Eliza and Her Monsters

by Francesca Zappia

Wow. Just wow.


This started off slow. It was depressing at the start and I didn't really enjoy it much and then out of nowhere it just took off. I came to really love Eliza. I felt so much reading this book. It was very intense. More so than I imagined it was going to be. I thought it was going to be lighthearted - fandoms, artists, writers, weird loners, touch of awkward romance and it was just so much more.

This book tackles mental illness head on and refuses to flinch no matter how much pain and agony is poured into the narrative. Eliza had me crying with the intensity of her feelings. And so many of them are utterly relatable. The trouble she has forcing herself out, forcing herself not to hide. The anxiety about letting people down. I felt so much.

Eliza is brave in confronting her fears and trying to move past her worries. I liked her relationship with her brothers best - they were really understanding of her - even if they didn't quite get it. I loved the acceptance Eliza gives Wallace when he can't speak, I love that she's more comfortable communicating via text or paper. I love that they both were willing to accept that - to understand that it was hard for them but didn't mean they shouldn't communicate. The romance between them was pretty swoony but I also loved that they really connected with one another.

I really liked the format of this book too. The inclusion of the chat logs and artwork and excerpts of the story was perfect. Well written relatable story. 4.5 stars.