As I Dream of You

As I Dream of You was recently published on May 5,2026. The graphic novel is somewhat dark as it deals with grief and finding the strength to let go in order to keep on living. I would call it a romantic tragedy.

Synopsis 

Franny and Sam are each other’s entire world. So what do you do when your world ends? Frozen’s Jennifer Lee and Lunar New Year Love Story’s LeUyen Pham deliver a tour de force young adult romance with a supernatural twist.

Falling in love is supposed to hurt. That’s what Franny and Sam, two cynical teenagers raised on tales of heartbreak and loss, have come to understand. Yet when they fall for each other, they find the reality of love is something else entirely: it’s electrifying, all-encompassing, and easy. Theirs is a love that can conquer anything…perhaps even death.

But Franny and Sam’s quest to stay together—no matter the cost—soon blurs the line between reality and fantasy, and their shared dream threatens to turn into a nightmare.

My Thoughts 

My initial thought concerning the book is for parents. There are many sexy scenes and drawings that they may not want their kids exposed to.

Franny and Sam had a romance for the ages. They are high school juniors. Halfway through the story Franny dies in an accident. Sam cannot handle his grief and he descends into darkness where he believes he is meeting Franny in person. He also wants to kill himself so that they can be together again. A new friend talks him through his feelings.

The drawings match the grief Sam feels. I thought they were dark, not pretty at all, but this seems to be a minority opinion among book reviewers. 

While the book has received high praise I did not care for it. The storyline was written well though. It just wasn't my cup of tea. 3 out of 5 stars.

Until We Meet Again

Until We Meet Again by Lily Kim Qian is her debut graphic memoir about a young woman's search for identity and belonging as her family moves between Canada and China. The book was recently published on April 21, 2026 and is geared toward kids aged 14 - 18.

Synopsis 

Lily isn't sure where home is anymore. Her family is constantly on the move, resettling in different towns across Canada and, eventually, in Shanghai, China. Her father plays the role of primary caregiver while her mother is absent for long periods of time. When she reappears, her strange behavior turns Lily's life upside down. As Lily enters her college years, she strives to better understand her family and her place in the world. But can she escape the inherited trauma passed down by her immigrant parents?

My Thoughts

Lily did not like living with her mother who had schizophrenia. Her mother was always screaming and created a hostile home environment. After her father filed for divorce there was a custody battle which he won. Lily was thrilled not to have to live with her mom but there still wasn't much stability. Her father was constantly moving them to new cities in Canada. It is easy to see why Lily became accustomed to making friends easily but not really feeling like she belonged anywhere.

Both parents had immigrated to Canada from China. Eventually Lily moved with her father to Shanghai where her mother was living with her parents. She was in the eighth grade at this time. Throughout all of this upheaval Lily found a way to express her thoughts about her life via drawing. She decided to pursue illustration as a career. Lily eventually created this graphic memoir to confront the trauma and parental abandonment that she experienced.

Lily seemed to adjust well to all of the situations that she was thrown into. She made a stable life for herself but I am sure that she suffered in some way from her childhood. When her grandparents passed Lily wished that she knew them better. She felt a loss here.

Until We Meet Again is a lovely memoir of the author's life. It has beautiful drawings colored with bright colors. The pages contain more drawings than narrative. Most pages just have one sentence. Parents, note that there are no sexy scenes or drawings. I enjoyed reading this graphic memoir and am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.