4.5 stars

This was absolutely unique and charming. Such a clever, cozy fantasy.
It did take me a short minute to get into the story as the author/reader/MC found her voice.
A short, quick read.

Definitely recommend.

I loved this funny, cozy feel good, angsty no spice, fairy tale. Devoured this book in less than 2 days and could not put it down. It’s been a while since a book has gripped me like this one. The character banter, sarcasm, and hilarious characters not to mention the handsome chivalrous knight. I can’t wait to read the next books in this series and read this author’s backlist.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced readers copy!!

This was a good book. I really love the world building and the characters. The pacing was really good and it was an interesting story to read

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I really liked Illustrated Girl. It was short and cute. A perfect cozy fairy tale. I liked the characters and the story was simple but interesting.

4.75 stars

Reminds me of A Spindle Splintered & A Nameless Witch - both of which are some of my favourite books.

The beginning expostion was a bit lengthy, but once the plot started moving the pacing was great.
I personally would have preferred the protganist to be 17/18 rather than 16 but that may be because I am not a teen.
The witches/book magic was a touch confusing but I don't think it needs to be thoroughly explained to enjoy the book.
I must admit I am curious as to who Asphodel was really.
But otherwise it was a fun, sweet and modern take on a classic quest story - also gave The Princess Bride vibes.

Thank you Netgalley and Sungrazer Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Illustrated Girl" by Josephine Angelini is a delightful and unique fantasy adventure that delivers on both wit and charm, making it a perfect escape for readers in search of a lighthearted and entertaining story. This is the kind of book to read when you are stuck in a reading slump or if you’re literally stuck in bed. It’s so much fun, and I absolutely loved reading this book. It’s also pretty short, so you can easily knock this out in an afternoon. Whenever I have a read who says they can’t find anything “good” to read, I will definitely be recommending this book.

From the moment you dive into the pages of this book, you're immediately drawn into the world of Lucitopia, where Princess Pleasant finds herself with only 15 days to escape before being trapped forever. Filled with romance, humor, and an epic final battle against an evil sorcerer, the story unfolds with a perfect blend of excitement and whimsy.

One of the standout features of "Illustrated Girl" is its self-aware humor and relatable protagonist, which adds depth and charm. I absolutely loved the humor of Holly as she made quick jokes, like when she mocks the fantasy world she finds herself in while also providing social commentary on princess stories, like how it’s very rare for there to be a woman in the fantasy world who can actually read. Holly was extremely relatable with her sarcasm as well as her thoughts/perspectives of the fantasy world. She is also a flawed character, which made me relate to her even more, but you are able to see her grow as a character as she discovers her own strength and courage.

While the story is relatively short and quick-paced, it doesn't skimp on entertainment value. I did want some more lore and world building, but the promise of future books in the Chronicles of Lucitopia series leaves room for further exploration and discovery. There were also a lot of different characters introduced in this book, and I did find it difficult to keep track of them also, especially because of the fast pace and the shortness of the book.

Overall, "Illustrated Girl" is a charming and enjoyable read that offers a refreshing break from darker and heavier stories. With its light-hearted humor, endearing characters, and engaging plot, I definitely can’t wait to read more about the world of Lucitopia.

This clever, humorous romantasy begins with the narrator telling us that she has only 15 days to break the spell she's under. The spell? She's been turned into an illustration in a book, but alas, she has only come into the book near the end, AFTER the evil mage has taken over the world. She's spent the past 350 days hiding out at the top of a tower, because as a beautiful princess, she's just so much fodder for the bandits, ruffians, and villains of the world.

Her only way out is to have a reader fall in love with her -- she'd take a pity kiss, but sadly, nobody has even finished the book. She can't blame them, she hates books where the main character (a heroic blockhead named Torvold) gets killed off. She knows she'll die here, because, "People shoot each other in the <I>face</I> with <I>arrows</I> here. On a regular basis." The narrator needs to get out, not only because of the arrow thing, but because of the "dumbfoundinly mysogynistic" attitude of women as commodities.

So with that sassy voice established, the narrator decides to go in search of a redemption arc. Did she mention her name? Princess Pleasant, natch. After tracking down the Mother Maybe, the magic-worker who answered her wish to live in the book, the narrator slides earlier into the story, where she has the chance to save Torvold and defeat the evil mage.

I was not a fan of the author (<I>Starcrossed</I> was not to my taste), but am very glad to have picked up this novel. A rollicking self-aware story, this feels like a bit of a love-letter to all fantasy, but with a clear understanding of the genre's shortcomings (commodification of women, shallow characterizations, et cetera), as well as its charms. A pleasure from start to finish, the novel is part of a trilogy; I look forward to diving into the rest of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sungrazer for the eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

I adore this book. Our main character wanted to be whisked into a magical fairy tale world … only she neglected to read the book she picked out for herself and ends up having to be a passive witness, as Princess Pleasant, and start being an active character in her own story. It’s a book very aware of fairy tale tropes and makes use of them and deconstructs them with gleeful abandon. And it has an adorable unicorn — who ends up being my favorite character.

There’s a lot of banter and some really funny moments as well as excellent chemistry between the two main characters. Torvold the Brave, the hero of the book, is an excellent leading man, and the supporting cast of colorful characters were entertaining without being intrusive. As someone who grew up reading anything and everything with knights, this book was almost made for me, and the humor — gentle snark and self-aware jokes and characters meant to be laughed with rather than at — worked so well. One of my favorite moments was the Berating of Good Phillips the Beige.

This is an excellent YA book (and the first book in the series!), and one I really hope people give a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sungrazer Publishing for letting me read the advanced reader copy.

(Note for the publisher/author - two small errors: cantor instead of canter; knicker instead of nicker)

“Illustrated Girl” starts off rather slow. It does pick up, but it felt like stream-of-consciousness writing that needs revision and more editing. There are some funny scenes, but the story had trouble deciding what it wanted to riff and where it wanted to go. I don’t know. I think it got in its own way.

However, the cover is absolutely gorgeous, and I loved, loved, loved the ending. The latter bumped up my rating to a 3.5 instead of a 3.

Fair warning, there are a couple of not PG sexual references sprinkled in here, which I mention because the blurb might attract elementary school kids and middle schoolers, and the book is decidedly YA. Those references jarred me right out of the story, even though the romance itself is pretty tame. We already got that Princess Pleasant is attracted to the hottie! My two cents.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sungrazer Publishing for providing me with an eARC. I am writing this review voluntarily.

This was such a fun read! fast paced, easy to understand, but extremely; enjoyable. I finished it in a day! If you love fairytale retellings, becoming the main character, a tad a voyeurism by living through the main characters eyes, you'll love this story. It's perfect if yo want a quick light pick me up, or are in a reading slump and want to be stimulated.

As the kind of girl who always has dreamt of living in a fantasy book whilst being enough of a realist to know I'd not last five minutes, this book just brought me utter joy.

Illustrated Girl is a heartwarming, fast-paced, silly and joyful tale about Holly, a girl transported into a magical world. Holly quickly realises that whilst she might be in a fairytale and a princess, not everything is exactly as she imagined.

I really enjoyed this unique twist on a fairy tale! It was funny, recognized the inherent silliness of a modern person being stuck in a fantasy world (like pooping in the forest), and had a lot of heart.

The ebook edition that I read had a lot of errors, which really took me out of the story a lot. One example is the very beginning of Chapter 16 which says "Circe de Soleil" instead of "Cirque de Soleil". I'm not sure how thoroughly this advance copy has been edited, but I hope it will go through another round before publication!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

It’s such a charming and fun read! Our main character, Princess Pleasant (or actually Holly from Fresno), spent almost a year locked in her tower, but mostly stuck in a book. Lucitopia, the land she’s stuck in, is a place where tales and stories lead when the virtues die (literally) and the evil wins. Holly has had enough of hiding, especially considering she has only two weeks or so to find a real boy (or a girl) to kiss her and release her from the book universe or else she’s stuck there forever, so fuelled by her fear, armed in some small illusion spells, salt bag and multiple daggers in various locations on her person (that she learned how to use exceptionally well during her time in the tower), goes to find Mother Maybe, a person she considers responsible for her current situation, to ask for some change. And the change she gets.

I loved Princess Pleasant and her adventures. The character was written perfectly - she was not a Mary Sue like in many YA novels, but a relatable person with flaws and quirks, as well as amazing dagger throwing skills and sense of humour. Other side characters were also interesting, it was easy to care for them, to root for them, to pay attention. The story was also great. Creative, surprising but reasonable considering the characters and their choices.
My only issue was the beginning of the book, it felt a bit chaotic and it only seemed to start making sense 2-3 chapters in.

4,5/5 rounded up

This book completely blew me away. It was like a mashup of T Kingfisher, Inkheart, and a D&D campaign. It was so genuinely funny, adventurous, and heartwarming. The worldbuilding was amazingly shown and the story was completely immersive. I read it in one sitting because I just couldn’t stop.

The beautiful cover drew me in and the amazing storytelling kept me reading, I loved the characters which made it so easy to read.

"Illustrated Girl" is like a sunny stroll through a whimsical world, perfect for those who love light-hearted adventures. Its carefree spirit and playful twists make it a fun read, though sometimes it feels like it's trying to do too much at once.

There's no denying the charm of the story, with its amusing moments and playful twists, but it does occasionally trip over itself, unsure of where exactly it's headed. One thing that threw me off guard was the inclusion of some not-so-kid-friendly content, which felt out of place given the book's target audience of young adults.

The main character's self-awareness reminded me of an old favorite, "Babes in Toyland," which added a nostalgic touch. The ending, very much reminiscent of "Babes in Toyland," left lingering questions about the blurred lines between fiction and reality.

With its stunning cover and cozy ending, reminiscent of a classic fairy tale, "Illustrated Girl" has its allure. While I'm uncertain about delving into the rest of the series yet, there's a simplicity to the narrative that may draw me back in.

I love the premise of the story and the feminist undertone in the book. The book has a witty tone which will make it fun for teenagers to read this. I am just not sure about some of the words used in the book which are marginally inappropriate for teenagers.

This book was a quick read aimed at a middle school or young ya audience but I still enjoyed the unique spin to a fairytale story the character were likeable and the plot fast paced enough to make it a fun read

This book was such an interesting concept and I ate it up! Absolutely full of fun, adventure, awesome characters, love, and full of heart. I had a great time reading it! And the cover is absolutely stunning! Can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy for my shelf!

This was a quirky, funny and enjoyable read for the most part. I found this book more aimed at Middle school aged young people, not so much for adults, however I did find myself chuckling along. The writer for sure has a sense of humour. Thank you again for allowing me to read and review this book.

Oh Em Gee!!! I loved this sooo much! Even after finishing it I felt like I was having withdrawals because I wanted more! Such a fun quick cute quirky cozy fantasy with a touch of a cutesy romance!

In this book, we are following Holly who is transported into a book. Like an actual book she was reading. The book she was transported into is called The Chronicles of Lucitopia. However she gets transported into the near end of the book where readers typically stop reading because of something that happens to the main character, Holly can get out of the book, on only one condition. She has to be kissed by a real person! Not a person from the book, but more so a reader possibly?

Holly manages to get herself reinserted earlier into the book. She is the character Princess Pleasant and she embarks on a quest with the virtuous Sir Knight Torvold and his Squire. We follow them on their adventures and their ever-growing troop.

Illustrated Girl is full of funny, quirky little jokes and scenes, really good character growth, cute romance and a plot twist that will really get you.

Side note: I was on a date last night and for the entire duration, told my date the entire plot of this book and even he was ultimately intrigued!

I can’t wait to read the next 3 books that are rumored to be released later this year.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This YA romance (younger end of YA or at least lighter end of romance) has a sassy sense of humour! The premise of a real world teen trapped inside a fairy tale book was interesting, and the author included many sly mentions of various well known fairy tales in a world that is itself well detailed and descriptive, reminiscent of those tales we know so well. The pace was satisfying and I was compelled to read on to find out if our heroine is freed to join the real world once more. I did think the characters were a bit flat and one dimensional, but the fantastical setting balanced them out. I also thought that while the sassy tone added much humour and irreverence to the story, occasional flippant wording didn’t always live up to my inclusive standards.

I’m not the target audience, and did not completely connect with the voice, which at times was too angsty, deprecating, or wordy - but also at times quite clever. Teenager me would’ve loved this and devoured the rest of the series, but adult me prefers prose that is a bit more polished. Overall though this is a fun fairy tale!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sungrazer Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, I really enjoyed this book. It was so much fun to read and I really enjoyed the FMC, she's so funny. I loved the ending and I just in general love the story and the idea of someone getting trapped inside of a book, because let's face it we all have wished it would happen to us.

I did find one typo, End of chapter 9 where it says" "What the matter" Torvold asks" it's missing the s for "what's".

Thank you to NetGalley, Josephine Angelini, and the publishers for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

4.25 stars

I have found this book to be a lot of fun. It is definitely a cozy fantasy but with some great adventure to it. I love the quirky characters. Our main character is hilarious. I enjoyed the fact that she references things in the real world where she came from. I will say that the middle part lost me a little but then it picked back up again. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I’m curious to see where it goes.

I highly recommend it, if you love cozy fantasy.

Thank you very much for providing me with an ARC copy of this book.

This was an excellent and light-hearted read to jump into after reading more dense and serious fantasy books. This book is a great fantasy palette cleanser and is such a fun read. It is on the more YA side (barring a few not so YA references). It definitely has some funny moments and jokes throughout which helps solidify the books as a ‘cozy adventure’. However, there are still plenty of traditional fantasy elements and it reminded me quite a bit of Inkheart which I used to enjoy when I was younger. You still get the world building, twists and turns, and character development but without being overly serious. I would recommend reading this after a heavy/long/serious book to get the most benefit from it. I would say it is on the lighter side of a romantasy and is more of a sweet story than one with lots of romantic details which is in line with it being more of a YA read. The universe it is set in has lots of fun ideas and there are definitely some great opportunities for future developments. The only thing I would say the beginning is a little less polished but this definitely picks up throughout and didn’t take away from the overall book for me 😊

I loved it! A girl is stuck inside the book and needs a kiss from a real boy to escape. Simple concept but great execution. Funny, colourful and sweet. Beautiful YA read.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, Sungrazer Publishing and Josephine Angelini for allowing me to read the ARC to "Illustrated Girl" in exchange for an honest review.

Something right off the bat, the cover is absolutely stunning, which is the first reason how I got interested in the book, I will not lie.

Luckily, I did not get disappointed by the content either.

The main character, Holly, does get her wish granted and is thrown into the fictional world of a book where she does play the role of Princess Pleasant, however, she discovers very quickly that to live in said fictional, fantasy world is not as pleasant as she imagined it to be. Holly has 15 days to leave the world of Lucitopia before she is trapped there forever and ever but to achieve that, a kiss is required and of course, this exposes itself to be not as easy as one think. Along the way, there is a lot of adventure, banter and danger, and a knight.

I did overall enjoy the book very much, the self aware humour of the main character did lure more than one chuckle from me. I loved the character development you were able to witness first hand, since the book is written from the POV of the main character.

It was a funny, romantic read, even though I admit it did took a while for me to get captured, but it was absolutely worth it.

The Chronicles of Lucitopia. Becoming the Main Character of Your Favorite Book.


This is what happened to Holly, or more accurately now, Princess Pleasant. A spell transports her into the fairytale "The Chronicles of Lucitopia", except she became her favorite character too late in the story. Instead of becoming the hero and stopping the evil sorcerer, she transports into the book world after it becomes a land of the malevolent and the nefarious.

Now, Holly has to fix this mess of a world she has magically transported to.

We then meet a heroic knight, who is righteous, honorable, and noble. The clock is ticking, though! This is the part that brought me memories of Labyrinth by A.C.H Smith, based on the movie directed by the puppet movie featuring David Bowie. So much time does she have before her brother is turned to a goblin! She must get past the riddles, the traps, and reach the castle before she can get her brother back.

In this story, Holly has but fifteen days or she is stuck in this odd world forever, never to return to her life outside of a little novel. I will say, the story dragged on in some parts. I wanted to be enthralled like I had been with The Labyrinth, but it was hard to get through at times.

How does Holly successfully leave this land of ink and pages? She must kiss a human boy.

This was a funny spin on a good storyline, inserting many hilarious scenes. The ending was well worth getting to the end. This story is sweet and fantastical, and so ridiculous at times. There is excitement and whimsy, and the final boss fight is magnificent.

I would add this novel to my list of cozy fantasy books. There are more and more every year. I hope this trend does not stop its momentum. They are of full of cinnamon-roll type characters. Slowing down, falling in love, often in a sweet and charming way; with a dash of mundanity. Such a tame, heartwarming side quest. Readers, enjoy the sweetness of this bookish cozy love story 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

Imagine this: you've always daydreamed about diving headfirst into your favorite story and becoming the hero, right? Well, that's exactly what happens to Holly, but let me tell ya, timing is everything in this gig.

So, Holly accidentally finds herself smack dab in the middle of "The Chronicles of Lucitopia," a fairy tale land that's gone seriously sideways. We're talking grifter grandmas, breath that could knock out a dragon, and no working toilets in sight. Yeah, it's a hot mess. Holly lands the role of Princess Pleasant, but guess what? She's fashionably late, showing up just as some evil sorcerer turns Lucitopia into a rusty old nightmare.

But fear not! With her trusty (and dreamy) knight sidekick, Holly's off to fix this mess before it's too late. She's got a tight deadline, though – just fifteen days to save the day, or she's stuck in this chaos forever. And considering she's overdue for her shots, that's not exactly a picnic.

"Illustrated Girl" is like a rollercoaster you can't get enough of – fast-paced, hilarious, and totally addictive. Seriously, I tore through it in a day flat! The characters are pure gold. . Our dear Holly, with her infectious humor and relatable quirks, serves as a beacon of light amidst the chaos of Lucitopia. And oh, the nods to our own world! Angelini masterfully infuses the story with playful references and clever deconstructions of fairy tale tropes, inviting readers to revel in the joy of literary self-awareness.

Sure, the writing's a bit chatty, but that's part of the charm. It's like your BFF telling you a crazy story, complete with laugh-out-loud moments and heart-pounding action. And let me tell you, that final showdown? Epic doesn't even begin to cover it.

"Illustrated Girl" is an adventure like no other. It's sweet, it's fantastical, and yeah, it's downright ridiculous at times – but isn't that what makes a story unforgettable?

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!

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.

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.

“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 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

"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 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!

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

I adored the humour in this book. Anyone who is fed up with the tropes in epic fantasy will love the way this novel pokes fun at all those cliches. The main character feels so real, and the scrapes she gets into are both hilarious and relatable even though they are so unlikely. It's both funny and heartwarming, and if the ending is a little cliched then I'm in a mood to forgive.

I think that when I first chose this book on NetGalley, I was drawn to the book description and beautiful cover.

This young adult fantasy read is the first in the Chronicles of Lucitopia series. The protagonist has become a character inside a book. I found this really clever, interesting and unique.

It wasn't a long read, but I found it quite charming and full of fun, with lots of interesting characters. I enjoyed its cosiness, and the author's fun portrayal of the world that had been created. If you are a fantasy reader, you might want to give this a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

This book was so much fun! Like laugh out loud fun. I genuinely couldn't put it down because I was having the best time.

I've seen other reviews saying that it starts of slow but I don't really think that's the case. The first chapter sets the scene and gives a fair bit of info without it being info-dumpy and then the story moves along at a good clip straight away - sucking you in and making you invested really quickly.

While the overall story is slightly predictable (in the best kind of way as it's still thoroughly entertaining and does have a few little twists you don't see coming), the narrator is what really makes it so great. I absolutely love the Princess's voice throughout it, she's really funny and few moments caught me off guard and made me snort (the phrase 'poop shoot' being used is one of them).

One thing that did take me aback slightly was 'Tolkien' being spelt incorrectly in a chapter title, but this might have been intentional. I also would not have been mad if the book was slightly longer because that's how much I enjoyed it.

It is very YA but the humour makes it a good read for adults after something light. I really want to read the rest of the stories in the series now as I feel a lot of them are going to be interconnected and not all questions have been answered.

What a stunning cover! And the story inside definitely matches!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

This was such a unique and interesting story line. It is one of the best books that I have this year.

I'm not normally a fan of "cozy fantasy" but this was a wonderful read. Angelini perfectly balances the parody and emulation of the fantasy genre without ever tipping too far to one side. Her characters are fully developed and the world they exist in felt only a step away.

"From bestselling author Josephine Angelini comes a whimsical cozy fantasy read with loads of adventure and none of the triggers. Perfect for fans of Olivia Atwater and Travis Baldree.

Ever wish you could travel inside your favorite book and become the main character? Of course you have. Everyone has. But if you ever manage to pull it off, here's a tip. Timing is everything...

Take Holly for example, who after saying a spell is transported inside a fairytale called The Chronicles of Lucitopia, a magical world infested with grifter grandmas, halitosis-riddled bandits, and devoid of any functioning toilets.

Holly becomes Princess Pleasant exactly as she wished, but she gets there too late, right after an evil sorcerer turns Lucitopia into a tetanus-ridden hellhole. And now, it's up to Holly to make things right.

With the help of a freakishly handsome, yet frustratingly virtuous knight, Holly sets out to fix her story, but she only has fifteen days left to do so or she risks being stuck in Lucitopia for the rest of her life, which may prove to be a short one considering she's overdue for her shots."

Hey I just got my tetanus, I'll take her place, I'm good for ten years!

I enjoyed this book I just wish it had more! The story felt a little rushed because of its length but the premise and story were fun and entertaining! I didn’t guess the ending fully either which I love because it was obvious but also not obvious! Definitely worth the read!

I am so glad to have finally discovered author Josephine Angelini.
I am very fond of fairytales and fairy tale retellings, but never before have I encountered such a funny, witty, and clever book from this genre. I laughed out loud throughout the whole book. I have talked to colleagues, friends and family about this story - heck, I have even recommended it to strangers in my library. I hope this book will find its way into many homes, as I think it will suit a lot of readers.

Never before have I fallen so much in love with a unicorn. And the characters were so unique, so fun and alive. I loved them! Angelini writes so well; it's easy, fun and addictive.

Do yourself a favor and read this book! If you find yourself in a reading slump - read this! If you want a good laugh - read this! If you want to fall in love with some cool characters - read this! Amazing!

This was such a fun read! The chaos was charming and funny and the characters (in particular Rancor the unicorn) were delightful. Well worth a read if you enjoy lighthearted fantasy

I loved this book - always nice to have a YA fantasy with the lead protagonist being on the younger side of that age group, and keeping it not toooo spicy, more allusion than action!

Although there IS plenty of action, but more of the monster fighting, evil wizard defeating, unicorn riding kind. The main character's self aware narrative gives the book something of a Princess Bride vibe for me, which is a huge compliment. Great premise, great characters, hilarious events and a very satisfactory ending, will definitely recommend.

A pretty fun fantasy book perfect for anyone looking for an escape!

Filled with humour, great characters and banter to go for days illustrated girl is a great cozy read guaranteed to fix a bad day. The book is actually as good as the cover promises with its fast pace, and short length which makes it a great cure for a reading slump. Filled with adventures and as mentioned beforehand pretty amazing and we'll rounded characters I'm still thinking about, this is an absolute must read for any book lover!

This is perfect for lovers of Ella Enchanted and The Castle in the Attic if they're looking for something a bit more mature. This was what I would consider to be younger YA, but was still fun to read as an adult. Our main character gets sucked into a medieval story where she must kiss a "real boy" before the end of the year or be forever trapped.

The main character felt relatable and funny, and her actions made a lot of sense to me as a reader! I also thought the chapter headings were hilarious! I will warn you that the cover illustration (which is gorgeous) made the story seem a bit cozier than I think it was. However, if you're looking for noble knights, an asshole unicorn, and a looming battle, this is a great read!

This book was SO GOOD! If you love cozy, YA, quest-based fantasies, you’re going to love this one as much as I did. I read the first 50% in about an hour. I was hooked. It was so fun to read and had me giggling. What a lovely cast of characters. This story truly kept me guessing from start to finish and I loved every moment of it.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I love how the summary asks the reader if we've ever wanted to travel inside of our favorite book? I mean, of course we have, but I am starting to wonder if I would survive if presented with dragons and monsters and the like. I think if I am going to find a book to plant myself into, I am going to find a nice coffee shop mystery but this cozy fairy tale is certainly a fun adventure.

This book was so cute and fun. I have to give it all the stars. I felts drawn in and loved the trope-ish characters. The author purposefully leaned into all the of the roles one would find in a traditional fantasy and even naming convention with characters such as Princess Pleasant, Witches, and similar.

Our main character, Holly, has been transported into the pages of a book as the Princess and now she has to make her own story play out the way she wants since it doesn't seem to be working out the way it's supposed to. She is running out of time to figure out how to get out of the pages of the book before she is permanently trapped.

I really hoe more people take the time to dive into this book. It goes quickly and is well worth the read. It's an enjoyable adventure with some hilarious moments and great dialogue and action. I am glad there seems to be more to come from this author and this series as this is labeled as #1 in the Chronicles of Lucitopia.

If you were given an opportunity to be the main character of your favorite book, would you say yes?

My guess is a large majority of us would - and this is exactly what happens to our main character, Holly, in Illustrated Girl. Things aren't exactly as she would expect, however. Instead of getting to be a heroine, she was dropped into a land that has already fallen to the evil sorcerer. All she wants now is to get out of this book and back to her real life. She has 15 days to accomplish her task of kissing a human boy or she'll be stuck in the book forever!

I had planned to read this to my 9 year old daughter, as it would have been something she would have loved, but there are some non-PG references in the book that made me think twice. It felt like they were included just to bump the book from middle grade to YA, which I didn't feel was necessary.

Ultimately, this was a quick, charming, cozy fantasy read with a mix of action and romance. I enjoyed my time reading it, especially as a relaxing summer read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Illustrated Girl in exchange for my honest opinion.
My thoughts & opinions are my own.

3.75/5 Stars

“It’s like, get your own quest sweetie, and stop waiting around for Mr Muscles to validate you.”

Illustrated Girl is an incredibly original YA book. A teenage girl sees a princess in a fantasy book and makes the wish she could be her. Her wish is granted and… nothing happens as she thought it would.
To break this curse, she has to be kissed by a real boy… which means a reader has to finish the book.

This novel’s idea is absolutely great. I adored it, as much as I found the tone very light and funny. It’s told first person, and the MFC doesn’t hesitate to sometimes talk directly to the reader. On her quest, she meets a lot of stereotypical characters, which makes her question Fantasy as a genre, but also a very attractive knight, very (very) passionate about his missions. That leads to a forbidden romance, and, again, the idea is very interesting. She also meets a very grumpy unicorn and honestly that character was a pure treat.
The quest format makes of Illustrated Girl a nice coming of age story, in which the MFC rethinks her prejudices about what is “a perfect life”, her values and her priority. It also questions us (IMO) about pretty books, and how we (sometimes) just look at them, without actually reading them. What would have happened if she had read the story?
However, I have to admit that something was missing here for me to make this book a great book. I struggled a bit reading it –though it’s pretty short– and I can’t tell why,but I had a bit of struggle making connections with the characters, despite the settings and the very funny tone.


Thank you NetGalley, Josephine Angelini and Sungrazer Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

This book was good! I really enjoyed my time in this world. If you are into cozy YA then you will enjoy this one so much. It had me giggling throughout the book and I love books that make me feel my feelings and/or get me to physically react. This story truly kept me guessing from start to finish. Highly recommend

The most beautiful cosy fantasy read with the most magical writing from an author that is superb at everything she does.

The illustrated Girl - Josephine Anhelini

This was such a fun and interesting read! Have you ever imagined being transported into a fantasy book? This is exactly what happens to Holly.

The story was slightly predictable and did get a little slow to start with but it was still really enjoyable. I loved learning about the world and I thought Holly was such a fantastic character, she was so determined to take things into her own hands!

It was definitely a YA book but I would definitely recommend.

So originally Josephine released some of Lucitopia (I can’t remember all of it) as a serial on an app. I remember reading some of it and loving it.

I’m not gonna lie though, I hardcore procrastinated reading Illustrated Girl. I’m not sure what it was that was stopping me from reading it but something was. Of course, as soon as I started I couldn’t stop and I was determined to annotate as I went along.

Which meant that I couldn’t eat it up like I do with all the rest of her books. I was determined that Illustrated Girl was different. That went down the wayside. I annotated the beginning and then got sucked into the story just like Holly did.

Holly’s whole personality was absolutely hilarious and wonderfully relatable. She never held back from saying her thoughts out loud and sometimes her thoughts were also mine. LOL. And Torvold was the cutest baby boy ever.

He was just the sweetest and quite frankly the literal manual for modern day chivalry. The favorite character, though, was definitely Rancor, the unicorn. I absolutely adored him and want to make a stuffed animal of him. Holly’s character development was full and center. She went from being a character in a story to being the story’s character. I just really adored the way that Angelini tackled this one. There were a couple of jabs of how some authors write women and there were a lot of introspective moments with Holly. Illustrated Girl had now joined the Starcrossed series as one of my favorites.

I think this is my favorite book of the year. Part folklore, part adventure, and a lot of humor and quirkiness. You will want to read this in one sitting to keep the momentum going and from the beginning, you will ask yourself what-if. It is the itchy part in the back of your brain that has you trying to connect magical dots and not being able to turn the pages fast enough.

Holly makes a deal that plunges her inside of her favorite book. Little did she know that she would be fighting for her life in a disease-ridden place, with bad food, and seriously scary creatures. Now, as Princess Pleasant, Holly has fifteen days to save Torvold the Bold’s life, help him save the Virtues, outmaneuver the evil sorcerer Asphodel in a great battle, and save the good people of Lucitopia. This is a lot to ask of a girl from Fresno. Oh, and she must kiss a real boy for this spell to be broken or she will be stuck in this realm forever.

I did not want to finish this book. I did not want this story to come to an end. This is the first book in the series, but the way it ended, I am now wondering if the rest will be companion books instead of a continuing series.

The Illustrated Girl is for readers who enjoy lighthearted fantasy from a writer who understands how to keep a story clean, with butterfly moments, and can add the right pop of humor and possibly a well-placed tear.

Illustrated Girl is a cozy fantasy book that follows a teen that gets sucked into a fantasy book. She has to find someone to kiss her in order to get back to her normal life.

This was a fun read! I loved the cozy vibes throughout. The characters were all likeable and interesting. I also liked how the main character talked to us readers and the story went along. I thought that was a nice touch.

I also liked that this was a quick and easy read. I don't read a lot of fantasy but I do tend to find it difficult to read a lot. However, this one was an easy read.

I had a lot of fun with this one!

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

What would you do if you got stuck as a character in a book, and the only way out is to convince someone from the real world to kiss you? Holly’s time is running out, so after months of waiting in her tower, hoping a reader would be moved to kiss her image in the book, she decides to take matters into her own hands and become the kind of interesting character that somebody (seriously, anybody! She’s not picky!) will be motivated to kiss.

I very much enjoyed this, it had strong self-rescuing-princess vibes and was a ton of fun. The twist at the end was so perfect!

I really enjoyed this read, I feel like with Josephine Angelini books I get caught up in the world she builds and swept away in the story.
I really liked the way this novel was written and I felt the pacing was really good, it flowed well and kept me interested. I really liked the characters, they were fleshed out and created with a flare that was in line with the story. I really enjoyed reading Illustrated Girl.

This book had me gripped from the very start. It was funny, it was well written and it had a really good plot. I honestly enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I loved the way it was breaking down fairytale archetypes.

I guessed some things about the ending but not others. I felt the main plot twist was kind of obvious. Sometimes I like a bit of predictability though, so I didn’t find it detracted from the story at all. I did feel like there wasn’t enough about the characters after though. Maybe there’ll be more in the next book? Although it looked like a standalone story. It would be nice if they interweave a bit though.

The only thing I was a bit hesitant about was that the bad guy seemed to be the only person of colour in this book. Maybe there were others that I missed, or maybe it was meant to be a comment on fairytales and racial ambiguous villains but if so, I felt it didn’t land.

Overall though, I really really enjoyed this book. It was really easy to read and I would like to continue with the series.

It took me a couple of goes to get into this story. I initially picked it up because of the cover and the title, but got a bit put off by the first couple of chapters, where the protagonist is introduced as a character who needs to be kissed by a person from outside the book. Something made me keep trying, and when I finally finished chapter 2, I was hooked. I had to keep reading until I finished, and by then, I was invested in the world and the characters. Bravo!

funny, cozy, and joyful fairy tale filled with happiness at every level and always fun. a worth it little read. 5 starss

Illustrated Girl holds an interesting premise, one you don’t see everyday, and is great for those who are looking for a light, whimsical read!!

"The Illustrated Girl" is a quirky, lighthearted fantasy that’s equal parts adventure and coming-of-age, with a good dash of humor thrown in.

The premise is as charming as it is original: a teenage girl, Holly, who finds herself literally sucked into her favorite fantasy book after wishing she could be a princess, a common set up for a middle grade book, but this is a teenager, someone aware of tall of the usual stories and their flaws, and someone at an age where they're ready to find their place and make their mark on the world, except this isn't her world! But things aren’t as she expected. In order to return to her world, she has fifteen days to save a dying hero, battle an evil sorcerer, and—oh yeah—kiss a real boy. Because, of course, the magic will only break if she gets a kiss, so how to get a kiss from the outside world when she's trapped in a fictional one? This simple setup opens the door to a lot of fun and unexpected moments.

One of the highlights of the book for me was the humor. Holly’s narration is witty and often direct, breaking the fourth wall to speak to the reader, I don't always love this, and I haven't loved a lot of sassy, modern-speak in otherwise medieval-style fantasy stories, it tends to distance me from the world, but for Holly, who is from the modern outside world herself, this really works and I loved her. Her sassy attitude towards the fantasy world and its over-the-top tropes was a refreshing change from the usual earnestness found in many YA adventures. She’s constantly questioning the genre she’s now a part of—sometimes to hilarious effect—and her irreverence gives the book a sense of freshness that’s both funny and thought-provoking. That said, while the humor and Holly's sharp observations made me smile, there were moments when I struggled to connect with the characters. Despite their quirky personalities, I didn't always feel invested in them, particularly as Holly’s adventure felt at times more like a series of comedic events than an emotional journey.

That said, the book’s quick pace and cozy atmosphere made it an easy, breezy read. I was able to get lost in the world of *The Illustrated Girl*, which is a real achievement for a fantasy that doesn’t rely heavily on the usual action or complex world-building. Instead, the charm lies in the characters, the humor, and the adventure’s surprisingly relatable undertones. Holly, despite being thrust into an unfamiliar world, grapples with questions about herself, her values, and her priorities—a nice touch that adds depth to what could have been a straightforward quest narrative. The book’s approach to fantasy also sets it apart. Holly meets all the stereotypical fantasy characters—brave knights, beautiful princesses, evil sorcerers—but she isn’t swayed by the genre’s usual expectations. There’s a critique of the “perfect” fairy-tale life that some might not immediately notice, and I appreciated how the book subtly pushed back against the idea of idealized romance and quests, whilst at the same time revelling in them.

P.S. I utterly loved the grumpy unicorn! *The Illustrated Girl* is a delightful, read. It’s perfect for those who enjoy lighter fantasy with a humorous twist. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and . While it may not be a book I’ll remember for years to come, it was definitely a fun escape for a few hours, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, cozy read with a little magic and a lot of laughs.

I hadn't realised before reading this that it was one of a series, each is described as a self-sustained (self-contained?) story, but with a through-thread, so I will have to read the rest now and see how much each enhances the others