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bookishmillennial's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Parts of this book *enraged* me, like I was so goddamn annoyed and exhausted of Sammie's cishet male friends, and one "pick me" cishet female friend. Sammie is chosen to be their best friend Adam's "best man" for Adam's upcoming nuptials. However, Sammie's wife encourages them to either skip the weekend or even re-assess the friendship (which was my reaction too, but I also deeply related to the resignation that Sammie felt in just wanting to "get through the weekend," and not "cause any drama". I wanted to hug them so bad.)
Sammie endures so much toxic masculinity, dudebro surface-level talk about money/MLM schemes/hating their wives/sports, and generally homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic rhetoric from this group of dusty crusty cishet dudebros, and it is *insufferable*, yet it is so authentic to my lived experience of whenever I'm in a room full of assholes. I also just wanted to scream when Adam made Sammie's transition about him, yelling, "It's a lot for me to handle too, you know" (idk if that's an exact quotation, but it's essentially what he said, and I wanted to smack him).
Adam could've stood up for his friend with so much more conviction and compassion, but alas, he's corny and I hate him. Irredeemable, I don't care hahaha. Being complicit and silent is just as bad, if not worse than being blatantly transphobic, because you're allowing the behavior and not making it crystal clear that you do not stand for the horrific behavior. Don't bother reposting any stories about allyship, on social media Adam!
The horror aspects of this graphic novel were the parts I kind of glossed over, because I was more invested in Sammie's story. However, it was gnarly and grisly!!!! The illustrations were really unique and edgy, compared to other graphic novels I have read lately, which I appreciated.
Parts of this book *enraged* me, like I was so goddamn annoyed and exhausted of Sammie's cishet male friends, and one "pick me" cishet female friend. Sammie is chosen to be their best friend Adam's "best man" for Adam's upcoming nuptials. However, Sammie's wife encourages them to either skip the weekend or even re-assess the friendship (which was my reaction too, but I also deeply related to the resignation that Sammie felt in just wanting to "get through the weekend," and not "cause any drama". I wanted to hug them so bad.)
Sammie endures so much toxic masculinity, dudebro surface-level talk about money/MLM schemes/hating their wives/sports, and generally homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic rhetoric from this group of dusty crusty cishet dudebros, and it is *insufferable*, yet it is so authentic to my lived experience of whenever I'm in a room full of assholes. I also just wanted to scream when Adam made Sammie's transition about him, yelling, "It's a lot for me to handle too, you know" (idk if that's an exact quotation, but it's essentially what he said, and I wanted to smack him).
Adam could've stood up for his friend with so much more conviction and compassion, but alas, he's corny and I hate him. Irredeemable, I don't care hahaha. Being complicit and silent is just as bad, if not worse than being blatantly transphobic, because you're allowing the behavior and not making it crystal clear that you do not stand for the horrific behavior. Don't bother reposting any stories about allyship, on social media Adam!
The horror aspects of this graphic novel were the parts I kind of glossed over, because I was more invested in Sammie's story. However, it was gnarly and grisly!!!! The illustrations were really unique and edgy, compared to other graphic novels I have read lately, which I appreciated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Sexism, Gore, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
macjack's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Brilliantly done story of a trans “final girl” against “the many-tentacled monster of gender and capitalism.” Absolutely devoured this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Murder, Body horror, Blood, Deadnaming, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Gore
ems_book_shelf's review
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Toxic friendship, Gore, and Alcohol
caseythereader's review against another edition
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, Alcohol, Murder, and Transphobia
Minor: Cannibalism
jade13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Gun violence
It is satire and horror. It's not pretty! Except Samjarku's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Intensely relatable, which is a feat for a speculative horror comic. The setting is so rich and thoroughly imagined. Will strike a chord with any trans folks in cisnormative circles, especially tech. Tear-jerker ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming
Moderate: Transphobia and Gore
Minor: Alcohol, Fatphobia, and Religious bigotry
chefboyavi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I finished in one sitting since it’s a quick read and hard to put down. The juxtaposition of gender and identity with supernatural horror is a winner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Gore, Vomit, Deadnaming, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Death, and Bullying
mfrisk's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved this graphic novel. It is an excellent read about harmful gender roles, changing friendships, and how easy it is for people to be driven to extremes in trying to conform and please others. All done with some wacky drawings, a kickass main character, and so much world building in a short graphic novel. Will definitely read more from this author in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Death, Body horror, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Alcohol
toonyballoony's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
An uncomfortably real read cranking modern times up to an 11 that had me rooting for Sammie through it all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Body horror
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Sexism, and Violence
shelvesofivy's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Deadnaming, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Alcohol, Body horror, Bullying, Gun violence, and Toxic friendship