The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this so much. Especially the amazing mental health rep. The way Eliza’s anxiety was written just felt perfect. As well as Wallace’s selective mutism. I loved seeing that, as it’s not something I’ve seen in a book before.
Okay my thoughts on this are all muddled, but here we go:
The internet is such a huge part of this book, and as someone who spends A LOT of time online, it’s hard not to relate to that. Same with the fandom stuff. So those things made me love the book a lot. But they were also well represented - Eliza’s friendship with Emmy and Max is just lovely, and her parent’s dismissal of it really hurt. Their lack of understanding of both friendships and how you can cultivate a life online was incredibly well done. Especially as they weren’t outright mean about it, they just honestly didn’t understand at all. Plus her friends being wildly different ages and at different stages in their lives was lovely, because it is so true to internet friends. I also loved the inclusion of internet smarts - Eliza is careful with her anonymity and identity and is a great example to readers.
I really loved how we got to see Eliza’s love for her work but also the fan’s love for it, and how that can turn to pressure. The pressure in this - especially at the end from Wallace - actually made me a little uncomfortable. I felt Eliza’s sympathy for him was a little strong, and he was entitled to something he didn’t deserve, if I’m honest. But that’s really my only criticism.
And the art in this really adds a lot, I love it. This book is easily a 3.5 star read and something I recommend for tackling some issues really well and some i don’t see talked about a lot.
Okay my thoughts on this are all muddled, but here we go:
The internet is such a huge part of this book, and as someone who spends A LOT of time online, it’s hard not to relate to that. Same with the fandom stuff. So those things made me love the book a lot. But they were also well represented - Eliza’s friendship with Emmy and Max is just lovely, and her parent’s dismissal of it really hurt. Their lack of understanding of both friendships and how you can cultivate a life online was incredibly well done. Especially as they weren’t outright mean about it, they just honestly didn’t understand at all. Plus her friends being wildly different ages and at different stages in their lives was lovely, because it is so true to internet friends. I also loved the inclusion of internet smarts - Eliza is careful with her anonymity and identity and is a great example to readers.
I really loved how we got to see Eliza’s love for her work but also the fan’s love for it, and how that can turn to pressure. The pressure in this - especially at the end from Wallace - actually made me a little uncomfortable. I felt Eliza’s sympathy for him was a little strong, and he was entitled to something he didn’t deserve, if I’m honest. But that’s really my only criticism.
And the art in this really adds a lot, I love it. This book is easily a 3.5 star read and something I recommend for tackling some issues really well and some i don’t see talked about a lot.
usandalgona's review against another edition
5.0
I appreciate how Zappia can manipulate her narrative voices so well. Alex is so different from Eliza in every way, I was pleasantly surprised. I love the issues she tackles with fandoms (and I love the tributes to mechas and anime) and one of the reasons I always feel tingles before cracking open one of her books is that she always writes her protagonists in such a flawed light. They make big mistakes, they're awkward, not always smooth-flowing. And her books help me begin to understand what a life with a disorder is like. They don't help me understand in its entirety, of course (that would require about a lifetime), but it helps me begin. And I think that's why her books always leave me reeling. They always help me understand something about another person and her life and her potential and what she wants and who she wants to be.
I also love how the characters aren't always beautiful, striking people. Wallace is so endearing even though he's such a big guy, and I love the contrast between his size and his voice.
Though, wouldn't it be awesome if there were stories about Sully and Church? I love Church. Actually I love both Sully and Church equally, I can't pick. I kind of wish I'd seen more of them in the book, but no scene or detail was wasted in this book, so I have no complaints. I just got super attached to Eliza's siblings.
I also love how the characters aren't always beautiful, striking people. Wallace is so endearing even though he's such a big guy, and I love the contrast between his size and his voice.
Though, wouldn't it be awesome if there were stories about Sully and Church? I love Church. Actually I love both Sully and Church equally, I can't pick. I kind of wish I'd seen more of them in the book, but no scene or detail was wasted in this book, so I have no complaints. I just got super attached to Eliza's siblings.
life_as_emmalee's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a work of art. The way Eliza copes and feels things makes it all too real. I appreciate the author for not sugar coating the issues and talked about not being okay, WHICH IS OKAY! I loved how it ended, not everything was perfect but Eliza was still growing and doing what she could. This was beautifully written and I will be recommending it to many others.
akiha's review against another edition
4.0
C'est franchement pas mal. Ça change des YA qui se focalisent sur un sujet pas toujours subtil que ce soit un handicap ou une maladie ou autre. Paradoxalement c'est la simplicité de son sujet qui m'a empêchée de me plonger dedans rapidement, j'ai dû mettre un peu de temps avant de rentrer dans l'histoire. Et franchement jolie histoire, jolis dessins, jolis personnages :'). Je suppose que c'est un peu trop teen quand même dans l'ensemble donc je pense que j'étais un peu vieille pour la lecture. J'ai trouvé un peu décalé tout le côté "moderne" avec web comics, Tumblr, etc. MAIS en même temps ils discutent sur un logiciel de messagerie ??? Ou de chats ?? Bref. J'ai vu que "Monstrous Sea" et "Children of Hypnos" avaient eu leurs propres spin-off haha.
thecontrarybookworm's review against another edition
1.0
NOPE.
This book was a plotless romance in which the author decided to throw in several handfuls of "f" words, "s" words, and crappy, unrealistic mental health depictions to be "edgy" and "cool".
This book was a plotless romance in which the author decided to throw in several handfuls of "f" words, "s" words, and crappy, unrealistic mental health depictions to be "edgy" and "cool".
rollyreads's review against another edition
5.0
This was so beautiful, and geeky and wonderful. I will cherish it like i do fangirl for as long as it resonates with me (aka tge rest of my life).
fortunesdear's review against another edition
2.0
Was loving it until the love interest starts acting like a horrible person.
mixedblessings89's review against another edition
3.0
I think if I had read this book at school, I may have given this 4 or more stars, but I found that I've lost much of my patience or any sense of understanding at all for the kind of teenage angst Eliza thrives upon. I suppose one must find adulthood at some point in life. Sigh.