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Look on the Bright Side

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The creators of Eisner-nominated Go With the Flow Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann are back with a funny and heartwarming story following four best friends Brit, Abby, Christine, and Sasha in the graphic novel, Look on the Bright Side. Perfect for fans of Maria Scrivan's NAT ENOUGH series!

With feelings running high and hearts on the line, will their friendship get them through a year at Hazelton High?


Old friends. New Loves. The future is looking bright.

A new year of school is starting, and Brit finds herself struggling with feelings for a seemingly rude boy from class who might have a soft side. Meanwhile, Christine can't deny that she likes her best friend Abby...as more than just a friend. The only question is, does Abby have feelings for Christine, too? And will their feelings for each other mess things up in their friend group?

Misunderstandings, betrayal, and jealousy are bound to get in the way.

But hey! Look on the bright side: They’re in this together. Always.

Heartful, romantic, and sizzling with the excitement of navigating first love, Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann's brilliant follow up to Go With the Flow is a bright spot you will not want to miss.

336 pages, Hardcover

Published October 10, 2023

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About the author

Lily Williams

17 books147 followers
Lily Williams is the author and illustrator of the If Animals Disappeared nonfiction picture book series and graphic novels Go With The Flow and Look On The Bright Side (co-written with Karen Schneemann). Lily seeks to inspire change, engage audiences, and educate people of all ages with her artwork. Her work can be seen in films and books and on the web at lilywilliamsart.com.

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5 stars
254 (37%)
4 stars
293 (43%)
3 stars
105 (15%)
2 stars
14 (2%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
Profile Image for Maia.
Author 28 books3,202 followers
February 8, 2024
This is a very charming follow up to Go With The Flow, taking place over the friend group's following high school year. Brit, who was diagnosed with endometriosis at the end of the previous book, had a surgery to remove it over the summer. When she goes back to school, she finds her affection caught between two different boys. Christine has finally admitted to herself that she likes Abby as more than a friend... but telling Abby that is another matter. Abby is still working on her campaign of menstrual justice on campus, while Sasha struggles to balance her homework, sports, and time with her boyfriend. The girls learn, grow, make mistakes, and support each other.
Profile Image for Larissa Church.
61 reviews3 followers
August 29, 2023
Like its predecessor “Go With the Flow,” “Look on the Bright Side” is the exact kind of book I wish my younger self had while growing up.

This perfect continuation of Abby, Christine, Brit, and Sasha’s stories is genuine and relatable in a way a lot of MG and YA stories fail to achieve. I lost count of how many times Christine’s dialogue seemed to be a version of something I said myself as a kid! Nothing is contrived, and many situations these characters find themselves in took me back to when I was their age. I couldn’t stop smiling (or sometimes tearing up or cringing) when certain things hit too close to home.

Once again, Williams’ artwork is gorgeous, and a perfect complement to the story she and Schneemann weave. This duo has produced another instant classic that I can’t wait to recommend to every young - and young at heart - reader.
123 reviews177 followers
January 31, 2024
I am an huge P&P fangirl. Huge. And I wonder if the P&P subplot in here was written for teens or for adult librarians and booksellers. It’s just so terribly on the nose: the Darcy character is Fitzgerald, Wickham is Jorge, and the English teacher is Mr. Collins. Britt’s younger sister is Lydia. Subtlety, thy name is not Look on the Bright Side.

The frank discussion of menstruation is what really made the first book stand out, but here it’s relegated to a minor plot point that handily resolves off page.

Also, I just really dislike that the lettering is straight sans serif typeface.

I’ll stick with recommending Go with the Flow because it really is something special.
Profile Image for Rachel.
15 reviews
June 4, 2024
Same as the other one, great book, same premise as the first one but more about other things like school, and relationships. But still talking about period problems. Overall, a great book and series.
Profile Image for Hailey.
244 reviews5 followers
December 17, 2023
love the female friend group with 2 friends dating representation
Profile Image for Eleonora.
5 reviews1 follower
January 15, 2024
Profondo e delicato, un elogio dell’amicizia più pura, di chi sceglie di esserci sempre e comunque, senza giudicare.
Profile Image for vanessa.
1,087 reviews148 followers
March 27, 2024
This is such a precious friend group. I enjoyed the first volume (Go with the Flow), but loved this one way more! I think it's because this is less focused on a singular issue (menstruation) and lets the friend group dynamic and each individual friend's issues shine on its own. They are going through normal teen girl growing pains: liking boys & girls, discovering their sexual identity, standing up for a more inclusive world, fearing failure at school, etc. The thing that makes it so special is the humor between the girls; they are overdramatic and silly, just like teen girls can be. But at the end of the day, the girls are there for each other, protect each other, and are great listeners/advice givers. This was just a sweet pick me up. I want to be in this friend group!
February 8, 2024
I certainly didn't expect a sequel to Go with the Flow, much as I wanted one, so I was delighted that this book existed! While GwtF focused heavily on normalizing periods and providing resources for people who have them, LotBS was, at its core, a continuation and examination of these girls' lives. There's discussion about crushes, coming out, creating a healthy school-life balance, and being true to yourself. I liked how Sasha needed to make boundaries with her boyfriend so she didn't neglect her schoolwork, and Bri having a true P&P-worthy love triangle (complete with confessions in the rain!) was such fun. But Abby and Christine's shifting dynamic was the best part - their feelings are explored and discussed so well.

I just love how strong the friendship is between these four - they're always willing to be honest with one another, lean on each other, and give and receive advice. It's lovely.

4/5 stars!
Profile Image for Nadina.
2,910 reviews5 followers
March 7, 2024
So I didn't realize that this was a sequel. My library hadn't classified it as part of a series, and I didn't actually read properly what this was about before checking it out.
While I will be going back to read the first volume, what is fabulous about this book is that it is okay if you have not. Maybe there is some history I am missing, but the characters were dynamic from the get go. The plot could stand on its own. I liked the artwork. It had a good pace.
It was an enjoyable book and I would absolutely recommend it to others.
Profile Image for maia.
260 reviews15 followers
July 17, 2024
SO CUTE LOVED 🥰 pretty chill but I liked that they expanded on the characters
July 10, 2024
UGH I LITERALLY AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK! the writing and plot is amazing! I love the LGBTQIA+ community part in it! I love how everyone gets a relationship. Also, the way Tom dyed his hair darker orange? OOOOOH IT WAS GOOD. I love this book and my favorite part was when Christine and Abby kissed AHHHH I WAS
PRACTICALLY EXPLODING. I love how Abby made the pads and tampons free. And how the principal is now a GIRL SLAY QUEEN ✨

-Honor a.k.a Ally 🏳️‍🌈
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for TheNextGenLibrarian.
2,452 reviews53 followers
December 1, 2023
A companion novel to the MG graphic novel Go With the Flow.
☀️
A new school year is starting and the girls all have big changes on the horizon. After getting Hazelton High to take period positivity and menstruation more seriously, Abby is ready to continue the fight. She joins the Unicorn Club for #lgbtqia and allies to learn and organize for her next cause. Christine has just come out to her friends, but not to Abby yet because she has serious feelings for her best friend. Brit is struggling with her feelings for the grumpy guy in her AP English class and the new cute boy who’s giving her attention. Sasha is happily in love, but when her boyfriend takes up too much of her time, her grades start to suffer. With all this change, can the girls stick together?
☀️
Go With the Flow was chosen for the @yartxla Maverick graphic novel reading list while I was on it so I had to read this follow up and was not disappointed in the least. I loved all the issues the girls dealt with because they were relatable and inclusive with the problems and concerns the two authors shared in the story. I can’t wait to see what they write next!

CW: endometriosis, wounds, surgery (discussed), coming out (theme)
Profile Image for eleanor :).
249 reviews3 followers
July 11, 2024
Ugh! So, so good!
I loved Go With The Flow and hoped a second book would be released for many years, so I took my time reading this one.

I love all the characters, they are all so relatable! My favorite is Brit because she is a huge fangirl like me!

I liked how the authors included talk of menstruation. It was not the main focus, like it was in book one, but it raised new points about who menstruates and what that can look like (spoiler alert: not just cisgender women)

ANYWAYS, I want another book! A third about the friend group’s high school graduation would be sweet :)
Profile Image for Danielle.
956 reviews
April 3, 2024
Quick chapters and a romp back with our friends from Go with the Flow made this graphic novel an absolute delight and breeze to read. I loved getting to know each of the characters a little bit better and the short chapters made this book read faster than most graphic novels. While these characters are a bit older than I would typically put in my 8th grade classroom, there is nothing that I would consider mature or "too old" for my students. This is very age appropriate for middle grade readers and deals with relationships and stressors in a way that is accessible for most readers.

I'll definitely be looking for a copy of this one to add to my classroom library!
Profile Image for Tianna Nicole.
9 reviews
May 23, 2024
This is great for high schoolers. The story is so modern and it touches on a lot of things teenagers are going through. Access to menstrual products in schools, crushes, keeping up with your grades, balancing relationships, crushing on a friend, etc. There’s also some cool queer representation!
Profile Image for J MaK.
243 reviews4 followers
February 24, 2024
Really good read and I have a continued appreciation for the friendship dynamic but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first install.
Profile Image for B.C. Spines.
535 reviews32 followers
October 31, 2023
Look on the Bright Side is the follow-up graphic novel to Go With the Flow, in which we check back in with our four main characters and follow them through the end of their summer break and into fall.

Told in brief vignettes demarked by calendar dates, the book follows Brit post-endometriosis surgery as she navigates a couple crushes on boys in her class, Sasha struggles with her confidence, Chris harbors a massive crush on Abby, and Abby tries to get menstrual products in all restrooms at her high school rather than just the women's room.

I love the friends' dynamic together and the illustrations are fun and sweet, and the inclusiveness of getting menstrual products in all restrooms is important and good. However, I do think that there were some plot points and character arcs that were underdeveloped and under-utilized. For example, we barely see Abby's process working on the menstrual product proposition, and it never really feels like Sasha gets to the root of her self-confidence issues. Brit's endometriosis isn't mentioned past the beginning, with the bulk of the graphic novel seeming to give most attention to Chris's crush on Abby. I enjoyed this, but think it could have gone deeper with these characters considering it's a sequel.
Profile Image for Jenna.
3,647 reviews46 followers
January 4, 2024
Enjoyable but not as strong of a tale as Go With the Flow, mostly due to how brief each chapter was, it felt like we were skimming all their character updates rather than actually experiencing them.
Profile Image for analytical_chaos.
333 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2024
A solid continuation from the first book. I enjoyed the explanations of endometriosis and adenomyosis. This book has a great portrayal of friendships and communication.
Profile Image for AitziST.
145 reviews5 followers
October 8, 2023
After Go with the Flow (the first adventure of four best friends, Brit, Abby, Christine and Sasha), I was eager to see if creators Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann would come back to Hazelton High for a second story. And this is it! A new year, new romances…

I must say, I think Look on the Bright Side could work as a standalone itself. Yes, there are instances where the characters are talking about things that happened in Go with the Flow, but I am pretty sure any reader would be able to understand what is going on without needing any more information. That said, I recommend everybody to go and check Go with the Flow as well.
Once more, the four friends are the most realistic high schoolers I read about in a while. Their dramas, their doubts… it feels so genuine that it makes you forget high school happened a long, long, long time ago.
Another positive aspect I would like to pinpoint is the topics chosen for this reunion. I was so happy to see the way in which endometriosis was explained! As a sufferer myself, there are not many instances where you can feel so seen and understood (I know this is an issue that has been getting more attention lately, but it was such a nice, warm surprise nonetheless). The topic of identity is very well described and shown as well. What Christine is feeling is clear in every page, her gestures and faces amazingly accurate, her fear of messing things up a true depiction of what the reader could be going through.

To sum up, Look on the Bright Side is both the perfect sequel to Go with the Flow and an amazing high school comic in its own right.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
2,563 reviews29 followers
December 18, 2023
It's junior year, and besties Christine, Brit, Sasha, and Abby have new challenges, now that they've won the fight to have free menstrual products available in school bathrooms. Brit, who loves regency romances, is (unbeknownst to her) in her own version of Pride and Prejudice. Her Wickham is a hot boy with lots of rizz who makes her feel good, but also always wants to copy her homework. Her Darcy is a grumpy, sometimes rude boy who has a hard time expressing that he likes her, and she misjudges him. Sasha has a boyfriend she spends tons of time with, but to the detriment of her high grades--and she knows it. But what if she loses him because she needs homework time? Abby is looking for a new cause, and joins the LGBTQ group to learn more, so she can help be supportive of all menstruating peoples' needs. Christine is suffering from a longtime crush on her best friend, and (almost) literally tearing her hair out to know whether to tell her or not--her other friends say, yes! As soon as possible! But what if Abby doesn't like her back?

This was just as good as the first book, if more focused on the girls' individual struggles rather than the issue of period products. The diverse characters are likeable and make believable mistakes, but are always good friends to each other even so. Though they are in high school, I think this is fine for middle schoolers; there's nothing too extreme or mature in it, and the friendship is really sweet. Readers who like Raina Telgemeier, Svetlana Chmakova, Victoria Jamieson, and Babysitters' Club graphic novels will like this believable school story.
Profile Image for Morgan.
467 reviews1 follower
May 3, 2023
This highly anticipated follow-up to Eisner award-winning Go With the Flow delivers! Look on the Bright Side brings readers back to Hazelton High and the lives of Brit, Abby, Christine, and Sasha.

Abby's discouraged by reduced viewership of her blog and struggling in school. Christine has feelings for BFF Abby, and debates whether she can tell her without risking their friendship. Brit recently underwent surgery to reduce symptoms of endometriosis. Now back at school, she's confused by the cute boy in her class always wanting her help, and the other cute boy who's standoffish. And Sasha is head over heels for her first boyfriend, but avoiding homework and ditching friends to spend time with him.

As the four friends struggle to find their footing during a new school year, their unique journeys with online presence, dealing with health concerns, setting relationship boundaries and complicated crushes are highlighted. To make it through with their friendships intact, they'll need to communicate, keep an open mind, and be vulnerable.

This endearing and inspiring glimpse at growing up will appeal to high school readers who love coming of age and social justice realistic fiction. Recommended for all high school and public libraries.
Profile Image for Deborah Zeman.
927 reviews31 followers
May 26, 2023
A wonderful follow up to Go With the Flow, as the reader reads about the new paths Brit, Abby, Christine & Sasha are navigating as they a new year at Hazelton High. Friendships are tested, feelings are tested. Brit’s storyline, a nod to Pride & Prejudice was a favorite. Christine is struggling with her feelings for Abby & Sasha is over her head in her new relationship, which is starting to affect her grades. Can the girls make it through the new year without too many meltdowns? Perfect addition to your library GN collection!

A new year of school is starting, and Brit finds herself struggling with feelings for a seemingly rude boy from class who might have a soft side. Meanwhile, Christine can't deny that she likes her best friend Abby...as more than just a friend. The only question is, does Abby have feelings for Christine, too? And will their feelings for each other mess things up in their friend group?

Misunderstandings, betrayal, and jealousy are bound to get in the way.

But hey! Look on the bright side: They’re in this together. Always.
Profile Image for Carin.
Author 1 book117 followers
October 5, 2023
I loved Go With the Flow so it wasn’t a stretch to jump into this sequel!

The four protagonists are continuing in high school with love interests, boyfriends, balancing schoolwork with life, and of course still dealing with the struggles that come with being born female. In this one, in addition to one character going through recovery after surgery to hopefully correct her endometriosis, we have one girl whose period barely happens, which also isn’t usually a topic. And one of the girls has a crush on another one, and is worried if she says something and it isn’t reciprocated, will she ruin their friendship? Also, be amused by one of the four plots being based on Pride & Prejudice. I haven’t seen before where a plotline based on a classic is only 1/4 of a book.

It was cute and fun and I whipped through it. A nice younger YA graphic novel with a lot of content and yet it didn’t feel overwhelming or confusing–it just flowed.

This book is published by First Second, a division of Macmillan, my employer, so I read it for free.
Profile Image for Matt Glaviano.
1,148 reviews15 followers
January 7, 2024
3.5

This less focused sequel to Go With the Flow starts off pretty slow. If it seems like there's no real plot, it's because... there's not. This is how school years go, isn't it? If there's a story arc, it's often hard to see in the day to day of it all. It takes a while to see where things are going and how they're going to develop.

I'm glad to visit with these characters again. I like watching them struggle and grow in their various realistic plot arcs. Not sure which story was most successful - the friends struggling with feelings for each other and the friend dealing with being used for her smarts were both compelling stories. Less compelling was the friend slacking on school work because of her boyfriend; that one felt half baked and tacked on.

Points deducted for all of the characters being in relationships at the end. I wish there had been a character who was not experiencing the various stages of infatuation. When it's all the main characters, it makes it seem like something all people should/want to experience, which is not the case.
Profile Image for J H.
15 reviews
January 27, 2024
Summary:
Sequel to the beloved graphic novel “Go With The Flow”. This graphic novel answers readers’ question of “what’s next” for the four friends: new loves, discovering identity, and tackling the future.

Likes:
Still love the art style.
Quicker storytelling than the first book.
Moves away from Periods and into LGBTQA+ identity and navigating romantic relationships.
Good graphic novel for coming of age.

Comments:
This one is more lighthearted than the first graphic novel. The first book was a good standalone, but this one felt more like a treat for readers! These four friends are lovable characters so who wouldn't want to know what happen next in their lives?
This focuses more on romantic relationships developing between the two friends and one girl who develops a crush on her classmate.

I'd give it a 4.3/5!


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