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bigdreamsandwildthings 's review for:
Eliza and Her Monsters
by Francesca Zappia
“Broken people don't hide from their monsters. Broken people let themselves be eaten.”
This was a really lovely read reminiscent of Fangirl. Though I personally connected with that book more, this one was still a really fun, emotional read.
Eliza Mirk lives a double life. On the one hand, she's an unpopular high school girl, made fun of by her peers and wanting only to disappear. On the other, she's LadyConstellation, creator of mega-popular web comic Monstrous Sea, with millions of adoring fans. When a Monstrous Sea fanfic writer arrives at her school, Eliza still wants to keep her alternate ego a secret, posing instead as just a fan. But how long can it take before the lies she builds come crashing down?
There is something about this kind of plot that is addictive to read. Imagining being the creator of something this popular has this weird rush attached to it, and I could really put myself in Eliza's shoes, both with the pressure she feels as well as the great, amazing, wonderful things that come with that kind of Internet fame. It was a lot of fun to read in that regard.
It's really the characters that make or break a book for me, and though I did empathize with Eliza, she also drove me a little bit crazy. The way she interacts with her family made me want to shake her, and her emotions do get the best of her quite often. I do remember being a teenage girl and it did feel like this at points, so it's realistic, but also, it was a bit hard to read. Also, Wallace was great, but I also found his character a bit...lacking, somehow, I guess? I can't put my finger on why with him quite as much as I can with Eliza though.
There was a lot of growth here, and it was written well. The end felt maybe a bit too rushed, not developed enough, but overall, the story is one about self acceptance and self love. There are some tough things explored and some aspects that weren't my favourite, but it is a really wonderful read nonetheless.
This was a really lovely read reminiscent of Fangirl. Though I personally connected with that book more, this one was still a really fun, emotional read.
Eliza Mirk lives a double life. On the one hand, she's an unpopular high school girl, made fun of by her peers and wanting only to disappear. On the other, she's LadyConstellation, creator of mega-popular web comic Monstrous Sea, with millions of adoring fans. When a Monstrous Sea fanfic writer arrives at her school, Eliza still wants to keep her alternate ego a secret, posing instead as just a fan. But how long can it take before the lies she builds come crashing down?
There is something about this kind of plot that is addictive to read. Imagining being the creator of something this popular has this weird rush attached to it, and I could really put myself in Eliza's shoes, both with the pressure she feels as well as the great, amazing, wonderful things that come with that kind of Internet fame. It was a lot of fun to read in that regard.
It's really the characters that make or break a book for me, and though I did empathize with Eliza, she also drove me a little bit crazy. The way she interacts with her family made me want to shake her, and her emotions do get the best of her quite often. I do remember being a teenage girl and it did feel like this at points, so it's realistic, but also, it was a bit hard to read. Also, Wallace was great, but I also found his character a bit...lacking, somehow, I guess? I can't put my finger on why with him quite as much as I can with Eliza though.
There was a lot of growth here, and it was written well. The end felt maybe a bit too rushed, not developed enough, but overall, the story is one about self acceptance and self love. There are some tough things explored and some aspects that weren't my favourite, but it is a really wonderful read nonetheless.