Phoebe is nine, and her best friend is a unicorn. She has other friends, at school. But when she’s not in school, she spends time with Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. Marigold and Phoebe talk about everything, from how Marigold is in therapy to how Phoebe is struggling with the popular girls at school.

These gentle comics includes stories about how a unicorn invented Swiss cheese, dweebness appreciation lessons, and the curse of the earworm. And Phoebe decides to write a comic of her own, so she has to figure out how to come up with ideas and and make them work with the illustrations.

But as Phoebe is working on her comic, she realizes that she has a secret from her BFF Marigold. Phoebe has a crush on another unicorn. So then she has to figure out how to tell Marigold and what to do about her feelings. But no matter what happens, Phoebe and Marigold will still be friends, because if there were ever sparkle soulmates, it’s Phoebe and her unicorn.

Author/illustrator Dana Simpson is back with a new addition to her popular Phoebe and Her Unicorn series. Unicorn Crush is the 19th book in the series, and it’s filled with the same bright, colorful, whimsical illustrations that bring Phoebe’s and Marigold’s separate worlds together. Their friendship is sweet and honest, but with the snark and imagination of a nine-year-old girl who is known for being a little weird.

I am a big fan of the Phoebe and the Unicorn series. Even though it’s been more than a few years since I was nine myself, these books remind me of being a kid, of trying to make friends at school, of having that one friend who will accept you no matter how weird you get. I can see how kids would love this series, but I also love to open one and visit with Marigold and Phoebe during a stressful week, so I think these are great books for anyone. And I love how this friendship just keeps growing. I am in for as long as Phoebe and Her Unicorn are.

Egalleys for Unicorn Crush were provided by Andrews McMeel Publishing through Edelweiss, with many thanks.