Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Eliza and Her Monsters

I knew nothing about this book when I started reading it, just that a friend recommended it to fulfill a requirement for my YA Lit class. I finished the book wanting to read everything Zappia has ever written because it is a book that will stay with me.

Eliza Mirk is the creator of the incredibly popular webcomic, Monstrous Sea – but no one besides her family and her two (online) best friends know. In her “real life,” as her parents like to call it, she’s a socially awkward senior, struggling to get through the everyday grind so she can get back to her online persona. All this comes to a head when she meets Wallace, a new student who is quiet and kind and a huge Monstrous Sea fan. The following months find Eliza exploring a new relationship with Wallace, navigating her senior year of high school, struggling to finish her webcomic, all whilst keeping her online persona, LadyConstellation, a secret. This book is beautifully written, with inclusions of chat messages, emails, and a few panels of Eliza’s art, allowing the reader to experience life as she sees it. It’s an in-depth look at mental health in teenagers, a topic that is still not talked about enough. I would recommend this book to everyone, but particularly to those who are struggling to find where they fit in, what their purpose is, and who they are.

Content Warnings

alexiconic's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

It is a fun book that took me back to my teenage years and manages to capture the feelings of teenage fandoms without becoming cringy - which is quite impressive! There’s some nice elements of mystery that are tied in well with the other elements of the plot. I didn’t connect with the characters (particularly Eliza and Wallace) as much, though, which made the inner monologue unnecessarily moody. I was a moody, online teenager myself and Eliza’s portrayal was too over the top for me. I would have loved less of the moody, inevitable buildup and more of the final period of the book - what happens in the next Summer?

P.S. Were readers supposed to root for Wallace and Eliza after his anger and inability to understand her block? Because that turned their relationship rather unhealthy to me.

Content Warnings

goldenslug's review

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was cute! Meet Eliza Mirk, the anonymous creator of the famous webcomic <i>Monstrous Sea</i>. When she finds out the new kid at school is a super-fan, they quickly become friends… although she keeps her identity a secret. The age range of this novel (14-17) seems appropriate and I could see the “loners” of high school loving this one. Remember you’re never truly alone—you just have to find your crew. 🖤

Content Warnings

libriinks's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

5.0

Content Warnings

letterthief's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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