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lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Super quick, fun read, I just wish there had been more to the conclusion. There was a lot of build up and the ending felt abrupt and unsatisfying because we never got to see the results of the characters’ decisions
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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:
No
Set in the early 2000s, this had me with the button on the title page that read “dip me I chocolate and throw me to the lesbians.” This is a brief graphic novel like My Dark Vanessa and I thought it dealt well with a bisexual identity, showing what supportive friends and parents look like. It also explores the depths of the fear of bullying for an LGBBTQ identity, what bad relationships look like, as well as showing the grooming process a teacher might use to come on to students.
3.5 stars
Good. I'm not a huge fan of GF, and the ones I like are generally more text-heavy with more intricate illustrations, but I did enjoy this. It was a quick read, and touched on some important topics. I generally find stories where everyone seems to fall in love with the main character because they're so irresistible kind of difficult to connect with, but this one at least showed some of the down sides of that dynamic.
Good. I'm not a huge fan of GF, and the ones I like are generally more text-heavy with more intricate illustrations, but I did enjoy this. It was a quick read, and touched on some important topics. I generally find stories where everyone seems to fall in love with the main character because they're so irresistible kind of difficult to connect with, but this one at least showed some of the down sides of that dynamic.
Painfully relatable in ways I wasn't expecting. Very different story than I thought it was going to be going in (entirely my fault tho). Captured the internal experience of being a teenager so well, it made me nostalgic for experiences entirely alien to me.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Starts out as a cute middle grade coming of age vibe and turns much more uncomfortable and darker quickly- but in a good way. It’s a pretty safe/surface level discussion of an important and terrifyingly common phenomenon, while still hitting some of the pivotal emotional beats of the survivor’s perspective.
3.5
3.5
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I fell in love with the art style and picked this up without reading the description. Whatever you do, read the description first! Or at least check the content warnings.
I have never read a graphic novel before. I’ve wanted to for so long but always felt intimidated. I am so glad this was my first one, even if it did deal with very heavy topics.
This book explored a lot of hard stuff without shying away from it. Liv’s pain, sadness, and fear felt tangible, as did her excitement, joy, and relief. This is one I look forward to rereading.
I have never read a graphic novel before. I’ve wanted to for so long but always felt intimidated. I am so glad this was my first one, even if it did deal with very heavy topics.
This book explored a lot of hard stuff without shying away from it. Liv’s pain, sadness, and fear felt tangible, as did her excitement, joy, and relief. This is one I look forward to rereading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity