Boo Meadows is back in this entrancing second installment of her story: a vibrant teen with pink hair, a boundless imagination, and a growing struggle to keep fantasy separate from reality. While she dreams of grand balls and magical battles, her real life is tangled with emotional upheaval, school and job pressures, and an intense crush on the girl who makes her heart race.
After finally escaping the chaos of her alcoholic mother’s home, Boo is searching for a sense of stability. But with her girlfriend Mimi’s disapproving mother looming, Boo starts to wonder: is trading one toxic environment for another really a step forward?
I don’t know why but the bubblegum pink happy colour vibes of the art paired with the darker themes this series portrays just vibes with me. It feels jarring at times yet at others it serves almost like a beacon of hope that brighter days are still to come, even when the present does not look like it. It reminds me a lot of She-Ra, so if you love that series’ artistic style, you’re sure to love Rainbow as well.
There are also so many small details in the art that I love—from Boo’s stretchmarks to the way Mimi’s hair just flops a certain way when her mood shifts, it makes the characters feel even more alive and as if they’re ready to jump off the page. You can tell the effort that went into this to make sure readers are fully immersed in this beautiful graphic novel.
Similarly, Boo’s vivid imagination is portrayed in such a lovely and heartwarming way. It’s her refuge when things in reality don’t make sense to her but also offers her a whole new perspective on who she is as a person. I especially enjoyed that Mimi just runs with it and engages with Boo’s fantasies rather than ignore or be annoyed by them. It shows that these two were a match made in heaven!
And speaking of Boo and Mimi: I loved the slow progression of their romance! While Boo realises quite quickly that she has feelings for Mimi, the scene where she comes to that realisation was just so heartwarming. I wish everyone got to experience that sort of safe setting when they choose to come out. Mimi, meanwhile, had a whole different struggle to face as her mother is very queerphobic and her father struggles to stand up to her. I loved how fiercely she protected her identity and called out her dad for having to do better if he truly loves her. A reminder that love is unconditional and should never be taken for granted.
What I will say is that the dark themes here hurt just as much as they did in volume one and I highly encourage readers not to be fooled by the cutesy art—there is real depth here that will make you either feel like you can relate or at the very least have empathy for Boo and Mimi’s personal struggles. The struggles are well-balanced with moments of levity and support from corners where you might not expect it from.
Overall, this is a wholesome, whimsical sequel to Rainbow! Vol. 1 that invites readers to dive back into the magic of Boo’s happily ever after – a hard-won, cathartic one at that!
Rainbow! Vol. 2 is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of May 6th 2025.
Will you be picking up Rainbow! Vol. 2? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Heartstopper meets Magical Boy in this heartwarming YA graphic novel full of heart, adorable illustrations, and a storyline every teenager can relate to.
Teenager Boo Meadows’s story continues in this second volume! With pink hair and a very vivid imagination, Boo has trouble separating from the real world. In her daydreams, she dances beautifully at balls or fights monsters as a magical girl. In reality, she has a complicated home life, work stress, school stress, and a wicked crush on the girl of her dreams.
After life became too toxic to endure, Boo has moved out of her alcoholic mother’s house. Can Boo and Mimi stick together? And is dealing with Mimi’s unapproving mother any better than Boo’s mom?
