I read 'If You'll Have Me' over a year ago. I gave it an undeserved lower rating than now, because it was during a time when I was at my absolute lowest, mentally and emotionally. I was a fractured mess, in a terribly fraught state of mind, and unable to see much past that bleak, depression-and-anxiety-filled, obsessive tunnel vision. It is not until recently, like a few days ago, and on Christmas Eve, that I thought I should give 'If You'll Have Me' another chance, now that I am finally in something close to resembling a better place.
Anyone who loves 'Heartstopper' must read it.
Actually, no - everyone must read it.
Much like how everyone must love 'Heartstopper'.
'If You'll Have Me' is so wholesome (for a YA webcomic, anyway, though nothing too explicit is shown), adorable, sweet, soft, funny (like laugh-out-loud hilarious), pink, precious, heartwarming, openhearted, and true to life, and its colours and manga-style art are to die for.
This LBGTQ+ college students' coming-of-age story has a cat café (OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), a cat bag charm, a cute cat headband for skincare routines (oh I am definitely getting one), a 'Final Fantasy'-type video game and fandom, colourful little flowery Band-Aids, baked goods, bands and band tees, and all sorts of other cute and nerdy stuff.
It's the small things as well as the big things that make 'If You'll Have Me' such a magic spell of a comic.
The main sapphic couple, Momo and PG, are also POC, and Momo...'s very existence and essence squeals adorable.
Sorry, I have to squee about her for a bit:
Momo is the main protagonist, and the main drive in her book's adorableness. She is shy, helpful to others to the point of being a pushover, taken advantage of easily, and has anxiety issues. She needs to learn to love herself and have confidence in herself; enough confidence to allow herself to believe she can be loved for who she is. It's bizarre, as she is ridiculously easy to love and relate to. Momo is nerdy, fangirly sweetness personified, and then squished and folded into the softest, most floury and sugary cinnamon bun in the world. She is a darling dumpling. I want to hug her and mother her to my heart's big content. Plus she has heterochromia (the only thing hetero about her!). I don't think I've ever seen a protag with heterochromia in anything before, let alone a comic.
Momo and PG are polar opposites in practically every way - small, shy, sweet, awkward, flustered, bespectacled, introverted girly-girl Momo, and tall, handsome, easygoing, stoic yet cheeky, extroverted tomboy and confident ladies' woman PG. It is nice and fun to see how well they get along with each other, despite their differences, and how they will go from "friends" to lovers. The adorable levels are off the charts with their relationship, like everything else in the book. And it is normalised by pretty much every character; they themselves certainly see themselves as normal. GOOD, because they are.
The importance of communication between couples, between people, is highlighted and explored thoughtfully and divinely in 'If You'll Have Me'. Communication is a key theme. In achieving this, it subverts and barely avoids the infuriating third act misunderstanding cliché in rom coms. It is yet another thing to admire and appreciate about it.
Really, Momo and PG might be one of the greatest queer couples in all of comics, on the same shelf as Nick and Charlie from 'Heartstopper', and their development and blossoming romance, which I won't dare spoil anything about, could rival the latter boys'. Overwhelmingly cosy and cute, young same sex couples FTW!
There's even an Alice Oseman quote on the paperback copy of 'If You'll Have Me'!
Its diverse rep is out of this world. There are people (meaning: almost all the characters are teens) of different races and ethnicities, and with different hair styles and colours. I think PG's little brother Henry is the only male character, too. I don't see any disability or trans rep, though, which is a hinderance and downgrade in the otherwise gold rep.
'If You'll Have Me'
Yes, I will. And I believe everyone else should, too.
It will warm your heart, if you give it a chance to.
Like its characters, it is beautiful.
Similar to this and 'Heartstopper' (and others in the Osemanverse), if not in content then in tone, style and themes, for further recommended reading, are:
'Rainbow!', 'Navigating With You', 'Bingo Love', 'Pillow Talk', 'ROADQUEEN: Eternal Roadtrip to Love', 'Snapdragon', 'Cross My Heart and Never Lie', 'The Tea Dragon Society', 'Princess Princess Ever After', 'Doughnuts and Doom', 'The Girl From the Sea', and 'The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich'.
Experience the wonder, charm and joy of these stories. Refill your heart, and have faith in humanity again. Believe in love again.
Wow, this review ended up being a lot longer than I intended.
Love hearts!
Final Score: 4/5
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