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cupcates's review
3.0
UGHHH.
I'm upset because this book had the potential to be so much better than it actually was, and I fear I only have myself to blame for not having liked it because everyone and their mother talks wonders about it. The premise was so good — a modern Romeo and Juliet story with comic books. I know, right?
I just couldn't get into it. I didn't care about the characters, I didn't care about the romance, the comic book universe didn't pull me into it as much as I hoped it would. I'm sorry.
I'm upset because this book had the potential to be so much better than it actually was, and I fear I only have myself to blame for not having liked it because everyone and their mother talks wonders about it. The premise was so good — a modern Romeo and Juliet story with comic books. I know, right?
I just couldn't get into it. I didn't care about the characters, I didn't care about the romance, the comic book universe didn't pull me into it as much as I hoped it would. I'm sorry.
mjfmjfmjf's review
4.0
A kind of unlikely choice for a teen romance. I definitely didn't like it nearly as much as the adventure stories told in the author's graphic novels. But I appreciated the idea of a story told around superhero comic books, though not about them. This was a story trying to be about a time and a place kind of. It didn't really tell the story of the place - if it hadn't said it was Nova Scotia where cruise ships could visit, it could have been any small town. I don't know that it sold the idea of Canada though it made a number of references. The characters themselves weren't all that deep. The hippy family was a little bit obvious as was the movie making dad. Still it managed to be a lot less cringy for a high school romance than it could have been. 3.5 of 5.
bigjessenergy's review
5.0
Actually probably a 4.5.
This was a sweet story with a healthy sprinkle of comics for good measure. The characters were honest and full and I found their arcs compelling. The writing felt a little clunky at times, and I still don’t know which is Skylark and which is Skybound. I was really prepared to not like Weldon, I thought he kind of sucked in the beginning and felt cliche. But he filled out and grew on me by the end. I appreciated the commentary around two kids trying to navigate their inherited, entwined history while also trying to find their own independence as they near adulthood. The intersection of comics and YA fiction are well executed here and Hicks does a good job on her first novel. Hoping to see more from her in the future.
This was a sweet story with a healthy sprinkle of comics for good measure. The characters were honest and full and I found their arcs compelling. The writing felt a little clunky at times, and I still don’t know which is Skylark and which is Skybound. I was really prepared to not like Weldon, I thought he kind of sucked in the beginning and felt cliche. But he filled out and grew on me by the end. I appreciated the commentary around two kids trying to navigate their inherited, entwined history while also trying to find their own independence as they near adulthood. The intersection of comics and YA fiction are well executed here and Hicks does a good job on her first novel. Hoping to see more from her in the future.
lucymarie146346's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
missprint_'s review
3.0
Arguably, Miriam's family should be rich. After all, her grandfather co-created The TomorrowMen. But he also signed away his rights to the series in an acrimonious deal in that has left nothing but bitterness in its wake. Miriam's mother says they have enough to get by. But just barely. And certainly not enough to let Miriam consider college in any serious way.
Then there's the new guy in town, Weldon, who is really cute and really off limits once Miriam finds out he is the grandson of the man who cheated her grandfather all those years ago.
Knowing their families, Mir and Weldon are wary of starting anything together. But their hearts have other plans. Will mutual attraction, friendship, and maybe even love be enough to end a decades long feud in Comics Will Break Your Heart (2019) by Faith Erin Hicks?
Comics Will Break Your Heart is Hicks' prose novel debut. Chapters alternate close third person perspective between Mir and Weldon.
Hicks' prose debut is a uniquely Canadian, very comic-centric, and distinctly funny story. The story opens with a meet cute that escalates from bookstore shelf organizing to a fistfight and the stakes only climb from there.
Comics Will Break Your Heart is filled with witty banter, pop culture references (both real and fictional), as well as a deep and abiding affection for geek culture and the fandoms who love them. Recommended for anyone who's ever scrambled to buy tickets opening day or stayed up way too late for a midnight launch party.
Possible Pairings: Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira, Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley, Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy, Prince Charming by Rachel Hawkins, The Romantics by Leah Konen, Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills, Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
Then there's the new guy in town, Weldon, who is really cute and really off limits once Miriam finds out he is the grandson of the man who cheated her grandfather all those years ago.
Knowing their families, Mir and Weldon are wary of starting anything together. But their hearts have other plans. Will mutual attraction, friendship, and maybe even love be enough to end a decades long feud in Comics Will Break Your Heart (2019) by Faith Erin Hicks?
Comics Will Break Your Heart is Hicks' prose novel debut. Chapters alternate close third person perspective between Mir and Weldon.
Hicks' prose debut is a uniquely Canadian, very comic-centric, and distinctly funny story. The story opens with a meet cute that escalates from bookstore shelf organizing to a fistfight and the stakes only climb from there.
Comics Will Break Your Heart is filled with witty banter, pop culture references (both real and fictional), as well as a deep and abiding affection for geek culture and the fandoms who love them. Recommended for anyone who's ever scrambled to buy tickets opening day or stayed up way too late for a midnight launch party.
Possible Pairings: Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira, Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley, Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy, Prince Charming by Rachel Hawkins, The Romantics by Leah Konen, Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills, Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
mal_grace's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book. It was a fun, cute read that left me feeling good after I read it. Would have been a 5 star read, but there was a bit of harsh language that bumped my rating down.
steff_fox's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bayy245's review
5.0
I was absolutely blown away by this book. It was just as charming and lovely as Geekerella and I think fans of that book will gobble this one up. I loved that this was a new spin on Romeo and Juliet.
The plot wasn't the strong suit of this book. The characterization of this book was the real star. I was floored by how real and fleshed out the characters were. We saw a friend break-up and the consequences of that. We also saw Mir have to make a hard decision about what she wanted and how that would affect her family and friendships. I loved that this big issue of comic rights was so murky and real. Each side had a different story and a different view of who was right and wrong, whereas the truth lay somewhere in the middle. We got to see how this one decision, made generations ago, affected families and lives.
The parents were flawed, real people and we got a look into their lives. We saw a divorce and the nasty, lingering pain. We also saw a very healthy relationship between parents. We saw a healthy parent-child relationship and a toxic one. I think this ticks off so many of the boxes that are missing in YA books these days that people are really wanting.
It was heartwarming, swoony, and real. I think anyone who reads this book will take something away from it. They'll find themselves in one of these characters or recognize a struggle they're having. I really loved the very real problems this book tackled. It didn't really solve any of them, but these problems aren't those to be solved. They're ever changing and evolving. This book tackled a lot of complex issues that don't really have an answer and I think we need to be showing this more to teens. There's not always an answer and that's okay. Sometimes you just have to do what's best for you at the moment and that's what Mir taught me.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Roaring Book Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
The plot wasn't the strong suit of this book. The characterization of this book was the real star. I was floored by how real and fleshed out the characters were. We saw a friend break-up and the consequences of that. We also saw Mir have to make a hard decision about what she wanted and how that would affect her family and friendships. I loved that this big issue of comic rights was so murky and real. Each side had a different story and a different view of who was right and wrong, whereas the truth lay somewhere in the middle. We got to see how this one decision, made generations ago, affected families and lives.
The parents were flawed, real people and we got a look into their lives. We saw a divorce and the nasty, lingering pain. We also saw a very healthy relationship between parents. We saw a healthy parent-child relationship and a toxic one. I think this ticks off so many of the boxes that are missing in YA books these days that people are really wanting.
It was heartwarming, swoony, and real. I think anyone who reads this book will take something away from it. They'll find themselves in one of these characters or recognize a struggle they're having. I really loved the very real problems this book tackled. It didn't really solve any of them, but these problems aren't those to be solved. They're ever changing and evolving. This book tackled a lot of complex issues that don't really have an answer and I think we need to be showing this more to teens. There's not always an answer and that's okay. Sometimes you just have to do what's best for you at the moment and that's what Mir taught me.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Roaring Book Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
a_ab's review
4.0
A very relatable and realistic coming of age and into adulthood story. A little bit of Romeo and Juliet with much less drama, a lot about friendships and how they change. A lot about everyday inevitable change in general, but nothing tragic or over the top.
The best thing about this book is how well it captures the essence of youth - the characters feel real and very true to age. But the book is much more adult in how it portrays people: nobody is all-good or all-bad, mistakes are made, some are fixed, some are accepted, some carried for far too long.
The best thing about this book is how well it captures the essence of youth - the characters feel real and very true to age. But the book is much more adult in how it portrays people: nobody is all-good or all-bad, mistakes are made, some are fixed, some are accepted, some carried for far too long.
merlin_reads's review
3.5
So this book was cutesy. Borrowing from the Romeo & Juliet trope but throwing in comic books and comic con, this book had me written all over it. And while I found myself enjoying it as I read it, I didn't fall in love the way that I wanted to.
The book follows Miriam and Weldon - two kids from opposite sides. Weldon is your typical bored rich kid who gets sent to the small town in Canada that Miriam lives because he just can't get his shit together and his father doesn't want to deal with him. Miriam is the smart mouthed, sassy girl who works at the comic book store. The two meet and insta connection, until they find out about their families past legal trouble involving rights to a comic book.
I really love the Romeo & Juliet trope but I felt like the author really only scraped the surface of this families feud. Yes, it was brought up every time they were together but the extent of it was "you should stay away from her". And then at the end when I thought we would get some sort of confrontation between Weldon, Miriam and Weldon's father, nope, smoothed away in a paragraph and end of book. So a little underwhelming.
As for the love story, it was all right. The characters spent more time wallowing in their own self-pity then actually connecting so it was hard to really root for them. I just wanted them to give more.
So overall, it was cutesy but not as nerdtastic as I would have liked.
The book follows Miriam and Weldon - two kids from opposite sides. Weldon is your typical bored rich kid who gets sent to the small town in Canada that Miriam lives because he just can't get his shit together and his father doesn't want to deal with him. Miriam is the smart mouthed, sassy girl who works at the comic book store. The two meet and insta connection, until they find out about their families past legal trouble involving rights to a comic book.
I really love the Romeo & Juliet trope but I felt like the author really only scraped the surface of this families feud. Yes, it was brought up every time they were together but the extent of it was "you should stay away from her". And then at the end when I thought we would get some sort of confrontation between Weldon, Miriam and Weldon's father, nope, smoothed away in a paragraph and end of book. So a little underwhelming.
As for the love story, it was all right. The characters spent more time wallowing in their own self-pity then actually connecting so it was hard to really root for them. I just wanted them to give more.
So overall, it was cutesy but not as nerdtastic as I would have liked.