Today on the site, I’m delighted to reveal the cover for Stacey Anthony’s Breakup, Makeup, a m/nb YA romance releasing May 9, 2023 from Running Press Kids! Here’s the story:

Lovers turned cosplay rivals go head-to-head for a chance at their dream school . . . a maybe a second chance at love. 

Eli Peterson is a self-taught, up-and-coming makeup artist in the cosplay scene who is barely making ends meet. While they might be slaying it with their breathtaking looks, they’re also trying to save enough money for top surgery and convince their parents that their artistic dream is worthwhile. During a convention, Eli hears about Makeup Wars, a competition that could change everything . . .

The grand prize? A scholarship to Beyond, the best SFX school on the West Coast. The problem? Going head-to-head with the most talented up-and-coming makeup artists in the scene—including rival influencer Zachary Miller, their ex-boyfriend. Eli will have to juggle their makeup brushes, their rekindled feelings for Zach, and their self-doubt in order to win everything they’ve ever wanted: a chance to chase their dream and a second chance at love.

And here’s the cover, illustrated by Ricardo Bessa!

(Alt text: Two makeup influencers standing side-by-side in front of a countertop crowded with an assortment of makeup, cosplay materials, and costuming.)

Buy it: Bookshop | B&N | Amazon | Indigo | IndieBound

Stacey Anthony (they/them) is a non-binary tabletop gamer, amateur cosplayer, big time reader, excitable introvert, and a devoted pet parent. They collect patches from national parks, complain their way through yoga poses, and love to write happily ever afters. https://staceyanthony.carrd.co