Les Normaux - Volume 1

A joyful, queer slice-of-life romance set in a fantastical version of Paris – perfect for fans of Heartstopper

Sébastien has recently left the human world and moved to the supernatural version of Paris to attend magical university. He harbours a lot of guilt about leaving his family behind and is nervous about making friends and starting anew in the city. On a night out, he ends up kissing a handsome vampire and fleeing awkwardly – only to stumble upon the self-same vampire virtually on his doorstep the next morning. It turns out he and Elia live in the same building, and as their paths keep crossing they each feel an irresistible pull drawing them ever closer. But they both have insecurities holding them back – with a little help from their motley crews of friends, will they ever be able to finally muster the courage to give this romance a shot?

Les Normaux - Volume 2

Elia and Sébastien have been spending quality one-on-one time together and growing closer, but the arrival of Elia’s loving but controlling family in Paris for a big campaign sweeps him up into their drama and expectations once again. Will their matchmaking attempts drive a wedge between Elia and Sébastien, or will they help Elia finally realise what it is he really wants?

In the meantime, Ronnie and Drew are thrown into one another’s orbits again as it turns out Drew is the new bartender at Ronnie’s favourite venue. An unofficial turf war begins: but are they squabbling so hard because they can’t stand one another – or is it something else entirely?

About the author and illustrator:

Al (he/she/they) is a teaching artist from O'ahu, Hawai'i with a background in graphic design that allows him to do most of the lettering and typography found in Les Normaux (in fact, the main font was designed by him!)

Janine (aka J.J.) has been drawing ever since she could hold a pencil, resulting in a BA in illustration and MA in animation. She loves telling stories about oddballs in society, and has been sharing them online as webcomics since 2013. She lives in the south of the Netherlands, but is travelling the world every day in her mind.

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‘One of my favourite webcomics of all time.’ — Alice Oseman, author of Heartstopper on Les Normaux

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‘I’m pacing the floor waiting for the next installment.’ — The New York Times

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‘This gentle comic is full of fun supernatural shenanigans! And also a cranky rabbit!’ — Book Riot

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‘A whimsical sweet-and-sexy romp that reminded me just how FUN romance can be! What an utter delight.’ — Erin Sterling, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Hex and The Wedding Witch

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UK Publisher: Bloomsbury, February 2025

UK Editor: Vicky Leech

US Publisher: Avon, February 2025

US Editor: Tessa Woodward

Primary agent: Christabel McKinley

Film/TV agent: DHA (Georgie Smith)

Extent: 336 pages

Illustrations: Full colour by JJ

Co-Agents: Chinese - Andrew Nurnberg Associates; Japanese - Tuttle-Mori

Rights Sold: Dutch - Luitingh-Sijthoff; French - Casterman; German - Loewe; Italian - De Agostini; Polish - Foksal; Portuguese in Brazil - Companhia das Letras; Portuguese in Portugal - PRH Portugal; Spanish - Planeta.

UK Publisher: Bloomsbury, January 2026

UK Editor: Vicky Leech

US Publisher: Avon, January 2026

US Editor: Tessa Woodward

Primary agent: Christabel McKinley

Film/TV agent: DHA (Georgie Smith)

Extent: 288 pages

Illustrations: Full colour by JJ

Co-Agents: Chinese - Andrew Nurnberg Associates; Japanese - Tuttle-Mori

Rights Sold: Dutch - Luitingh-Sijthoff; French - Casterman; German - Loewe; Polish - Foksal; Portuguese in Brazil - Companhia das Letras; Spanish - Planeta.

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‘Les Normaux is pure serotonin. It's just about the most adorable thing I've read in a long time, with a completely precious cast of characters and art I got lost in.’ — Cat Sebastian, author of You Should Be So Lucky

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‘You know that “Ahhh” feeling you get when someone massages your shoulders just right? That’s what I felt like while reading Les Normaux. This alternative Paris-set story was the perfect escape from the never-ending busy-ness of the real world.’ — Kaia Alderson, author of In a League of Her Own

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‘With gorgeous art and characters you’ll fall in love with, Les Normaux is a delight that will leave readers clamoring for more. It perfectly captures the first flutters of budding romance along with the pure joy of building a found family who love you as you are. I can’t wait to see what Janine Janssen does next!’ — Jessie Mihalik, author of Hunt the Stars

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‘Will become a favorite for fans of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper and Jasmine Walls’s Brooms.’ — Library Journal, starred review

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‘In this gorgeous graphic novel, humor, raw emotion, and sizzling romance come together for a sensational queer paranormal about love and friendship’ — Shelf Awareness, starred review

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‘Fans of cozy fantasy will be happy to follow these amiable characters on the winding path to love.’ — Publishers Weekly

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