Bloom Sequel Coming in Two Years

I appreciate how much work goes into a well-crafted graphic novel, but darn! It’s so hard to wait for a good story.

Bloom, a charming coming-of-age romance by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau published by First Second in 2019, will have a followup. This story of two young men falling in love at a family bakery while thinking about how to start their “real life” is a slow rise, much like bread. It took a while to grow on me, but now I recall the story with fondness, and I’d like to see more of these characters.

Bloom Part II is due in Fall 2023, according to The Beat. Here’s the synopsis:

It’s been over a year since the end of the first book, and Ari is still working at his family’s bakery, while Hector has moved away to finish up culinary school. They’re happy, but they miss each other, so Ari decides to visit Hector at school. As Ari tries to navigate Hector’s world for the first time, he struggles to find his place.

Mix in lots of baking, romance, and a look at how Ari’s parents fell in love, and we’ve ended up with a story that we’re really excited to share with everyone!

Here’s a promo piece, showing the style and aqua coloring that was so lovely in the previous book.

Visit the Beat for additional character sketches.