vixenreader's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A slice of a young memory, this graphic novel explores what it means to get wrapped up in the energy of one person and figuring out where you want your energy to go to. 

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laurel_leaves1023's review against another edition

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emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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daniellekat's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

A realistic look at the evolution of friendships. As always the art was top tier and the storytelling was masterful. I didn't love the ending but I loved how this felt like a sequel to This One Summer

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I love Jillian Tamaki's art, honestly. It really stands out in this book, with the color scheme and the characters and the setting. There are just some really gorgeous panels in here, drawing you into the New York scene.

But that doesn't take away from the writing! This is about how friendships might change after high school, about reconnecting and figuring out that maybe you're not sure what the future holds. The characters are all well developed, each of them growing in different ways by the end of the story. The story itself is a bit quiet, focusing more on the characters than the overall plot. But that's my favorite kind of story, honestly, and both Mariko and Jillian Tamaki excel at that.

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midnightmarauder's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Roaming follows two childhood best friends, Zoe and Dani, who take a trip to New York together. Dani brings along her new friend from college, Fiona, and things go downhill from there.

There were a few things that I liked about this book. For starters, I liked the color scheme and the art style. There were only three colors used in the book—peach, powder blue, and black—and they were used in such a creative way. A pair of pants that Fiona wore, for instance, had the three colors used to make a swirling design.

But, there was so much that I didn't really enjoy about this book. For one, the characters felt very surface-level to me. For one, it never goes into too much detail about Zoe and Dani's friendship. How did they become friends? Has Dani always known that
Zoe was a lesbian? How did she react to her coming out?


Secondly, why did Dani allow Fiona to tag along on a trip that was just supposed to be for her and Zoe? And why was Fiona so rude all the time? She was extremely nasty to both Dani and Zoe, even after
her and Zoe slept together.
Her actions were never explained, which was weird to me. Why be an asshole for no reason, especially on a trip that you were invited on? Also, why did Zoe and Dani put up with her rudeness? Fiona was constantly acting as though she was too good to be around either of them, and she was never called out on it. I would've liked to see her be reprimanded for being so mean. 

All in all, this was an okay novel. The story and the ending didn't make too much sense to me, but the art and the colors make things a tiny bit better. 

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indeedithappens's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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knkoch's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

I'm so happy I got to read this book this year! I saw notice of it coming out a few months ago, and had the foresight to jump in a holds queue quickly. I love the Tamakis and I'll read anything they make. They are lights that walk among us, haha. 

This didn't fuck me up as much as This One Summer did emotionally, but even though it worked at a lower key, it was still deep as a slice of life piece. Both novels are written about a single vacation, and I love that they examine both the mundane and heightened qualities of trips, which take us outside our normal routine. Trips work perfectly for making a story straightforward and succinct, giving you a great starting and endpoint to compare against. Where do the characters begin at, what baggage are they bringing to the trip, and what sort of growth do they leave with? The characters in Roaming were wonderfully captured, and I loved the sense of history between two old friends contrasted with the mystery of the new girl.
I love that shared history leaves deep roots able to withstand storms, and that difficult people are always more sensitive and complex than we imagine when we're frustrated with them.
The art was lovely, as always, and the surreal elements were very well done. I know I will be tempted to own this one someday so I can look back at it again and again. 

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whatisjordyreading's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

a beautifully drawn graphic novel by my fave comic duos, Jillian & Mariko Tamaki! sooo many beautiful pages (literally the whole book)! the lines are sooo clean-- sheesh! and the crowds and museums look so real/similar to our 3D world (if that makes sense lool)

the story is unlike anything i've read, but also so similar to what i've experienced in real life. i know i'm gonna re-read this in years to come :)

something about the scene where
Zee & Dee went out on the fire escape, and they were transformed into their younger selves made me cryyy. i think it was the sentiment of it, the emotion of literally not looking like your younger self but also feeling very much like your younger self, and also having so many memories with someone special (not necessarily a crush or lover, but also your best friend or sibling). that scene that tugged at my heart. things change, people change, but also people will surprise you and stick by your side
 

also,
fiona was written so well, so snake and so insidious, but also very human. i knew from timeee she was gonna sour the trip, and it was the clever writing that did it. but her comment about canada getting their first Uniqlo in 7 years was funny!
also also, i love that we see how soft & sensitive Dani is, but it's not a weakness. she's tender & kind, even to strangers at the hostel, which we see especially at the end, in contrast to how Fiona and then also Zoe treat their hostel-mates.


thank you, Jillian and Mariko <3

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