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nicolemarcell's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
About a month ago, I was desperately searching the library near my apartment for a light and easy book: in other words, I was looking for a book that would distract me from my finals, but also not be so distracting that I wouldn’t get any studying done. I wanted light and fluffy, and when I saw Gena/Finn on the shelves and remembered that it was a book about fandom, it seemed like a perfect fit. If it was going to be anything like Rainbow Rowell’s [book:Fangirl|16068905] or Danika Stone’s [book:All the Feels|29222548], then it would be sweet and lovely — perfect for finals week.
Well, amazingly enough, I was actually responsible during finals week and didn’t read it then; instead, I read Gena/Finn one night all in one sitting, partially because I couldn’t sleep, but mainly because it was due at the library the next day and I didn’t want to return it without finishing it. Obviously, I enjoyed it enough to stay up half the night reading it, though I never found myself really, really loving it; and then, as the book progressed, I actually found myself liking it less and less until I found myself unable to give it anything other than 2.5 stars.
Let’s start with the good, because there are a lot of good things in this book. For starters: I really, really loved this formating. It felt like a modern day epistolary novel: this book is told entirely through blog posts, emails, letters, texts, journal entries, and online chats, yet somehow, it still manages to really flesh out an intricate story with complex characters pretty effectively. Sure, there were certainly times where I wished that it would tell the story in a more standard way, especially in the beginning when I was still having trouble telling the main characters apart; but after a while — once I pinned down who everyone was and really got into the flow of the story — it became a real highlight of the story for me. It made the story feel unique and real in a way that no other format could achieve: it looked exactly like every online friendship I ever had, and I don’t think the connection I felt to the characters would have been as strong if the novel had been written any way else.
The beginning of the book is definitely my favorite part of this book: it was so light and fun, but just serious enough that you could see a real friendship blooming between Gena and Finn. It felt real and important — it felt very much like a real online friendship. I loved seeing how they slowly got to know each other and become more wrapped up in each other’s lives. I love how it slowly turned into more, how it started to feel like love, and how Moskowitz and Helgeson talked about this love: sometimes, we don’t know how or why it forms, or what it means exactly, but it is there, and it is just as tangible and real online as it is off.
And then it started to get a bit weird.
See, this book started out very light — funny, sweet, but a little serious to give it some depth. But about halfway through the book, it started to get very, very serious. Things got extremely heavy, there was PTSD and emotional break downs, and this cute little book suddenly became very emotional and deep. Normally, I might like that, but in this case? I was just — I was not into it.
First of all, it felt — kind of out of nowhere? Like, here is this cute story with typical college kid problems and lots of fangirling that suddenly turns into a kind of horror show with death and despair and a whole lot of emotions that I didn’t sign up for. I realize that this may have been the point — life can shit on people out of nowhere, and there is no foreshadowing — but it also just felt strange and out of place. It felt like it was just sort of thrown in there to give the story some depth, but it already had a lot of depth: the conversation about love was deep enough, and throwing some tragedy in to make a statement only detracted from that.
Perhaps more importantly, it was at this point in the novel where my love for the characters really started to go downhill — especially for Finn. Initially, I had really loved them and connected with them, but after the tragedy, Finn really revealed herself to be someone I didn’t like. She seemed to care more about fandom than real life people, and while I understand that fandom can be incredibly consuming, it should not outweigh concern for real human lives. And what’s worse — she never seemed to learn any different. She struggled with it, but there was no real conclusion that real life people are more important than characters on a TV show. This side of her was revealed by a tragedy that felt unnecessary and completely pulled me away from her.
While we are on the subject (spoiler warning): it felt like Gena was very suddenly and magically healed from her PTSD in a way that felt fake and a bit problematic. Sure, quite some time had passed between the tragedy and her recovery, but show that healing. I was annoyed that Moskowitz and Helgeson would include PTSD without really discussing it; it felt like it was there for shock factor and intrigue more than to actually talk about it, which is beyond frustrating.
Overall, I have very mixed feelings about Gena/Finn. On the one hand, it started out as a unique and adorable story about an online friendship that was just as deep and connected as any friendship in the real world. I was incredibly attached to the characters and their problems and felt that it really reflected how online friendships and fandom function. On the other hand, as the book progressed, it fell into an unnecessary and over the top tragedy that turned Finn into someone I didn’t like and hurt Gena only to magically heal her after an entire section of cringe-worthy poetry. I wish that Moskowitz and Helgeson had stuck to their message on love and its different forms, but that is not the case. So, I don’t think I would really recommend this book to anyone, unless you were really desperate for a fandom related read. Otherwise, maybe try Fangirl or All the Feels.
About a month ago, I was desperately searching the library near my apartment for a light and easy book: in other words, I was looking for a book that would distract me from my finals, but also not be so distracting that I wouldn’t get any studying done. I wanted light and fluffy, and when I saw Gena/Finn on the shelves and remembered that it was a book about fandom, it seemed like a perfect fit. If it was going to be anything like Rainbow Rowell’s [book:Fangirl|16068905] or Danika Stone’s [book:All the Feels|29222548], then it would be sweet and lovely — perfect for finals week.
Well, amazingly enough, I was actually responsible during finals week and didn’t read it then; instead, I read Gena/Finn one night all in one sitting, partially because I couldn’t sleep, but mainly because it was due at the library the next day and I didn’t want to return it without finishing it. Obviously, I enjoyed it enough to stay up half the night reading it, though I never found myself really, really loving it; and then, as the book progressed, I actually found myself liking it less and less until I found myself unable to give it anything other than 2.5 stars.
Let’s start with the good, because there are a lot of good things in this book. For starters: I really, really loved this formating. It felt like a modern day epistolary novel: this book is told entirely through blog posts, emails, letters, texts, journal entries, and online chats, yet somehow, it still manages to really flesh out an intricate story with complex characters pretty effectively. Sure, there were certainly times where I wished that it would tell the story in a more standard way, especially in the beginning when I was still having trouble telling the main characters apart; but after a while — once I pinned down who everyone was and really got into the flow of the story — it became a real highlight of the story for me. It made the story feel unique and real in a way that no other format could achieve: it looked exactly like every online friendship I ever had, and I don’t think the connection I felt to the characters would have been as strong if the novel had been written any way else.
The beginning of the book is definitely my favorite part of this book: it was so light and fun, but just serious enough that you could see a real friendship blooming between Gena and Finn. It felt real and important — it felt very much like a real online friendship. I loved seeing how they slowly got to know each other and become more wrapped up in each other’s lives. I love how it slowly turned into more, how it started to feel like love, and how Moskowitz and Helgeson talked about this love: sometimes, we don’t know how or why it forms, or what it means exactly, but it is there, and it is just as tangible and real online as it is off.
And then it started to get a bit weird.
See, this book started out very light — funny, sweet, but a little serious to give it some depth. But about halfway through the book, it started to get very, very serious. Things got extremely heavy, there was PTSD and emotional break downs, and this cute little book suddenly became very emotional and deep. Normally, I might like that, but in this case? I was just — I was not into it.
First of all, it felt — kind of out of nowhere? Like, here is this cute story with typical college kid problems and lots of fangirling that suddenly turns into a kind of horror show with death and despair and a whole lot of emotions that I didn’t sign up for. I realize that this may have been the point — life can shit on people out of nowhere, and there is no foreshadowing — but it also just felt strange and out of place. It felt like it was just sort of thrown in there to give the story some depth, but it already had a lot of depth: the conversation about love was deep enough, and throwing some tragedy in to make a statement only detracted from that.
Perhaps more importantly, it was at this point in the novel where my love for the characters really started to go downhill — especially for Finn. Initially, I had really loved them and connected with them, but after the tragedy, Finn really revealed herself to be someone I didn’t like. She seemed to care more about fandom than real life people, and while I understand that fandom can be incredibly consuming, it should not outweigh concern for real human lives. And what’s worse — she never seemed to learn any different. She struggled with it, but there was no real conclusion that real life people are more important than characters on a TV show. This side of her was revealed by a tragedy that felt unnecessary and completely pulled me away from her.
While we are on the subject (spoiler warning): it felt like Gena was very suddenly and magically healed from her PTSD in a way that felt fake and a bit problematic. Sure, quite some time had passed between the tragedy and her recovery, but show that healing. I was annoyed that Moskowitz and Helgeson would include PTSD without really discussing it; it felt like it was there for shock factor and intrigue more than to actually talk about it, which is beyond frustrating.
Overall, I have very mixed feelings about Gena/Finn. On the one hand, it started out as a unique and adorable story about an online friendship that was just as deep and connected as any friendship in the real world. I was incredibly attached to the characters and their problems and felt that it really reflected how online friendships and fandom function. On the other hand, as the book progressed, it fell into an unnecessary and over the top tragedy that turned Finn into someone I didn’t like and hurt Gena only to magically heal her after an entire section of cringe-worthy poetry. I wish that Moskowitz and Helgeson had stuck to their message on love and its different forms, but that is not the case. So, I don’t think I would really recommend this book to anyone, unless you were really desperate for a fandom related read. Otherwise, maybe try Fangirl or All the Feels.
seventhaurora's review against another edition
3.0
is this how straight people felt after reading the fault in our stars?
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
ok so this review is more a warning than anything. it does contain minor spoilers but i think that if you're a wlw, you should read it anyway. you might thank me later.
so! this book was really hard for me to rate bc on the one hand, this book started out really cute and it made me so happy and i couldn't stop smiling and i had to put it down several times bc i just couldn't at the cuteness and relatable-ness. but on the other hand...i was really really really hoping that it would end happily - or at least not devastatingly - and i can't say that it did.
i don't want to spoil anything but i'll just say this: if you're a wlw, approach this book with caution. it's really well-written, and at a lot of points, i felt as though the authors somehow had access to my own personal thoughts, feelings and experiences - it was so much like my life, it was surreal. i really don't know how they did it. however. i did go into this book thinking that it would be a fun, easy, lighthearted read (and i did have a sneaking suspicion that it might include something not-quite-straight, which made me want to read it even more), but that was certainly not the case.
i don't think i've ever cried at a book as much as i cried reading gena/finn. it was just so...real. and i spent the entire time hoping and praying that the girls would get their happy ending...
they didn't. not really. and it sucks.
it sucks bc i let myself get my hopes up. i stupidly thought that maybe this time would be different - that maybe i would come away from this book feeling light and warm and happy.
it wasn't. i didn't.
i lost count of the number of times i had to physically put the book down bc i couldn't stop crying. i couldn't stop crying bc of how real it was, bc of how relatable it was, bc i knew - i knew - deep down that they weren't going to get their happily ever after. bc wlw, it seems, never do.
that being said, it was a good book. i loved the format, and i've certainly never read anything like it. i certainly would have preferred it if the fandom had been for a wlw couple bc that would have been more realistic imo, but it was relatable all the same.
tl;dr read this book if you're a wlw who enjoys suffering and watching people like them never get their happy endings.
(i didn't proofread this so there are probably a million mistakes but give me a break, i've been through a lot in the past 24 hours (read: 6 months).)
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
ok so this review is more a warning than anything. it does contain minor spoilers but i think that if you're a wlw, you should read it anyway. you might thank me later.
so! this book was really hard for me to rate bc on the one hand, this book started out really cute and it made me so happy and i couldn't stop smiling and i had to put it down several times bc i just couldn't at the cuteness and relatable-ness. but on the other hand...i was really really really hoping that it would end happily - or at least not devastatingly - and i can't say that it did.
i don't want to spoil anything but i'll just say this: if you're a wlw, approach this book with caution. it's really well-written, and at a lot of points, i felt as though the authors somehow had access to my own personal thoughts, feelings and experiences - it was so much like my life, it was surreal. i really don't know how they did it. however. i did go into this book thinking that it would be a fun, easy, lighthearted read (and i did have a sneaking suspicion that it might include something not-quite-straight, which made me want to read it even more), but that was certainly not the case.
i don't think i've ever cried at a book as much as i cried reading gena/finn. it was just so...real. and i spent the entire time hoping and praying that the girls would get their happy ending...
they didn't. not really. and it sucks.
it sucks bc i let myself get my hopes up. i stupidly thought that maybe this time would be different - that maybe i would come away from this book feeling light and warm and happy.
it wasn't. i didn't.
i lost count of the number of times i had to physically put the book down bc i couldn't stop crying. i couldn't stop crying bc of how real it was, bc of how relatable it was, bc i knew - i knew - deep down that they weren't going to get their happily ever after. bc wlw, it seems, never do.
that being said, it was a good book. i loved the format, and i've certainly never read anything like it. i certainly would have preferred it if the fandom had been for a wlw couple bc that would have been more realistic imo, but it was relatable all the same.
tl;dr read this book if you're a wlw who enjoys suffering and watching people like them never get their happy endings.
(i didn't proofread this so there are probably a million mistakes but give me a break, i've been through a lot in the past 24 hours (read: 6 months).)
dominicanbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
"And this is me, you know? I am a fan. It's not just something I do, it's something about the way I'm wired. It's not like this is the first time this has happened. I've always had fandom. I've always had characters who live in my head and mess with my heart and tell me stories, and I love it."
Gena/Finn hace varias cosas de manera excelente: la representación de fangirls/fandom (wow!), el formato super original del libro como parte de la experiencia de lectura y como objeto (hasta la tapa del libro estaba chulísima), la representación de enfermedades mentales (especialmente que tan "de repente" pueden suceder y que tanto te pueden afectar), la exploración de las relaciones de amistad y amor.
A pesar de todo esto siento que al libro le faltó "algo" y que alrededor de la mitad se fue por una tangente que realmente no me llamó mucho y que se me hizo random, de manera que me fui desanimando un poco (además de que creo que por el formato epistolario se perdieron algunas cosas de la historia).
De igual manera leer este libro fue una experiencia grata, y creo que en un futuro me animaría a re-leerlo.
*P.D for other reviewers/readers: Did you know that a bi person can date someone from a different gender and still be bi? Now you know.
"I want you to remember the way it happened. I want you to remember the people we are now, the times I was there for you and the times I let you down. I want you to love me weak like I loved you crazy, and when we're both on top again we'll remember that we did it."
Gena/Finn hace varias cosas de manera excelente: la representación de fangirls/fandom (wow!), el formato super original del libro como parte de la experiencia de lectura y como objeto (hasta la tapa del libro estaba chulísima), la representación de enfermedades mentales (especialmente que tan "de repente" pueden suceder y que tanto te pueden afectar), la exploración de las relaciones de amistad y amor.
A pesar de todo esto siento que al libro le faltó "algo" y que alrededor de la mitad se fue por una tangente que realmente no me llamó mucho y que se me hizo random
Spoiler
(todo el asunto de que Gena antes actuaba y era famosa se me hizo tan ???)De igual manera leer este libro fue una experiencia grata, y creo que en un futuro me animaría a re-leerlo.
*P.D for other reviewers/readers: Did you know that a bi person can date someone from a different gender and still be bi? Now you know.
"I want you to remember the way it happened. I want you to remember the people we are now, the times I was there for you and the times I let you down. I want you to love me weak like I loved you crazy, and when we're both on top again we'll remember that we did it."
pascaletc's review against another edition
3.0
At first I was impressed at how relatable this book was and then something happened and meh..
mjmajo's review against another edition
2.0
Habría sido una estrella si no fuera por el primer tercio del libro.
Leer de fandom es bacán. Sentirse identificada en un libro es bacán. Leer acerca de cómo dos mujeres se hacen amigas a través del fandom es bacanísimo. Me reí mucho en la primera mitad del libro, con todas las cosas que hablaban y LA FORMA en que Gena y Finn hablaban-- muy fandom. No sé cuántas veces he visto el mismo tipo de conversación en mis fandoms propios. Muy genuino y bacán.
Pero los dos últimos tercios se va a la cresta la bacanidad, porque hay tanto drama y también mucho DRAMAH. Nunca entendí el punto de tanto drama. Ya con el primer punto dramático me costó no dejar de leer el libro del aburrimiento, pero a las alturas del segundo punto dramático (porque hacía falta más drrrama) ya estaba leyendo con la pura inercia de querer terminar el libro malo, oh. Me imaginaba que el fandom del libro estaba basado en el fandom de Supernatural, pero... DUDO que las cosas sucederían en el mundo real como sucedieron en el libro. Si , les aseguro que la primera reacción de Tumblr sería más... humana?
Also, por favor hablemos de las aproximaciones psiquiátricas del libro. Trastorno Esquizoafectivo que se manifiesta desde los 6-7 años? Really? Si van a meter diagnósticos rebuscados y que suenan fuertes, al menos hagan su research, escritoras. Todo la "locura" de Gena era risible. Suena feo, pero era risible, desde toda la poesía TERRIBLE que escribía hasta el final feliz en que se quedan viendo el estreno de temporada de Supernatural. Perdón, de Up Below. LOL.
Muy decepcionante.
Leer de fandom es bacán. Sentirse identificada en un libro es bacán. Leer acerca de cómo dos mujeres se hacen amigas a través del fandom es bacanísimo. Me reí mucho en la primera mitad del libro, con todas las cosas que hablaban y LA FORMA en que Gena y Finn hablaban-- muy fandom. No sé cuántas veces he visto el mismo tipo de conversación en mis fandoms propios. Muy genuino y bacán.
Pero los dos últimos tercios se va a la cresta la bacanidad, porque hay tanto drama y también mucho DRAMAH. Nunca entendí el punto de tanto drama. Ya con el primer punto dramático
Spoiler
(un posible romance entre Gena y Finn? Seriously?)Spoiler
Jared Padalecki murieraAlso, por favor hablemos de las aproximaciones psiquiátricas del libro. Trastorno Esquizoafectivo que se manifiesta desde los 6-7 años? Really? Si van a meter diagnósticos rebuscados y que suenan fuertes, al menos hagan su research, escritoras. Todo la "locura" de Gena era risible. Suena feo, pero era risible, desde toda la poesía TERRIBLE que escribía hasta el final feliz en que se quedan viendo el estreno de temporada de Supernatural. Perdón, de Up Below. LOL.
Muy decepcionante.
samantha_winkel13's review against another edition
5.0
THIS BOOK WAS SO AMAZING AND GOOD AND EMOTIONAL AND HEARTBREAKING AND...AND...AND...!
There are not enough stars to rate this. This book was so emotional and really relatable. It has been awhile since I had gotten so devastated over a book like this and it's left me with a hole in my heart.
I've never read anything by Hannah Moskowitz, but I'm glad that this was the first book that I've read by her. The emotions between Finn and Gena were so real and Finn just wanting to help Gena and be there for her.
Now I don't know what to do with myself. The ending was deep and satisfying. I would recommend this book to anybody. 10/10 stars.
There are not enough stars to rate this. This book was so emotional and really relatable. It has been awhile since I had gotten so devastated over a book like this and it's left me with a hole in my heart.
I've never read anything by Hannah Moskowitz, but I'm glad that this was the first book that I've read by her. The emotions between Finn and Gena were so real and Finn just wanting to help Gena and be there for her.
Now I don't know what to do with myself. The ending was deep and satisfying. I would recommend this book to anybody. 10/10 stars.
hobsunv's review against another edition
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
audreykerr's review against another edition
1.0
This book made me angry, I enjoyed reading parts of it but overall it made me angry.
emnantel's review against another edition
5.0
I loved everything about this.
I'm a sucker for special format books, so i thought a book told entirely in texts, emails and blog posts was genius.
The fandom talk was so realistic, I actually cared for the fictional characters from the TV show they watch. I also could relate a lot to connecting to someone you've only ever met online.
I also loved the vaguely polyamory vibes when Charlie helps taking care of Gena.
This book took me through all emotions: joy, laughter, fear, sadness. I cried my way through the entire part 3.
I usually spent a week or two on a book, but this one I devoured in 4 hours, unable to put it down.
I'm a sucker for special format books, so i thought a book told entirely in texts, emails and blog posts was genius.
The fandom talk was so realistic, I actually cared for the fictional characters from the TV show they watch. I also could relate a lot to connecting to someone you've only ever met online.
I also loved the vaguely polyamory vibes when Charlie helps taking care of Gena.
This book took me through all emotions: joy, laughter, fear, sadness. I cried my way through the entire part 3.
I usually spent a week or two on a book, but this one I devoured in 4 hours, unable to put it down.