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magnetgrrl's review
3.0
I'm fairly certain I haven't read anything else by this author but something about the writing (and even the art actually) reminded me of a favorite comic book one-shot I read years ago called "Me & Edith Head" but... I'm 100% certain that was Sara Ryan. So I guess that was a winding way of saying that this reminded me of Sara Ryan, who I love.
This crystallizes very nicely the feeling of having a friend crush, or a maybe-more-than-a-friend crush, on someone you're idealizing who you actually may not know anything about, or for whom you're actively ignoring every detracting thing you learn about her even as you greedily guzzle in every detail and invent things that aren't there to idealize them further.
It was jarring to see that Grandmother was Swedish. And from Smaland no less! "Horror God" was absolutely hilarious - I'll never forget that. There's also some great Swedish cursing in this book. A+ Also that grandma was up at 5 am scrubbing floors, or trimming her own apple trees with a hacksaw. 1000% like my grandma. The setting of this has to be about when I was in high school, given the supermodels talked about and a couple of other era hints. For that reason alone, probably, is why the whole "obsessed with a straight girl" vibe was clicking for me. PTSD/memories. The anorexia/bulimia also struck me as very '90s for some reason, even though I don't think I knew anyone with those specific issues at that age, not consciously. But it was the after-school special PSA of those times - that and, like, don't smoke crack (which I'm not sure anyone was, that was like, 10 years too late). The characters on Days of Our Lives I even remember! Ha.
It's either completely unbelievable or just so totally wrong that I can't believe it that there's a mall named the Walt Whitman Mall.
Actually, this book is in that space of "perfectly capturing a time and place" and "name-dropping a bunch of stuff half of which is too personal to the author's specific time-place history to fully grab readers unless they're from that time-place, too" and I'm not sure which it's closer to. I think the latter.
This book is also just more straight/heteronormative than I am. Like, I get 100% the "I want her I think maybe but also I want to BE her" thing but, I think the main character here is falling more on the straight side of that, which is... harder for me to relate to. More of this book is about the actions of Chris and Ryan and lingering details of the never actually present Matt than about the narrator, let alone the title character. Heteronormativity, yo.
Also, the line "I didn't even know her" at the end about her former BFF/crush who is now dead is like .... DAAAAAAAMN. WTF. That is cold.
This crystallizes very nicely the feeling of having a friend crush, or a maybe-more-than-a-friend crush, on someone you're idealizing who you actually may not know anything about, or for whom you're actively ignoring every detracting thing you learn about her even as you greedily guzzle in every detail and invent things that aren't there to idealize them further.
It was jarring to see that Grandmother was Swedish. And from Smaland no less! "Horror God" was absolutely hilarious - I'll never forget that. There's also some great Swedish cursing in this book. A+ Also that grandma was up at 5 am scrubbing floors, or trimming her own apple trees with a hacksaw. 1000% like my grandma. The setting of this has to be about when I was in high school, given the supermodels talked about and a couple of other era hints. For that reason alone, probably, is why the whole "obsessed with a straight girl" vibe was clicking for me. PTSD/memories. The anorexia/bulimia also struck me as very '90s for some reason, even though I don't think I knew anyone with those specific issues at that age, not consciously. But it was the after-school special PSA of those times - that and, like, don't smoke crack (which I'm not sure anyone was, that was like, 10 years too late). The characters on Days of Our Lives I even remember! Ha.
It's either completely unbelievable or just so totally wrong that I can't believe it that there's a mall named the Walt Whitman Mall.
Actually, this book is in that space of "perfectly capturing a time and place" and "name-dropping a bunch of stuff half of which is too personal to the author's specific time-place history to fully grab readers unless they're from that time-place, too" and I'm not sure which it's closer to. I think the latter.
This book is also just more straight/heteronormative than I am. Like, I get 100% the "I want her I think maybe but also I want to BE her" thing but, I think the main character here is falling more on the straight side of that, which is... harder for me to relate to. More of this book is about the actions of Chris and Ryan and lingering details of the never actually present Matt than about the narrator, let alone the title character. Heteronormativity, yo.
Also, the line "I didn't even know her" at the end about her former BFF/crush who is now dead is like .... DAAAAAAAMN. WTF. That is cold.
zoethydear1850's review against another edition
5.0
I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader’s copy through one of the many giveaways I enter.
I swallowed this book whole and it made me sick, absolutely nauseous. The effect this book has is intensely powerful despite its short length.
It’s dirty. Quick. Painful.
I suggest you take a hot shower before, during and after reading.
I swallowed this book whole and it made me sick, absolutely nauseous. The effect this book has is intensely powerful despite its short length.
It’s dirty. Quick. Painful.
I suggest you take a hot shower before, during and after reading.
dariamorgendorffer's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gnothiseauton's review
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I was born in ‘99 but somehow this still reminds me of the halcyon disaster days of my youth (an oxymoron, I know.) overwritten in places and very MFA workshop vibes but overall a novella I enjoyed losing myself in for a little while. Definitely heed the content warnings though…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Death
annexelizabeth's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
enjoyed the hazy messy summery Long Island vibes and the exploration of teenage female friendship and eating disorders. did not enjoy the near total lack of plot lol. used to be a big fan of novels abt nothing but now I’m like hmmm maybe novels…should have some sort of a plot. Like I am still a characters and themes over plot girlie but this book did not give me sufficient characters or plot to sink my teeth into. Interesting thematic stuff, but not really thoroughly explored.
Cool illustrations tho! I did really like that part
Cool illustrations tho! I did really like that part
furbae's review against another edition
3.0
When one is a teenager, it can feel like everything is happening all at once while at the same time nothing at all is happening. Forsyth Harmon eloquently captures the ennui and loneliness of suburban living in the late 90s as well as the adrenaline rush that comes with being chosen by someone decidedly cooler than you. In this slim volume, we are privy to Ali’s brief yet profound relationship with the enigmatic Justine who pulls her into a new world of drugs, partying, and eating disorders. Accompanied by simple line illustrations, Justine takes the reader through the heightened emotions of adolescence and messy intensity of female friendships during such a fragile time in their lives.
jocedun's review against another edition
4.0
“Justine” is a short, fast-paced character study about a small group of teens who cross paths in the late 1990s. You can read this in one sitting as if it were a movie. If it were a film, the atmosphere would be sepia toned with heat visibly radiating from the concrete, and lots of moody indie rock music in the background.
Through our main character, Alison/Ali, we see her obsess over her new friend and being to temporarily transform her personality to conform with the group. “Justine” explores those troublesome teenage years where parental supervision is waning, you are trying to rebel and figure yourself whilst being painfully insecure and easily influenced by your peers. The author captures those intense and confusing times so well, and demonstrates how transient those relationships can be.
There is so much 90s nostalgia packed into this short novel. With the spread of hip hop music, magazines dominating conversation, thin models like Kate Mosse on everyone’s mind, and the noticeable lack of cell phones. There are also drawings scattered through-out, which help to break-up the narrative like a well-time chapter break.
I really enjoyed this! Can’t say I have read anything similar recently, which is a good sign.
Through our main character, Alison/Ali, we see her obsess over her new friend and being to temporarily transform her personality to conform with the group. “Justine” explores those troublesome teenage years where parental supervision is waning, you are trying to rebel and figure yourself whilst being painfully insecure and easily influenced by your peers. The author captures those intense and confusing times so well, and demonstrates how transient those relationships can be.
There is so much 90s nostalgia packed into this short novel. With the spread of hip hop music, magazines dominating conversation, thin models like Kate Mosse on everyone’s mind, and the noticeable lack of cell phones. There are also drawings scattered through-out, which help to break-up the narrative like a well-time chapter break.
I really enjoyed this! Can’t say I have read anything similar recently, which is a good sign.
radbrenfro's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75