I seem to be reading in themes lately (Isn't It Punny?, WTF Did I Just Read? reviews) and this week I have the old - it's not you, it's me take on a few books that I read recently. None of these were bad - just not the right fit for me.
Are You Listening? by Tille Walden
Graphic Novel
Source: ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
It's not you: The graphic novel, Are You Listening? is a very gentle (although there are threats and darker themes) story about two women (Lou the driver and Bea, her companion) who cross paths and take a weird and insightful road trip through West Texas.
At first Bea and Lou's interactions are prickly but you understand that Bea uses her caustic personality as a defense mechanism. They slowly begin to trust each other and form a friendship that reveals past traumas and their shared experiences being queer and coming out. It was nice to read about a blossoming friendship that Doesn't turn into a romance.
They also pick up a cat named Diamond, who is being pursued by two very creepy dudes.
It's me: This is a lovely, quiet story between Lou and Bea, but it takes several strange turns because of Diamond and enters magical realism territory. I actually liked it (& the eventual message) but the two narratives often detracted from each other, disrupting the flow of the story - which is already a little choppy reading in panels.
At times the the story, especially Bea's, is given the time and space to breathe, then it's thrown into chaos, chasing down the cat, running away from the men. The panels just seemed to move so quickly it was both hard to keep track, and to form a true connection.
It might be for you: If you like quieter graphic novels, magical realism (and cool cats), a message of hope and human connection, queer friendship.
CW: sexual abuse, death of a parent
Source: Audible
Narrated by: Patti Murin, Jon Root
It's not you: Something Wilder had a wonderful second chance romance between Lily and Leo. Lily leads city slickers on treasure hunts through Utah, using her father's old maps. She hates it but it pays the bills. Then her long lost love, Leo, shows up with his friends for one of those tours just when she's desperate for money to buy her father's ranch back.
Like I said, Leo and Lily are great - they had the dreaded miscommunication incident years ago, but they dispense with that fairly quickly and move on to the adventure at hand. Is the fake treasure hunt, and all her fathers clues, real? And should they risk everything to go get it?
Leo is very clever and I liked his ability to solve the clues and the trust he put into Lily's competence.
It's me: From the summary - "But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong"
I don't want to spoil anything but things do go horribly wrong. Problem is, I didn't find anything hilarious about this story. I think I laughed, maybe, once or twice. I was promised a madcap, Romancing the Stone-esque adventure by the authors and this wasn't it for me.
What happened was bad. And got worse. It wasn't hahahaha for me. The narration, while good, was too dour for me as well. Lily and Leo always sounded so sad. I mean, they kind of were, being thrown back into forced proximity with your lost love and a lot of danger but again...I was promised hilarity lol
Everyone kept telling me that this wasn't their usual type of book but I think most of their books are different from each other with romance usually being the unifying element. And readers also told me this was low on romance but I guess I disagree. Yes, there was a bigger cast of characters but they kind of vanish for most of the book and this follows a regular romance trajectory.
Their books are always 50/50 for me anyway but I mostly felt mislead by "hilarity" in the case of this one.
It might be for you: if you like a larger cast of characters than a traditional romance, adventure, clues, survival, second chance romance
I don't think either one of those are for me. Thank you for sharing though.
ReplyDelete:-) Not for me either lol
DeleteHmm, yeah, what went wrong in Something Wilder was pretty dark. I still loved the book
ReplyDeleteI was really expecting hilarious and it wasn't. I did like the second chance romance.
DeleteI just wish it was more straight forward and they just did the treasure hunt, instead of the whole other thing.
That graphic novel looks interesting- I'm kind of curious about the cat angle! And friendships without romance are always nice too for a change. Too bad the second one was kind of a miss though too- I like the treasure hunt idea, but sounds like goes off the rails a bit...
ReplyDeleteGreg
It was. Very different. Not for me but still good.
DeleteI think the second one was more expectation vs delivery.
Sounds like SOMETHING WILDER wasn't marketed right. It's always a shame when expectations ruin what good have been a good book.
ReplyDeleteI think so. The blurb says hilarious, Romancing the Stone adventure. Several interviews by the authors said they wanted silly fun to escape the pandemic but I guess it just didn't read that way for me.
DeleteNot a bad book - just not what I was looking for or expecting.
Good reviews. We appreciate hearing honest reactions and yours, especially to the second book, possess that. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ally!
DeleteYes, it's me... Snicker. It's Jen. I haven't read a Christina Lauren book in a few years. I'm glad they are still good.
ReplyDeleteYou can just say it's me now. "It's me" now = Jen lol
DeleteVery interesting. I often don't laugh when I read unless the comedy's very overt. When a book promises me hilarity, I take it with a grain of salt because I may or may not laugh. LOL. And, I can see why that would turn you off of the story if you were expecting to laugh. Maybe, I'll be okay with it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe! It wasn't bat at all - just not what I wanted or was expecting. I've read books of theirs that were funny - so for them to say this was the funniest they've ever written...
DeleteHm, Are You Listening sounds almost like two stories that didn't mesh well together into one. The synopsis of Something Wilder didn't appeal to me so I decided to skip it. Based on your review I'd say I made the right decision. It really doesn't sound like one I would have enjoyed. Sadly, it's been a while since I enjoyed anything by Christina Lauren.
ReplyDeleteIt was just jarring for me to go back and forth with the deep conversations them light magical realism.
DeleteThanks for sharing your honest reviews. A lot of people seem to love Something Wilder, but it's tough when what's supposed to be funny doesn't actually make you laugh.
ReplyDeleteLauren @ www.shootingstarsmag.net
Their books are always 50/50 for me but I also feel misled by the summary. I wouldn't have read it had I known.
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DeleteI might like Are You Listening, but then again... I might not. If Hoopla gets it I I'll give it a try.. 📚
ReplyDeleteIt was different.
DeleteAw sadness! Though I admit, I felt very much the same as you with Are You Listening?, I felt like I maybe just didn't "get it"? I think Something Wilder would be a miss for me too- I like darker fare, but not when it is supposed to be funny, that is just off-putting! Sorry these didn't work for you!
ReplyDeleteYou read it? It was clearly a meaningful story but it just went over my head I think lol
DeleteOne of the few genres I have yet to read, when anyone mentions a graphic novel that they have enjoyed I always promise myself to give it a go. On balance, this probably isn't the graphic novel that will be my first. Thanks for such an honest review.
ReplyDeleteI definitely wouldn't start with this one lol I struggle with the format but I've found several good ones too.
DeleteYep, I know this struggle.
ReplyDeleteAs they say... the struggle is real lol
DeleteIt does seem a bit of a weird mash-up in that first one, but also the cat part sounds kinda cool, if a bit odd. I get what you're saying about the other. When you're promised one thing and are expecting that but then don't get it, it throws off the whole experience.
ReplyDeleteAre you listening has so many good things. It would be great for the right reader.
Delete