this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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.
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
Moderate: Suicide, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Grief
calamitywindpetal's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicide, Death, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Fatphobia
edensgrief's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
joppiereading's review against another edition
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?
Spoiler
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
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Toxic relationship
valerierose1994's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
lilylaflair's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Minor: Bullying
shewhoshallnotbenamed's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
2.75
Amazing book but disappointing conclusion. Wallace shouldn’t be forgiven that easily, and I hope it was emphasized how Eliza and her parents’ relationship is also largely affected because Eliza doesn’t reach out and is not willing to understand where her parents are coming from and become more open towards her parents. Also, I hoped she was shown to try and spend time and get to know her brothers more. She apologized to her friends but not to her brothers.
Edited to 2.75 because I just can’t stand that Wallace was so self centered and that he never really acknowledged Eliza’s very real problems that he dismissed because he apparently has it worse.
Edited to 2.75 because I just can’t stand that Wallace was so self centered and that he never really acknowledged Eliza’s very real problems that he dismissed because he apparently has it worse.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
_mariah_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, Bullying, and Suicide
shahdhazem's review against another edition
challenging
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
3.5
This was such an easy quick read for me I got in literally knowing nothing at all so I was expecting more action and fantasy you know but it was just a normal contemporary it was fun to read tho and I loved the idea that they both were these really famous people online but in real life they're just desperate teens. I think the author managed the topics of suicide and anxiety really well but what made me lower the rating is that I couldn't feel for the characters I really don't know how to explain it but I couldn't sympathise with Eliza or Wallace or even swoon for the romance I don't know if this is a problem with the writing or the characters themselves I have no idea. I'm not "not recommending" it I guess it's a decent book and I understand why people would love it but it's certainly not the best for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
The content relating to suicide appears rather suddenly in the book, then reappears later just as suddenly. It is not handled perfectly, but I do appreciate that the young people affected by the events are shown attending therapy later on.