There’s something undeniably enchanting about stories that blur the line between dreams and reality—and Before We Wake by Sophia Glock does exactly that in the most visually stunning way. Published by Little, Brown Ink and on tour with Toppling Stacks Tours, this young adult graphic novel combines ethereal romance, emotional healing, and breathtaking artwork into a story that lingers long after you close the final page.
With the dreaminess of Lore Olympus and the magic of The Girl from the Sea, Glock crafts a romantic, paranormal story that explores grief, self-worth, and the longing to escape into something brighter.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the book and my honest review.
A Story Split Between Two Worlds
Alicia is haunted by a recurring dream—one that feels more vivid and alive than her waking life. Struggling under the weight of her father’s death, she moves through the real world in muted tones, emotionally guarded and unsure of herself. When she discovers a book about lucid dreaming, everything begins to shift. Alicia learns to take control of her dreams, and suddenly her nighttime world becomes a place of possibility, beauty, and unexpected romance.
When her best friend’s boyfriend appears in her dreamworld, sparks fly. But things take a complicated turn when he reveals—while awake—that he remembers everything that happened in their shared dreams.
From there, the story becomes a delicate balancing act between guilt, desire, grief, and self-discovery.
The Illustrations: A Masterclass in Visual Storytelling
One of the most remarkable aspects of Before We Wake is its intentional and emotionally driven color palette.
The waking world is rendered in blacks, whites, greys, and minimal color—visually echoing Alicia’s grief and emotional numbness. It feels quiet. Constrained. Heavy.
But the dream world? It bursts with soft, luminous, and vivid color. The contrast is breathtaking. The dream sequences glow with warmth and possibility, making them feel alive in a way that the waking world simply doesn’t. The shift between the two realms is seamless and powerful, reinforcing the emotional stakes of the story without needing excessive exposition.
I absolutely loved this artistic choice. It’s subtle, thoughtful, and incredibly effective.
Romance That Feels Real
The romance in this story is beautifully done. It’s tender and electric all at once. The dream setting gives their connection an almost surreal intensity, yet their emotional interactions feel grounded and authentic.
There’s tension—not just because of the circumstances (hello, best friend’s boyfriend!), but because Alicia herself is wrestling with insecurity and grief. The romance isn’t just about attraction; it’s about vulnerability.
Glock handles this dynamic thoughtfully, allowing the relationship to grow naturally rather than rushing it. Even when complicated, the feelings feel genuine. It’s messy in the way first love often is.
And honestly? I loved it.
Grief, Growth, and Self-Confidence
Alicia is a sympathetic and relatable protagonist. She’s navigating the trauma of losing her father, and that grief seeps into every part of her life. Her lack of self-confidence makes sense in context—she’s emotionally untethered, unsure of her place in the world.
That said, I did wish we saw more growth earlier on. It felt like it took a while for Alicia to step into her own strength. I found myself wanting her to believe in herself sooner, to recognize her worth beyond the dream world.
However, when that growth does come, it feels earned. It’s subtle rather than dramatic, but it aligns with the quieter emotional tone of the story.
The Magic of Dreams… or Something More?
The dream mechanics are intriguing. The idea of shared lucid dreams and mutual memory adds a fascinating layer to the story’s romantic tension. Still, I found myself wanting a bit more explanation or expansion of the magical elements.
Is this purely lucid dreaming? Is there something supernatural at play? The story leans into the emotional experience rather than fully unpacking the “how” behind it, which works thematically—but I wouldn’t have minded a little more depth or world-building in that area.
That said, the ambiguity does lend the story a dreamy, almost mythic quality. It keeps readers slightly off-balance, mirroring Alicia’s own uncertainty.
Final Thoughts
Before We Wake is an ethereal, emotionally layered graphic novel that blends romance and dreamlike magic with thoughtful storytelling and gorgeous art. Its exploration of grief and self-doubt feels authentic, and its romantic arc is heartfelt and compelling.
While I would have loved a bit more clarity around the dream elements and a faster arc of personal growth for Alicia, the overall experience was immersive and visually stunning.
This is a story about holding yourself back—and what it might take to finally let go.
If you love young adult romances with magical undertones, striking art, and emotional depth, this one deserves a spot on your shelf.
I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what Sophia Glock creates next.
About the Book:
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel
Publishing date: February 24, 2026
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Synopsis:
With the dreaminess of Lore Olympus and the magic of The Girl from the Sea, here is an ethereal, paranormal romance that plays out between a waking life that feels muted and a world of lucid dreams that sparkles in full color.
Haunted by a recurring dream, Alicia borrows a book about lucid dreaming, and soon learns to take control of her sleeping life. She welcomes the arrival of her best friend’s boyfriend in her dreamworld, and soon sparks start to fly. But then he admits, when they are both awake, that he remembers everything that happened while they were asleep. Suddenly, Alicia’s dream life has become as complicated as her waking one.
In this electrifying graphic novel, Glock whisks readers on a head‑spinning romantic dream odyssey, exploring the ways in which we hold ourselves back—and what it will take to let our wildest dreams come true.
Content Warning: grief and loss
Meet the Author:
Sophia Glock is a cartoonist and the author of the graphic memoir Passport. Her comics and cartoons have been published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Buzzfeed, Narratively, and Time Out New York. Her work has also been featured in various anthologies including, Ink Brick, Digestate, and The Graphic Canon of Crime & Mystery, Vol. 1. Her collection of comics Born, Not Raised was selected to be included in The Society of Illustrators Cartoon and Comics Art Annual 2016 and her short comic The Secrets in My Mother’s Nightstand was shortlisted for The Cartoonist Studio Prize for Best Web Comic of the Year in 2016. She is also the author of The Lettuce Girl, SemiSolid, Over Ripe and Passport: Fig. She currently lives in Virginia.