From the Bookshelf of YAholics Anonymous!…

Eliza and Her Monsters

Francesca Zappia

Start date: January 6, 2018

Finish date: January 31, 2018

Discussion: Group Read

Why we're reading this: BoTM, Contemporary
[close] BoTM, Contemporary

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Showing 2 of 9 topics — 90 comments total

Group Read

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What Members Thought

Jun 29, 2017 Ahanika Alexander rated it it was amazing

I cannot describe how much I loved this book! It was absolute perfection. The best contemporary book I've ever read. I could connect so deeply with Eliza, the story and the characters. ...more

30 likes · Like · see review

Jan 16, 2024 Grace rated it liked it

There were times I really liked this, mainly when it was super cute and sweet. But it ended up getting really dark, and I just don’t like darker contemporaries anymore. Big trigger warning for suicidal ideation.

4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 08, 2017 Prami{reader and dreamer} rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017

There is a small monster in my brain that controls my doubt.
The doubt itself is a stupid thing, without sense or feeling, blind and straining at the end of a long chain. The monster, though, is smart. It’s always watching, and when I am completely sure of myself, it unchains the doubt and lets it run wild. Even when I know it’s coming, I can’t stop it.

There are only a few instances when after finishing a book you get chills all over and feel like you've been a part of something truly wonderf ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 21, 2017 Trista rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, cover-love, contemporary-ya, arcs-or-galleys

I loved Made You Up by this author so I was really excited to see a second novel. I thought the way the story was told using illustrations from the character's webcomic and screenshots of her online chats and the fan forums made for a very unique reading experience. I've read books that involve seeing characters' text messaging before but with the online world being so important to Eliza, it felt like an extra way to connect with her.

I absolutely loved Eliza. I could definitely relate to how she I loved Made You Up by this author so I was really excited to see a second novel. I thought the way the story was told using illustrations from the character's webcomic and screenshots of her online chats and the fan forums made for a very unique reading experience. I've read books that involve seeing characters' text messaging before but with the online world being so important to Eliza, it felt like an extra way to connect with her.

I absolutely loved Eliza. I could definitely relate to how she felt about finding solace in online fandoms in a way that she couldn't in the real world. The online world was just so much easy to navigate for her. The real world had so many people and variables that were out of her control and social interactions/cues that she didn't get. She was a quiet bookworm with anxiety in a family full of loud, seemingly confident athletes. It was an interesting dynamic to see them all try to relate to each other but it was clear there was a lot of love in that family. I could understand why she kept her webcomic such a secret from everyone expect a few select people and why she didn't reveal too much about how big it had become to her parents - who she didn't feel wanted to know or hear about her online life.

The relationship between Eliza and Wallace was really interesting. There were many times I would be cringing in sympathy for Eliza because I knew there was no way keeping her identity as Monstrous Sea's creator a secret would end well but I could understand why she did it. There were other times I actually felt proud of her for doing something outside her comfort zone - like meeting Wallace's friends or going to a Halloween party. Their relationship was sweet and they understood each other in ways only they could.

I also thought the author did a great job in showing Eliza's anxiety and panic attacks through the books. It was a very realistic portrayal of a young woman living with a mental illness and how much it can affect your life and how it doesn't magically go away just because you might be happier or more confident. This ended up being one of my favourite reads so far this year.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 09, 2018 Brittany rated it liked it

Shelves: graphic-novel, suicide, mental-illness, anxiety-panic-attacks, comics, depression, fangirl-fandoms, fanfiction, trigger-warnings

(3.5 / 5 stars)

I loved The Monstrous Seas comics and the fandom aspect of this book, and I would definitely want to read it as a full-length graphic novel in the future. I found the characters quite relatable and realistic, and I enjoyed the first third of the book. However, this book was much more serious in content than I expected and had a number of unexpected triggers (anxiety, panic attacks, depression, suicidal thoughts, etc.) that personally affected me more intensely than anticipated. Ul ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 14, 2019 Kayla rated it it was amazing

I started reading Eliza and her Monsters a while back and then got distracted with life and other things and before I could finish the book, I had to take it back to the library. Recently I was able to purchase a copy and start up the book again. I really loved Eliza and her Monsters, the story is different than other high school stories that I've read before. Eliza is the quiet girl in school, she isn't much of a talker and prefers to be alone with her sketchbook. Inside her sketchbook is her t ...more

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Oct 22, 2024 Marija *Why you mad, why you sad* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own

I feel seen, that's enough. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 16, 2017 Mkittysamom rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-luv-all, sch-coll-prep-dorm, art-included, chick-fic-romantical-yuck

A teen loves to draw, she’s an artist and she creates a webcomic fantasy. Names herself ladyconstellation as the anonymous writer. She falls for a boy with baggage, her parents just don’t understand and instead of anyone talking to each other they all assume.. run away or ignore their problems. So parents make huge mistake, almost ruins her and career but maybe she gains some self esteem after all.

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Jul 17, 2018 Anna rated it really liked it

This was cute. I liked Eliza Mirk. I like her transformation throughout the book. I understood her in a lot of ways and I appreciated her inner struggles.

I liked Wallace until the part where it all came crashing down, his reaction was not gentlemanly at all.

Montrous Sea was a cool idea, I love the added pictures to really make us feel like we were part of it.

Good story!

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