➽ Northranger is a very emotional graphic novel! I'd been wanting to check it out for some time and finally read it, as it's advertised as a spooky summer romance. The story follows Cade, a closeted gay kid who has to work as a farm hand on a farm in rural Texas. His stepfather used to serve in the military with the owner and more or less forces Cade to come help out in order to earn extra money. Unsurprisingly, Cade isn't thrilled to do manual labor, having to get up super early and sharing a room with his stepfather. However, he ends up growing close with the ranch owner's son Henry, who is very welcoming to him. Nevertheless, he can't shake off the feeling that his family has a dark secret if the whispered rumors are to be believed.

➽ Despite the hopeful tone and cute romance, Northranger tackles a lot of serious topics. The beginning mentions trigger warnings, so readers can check out this book when they're in the right headspace for it. I personally liked the balance between lighthearted and heartwrenching moments. Cade is feeling lost and alone as a closeted teen in rural Texas, where there is still a lot of homophobia running rampant. He adores horror movies because he relates to the imagery of monsters and being terrified. Henry is a fellow horror lover and still struggling with his sexuality, especially with a strict ex-military father who warns that coming out would ruin their family. I liked the discussions of feeling invisible and dealing with discrimination in rural areas. Cade is also Latino and knows what it's like to be judged. The story also deals with serious topics such as Henry's grief of losing his mother and struggling to cope with it constructively. In the end, the story does have cute moments between Cade and Henry as well and ends on a realistic, but hopeful note for both teens!