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Crushing
An Eisner Award Finalist Life is full of connections–if you know how to make them. Crushing follows two people–one determined and a bit awkward, the other unsure where to begin–longing to find out where they belong. Their intersecting and overlapping journeys reveal hidden connections and the unpredictable and unexpected ways we may find each other. Achingly beautiful, quietly defiant, and full of subtle wit and wisdom, Crushing is a story told in silence; a story without words but bursting with life and color. This stunning debut graphic novel from Sophie Burrows is a timely look at life in an age of distance and a story of love and understanding -- a perfect book to read and to share.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2021
14 people are currently reading
3705 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Burrows
13 books37 followersSophie Burrows is an award winning British writer, illustrator and comics creator. Inspired by the everyday, she loves to tell stories which explore themes of human behaviour, mental health and relationships. In 2019 she graduated from the MA in Children's Book Illustration course at Cambridge School of Art, and subsequently won Student Illustrator of the Year 2019 at the V&A Illustration Awards.
Her first picture book as writer/illustrator, Ig Pig and Og Frog! was released in 2020, and her debut graphic novel, Crushing , publishes in 2021. Alongside her illustration, Sophie is also an associate lecturer and teaches on the MA in Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art.
Sophie lives and works in London with her partner Daniel. Besides drawing, she also loves to cook, and enjoys being creative in the kitchen. She is an avid music lover, and often spends her spare time watching live music and going to festivals. You can follow Sophie on instagram and twitter @burrowsdraws.
Her first picture book as writer/illustrator, Ig Pig and Og Frog! was released in 2020, and her debut graphic novel, Crushing , publishes in 2021. Alongside her illustration, Sophie is also an associate lecturer and teaches on the MA in Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art.
Sophie lives and works in London with her partner Daniel. Besides drawing, she also loves to cook, and enjoys being creative in the kitchen. She is an avid music lover, and often spends her spare time watching live music and going to festivals. You can follow Sophie on instagram and twitter @burrowsdraws.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 408 reviews
March 13, 2022
Wordless graphic novel about two lonely people finding each other.
Has red and pink highlights in a kind of 'Valentine's Day' motif.
No real plot, just shows a lonely man and a lonely woman with shitty lives connecting at the end and no longer feeling so alone.
At the end there are all these links on how to get help for mental illness and suicide prevention and, while I appreciate the thought, I didn't really see these MCs are mentally ill nor suicidal. I mean, good on you for putting some helplines in the back but I don't really feel it fits with the story. IDK, YMMV.
TL;DR
Wordless graphic novel about two sad, lonely people with unfulfilling lives who end up meeting and having a chance at love. Might be appropriate for Valentine's Day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2021
Crushing is a delight. Telling the stories of two lonely people, a young woman and man who initially don't know eachother.
It is told in a beautiful and limited colour palette, with a softness that only makes it's theme of loneliness sing out louder (and it never gets depressing!).
Mostly wordless, it is very recognisable and relatable, even to an old fart like me.
Also, there's a cat and a dog. It has everything.
(Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)
It is told in a beautiful and limited colour palette, with a softness that only makes it's theme of loneliness sing out louder (and it never gets depressing!).
Mostly wordless, it is very recognisable and relatable, even to an old fart like me.
Also, there's a cat and a dog. It has everything.
(Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)
January 12, 2022
I don’t normally read graphic novels or comics, but I was interested in the premise of this and thought the timing was good to try something different as well as see how the illustrations captured the feeling of loneliness when you’re not “alone”.
I was not a popular kid in high school and there are some points in time even in grad school where I can remember vividly the feeling of being so alone and sad in a crowded, noisy room. Despite being present, you are completely invisible to those around you and that only serves as a catalyst for your initial loneliness and despair in the first place. I suspect that this will resonate even more in the world we find ourselves in now. Even in our own families, be it political differences, religious differences, gender identity, how you feel about covid, etc. Unfortunately, the topics are endless.
While I’m not sure this is something to be “rated” as so much of it is subjective, the pictures and lack of words almost made it better for me because it allowed me to fill in my own blanks on what the picture meant to me as an individual. All of us will react differently, but I’m sure we can all relate to some aspect of the story and for that itself, this book is a gift.
Many thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for the gifted finished copy.
Review Date: 01/10/2022
Publication Date: 01/11/2022
I was not a popular kid in high school and there are some points in time even in grad school where I can remember vividly the feeling of being so alone and sad in a crowded, noisy room. Despite being present, you are completely invisible to those around you and that only serves as a catalyst for your initial loneliness and despair in the first place. I suspect that this will resonate even more in the world we find ourselves in now. Even in our own families, be it political differences, religious differences, gender identity, how you feel about covid, etc. Unfortunately, the topics are endless.
While I’m not sure this is something to be “rated” as so much of it is subjective, the pictures and lack of words almost made it better for me because it allowed me to fill in my own blanks on what the picture meant to me as an individual. All of us will react differently, but I’m sure we can all relate to some aspect of the story and for that itself, this book is a gift.
Many thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for the gifted finished copy.
Review Date: 01/10/2022
Publication Date: 01/11/2022
June 7, 2023
3.5 stars
I picked this book up hoping it would be a sort of comfort read. It’s about two people who feel isolated from others emotionally and their individual journeys looking for a connection. I recognize the sense of loneliness they both have in their day-to-day lives. I liked that even though I’m not looking for anyone romanticly like they are this book was still relatable to me. I’m not sure why but I feel like this book was lacking for me in some regards. I’m happy they met but we got to see the female become more happy with her life and not much on the guy. It would have been nice if we got more of a look into his journey. Maybe even see him get more of a counseling-medical side help before meeting the girl since he seemed to be suffering from depression. This wasn’t exactly quite the comfort read I hoped it would be for me but it was a good book.
I picked this book up hoping it would be a sort of comfort read. It’s about two people who feel isolated from others emotionally and their individual journeys looking for a connection. I recognize the sense of loneliness they both have in their day-to-day lives. I liked that even though I’m not looking for anyone romanticly like they are this book was still relatable to me. I’m not sure why but I feel like this book was lacking for me in some regards. I’m happy they met but we got to see the female become more happy with her life and not much on the guy. It would have been nice if we got more of a look into his journey. Maybe even see him get more of a counseling-medical side help before meeting the girl since he seemed to be suffering from depression. This wasn’t exactly quite the comfort read I hoped it would be for me but it was a good book.
April 13, 2022
Two lonely hearts wander around a big city in Great Britain looking for a romantic connection. Might they find one another eventually?
A thin and simple story that isn't particularly original or memorable, but it reads quickly as it is told almost wordlessly in nicely done pictures.
A thin and simple story that isn't particularly original or memorable, but it reads quickly as it is told almost wordlessly in nicely done pictures.
February 17, 2022
Looking at emotions, feelings, love in forms, and concepts surrounding the self, Crushing is a memorable graphic novel.
Concepts: ★★★★
Artwork: ★★★★★
Themes: ★★★★
Hmmm. How to talk about a graphic novel that doesn't use words to communicate? Seems ironic to use words themselves to talk about it. But let's give it a go anyway.
Crushing is going to mean something different for everyone. That's part of its beauty.
Without words, without a harshly formed boundary created by the usual narrative structure, characters, or plot, this is a story that works like a mirror of sorts, reflecting your own impressions back on to you.
For that reason alone, it's pretty impossible to describe to others and rate semi-objectively. My rating comes from my own personal reaction to these illustrations and the feelings and memories they evoked in me. This wasn't a feel-good story of romance like we'd usually highlight in February, but love and feelings are not limited to the popular or even the typical.
Crushing as a title on its own is an interesting play. Having a crush on someone, but also feeling literally crushed and the acting of self crushing under/within/on—the title is similar to its contents in the way that it waits for you, the reader, to react in order to derive meaning.
My review is a bit of nonsense. But this is a graphic novel of feelings, emotions, and reflection. It evoked in me a sense of self-reflection, moodiness, and a strange sense of nostalgia tinged with a complex lingering vibe that I'm still pondering.
What will Crushing evoke in you?
Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
Concepts: ★★★★
Artwork: ★★★★★
Themes: ★★★★
Hmmm. How to talk about a graphic novel that doesn't use words to communicate? Seems ironic to use words themselves to talk about it. But let's give it a go anyway.
Crushing is going to mean something different for everyone. That's part of its beauty.
Without words, without a harshly formed boundary created by the usual narrative structure, characters, or plot, this is a story that works like a mirror of sorts, reflecting your own impressions back on to you.
For that reason alone, it's pretty impossible to describe to others and rate semi-objectively. My rating comes from my own personal reaction to these illustrations and the feelings and memories they evoked in me. This wasn't a feel-good story of romance like we'd usually highlight in February, but love and feelings are not limited to the popular or even the typical.
Crushing as a title on its own is an interesting play. Having a crush on someone, but also feeling literally crushed and the acting of self crushing under/within/on—the title is similar to its contents in the way that it waits for you, the reader, to react in order to derive meaning.
My review is a bit of nonsense. But this is a graphic novel of feelings, emotions, and reflection. It evoked in me a sense of self-reflection, moodiness, and a strange sense of nostalgia tinged with a complex lingering vibe that I'm still pondering.
What will Crushing evoke in you?
Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
July 9, 2021
This wasn’t my cup of tea, but some folks may like it. It’s a depiction of loneliness/mental struggle while yearning for social connections in a big city. A graphic novel without spoken text from the main characters.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2022
Despite majoring in English, I love a wordless narrative where the art has to carry the story. Sophie Burrows achieves that perfectly in Crushing, the gentle, simple tale of two lonely people finding each other in the big city. The book plays out like a Pixar short. There's nothing unexpected - it's a crisp, pleasant narrative that unfolds in a handful of days. Just read it: it'll take 15 minutes.
March 11, 2022
soft, melancholy and hopeful, this was a cozy and heartfelt read with gorgeous illustrations. with a gentle instrumental soundtrack, this would make a dreamy silent animated short film.
August 31, 2022
To say this is a quiet book would be an understatement, as there’s basically just a few lines of dialogue. It’s about a woman and a man missing each other, though living close, going about their days, noticing that both of them don’t conform to beauty standards and seemingly pining for a organic, romantic connection. I liked the artwork and it was sweet enough.
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November 14, 2021A really beautiful and gentle comic about modern loneliness and what it means to yearn for connection. Burrows uses a limited and soft color palette to show two young people in a bustling city who feel completely alone, despite the noise and crowds around. Ultimately, they have a chance meeting that turns humorous, allowing the two of them to connect in a really wonderful and resonant way.
It's interesting to read this during a pandemic, for sure, and to see crowds and "normal" life going on. But in no way does that feel foreign. We're all seeing this, whether or not it's happening around us like it once did. And that loneliness for many of us is still there, still urgent, and in many ways, it's even more profound than in the before.
An excellent addition to the comics on mental health. There are few words on the page, bringing the theme even more to the forefront from the beginning.
It's interesting to read this during a pandemic, for sure, and to see crowds and "normal" life going on. But in no way does that feel foreign. We're all seeing this, whether or not it's happening around us like it once did. And that loneliness for many of us is still there, still urgent, and in many ways, it's even more profound than in the before.
An excellent addition to the comics on mental health. There are few words on the page, bringing the theme even more to the forefront from the beginning.
July 15, 2022
This wordless graphic novel for adults is explores loneliness and trying to find where you belong.
I liked the idea of this one more than the execution. The art and color palette was nice, but overall, I didn't really connect with these two young people and how their story unfolds. I did like the cat.
I liked the idea of this one more than the execution. The art and color palette was nice, but overall, I didn't really connect with these two young people and how their story unfolds. I did like the cat.
January 19, 2022
An utterly beautiful graphic novel that is bursting with love, insight and hope.
February 27, 2022
4.5 stars
Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for inviting me on the tour for Crushing . This is a beautiful, special book.
Have you ever been in the middle of a crowd and felt alone? Have you ever found yourself making eye contact with another person and hoping for a connection of some sort, only to feel too shy to actually initiate anything? This gorgeous graphic novel captures those feelings so accurately.
Told without dialogue, Crushing , which has as its subtitle “An illustrated misadventure in love and loneliness,” follows a young man and a young woman as they make their way through the mundanities of their lives. Both are alone and find themselves drifting through life. They catch glimpses of one another in crowds, see others having the time of their lives, and wonder what that would be like if it happened to them.
While it’s a little difficult to ascertain an actual story without dialogue, this is so beautifully done. Burrows really captures the way life feels colorless at times except for you, and how meeting a kindred spirit can light up the grey.
This was a beautifully unique read that I’ll treasure. It would make a lovely gift, too.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for inviting me on the tour for Crushing . This is a beautiful, special book.
Have you ever been in the middle of a crowd and felt alone? Have you ever found yourself making eye contact with another person and hoping for a connection of some sort, only to feel too shy to actually initiate anything? This gorgeous graphic novel captures those feelings so accurately.
Told without dialogue, Crushing , which has as its subtitle “An illustrated misadventure in love and loneliness,” follows a young man and a young woman as they make their way through the mundanities of their lives. Both are alone and find themselves drifting through life. They catch glimpses of one another in crowds, see others having the time of their lives, and wonder what that would be like if it happened to them.
While it’s a little difficult to ascertain an actual story without dialogue, this is so beautifully done. Burrows really captures the way life feels colorless at times except for you, and how meeting a kindred spirit can light up the grey.
This was a beautifully unique read that I’ll treasure. It would make a lovely gift, too.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
April 15, 2024
Love the constant transitions between the two isolated characters. Reading how this was inspired by the pandemic, the lonliness depicted with the visuals of this novel realistically capture how feeling lonely looks like in one's day to day. Don't want to spoil this, but I've just been into graphic novels lately, especially ones around love. This was cute.
May 24, 2023
I love graphic novels without words because it proves that reading is not limited to words alone.
August 27, 2024
I just read this because it's beautiful! It's just beautiful. I don't know what you look for in a graphic novel, but I picked this one ONLY because it's so beautiful. It's crayon. It's the softest, prettiest thing to hold and read. That softness will seep into your day too. Make you feel like it's all sunshine and bright green leaves and birds.
January 10, 2023
This was a very sweet graphic novel told almost completely without words, about two lonely people who keep missing the opportunity to connect with each other in a big city. (The pigeon illustrations are so cute!) The color red is used to indicate moments of sincere connection and kindness, and the use of colored pencils was effective in creating this mood. I definitely felt lonely at times while reading this because the emotion comes through so strongly. Captures the perils of modern dating life and trying to make friends when you're shy and sad. I definitely picked up some depression vibes from the main characters even without words. I would like to have this one on my personal bookshelf and recommend it to anyone who has ever felt any of these emotions...so pretty much everyone. It was a unique, quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2023
A basically wordless graphic novel about loneliness and connections. I loved the first few gentle, melancholy pages when it was just the lonely woman as the focus.
But then there's a lonely guy. I didn't connect with him and the story began to drift, for me.
There's a strange list of mental health and suicide services listed at the end as if loneliness in your 20s is, what, something you should seek professional help for? The resources tainted the sweet story that had gone before.
Some of the pencil drawings are just marvelous. The author is definitely someone I'll check out in the future.
But then there's a lonely guy. I didn't connect with him and the story began to drift, for me.
There's a strange list of mental health and suicide services listed at the end as if loneliness in your 20s is, what, something you should seek professional help for? The resources tainted the sweet story that had gone before.
Some of the pencil drawings are just marvelous. The author is definitely someone I'll check out in the future.
March 31, 2022
This genuinely made my heart warm. Despite it being a wordless graphic novel (other than the occasional sign and background chatter) there was so much packed into every page. It was incredible relatable in feeling lost within a crowd and trying to find connection as the world pushes its ideas and expectations on you. It had me laughing at the unsolicited pictures of dating apps, and gasping when tragedy strikes, and genuinely so happy by the ending that I thought wouldn’t happen. I loved this. Please read it.
August 7, 2022
This is darling and an absolute delight.
June 27, 2022
the art was beautiful, but it felt like the story ended right as it was getting started
June 29, 2022
Best Graphic Novel, next only to The Arrival, in my opinion.
Cute, gorgeous art and use of color.
Cute, gorgeous art and use of color.
February 14, 2022
A cute and wonderful silent graphic novel based on two people who are living separate lives.
You meet a young lady who is single and hoping to connect with someone. You then meet a young man who is also single, but seems to not like crowds or connecting with someone right away; however, he does seem to want to pair up with someone, but only on comfortable terms.
This is a parallel story of two strangers who are looking for similar experiences. They are both looking to connect with someone, but are not finding opportunities to their liking.
We can feel some of the emotions the artist invokes in her drawing; loneliness, hope, sadness, searching, looking, longing, feelings of being a bit overwhelmed, anxious, etc. The drawings really capture what it may feel like to be single, but longing for connection, friendship, relationships. We can also see comfort, and how one may want to be out there in the streets dating, but feel the call to be home in their own comfort and not wanting to go out, not wanting to be in the midst of crowds and loud places, etc. Also there is a sense of being out there in the crowds, around everyone, and still feel alone.
We see a glimpse of online dating, and the obnoxious behaviors you may face when dating online. We see in-person anxieties when it comes to meeting people face-to-face, and how even if we want to be in a companionship, easing out of the comfort of our home/personal space is daunting at times. We see people coupled up/booed up, and think that's what's missing in our lives, but sometimes it feels good to be alone.
You also see women looking at beauty standards trying to figure out how they stand out in the world among other women. Making changes to be more presentable. The book also shares how men may see themselves as attractive or not, and battling with their self-image as well. We are all trying to fit in and find a place in the world where we matter, and with those that care for us. This book packed a ton of things in here without even saying a word, and that is genius in itself.
Topics I gleaned from this:
- Self-care
-Self-image/esteem/confidence
- Loneliness
- Companionship
- Social awkwardness
- Beauty standards
- Dating (online/in-person)
- Dating
I really enjoyed this silent graphic novel, and I really got a good sense of the message here in this book.
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers and the illustrator Sophie Burrows for this book in exchange for a fair and honest opinion.
You meet a young lady who is single and hoping to connect with someone. You then meet a young man who is also single, but seems to not like crowds or connecting with someone right away; however, he does seem to want to pair up with someone, but only on comfortable terms.
This is a parallel story of two strangers who are looking for similar experiences. They are both looking to connect with someone, but are not finding opportunities to their liking.
We can feel some of the emotions the artist invokes in her drawing; loneliness, hope, sadness, searching, looking, longing, feelings of being a bit overwhelmed, anxious, etc. The drawings really capture what it may feel like to be single, but longing for connection, friendship, relationships. We can also see comfort, and how one may want to be out there in the streets dating, but feel the call to be home in their own comfort and not wanting to go out, not wanting to be in the midst of crowds and loud places, etc. Also there is a sense of being out there in the crowds, around everyone, and still feel alone.
We see a glimpse of online dating, and the obnoxious behaviors you may face when dating online. We see in-person anxieties when it comes to meeting people face-to-face, and how even if we want to be in a companionship, easing out of the comfort of our home/personal space is daunting at times. We see people coupled up/booed up, and think that's what's missing in our lives, but sometimes it feels good to be alone.
You also see women looking at beauty standards trying to figure out how they stand out in the world among other women. Making changes to be more presentable. The book also shares how men may see themselves as attractive or not, and battling with their self-image as well. We are all trying to fit in and find a place in the world where we matter, and with those that care for us. This book packed a ton of things in here without even saying a word, and that is genius in itself.
Topics I gleaned from this:
- Self-care
-Self-image/esteem/confidence
- Loneliness
- Companionship
- Social awkwardness
- Beauty standards
- Dating (online/in-person)
- Dating
I really enjoyed this silent graphic novel, and I really got a good sense of the message here in this book.
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers and the illustrator Sophie Burrows for this book in exchange for a fair and honest opinion.
January 7, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Crushing
Author: Sophie Burrows
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: romance, graphic novel, sequential art
Publication Date: January 11, 2021
Genre: Graphic Novel Romance
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, some sexual content)
Explanation of CWs: The book is about love and finding someone. There is some small sexual content, but not a lot (throwaway jokes mostly).
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 160
Synopsis: She’s lonely and searching for connection. He’s lonely and afraid to reach out.
Life in the big city means being surrounded by connections—making them, missing them, and longing for them. But is finding someone else really the answer to their problems?
Crushing, the stunning debut graphic novel from Sophie Burrows, is a story told in silence; a story without words but bursting with meaning; a story about loneliness and love.
Achingly beautiful, quietly defiant, and full of subtle wit and wisdom, Crushing is a unique meditation on the human condition in the twenty-first century, and a timely examination of young adult life in an age of isolation.
Review: I absolutely loved this book so much! It’s a cute introverted love story about two people who are down on their luck in different ways and who are slowly trying to find love. The story is almost completely told without words and the illustrations are so beautiful and translate the story well. The character development is amazing as is the world building. The book is gorgeous inside and out and I’d love to see a second story of these lovable characters.
The only issue I had is that I wish that some of the stuff was a bit more explained, like their backstories.
Verdict: It’s amazing and it’s going to forever be on my graphic reads shelf. Highly recommend!
Book: Crushing
Author: Sophie Burrows
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: romance, graphic novel, sequential art
Publication Date: January 11, 2021
Genre: Graphic Novel Romance
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, some sexual content)
Explanation of CWs: The book is about love and finding someone. There is some small sexual content, but not a lot (throwaway jokes mostly).
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 160
Synopsis: She’s lonely and searching for connection. He’s lonely and afraid to reach out.
Life in the big city means being surrounded by connections—making them, missing them, and longing for them. But is finding someone else really the answer to their problems?
Crushing, the stunning debut graphic novel from Sophie Burrows, is a story told in silence; a story without words but bursting with meaning; a story about loneliness and love.
Achingly beautiful, quietly defiant, and full of subtle wit and wisdom, Crushing is a unique meditation on the human condition in the twenty-first century, and a timely examination of young adult life in an age of isolation.
Review: I absolutely loved this book so much! It’s a cute introverted love story about two people who are down on their luck in different ways and who are slowly trying to find love. The story is almost completely told without words and the illustrations are so beautiful and translate the story well. The character development is amazing as is the world building. The book is gorgeous inside and out and I’d love to see a second story of these lovable characters.
The only issue I had is that I wish that some of the stuff was a bit more explained, like their backstories.
Verdict: It’s amazing and it’s going to forever be on my graphic reads shelf. Highly recommend!
December 28, 2022
Kinda reminded me of “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles, but if it had a happy ending.
[REVIEW]
I won Crushing in a Goodreads giveaway because I was drawn to the premise of it. Here’s the thing: Despite being an introvert, I HATE feeling lonely (to clarify, being alone and being lonely are different things in my mind). Throughout the years, I’ve struggled A LOT with feeling lonely, both around strangers and people I’m more familiar with. Therefore, I LOVE stories where the protagonist is an outsider and doesn’t feel like they fit in anywhere…until they meet someone who finally SEES them. Whether it leads to a friendship, a found family, or romantic feelings, I eat this storyline up EVERY TIME. And since Crushing promised this type of storyline, I was excited to read it.
I’ll start with the one critique I have of this: I was promised a romance, but received NONE of that. Seriously, the illustrations, the premise, and even reviews were alluding to it having a romance. However, the protagonists met at the VERY end of the story, with no implication that they’d fall in love afterwards. Therefore, I would’ve liked some more development of their relationship after they meet. I don’t know where that would’ve taken the story, but I think there was so much potential and opportunity for cute moments between them!
Everything else, though? AMAZING. The way Sophie Burrows was able to narrate with little dialogue and mostly illustrations was impressively executed. Despite my critique about the protagonists not meeting until the end, I DID like that they didn’t catch each others’ eyes immediately. I liked seeing them as individuals before they met. I also felt SO MUCH for the protagonists as they struggled with their body images, self-esteems, social lives, etc.—all while watching everyone around them succeed. As someone who’s been watching everyone around me get engaged and/or married, or knowing what they’re going to do after they graduate college…this book spoke to my persistent feelings of loneliness, and the worry that I’m failing because I’m not at those points like everyone else. I’ve been feeling like that a lot lately, and Crushing validated these thoughts and emotions entirely. I haven’t felt this validated since I read about the anxiety rep in A Quiet Kind of Thunder. So thank you, Crushing!
If it hasn’t been made clear, I DEFINITELY recommend this! My only suggestion is that you don’t go in expecting a sweeping romance. If you’re feeling lonely and need a book that explores that, then PLEASE check this out!
[REVIEW]
I won Crushing in a Goodreads giveaway because I was drawn to the premise of it. Here’s the thing: Despite being an introvert, I HATE feeling lonely (to clarify, being alone and being lonely are different things in my mind). Throughout the years, I’ve struggled A LOT with feeling lonely, both around strangers and people I’m more familiar with. Therefore, I LOVE stories where the protagonist is an outsider and doesn’t feel like they fit in anywhere…until they meet someone who finally SEES them. Whether it leads to a friendship, a found family, or romantic feelings, I eat this storyline up EVERY TIME. And since Crushing promised this type of storyline, I was excited to read it.
I’ll start with the one critique I have of this: I was promised a romance, but received NONE of that. Seriously, the illustrations, the premise, and even reviews were alluding to it having a romance. However, the protagonists met at the VERY end of the story, with no implication that they’d fall in love afterwards. Therefore, I would’ve liked some more development of their relationship after they meet. I don’t know where that would’ve taken the story, but I think there was so much potential and opportunity for cute moments between them!
Everything else, though? AMAZING. The way Sophie Burrows was able to narrate with little dialogue and mostly illustrations was impressively executed. Despite my critique about the protagonists not meeting until the end, I DID like that they didn’t catch each others’ eyes immediately. I liked seeing them as individuals before they met. I also felt SO MUCH for the protagonists as they struggled with their body images, self-esteems, social lives, etc.—all while watching everyone around them succeed. As someone who’s been watching everyone around me get engaged and/or married, or knowing what they’re going to do after they graduate college…this book spoke to my persistent feelings of loneliness, and the worry that I’m failing because I’m not at those points like everyone else. I’ve been feeling like that a lot lately, and Crushing validated these thoughts and emotions entirely. I haven’t felt this validated since I read about the anxiety rep in A Quiet Kind of Thunder. So thank you, Crushing!
If it hasn’t been made clear, I DEFINITELY recommend this! My only suggestion is that you don’t go in expecting a sweeping romance. If you’re feeling lonely and need a book that explores that, then PLEASE check this out!
January 9, 2022
This is a cute graphic novel about two people who are both going through a bought of loneliness, it is told all through pictures..
I did not think a wordless book could be so powerful and convert so much emotion but this book absolutely touched me..
Through the panels of this book we follow two people who by chance encounter each other; she taking glances at him and him at her, when they both think that neither is watching..
Finally they both gather the courage to not just give each other coy glances but to engage with each other..
The pictures are so much fun, and they give a clear vision just what each of the characters are feeling and navigating through..
I have found that I am becoming a fan of graphic novels this past year and this one being wordless completely blew me away and told a great little story about love!!
Thank you to the publishers Algonquin books and Workman publishing for the gifted finished copy
I did not think a wordless book could be so powerful and convert so much emotion but this book absolutely touched me..
Through the panels of this book we follow two people who by chance encounter each other; she taking glances at him and him at her, when they both think that neither is watching..
Finally they both gather the courage to not just give each other coy glances but to engage with each other..
The pictures are so much fun, and they give a clear vision just what each of the characters are feeling and navigating through..
I have found that I am becoming a fan of graphic novels this past year and this one being wordless completely blew me away and told a great little story about love!!
Thank you to the publishers Algonquin books and Workman publishing for the gifted finished copy
April 23, 2023
Every now & then I like to read a graphic novel….it’s not my favorite genre of book, but sometimes you find one that is just right. I saw this one at my local library, in the YA section, flipped through…loved the artwork, so thought I’d give it a shot. That was a little over a week ago, it has sat on my nightstand, & i finally decided to give it a read, on this slow Sunday morning. So happy I did. Each illustration has so much detail…each one almost telling a whole story of its own. & so much emotion. You feel the sadness, anger, dread, happiness, excitement, disappointment, & hope…on each page. I really loved it.
January 13, 2023
J’ai juste adoré
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