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nica_chan's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Miscarriage, Abortion, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
u_0's review against another edition
medium-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
2.75
This book really didn't have a lot to say. I'm really not sure how to rate this book. I'll start with two things I liked: the art and how well it was able to capture the weird feeling of being a kid in the 2010s. Sadly not much else. I'm really disappointed because I saved this book and other of Tamaki's works because I thought they would be favorites : /
This book made me really uncomfortable. First of all, it's hard to sympathize with anyone that has a summer house and can casually afford expensive pomegranate juice. On that note, were the pom juice and Twizzlers an ad? Anyway, this book was so focused on sexual stuff and for what?? The characters are like 10 and they seemingly know a lot about sex, cocaine, herpes, acid, rape kits, porn, etc. and that is like all they talk about. I was like wtf, why was this included?! It would be one thing to use these conversations to normalize children wondering about things adults don't want them to and to emphasize a main theme but that wasn't the case here. Everyone was obsessed with sex but it didn't have any purpose for the plot or storytelling. I'm not quite sure what the plot was to be honest. I also did not like the main character and she was a bad friend, similar to Laura Dean keeps breaking up with me. I also picked up on some subtle fatphobia. Overall, I'm sad to say I didn't like it. I was waiting for the story to conclude with something that would explain the rest of the book, but it didn't get better :/
This book made me really uncomfortable. First of all, it's hard to sympathize with anyone that has a summer house and can casually afford expensive pomegranate juice. On that note, were the pom juice and Twizzlers an ad? Anyway, this book was so focused on sexual stuff and for what?? The characters are like 10 and they seemingly know a lot about sex, cocaine, herpes, acid, rape kits, porn, etc. and that is like all they talk about. I was like wtf, why was this included?! It would be one thing to use these conversations to normalize children wondering about things adults don't want them to and to emphasize a main theme but that wasn't the case here. Everyone was obsessed with sex but it didn't have any purpose for the plot or storytelling. I'm not quite sure what the plot was to be honest. I also did not like the main character and she was a bad friend, similar to Laura Dean keeps breaking up with me. I also picked up on some subtle fatphobia. Overall, I'm sad to say I didn't like it. I was waiting for the story to conclude with something that would explain the rest of the book, but it didn't get better :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Addiction, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Infertility, Alcoholism, Death, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
For a graphic novel to work both the narrative and the graphics need to marry and compliment each under and unfortunately in This One Summer the stunning graphics grossly outshone the narrative.
The story unfortunately fell completely flat and left me with with an overwhelming 'meh' feeling by the end. Rather than there being a lack of plotting, the plotting just stopped dead without any sense of growth or closure being found. The coming of age concept married with the summer of firsts should have been fun and engrossing with some lessons learnt however it was full of slut shaming and a character that seemed to overflow with an unexplained meanness. I feel the last line, when Rose is thinking to what could be in her future, pretty much summed up the sincerity of the story "maybe I will have massive boobs. Boobs would be cool."
It pained me to write such a negative view because the artwork is absolutely beautiful. The palette is a one of hazy lavender blue hues which at times feel dream-like or like a distant recalled memory. The tones very much matched the floating sense of melancholy throughout the book and the different page layouts from comic style squares to splash pages really kept the book moving. Each character is very much drawn as a distinct individual and there a lots of tiny details to keep you lingering on each page. There were so many gorgeous pages that, if I had owned the book, I would have ripped out to display.
Would I recommend it? If you want some stunning art work to look at and even possibly cut out and keep yes! If you want a meaningful coming of age story with growth then definitely no.
The story unfortunately fell completely flat and left me with with an overwhelming 'meh' feeling by the end. Rather than there being a lack of plotting, the plotting just stopped dead without any sense of growth or closure being found. The coming of age concept married with the summer of firsts should have been fun and engrossing with some lessons learnt however it was full of slut shaming and a character that seemed to overflow with an unexplained meanness. I feel the last line, when Rose is thinking to what could be in her future, pretty much summed up the sincerity of the story "maybe I will have massive boobs. Boobs would be cool."
It pained me to write such a negative view because the artwork is absolutely beautiful. The palette is a one of hazy lavender blue hues which at times feel dream-like or like a distant recalled memory. The tones very much matched the floating sense of melancholy throughout the book and the different page layouts from comic style squares to splash pages really kept the book moving. Each character is very much drawn as a distinct individual and there a lots of tiny details to keep you lingering on each page. There were so many gorgeous pages that, if I had owned the book, I would have ripped out to display.
Would I recommend it? If you want some stunning art work to look at and even possibly cut out and keep yes! If you want a meaningful coming of age story with growth then definitely no.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexism, Body shaming, Mental illness, Abortion, Bullying, Misogyny, and Suicide attempt
_majabooks_'s review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
magickshop's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion
mangomuncher's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion
shutupiamreading's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
temporarilyhuman's review against another edition
sad
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Abortion
bizzy_bee's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
anniefwrites's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
This was a really beautiful reflection on the intricacies of growing up as a girl. I feel like so many of us have related to both Rose and Windy at different times in our lives. The art style and the language work in so many subtleties that really shook up my subconscious. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Abortion and Alcohol