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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
Honestly, this book was a solid three stars for me. Then we got to part three. Meh.
rounding up from 3.5 stars. super fast read and i loved how it's delivered in texts, private messages, fan fic boards and emails. gena/finn feels modern and real. towards the end, it falls apart for me a bit and i felt unsatisfied by the ending. that said, i really enjoyed its fresh perspective and seeing their online relationship unfold and grow.
I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. It's heartbreaking and raw and I really loved it.
This book confused me? Like I get the plot and the characters and the entire fandom part of it, but it got so intense so fast and I don’t understand how it escalated to that point?
Also I wasn’t digging the whole email/text/poetry format, like it worked but it left me wanting more, I feel like a lot was missing.
Also the ending??? What the frick whats going to happen???
Also I wasn’t digging the whole email/text/poetry format, like it worked but it left me wanting more, I feel like a lot was missing.
Also the ending??? What the frick whats going to happen???
I enjoyed this book and loved the formatting of it.
• the relationship between Gena and Finn—what can I say? It was beautiful and painful and I loved it so, so much
• an accurate portrayal of fandom (down to the ship wars, fanfic/art and terrible people)
• the format that was used to tell the story (text messages, emails etc.) was hard to get into—I felt very disconnected at times
• I wish that, instead of Finn's journal entries at the end, there had been a chapter or two from a different perspective—finding out what was going on through the journal felt very forced, unnatural
• the characters were all so real
• one of the character deaths hit me like a ton of bricks and I definitely cried a little—part of me was surprised, though
• an accurate portrayal of fandom (down to the ship wars, fanfic/art and terrible people)
• the format that was used to tell the story (text messages, emails etc.) was hard to get into—I felt very disconnected at times
• I wish that, instead of Finn's journal entries at the end, there had been a chapter or two from a different perspective—finding out what was going on through the journal felt very forced, unnatural
• the characters were all so real
• one of the character deaths hit me like a ton of bricks and I definitely cried a little—part of me was surprised, though
This book was really unexpected in a lot of ways. In the first part of the book, the story was lighthearted and funny going into the depths of fandoms and the joys of loving a show and it’s characters. Then, it took a 180 and became deep and emotional and gritty. I still can’t believe the events that happened because it came so unexpectedly and yet was handled so gracefully. The characters are complex and powerful and most of all, just human.
3.5 probably...I was tempted to round my rating up to 4 but then I realized that most of what I have to say is on the negative side.
First of all, Gena and Finn's relationship seemed to develop really quickly. They basically went from "oh hi we like the same tv show" to sharing intimate personal details in what seemed like a day. I wasn't sure of the nature of their feelings, like if they were supposed to be BFFs or if they were supposed to be in love with each other. There also seemed to be an almost unhealthy aspect, like when Finn just leaves to visit Gena without telling people at her new job she was going to be away or even telling her boyfriend she was leaving. Oh and then there was also this strange dynamic between Charlie (Finn's boyfriend) and Gena. At first he pretty much implies that Finn has to choose between the two of them (and of course she can't because she loves them both too much). But then later Gena comes to stay with them and she and Charlie start to get closer and become good friends. And on top of that there's this almost strange parent/child relationship between Finn and Charlie and Gena. I don't know...I'm probably just proving I don't understand relationships or love or something like that.
Secondly this is almost like two different books. The first part is all fangirling and sharing the fandom experience. Then towards the middle we learn an important fact about Gena. She was a child star who had been on a TV show with the actor who plays the character she and Finn like. And then later this thing happens that changes the whole tone of the story. Zack, the actor they like, dies in an explosion on set. Gena was also there that day and is injured and as a result suffers from ptsd . To be fair I didn't dislike this, but it did take the book in a totally different and much more serious/not as fun direction.
Also, this isn't a complaint and didn't affect my rating at all, but I'm not sure if the last two chapters (for lack of a better word) were supposed to be exactly the same or if this was just some anomaly in my copy. I skimmed through some reviews to see if anyone else had mentioned something about this and no one did, that I could see. So I guess it was just a mistake to have the last chapter repeated. (?)
First of all, Gena and Finn's relationship seemed to develop really quickly. They basically went from "oh hi we like the same tv show" to sharing intimate personal details in what seemed like a day. I wasn't sure of the nature of their feelings, like if they were supposed to be BFFs or if they were supposed to be in love with each other. There also seemed to be an almost unhealthy aspect, like when Finn just leaves to visit Gena without telling people at her new job she was going to be away or even telling her boyfriend she was leaving. Oh and then there was also this strange dynamic between Charlie (Finn's boyfriend) and Gena. At first he pretty much implies that Finn has to choose between the two of them (and of course she can't because she loves them both too much). But then later Gena comes to stay with them and she and Charlie start to get closer and become good friends. And on top of that there's this almost strange parent/child relationship between Finn and Charlie and Gena. I don't know...I'm probably just proving I don't understand relationships or love or something like that.
Secondly this is almost like two different books. The first part is all fangirling and sharing the fandom experience. Then towards the middle we learn an important fact about Gena.
Also, this isn't a complaint and didn't affect my rating at all, but I'm not sure if the last two chapters (for lack of a better word) were supposed to be exactly the same or if this was just some anomaly in my copy. I skimmed through some reviews to see if anyone else had mentioned something about this and no one did, that I could see. So I guess it was just a mistake to have the last chapter repeated. (?)
The usual problem with books about fandom is that is always feels forced, like the author is trying to make the story legible to non-fandom participants, which defeats the purpose.
Gena/Finn is -- well, if you had told me this actually happened, I would believe you. I've had a lot of fandom friendships in my time, and many of my closest friends I met via fandom. This book gets it, gets what it's like to know someone you've never met better than the people you see every day. It understands the weird blend between friends and something more, the way that fandom relationships are much more likely to become romantic friendships (or more).
I'm so happy with this book -- I kinda need everyone to read it.
Gena/Finn is -- well, if you had told me this actually happened, I would believe you. I've had a lot of fandom friendships in my time, and many of my closest friends I met via fandom. This book gets it, gets what it's like to know someone you've never met better than the people you see every day. It understands the weird blend between friends and something more, the way that fandom relationships are much more likely to become romantic friendships (or more).
I'm so happy with this book -- I kinda need everyone to read it.