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betweentheshelves's review
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Drug use, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Bullying, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Racism, and Homophobia
_moonbread's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Racism
dananana's review
emotional
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
midnightmarauder's review
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 work, 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 thatZoe 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 afterher 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 her 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.
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 work, 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
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
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Cursing
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
indeedithappens's review
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Drug use, Abandonment, Classism, Colonisation, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
bi_n_large's review
emotional
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Classism, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol
sharonus's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
knkoch's review
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Cursing, and Alcohol
prlprl's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Beautiful artwork, great storytelling and a compelling cast of characters. Evoked a deep nostalgia and captured the struggles we have in communicating with our fellow humans throughout our lives.
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic friendship and Sexual content
fareehareads's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
This comic takes place during summer break in New York City in 2009. We meet Dani and Zoe who have been friends for years and Dani's classmate Fiona. The 3 spend their break in New York, wandering around the city, being tourists but trying not to look like tourists, and just having a good time. Among their days together, a crush forms between Zoe and Fiona that really sets the tone for the rest of the comic.
While this story is partially about these friends having a textbook summer experience of NYC, it's also just a wonderfully atmospheric comic. I just really loved all the details throughout from the long two page spreads (the gorgeous ones in the museum) to the tiny text on their flip phones, to the all black pages as Zoe and Fiona's relationship is explored. It's definitely a mature comic, and I really want it to be made into a coming of age movie. It's just SO pretty. I brought the physical copy because, while I've never been to NYC, I loved how nostalgic this was. It felt like it was trapped in space and time.
Definitely give it a read!
PS the content warnings are really just to express that this is a mature comic, not for young readers.
While this story is partially about these friends having a textbook summer experience of NYC, it's also just a wonderfully atmospheric comic. I just really loved all the details throughout from the long two page spreads (the gorgeous ones in the museum) to the tiny text on their flip phones, to the all black pages as Zoe and Fiona's relationship is explored. It's definitely a mature comic, and I really want it to be made into a coming of age movie. It's just SO pretty. I brought the physical copy because, while I've never been to NYC, I loved how nostalgic this was. It felt like it was trapped in space and time.
Definitely give it a read!
PS the content warnings are really just to express that this is a mature comic, not for young readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Drug use