Back of Book: 

Though he loved working there as a kid, Ari cannot fathom a life wasting away over rising dough and hot ovens. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easy going guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom... that is, if Ari doesn't ruin everything.

Writer Kevin Panetta and artist Savanna Ganucheau concoct a delicious recipe of intricately illustrated baking scenes and blushing young love, in which the choices we make can have terrible consequences, but the people who love us can help us grow.

Book Number: One

Genre: Young Adult | Graphic Novel | Contemporary | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review:  🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 

A heartfelt graphic novel that explores hidden desires, family expectations, and young love with a healthy heaping of baked goods. 

After finishing high school, Ari is ready to get away from his parents, his hometown, and his family owned bakery. However, with his sister newly married, his parents are desperate for help running the bakery. Determined to move to the city with his band, Ari looks to hire a new recruit. When a young man by the name of Hector responds to his call for help, he begins to train him to take over his job. The closer Ari gets to Hector though, the more he begins to question what he really wants in life. 

I didn't expect this one to hit me so hard, but I really relate to Ari and the experience he is going through at the current stage in my life. I get the struggle when your trying to balance your dreams, your family's expectations, and your romantic fantasies. Ari feels rather useless in many aspects of life and is confused where he fits into the world. I am having similar feelings and doubts, so there are a few moments in this book that went straight to my heart. Page 66 was especially accurate, and brought tears to my eyes in a matter of seconds. 

The cozy nature of this book is really sweet. It takes place in a bakery owned by a family bursting with love. Ari and Hector's relationship is so wholesome and filled with great banter. The little moments they spend with each other are so cute; these two had me constantly grinning. It is so fun watching them fall for one another, and the moment they finally kiss? Beautiful, but tinged with so many heavy feelings. The third act conflict makes perfect sense, and the way they find themselves coming back together is logical and very sweet. 

The art is also lovely. It's cute, simple, yet portrays emotion well. I really like the monochromatic use of blue in this book. I didn't think it took away from anything, and it is really pleasing on the senses. The way that montage scenes are done in this book are the best I've ever seen done; I love how easily they showcase the passage of time while also perfectly highlighting what occurred during the time. 

Overall, I ate up everything about "Bloom." I really enjoyed the art, the themes, the characters, and the cozy, yet serious nature of this book. It was raw, relatable, and I love all of the relationships that are explored whether they are romantic, platonic, or familial. I was happy to learn that there is a sequel to this graphic novel, because I have really come to appreciate Ari and Hector as characters and would love to see where there lives take them. I would definitely recommend this one!

Back of Book: 

Ari and Hector are in love.

It's been over a year since the end of the first book and Ari is still working at his family's bakery while Hector has moved away to finish up culinary school.

They're happy but they miss each other so Ari decides to visit Hector at school. As Ari tries to navigate Hector's world for the first time, he struggles to find his place.

Mix in lots of baking, romance, and a look at how Ari's parents fell in love and we've ended up with a story that we're really to share with everyone!

Book Number: Two 

Genre: Young Adult | Graphic Novel | Contemporary | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: ?