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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness
I liked the book very much although I got lost a lot of times between the parts at first I was reading it bec a book tuber I really like recommended it I was like okay things are really slow and I was like okay but I liked the end and how her identity got revealed just bec of a mistake her parents made also it was really cute the way they were communicating through writing on paper instead of talking it's really cute in my opinion.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Very like mid-2000score story about a teen girl who is an INTERNET-FAMOUS WEBCOMIC ARTIST with parents who don't understand that she's MADE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY OFF HER OWN COLLEGE EDUCATION
It's quite unrealistic (including her meeting a big-name fanfic writer for her comic who just happens to be a straight teen boy) but like, well-done wish fulfillment if you were coming up in the age of Homestuck and Smackjeeves?
I did like that the novel made the point that like.. Eliza could not complain about nobody understanding her when she deliberately makes a point to prevent anybody from understanding her
But mostly it makes me think about how the non-algorithmic internet is gone............. how we used to have these really vibrant pockets of unmediated creativity and now it's just, like, LINE Webtoons
It's quite unrealistic (including her meeting a big-name fanfic writer for her comic who just happens to be a straight teen boy) but like, well-done wish fulfillment if you were coming up in the age of Homestuck and Smackjeeves?
I did like that the novel made the point that like.. Eliza could not complain about nobody understanding her when she deliberately makes a point to prevent anybody from understanding her
But mostly it makes me think about how the non-algorithmic internet is gone............. how we used to have these really vibrant pockets of unmediated creativity and now it's just, like, LINE Webtoons
I was wary about reading this book, but it totally lived up to the hype! I loved the geeky fandom aspect. I also loved that it addressed mental health in such a real way. Her descriptions of anxiety were so spot on! I really loved it.
This is magnificent. The author has clearly either spent a lot of time in fandom or researched it with love. I'm thinking the former.
I want to wrap Eliza and Wallace both in giant sweaters and feed them tea and cake.
I want to wrap Eliza and Wallace both in giant sweaters and feed them tea and cake.
"Do you ever have an idea for a story, or a character, or even a line of dialogue or something, and suddenly it seems like the whole world is brighter? Like everything opens up, and everything makes sense?"
Actual rating: 3.5. stars, maybe?
Contemporary YA is not my thing nowadays, but Eliza was very relatable character to me (almost painfully so), and I really enjoyed commentary about online fandoms and creating art, the power of stories. The last part of the book, after ~the reveal~, wasn't as strong as I hoped it would, though - I wish it would have made me feel more, like it was supposed to, but that didn't happen. Still, this was a good story nonetheless.
Actual rating: 3.5. stars, maybe?
Contemporary YA is not my thing nowadays, but Eliza was very relatable character to me (almost painfully so), and I really enjoyed commentary about online fandoms and creating art, the power of stories. The last part of the book, after ~the reveal~, wasn't as strong as I hoped it would, though - I wish it would have made me feel more, like it was supposed to, but that didn't happen. Still, this was a good story nonetheless.
I can't really decide how to write this review. I have written it and started over a few times. I just don't what I want to say, or how to word it even when I do.
This book is not without its issues. But at the end of the day, it's such a... pure creation. It overflows with genuine emotions. I have no doubt that Zappia loves Monsterous Sea as much as Eliza does. It simply pours off the page (and I, for one, would not mind if she pulled a Rainbow Rowell and wrote that series. In fact, I insist on it. Like, shut up and take my money, now)
And, I'll admit it, I cried at the end. Full on tears. It's funny how these type of stories do that to me - they make me connect with the main character, and then they make her emotions my own, and BAM I'm bawling.
That's not to say I was immediately connected to Eliza, though.
In fact, my initial reaction was kind of weird. From basically page one, I knew I loved the dialogues in this novel. They feel like conversations I've had with my friends if that makes any form of sense. From the very first chapter, I knew I was in love with Monsterous Sea with its beautiful drawings and kick-ass plot (god, I want to read it so badly). From the first time we saw a snippet of Wallace's transcription of the comic, I wanted my hand on that beautiful piece of writing. Seriously, Wallace's writing hooked me so bad. From the first moment Wallace and Eliza started to interact, I was giddy with this feeling of first love on all its anxiety and butterflies, shipping and cheering on these two puppies.
Which is why it was so, so, so, so strange that I didn't like the writing as narrated by Eliza. It took me a huge chunk of the novel--probably around 50% of it--to grow used to her style. I don't know what it was, maybe it was the contrast between Wallace's novel and her own voice, but there you have it. Obviously, I got over it, but I felt compelled to mention it.
Anyways, I think this is a book a lot of people can relate to. Anyone who is part of a fandom, really, and let's face it... You're on goodreads. Of course you're part of a fandom >D
Now, for the few things that felt iffy to me, in spoilers!
1. Eliza dragging out the Lady Constellation thing - I mean, I get it. This is your climax, you need to draw it out. But at a certain point, it began to feel inorganic. Eliza had thought so many times of sharing this fact with Wallace--of wanting to share it--that it became this thing she doesn't do just so we can have all the emotional final act.
2. Wallace's reaction - part of the reason I don't really read fanfiction is that a lot of the time, characters become people they are not, simply to fit the story the fan fiction tries to tell. This is how I felt with Wallace when he suddenly sprung that publishing deal, pressuring Eliza to continue with the comic and brushing her off when she doesn't.
This is not the Wallace to whom you introduced me throughout the entirety of this novel! This is not the Wallace Eliza fell in love with! This is not the boy who saw the darkness in his father but failed to act on it, leading to a life time of guilt and what ifs!!
Wallace would not do it, especially as he sees how bad Eliza is. Not the boy who is okay with the silence, and understands the anxiety, and the social fear, and the love to Monstrous Sea. Not the boy who loves Eliza Mirk. Without even asking how she feels! There is a difference between anger, to which he is justified, and this. And then, of course, when this rans its course and lead to THE SCENE, he reverts back to the Wallace he has always been.
Again, it felt like something that was put it inorganically to add more drama to this final act.
But those were really my only complaints. You can be certain I will check out more of Zappia's writing in the future!
This book is not without its issues. But at the end of the day, it's such a... pure creation. It overflows with genuine emotions. I have no doubt that Zappia loves Monsterous Sea as much as Eliza does. It simply pours off the page (and I, for one, would not mind if she pulled a Rainbow Rowell and wrote that series. In fact, I insist on it. Like, shut up and take my money, now)
And, I'll admit it, I cried at the end. Full on tears. It's funny how these type of stories do that to me - they make me connect with the main character, and then they make her emotions my own, and BAM I'm bawling.
That's not to say I was immediately connected to Eliza, though.
In fact, my initial reaction was kind of weird. From basically page one, I knew I loved the dialogues in this novel. They feel like conversations I've had with my friends if that makes any form of sense. From the very first chapter, I knew I was in love with Monsterous Sea with its beautiful drawings and kick-ass plot (god, I want to read it so badly). From the first time we saw a snippet of Wallace's transcription of the comic, I wanted my hand on that beautiful piece of writing. Seriously, Wallace's writing hooked me so bad. From the first moment Wallace and Eliza started to interact, I was giddy with this feeling of first love on all its anxiety and butterflies, shipping and cheering on these two puppies.
Which is why it was so, so, so, so strange that I didn't like the writing as narrated by Eliza. It took me a huge chunk of the novel--probably around 50% of it--to grow used to her style. I don't know what it was, maybe it was the contrast between Wallace's novel and her own voice, but there you have it. Obviously, I got over it, but I felt compelled to mention it.
Anyways, I think this is a book a lot of people can relate to. Anyone who is part of a fandom, really, and let's face it... You're on goodreads. Of course you're part of a fandom >D
Now, for the few things that felt iffy to me, in spoilers!
2. Wallace's reaction - part of the reason I don't really read fanfiction is that a lot of the time, characters become people they are not, simply to fit the story the fan fiction tries to tell. This is how I felt with Wallace when he suddenly sprung that publishing deal, pressuring Eliza to continue with the comic and brushing her off when she doesn't.
This is not the Wallace to whom you introduced me throughout the entirety of this novel! This is not the Wallace Eliza fell in love with! This is not the boy who saw the darkness in his father but failed to act on it, leading to a life time of guilt and what ifs!!
Wallace would not do it, especially as he sees how bad Eliza is. Not the boy who is okay with the silence, and understands the anxiety, and the social fear, and the love to Monstrous Sea. Not the boy who loves Eliza Mirk. Without even asking how she feels! There is a difference between anger, to which he is justified, and this. And then, of course, when this rans its course and lead to THE SCENE, he reverts back to the Wallace he has always been.
Again, it felt like something that was put it inorganically to add more drama to this final act.
But those were really my only complaints. You can be certain I will check out more of Zappia's writing in the future!
This was so good. It's insane. I adored this so much, and it might be one of my favourite contemporaries ever.