This was really cute! I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when I opened this, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Princess Pleasant has a secret. She’s not a princess nor pleasant at all. She’s a real girl, stuck in a fairytale, hoping someone reads far enough into her story to kiss and save her. Too bad her story is boring and no one makes it that far.

Tired of being stuck in a tower, Princess Pleasant plans on making this story her own, because sometimes you have to save yourself.

I had a nice time reading this. For some reason I found it to be slow in the middle, but by the end I was genuinely enjoying myself. This is certainly closer to a novella than a full length novel, but it’s a nice lighthearted read.

4/5 stars

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, while immensely appreciated it does not impact the content of my review.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Super fun but with loose ends

Holly is a sixteen-something teen looking to escape from the real world by burning her nose in books. All she ever wanted was a romance like in the novels, but a spell made her a part of a middle-grade medieval fantasy!
Now, Holly is stuck in The Chronicles of Lucitopia as Princess Pleasant. She has only fifteen days to break the spell, or she will be permanently stuck in the book. Holly sets out on a quest to find a way and meets a super handsome knight on his own quest. Can she be successful in her mission, or will Holly become Princess Pleasant forever?
The story comes in Holly’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
Your enjoyment will depend on how well you like the narrative style. The first-person narration here is more like a young girl telling you her story with cheeky side notes and witty remarks. The narrator speaks to the readers at times. The tone is informal, casual, and sassy. I quite enjoyed the voice with all its quirks, though it is not my preferred style.
The beginning is slow, but the story picks up pace soon enough. The humor is lighthearted even though the plot deals with some tough topics. Everything is kept on the surface level to restrict the focus to the fantasy land and the story in the story.
This book is YA, even if Holly is stuck in a middle-grade story. So it does have a few scenes and references appropriate for the teen folk but not kiddos. And with our FMC fully appreciating the MMC’s physique, this should work better for the 16+ readers.
It is a cozy fantasy with stinky monsters, handsome knights, an evil sorcerer, and a girl on a quest to find her freedom. The fantasy world is not elaborate but blends reality and fantasy. Moreover, I like how it is presented. It feels fresh while giving the author some leeway to get away with basic world-building. Smart!
However, we are also left with quite a few questions and no answers. I saw the blurbs for the other two books in the series. While the evil sorcerer is a recurring character, the plotlines seem to be independent. So, I’m not sure if these questions will be answered.
The ending is cute and sweet, but again, leaves some things unanswered. This is the kind of read where you don’t use logic and go with the flow. I enjoyed it, so no complaints.
To summarize, Illustrated Girl is a lighthearted and fun read for teens (preferably the older set) who want a touch of magic, romance, and humor. Don’t look for anything intense, and enjoy it for what it is! I would love to read the next book in the series.
And… can I get my own Rancor, please?

Thank you, NetGalley, Sungrazer Publishing, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Other links will be updated soon.

Have you ever wished to be part of a fantasy book? I know I definitely have! Holly makes the same wish and surprisingly has it granted. She finds herself in the role of Princess Pleasant, living in a tower in a land that has pretty much succumbed to an evil sorcerer. Now she's trying to get out of the book, but the only way is by getting a "real person" to kiss her, which she can't seem to do. Determined to sort the situation out, she gets Mother Maybe to magic her back in the story, to before the sorcerer won his battle... and then her fantasy adventure truly begins, amidst dangerous creatures, white witches and a charming knight she's not supposed to have feelings for!

Illustrated Girl starts out quite slow, with a couple of chapters that feel like a bit rambly and are basically Holly's stream or consciousness while setting up the story. It picks up quite soon, though, getting interesting once the MC is transported back in the story and starts adventuring with some fun new characters. I loved the unicorn the most - I want one like that too! The 1st person POV remains quite intense at times, but not so much as to affect how enjoyable and fun the story is. There's so many fantasy elements, mixed in with a reader who suddenly has to deal with all of them first hand (No toilets! No showers!) and whose thoughts about them are quite funny.

I really like the choice of having a book within a book - it reminded me a bit of The Never-ending Story (a book I absolutely loved) though more fast-paced, less deep and more modern. It was entertaining to have all the features of the book picked at by someone who suddenly found herself inside it and other readers described as "eyes in the sky" 😂

Anyway, I'd recommend this if you enjoy younger fantasy (somewhere between middle grade and YA?) and I'll be looking out for the next book in The Chronicles of Lucitopia.

I haven't read a book by Josephine Angelini in a hot minute and started this one a few days ago. I really enjoyed it, some parts did drag a little for me but overall I'm feeling gooey and mushy at the end of it all! I think this story is something that all of us bookworms would love to happen to us, being in a book of our own and finding love and going on an adventure/quest! Going to look into some other Josephine Angelini books to see what I've missed!

To be honest I see myself having 17y and dreaming of this, some place where I could had gone and find myself on a quest only to realize that all I needed was myself.. Sometimes life sucks and we can control everything and this is a perfect example of that.. I saw Lucitopia as my own daily struggles and Torvold as the boy I think I needed at the time but actually my final answer sure he was wonderful to look at but really.. NOO ahahhaha the different people and perspectives she gets to know as the story goes like our lives and the people we get to know in real life.. It was just wonderful

This was a wonderful read that kept me entertained and had me laughing out loud. I enjoyed the plot and the strong female lead. This is a wonderful book to use with high school students as it is rich in vocabulary and entertainment. This is one that will grace my classroom bookshelf!

"Illustrated Girl" by Josephine Angelini is a mesmerizing and poignant novel that beautifully weaves together themes of love, loss, and the power of art. Angelini's evocative prose brings to life the vibrant world of the protagonist, capturing both the beauty and the darkness of her journey. Through stunning illustrations that accompany the text, readers are immersed in the protagonist's emotional landscape, where every image tells a story of its own. The characters are richly drawn, each with their own struggles and triumphs, and Angelini's exploration of their relationships is both tender and profound. "Illustrated Girl" is a captivating read that celebrates the transformative power of creativity and the resilience of the human spirit. With its breathtaking imagery and heartfelt storytelling, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers long after they've turned the final page.

This was an absolute delight to read and just such fun ! Hey who hasn't imagined themselves stepping into a fairy tale or a book that pulls you in ? Well let me tell you that nearly a year ago that is what happened to Holly and this teenager is beyond done with living in a tower and avoiding an evil Sorcerer. So it's time to put herself out there and if that means teaming up with a rather noble and hunky Knight and his odd sidekick well why not ? Time is running out though if this intrepid Princess wants to get her first kiss and return to a more normal but very possibly duller world !
Charming, funny and definitely worth your time reading just about sums up my feelings on this book and I will certainly look for more by this author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

“I made a wish and I got it, only to find that in the world of Lucitopia, if you walk around with your head in the clouds, someone will chop it off for you.”

Knights? ✔️
Killer unicorns? ✔️
Saving the kingdom? ✔️
Stabbing the baddies? ✔️
Being the perfect princess? Well….I guess that depends on your definition of a perfect princess.

Holly is the exact sort of hero I love…reluctant and procrastinating 🤣 She is me for real. Don’t worry though, we jump into the story at the end of her procrastinating - no boring bits for us!

I loved this story so much. The heroine was hilarious. The knight was sweet. The unicorn was murderous. What more could you want?

So grateful to have received an ARC of this beautiful book!

This was a fun adventure story that made me laugh!
Our story begins with high school girl who is trapped in a fantasy book and can only return to her own world if something specific happens to her . The “princess” as she is called, meets some very interesting and quirky characters throughout the story. The most interesting person she meets is a young knight ,Sir Torvold. The knight is on a quest as is the princess, and so they end up traveling together. The story is a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I would definitely recommend this for someone looking for a fun read. Happy reading!

This book is SO CUTE! I’ve been telling my friends about it and they are interested in reading this, too. I find it relatable because if I were in a fantasy novel, I think I would act and think similarly to the MC. I love the cover as well. It is what drew me to request this book.

This was so cute and fun! In the Illustrated Girl, Holly is stuck in a very un-happy ending in a fairytale and has a chance to go back in the story to make it right. It took me a minute to get used to the story's more juvenile tone and humor, but after that, I was hooked! The characters were distinct and interesting, and I loved how the stakes were built on themes of rewriting your own narrative and protecting all that is good and Virtuous. I gasped at the ending, like da--!

This book was so fun! I would say every reader at some point dreams about jumping into their favourite book and getting to live alongside the characters and in illustrated girl, Holly gets to do just that!

The story starts a bit slow but eventually it picks up and it lead to an intriguing and whimsical story. The story was also really funny at times which is a nice change.

I can’t wait for the story to continue!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of this book.

This was adorable!!!
I loved the main character and her attitude so much and even though I could guess the ending pretty fast I enjoyed the ride that took me there. Other characters were all so rich and interesting so I was just wishing the book was longer so i could learn more about every story within this world.

The Illustrated Girl was a quirky, fun read. The writer grabbed my attention from the start, I really enjoyed the writers voice throughout. Without spoilers, I thought the conclusion was great, and can't wait for book 2!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

That was original and funny !

Being a girl trapped in her favorite book could be a good idea... only when you happen early enough in the book !

This book was original and that was fun to read evenn if I found a lot about it cliché and easy. Still a good book

I received an ARC from NetGalley.
This story is for those who wish they could dive into a book. Illustrated Girl is a story of a girl being stuck inside a literal fairytale book where she has 15 days to escape before she’s trapped forever.
To make things even more challenging, the evil sorcerer turns Lucitopia into a hellhole. With the help of an interesting crew, she’s on a quest to make things right.
The book has a whimsical cozy feeling with good humor and a fun adventure. The characters are charming, and it has a sweet romance.
The plot kind of reminded me of the anime Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion which I freaking love!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book hooked me from start to finish, and I read it in one evening. I can't wait to have it on my shelf when it comes out! The only criticisms I really had was that I wish I knew what was going on with the villain because the information we were given wasn't fully explained and confusing. Maybe I missed something, maybe the villain will be better explained in the second book, I don't know. But other than that, I adored this cozy adventure and am eagerly anticipating the next book!

(3.5*)

Ooh!! This was a hard one to rate because I feel like it started kind of weak in the beginning but found it’s footing at about the 35% mark and was a really enjoyable read from there. Really enjoyed Rancor, the White Witches, and the magic system (illusion magic!! so cool!!).

Sometimes the writing seems a bit juvenile for a YA book. At times it seemed a bit more like middle grade with mature themes and innuendos sprinkled in that would prevent it from actually *being* a middle grade book. But then, at other times it really does work, and has a tongue-in-cheek tone similar to The Princess Bride. There were some super funny moments in this book!!

The plot twists were great, and I didn’t see them coming. There is one that I feel could have done with more explanation though.

When Pleasant is falling for Torvold I think it could have done with a little more show, a little less tell (though since it’s a first person narrative I know that does limit it a bit!). It just felt a bit clunky to me. Additionally, I think it would have made more sense if Pleasant’s reasons for being hesitant about Torvold were a little different as they didn't feel super believable to me with where she was in the story.

My biggest critique is definitely the beginning of the book- it feels pretty weak compared to the majority of the story. I wish we knew why exactly Holly was sent into the book in the first place, and maybe got some writing on that at the beginning. Similarly, I have soo many questions about the epilogue.

Overall an enjoyable read! Would recommend for anyone that wants a fun, lighthearted fantasy, wants a spin on fairytales, or enjoys stories about normal people in magical worlds :)

Thank you to Netgalley and Sungrazer Publishing for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc. The premise of this novel sounded very interesting. I had to DNF right away cause I just couldn’t get into it. I’m not sure I was the right audience for this.