 | Smile like yours Author: Thomas, Emily | |
| Price: $15.57 | ||
Summary:
Rhys Moore is worried as he starts his first year of university. And not just about the usual things. Rhys has face blindness, which means he struggles to recognize and remember people's faces. He has ways of coping, but they don't always work, so he isn't sure how to manage being around so many new people. There is one bright note, though. Malcolm. He's caring and kind, and he's empathetic when Rhys finally reveals his disability to him. In graphic novel format.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (04/15/26)
School Library Journal (+) (03/01/26)
Booklist (06/01/26)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/06/26)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 06/01/2026 Beginning university is a terrifying experience for any young person, but for Welsh first-year student Rhys, it’s made even more daunting by his prosopagnosia or face-blindness. Fortunately, his peers are also navigating homesickness while learning to take care of themselves, and fairly quickly, Rhys becomes especially close with a kind, gentle boy named Malcolm. Rhys’ feelings for Malcolm begin to deepen into something else as they settle in at school, but things get complicated when Malcolm discloses that he has a long-distance girlfriend. Still, the spark between the two is undeniable, and inevitable romance ensues. Plenty of squee-worthy moments accompany thoughtful discussions of Rhys’ disability and Malcolm’s biromantic, asexual identity. An expansively diverse cast is drawn in mostly monochromatic purple, with more colors used to indicate Rhys’ ability to recognize people based on hair, voice, and other features. A note about prosopagnosia from an advocate, along with author’s notes about the condition, provide extra context. This warm and widely representative tale will be loved by fans of the Heartstopper series and Kevin Panetta's Bloom (2019). - Copyright 2026 Booklist.
