Maya

The Love Report (Volume 3) / BéKa, Maya (Illustrator)

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Love Report (Volume 3)
By: BéKa, Maya (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 112
Published: April 15, 2025
Publisher: Hippo Park
Dates Read: December 26, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Grace has decided to confess her feelings to Abe. But when she shows up to tell him, she overhears him on the phone with someone who cannot be “just a friend”. Grace teams up with Lola to investigate who the mystery girl is and they immediately go to Charlie, the girl who knows everybody’s business. But Charlie has her own secret: she’s dating Abe!

I’m not one to usually care too much about romance, especially in young adult / middle grade, as a thirty-three year-old woman, it’s not my story. But I picked up the first volume of this series simply because of the cover and the beautiful artwork, and even though it has a heavy focus on romance, it’s not only about romance. In this particular volume, Abe actually deals with believing he’s “ugly, but nice”. New student Gabriel talks to a figment of his imagination and of course gets bullied by Sean for it. When Adele gets her period for the first time and has horrible cramps, a male physical education teacher makes a joke of it and refuses to believe her pain. There’s an “ugliest couple” contest going around (run by Sean). Collette even sends a risky photo to Sean, who uses it as blackmail against her.

Besides the amazing artwork and beautiful color pallet, this graphic novel is more than just romance, so don’t let the name scare you off!

Overall, I enjoyed how this book really focuses on the tween drama of “first” loves. Of course, it is with a bit of a French twist, so it’s a slightly different viewpoint than America, but still fun and enjoyable. Readers who like Raina Telemaier would also enjoy this as well.

The Love Report Volume 2 / BéKa, Maya (Illustrator)

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Love Report Volume 2
By: BéKa, Maya (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 200
Published: February 13, 2024
Publisher: Hippo Park
Dates Read: June 16, 2024
Format: Library Book / eBook

Grace and Lola are back to uncover more truths about romance and friendship in volume two of The Love Report. Grace tries to find balance with her parents’ split, but dividing her time between two different homes can be a headache. Lola and Grace help Adele find a place to stay, and Lola wants to help Felicity after one of the boys starts harassing her.

Summer comes just in time for the girls where it brings them to the island of Sardinia where they continue to discover the ins and outs and relationships.

The Love Report series focuses on girls in middle school (the grade they’d be in in America – though it’s set in France) as they navigate those first love butterflies and wonder. It’s really sweet. I absolutely love the artwork and the characters are genuine and realistic. Topics of bullying, divorce, step parents, and self image are talked about in this novel that are written appropriately for the age group it’s targeting.

This is one of those graphic novels that I will definitely be trying to get my hands on physical copies one of these days. The girls’ style is very French and you can see that within the panels (it just makes me smile).

Overall, I can see myself recommending this series to those who just love the cutesy, coming of age romances. I will be waiting anxiously for the third book.