NerdCrush

December 15, 2022
Cosplay culture takes center stage in this winsome romance. Ramona Lambert has a hard time being herself. The Black high school junior's social life mostly takes place in the cosplay universes where she can thrive as Rel, the character she's created and has been dressing up as for several years. Ramona decides to email Caleb Woolf, the White boy from school she's crushing on--but as Rel. The pair begin exchanging long missives, and Ramona becomes unsure of what to do, especially when she develops a relationship with Caleb in real life, too. As Ramona struggles socially, she also feels misunderstood at home, where her parents question her dream of attending Savannah College of Art and Design's illustration program. Emrich's debut showcases a multidimensional protagonist navigating the predominantly White spaces of comic conventions and anime and manga fandom while trying to fit in at school, where there are few other Black students. Meanwhile, she's mocked by her cousins for her interests even as her college freshman sister earns accolades for joining a sorority, and her relationship with Caleb ebbs and flows. Ramona's yearnings to find her way and to be understood are relatable and angst-filled. The peek into the world of comic-cons and cosplay is fun and adds depth. The mother-daughter relationship, in particular, is well depicted. An enjoyable look at identity and what it means to belong and to stand out. (Romance. 12-17)

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January 9, 2023
Self-proclaimed nerd Ramona Lambert, who is Black, often feels that she and her family have nothing in common, especially now that her older sister Noelle is following the path their parents laid out for her. But Ramona isn’t interested in attending a prestigious college or pledging a sorority; she wants to study design and continue creating costumes for her cosplay character, Rel. Usually reserved Ramona flourishes when she adopts Rel’s online persona, so she decides to reach out via email to her classmate and longtime crush Caleb Woolf, who is white, as Rel instead of Ramona. Though the two begin a tentative flirtationship online, Caleb, who doesn’t know Rel is Ramona, rarely pays her any mind IRL. As the correspondence continues, Ramona learns that she and Caleb have more things in common than she could have imagined, but even as Ramona begins believing she might have a shot with him, she worries that he won’t like her when he realizes that Rel is an act. Emrich uses Ramona’s shy ventures beyond her comfort zone and slow evolution into a more confident version of herself to develop a wholesome and bighearted debut about quirky characters boldly embracing their idiosyncrasies, learning that it’s okay to stand out, and challenging the assumptions placed upon them. Ages 13–up. Agent: Laura Cameron, Trans-
atlantic Agency.

March 1, 2023

Gr 8 Up-Chic geeks everywhere will appreciate this new novel from Emrich. Sixteen-year-old Ramona, who is Black, often doesn't feel like she fits in at her almost all-white high school. She has cosplay and an online community of friends, but school is tough since her best friend moved away and the boy she has a crush on makes her feel invisible. While Ramona lacks confidence and has the usual teen insecurities, her cosplay alter-ego Rel is sure enough of herself to message Caleb, her crush. The pair begin exchanging messages and getting closer-but he still doesn't know it's Ramona. To complicate matters, Ramona and Caleb begin to develop a friendship in real life. Worried about how to come clean without losing Caleb and getting ready for a big cosplay convention, Ramona learns about the importance of honesty, forgiveness, and overcoming insecurities. VERDICT While the plot outcome is predictable, the characters are likable enough to make this a book worth having in secondary school libraries.-Sherri Crawford

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