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ksoreads's review against another edition
4.0
*I was sent an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.*
THINGS I KNEW GOING INTO IT
1. The authors love Supernatural (which is the only reason I read it, if we're just being real here)
2. It's told through Internet communications
3. "Be Evanson or you can't be in our cosplay"
GENERAL OVERVIEW
This book has so much to offer as long as you go into it knowing it's not just another lighthearted story with no depth. It got straight to the points that needed to be made & didn't add unnecessary scenes for the sake of the book's length.
CHARACTERS
I enjoyed the characters Charlie and Finn throughout the story because, though they didn't always agree, I could always understand both of their view points. Zack was also another favorite!
I will say that Gena just wasn't my favorite except for when she was with Zack or Steven.
PLOT
I don't really have anything to say about it since it was very character-driven (just like Up Below!)
NITPICKING
Besides Gena, there were only 3 small problems I had with the story:
1. After about page 200, I couldn't tell if it was Gena or Finn speaking (primarily in the notes addressed "to you")
2. Since it was an ARC, there wasn't any art shown.** This wasn't a huge deal, but it took away just a bit from the story to not be able to visualize the artwork they were describing.
3. This is the most minor detail ever, but they didn't refer to it as "the fandom." Instead they just said "fandom." (Like I said, super minor detail. Just nitpicking.)
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all, I think the book does an astonishing job of exploring PTSD, bisexuality, & internet friends.
WHO WOULD LIKE IT
1. People who have made friends online
2. Supernatural fans (there's a few parallels on their show, Up Below)
3. People who read fan fiction
4. Fans of the book Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
**This isn't the authors' fault by any means (or anyone's fault, really). I've since contacted the publisher requesting a PDF of the artwork AND IT IS AMAZING! Thanks Chronicle Books! :)
THINGS I KNEW GOING INTO IT
1. The authors love Supernatural (which is the only reason I read it, if we're just being real here)
2. It's told through Internet communications
3. "Be Evanson or you can't be in our cosplay"
GENERAL OVERVIEW
This book has so much to offer as long as you go into it knowing it's not just another lighthearted story with no depth. It got straight to the points that needed to be made & didn't add unnecessary scenes for the sake of the book's length.
CHARACTERS
I enjoyed the characters Charlie and Finn throughout the story because, though they didn't always agree, I could always understand both of their view points. Zack was also another favorite!
I will say that Gena just wasn't my favorite except for when she was with Zack or Steven.
PLOT
I don't really have anything to say about it since it was very character-driven (just like Up Below!)
NITPICKING
Besides Gena, there were only 3 small problems I had with the story:
1. After about page 200, I couldn't tell if it was Gena or Finn speaking (primarily in the notes addressed "to you")
2. Since it was an ARC, there wasn't any art shown.** This wasn't a huge deal, but it took away just a bit from the story to not be able to visualize the artwork they were describing.
3. This is the most minor detail ever, but they didn't refer to it as "the fandom." Instead they just said "fandom." (Like I said, super minor detail. Just nitpicking.)
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all, I think the book does an astonishing job of exploring PTSD, bisexuality, & internet friends.
WHO WOULD LIKE IT
1. People who have made friends online
2. Supernatural fans (there's a few parallels on their show, Up Below)
3. People who read fan fiction
4. Fans of the book Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
**This isn't the authors' fault by any means (or anyone's fault, really). I've since contacted the publisher requesting a PDF of the artwork AND IT IS AMAZING! Thanks Chronicle Books! :)
sebinsangel's review
2.0
This book had so much potential. I was so in love with all of it for the first 2/3 and then the big event that changes everything happens and I don’t understand why it was necessary and I don’t understand half of what happened after since the entire writing style changed. I loved so much and was just so disappointed in the end.
sarahlopod's review
4.0
cw: trauma, grief
(Full review to come on my book blog.)
Super cute story! Probably easier to read in a physical form, the kindle format just didn't do it justice. I felt like it ended kind of abruptly and I did roll my eyes a few times at the characters, but it was mostly good!
(Full review to come on my book blog.)
Super cute story! Probably easier to read in a physical form, the kindle format just didn't do it justice. I felt like it ended kind of abruptly and I did roll my eyes a few times at the characters, but it was mostly good!
mayahanson's review against another edition
5.0
can I be simultaneously disappointed and so so full? because that’s what this is
readwithpassion's review against another edition
5.0
Gena/Finn is about two young women from very different backgrounds who forge a powerful friendship through fandom. As their lives seem to unravel, they find shelter in each other. The book is quite cleverly crafted in the way it is told entirely in texts, chats, blog posts, and journal entries. The form is effortless and engaging and will surely inspire readers.
reluctantheroine's review against another edition
2.0
Pretty good. I think the book represented the weridness and comforting aspects of online friendships forged from common fandom interests. I would argue that Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl is perhaps a more realistic take on fandom, and why people find comfort.
lisamarie89's review against another edition
3.0
This book was really good in the beginning and I liked the online friendship. However, the "the incident" happened and it became super intense and not in a good way.
sidneyellwood's review against another edition
3.0
This was a celebration of fandom, which I really appreciated. I liked the way it was told - through messages and emails and blog posts. I've been in fandom for several years and I recognize the style of how fic is written, I recognize the slang used - it's all very authentic. It's clear that the authors have had the same experience in fandom and it made me very happy to see fandom and the good - and the bad - that comes with it.
Gena and Finn were very real characters in the way that they communicated with each other. The messages felt like they'd been ripped out of actual chat logs and they were both well-rounded characters. It validates internet friendships, which is nice, and problems show up that don't consume the story - the book revolves around the relationship between Gena and Finn.
It's so cool, in fact, that you get a sense of all these characters from just online correspondences. I didn't like Charlie at first, but he got better and I became more sympathetic towards him. It was funny how they always talked about TylerGirl93 because, yeah, that happens in fandom too. I just wish we got more of the backstory about Zack because it seemed really shallow.
A lot of other things could have been cleared up - why didn't Gena's parents care more about her, why exactly was Charlie so jealous of Gena. I feel like this book could have gone another way or been longer, because I feel like I was left hanging. I also wish that we got more about the fandom itself - look, I don't dabble in TV fandom but Fangirl had a fandom that was clearly based off something and I think how a fictional fandom was shown could have been dealt with better.
Gena and Finn were very real characters in the way that they communicated with each other. The messages felt like they'd been ripped out of actual chat logs and they were both well-rounded characters. It validates internet friendships, which is nice, and problems show up that don't consume the story - the book revolves around the relationship between Gena and Finn.
Spoiler
Finn and her relationship with Charlie was nice to see because it's a struggle I guess a lot of young adults have, and so is Gena's mental illness. It felt very much like two people with hectic lives trying to live it out the best they could.It's so cool, in fact, that you get a sense of all these characters from just online correspondences. I didn't like Charlie at first, but he got better and I became more sympathetic towards him. It was funny how they always talked about TylerGirl93 because, yeah, that happens in fandom too. I just wish we got more of the backstory about Zack because it seemed really shallow.
Spoiler
I also didn't like how sudden it was that the accident happened and Zack died. I felt like that was a totally unprecedented plot twist and I really wish that it went on with a happy ending to fandom because that was really kind of disappointing. I enjoyed the book up until then; after that, it got fuzzy about Gena and Finn's relationship.A lot of other things could have been cleared up - why didn't Gena's parents care more about her, why exactly was Charlie so jealous of Gena. I feel like this book could have gone another way or been longer, because I feel like I was left hanging. I also wish that we got more about the fandom itself - look, I don't dabble in TV fandom but Fangirl had a fandom that was clearly based off something and I think how a fictional fandom was shown could have been dealt with better.
sarakday's review against another edition
3.0
Really, this is a 3.5. There is a weird inconsistency in terms of the authenticity of the characters' dynamics here, which shift from being super, painfully believable to not so much, and not always in ways that seem intentional. I do think the representation of fandom is really, really heartfelt and true.
lbatch's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Ehhh. I liked things about it but the tonal shift was very strange and the editing was kinda subpar, like email headers that were incorrect and such, and other weird formatting things that made it hard to follow in spots.