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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
This disappointed me. I expected to love it. It's in a format that I enjoy, a modern version of the epistolary, replacing letters with blog posts, comments, emails, and text messages, and I thought I would find the topic and characters relatable. Two girls become online friends through a TV show they both love? I'm here for it.
Or, I thought I'd be here for it. The plot fell flat, though, and the characters were a little...meaner? more selfish?...than I expected. There was a focus on my least favorite parts of fandom culture, stuff I avoid like the plague online and definitely would rather not have in fiction, and honestly I thought the book would have done better to place more of an emphasis on the girls' friendship and less on the TV show they were bonding over.
Everything happened very very fast, and, while I did not want more because I did not want this book to last longer, I do think it may have benefited from the characters and their friendship(s) being fleshed out a little more. There were also a lot of characters, and a few storylines going on at once, neither of which is something I have a problem with if the authors pay proper attention to what they've brought into a book. I don't think that happened here, though.
The writing was not bad, and I'm glad that fandom is getting exposure, I guess? I preferred Fangirl, though, so if you haven't read that one I would recommend it over this. What I would really love to see is some mix of the two. Give Cath from Fangirl some supportive online friends who cross over into her offline world. That's what I wanted.
Meh. I know people have loved this book. It just didn't tick the boxes I expected it to tick, and didn't really bring anything new to the table that I was interested in seeing.
Or, I thought I'd be here for it. The plot fell flat, though, and the characters were a little...meaner? more selfish?...than I expected. There was a focus on my least favorite parts of fandom culture, stuff I avoid like the plague online and definitely would rather not have in fiction, and honestly I thought the book would have done better to place more of an emphasis on the girls' friendship and less on the TV show they were bonding over.
Everything happened very very fast, and, while I did not want more because I did not want this book to last longer, I do think it may have benefited from the characters and their friendship(s) being fleshed out a little more. There were also a lot of characters, and a few storylines going on at once, neither of which is something I have a problem with if the authors pay proper attention to what they've brought into a book. I don't think that happened here, though.
The writing was not bad, and I'm glad that fandom is getting exposure, I guess? I preferred Fangirl, though, so if you haven't read that one I would recommend it over this. What I would really love to see is some mix of the two. Give Cath from Fangirl some supportive online friends who cross over into her offline world. That's what I wanted.
Meh. I know people have loved this book. It just didn't tick the boxes I expected it to tick, and didn't really bring anything new to the table that I was interested in seeing.
I bought this book because it had an offer on Amazon’s Kindle, and it had my interest after I saw PeruseProject’s video review about it (here’s the link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yHrNE6Wgaw), so I said, “why not buy it?”
Honestly, it’s a great book, and even if the offer I gone I think if you’re interested in it you should read it. And for that I’ll tell what the book is all about: It’s about the friendship of this two girls (Finn and Gena) who meet online because they share the same fandom of a made-up show for the book. And what’s interesting when you first open whatever version you buy of the book is that the format is as if it is written like e-mails and text messages and web sites about fanfics, it’s an immersive online world.
And the friendship between Finn and Gena is realistic in the way it evolves from being just fangirling to a friendship more meaningful than any of the other ones they have. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that it felt real to me, that I felt like I was reading somebody’s e-mails and not a book.
The book also talks about love, how there are different kinds of love, how you can love more than one person and the same time, how we should stop trying to define love because it’s not a thing it’s a feeling and you just have to feel it.
It’s beautifully written, it’s short, it explores a lot of interest themes and leaves you with lots of questions in your head so you can reflect on them. The one it left me with was this: “why do we say that internet friendships aren’t real?” So, yeah, I think you should give it a try.
P.S.: Sorry if I sound a lot like PeruseProject but it was her review that made me want to read the book and I agree with her with her opinion on this book.
Hope you have a nice day, and I would be glad to hear your opinion on this book!
Honestly, it’s a great book, and even if the offer I gone I think if you’re interested in it you should read it. And for that I’ll tell what the book is all about: It’s about the friendship of this two girls (Finn and Gena) who meet online because they share the same fandom of a made-up show for the book. And what’s interesting when you first open whatever version you buy of the book is that the format is as if it is written like e-mails and text messages and web sites about fanfics, it’s an immersive online world.
And the friendship between Finn and Gena is realistic in the way it evolves from being just fangirling to a friendship more meaningful than any of the other ones they have. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that it felt real to me, that I felt like I was reading somebody’s e-mails and not a book.
The book also talks about love, how there are different kinds of love, how you can love more than one person and the same time, how we should stop trying to define love because it’s not a thing it’s a feeling and you just have to feel it.
It’s beautifully written, it’s short, it explores a lot of interest themes and leaves you with lots of questions in your head so you can reflect on them. The one it left me with was this: “why do we say that internet friendships aren’t real?” So, yeah, I think you should give it a try.
P.S.: Sorry if I sound a lot like PeruseProject but it was her review that made me want to read the book and I agree with her with her opinion on this book.
Hope you have a nice day, and I would be glad to hear your opinion on this book!
Gena/Finn started out so damn well. I thought I was going to love this book wholeheartedly. But then things happened. Gena/Finn actually had me thinking about it grumpily all night, frustrated about how such promise turned into something else.
As the book’s description indicates, Gena/Finn focuses on fandom, specifically a Supernatural-esque fandom. Gena and Finn are both obsessed with Up Below, and they end up bonding after Finn reads Gena’s fic and draws some fan art of it. Both are a bit hesitant to become super close with a stranger online, but their bond quickly becomes very strong, and they become each other’s first person to tell about things.
It gets a bit heavy sometimes and does perfectly depict the fandom scary place. Twenty-two year old Finn actually debates whether she should remain with her long term boyfriend Charlie because he doesn’t understand why fictional characters and fandom are so important to her. That’s how much this show matters to them, and I think it’s shown so very well.
What the book’s description does NOT warn you about is how fucking depressing this book gets. You’re reading and it’s kind of heavy but still fun, as Gena struggles with college and mental health while Finn debates whether she wants to be with Charlie or Gena. Speaking of, that love triangle is so half-hearted. The romantic connection between Gena and Finn feels super forced; I wish they’d just been friends, much as I always want to root for f/f. An OT3 would actually make more sense here, I think, but whatever.
So yeah, everything’s sailing along and working great tonally, but then BAM SURPRISE TRAGEDY THAT SPIRALS NEVERENDINGLY. Yes, bad shit happens in life, and it’s not like the treatment’s terrible, but it’s not at all what the back copy has promised. I know it says their lives “begin to fall apart,” but seriously this is so beyond that.One of the actors who plays one of the main characters on Up Below dies in a FREAK ON SET ACCIDENT. Gena gets PTSD (because she was there when the accident happened) and basically bankrupts Finn, who takes care of her selflessly. Worst of all, the book JUST ENDS WITHOUT RESOLUTION. I’m so fucking angry about this lack of ending. There’s open-ended and then there’s “oh hey you forgot to put that ending thing here.” I did read an egalley, so maybe the finished copy had some edits? God, I hope so.
Gena/Finn has so much to recommend it: excellent writing, strong characters, solid depiction of mental health and fandom. Unfortunately, they’re almost outweighed by that mess of an ending.
As the book’s description indicates, Gena/Finn focuses on fandom, specifically a Supernatural-esque fandom. Gena and Finn are both obsessed with Up Below, and they end up bonding after Finn reads Gena’s fic and draws some fan art of it. Both are a bit hesitant to become super close with a stranger online, but their bond quickly becomes very strong, and they become each other’s first person to tell about things.
It gets a bit heavy sometimes and does perfectly depict the fandom scary place. Twenty-two year old Finn actually debates whether she should remain with her long term boyfriend Charlie because he doesn’t understand why fictional characters and fandom are so important to her. That’s how much this show matters to them, and I think it’s shown so very well.
What the book’s description does NOT warn you about is how fucking depressing this book gets. You’re reading and it’s kind of heavy but still fun, as Gena struggles with college and mental health while Finn debates whether she wants to be with Charlie or Gena. Speaking of, that love triangle is so half-hearted. The romantic connection between Gena and Finn feels super forced; I wish they’d just been friends, much as I always want to root for f/f. An OT3 would actually make more sense here, I think, but whatever.
So yeah, everything’s sailing along and working great tonally, but then BAM SURPRISE TRAGEDY THAT SPIRALS NEVERENDINGLY. Yes, bad shit happens in life, and it’s not like the treatment’s terrible, but it’s not at all what the back copy has promised. I know it says their lives “begin to fall apart,” but seriously this is so beyond that.
Gena/Finn has so much to recommend it: excellent writing, strong characters, solid depiction of mental health and fandom. Unfortunately, they’re almost outweighed by that mess of an ending.
So now I'm just supposed to MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE?!
I'm such a sucker for books via chat/IM/fanfic/blog etc. This one did not disappoint. Fricken glorious. Art. GODDAMN ART. It's not black and white. It's fandom and love and life and mental illness and all my damn emotions.
Just, read the book. Okay?
I'm such a sucker for books via chat/IM/fanfic/blog etc. This one did not disappoint. Fricken glorious. Art. GODDAMN ART. It's not black and white. It's fandom and love and life and mental illness and all my damn emotions.
Just, read the book. Okay?
The first half was great. But then... ????
beware. kinda spoiler-y:
Also, I thought this was going to be about two girls falling in love and I was super excited about that. I really want some good gay girl love stories! But nooooope. So not only did the story have a shitty turn-of-face plot, but it also had a shitty handling of Gena and Finn's relationship. Being super close friends would have been cool. Being bi and dating would have been cool. Just give me something definitive instead of this wishy-washy-ness. Like what?? It was so confusing? What was the point of them saying that they loved each other (with implications that is was something more than just platonic love)??
By the time I got to the end of the book it just felt like, "what was the point of all that?" which is a really crappy way to feel when you turn the last page of a book. Especially when the book started with so much promise!
beware. kinda spoiler-y:
Also, I thought this was going to be about two girls falling in love and I was super excited about that. I really want some good gay girl love stories! But nooooope. So not only did the story have a shitty turn-of-face plot, but it also had a shitty handling of Gena and Finn's relationship. Being super close friends would have been cool. Being bi and dating would have been cool. Just give me something definitive instead of this wishy-washy-ness. Like what?? It was so confusing? What was the point of them saying that they loved each other (with implications that is was something more than just platonic love)??
By the time I got to the end of the book it just felt like, "what was the point of all that?" which is a really crappy way to feel when you turn the last page of a book. Especially when the book started with so much promise!
took months to read this book since so idk if this even counts. the premise was cool but the format didn’t work best the way I was reading it on my tiny phone screen.
okay, i was not expecting that.
the cover mislead me, i thought this was going to be another one of those lovey-dovey books and that was going to be it, but it ended up being a lot more than that, and not lovey-dovey at all.
anyway, good book, was not expecting it to be this good, yey!
the cover mislead me, i thought this was going to be another one of those lovey-dovey books and that was going to be it, but it ended up being a lot more than that, and not lovey-dovey at all.
anyway, good book, was not expecting it to be this good, yey!
Rating: 3.5
I can see how people may not like this book, but I personally really liked it. Going in I was skeptical about the format of the book--it could go so wrong--but it worked perfectly for it.
I can see how people may not like this book, but I personally really liked it. Going in I was skeptical about the format of the book--it could go so wrong--but it worked perfectly for it.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for a fair an honest review.
**EDIT - I just didn't feel right with my original rating of 3.5 stars, marked as 4 stars on here. So I've downgraded it to 3 stars.
I'm marking this as a 3 star rating. The first half was SO fantastic and just read like all the amazing conversations I've had with my very best online friends. I was literally LOL'ing and smiling at that beautifully familiar magic you find in true internet friendships.
The format of the book is also very creative and lovely. All of it is told through blog posts (in a tumblr/live journal sort of style), emails, text messages, letters, physical journals, instant messaging, etc. It made the pages fly by and I LOVED it.
Until we got about halfway through. I think I would be less upset if this hadn't been advertised as a queer read with implied romance between the two main characters. I mean we all know the meaning behind "name / name" do we not? But this is not a queer read, let a lone a queer romance. It's a story of intense friendship and confusing relationships, yes. The involved parties wonder at a point if it's something more than that. They start to think it is, but does it ever become that? No.
Instead a series of tragic events (including Gena's struggles with mental illness) leads us from a classic love triangle (where of course one of the two girls (Finn) was already in a straight relationship and must question everything as her friendship and bond to the other girl (Gena) grows), to an odd situation where the straight relationship gets its feet back under it and Gena is treated and even referred to as their child/kid.
Gena and Finn seem to regain BFF status by the end of the story, but I just walked away feeling so confused and without resolution. Are we seeing the beginning of a polyamorous situation? That wasn't discussed in the book, but would be more satisfying than the other options I'm seeing. Is Finn just stringing both Charlie and Gena along because she doesn't want to choose between them? Did the epic potential love brewing between these two really get downgraded to a return-to-heteronormativity with a quirky, disabled bestie? Did we really just go there??
A 3 star rating might seem high for a book that made me want to flip all the tables, but I want to give a fair review and acknowledge that besides the ending, this book had me rolling around in fangirl ecstasy. So while the ending might have made me give this as low as a 1-2 star rating, I gave it another star for the love I had for the first half as well as the unique and well executed narrative format.
**EDIT - I just didn't feel right with my original rating of 3.5 stars, marked as 4 stars on here. So I've downgraded it to 3 stars.
I'm marking this as a 3 star rating. The first half was SO fantastic and just read like all the amazing conversations I've had with my very best online friends. I was literally LOL'ing and smiling at that beautifully familiar magic you find in true internet friendships.
The format of the book is also very creative and lovely. All of it is told through blog posts (in a tumblr/live journal sort of style), emails, text messages, letters, physical journals, instant messaging, etc. It made the pages fly by and I LOVED it.
Until we got about halfway through. I think I would be less upset if this hadn't been advertised as a queer read with implied romance between the two main characters. I mean we all know the meaning behind "name / name" do we not? But this is not a queer read, let a lone a queer romance. It's a story of intense friendship and confusing relationships, yes. The involved parties wonder at a point if it's something more than that. They start to think it is, but does it ever become that? No.
Instead a series of tragic events (including Gena's struggles with mental illness) leads us from a classic love triangle (where of course one of the two girls (Finn) was already in a straight relationship and must question everything as her friendship and bond to the other girl (Gena) grows), to an odd situation where the straight relationship gets its feet back under it and Gena is treated and even referred to as their child/kid.
Gena and Finn seem to regain BFF status by the end of the story, but I just walked away feeling so confused and without resolution. Are we seeing the beginning of a polyamorous situation? That wasn't discussed in the book, but would be more satisfying than the other options I'm seeing. Is Finn just stringing both Charlie and Gena along because she doesn't want to choose between them? Did the epic potential love brewing between these two really get downgraded to a return-to-heteronormativity with a quirky, disabled bestie? Did we really just go there??
A 3 star rating might seem high for a book that made me want to flip all the tables, but I want to give a fair review and acknowledge that besides the ending, this book had me rolling around in fangirl ecstasy. So while the ending might have made me give this as low as a 1-2 star rating, I gave it another star for the love I had for the first half as well as the unique and well executed narrative format.
I am a fan of epistolary novels. This one was just OK though, I just couldn't see the depth of this book. Also, several times I couldn't help comparing it to Rowell's Fangirl - which was better in my opinion.