One of our favorite things we’ve done this year was getting back into graphic novels! As longtime lovers of manga, webtoons, and digital comics, we a THP are so glad to be able to get our hands on the occasional graphic novel in print!
Trung Le Nguyen has just released his sophomore graphic novel, Angelica and the Bear Prince. And to say we loved it would be an understatement. It has the perfect balance of cozy vibes with very real and relatable issues.
If you needed any more convincing, we’ll give you all the deets. Here are three of our favorite things about Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen!
Book Overview: Angelica And The Bear Prince
Content warnings: mentions of a loved one’s death, grief
Summary: Angelica was the girl who could do it all—until suddenly, she couldn’t. Burnout hit hard. Now, after some very low moments, she’s ready to get her life back together, thanks to her friends, and one very surprising source of comfort.
A bear.
Per is the mascot of the local theater. He’s been sending Angelica supportive messages from his social. They’ve become friends, and Angelica might even have . . . a crush?
Determined to find the human behind the bear costume, Angelica gets an internship at the theater. She might never go back to being the girl who can do everything, but perhaps she is becoming the girl who can magically have it all.
Cozy Art Style
For starters, Angelica and the Bear Prince has the cutest, coziest art style. Set in a town where every day is a winter wonderland, we’re convinced it belongs in a snow globe, Our main character Angelica tries to keep busy with an internship at her local theater. Each of the panels are equal parts cute and detailed, especially when it comes to hairstyles. And the Bear Prince is one of our favorite characters!
Coping With Grief
Without the author’s letter at the beginning, we wouldn’t have thought Angelica and the Bear Prince would make us feel so many emotions. This graphic novel features two families who grieve the death of a loved one. Angelica lost her maternal grandma ten years ago. She misses her dearly but also sometimes feels guilty that she doesn’t think about her as much as before. Gable moves back in with their grandma, who continues to mourn her late husband. Both families focus on the people who are still here with them, working through their grief together, and relying on each other.
Representations Of Love
Another one of our favorite things about Angelica and the Bear Prince is the diverse representations of love. From the main couple, Angelica and Gable, to Angelica’s neighbors, Phil and Richard, several love stories are portrayed in this graphic novel. Angelica’s parents have raised our standards for dating, in the way Mr. Hoang isn’t afraid to be mushy in front of others. Romantic love aside, we also get glimpses of platonic love between Angelica and her bestie Christine. And we can’t forget about the familial love within the Hoang family, especially between mother and daughter.
Trung Le Nguyen’s new graphic novel, Angelica and the Bear Prince, sailed past our expectations and delivered a work of art depicting love and grief we’ll cherish from here on!
Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen comes out October 7th, and you can order a copy of it here!
Did you enjoy Trung Le Nguyen’s Angelica and the Bear Prince as much as we did? Have you read the author’s first graphic novel, The Magic Fish? Let us know on Twitter. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!
Looking for some audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRUNG LE NGUYEN:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE
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Julie Dam
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