What do you think?
Rate this book
Unlovable #1
Unlovable
A soon-to-be teen classic: Esther Pearl Watson loosely based this graphic novel on a teenager's diary from the 1980s found in a gas-station bathroom. Unlovable is a first-person account of Tammy Pierce's sophomore year in 1985. The comic has a devoted following because it is serialized Bust magazine: this is the first-ever collection and Watson has created over 100 new pages for the book, which details Tammy's the sometimes ordinary, sometimes humiliating, often poignant and frequently hilarious exploits. Her hopes, dreams, agonies and defeats are brought to vivid, comedic life by Watson's lovingly grotesque drawings, filled with all the eighties essentials - too much mascara, leg warmers with heels and huge hair - as well as timeless teen concerns like acne, dandruff, and the opposite sex (or same sex, in some cases) It will have special resonance for women and young adults. Unlovable will be handsomely packaged in a unique hardcover format with sparkly blue glitter.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2008
8 people are currently reading
826 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
January 27, 2019
Soooooooo good. Reminded me so much of high school. Ready to start reading Volume 2. I’ll post a full review once I’ve completed all three on my booktube channel at http://YouTube.com/peterlikesbooks
March 21, 2021
2021: This book is like a cold, fresh from the gas station bottle of Black Cherry New York Seltzer you drink by yourself on the beach because your best friend left with her boyfriend but who cares, you feel amazing, the sun is high and golden and the air is crisp and salty and you give your wet wedgie a good muscular pluck and gaze straight into the horizon like you're about to frikn teleport into it, guzzling. Which is to say: a masterpiece.
2019: Oh my god. This book caught me silentscreamlaughing in the bathtub with tears running down my face, yelling at my husband to come in here now I need to show you this.
SO. EFFING. GOOD.
Her expression capture is . . . I mean this is high, high art. Praise 🙏🏽
2019: Oh my god. This book caught me silentscreamlaughing in the bathtub with tears running down my face, yelling at my husband to come in here now I need to show you this.
SO. EFFING. GOOD.
Her expression capture is . . . I mean this is high, high art. Praise 🙏🏽
February 1, 2012
Alleged to be a 1980's teenager's diary discovered in a bathroom, Unlovable is the story of Tammy's sophomore year in high school in all its awkward, cringe-worthy, uncensored glory.
I first saw Esther Pearl Watson's Unlovable comics in the back of Bust magazine. Her portrayal of Tammy, a dorky, hormonal, neurotic and self-unaware teenager in the mid 1980's, is perfect. It's easy to find Tammy's self-described life all at once hilarious, painful and familiar, even if your own teen years bore little resemblance to hers.
I first saw Esther Pearl Watson's Unlovable comics in the back of Bust magazine. Her portrayal of Tammy, a dorky, hormonal, neurotic and self-unaware teenager in the mid 1980's, is perfect. It's easy to find Tammy's self-described life all at once hilarious, painful and familiar, even if your own teen years bore little resemblance to hers.
July 13, 2012
i didn't know what to expect from this, but it was really great. so many parts that i found humorous were so bittersweet - tammy's experiences as a high schooler are so sad yet easy to relate to. john waters needs to direct a movie based on this immediately.
March 24, 2012
Totally in the vein of the work of Lynda Barry or Ariel Schrag, or Girl Stories by Lauren R. Weinstein. There's some kind of overlay that the creators found the source material in a bathroom, but I didn't really follow that.
Honestly, I didn't find it particularly likeable or original. Probably because I've read so many other things on a similar tack. The "panels" in this case are virtually always on full (though small) pages, so you have to flip every two panels. Gets kind of exhausting. Kind of sad, really - the only friends this girl seems to have, she has to pay to hang out with her. Shows a little of the mania of the teenage.
Honestly, I didn't find it particularly likeable or original. Probably because I've read so many other things on a similar tack. The "panels" in this case are virtually always on full (though small) pages, so you have to flip every two panels. Gets kind of exhausting. Kind of sad, really - the only friends this girl seems to have, she has to pay to hang out with her. Shows a little of the mania of the teenage.
July 21, 2009
Are you ready for kung fu squirrels, maxi pads, vaginas in a texas house, and the dreamiest teen obviously gay cause he likes the Smiths graphic novel ever?!? This is the ultimate "Found" experience-Ms. Watson found this old journal in a gas station and proceeded to be so inspired by her story she created a world of 1987 w/unfortunate belts, fashion, Anthrax shirts and the mall. While I had been hoping for more the stories she publishes in the back of BUST magazine, I did enjoy how each page tells a contained story (like a fucked up Family Circus), but love her sequential art. The random Lisa Frank on funny ass acid animals while be amazing to you-I cracked up loudly and inappropriately at work when sneaking in my reading of this gem...omg, just get it! The damn cover SPARKLES!
February 14, 2016
Equal parts repulsive and relatable, sad and funny, this intimate teenage girl's diary is illustrated in a gorgeous outsider art sort of style that depicts the most granular and horrifying human details so simply, so clearly, and with something almost like affection, that you feel for the hapless Tammy even though she's like a gross hidden part of yourself you want to forget. This book bummed me out, made me super anxious with thoughts of high school, but also made me want to read subsequent volumes RIGHT NOW.
September 14, 2015
I'm not sure what to say about this one. I found it kind of horrifying and depressing, but I guess there's a lot of truth in it? I feel a little like I felt after reading "Stuck in the Middle," which is, basically, wasn't it enough to live through this shit? Do I have to relive the hell of teenage-hood in this particular way? I guess I won't be reading the other two volumes.
July 27, 2014
So much fun. I am not sure if what is told to us is true, that Watson based her story on a journal she found in a bathroom, but it's a good story, either way. Often hilarious, often painfully so. Painfully familiar. You knows these kids; maybe you've been one of them.
January 17, 2014
So much fun to read. There are so many painful moments (of which I'm sure we've all experienced) that make this book great.
November 24, 2010
These books are utterly compelling despite the fact that Tammy Pierce embodies the sort of high school girl I hated and was hated by (hey, one entry even details her revulsion at the freaky girl with the pet rat!) Tammy's appearance and attitudes embody everything that repelled me about the mainstream ideal of 80's teen girlhood--not that awkward Tammy embodies those ideals, but it's clear that she aspires to. Home perms, 80's make up styles, and trips to the mall are documented in excruciating detail, as are Tammy's over-desperate attempts to fit in with her "friends" and crushes.(Classmates often demand money before they're willing to even speak to her.)In a strange way, Tammy's vapid obliviousness may be her saving grace. No matter how cruelly her peers treat her or how great the indignities she suffers, Tammy soldiers on, believing herself to be cute, stylish, and well liked. This resilience helps keep the book's tone light and comedic---if we saw Tammy crying in her room over the incessant bullying, or developing an eating disorder or whatever, this would be a very different sort of book.
Unfortunately, the book's greatest strength is also it's greatest drawback. As a portrait of a very self-absorbed and superficial 14 year old, it's spot on. My freshman year of high school was full of multitudes of Tammy Pierces--middle of the road girls trying their damndest to fit in and be the 80's version of "cool", mimicking what the most popular girls wore and talked about and listened to despite having no chance of ever being accepted into their ranks, and pretty much forgotten about upon graduation. (And for what it's worth, I felt the same way about the bulk of the boys in my school.)Unlovable is a convincing depiction of such a person. Which brings me to the drawback--because Tammy is such a self-absorbed and oblivious narrator, the book offers little insight on anything or anyone around her, which was frustrating. Ultimately Tammy's personality grew monotonous and I found myself wanting to know more about the characters that surrounded her, particularly Kim. Kim is Tammy's pseudo best "friend" who's preoccupations seem to be her boyfriend, shopping, and cigarettes, but when the class is given the assignment to care for paper bag "babies" and learn about parenting, Kim becomes incensed that the teacher won't allow her to "abort" her baby. When it's time to give the report she launches into a feminist/pro-choice tirade about the bleak future offered to her and her baby due to her being a single teenage mother with limited education and income. This stunt lands her in the principal's office, and had me wondering what made the usually blase Kim suddenly so fiery. Was she actually a smart girl who hid it to be cool? Had she had a past experience with pregnancy? Unfortunately, the incident is reported through Tammy's eyes, and Tammy has no opinions on what Kim has said or reactions other than to find it exciting that Kim got in trouble with the teacher. Likewise when her crush Tim Starry, a boy who does nothing but skate and insult Tammy, opts to hang out with "Rat Girl" instead of her, the two are shown involved in a game of chess. As with Kim, this suggests that Tim has a brainier side that he keeps hidden from most of his peers. But Tammy's only reaction is to declare that the pet rat is "gross" (as IF!!!!). We don't get to learn anything more about either Tim Starry or Rat Girl.
So ultimately, I do enjoy these comics a lot, if only for the schadenfreude. (Remember, I was more of a "Rat Girl" than a "Tammy"). And though I usually hate bad drawing in published comics, in this case the crude Beavis & Butthead-like art only served to capture the ungainly awkwardness of Tammy and her adolescence. Hell, it looks like something Tammy may have doodled herself during study hall!
Unfortunately, the book's greatest strength is also it's greatest drawback. As a portrait of a very self-absorbed and superficial 14 year old, it's spot on. My freshman year of high school was full of multitudes of Tammy Pierces--middle of the road girls trying their damndest to fit in and be the 80's version of "cool", mimicking what the most popular girls wore and talked about and listened to despite having no chance of ever being accepted into their ranks, and pretty much forgotten about upon graduation. (And for what it's worth, I felt the same way about the bulk of the boys in my school.)Unlovable is a convincing depiction of such a person. Which brings me to the drawback--because Tammy is such a self-absorbed and oblivious narrator, the book offers little insight on anything or anyone around her, which was frustrating. Ultimately Tammy's personality grew monotonous and I found myself wanting to know more about the characters that surrounded her, particularly Kim. Kim is Tammy's pseudo best "friend" who's preoccupations seem to be her boyfriend, shopping, and cigarettes, but when the class is given the assignment to care for paper bag "babies" and learn about parenting, Kim becomes incensed that the teacher won't allow her to "abort" her baby. When it's time to give the report she launches into a feminist/pro-choice tirade about the bleak future offered to her and her baby due to her being a single teenage mother with limited education and income. This stunt lands her in the principal's office, and had me wondering what made the usually blase Kim suddenly so fiery. Was she actually a smart girl who hid it to be cool? Had she had a past experience with pregnancy? Unfortunately, the incident is reported through Tammy's eyes, and Tammy has no opinions on what Kim has said or reactions other than to find it exciting that Kim got in trouble with the teacher. Likewise when her crush Tim Starry, a boy who does nothing but skate and insult Tammy, opts to hang out with "Rat Girl" instead of her, the two are shown involved in a game of chess. As with Kim, this suggests that Tim has a brainier side that he keeps hidden from most of his peers. But Tammy's only reaction is to declare that the pet rat is "gross" (as IF!!!!). We don't get to learn anything more about either Tim Starry or Rat Girl.
So ultimately, I do enjoy these comics a lot, if only for the schadenfreude. (Remember, I was more of a "Rat Girl" than a "Tammy"). And though I usually hate bad drawing in published comics, in this case the crude Beavis & Butthead-like art only served to capture the ungainly awkwardness of Tammy and her adolescence. Hell, it looks like something Tammy may have doodled herself during study hall!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2009
Tammy Pierce is a teenager in the 1980s – she’s got the horrible sprayed-out-to-there poodle hair, the brightly colored makeup (think green mascara and eye shadow in every conceivable color), and the questionable fashion sense of the 80s teen. If you grew up in this era, you’ll recognize it immediately in this no-holds-barred graphic novel diary. Tammy is blissfully unaware (most of the time) of just how hideously revolting she really is – and Esther Pearl Watson depicts her in all of her gory glory, including leg and armpit hair stubble, double chin, crooked teeth, piggy nostrils, tortured hair, and fat rolls. Tammy gets into all kinds of trouble with her “best-friend” Kim, who spends most of her time cruising and sucking face with her “boyfriend” Erick Burns and shoplifting whatever she can get her fingers on. Tammy, despite being hideous, thinks constantly about falling in love and finding a boyfriend. Most of the guys in her school find her repulsive, however (and she can’t stand the one that does like her). In this day and age, all of the abuse Tammy takes would have her shooting up her high school, but resilient Tammy of the 80s doesn’t let cruel classmates, an annoying little brother, or constant razzing get her down. This is painful to look at, but amusing, and it brings back a lot of memories (bad ones). If you’re looking for a funny nostalgia-fix for the 80s, or your own uncomfortable, awkward and hideous teenage years, this is for you. Be prepared to cringe with embarrassment for Tammy! I was both amused and disgusted by this!
August 6, 2009
Entertaining graphic novel reproducing a semester in the life of an unloved 80s high school student with no real friends and no self-esteem. The creepy The Quigmans-like art fits into Tammy's character perfectly. Not only would the character have drawn this way, she would have LOOKED this way.
Lest you read this thinking you will have sympathy with Tammy and how sad it is that she cannot see how life will be better and she will laugh at her former self, I am here to let you know that she is NOT that eventually-will-be-discovered-to-be-awesome person we all dreamed we would become. Nope. Her life seems destined to be crappy forever, and mostly it's her own fault. This book will remind you of why you hated 1988 and/or high school, and how little you really learned from the whole experience. Plus you will laugh until milk comes out of your nose.
Lest you read this thinking you will have sympathy with Tammy and how sad it is that she cannot see how life will be better and she will laugh at her former self, I am here to let you know that she is NOT that eventually-will-be-discovered-to-be-awesome person we all dreamed we would become. Nope. Her life seems destined to be crappy forever, and mostly it's her own fault. This book will remind you of why you hated 1988 and/or high school, and how little you really learned from the whole experience. Plus you will laugh until milk comes out of your nose.
November 27, 2009
This was the weirdest book that I have read so far. I initially picked up this book because of its illustrations, the lopsided boob to be specific, and found myself reading the book in one sitting. I think the title suits the book very well.
The main character, Tammy, is your typical teenager who appears to be trying to finding her place in society. However, she drove me NUTS. Her idea of sexy were outfits that were sizes too small and make-up smeared all over her face. I thought it was funny when she gave names to her different appearances, but I did get the intense desire to smack her and say, "Displaying more of your panties than the actual dress is not sexy!" I felt like she was a few crayons short of the box.
I liked the title because the unlovable features teens deal with such as finding dates, fitting in, and trying to appear attractive. Although I did find myself not loving Tammy that much.
The main character, Tammy, is your typical teenager who appears to be trying to finding her place in society. However, she drove me NUTS. Her idea of sexy were outfits that were sizes too small and make-up smeared all over her face. I thought it was funny when she gave names to her different appearances, but I did get the intense desire to smack her and say, "Displaying more of your panties than the actual dress is not sexy!" I felt like she was a few crayons short of the box.
I liked the title because the unlovable features teens deal with such as finding dates, fitting in, and trying to appear attractive. Although I did find myself not loving Tammy that much.
July 30, 2017
This comic, supposedly based on a real diary found in a gas station bathroom, is about the life of teenage reject Tammy Pierce and it's pretty brutal. It's reminiscent of a 1980's version of Lynda Barry's Maybonne but with less of the sweet, life-affirming parts. Everyone, everyone is awful to cheesy, overweight, sometime juvenile delinquent Tammy except for one dude who is both inarguably the handsomest boy in school and probably the only truly decent person Tammy knows and of course Tammy is in love with him but he's just being nice. Which is almost worse in a way than the other boy Tammy thinks likes her who openly treats her like crap. Oh, I almost forgot that there's the Narc who may actually like Tammy but she she treats him like crap. In other words, it's a pretty realistic portrayal of high school romance. I am going to read the next two in the series because I feel like things have to pick up for poor Tammy at some point, right?
August 25, 2011
I related to Tammy Pierce in moments like when she sneaks out of her bedroom window and feels this thrill, looking into the living room window, just knowing that her parents, who are asleep in front of the tv, might just open their eyes and look directly at her. She stays out there for 15 whole minutes before slipping back into her room, and in this full-square-page panel, she's holding her teddy bear and she's like, I'll never forget this night! LOL
I also laughed out loud at the part when her "best friend" Kim and Kim's "boyfriend" Erick are in her room and Erick uses Tammy's two teddy bears as...I think testicles...or something, and Tammy is like, "My teddy bears!!" in the corner of the page, haha. For real, like, don't treat anybody's stuffed animals that way!! especially if those animals still sleep on the bed of the person whose room you are in.
I also laughed out loud at the part when her "best friend" Kim and Kim's "boyfriend" Erick are in her room and Erick uses Tammy's two teddy bears as...I think testicles...or something, and Tammy is like, "My teddy bears!!" in the corner of the page, haha. For real, like, don't treat anybody's stuffed animals that way!! especially if those animals still sleep on the bed of the person whose room you are in.
August 14, 2016
Mixed feelings about this one-- it's a graphic novel based on a 13-year-old Texan girl's diary found in a bathroom. It takes place in Wylie, which my school used to compete against in sports. I remember the Wylie girls basketball team being very intimidating. Anyway, this collection, like most 13-year-olds, was full of awkward and uncomfortable moments and was kind of gross in general. Lots of embarrassing bodily-function-related stuff. Maybe a little too realistic and hit too close to home for me, so I can't say I enjoyed it exactly, but it's really well done, and the artwork perfectly evokes a weird preteen vibe. A quick read that's worth checking out!
May 31, 2016
I follow this artist on Instagram (her fine art is a little more interesting) so I was curious about her comic offering. I did not love it. I gave this two stars (meaning it was okay..) because I just didn't relate to this. The drawing style was a very crude Lynda Barry style (which I didn't mind) and the writing style (which I did mind) was like reading an insecure teenage girl's diary. Most of this fell flat for me probably cause I just didn't relate to it at all. Two Stars and I will skip the next volumes. Luckily, I didn't have to pay for this.
June 16, 2017
This book is truly funny. I enjoyed very much the:
depiction of curled side bangs
summary of booger removal techniques
treatment of having crushes on people you start to realize are repellent
is it really a thing where frenemies in the 1980s would ask you for money to allow you to keep hanging out with them?
depiction of curled side bangs
summary of booger removal techniques
treatment of having crushes on people you start to realize are repellent
is it really a thing where frenemies in the 1980s would ask you for money to allow you to keep hanging out with them?
August 15, 2009
I liked that this book was pink and had glitter on the cover. It is funny in short bursts, but not as hilarious as thought it was going to be when I picked it up at the library. Also, it's about as much of a novel as a book of Garfield comic strips is.
June 25, 2013
This is a comic adaptation of a teenage girl's diary that was found in a gas station bathroom. 'Nuff said. This is a single-serve book; it only took me an hour to read it. If you're wealthy, support an awesome business by purchasing this book. If you're not, borrow it from me.
February 6, 2017
This had promise but it felt insulting. There were a few frames I liked, but it was painful to read, like me and the author were supposed to be making fun of the obliviousness of the character instead of feeling sad for her.
August 3, 2016
This was hilarious and kind of really great.
June 16, 2009
Wow! What a book.
This graphic novel based on a 1980s teen's diary that the author found in a gas station bathroom out West, and I can vouch for the fact that it seems VERY authentic as the unvarnished, unfortunate truths of adolescence are revealed to a (no longer) private diary.
The book chronicles Tammy's sophomore year of high school, where she struggles with the many excruciating moments of teenage existence, including no-good frenemies, hateful boys that she nevertheless loves, weight issues, being grounded, an obnoxious brother, petty criminal mischief, and numerous personal hygeine issues.
When Tammy gets in trouble, she whines and sneaks out while she's supposed to be grounded. When Tammy gets rejected, she acknowledges the futility of her efforts but keeps trying anyway.
Her flaws are glaringly reproduced by the artwork. Despite them and because of them, I was pulling for this conflicted teen and thanking my lucky stars to be beyond those most mortifying years... Tammy's story really rings true.
This graphic novel based on a 1980s teen's diary that the author found in a gas station bathroom out West, and I can vouch for the fact that it seems VERY authentic as the unvarnished, unfortunate truths of adolescence are revealed to a (no longer) private diary.
The book chronicles Tammy's sophomore year of high school, where she struggles with the many excruciating moments of teenage existence, including no-good frenemies, hateful boys that she nevertheless loves, weight issues, being grounded, an obnoxious brother, petty criminal mischief, and numerous personal hygeine issues.
When Tammy gets in trouble, she whines and sneaks out while she's supposed to be grounded. When Tammy gets rejected, she acknowledges the futility of her efforts but keeps trying anyway.
Her flaws are glaringly reproduced by the artwork. Despite them and because of them, I was pulling for this conflicted teen and thanking my lucky stars to be beyond those most mortifying years... Tammy's story really rings true.
June 29, 2010
First of all, I can't believe I even read this book! If you look at my list, there are some graphic novels, but most of the books I read are very serious.... Guess I really needed a change!
I found myself both laughing out loud and thinking, this is really stupid. There is some of both in this book. I loved the drawing, a rather unique style. I really had to laugh at the parts where the protagonist is wearing something really short and has not shaved her legs above the knees. You see black hairs sticking straight out!
If you want to reminisce about high school or want to laugh out loud, pick this one up!
I found myself both laughing out loud and thinking, this is really stupid. There is some of both in this book. I loved the drawing, a rather unique style. I really had to laugh at the parts where the protagonist is wearing something really short and has not shaved her legs above the knees. You see black hairs sticking straight out!
If you want to reminisce about high school or want to laugh out loud, pick this one up!
April 10, 2009
Brilliant! Those who grew up in the '80s will definitely appreciate this. Honestly though, each of us, in some way, experiences the horrors of growing up in school. Poor Tammy Pierce was so misunderstood. She just wanted to be liked ... and we can all identify with that.
There's a page in the book featuring Tammy's mix tape; I laughed out loud because I knew every single song included by artists like Def Leppard, Breathe, Bobby Brown, etc ... oh the '80s. Don't deny it, they were a lot of fun ;)
There's a page in the book featuring Tammy's mix tape; I laughed out loud because I knew every single song included by artists like Def Leppard, Breathe, Bobby Brown, etc ... oh the '80s. Don't deny it, they were a lot of fun ;)
June 21, 2023
A classic. Pleasantly grotesque. Highly amusing. I read this first around 2016 and hadn't thought about it in years, thus was happy to rediscover the series. Something I never noticed the first time around is that Tammy notates her farts throughout the day as mushrooms (with timestamp). This gives you an idea as to what Tammy is like. She is a chaotic, desperate and lovesick high school outcast. There's something about Tammy that is vaguely nauseating. She is ultimate cringe. She reminds me of the small, teen me that lives in the secret, hidden, sad part of my repressed psyche.
August 26, 2009
A reasonably quick read. A lot of what I like about the book is the package--it's small, it's thick, and it's glittery, much as you imagine the protagonist to be. Apparently it is based on a diary found while on a road trip, and for something that fits that description, it is actually pretty compelling. I found myself thinking by the time I was done, "I wonder what ever happened to the characters from this..." Anyway, very enjoyable, very, dare I say, lovable. Worth checkin' out.
March 9, 2010
Oh hey, do I want to read Lynda Barry book? Then why am I reading this? Ugly-adorable, awkward characters with semi-developed story? I would prefer her. However, the single panel layout of the pages and some of the weird digressions, continued jokes, potty humor, and just middle schoolyness of this book grew on me, so I can't say I didn't enjoy parts of it. Ten minutes on a one-page comic by her would be much preferable however.
April 3, 2019
Unlovable 1 & 2 are both funny, vulnerable, charming, and cute. There are literal LOL moments, but also times you wish you could step into the story and shake some sense into the main character.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews