Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Title: Eliza and Her Monsters

Author: Francesca Zappia

Published: 2017

Genre: General Fiction

Grade Level: Young Adult

-Trigger Warning: Grief, anxiety, suicidal thoughts

-Features: Anti-social personality disorder

 

Audiobook:

Read by: Caitlin Kelly & Kate Rudd

Length: 8hrs 51 min

Recommend: Yes!

 

Blurb (from goodreads):

In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, and friendless. Online, she’s LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of the wildly popular webcomic Monstrous Sea. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves the online one, and she has no desire to try.

Then Wallace Warland, Monstrous Sea’s biggest fanfiction writer, transfers to her school. Wallace thinks Eliza is just another fan, and as he draws her out of her shell, she begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile.

But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart.

My Scores:

Writing Style: Top Notch

I only wish that I could have read this book sooner and taken it to heart, my life could’ve turned out so differently.

The writing style is remarkable because it showcases a completely new perspective on the world. The POV is from a person who has more human connection through the online world than the real one because they suffer from anti-social personality disorder. The voice is so detailed and realistic that it’s hard for me not to think that the author may have personal experience with the MC’s aliments.

I love that it’s such a raw look into this personality because it helped me to empathize with a whole other group of people. And for what other purpose is literature?

 

Characters: Absolutely Amazing

I don’t often give this rating, so you know that these characters must be something special. These characters are the aspect of this novel that shine the brightest. They are complex, unique, and most importantly they feel real to me.

Our MC, Eliza, is anxious, dark-witted, and remarkably creative. Her state of mind is so well written on the page that Eliza’s anxiety became my anxiety. Her fears became my fears, and her hopes became my hopes. Despite not being able to relate to this character on her feelings about the online world, I could definitely understand and empathize with her.

 

Plot: Slow Burn

It takes a while for the plot to really get going because the novel takes it time building the characters. I was never worried about whether it was going to get good. Having read as many books as I have you tend to get good at knowing whether a book is worth finishing. The writing was too good for this novel not to turn into something great.

And I was absolutely right, the climax is well worth the wait!

 

Overall: Totally Obsessed

I am totally in love with this book and only wish I could have read it during my high school years, my life might have turned out very differently. The messaging is poignant, powerful, and essential for all ages. Just as a fair warning, it does address some very dark themes, but it made the novel feel all the more realistic.  

Messaging:

Chase your dreams because life is too short to waste your life being safe but miserable.

Goodreads Rating: 5 out of 5 stars