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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
So, the first thing I'll say about this graphic novel is it is very short. To be expected from the format, but therein lies the issue.
The premise is a group of friends in their final year of high school before splitting up and flying away. They don't all share the same classes, they all have extracurriculars taking them away from each other. Nora, the more loud and extroverted of the group, is not taking this problem lying down, and decides they need an extracurricular of their very own. What's the main reason for joining a club?
Free food.
Thus is born the Supper Club, where the friends cook a dish and bring it (or cook the dish at the club itself), and they joke and laugh and dance.
There may be other activities done at supper club, but you wouldn't know.
Because the book is so. dang. short.
It's a genuine let down, really, because Supper Club starts with Nora making Italian Rainbow Cookies. They are part of her heritage, and she takes immense pride in showing the girls how it's done.
This really sets you up for failure, though, because this is the only time we see/understand what is being made or why the recipe or ingredients matter. The chapters are titled after food, but we're lucky if we even see them eating it.
Supper Club is the main story that the other events revolve around, but there isn't resolution to so many plot points.
This was really a let down, and I'm bummed about it. I just wanted more.
So, the first thing I'll say about this graphic novel is it is very short. To be expected from the format, but therein lies the issue.
The premise is a group of friends in their final year of high school before splitting up and flying away. They don't all share the same classes, they all have extracurriculars taking them away from each other. Nora, the more loud and extroverted of the group, is not taking this problem lying down, and decides they need an extracurricular of their very own. What's the main reason for joining a club?
Free food.
Thus is born the Supper Club, where the friends cook a dish and bring it (or cook the dish at the club itself), and they joke and laugh and dance.
There may be other activities done at supper club, but you wouldn't know.
Because the book is so. dang. short.
It's a genuine let down, really, because Supper Club starts with Nora making Italian Rainbow Cookies. They are part of her heritage, and she takes immense pride in showing the girls how it's done.
This really sets you up for failure, though, because this is the only time we see/understand what is being made or why the recipe or ingredients matter. The chapters are titled after food, but we're lucky if we even see them eating it.
Supper Club is the main story that the other events revolve around, but there isn't resolution to so many plot points.
This was really a let down, and I'm bummed about it. I just wanted more.
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A lighthearted and quick read that honestly felt like it prioritized it's white characters more than its BIPOC characters so overall I feel very meh about it.
The food illustrations were bright and fun, the recipes at the back look really intriguing, but the Supper Club had 6 members. And at the end of the day the story REALLY prioritized Nora and Iris's story above everyone else, even Lili, who had a promising character arc which ended super abruptly with an unfulfilling conclusion. Honestly, I barely remember the names of the other club members, but I would've loved a more in-depth exploration of the backstory for the Brown girl who loved plantains!
And even to that point Nora's and Iris's stories felt really surface level and lacking any sort of dimension. So all in all, this was an entertaining read but not my favorite, I would recommend Bloom if you're looking for food-centric graphic novels or Paper Girls if you're looking for teen girl camraderie.
The food illustrations were bright and fun, the recipes at the back look really intriguing, but the Supper Club had 6 members. And at the end of the day the story REALLY prioritized Nora and Iris's story above everyone else, even Lili, who had a promising character arc which ended super abruptly with an unfulfilling conclusion. Honestly, I barely remember the names of the other club members, but I would've loved a more in-depth exploration of the backstory for the Brown girl who loved plantains!
And even to that point Nora's and Iris's stories felt really surface level and lacking any sort of dimension. So all in all, this was an entertaining read but not my favorite, I would recommend Bloom if you're looking for food-centric graphic novels or Paper Girls if you're looking for teen girl camraderie.
‘Supper Club’ with story and art by Jackie Morrow is a graphic novel about good friends about to graduate and go separate ways.
Nora, Lili, and Iris are in their final year of high school with increasingly different lives and pressures. They start a supper club for an extracurricular activity and it acts as a connection point for the friends. But life and pressure increasingly stresses individuals and friendships.
There was a point near the end where this book won me over. Before that point, I felt it was a pretty mediocre effort. It finishes well, so my advice is to stick with it.
Nora, Lili, and Iris are in their final year of high school with increasingly different lives and pressures. They start a supper club for an extracurricular activity and it acts as a connection point for the friends. But life and pressure increasingly stresses individuals and friendships.
There was a point near the end where this book won me over. Before that point, I felt it was a pretty mediocre effort. It finishes well, so my advice is to stick with it.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was really excited to read this but it was not what I was hoping for. Far less of a focus on the food than you might expect, and the art was not as detailed as the cover implied (not bad, just different). I was intrigued by the individual plot lines introduced for each character, but they never really felt resolved at all, just wrapped up quickly to finish the book. If this book were longer with some more fleshed out character development I think I would have been really into it, particularly if there was more info on family recipes, food related memories, etc. It was a quick read, and having recipes included at the end of the book was a nice detail.
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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:
Yes
Thanks NetGalley and Image Comics for this arc!
4.5/5 stars
I really really enjoyed this graphic novel, which really encompassed how joyful, bittersweet, and difficult your last year of high school can be. The art was so colourful and fun, and the characters were really well rounded. I feel like some panels left me a little confused, like they should've been better explained or just fleshed out a bit more, but not overly much. Some parts felt a little rushed, I would've liked more closure or explanations with some parts, but overall great graphic novel. The few recipes at the end were a cute bonus, too!
4.5/5 stars
I really really enjoyed this graphic novel, which really encompassed how joyful, bittersweet, and difficult your last year of high school can be. The art was so colourful and fun, and the characters were really well rounded. I feel like some panels left me a little confused, like they should've been better explained or just fleshed out a bit more, but not overly much. Some parts felt a little rushed, I would've liked more closure or explanations with some parts, but overall great graphic novel. The few recipes at the end were a cute bonus, too!