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millibee's review
5.0
‘[H]orror is the one genre where women are allowed to be as they actually are? Imperfect, messy, sometimes good, sometimes bad, tough, selfish...’
This book was so unexpected and so personally wonderful to me. I went in expecting a sweet teen romance but I was given so much more. This book is, among many other things, an incredibly nuanced exploration of how we see art, how we treat art, how women particularly are treated within the film industry and whether or not we can seperate a problematic artist from the art they produce.
This book played with horror and gothic themes and often returned to the ‘final girl’ trope I adore. As a fan of horror, this contemporary read was absolutely delightful!
I connected to Ellie on a deep level as someone who experienced the extremely tough balance between loving my grandmother and also acknowledging that she had treated me badly in the past while she was passing away. For this reason, my favourite quote in this novel is: ‘just know that I love you. I always did; I always will. I’m still hurry by you, and mad at you – but I can forgive you. Because you are more than just your worst moments...’
The Monster of Her Age was reminiscent of one of my favourite books as an adult: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, while also giving me the familiarity of a home-grown story that made me love reading as a teenager like Looking for Alibrandi. The love story that weaves throughout was one that was wholesome and supportive. I absolutely adored Riya and couldn’t get enough of her
This book was so unexpected and so personally wonderful to me. I went in expecting a sweet teen romance but I was given so much more. This book is, among many other things, an incredibly nuanced exploration of how we see art, how we treat art, how women particularly are treated within the film industry and whether or not we can seperate a problematic artist from the art they produce.
This book played with horror and gothic themes and often returned to the ‘final girl’ trope I adore. As a fan of horror, this contemporary read was absolutely delightful!
I connected to Ellie on a deep level as someone who experienced the extremely tough balance between loving my grandmother and also acknowledging that she had treated me badly in the past while she was passing away. For this reason, my favourite quote in this novel is: ‘just know that I love you. I always did; I always will. I’m still hurry by you, and mad at you – but I can forgive you. Because you are more than just your worst moments...’
The Monster of Her Age was reminiscent of one of my favourite books as an adult: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, while also giving me the familiarity of a home-grown story that made me love reading as a teenager like Looking for Alibrandi. The love story that weaves throughout was one that was wholesome and supportive. I absolutely adored Riya and couldn’t get enough of her
dhishfish's review
3.0
3.5 stars
I got this book as part of a holiday book program thing I'm doing which is very exciting and I feel soo professional just having books shipped to me.
The Monster of Her Age is not bad! It's got an indian love interest, set in Australia, Deaf rep and it's pretty enjoyable. I loved seeing Ellie and how her character grows and changes throughout the book and overall, it's a calming and fun read about horror movies, giant famous families and queer characters!
I got this book as part of a holiday book program thing I'm doing which is very exciting and I feel soo professional just having books shipped to me.
The Monster of Her Age is not bad! It's got an indian love interest, set in Australia, Deaf rep and it's pretty enjoyable. I loved seeing Ellie and how her character grows and changes throughout the book and overall, it's a calming and fun read about horror movies, giant famous families and queer characters!
thelibraryofklee's review
4.0
"Not everyone you love is going to hurt you, you know."
This was one of those sneaky one's I was a bit like "Right, better get to this one..." and then was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. This is YA coming-of-age contemporary fiction but for all. Got a bit of an Evelyn Hugo vibe but set in Australia, with a dash of LGBTIQ representation.
Altered Goodreads synopsis:
Ellie Marsden was born into the legendary Lovinger acting dynasty. Granddaughter of the infamous Lottie Lovinger, as a child Ellie shared the silver screen with Lottie in her one-and-only role playing the child monster in a cult horror movie. The experience left Ellie deeply traumatised and estranged from people she loved. Now seventeen, Ellie has returned home to Hobart for the first time in years. Lottie is dying. But forgiveness feels like playing make-believe, and memories are like ghosts. When a chance encounter with a young film buff leads her to a feminist horror film collective, Ellie meets Riya, a girl who she might be able to show her real self to, and at last come to understand the power to still love people who have hurt you.
I have a special place in my heart for authors who were faced with fiction writing during the pandemic. The ability to navigate this new realm and reflect on how the work will be received would no doubt create a whole new level of complexity. I think the author has done some amazing research into the Australian film industry (and was inspired by the Barrymore legacy). She provides human characters: flawed and imperfect, but with the capacity to love and dissect the nature of forgiveness. I was itching to find out what happened to Ellie on that film set and I was horrified of course but not disappointed by the reveal. The love story is quaint, but it is the complex family dynamics I really devoured.
Thank you to the publisher for trusting me with an honest review.
"… no matter what happens in the coming days and weeks as her body winds down, the show will always be going on somewhere in the world for the infamous Lottie Lovinger."
This was one of those sneaky one's I was a bit like "Right, better get to this one..." and then was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. This is YA coming-of-age contemporary fiction but for all. Got a bit of an Evelyn Hugo vibe but set in Australia, with a dash of LGBTIQ representation.
Altered Goodreads synopsis:
Ellie Marsden was born into the legendary Lovinger acting dynasty. Granddaughter of the infamous Lottie Lovinger, as a child Ellie shared the silver screen with Lottie in her one-and-only role playing the child monster in a cult horror movie. The experience left Ellie deeply traumatised and estranged from people she loved. Now seventeen, Ellie has returned home to Hobart for the first time in years. Lottie is dying. But forgiveness feels like playing make-believe, and memories are like ghosts. When a chance encounter with a young film buff leads her to a feminist horror film collective, Ellie meets Riya, a girl who she might be able to show her real self to, and at last come to understand the power to still love people who have hurt you.
I have a special place in my heart for authors who were faced with fiction writing during the pandemic. The ability to navigate this new realm and reflect on how the work will be received would no doubt create a whole new level of complexity. I think the author has done some amazing research into the Australian film industry (and was inspired by the Barrymore legacy). She provides human characters: flawed and imperfect, but with the capacity to love and dissect the nature of forgiveness. I was itching to find out what happened to Ellie on that film set and I was horrified of course but not disappointed by the reveal. The love story is quaint, but it is the complex family dynamics I really devoured.
Thank you to the publisher for trusting me with an honest review.
"… no matter what happens in the coming days and weeks as her body winds down, the show will always be going on somewhere in the world for the infamous Lottie Lovinger."
nicolap's review
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found this a bit meh and
overwritten
in
parts, like the author was trying a little bit too hard to tick all the feminist boxes. Some of the dialogue felt unnatural and tick-a-box to me.
overwritten
in
parts, like the author was trying a little bit too hard to tick all the feminist boxes. Some of the dialogue felt unnatural and tick-a-box to me.
luckies_universe's review
3.0
This is an adorable sapphic romance filled with funny dialogue and squeal-inducing teen romance. The only reason it gets three stars instead of four is because I've read a lot of amazing queer romances and The Monster of Her Age doesn't quite knock my favourites out from the top. I'm not a big movie buff so some of the references got lost on me, and at times I felt like the "quirky" dialogue dragged on a little longer than it should have.
This is a quick and heartwarming read, very funny, would recommend if you're looking for a sapphic romance to help you out of a reading slump.
This is a quick and heartwarming read, very funny, would recommend if you're looking for a sapphic romance to help you out of a reading slump.
maddison's review
4.0
Really fun! Quick easy YA read. I love the concept of reimagining a cinema history for Australia and the nepotism/privilege that would come with being part of a cinematic family.
cec_loves_to_read_books's review
4.0
Be transported to Tasmania by way of this cute little #loveozya novel by Danielle Binks. ‘The Monster of Her Age’ is a charming nod to inclusion, the value of the Arts and feminism. What could be ‘heavy’ topics such as grief and loss and abuse of power are covered in a respectful and ‘light’ way that focuses more on the importance of being true to yourself, friendship, love and family. Highly recommended.
hayleylumsdsn's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bookswithbre's review
4.0
Ahh this was a beautiful read. A lovely story of the arts, family, grief and learning to forgive, and what that can look like for different people.