible. Tam as a non-binary character, Nova as a character with hearing difficulties, and the nanas all bring to life a world where these differences are not the most important part of the story. They simply are. It is extremely refreshing to read a story where these inclusions are not presented in a way that make it seem like the author is trying to get points for including a token race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc. The differences were simply accepted and normal, and the story was the better for it.

The plot of this novel was fun and unique. Every once in a while, it felt like an event came about too quickly. I think there is some opportunity to expand the timeline in a few places for a few more in depth character tidbits. It might have been nice to see a little more of Nova and Tam’s past (though there was enough to make everything clear). Maybe that is something that could be done in a future prequel. For me, the villain was very obvious - though I didn’t necessarily mind that.

Overall the story was interesting and very well done. I loved the artwork! It was gorgeously illustrated and fit perfectly together with magic of the world.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!

AAAAAAA.. This book has my whole heart. Mooncakes by Suzzane Walker is a story of compassion, kindness and acceptance. And well with an abundance of were-wolves and witchcraft. The diversity representation was brilliantly done and omg the overflowing romance definitely made me blush a lot.

This is definitely added to my comfort reads.

Mooncakes was such an enjoyable, engrossing and fun graphic novel. The illustrations were wonderful and the story was sweet, engaging and easy to get wrapped up in. I loved the characters and the paranormal storyline. I was a bit surprised by the ending as well. For lovers of the paranormal, graphic novels and stories of rekindled relationships, this is definitely a must read!

Very cute, and has me wishing it were already fall.

Full review to come.

Received this for free from Netgalley.

This story is so sweet! I had such a fun time reading it. I loved that the journey of self-discovery and the angst that Nova and Tam go through isn’t centered on their being queer. I loved that Tam was nonbinary and used they/them pronouns and when they corrected people on their pronouns it wasn’t a big deal, it was immediately accepted. I loved that Nova has hearing aids and it’s never something to remark on and she’s not treated any differently because of it. I loved all of the friendships, between Tam and Nova, between Nova and Tatyana (best skeptic and wing woman ever), between the grandmothers, the family relationships. Most of the characters in Mooncakes care about each other and everyone is so kind and understanding and willing to help. The art was so wonderful, and I especially liked the coloring, which I found really comforting, if that makes sense. This was the queer magical graphic novel of my dreams tbh.

A really cute, diverse graphic novel with lovely art and a lovelier message about home and not doing things alone. It's adorable, and I'd happily read more about these characters!

This is the story of Nova, a young witch, and Tam, her childhood friend and werewolf who returns home on the hunt for a demon.
It's nice to see gender nonconforming characters represented in Tam, as well as Nova's hearing aids. Representation is important and it's also important that those characteristics aren't the focus of their stories.
There's a lot packed into this story, so the plot moves really fast. There are story elements that are often drawn out in other graphic novels/mangas over multiple volumes that are resolved in a few pages or panels here. It kind of gives the reader whiplash at times, but it's a fun quick-read.
Recommend for fans of: witches, werewolves, fantasy, diverse characters, YA fantasy, middle-grade

Mooncakes was SUCH a cute book! Living in Texas, I've been craving fall and cooler weather lately. Mooncakes was exactly what I needed! The illustrations are beautiful, the story line was very entertaining, and I loved the characters. I really appreciate the diversity throughout. I tore through Mooncakes in one sitting! I can't wait to check out a copy when it is published. I feel like the ending leaves the story open for a sequel, so fingers crossed. 😊

4.5⭐️

Wow this was such a wholesome and magical story.

The dear readers letter at the start shares so much of the the magic within - two Chinese American characters and queer. Nova - hard of hearing and wears hearing aids with two of the best grandmas. Tam non binary and from a troubled parental background. Tatyana a larger sized character with children.

Tam returns to her childhood town and is quickly found by an old friend Nova. There are some mysterious things going on and a potential demon on the loose, so Tam and Nova reconnect and also try to figure out how to combat this evil.

The things I loved the most were the interactions at the bookshop, Tat and Nova have a beautiful friendship. Tat being a larger character made me feel seen and I also appreciated the fact she was a single mother, something we seldom see in graphic novels. The grandmas are fantastic, their relationship and the bond and respect they have for Nova ... everything and again something we don’t always see. One of the grandmas slips and misgenders Tam upon their return and it’s handled in such an open way. Tam is such an interesting character with a back story that shows how family aren’t always loving and supportive. The way the grandmas respect Tam as well is fantastic. As you might expect Nova and Tam reconnect in a way that is so beautiful and the f/f romance was so well written. The moments sat around the dining table with tea and cookies, were some of the most wholesome moments. Along with some family members appearing for a special meal. I loved the magic in this story and felt it enhanced everything. The colouring for the graphics was brilliant and the graphics were something I really enjoyed.

I did fear that the representation might have been highlighted in the dear reader letter to show representation. That it could potentially mean the story would be impacted but I could not have been more wrong. The disability rep I feel is handled well, I think the moment Tam and Nova use the stones to connect and Nova shares how “it makes me wish people could handle things better in the real world” really resonated. All in all such a good read and I’d recommend to everyone.

Received an arc via NetGalley for an honest review.