Eliza and Her Monsters Book Review

Phew, haven’t reviewed one in a while! SO…I just finished reading Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia! I’ve heard so much about this book but never really bothered to seek it out until I came across it in the library a few days ago. And WOW it was so good, it just blew my mind. I loved the inclusion of the chatroom conversations between the characters, and Francesca Zappia’s own illustrations of her characters in the pages! It’s so unique, and it kind of reminds me of Fangirl/Carry On (by Rainbow Rowell). Fandom inception. My mind. Kabloom.

THERE WILL BE MONSTERS (spoilers) BEYOND THIS POINT

There are monsters in the sea.

I think that one of the things I loved most about this book was the inclusion of the Monstrous Sea comic into the story. It just gave the story another dimension of life, almost like an alternate universe for Eliza and the readers. I loved how bits and pieces of Wallace’s transcription was given as the story progressed, along with Eliza’s drawings. I feel like the stories of Amity and Damien and Faren and their struggles act as a collective metaphor for Eliza’s own life and her struggles with anxiety and being a social ‘hermit’. Eliza’s love for the Children of Hypnos series and the parallel between her and Olivia Kane, the author of the series in the book showed a mirrored yet totally different path that two individuals facing the same problem could take.

Another thing that made this story so good was the shocking ever-presence of Max and Emmy. Even though Eliza herself has never seen them in person, or over video calls or pictures, it surprised me how much I could feel them as characters in the story. Despite being, quite literally, just words on a screen to Eliza, Francesca Zappia still gave them so much vibrant and comical character. I loved Emmy’s sass and Max’s saltiness, and I love how they prove that internet friends can be real friends through their constant love and support of Eliza and each other.

And finally, WALLACE OMG…he legit gave me Reid vibes tho, from The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli. Wallace is one of those Hagrid-class characters that seem really intimidating but do the most Hufflepuff things ever, aka, the most awesome, heart-warming, hug worthy actions on Earth. Like Eliza, I admire him so much for being able to have diverse interests, because I am totally on the art side of the spectrum.

You found me in a constellation

I was honestly surprised with how much I related to Eliza. Though I’m more of a reader and a little less of an artist (I love both to the very ends of my soul though), I totally get her struggles with social anxiety. I understand what it’s like to not be able to talk to people, and it’s so comforting to meet a character who, despite being famous and popular online, struggles to interact outside of that facade. My obsession with reading once rivaled Eliza’s obsession with Monstrous Sea, and being able to read a story like Eliza and Her Monsters really mirrored a difference I had to find in owning my passions and letting my passions own me. The separation that Monstrous Sea created between Eliza and her family and friends reminded me strongly of how I also put the people in my life on hold at times because of my own monsters. I love how the author presented obsessions and life challenges in the form of fantastical monsters. Some can be tamed, others can be defeated, but all, if you let them free, can consume you.

I think the point in the story that hit me the hardest was when Eliza realized how little she knew about her brothers. I loved Sully and Church in the story, but they had always seemed like background people until the camping trip scene. I guess the sudden shock of discovering so much about their characters at once made me realize how much I could possibly miss of the real world if I didn’t look up from the pages once in a while.

Anyway, that was my review for Eliza and Her Monsters! Sorry if the ending was a little sad, but that’s honestly what I took away from the story. Bonus fact tho: Francesca Zappia may be the most coolest (yes I said that) author of all time. I mean, she draws fan art of her own characters! And now I want a sequel on Wallace and Eliza and more stuff on Sully and Church…ok I better go because this will become a mess. Thanks for reading!

photo by me