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A review by thebooknerdscorner
I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner
4.0
A regency romance in which three young people are trying to find true happiness despite the pressures that society presses upon them to act differently.
George has a lot on their plate. After inheriting their family's failing estate, they are thrust into the spotlight like they've never been before. Keeping the fact that they dress in men's clothes despite their assigned gender a secret is hard enough, but keeping their romantic feelings from their best friend Eleanor is near impossible. Eleanor feels the pressures of being a proper woman in high class society, but men have never interested her. Who wants to marry when she can spend her free time with her best friend George and her cousin Charlotte? George, Eleanor, and Charlotte are all forced to face their feelings and defy the expectations of the society that they live in if they truly want to find their happily ever after.
I've heard good things about this graphic novel, so I was happy to see that it panned out well for me. The characters are fully fleshed, the art style is both refined and hilarious, and the exploration of race, class, and sexuality during the 1800s are immaculate.
I'm gonna say that my favorite thing about this one is the art. The facial expressions are really fun and constantly had me laughing aloud. Looking at all the resplendent clothing of the era was also quite a joy. I really dig the skirt, suit jacket, and top hat look that George has going on throughout this book. The colors are also so vibrant in this one, which makes it really pleasant to look at.
The way that this book helpfully points out that members of the LGBTQIA+ community have always existed is awesome. Regency romances featuring characters that are transgender is rapidly starting to become my favorite type of historical fiction, and I am honored to add this one to the list of books I love.
Not only does it deep dive into gender and sexuality, it also takes a look at other biases that are present throughout society. Looking down on people who are of different ethnicities, race, or financial standing still happens to this day, so I'm glad that authors are using their platforms to examine these topics through a historical lens. Eleanor tries her best, but she definitely looks down at her servants. On top of that, she also doesn't understand how hard it can be for her cousin Charlotte, who is black, to do the exact same activities that she does. The growth that Eleanor goes through in this book is an arc that many people themselves need to experience, so hopefully books like this make readers more empathetic.
The romantic buildup in this graphic novel is done so well. It is quite obvious from the start that George loves Eleanor, and Eleanor gets so jealous when anyone wants to spend time with George. Seeing them both fall harder and harder for one another until their hilarious confession is priceless, and I'm glad that the author took a bit of a humorous approach when it comes to George and Eleanor's relationship.
Overall, I found "I Shall Not Fall in Love" to be a ridiculously cute graphic novel that had me laughing aloud. It has great art, characters, and messages. The way that this story examines gender norms, sexuality, classism, and racism is outstanding. This book is similar in ways to "The Prince and the Dressmaker" as well as "The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich." If you are a fan of one of these, I'm sure you'll be a fan of all three. I'd definitely recommend if you like cozy regency romances with diverse characters and graphic novels with incredible art!
George has a lot on their plate. After inheriting their family's failing estate, they are thrust into the spotlight like they've never been before. Keeping the fact that they dress in men's clothes despite their assigned gender a secret is hard enough, but keeping their romantic feelings from their best friend Eleanor is near impossible. Eleanor feels the pressures of being a proper woman in high class society, but men have never interested her. Who wants to marry when she can spend her free time with her best friend George and her cousin Charlotte? George, Eleanor, and Charlotte are all forced to face their feelings and defy the expectations of the society that they live in if they truly want to find their happily ever after.
I've heard good things about this graphic novel, so I was happy to see that it panned out well for me. The characters are fully fleshed, the art style is both refined and hilarious, and the exploration of race, class, and sexuality during the 1800s are immaculate.
I'm gonna say that my favorite thing about this one is the art. The facial expressions are really fun and constantly had me laughing aloud. Looking at all the resplendent clothing of the era was also quite a joy. I really dig the skirt, suit jacket, and top hat look that George has going on throughout this book. The colors are also so vibrant in this one, which makes it really pleasant to look at.
The way that this book helpfully points out that members of the LGBTQIA+ community have always existed is awesome. Regency romances featuring characters that are transgender is rapidly starting to become my favorite type of historical fiction, and I am honored to add this one to the list of books I love.
Not only does it deep dive into gender and sexuality, it also takes a look at other biases that are present throughout society. Looking down on people who are of different ethnicities, race, or financial standing still happens to this day, so I'm glad that authors are using their platforms to examine these topics through a historical lens. Eleanor tries her best, but she definitely looks down at her servants. On top of that, she also doesn't understand how hard it can be for her cousin Charlotte, who is black, to do the exact same activities that she does. The growth that Eleanor goes through in this book is an arc that many people themselves need to experience, so hopefully books like this make readers more empathetic.
The romantic buildup in this graphic novel is done so well. It is quite obvious from the start that George loves Eleanor, and Eleanor gets so jealous when anyone wants to spend time with George. Seeing them both fall harder and harder for one another until their hilarious confession is priceless, and I'm glad that the author took a bit of a humorous approach when it comes to George and Eleanor's relationship.
Overall, I found "I Shall Not Fall in Love" to be a ridiculously cute graphic novel that had me laughing aloud. It has great art, characters, and messages. The way that this story examines gender norms, sexuality, classism, and racism is outstanding. This book is similar in ways to "The Prince and the Dressmaker" as well as "The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich." If you are a fan of one of these, I'm sure you'll be a fan of all three. I'd definitely recommend if you like cozy regency romances with diverse characters and graphic novels with incredible art!