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Getting It Together #1-4
Getting It Together
Marvel Comics and GLAAD nominated award Iceman writer SINA GRACE and co-creator OMAR SPAHI deliver the all-new modern dramedy you didn't know you needed! Sam and Jack are best friends, and Sam is dating Lauren, Jack's indie rocker sister and roommate. Tensions skyrocket when Sam and Lauren open up their long-term relationship, sending social shockwaves through their friend group and the entire Bay Area, leaving poor Jack caught in the middle! Life gets pretty messy when you're in your 20s and your friends are your family. Newcomer artist JENNY D. FINE shines in this series about love, friendship an rock n' roll!
Collects GETTING IT TOGETHER #1-5
Collects GETTING IT TOGETHER #1-5
130 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2021
3 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Sina Grace
227 books145 followersSina Grace’s parents had big plans for their son: Ivy League schooling, professional credentials, a 6-figure income as a doctor– the works! Fortunately for us, he found the wonderful world of comics instead. It was in this world of contradictions that he “matured,” one foot teetering on the edge of academia, the other drawn to the inescapable grasp of an ink-bound fantasy underworld.
At 14, Grace seemingly appeased his parents by interning at Top Cow Productions, under the guidance of Editor-in-Chief Renae Geerlings (his single mother figured at least he was collecting college credit). However the only thing he was collecting (other than comics), was the compulsive habit of drawing unrealistically proportioned, scantily clad women.
At 16, he got a perpetual summer-time job at the Santa Monica landmark: Hi De Ho Comics, where he would be inspired to create Books with Pictures. By 17 he wrote, drew, and self-published his first comic, The Roller-Derby Robo-Dykes versus the Cannibals. His knowledge of disproportionate harlots with weapons came in handy when depicting a story about Robo-Dykes bent on taking over the world. His mother was happy that he was taking interest in girls. The book went into a second printing, and received the praise of Lying in the Gutters critic, Rich Johnston.
Weeks after graduating high school, he was asked by Rilo Kiley front-woman Jenny Lewis to illustrate a limited edition comic book adaptation of their 2004 record, More Adventurous. In the spring of 2006 he was asked to apprentice under comics genius, Howard Chaykin (even though it may not be apparent in Books with Pictures, Grace did learn the function of a ruler and the meaning of a vanishing point).
Between the summers of 2005 and 06, Grace’s partially-biographical indie dramedy, Books with Pictures, went from hand-xeroxed zines to full-fledged, full-sized comic books. Shortly after its debut at San Diego Comic-Con, Diamond Distributors accepted the series into their ordering catalogue, Previews. Grace’s work on the series was met with admiration from bloggers and reviewers alike, and has since taken on several projects for multiple anthologies due in late 2008.
To his parents’ delight, he graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, receiving an undergraduate degree in Literature, with an emphasis on Creative Writing.
Sina Grace recently self-published an illustrated novel about a sorcerer sleuth in Orange County, aptly named Cedric Hollows in Dial M for Magic, his next project will be providing illustrations for Amber Benson’s novel, Among the Ghosts, through Aladdin Books.
At 14, Grace seemingly appeased his parents by interning at Top Cow Productions, under the guidance of Editor-in-Chief Renae Geerlings (his single mother figured at least he was collecting college credit). However the only thing he was collecting (other than comics), was the compulsive habit of drawing unrealistically proportioned, scantily clad women.
At 16, he got a perpetual summer-time job at the Santa Monica landmark: Hi De Ho Comics, where he would be inspired to create Books with Pictures. By 17 he wrote, drew, and self-published his first comic, The Roller-Derby Robo-Dykes versus the Cannibals. His knowledge of disproportionate harlots with weapons came in handy when depicting a story about Robo-Dykes bent on taking over the world. His mother was happy that he was taking interest in girls. The book went into a second printing, and received the praise of Lying in the Gutters critic, Rich Johnston.
Weeks after graduating high school, he was asked by Rilo Kiley front-woman Jenny Lewis to illustrate a limited edition comic book adaptation of their 2004 record, More Adventurous. In the spring of 2006 he was asked to apprentice under comics genius, Howard Chaykin (even though it may not be apparent in Books with Pictures, Grace did learn the function of a ruler and the meaning of a vanishing point).
Between the summers of 2005 and 06, Grace’s partially-biographical indie dramedy, Books with Pictures, went from hand-xeroxed zines to full-fledged, full-sized comic books. Shortly after its debut at San Diego Comic-Con, Diamond Distributors accepted the series into their ordering catalogue, Previews. Grace’s work on the series was met with admiration from bloggers and reviewers alike, and has since taken on several projects for multiple anthologies due in late 2008.
To his parents’ delight, he graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, receiving an undergraduate degree in Literature, with an emphasis on Creative Writing.
Sina Grace recently self-published an illustrated novel about a sorcerer sleuth in Orange County, aptly named Cedric Hollows in Dial M for Magic, his next project will be providing illustrations for Amber Benson’s novel, Among the Ghosts, through Aladdin Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 29, 2021
Follows the lead singer of a band, her gay brother and his best friend who also happens to be the lead singer's recent Ex. It tries real hard to be a Millennial Friends. I found both the writing and art mediocre.
Received a review copy from Image and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Image and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
March 18, 2021
A group of urban twentysomethings is slice-of-lifing it up in this book, spending time in bands, spending time poorly defining their relationships, spending time talking about their poorly defined relationships, and after a while the least interesting of those characters leaves the rest behind and we're stuck with her.
The writing, the art - it's all the epitome of just okay.
(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
The writing, the art - it's all the epitome of just okay.
(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
May 11, 2021
As the homage to Friends on the cover hints, this is a story about the relationships and hijinks of a group of twentysomethings, but with a little more diversity and a San Francisco setting. Siblings Jack and Lauren Bolghand, who are half Persian, are the heart of the book. Jack is adrift, making increasingly poor choices in his hook-ups with other men. Lauren has just broken up with Jack's best friend, Sam, and is causing some chaos in the band for which she is lead singer.
It's a fun mix of humor and drama for the most part, with an extended group drug trip doing a little too much heavy lifting in moving the plot along late in the game.
It's a fun mix of humor and drama for the most part, with an extended group drug trip doing a little too much heavy lifting in moving the plot along late in the game.
March 23, 2021
One look at the cover of the Image miniseries Getting It Together evokes the opening credits of the hit ’90s sitcom Friends. No doubt this will appeal to fans of the TV show — a show that somehow gains new fans every generation. On a personal note, I have never been on board with Friends, which centers on a group of people finding themselves in situations that I never believed in. Although there was the attempt of exploring relationships on a dramatic level, it is a sitcom first and foremost, and one that hasn’t aged well. Thankfully, Getting It Together, which is very current in terms our relationships with social media as well as ourselves in an openly sexual way, nails what I think Friends misses.
Please click here for my full review.
Please click here for my full review.
March 30, 2021
The premise of it is that we see a group of friends struggling with break ups, dating apps that lead to hook ups. Them working on their own career and everyday problems that +20 y/o have to face. Plus, it had something to do with music (which is always a fav theme of mine!) So, in a few words, we’re talking about Millenial FRIENDS. I had high hopes and I was sure I was going to love this contemporary graphic novel.
Unfortunately, this was one of those stories that didn’t work for me. The main reason that made me not like this one was the MC. She is the vocalist and the creator of the band and though she might be good with her music, her personality is just plain awful. I couldn’t feel sympathy for someone so selfish and who didn’t actually care about the people around her, even when she was the one who hurt them.
The side characters were kind of OK but since the main focus is on Lauren, I was disappointed to say the least. We didn’t get to explore the depth of characters like her gay brother, or even her ex-boyfriend (who seemed to deal with depression) and the other band members.
Now, I’m not a prude and I take a few drinks from time to time but the use of drugs has never been on my radar so it’s kind of sad that people think everybody needs to use them in order to feel good. You can literally go to the movies, spend quality times with your friends and s/o and never need of anything like that.
I guess, the only thing I liked about this story was the fact that they were open about different kinds of relationships, romantic or not. Though in here, most of them were toxic and they raised a bunch of red flags for me.
The art wasn’t my favorite thing either but it wasn’t that bad ‘cause at least it gave us different people to look at. The scenery was interesting and the coloring add different vibes to the scenes.
Overall, I would have enjoyed it more if it weren’t so focused on such a dislikeable MC.
I received an e-book ARC via Diamond Comic Distributors in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this was one of those stories that didn’t work for me. The main reason that made me not like this one was the MC. She is the vocalist and the creator of the band and though she might be good with her music, her personality is just plain awful. I couldn’t feel sympathy for someone so selfish and who didn’t actually care about the people around her, even when she was the one who hurt them.
The side characters were kind of OK but since the main focus is on Lauren, I was disappointed to say the least. We didn’t get to explore the depth of characters like her gay brother, or even her ex-boyfriend (who seemed to deal with depression) and the other band members.
Now, I’m not a prude and I take a few drinks from time to time but the use of drugs has never been on my radar so it’s kind of sad that people think everybody needs to use them in order to feel good. You can literally go to the movies, spend quality times with your friends and s/o and never need of anything like that.
I guess, the only thing I liked about this story was the fact that they were open about different kinds of relationships, romantic or not. Though in here, most of them were toxic and they raised a bunch of red flags for me.
The art wasn’t my favorite thing either but it wasn’t that bad ‘cause at least it gave us different people to look at. The scenery was interesting and the coloring add different vibes to the scenes.
Overall, I would have enjoyed it more if it weren’t so focused on such a dislikeable MC.
I received an e-book ARC via Diamond Comic Distributors in exchange for an honest review.
Read
March 14, 2021The trade cover suggests a less white Friends, the first issue's cover a San Francisco Sex And The City, but I was reminded more of a queerer Scott Pilgrim, partly by its tangled romantic webs but more by the way that at the heart of the narrative sits a band with a name right at the edge of plausibility (here Nipslip, whom I'm half-convinced I must have seen play at DIYSFL RIP). Although there's also a band called Wish Me Luxembourg and really, as if anyone would ever name a band after Luxembourg, eh? Still, it lacks Scott Pilgrim's video game superheroics, taking place firmly in the real world, or at least what passes for it in the horny liberal metropolitan bubbles that used to float in a few lucky spots atop it, back before the Event. Sina Grace co-writes with Omar Spahi, and also draws the bits Jenny D Fine doesn't; I don't know how the scripting was divided up, but it certainly felt more propulsive, less inward-looking and paralysed, than I've sometimes found with Grace's solo work. As with the other West Coast millennial comic I read, Snotgirl, I am far too old to know whether it's remotely accurate, but lines like 'That Instagram thot has a pro party pivot if I've ever seen one" are if nothing else entertaining, and certainly the vague lineaments of all the 21st century relationship dramas seem recognisable. Hell, maybe I enjoyed this more than I have past Grace work simply because I'm even nostalgic for those now.
(Edelweiss ARC)
(Edelweiss ARC)
June 25, 2021
Reminded me of Giant Days but with more sex.
August 10, 2021
Getting It Together reads like a Netflix sitcom, all drawn out drama and shifting alliances between a friend group that's slowly breaking up with itself. Sina Grace has a knack for dialogue, so individual scenes feel real and funny, but the whole package felt overinvolved.
Sam and Lauren's break-up means that the other friends in the group need to pick sides. This includes Lauren's bandmates - which becomes important later, when Lauren's band catches a big break and she needs to make some big life decisions. The overlapping narratives are engrossing, if confusing at times. The back cover notes that Getting It Together is about life getting pretty messy in your 20s and I think that's a great description for this book: messy. Fun, but messy.
Sam and Lauren's break-up means that the other friends in the group need to pick sides. This includes Lauren's bandmates - which becomes important later, when Lauren's band catches a big break and she needs to make some big life decisions. The overlapping narratives are engrossing, if confusing at times. The back cover notes that Getting It Together is about life getting pretty messy in your 20s and I think that's a great description for this book: messy. Fun, but messy.
May 13, 2021
Good at what it does- just not my cup of tea.
This comic series deals with a group of Millenials, their music, their sexual adventures, their search for identity. It’s good as far as it goes but it’s not really my thing. It’s all about the characters which are therefore fully developed but there’s not a lot of plot while angst features a lot. The artwork works and is reasonably simplistic. I was given a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
This comic series deals with a group of Millenials, their music, their sexual adventures, their search for identity. It’s good as far as it goes but it’s not really my thing. It’s all about the characters which are therefore fully developed but there’s not a lot of plot while angst features a lot. The artwork works and is reasonably simplistic. I was given a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2022
Not a bad book. It had good characters, just a little confusing.
September 1, 2021
The cheap looking cover should have turned me off, but no, I read it anyway. And to be fair, the art inside is a considerable improvement upon the cover…so much for putting their best foot forward first, but at any rate, this book didn’t really do much for me. Or more like this book did nothing for me except remind me what a terribly tedious generation millennials are. Or is it GenX already?
Whatever they are, the 20something timewasters in this book are apparently getting it together, meaning there are trying to sort out their messy love lives and friendships. And I mean messy, not a single straightforward uncomplicated decent relationship to be found here. These kids or whatever they think themselves to be are mostly a barely employed promiscuous bunch of directionless bundles of precociousness who spout the latest in wokespeak while communicating with each other, but none of their conversations go anywhere.
There’s one proverbial (and literal) straight guy meant presumably as a foil who actually has a job, wants a semblance normal relationship, all that. Sadly he picks a musician for his partner, who of course has very different ideas for her life i.e. fame. So she cheats on him and he mopes about it, mostly to his bff who is a gay brother of his ladylove. That’s actually the bulk of the book, although there’s also a significant amount of pages dedicated to just how promiscuous the gay brother actually is, as he orders sex off the apps.
So, sure, this can be billed as the Friends for the new generation with ample albeit one sided LGBTQ representation and music, which may sound like fun…but what you’re really getting is a trite sitcom style goings on of a bunch of whiny babysnowflakes whose most profound moments come from rolling on Molly. All done in decent but nothing special sort of art.
If this is meant to be an interesting, exciting and engaging insight into a generation…look away. Nothing much to see here. Then again, it’s possible people of the same age group and mentality might find it relatable. For all others…maybe these characters will be worth reading once they get it together, but their process isn’t worth the time.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Whatever they are, the 20something timewasters in this book are apparently getting it together, meaning there are trying to sort out their messy love lives and friendships. And I mean messy, not a single straightforward uncomplicated decent relationship to be found here. These kids or whatever they think themselves to be are mostly a barely employed promiscuous bunch of directionless bundles of precociousness who spout the latest in wokespeak while communicating with each other, but none of their conversations go anywhere.
There’s one proverbial (and literal) straight guy meant presumably as a foil who actually has a job, wants a semblance normal relationship, all that. Sadly he picks a musician for his partner, who of course has very different ideas for her life i.e. fame. So she cheats on him and he mopes about it, mostly to his bff who is a gay brother of his ladylove. That’s actually the bulk of the book, although there’s also a significant amount of pages dedicated to just how promiscuous the gay brother actually is, as he orders sex off the apps.
So, sure, this can be billed as the Friends for the new generation with ample albeit one sided LGBTQ representation and music, which may sound like fun…but what you’re really getting is a trite sitcom style goings on of a bunch of whiny babysnowflakes whose most profound moments come from rolling on Molly. All done in decent but nothing special sort of art.
If this is meant to be an interesting, exciting and engaging insight into a generation…look away. Nothing much to see here. Then again, it’s possible people of the same age group and mentality might find it relatable. For all others…maybe these characters will be worth reading once they get it together, but their process isn’t worth the time.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
September 25, 2021
I have been in a little bit of a graphic novel slump lately. I go through phases with it. Sometimes I'm more interested in reading novels. Sometimes I am really vibing on audiobooks.
However, I had high hopes for Getting It Together, Volume 1. I thought for sure that this would be a story I'd fall in love with. The artwork was fantastic. And that cover? Obviously, an updated, more diverse and representative take on FRIENDS had me feeling all kinds of hyped up.
That said, this did not work for me. It might work for someone else. But I did not enjoy the way the story was presented. It felt incredibly disjointed and hard to follow. While the characters and arcs had promise, they weren't developed enough for me to become invested. I gave it two stars because I'm happy to see attempts made at inclusivity. But I'd be much happier with well-written inclusive stories.
However, I had high hopes for Getting It Together, Volume 1. I thought for sure that this would be a story I'd fall in love with. The artwork was fantastic. And that cover? Obviously, an updated, more diverse and representative take on FRIENDS had me feeling all kinds of hyped up.
That said, this did not work for me. It might work for someone else. But I did not enjoy the way the story was presented. It felt incredibly disjointed and hard to follow. While the characters and arcs had promise, they weren't developed enough for me to become invested. I gave it two stars because I'm happy to see attempts made at inclusivity. But I'd be much happier with well-written inclusive stories.
December 26, 2021
There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the world of Getting it Together (the new comic book series from Sina Grace, Omar Spahi, Jenny D. Fine and Mx. Struble)—and I don’t just mean the range of covers riffing off everything from Friends and Sex and the City to classic Marvel comics—it’s a world of live music and friends and lovers. Like a 90s indie film playing out in panels.
Centred around 20-something siblings Jack and Lauren, their relationships and careers, it’s that sweet spot when young adults start to move on from their ‘firsts’—first loves, first jobs, first homes, first big breaks—and start to really find themselves. Lauren’s life is being rearranged as she breaks up with Sam (her brother Jack’s best friend) and starts making waves among her Nipslip bandmates. Jack is figuring life out and wondering what lies beyond the apps and hook-ups.
Jenny D. Fine’s art is fluid and expressive, with great body language among the characters (Sina Grace pulls art duties on back-up features and flashbacks). Grace and Spahi write clear, well lived-in characters and the storytelling flourishes (like Sam’s decision-making flowchart) are a lot of fun. Throw in a suggested playlist and some actual original, new tunes (Sina Grace collaborated with Feels’ Lana Myers-Ionita to produce songs for Lauren’s band streaming on Bandcamp) and there is a genuine ambience around this work that just reminded me of my 20s, surrounded by friends starting their creative or corporate lives while juggling romances and struggling over big decisions that may or may not change their trajectories.
Getting it Together is queer with a lower case q, it’s a charming and refreshing story of people for whom sexuality is a non-issue. This book has no agenda or ‘message’ to sell, it’s about a multiplicity of lives, lived in stages. The key gay character, Jack, begins to fade into the background over the four issues as ultimately it is Lauren’s journey that provides the big emotional hooks. It’s a shame the storylines couldn’t be better balanced for this first installment which does feel slightly truncated.
As much as the story has a clear conclusion, this has a strong feel of a pilot episode. If the interest is there, the creators could easily bring the characters back for more and I’d happily hang out with them all again.
This review originally appeared on The Queer Review
Centred around 20-something siblings Jack and Lauren, their relationships and careers, it’s that sweet spot when young adults start to move on from their ‘firsts’—first loves, first jobs, first homes, first big breaks—and start to really find themselves. Lauren’s life is being rearranged as she breaks up with Sam (her brother Jack’s best friend) and starts making waves among her Nipslip bandmates. Jack is figuring life out and wondering what lies beyond the apps and hook-ups.
Jenny D. Fine’s art is fluid and expressive, with great body language among the characters (Sina Grace pulls art duties on back-up features and flashbacks). Grace and Spahi write clear, well lived-in characters and the storytelling flourishes (like Sam’s decision-making flowchart) are a lot of fun. Throw in a suggested playlist and some actual original, new tunes (Sina Grace collaborated with Feels’ Lana Myers-Ionita to produce songs for Lauren’s band streaming on Bandcamp) and there is a genuine ambience around this work that just reminded me of my 20s, surrounded by friends starting their creative or corporate lives while juggling romances and struggling over big decisions that may or may not change their trajectories.
Getting it Together is queer with a lower case q, it’s a charming and refreshing story of people for whom sexuality is a non-issue. This book has no agenda or ‘message’ to sell, it’s about a multiplicity of lives, lived in stages. The key gay character, Jack, begins to fade into the background over the four issues as ultimately it is Lauren’s journey that provides the big emotional hooks. It’s a shame the storylines couldn’t be better balanced for this first installment which does feel slightly truncated.
As much as the story has a clear conclusion, this has a strong feel of a pilot episode. If the interest is there, the creators could easily bring the characters back for more and I’d happily hang out with them all again.
This review originally appeared on The Queer Review
February 6, 2023
My honest opinion is that books that are about friends who create issues and figure out how to be sensitive to each other's wants and needs and give space and ultimately return to one another is some of the most vital storytelling that exists... I really really REALLY enjoyed reading this. I wish I could have taken it one issue at a time to get a better sense of the rhythm of the storytelling installment by installment. The character work in this is insane. Their sketches are great, they all look totally different but the siblings are recognizably siblings, their facial expressions and body language are unique to each character, with each one given a wide variety of visual expressions! I loved this work cuz like, everybody was making real life fuck-ups for real life reasons. The band figuring out where Lauren's actions were coming from was great- shows how your friends can observe and deduct better than you can for yourself sometimes. The other two bandmates bugged me at first, because I felt like they were more plot devices, but as the story develops their plot-momentum actions are clearly influenced by their emotional world, and they have to work as hard as the main cast to resolve those problems. I felt like the character Sam was SUCH a good representation of the pining straight boyfriend, who tells his side of the story and leaves out calling his gf a slut and a bitch and stuff like that, and then kisses her bestie the first chance he gets. The drama in this was really fun. I love the art and can't say enough how much I appreciated the realistic spiderweb of action and emotion binding the characters together. Sooooo good. Will definitely keep an eye out for other work by these illustrators. This was definitely one to pour over. I really admire how the story was told through the art. I loved everything about this. Might even consider making a purchase, cuz this one has to go back to the library.
April 15, 2021
This graphic novel is about a group of friends in San Francisco. Sam and Jack are best friends, and Sam is dating Lauren, Jack’s sister. After Sam and Lauren decide to have an open relationship, Lauren sleeps with her her band mate. That devastates Sam, leading them to break up. Jack ends up in the middle of the break up, between his best friend and his sister. Meanwhile, Jack is constantly using dating apps to meet new guys. They all have lots of drama in their lives.
I was drawn to this graphic novel because of the cover, which resembles the cast of the tv show Friends. This story was also about a group of friends in their 20s, and it opened with a couple breaking up because one of them misunderstood what it meant to be “on a break.” However, that’s where the resemblance ended.
I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. There wasn’t a lot of plot either, other than them having random romantic encounters. The graphic novel began with Sam and Jack, but they had disappeared from the story by the end. Some plot points were so dramatic, I think they were just included for a shock factor, rather than actually moving the plot forward.
The art style changed, and improved, in the final chapter of the book. At the beginning, the images were less defined and detailed, which made many characters look alike. I’m not sure if it was part of the story or just in my advanced copy, but I wish the later art style was throughout the story.
Unfortunately, this graphic novel didn’t work for me.
Thank you Image Comics for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was drawn to this graphic novel because of the cover, which resembles the cast of the tv show Friends. This story was also about a group of friends in their 20s, and it opened with a couple breaking up because one of them misunderstood what it meant to be “on a break.” However, that’s where the resemblance ended.
I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. There wasn’t a lot of plot either, other than them having random romantic encounters. The graphic novel began with Sam and Jack, but they had disappeared from the story by the end. Some plot points were so dramatic, I think they were just included for a shock factor, rather than actually moving the plot forward.
The art style changed, and improved, in the final chapter of the book. At the beginning, the images were less defined and detailed, which made many characters look alike. I’m not sure if it was part of the story or just in my advanced copy, but I wish the later art style was throughout the story.
Unfortunately, this graphic novel didn’t work for me.
Thank you Image Comics for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2021
Interesting slice-of-life-esque telling of the relationships and firsts attempts to become functional adults of a small group of people in pre-pandemic San Francisco. Without noticing til I already finished reading it, maybe the part that I liked most (and probably the main reason why I kept reading it) is that at many moments it felt like a time window to how things were back when we didn't have to wear facemasks and we felt like we owned our free time.
Personal frustrations apart, this felt like an amusing story. I didn't get to become emotionally attached to any of the characters - in fact, I found most of them rather annoying, but that's also true with real world people of their age. I really enjoyed the surroundings of the story, the places, and the secondary characters. Even though these guys' lives are nothing like mine, their personal struggles felt rather relatable.
It's a shame that the plot fails to have any clear direction, leading to an ending that feels a little bit out of the blue. It's not that I need to know how everyone's story ends, but the final issue is too rushed, mostly compared to the relaxed way things moved along during the previous issues.
In the end, I was amused, but not passionate about Getting It Together. It's nice and enjoyable, but hardly memorable.
Personal frustrations apart, this felt like an amusing story. I didn't get to become emotionally attached to any of the characters - in fact, I found most of them rather annoying, but that's also true with real world people of their age. I really enjoyed the surroundings of the story, the places, and the secondary characters. Even though these guys' lives are nothing like mine, their personal struggles felt rather relatable.
It's a shame that the plot fails to have any clear direction, leading to an ending that feels a little bit out of the blue. It's not that I need to know how everyone's story ends, but the final issue is too rushed, mostly compared to the relaxed way things moved along during the previous issues.
In the end, I was amused, but not passionate about Getting It Together. It's nice and enjoyable, but hardly memorable.
March 6, 2021
This is a very enjoyable slice-of-life graphic novel focusing on the ups and downs of a brother and sister and their friends. Lauren and Jack are brother and sister and they get on well. Jack focuses on dating hot men and Lauren focuses on her rock band and her relationship with Sam who is Jack's good friend. Everything is fine until Sam and Lauren decide to have an open relationship.
Suddenly Jack is caught in the maelstrom of the aftermath, trying to love his sister and keep his frienship with Sam. All their other friends are caught in the tail wind but they may each find a way forward for themselves.
This was interesting with some great characters. I did think Lauren was a bit selfish and controlling, especially towards her band mates. This is about the ups and downs and rollercoaster of love and life and it was good to read. The story was good and the artwork was good. All in all it was enjoyable.
Copy provided by Edelweiss+
Suddenly Jack is caught in the maelstrom of the aftermath, trying to love his sister and keep his frienship with Sam. All their other friends are caught in the tail wind but they may each find a way forward for themselves.
This was interesting with some great characters. I did think Lauren was a bit selfish and controlling, especially towards her band mates. This is about the ups and downs and rollercoaster of love and life and it was good to read. The story was good and the artwork was good. All in all it was enjoyable.
Copy provided by Edelweiss+
April 27, 2021
Described as “Friends for the social media generation,” getting it together is a really well executed story about a bunch of Bay-area twenty somethings who all kind of float around each others’ lives like random molecules looking for some kind of chemical reaction. This doesn’t feel like the kind of story that will work as well as it does, largely because the story meanders and then kind of stops, and the characters are all fairly one-dimensional. But the execution of this is just so darned good that I found myself coasting along in this story even though my kids are way closer to these characters in age than I am. But the art is nicely done and perfectly suited for the story (the wifi crack as the artists switch to one with much crisper lines is quite funny) and the writing doesn’t do anything epic except it captures a truth about these characters and what it feels like when you’re at that part of your life when everything feels both possible and adrift at the same time.
January 7, 2022
I really enjoyed this story. It's not groundbreaking in many ways, but I really empathized with the experience Grace was trying to convey.
I saw myself on these pages and I saw my peers, too. It was sporadic and overly dramatic but I resonated with their pains and joys. The highs and the lows at this point in your life are so affecting, and we're really all just wandering aimlessly until something finally clicks. The tiny victories presented here are more profound than I gave them credit for at face value: making amends after a break-up, talking through issues with your closest friends, battling depression and anger, tackling addiction, and overcoming the demons that live inside us all.
Somewhere in the middle of the story, when everybody was angry with everybody, the book became genuinely anxiety-inducing, and I thought I was going to put it down for good. But I think the way the story wrapped up was pretty cathartic and fortunately not very cliché, either.
I saw myself on these pages and I saw my peers, too. It was sporadic and overly dramatic but I resonated with their pains and joys. The highs and the lows at this point in your life are so affecting, and we're really all just wandering aimlessly until something finally clicks. The tiny victories presented here are more profound than I gave them credit for at face value: making amends after a break-up, talking through issues with your closest friends, battling depression and anger, tackling addiction, and overcoming the demons that live inside us all.
Somewhere in the middle of the story, when everybody was angry with everybody, the book became genuinely anxiety-inducing, and I thought I was going to put it down for good. But I think the way the story wrapped up was pretty cathartic and fortunately not very cliché, either.
November 17, 2021
An okay graphic novel about a group of people in their early twenties. It covered bands, casual sex, drugs, awkward encounters, and not much more. I didn't like many of the characters, and couldn't remember what had happened when I continued reading a few days after putting it down.
I think it's unfair to compare 'Getting It Together' to 'Friends' - yes, it's a story about young people and their relationships, but many stories have that. I liked that the front cover copied 'Friends', because (if this is the original cover) I can imagine the authors and illustrator thought that would be the critique their story would receive.
I loved the art style, and loved the diversity and LGBTQ+ representation in the characters! However I won't continue reading the series, and probably wouldn't recommend it to others.
I think it's unfair to compare 'Getting It Together' to 'Friends' - yes, it's a story about young people and their relationships, but many stories have that. I liked that the front cover copied 'Friends', because (if this is the original cover) I can imagine the authors and illustrator thought that would be the critique their story would receive.
I loved the art style, and loved the diversity and LGBTQ+ representation in the characters! However I won't continue reading the series, and probably wouldn't recommend it to others.
March 23, 2021
The pacing for this graphic novel was way off. I feel like if this story was adapted into a manga series, these events would have been spread over at least 7 volumes. There was so much happening all at once, and it was hard to keep track of. Even the characters who were vastly different seemed to blend in together.
I did enjoy how the story was set around a group of friends, some of which are in a rock band. It reminded me of the manga series Nana which I love. I also loved the LGBTQ+ characters and themes. Random side note but I have the same haircut as Annie and I love that.
I received an e-copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I did enjoy how the story was set around a group of friends, some of which are in a rock band. It reminded me of the manga series Nana which I love. I also loved the LGBTQ+ characters and themes. Random side note but I have the same haircut as Annie and I love that.
I received an e-copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 31, 2021
Not Gonna lie, what first caught my eye was the cover Friends-related, then read the summary and that was all I needed.
The story begins with Sam and Lauren break up, and his brother Jack being in the middle because of their friendship.
I just considered these three the main characters, they had their own issue yo work on during the story.
Its all about friendship, love to yourself, Go for what your dreams are and never give up, most important that youre not alone, there is people who care about You.
I enjoy to read the four vols in one file. It's easy to read, the artwork match perfectly with it, i liked the TS reference (#swiftie) the humor parts, and most the little bubble notes telling us the places and what Jack was doing jajajaja
The story begins with Sam and Lauren break up, and his brother Jack being in the middle because of their friendship.
I just considered these three the main characters, they had their own issue yo work on during the story.
Its all about friendship, love to yourself, Go for what your dreams are and never give up, most important that youre not alone, there is people who care about You.
I enjoy to read the four vols in one file. It's easy to read, the artwork match perfectly with it, i liked the TS reference (#swiftie) the humor parts, and most the little bubble notes telling us the places and what Jack was doing jajajaja
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2021
This comic is an excellent slice of life story featuring some incredible characters. I picked up the first issue having heard zero hype about the book, but I’m glad I did. The interpersonal relationships, the drama of a failed coupling, and the inner tension of a band that is ready to tear itself apart all feature heavily in this volume. The LGBTQ+ representation is also stellar and the exploration of that community is one of the most charming aspects. The art is also grand, matching the story perfectly and providing some amazing panels that range from laughing out loud funny to heart in your throat emotion.
Highly recommend! Pick it up!
Highly recommend! Pick it up!
February 20, 2022
I'm going to give this 3 stars just because I liked the art style to be honest. Maybe if you are a fan of sex and the city (no judgement, no beef, you like what you like) you might find it more interesting. It was a bit boring, no character "spoke" to me, I didn't find any of them likeable or relatable. Maybe I'm just not American enough? I didn't see any positive ending or resolve. It feels like all of them, maybe except our lady main, are stuck in a loop of bad decisions. Meh. Pretty drawings tho, so yeah. 3 stars.
September 23, 2021
Very different drawing styles, which was a bit jarring as it somehow felt like our camera went out of focus at times, rendering familiar characters as blocky, simplified versions of themselves. Too rushed and I felt distanced from the relationship drama, especially as we barely had a chance to get to know this group of friends before the DRAMA hits. The music theme was...nice I suppose? If it felt rather generic.
March 25, 2021
I gave it 5 with the hope of seeing more. If you like slice of life, this is for you, if you don’t, then why’re you reading it, shouldn’t be reviewing it. Interesting characters, a world that feels alive beyond the scenes we see, a modern telling for our times beyond the white perspective because, these problems happen to everyone. Glad to see it here.
August 7, 2022
I really wanted to like this as a queer comic lover who lives in SF but ugh it was miserable. It was so…blah. The plot was boring and the characters weren’t developed well and everyone was so one-note. It was basically just reading about the type of people here who I can’t stand to be around because they’re so boring and self-involved. Not for me, shrug.
March 25, 2021
This was a fun read about growing up, growing apart, and taking chances told through interesting art.
There's honestly nothing particularly outstanding about it, but it's nice to read something for pure enjoyment once in a while.
There's honestly nothing particularly outstanding about it, but it's nice to read something for pure enjoyment once in a while.
May 5, 2021
This is a slice of life book and I really liked it. The dialogue felt real and that I was peeking into the lives of these band members and best friends and partners. Also it's funny and clever without trying too hard to be.
August 16, 2021
A dramatic romp of hookups and breakups between a group of friends in their twenties. I liked the sex positivity and the LGTBQ+ representation, but I had a difficult time following the story and various combinations of relationships within.
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