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A review by dhiyanah
Love Languages by James Albon
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
'Love Languages' is a graphic novel that follows Sarah Huxley, a Londoner living in Paris trying to find her place within new work and life environments. A chance encounter with the excitable Ping Loh, an au pair from Hong Kong, sets off a sequence of events that leads Sarah out from the isolation bubble she's struggling with and into the sometimes-tense negotiations of newfound love.
Language plays a huge role in this budding romance. The book opens with beautiful watercolor scenes of Paris, a metropolitan city brimming with diverse cultures. Bits of words from many languages float in the air and through crowds. As you stroll, you might just pick up a familiar word or two. The author/artist did a fantastic job at representing the immersion of languages in a way that's visually charming on the page. And this style carries beautifully throughout the main storyline.
As Sarah keeps up with learning two new languages - French and Cantonese - so she can communicate with Ping, she shows us how this is changing her. These scenes were illustrated so beautifully. As Sarah and Ping catch up with each other's spoken languages, they find the space to get to know each other with an emotional intimacy that dazzles on the page.
This was a wholesome, queer-affirming, light-hearted read with beautiful art that utilized careful use of colors and lines. I enjoyed it, especially as a Valentine's read! I would have liked to see more depth with the characters' acceptance of their queerness though, since it came up in a tense situation but fizzled out abruptly. It just felt like the story ended too quickly for me.
But it was a happy ending, which I wholeheartedly appreciated! Recommended for a quick, feel-good read.
Thank you to the publisher, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Language plays a huge role in this budding romance. The book opens with beautiful watercolor scenes of Paris, a metropolitan city brimming with diverse cultures. Bits of words from many languages float in the air and through crowds. As you stroll, you might just pick up a familiar word or two. The author/artist did a fantastic job at representing the immersion of languages in a way that's visually charming on the page. And this style carries beautifully throughout the main storyline.
As Sarah keeps up with learning two new languages - French and Cantonese - so she can communicate with Ping, she shows us how this is changing her. These scenes were illustrated so beautifully. As Sarah and Ping catch up with each other's spoken languages, they find the space to get to know each other with an emotional intimacy that dazzles on the page.
This was a wholesome, queer-affirming, light-hearted read with beautiful art that utilized careful use of colors and lines. I enjoyed it, especially as a Valentine's read! I would have liked to see more depth with the characters' acceptance of their queerness though, since it came up in a tense situation but fizzled out abruptly. It just felt like the story ended too quickly for me.
But it was a happy ending, which I wholeheartedly appreciated! Recommended for a quick, feel-good read.
Thank you to the publisher, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Misogyny