You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
omqchristi 's review for:
Eliza and Her Monsters
by Francesca Zappia
Rating:
Stars: 3/5
Readability: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Recommend: No
Summary:
Eliza has been secretly writing a webcomic, Monstrous Sea. And surprisingly, it is incredibly popular. Eliza's identity has been a secret ever since she started writing. But one day, the new student at her school just happens to be one of Monstrous Sea's biggest fanfiction writers. As they grow closer, Eliza's secret becomes a bigger and bigger deal. Until one day, when her identity is revealed and her relationships fall apart.
What I Liked:
Despite the fact that there were cringy bits, I liked the fact that some parts of the book made me want to devour the book.
What I Didn't Like:
This is my biggest gripe with the book; I've never been a big fan of books that include something that involves a fan culture or fandom. The only book so far that I've liked that had fan culture was [b: Geekerella|30724132|Geekerella (Once Upon a Con, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476734515l/30724132._SY75_.jpg|50652411]. However, I liked that book in spite of the fact that it had a fan aspect. [b: Geekerella|30724132|Geekerella (Once Upon a Con, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476734515l/30724132._SY75_.jpg|50652411] also had one of my favorite tropes, two anonymous people talking to each other and falling in love. [b: Eliza and Her Monsters|31931941|Eliza and Her Monsters|Francesca Zappia|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476994065l/31931941._SY75_.jpg|52586056] really put the fan culture in front and center, and honestly it felt really nerdy and cringy. The talk of forums, fans, likes, and comments are honestly so cringeworthy.
Another thing I didn't like would be the sudden rise of Monstrous Sea fans after Eliza's identity is revealed. Either Eliza is an unreliable and an unobservant narrator, or the appearance of her teacher, bullies, and others being fans was odd and out of place.
I also really did not like Eliza or her family. I didn't like the fact that Eliza only really stood up for herself (against her mother) once, and then chose not to do it the time her identity is revealed. I didn't like her parents for not paying any attention. When her brother stood up for Eliza, it was a little cringy listening to him talk about the comments, likes, and forums, but I'm glad that he actually spoke up.
Finally, the last thing I didn't like was the fact that Wallace thought he deserved to know Eliza's identity. And then he came over to "make up," but then he brought up the fact a publisher wanted to print his version of Monstrous Sea (hello, ulterior motive?). Maybe I just see the bad in people, but I feel like he went over to Eliza's only because he wanted her to finish her comic and then make money from his book. Eliza owes Wallace NOTHING. Just because he was her first real-life friend doesn't mean he gets to make her feel so bad.
Overall:
Lowkey I wanted Eliza to remove all trace of LadyConstellation and Monstrous Sea and then just move on. Or at least finish the comic, don't give the novel rights to Wallace, and move on. (... yea, I'm pretty spiteful. But hey, the therapist also agreed that she should step away and move on.) Olivia Kane, a.k.a. the writer of Children of Hipnos also told her she didn't need to finish the book. So did one of her online friends (Apocolypse_Cow).
Long story short, I would've been a bad author and a bit of a bitch. But hey, at least there would've been some people who agreed with me.
Stars: 3/5
Readability: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Recommend: No
Summary:
Eliza has been secretly writing a webcomic, Monstrous Sea. And surprisingly, it is incredibly popular. Eliza's identity has been a secret ever since she started writing. But one day, the new student at her school just happens to be one of Monstrous Sea's biggest fanfiction writers. As they grow closer, Eliza's secret becomes a bigger and bigger deal. Until one day, when her identity is revealed and her relationships fall apart.
What I Liked:
Despite the fact that there were cringy bits, I liked the fact that some parts of the book made me want to devour the book.
What I Didn't Like:
This is my biggest gripe with the book; I've never been a big fan of books that include something that involves a fan culture or fandom. The only book so far that I've liked that had fan culture was [b: Geekerella|30724132|Geekerella (Once Upon a Con, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476734515l/30724132._SY75_.jpg|50652411]. However, I liked that book in spite of the fact that it had a fan aspect. [b: Geekerella|30724132|Geekerella (Once Upon a Con, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476734515l/30724132._SY75_.jpg|50652411] also had one of my favorite tropes, two anonymous people talking to each other and falling in love. [b: Eliza and Her Monsters|31931941|Eliza and Her Monsters|Francesca Zappia|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476994065l/31931941._SY75_.jpg|52586056] really put the fan culture in front and center, and honestly it felt really nerdy and cringy. The talk of forums, fans, likes, and comments are honestly so cringeworthy.
Another thing I didn't like would be the sudden rise of Monstrous Sea fans after Eliza's identity is revealed. Either Eliza is an unreliable and an unobservant narrator, or the appearance of her teacher, bullies, and others being fans was odd and out of place.
I also really did not like Eliza or her family. I didn't like the fact that Eliza only really stood up for herself (against her mother) once, and then chose not to do it the time her identity is revealed. I didn't like her parents for not paying any attention. When her brother stood up for Eliza, it was a little cringy listening to him talk about the comments, likes, and forums, but I'm glad that he actually spoke up.
Finally, the last thing I didn't like was the fact that Wallace thought he deserved to know Eliza's identity. And then he came over to "make up," but then he brought up the fact a publisher wanted to print his version of Monstrous Sea (hello, ulterior motive?). Maybe I just see the bad in people, but I feel like he went over to Eliza's only because he wanted her to finish her comic and then make money from his book. Eliza owes Wallace NOTHING. Just because he was her first real-life friend doesn't mean he gets to make her feel so bad.
Overall:
Lowkey I wanted Eliza to remove all trace of LadyConstellation and Monstrous Sea and then just move on. Or at least finish the comic, don't give the novel rights to Wallace, and move on. (... yea, I'm pretty spiteful. But hey, the therapist also agreed that she should step away and move on.) Olivia Kane, a.k.a. the writer of Children of Hipnos also told her she didn't need to finish the book. So did one of her online friends (Apocolypse_Cow).
Long story short, I would've been a bad author and a bit of a bitch. But hey, at least there would've been some people who agreed with me.