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reader_fictions 's review for:
Gena/Finn
by Hannah Moskowitz, Kat Helgeson
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.