kassimesserly's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5
Overall, I think I did enjoy this book. It was very creatively written, I enjoyed the characters (most of the time), and I loved the author. But, I did have some issues. Even though I thought it was neat that the author included snippets of the actual comic in the book, it just confused me. I didn't understand the story line or any of the characters in the comics so it was just confusing. Maybe that was the point, but I think it would have been better if there were just the drawings with no text.
Also, I get that Eliza has very bad anxiety and social anxiety, but she annoyed me at times. She seemed a tad over dramatic. For example, for most of the beginning of the book it talks about how obsessed Eliza is with her comic. She can never post late, she can't disappoint her fans, and she works on the comic day and night. The all the sudden, she just can't finish the little bit she has left, she can't look at her phone, her computer. It was so over the top for me and all she kept saying was "I just can't, I just can't". It was so annoying.
The last issue I had were her weird texting buddies, Emmy and Max. I understand they help her with website and help manage it. I get it , I do, but... Why the extreme age gap?! Why would a 22, a 14, an 18 year old have that kind of relationship? It was weird, wasn't a fan.
If you enjoy heart breaking mental health stories, this should be for you. Like I said, I enjoyed it mostly overall. It was cute and funny at times. Other than the issues I had, it was a good read.
Overall, I think I did enjoy this book. It was very creatively written, I enjoyed the characters (most of the time), and I loved the author. But, I did have some issues. Even though I thought it was neat that the author included snippets of the actual comic in the book, it just confused me. I didn't understand the story line or any of the characters in the comics so it was just confusing. Maybe that was the point, but I think it would have been better if there were just the drawings with no text.
Also, I get that Eliza has very bad anxiety and social anxiety, but she annoyed me at times. She seemed a tad over dramatic. For example, for most of the beginning of the book it talks about how obsessed Eliza is with her comic. She can never post late, she can't disappoint her fans, and she works on the comic day and night. The all the sudden, she just can't finish the little bit she has left, she can't look at her phone, her computer. It was so over the top for me and all she kept saying was "I just can't, I just can't". It was so annoying.
The last issue I had were her weird texting buddies, Emmy and Max. I understand they help her with website and help manage it. I get it , I do, but... Why the extreme age gap?! Why would a 22, a 14, an 18 year old have that kind of relationship? It was weird, wasn't a fan.
If you enjoy heart breaking mental health stories, this should be for you. Like I said, I enjoyed it mostly overall. It was cute and funny at times. Other than the issues I had, it was a good read.
medeiros_kaylee05's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked the book but hated the characters for most of it. Just bc they messed up a lot lol
vinterthunder's review against another edition
5.0
OMG! This is so good. I’m sure I’ll read it again soon.
maryaakkad's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars
Wow. Umm...review to come. I need to breathe first, this book was exhausting.
Wow. Umm...review to come. I need to breathe first, this book was exhausting.
dannycakez8808's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I didnt know what to expect from this story but I am so glad to have read it. Eliza is such a relatable and well thought out character. I enjoyed the anxiety/introvert rep that this book featured. Also the complicated family relationships that this book highkisted were very relatable. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Contemporary and to any Rainbow Rowell fans!
I didnt know what to expect from this story but I am so glad to have read it. Eliza is such a relatable and well thought out character. I enjoyed the anxiety/introvert rep that this book featured. Also the complicated family relationships that this book highkisted were very relatable. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Contemporary and to any Rainbow Rowell fans!
ffilippa's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. This was actually surprisingly good and nothing like I had expected it to be (which is a good thing, as it turned out to exceed my expectations!). I really liked the easy-going writing style, and the fact that the book was fast-paced and rather devouring. I had a few problems with the book, including Eliza (mostly in the first 250 pages), and the comic parts. Otherwise, it was quite cutesy, entertaining and fun... while still dealing with important, and common, issues. Now I'm interested in reading Francesca Zappia's other book, Made You Up!
taylorreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
“She drew so many monsters that she became a monster herself.”
This book is amazing. I read it through in one sitting because I just couldn’t stop. I’m so happy Owlcrate included it in their May Comic Explosion box!
Eliza is the creator of an extremely popular webcomic called Monstrous Sea and the book provided amazing drawings and snippets from this webcomic that the author Francesca Zappia drew HERSELF! How cool! I’m hoping the author will pull a Rainbow Rowell and release a graphic novel of Monstrous Sea, I would read that in a heartbeat. Anyways back to Eliza. She has build this fandom empire from her webcomic, there are tons of people writing fanfic about it, and subscribing to the webcomic. She has an online shop with merchandise that has done so well that she doesn’t even have to worry about paying for college. She is an internet goddess going by the name of LadyConstellation. But offline and outside of her bedroom she is just weird Eliza that people steer clear of. Until she meets Wallace who is the biggest fan of Monstrous Seas and they begin the cutest of awkward friendships!
“There is a small monster in my brain that controls my doubt.
The doubt itself is a stupid thing, without sense or feeling, blind and straining at the end of a long chain. The monster though, is smart. It’s always watching, and when I am completely sure of myself, it unchains the doubt and lets it run wild. even when I know it’s coming, I can’t stop it.”
I really loved Eliza. I can relate to her so well. Well other then drawing being her outlet, I can’t draw to save my life but I do love to read, to lose myself in a story far far away from my reality. Eliza is friendless IRL (by choice), she has two close friends online that she shares everything with. She doesn’t do well in social situations and steers clear of them if she can, as someone with social anxiety I can relate and sympathize. She feels like no one understands her but her online friends. And then she meets Wallace, who also has a stressful time dealing with social situations. I loved their weird little relationship so much! Wallace helps draw Eliza out of her shell a little bit. I also loved Eliza’s younger brothers. She thinks that they don’t really like her but after her secret is released into the world they really had her back. That hit me in the feels.
I appreciate that more and more books are being written about mental illnesses. It helps to know that other suffer too, that your not alone. And it shows those who get to live a normal life what others have to deal with. That we are still people too, just with monsters we have to live with.
I loved this book so much! It might be my favorite release of the year and definitely my favorite that has come in Owlcrate! I highly recommend reading it!
This book is amazing. I read it through in one sitting because I just couldn’t stop. I’m so happy Owlcrate included it in their May Comic Explosion box!
Eliza is the creator of an extremely popular webcomic called Monstrous Sea and the book provided amazing drawings and snippets from this webcomic that the author Francesca Zappia drew HERSELF! How cool! I’m hoping the author will pull a Rainbow Rowell and release a graphic novel of Monstrous Sea, I would read that in a heartbeat. Anyways back to Eliza. She has build this fandom empire from her webcomic, there are tons of people writing fanfic about it, and subscribing to the webcomic. She has an online shop with merchandise that has done so well that she doesn’t even have to worry about paying for college. She is an internet goddess going by the name of LadyConstellation. But offline and outside of her bedroom she is just weird Eliza that people steer clear of. Until she meets Wallace who is the biggest fan of Monstrous Seas and they begin the cutest of awkward friendships!
“There is a small monster in my brain that controls my doubt.
The doubt itself is a stupid thing, without sense or feeling, blind and straining at the end of a long chain. The monster though, is smart. It’s always watching, and when I am completely sure of myself, it unchains the doubt and lets it run wild. even when I know it’s coming, I can’t stop it.”
I really loved Eliza. I can relate to her so well. Well other then drawing being her outlet, I can’t draw to save my life but I do love to read, to lose myself in a story far far away from my reality. Eliza is friendless IRL (by choice), she has two close friends online that she shares everything with. She doesn’t do well in social situations and steers clear of them if she can, as someone with social anxiety I can relate and sympathize. She feels like no one understands her but her online friends. And then she meets Wallace, who also has a stressful time dealing with social situations. I loved their weird little relationship so much! Wallace helps draw Eliza out of her shell a little bit. I also loved Eliza’s younger brothers. She thinks that they don’t really like her but after her secret is released into the world they really had her back. That hit me in the feels.
I appreciate that more and more books are being written about mental illnesses. It helps to know that other suffer too, that your not alone. And it shows those who get to live a normal life what others have to deal with. That we are still people too, just with monsters we have to live with.
I loved this book so much! It might be my favorite release of the year and definitely my favorite that has come in Owlcrate! I highly recommend reading it!
natcommon's review against another edition
5.0
Why did I wait so long to read this? I’m scolding myself. Love this book. It speaks to high school me and me now I’m so many different ways. Read it, if you like fandoms and awesomeness.
mariekev's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dreamchronicler8's review against another edition
3.0
Okay okay. I didn't think it was. BAD book... Loved the mental health rep! But I was not a friend of Eliza... And the romance was cute but I didn't feel any real chemistry. I wish we would have seen more of her friends and brothers. I felt like i knew what was gonna happen and was just waiting for it to happen. So all and all I liked reading it but I wasn't a big fan of... A majority of the book