Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

meltotheanyAside

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“You found me in a constellation.”

Friends, I loved this story. And if the ending was a little different, this would have been such an easy five star read. I love books centered on creators on the internet. While reading this, I was constantly reminded of one my favorite books of all time, Radio Silence by Alice Oseman. Which, I’m not really sure if here is any higher praise than to be compared to that book.

But basically, this book is all about putting yourself out there, carving yourself a little home on the internet, and feeling like you belong, even if your life offline isn’t the easiest to understand. And this book follows two characters very invested with the same fandom

➽ Eliza Mirk – AKA: LadyConstellation, creator of one of the biggest webcomics online, Monstrous Sea.

➽ Wallace Warland – The new boy that just joined Eliza’s school halfway through senior year. Oh, and Monstrous Sea’s biggest fanfiction writer.

“You wrote back…”

Eliza and Wallace’s paths inevitably cross, and he begins to share with her the fanfiction transcribes of the webcomic she has secretly created. And these two meeting offline was one of the most heartwarming things I’ve read all year, even though Wallace has no idea just how much Eliza is invested in this fandom. I think there is just something so beautiful about how accepting and understanding they were of the times that it’s hard to talk, or that it’s almost too much to talk. Honestly, seeing them write back and forth together, side by side, gives me more feelings than I have words for. But I loved it and thought it was so very beautiful.

This book is a love letter to the power of healing that friendships can truly have. Yet, also the healing power of fandoms and celebrating your love for something with others. The magic of finding a person you can be yourself, your true self, no masks, no fakeness, no lies, it’s something that I can’t put into words. But seeing Eliza and Wallace experience that was perfection.

But this is a story about art and how sharing your art is truly like sharing a piece of your heart. And this book really talks about how scary that can be! Yet, also how your art can inspire so many others’ art and it really can create such a beautiful cycle.

And not to bring up Radio Silence constantly, but this book also touches upon how school isn’t for everyone, no matter what people try to make you think. That there isn’t some magical step program of getting good grades in school that will lead you to an amazing university on a full-paid scholarship, which will obviously lead you to the perfect job where you will become filthy rich and experience nonstop happiness! People have so many paths they can choose from, and so many paths that are right and wrong for them. And that’s beautiful and that’s okay.

“She drew so many monsters that she became a monster herself.”

Overall, I loved this book. Fandoms and having an online presence are things that I think I’ll always enjoy reading about, because it’s something very close to my heart. I will say that Wallace’s behavior at the end of this book, and the reason why he wanted Eliza to overcome it all, was just off-putting. But besides that, I loved this book. It made me soft, and warm, and ever so thankful to every single person who reads my reviews and interacts with me. Seriously, you all make me feel so blessed every single day and bring me more happiness than I can measure.


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Content and trigger warnings for suicidal thoughts, talk of past suicide, panic attacks, abandonment, minor bullying, talk of past loss of loved ones, grief depictions, and depression depictions.

❤ I read this for Contemporary-a-thon!

27 thoughts on “Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia”

    1. Awh, thank you so much, Darnell. This comment means a lot to me, because you were such a big reason that I picked this book (over Ramona Blue, which also had my initials, haha!) I hope you’re having happy reading, love! 💕xx

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  5. I’m so happy you loved this book! I think this was the first book I read with an anxiety rep, and it was so well done and amazing! I love how this dealt with fandoms and online communities, because I’m part of an online community myself! I hope you read other books as amazing as this one. 🙂

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    1. Awh, Sapphire! Your comments always bring me so much joy, and… I am so happy this online community brought your friendship into my life. You are such a blessing and I’m honored to call you my friend! 💛xx

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  10. Aaaw, this is one of my favorite reads last year and I love everything you said about it. I can totally agree. 🙂

    Also I love what you said about school not for everyone because well, I’m not one of those people who are happy being in school. It’s not the grades, It’s more like I’m not comfortable and instead of feeling fulfilled, I feel like I’m in the wrong place. hehe.. I’m not making any sense. Anyway, I ended up shifting courses and not finishing any of them.

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      1. Thank you. ❤️ Knowing that I’m not alone in this makes me feel way better. 🙂 🙂

        If you don’t mind me asking, were you kinda like me in school too. Sorry if I’m being nosy. You don’t have to answer it.. But hugs ❤️❤️

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      2. You are never alone, I promise! And I’m here always and forever, if you ever need someone to yell into the void with, Lili!

        And I think I was very much like you in school! 💛xx

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