zackarinareads's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol
ellaticonstellation's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Spoiler
I read the novel version of this before and I must say that this manga version looks promising. It’s way better because of the art. Damn, everyone looks good, especially Simon Snow.Oh god, Abel’s an ass! He questioned Cath’s intelligence just because he wants to break up with her. You deserve better, boo🤍
I get the teacher that she asked for an original story from Cath, but did she really have to be so mean?
Aww, Levi joined her dance party; that’s so cute💕
I live this. I need the second one💖
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Bullying, Abandonment, Cursing, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
brontesauruses's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This works so well as a graphic novel. I am honestly enjoying it more than the book in a lot of ways because most of what felt cringey or off-putting to me has been sanded down. I vibe with the Simon Snow stuff more in here too? Idk why.
Also, best boy Levi was born to be a manga character.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
bookcheshirecat's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.75
“In new situations, all the trickiest rules are the ones nobody bothers to explain to you. (And the ones you can't Google.)”
➽ This is the Manga adaptation of one of my favorites and I had such a good time with it! Even many years and many rereads later, Fangirl is still one of my all-time favorite books! I haven’t done a reread in a while, so I thought: why not check out the new manga adaptation? It was so nice to be back in Cath’s world again and to see it - and her Simon Snow fanfiction - visualized 🥰 I’d definitely recommend reading the book first, but I think this is nice for fans of the book! Obviously, they couldn’t include all the scenes, but I still liked how much dialogue was adapted from the book, which made it feel authentic! There are going to be four manga parts, so I’m moving to part 2 soon and part 3 is coming out later this year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
sprucewillow's review
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I haven't read the original Fangirl book.
The art is cute and I enjoy the complex plot of identity, family, relationships, and exploration that really encompasses a college experience.
The art is cute and I enjoy the complex plot of identity, family, relationships, and exploration that really encompasses a college experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, and Mental illness
nothing too bad. very lightbiancafrancisco's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Pretty accurate to the original book!
Levi and Nick seem to have been beautified so their descriptions very slightly don't match up to the drawing and also things progress a bit faster because of the cut out/reduced parts.
Actually this was what disappointed me a bit and made it not 5 stars when I love this story. I don't read a lot of manga so it might just be the style and how it's supposed to go, but I feel like you lose a lot of the background that helps you understand the characters better because we get so little of Cath's internal dialogue. The Simon and Baz scenes for example seem extra alive in this style which was fun because tbh whenever I reread the book I tend to skip them or skim really fast...they get lost easily; but Cath feels worse because we really need to understand her inner turmoil to get her reactions.
Also, is it just me or they draw Reagen's face reactions really weird? I know Cath saw her as mean and intimidating in the beggining but you can't always tell by the tone that she's being straightforward/joking instead of just straight up being a mean girl.
Again, it might be because I'm looking at it as an adaptation and not in its owm rights as just a manga.
I did really like the artwork though, the amount of details that are significant to the story was amazing done.
Levi and Nick seem to have been beautified so their descriptions very slightly don't match up to the drawing and also things progress a bit faster because of the cut out/reduced parts.
Actually this was what disappointed me a bit and made it not 5 stars when I love this story. I don't read a lot of manga so it might just be the style and how it's supposed to go, but I feel like you lose a lot of the background that helps you understand the characters better because we get so little of Cath's internal dialogue. The Simon and Baz scenes for example seem extra alive in this style which was fun because tbh whenever I reread the book I tend to skip them or skim really fast...they get lost easily; but Cath feels worse because we really need to understand her inner turmoil to get her reactions.
Also, is it just me or they draw Reagen's face reactions really weird? I know Cath saw her as mean and intimidating in the beggining but you can't always tell by the tone that she's being straightforward/joking instead of just straight up being a mean girl.
Again, it might be because I'm looking at it as an adaptation and not in its owm rights as just a manga.
I did really like the artwork though, the amount of details that are significant to the story was amazing done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Eating disorder
thelovelyjade's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have read the book twice and it is my favorite book of all time till this day. It also has a special place in my heart because I can relate to Cath so much when I was a teenager til this day. I used to write Fanfiction and I still have anxiety that I'm dealing with on a daily basis, so, again, it has a special place in heart. So, I was so excited to see that there is a manga version in Waterstones and I had to get it! Seeing them drawn while telling the story of the books is really good, although it's fast it's still the same movie like image in my head when I was reading the book.
I love everything about the manga! The art style is beyond words could ever describe, it is my favorite type of style as it feels like I'm watching an anime of my favorite book in real life! I also like that we get to focus more on Cath and how she's going through, than having that immersion broken by a chapter of Baz and Snow. Which is fine and they are mentioned in the comic, they were drawn amazingly, but I love the character focus. I also like the minor changes in the manga even though they're minor I really like it and it makes more sense in my opinion.
Though, what I don't like from this comic specifically, I honestly cannot think of what I don't like about it other than it being fast. Which makes sense since it is a manga and if anyone wants a steady pace, just read the book.
I love everything about the manga! The art style is beyond words could ever describe, it is my favorite type of style as it feels like I'm watching an anime of my favorite book in real life! I also like that we get to focus more on Cath and how she's going through, than having that immersion broken by a chapter of Baz and Snow. Which is fine and they are mentioned in the comic, they were drawn amazingly, but I love the character focus. I also like the minor changes in the manga even though they're minor I really like it and it makes more sense in my opinion.
Though, what I don't like from this comic specifically, I honestly cannot think of what I don't like about it other than it being fast. Which makes sense since it is a manga and if anyone wants a steady pace, just read the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
fandomsandfiction's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
I wanted to read this and see if it'll have the same effect on me as the novel had many years ago (back when it was still one of my favourite books and I hadn't known about the controversy around the author yet). I still found it relatable, but for different reasons as I did when I was younger. My own shy freshman experience this year is what helped me connect with Cath in this story. The story may be lacking in some parts, but the artwork is gorgeous. Overall a decent read.
[I seriously worry about the nutrition of these characters though...]
[I seriously worry about the nutrition of these characters though...]
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness and Eating disorder
steelbubbles's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
litokeland's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol