Reviews with content warning for Suicide attempt - Eliza and Her Monsters

This is a story that everyone needs to read. This is the most realistic and honest contemporary I’ve ever read. I related so much to Eliza and her struggles. The audiobook is the way to go I think. I also followed along cause the book had snippets from Monsterous Sea and they are narrated by a different person and I think it adds so much to the story since Monsterous Sea is a big part of Eliza.

Eliza is a girl who struggles with body image, anxiety, and panic attacks. As someone who has struggled with anxiety and panic attacks since my early teens, I can say that Francesca Zappia explains and doesn't suger coat how anxiety and panic attacks really are or how they can affect you.

Everything Eliza felt when she had a panic attack I’ve felt including passing out. I sobbed while reading the last 200 pages, that’s how much I saw my own struggles in Eliza. Francesca did an amazing job of making you fall in love with every character, especially with Eliza and Wallace. The story also explains fan culture and the things we do that some people don't understand like drawing fan art, writing fanfiction, and so on.

Eliza is an extreme introvert and only begins to ‘be normal’ (in her words) when she meets Wallace. He helps to bring Eliza out of her bedroom and out into the world.

I love Wallace and I love Eliza and Wallace together. Their relationship is the honest truth of what a real first-time relationship is like. Their both so awkward that it’s endearing and sweet. The fact that Wallace also suffers from anxiety and is a selective mute adds so much more to his character and how he bonds with Eliza and understands her.

This story has so much depth and emotion and it is honestly a book everyone should read. Definitely my top book of 2020, I'm already calling it.

I also really enjoyed how it showed how you can have best friends that you met through the computer but haven't seen in person. I have multiple friends I've made on the internet that I've never met. We talk almost everyday and I consider them family.

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_miray_'s review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

4.75

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stateofiction's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

GUYS? This was one of the best contemporaries I've ever read. There is just so much to say about this book and I know I will not be able to tackle all of it.

First, the anxiety rep was just fantastic. Eliza's mannerisms and inner monologue felt just so realistic. It wasn't incredibly dramatized the way many books end up coming across like. I was such a big fan!

The romance was just so cute! Up until the end, they were just this perfect little high school nerd couple and I was just so happy for them.

I absolutely loved the friendship between Eliza, Max, and Emmy. The sections of the book that were their private chats were some of my favorite parts just because their interactions were spectacular and just so funny.

Overall, fantastic book I can't believe it took me so long to read this.

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