A review by mehsi
Freshman Year by Sarah Mai

4.0

I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher/TBR and Beyond Tours for an honest review.

So I was so excited to read this. I love graphic novels. I love reading about the American College/University experience. It is just so different from here and I love it.

So first let’s get the not so good out of the way before going into the good. It was a bit more mental health/anxious/angsty for me at times. My mental health isn’t the best lately (and writing this after getting some news on the 14th of January my mental health took a dive further) and so it was at times a bit too dark for me and I struggled. Struggled with the things she went through (and I really wish she had gone for help instead of just struggling like this). Normally it wouldn’t hit this hard, but again, this was just not the right time to read this book and if I had known it was going to be this much I would have probably not read it until I felt better.

Also, as others have said in reviews the transitions between scenes felt a bit off, the pacing a bit fast. At times I had to flip back to the previous page to see if I had missed something, if my ecopy had eaten something.

But now on to the good parts! I really enjoyed the art it was so fun and pretty.

I loved seeing the before she went to college as well. See her graduate, see her have the best summer and really feel like an 18-year old for a bit, see her slowly get ready for college, see her friends and family.

I loved reading about the college/university our MC goes to, and I just adore their dorm rooms. Those bunkbeds? Sign me up! I just love that + that you still have room for other things, like a couch. It looks so homey and fun and I love how some people really make it their home and a place to feel happy.

The various classes/colleges and groups were fun to read about. I would have loved to be part of some of those classes. Not French though, thanks to high school and the evil teacher we had there, haha. I love that you can choose several courses/classes along with those required.

And I loved seeing the campus and see all the things that happened there.

Plus, it was fun seeing the MC being able to go back home during weekends or vacations. I know that this isn’t always the case, so I was happy that she had the chance.

Oh, and I loved seeing her make friends, discover new things, and try to feel a bit better about college life.

All in all, you see, I quite enjoyed this one and I am happy I read it despite that it was a bit too much for my mental health at points. I would recommend it if you like graphic novels + college/university life and all that comes with it.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/