(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through NetGalley.)

Bassist Izzy Plata is nothing if not a perfectionist, thanks in no small part to the elevated sense of hearing her werewolf form affords her. When she's kicked out of her latest band, the Iguanoids, she wastes no time forming a new one - with the ghost of Geraldine Dukes, a jazz musician who died ten years ago in a freak accident. Now Geraldine waits tables at Bloodmoon Bites, where the milkshakes give her spectral form just enough density to play the piano in between shifts. Rounding out the group is drummer Delilah Schwartzman, formerly of Vulture Brides, and Izzy's longtime rival.

The trio hope to win Battle of the Band, but it won't be easy - not with Dee's former band mate Dylan trying to sabotage them, and especially not with the animosity (and sexual tension?!?!) simmering between Izzy and Dee.

I really enjoyed Balazs Lorinczi's previous graphic novel, DOUGHNUTS AND DOOM, and WOLFPITCH has the same offbeat vibe, both in terms of the artwork and storytelling. The supernatural is just part of our world, no explanation needed, and werewolves, ghosts, and humans all live side by side. The story is overflowing with fun elements, like Geraldine's milkshake-fueled body (and the milkshake-flavored slime it leaves behind); Izzy's change-day story; and the enemies-to-lovers plot involving a certain pair of prickly musicians. Even the secondary characters are memorable, from Geraldine's hip boss Terry to Dee's sweet-as-pie ex-band mate Ron, who simply does not know the meaning of the word "grudge."

There's also really great representation and some lovely portrayals of female friendship. I definitely can't wait to see what Lorinczi comes up with next - he's now on my insta-read list. ( )

* reviewed from eARC via netgalley *

LGBTQAI+ graphic novel with werewolves, a ghost, and a drummer with a grudge (teen/adult, but content is PG-13 so could also be ok for middlegraders) --
20-something-year-old werewolf-perfectionist bass player/songwriter Izzy (Isabella Plata), ghost waitress/jazz pianist Geraldine Dukes (paid in free milkshakes so that she can keep her semi-solid form); and sexy, sharp-tongued drummer Delilah Schwartzman with a longtime grudge against Izzy form a new rock group to compete in the Battle of Bands. Takes place in an unnamed city in the UK.

super cute enemies-to-lovers love story from the creator of Doughnuts and Doom, with an inclusive cast of incidentally diverse people still so rarely seen in books. Izzy in her human form turns out to be deaf, a disability that she is still uncomfortable with, so this isn't really a Deaf-positive book, but I appreciate that people with eyepatches or hijab can be portrayed as regular, normal people in the way that they should be. More, please!

march 2024 bingo challenge: takes place in a theater, character in a rock band, includes an epilogue (takes place in the winter after the main story events), deaf character, graphic novel, takes place in spring (end of year school talent show). ( )