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jenminicricket's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Beautiful book about anxiety, depression, and grief. While it was a bit young for me personally, it definitely would have resonated with me deeply if I had read it when I was in high school. Eliza was a bit hard to like for me personally because she complained about all her privileges and was a bit selfish. A lot like I was back in the day… all of the feelings she expressed though were ones I’d definitely felt and feel regularly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Car accident, Self harm, Suicide, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
simobae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75
I will split my review up into different main points:
Eliza and Wallace
Eliza and Wallace's relationship was simple and sweet. A good display of first love and how to figure out flirting for the first time. I loved, how they both made mistakes and even with the fact that both of them struggled a lot with communication, they both tried to talk with each other about their feelings and respect each other's boundaries.
I may be one of the odd ones out but I was happy with their "break up" after the reveal of her identity and Wallace's reaction, even though I agree with many that he was selfish about it. I do believe that they need to work out some of their individual monsters a bit on their own.
Eliza and her family:
At this point, I did have some problems with Eliza which is the only reason this was not a 5-star read. Eliza spends a lot of time complaining about her family and how they don't understand her, yet she also doesn't try to understand them. She sees her family as weirdos because they're into sports and she isn't, she sees her brothers as twins because they're a year apart and have similar interests.
Even though she spends so much time feeling like her family doesn't understand, she also doesn't try to let her parents understand, she just closes up every time her parents try to let her explain her online life.
I loved how her brothers gave her parents a real wake-up call about what they had done when they wrote about Monstrous Sea in the paper and how they did their best at trying to be there for her and showed her how much they loved her.
Ending:
The character development at the end was well-executed and how it showed that it doesn't just happen from one day to the next but that it is work, that we as humans need to keep fighting against our monsters every day, but that we have to remember that we aren't fighting the fight alone.
Eliza and Wallace
Eliza and Wallace's relationship was simple and sweet. A good display of first love and how to figure out flirting for the first time. I loved, how they both made mistakes and even with the fact that both of them struggled a lot with communication, they both tried to talk with each other about their feelings and respect each other's boundaries.
Eliza and her family:
At this point, I did have some problems with Eliza which is the only reason this was not a 5-star read. Eliza spends a lot of time complaining about her family and how they don't understand her, yet she also doesn't try to understand them. She sees her family as weirdos because they're into sports and she isn't, she sees her brothers as twins because they're a year apart and have similar interests.
Even though she spends so much time feeling like her family doesn't understand, she also doesn't try to let her parents understand, she just closes up every time her parents try to let her explain her online life.
Ending:
The character development at the end was well-executed and how it showed that it doesn't just happen from one day to the next but that it is work, that we as humans need to keep fighting against our monsters every day, but that we have to remember that we aren't fighting the fight alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt
averyconfusedhomosapiensbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This made me feel some things. It's arguably just a good book, but what is literature if not a place for us to explore our feelings? The way I feel about this book will not possibly also be the way you feel about this book, but that's also kind of the point. My past experiences shape my present ones. I would not be able to tell anyone if they would like this or dislike it. It tackled tough issues, and Zappia both chose avenues I would and would not choose. Quite honestly, the thing this book did the greatest job at, was inspire me to create. Anything. Something people can see, or not. Doesn't matter, as long as its what I want to do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Blood, Car accident, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Medical content
mezzoanddolce's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Car accident, and Grief
inkyinsanity's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ALL THE STARS
ALL OF THEM
AND TISSUES
Ok
Words.
So.
This was beyond amazing. I cried through the last third of it. This is not a light book, and while I found the ending happy and really enjoyed reading it and laughed and marked lines, it’s also not a lighthearted book.
Eliza has severe social anxiety and, although the book names only the anxiety, she’s also very depressed.
I have never read such good representation of anxiety and depression. I mean, I probably have because I read so much I do forget a lot of it most of the time, but this was amazing in the way it voiced things I’ve thought almost word for word. The way it creeped into my mind and everything *clicked.*
I…
I think this might have genuinely helped me when I was a teenager. Maybe not, but. But. I waited so long to get treatment for myself when I knew I needed it and pretended so hard that I was making it all up that I actually started believing my own lies until things started going too far for what I could believe. And this. Is. Everything. This is IT.
I’m not making sense and I’m on too much of a book high to even care.
I’m looking at the cover of the book right now, at the little word bubble saying “her story is a phenomenon, her life is a disaster” and like.
Disaster?
That could have been me.
Not Eliza’s life, but her feelings. Her single focus, the one thing and maybe another thing on a good day that made it possible to do everything else, and still not be able to do enough to be like a person. To be anything other than vaguely functional. Go to school. Eat. Shut down your family when they try to talk you because you can’t let them know how bad it is inside you, and or because you already have to live through it and you’re sure as hell not going to talk about it and have to live through it *again* but you NEED them to see you and talk to you because you're dying and you're trapped and you don't know what to do.
You Find something (in her case, someone) you genuinely like, convince yourself you can be like a real person, you can have fun, you can fall in love, you can talk to people. Only to have everything crashing down by something that you can’t help, but what if you did things differently? Could you have stopped it? It doesn’t matter you were barely able to live, because that’s in the past and you’re in the now.
Because you don’t choose to be so stressed you can’t breathe, or so sad you feel sick. But it’s so, so hard to believe that and this book. Got. It.
Um, warnings of depression, anxiety, panic attacks, mentioned harassment, and suicidal thoughts.
On the bright side, the fandom rep was PERFECT and the bits of Eliza’s web comic that are shown are really cool!
ALL OF THEM
AND TISSUES
Ok
Words.
So.
This was beyond amazing. I cried through the last third of it. This is not a light book, and while I found the ending happy and really enjoyed reading it and laughed and marked lines, it’s also not a lighthearted book.
Eliza has severe social anxiety and, although the book names only the anxiety, she’s also very depressed.
I have never read such good representation of anxiety and depression. I mean, I probably have because I read so much I do forget a lot of it most of the time, but this was amazing in the way it voiced things I’ve thought almost word for word. The way it creeped into my mind and everything *clicked.*
I…
I think this might have genuinely helped me when I was a teenager. Maybe not, but. But. I waited so long to get treatment for myself when I knew I needed it and pretended so hard that I was making it all up that I actually started believing my own lies until things started going too far for what I could believe. And this. Is. Everything. This is IT.
I’m not making sense and I’m on too much of a book high to even care.
I’m looking at the cover of the book right now, at the little word bubble saying “her story is a phenomenon, her life is a disaster” and like.
Disaster?
That could have been me.
Not Eliza’s life, but her feelings. Her single focus, the one thing and maybe another thing on a good day that made it possible to do everything else, and still not be able to do enough to be like a person. To be anything other than vaguely functional. Go to school. Eat. Shut down your family when they try to talk you because you can’t let them know how bad it is inside you, and or because you already have to live through it and you’re sure as hell not going to talk about it and have to live through it *again* but you NEED them to see you and talk to you because you're dying and you're trapped and you don't know what to do.
You Find something (in her case, someone) you genuinely like, convince yourself you can be like a real person, you can have fun, you can fall in love, you can talk to people. Only to have everything crashing down by something that you can’t help, but what if you did things differently? Could you have stopped it? It doesn’t matter you were barely able to live, because that’s in the past and you’re in the now.
Because you don’t choose to be so stressed you can’t breathe, or so sad you feel sick. But it’s so, so hard to believe that and this book. Got. It.
Um, warnings of depression, anxiety, panic attacks, mentioned harassment, and suicidal thoughts.
On the bright side, the fandom rep was PERFECT and the bits of Eliza’s web comic that are shown are really cool!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Bullying, and Stalking
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
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.pollylovesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
frantic_vampire's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really needed this book. Like, holy crap. Why did I wait so long to read this one? It hit home with the anxiety rep and so many other things. I feel a little wrung out emotionally from this book, but I guess that means I really needed to read it. I don’t know if it would have had the same impact if I hadn’t read it now.
I loved that this book didn’t shy away from talking about depression and anxiety. I also loved that it talked so much about the friendships that are formed online and within fandom communities. I also loved the sibling relationships! I liked that Eliza’s brothers were so protective of her but also total little brothers about everything.
I honestly loved this book and I just want to dive in for a reread right now. This deserves all the stars. And it’s getting them. I’m giving Eliza and Her Monsters a solid five out of five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
The suicide, car accident, and death of a parent tags are for Wallace’s dad. The suicidal thoughts and suicide attempt tags are for Eliza. Though she didn’t go through with the suicide attempt in the end.lilifane's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
Will I ever read the synopsis before reading the book so that I'm not totally surprised by the plot? Who knows. But it's such a fun experience to start a book and be totally taken aback by the story because it was not what I expected (since I didn't expect anything).
I love reading about protagonists who draw/write. I love reading about fandoms. And I didn't expect to find both here. Both topics are also so well done. So many of the themes in this story are important to me, and I wish I had something like this book when I was a teenager. It still hit way too close sometimes and made me feel too many things.
Especially the last 20% were... a lot and hard to read. Uff. The love for something and the urge to create vs. the pressure not only from the outside, from other people having expectations of you, but also from yourself and your own expectations.
It's hopeful, though. It gave me hope that I will some day overcome my art block and pick up a pencil again.
I love reading about protagonists who draw/write. I love reading about fandoms. And I didn't expect to find both here. Both topics are also so well done. So many of the themes in this story are important to me, and I wish I had something like this book when I was a teenager. It still hit way too close sometimes and made me feel too many things.
Especially the last 20% were... a lot and hard to read. Uff. The love for something and the urge to create vs. the pressure not only from the outside, from other people having expectations of you, but also from yourself and your own expectations.
It's hopeful, though. It gave me hope that I will some day overcome my art block and pick up a pencil again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide