Books, Iced Coffee & A Side Of Dragons by Amanda Lovelace & Raquel Trave

Sometimes, a sugar rush is exactly what you need to get you through the day.

Books, Iced Coffee & A Side Of Dragons is the graphic novel equivalent of a fully loaded iced coffee that you know probably isn’t the healthiest choice for you but is, at least in the moment, a much-needed bit of self-care. It’s a gentle romance presented in vignettes, where the stakes never seem very high because you already know that everything will work out in the end. The most fantastical element here tho are the presence of small dragons, which are treated as household pets and occasional helpers, depending on their attributes and abilities. That aside, this story is very much based on our world, down to the discriminatory politics and health care policies.

Anyway, Luci has recently opened a bookstore on the Jersey Shore that features, among other titles, plenty of LGBTQIA+ representation. Business is slow, but her cheerful assistant August is always ready with a pep talk, whether it comes to running the book store or chatting up Aster, the friendly coffee shop owner next door whom Luci has a crush on. But Luci is shy, and therefore stunned when Aster gives her her number on a coffee cup sleeve. Luci is too afraid to call… until she finds a dragon stuck up a tree and needs help fast. Aster practically flies to the rescue, kicking off a charming romance that is not, however, without its share of obstacles.

This is a feel-good love story that is wonderfully friendly to all sorts of sexual orientations and gender identities. I love that Aster is trans, and that all the main characters can have frank but respectful conversations while taking care of one another. The dragons are an adorable addition that add whimsy and the occasional touch of humor to the proceedings. The whole thing is the coziest of urban romantasies.

Raquel Trave’s art suits it all perfectly, from the cute line art to the wonderful colors. The digital edition I had on my PC made it a little hard to read some of the fun t-shirt slogans and book titles but that is entirely a me-problem. On the plus side, it’ll give me the chance to hunt down a physical copy the next time I’m in a bookstore, so I can see what I’ve missed!

Books, Iced Coffee & A Side Of Dragons by Amanda Lovelace & Raquel Trave was published August 25 2026 by Andrews McMeel Publishing and is available from all good booksellers, including