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Be That Way
Seventeen-year-old Christine keeps a journal of an eventful year in her life in mid-90s, while juggling troubled friendships and looking for love.
It’s January 1, 1996, and high school junior Christine wants more than anything to be that cool girl everyone notices, like her gorgeous best friend, Landry. She usually hates New Year's resolutions, but this year she vows to be that shiny kind of girl—and record it all in her diary through prose, illustration, and comics.
When Landry drops her, Christine is surprised to discover just how much she doesn’t miss her and her drama. But a misguided kiss with film-obsessed Paul, her only other close friend, also causes a rift, and she finds herself facing a long, lonely summer.
With nothing to lose, Christine finds a new sense of courage. She gets a job at her neighborhood video store, experiments with her art, and becomes romantically entangled with her next-door neighbor Whit, who’s either the coolest guy ever or a total jerk. In spite of all this, she doesn’t quite feel shiny—until a shocking betrayal shows her the value of the words and drawings she hides in her diary, and she finally understands that she doesn’t need to be cool to be noticed—she only needs to be herself.
Eisner-award winning author and illustrator, Hope Larson, has created a powerful coming-of-age story set in a time before the Internet that explores themes of betrayal, first love, self-expression, and the power of art.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
It’s January 1, 1996, and high school junior Christine wants more than anything to be that cool girl everyone notices, like her gorgeous best friend, Landry. She usually hates New Year's resolutions, but this year she vows to be that shiny kind of girl—and record it all in her diary through prose, illustration, and comics.
When Landry drops her, Christine is surprised to discover just how much she doesn’t miss her and her drama. But a misguided kiss with film-obsessed Paul, her only other close friend, also causes a rift, and she finds herself facing a long, lonely summer.
With nothing to lose, Christine finds a new sense of courage. She gets a job at her neighborhood video store, experiments with her art, and becomes romantically entangled with her next-door neighbor Whit, who’s either the coolest guy ever or a total jerk. In spite of all this, she doesn’t quite feel shiny—until a shocking betrayal shows her the value of the words and drawings she hides in her diary, and she finally understands that she doesn’t need to be cool to be noticed—she only needs to be herself.
Eisner-award winning author and illustrator, Hope Larson, has created a powerful coming-of-age story set in a time before the Internet that explores themes of betrayal, first love, self-expression, and the power of art.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2023
18 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
About the author
Hope Larson
141 books719 followersHope Larson is an American illustrator and comics artist. Hope Larson is the author of Salamander Dream, Gray Horses, Chiggers, and Mercury. She won a 2007 Eisner Award. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
July 1, 2023
THANK YOU to netgalley and holiday house for this one! - out october 3rd, 2023!
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This was such a special, unique deep dive into a girl's diary. A time capsule of growing up in the 90's and what it was like being a teenage girl back then.
Christine wants to be popular and liked and wants some love, too. Recuperating from the grief of losing her dad, this really gets started when her friend Landry accuses her of not being the same since his passing. And maybe that's true. Either way, Landry's not a part of her life anymore and Christine is facing a lonely summer. So she gets a job at a video store and starts dating her neighbor.
Not going to lie to you, this is a little plot, just vibes kind of book. The art is absolutely beautiful and truly makes it. As a kid that was alive in the 90's, I can tell you that the nostalgia was real here.
This book was pretty special to me.
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This was such a special, unique deep dive into a girl's diary. A time capsule of growing up in the 90's and what it was like being a teenage girl back then.
Christine wants to be popular and liked and wants some love, too. Recuperating from the grief of losing her dad, this really gets started when her friend Landry accuses her of not being the same since his passing. And maybe that's true. Either way, Landry's not a part of her life anymore and Christine is facing a lonely summer. So she gets a job at a video store and starts dating her neighbor.
Not going to lie to you, this is a little plot, just vibes kind of book. The art is absolutely beautiful and truly makes it. As a kid that was alive in the 90's, I can tell you that the nostalgia was real here.
This book was pretty special to me.
September 16, 2023
Christine is a 17-year-old junior living in Asheville, North Carolina. She begins her diary with a very clear resolution: get a new boyfriend. Her best friend, Landry, has more luck with boys. As Christine finds ‘love’ with wealthy Whit, a boy who goes to the same high school, she realizes what she really wants in a relationship. Hope Larson succeeds at evoking a private teenage diary in an understandable and somewhat relatable way. For me, not a lot about Larson’s graphic novel was relatable to me in the way needed to enhance the story. I’m sure, though, that teenage girls will find this book relatable since, well, a teen girl is pushed into the spotlight. For me, and maybe many other readers, Christine’s nasty and rude remarks without proper explanation made the character unloveable. Sure, it’s cute to see a teenage girl find out what she actually doesn’t want in her life, whether this be an annoying and cocky friend or an equally annoying boyfriend. Throughout the whole diary, stunning pictures fill the pages, courtesy of Larson, but also courtesy of Christine’s knowledge of art. She was told to keep this diary to help her, which she was rebellious of, but she fell in love with the idea of keeping a secret diary with contents she could only recite.
Hope Larson brings us a slice of the emotional teenage life, but while doing this, it seems one key aspect was forgotten: the idea of connecting with the main character. Christine, as stated, is not really an enjoyable storyteller.
Hope Larson brings us a slice of the emotional teenage life, but while doing this, it seems one key aspect was forgotten: the idea of connecting with the main character. Christine, as stated, is not really an enjoyable storyteller.
July 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this at the start. It is kind of a YA version of “Amelia’s Notebook” since the main character Christine keeps a journal (with some pictures and comics) for a year during high school. The art was really cool. I liked the bigger pictures that she drew rather than the comics (which weren’t really my personal favorite style) and I enjoy these “slice of life” stories.
However, as the story progressed, I liked it less. I didn’t like how catty Christine was with the other girls around her and I didn’t like how the friendship breakup was handled. Clearly Landry needed some kind of intervention and Christine just blew her off.
I also really didn’t like the romance. It was obvious the guy Whit was a tool, but I feel like she had sex with him just to prove a point to Paul. This is a personal preference for me, but I don’t like it in books when the main character has sex with the sleazy guy that you know is going to turn out to be awful. I especially don’t like this in YA. Again, that has more to do with me as a reader than the book itself.
Overall it was okay.
However, as the story progressed, I liked it less. I didn’t like how catty Christine was with the other girls around her and I didn’t like how the friendship breakup was handled. Clearly Landry needed some kind of intervention and Christine just blew her off.
I also really didn’t like the romance. It was obvious the guy Whit was a tool, but I feel like she had sex with him just to prove a point to Paul. This is a personal preference for me, but I don’t like it in books when the main character has sex with the sleazy guy that you know is going to turn out to be awful. I especially don’t like this in YA. Again, that has more to do with me as a reader than the book itself.
Overall it was okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley & Margaret Ferguson Books for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
3.5 stars
I think it could be pretty easy to discount Be That Way as juvenile or unremarkable; it feels like picking up any teenage girl’s diary and reading it from front to back. Christine's feelings and experiences are universal, and anyone could find something to relate to. From outgrowing friendships to falling in love with the wrong people to pursuing your goals, Christine is unfailingly honest in her diary, and this veracity is beautiful and inspiring.
A quick read, I love the artwork and doodles that would be in any diary. Everything comes together to create an experience so genuine that it’s hard to believe the author didn’t just sell her own teenage diary as fiction. I loved when Christine had to take breaks to process her emotions and when she used her diary and her artwork to do that instead. I appreciated her struggle between being a good friend or girlfriend and protecting herself. And I loved the slow burn friends to lovers that’s so painfully obvious from an outside perspective but completely surprising to those involved.
Geared towards the young end of the YA spectrum with a pretty PG approach to some big topics like sex and alcohol abuse, I genuinely enjoyed Be That Way. It was a nice relief from some recent dense reads, and I enjoyed the solid nostalgia hit.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
3.5 stars
I think it could be pretty easy to discount Be That Way as juvenile or unremarkable; it feels like picking up any teenage girl’s diary and reading it from front to back. Christine's feelings and experiences are universal, and anyone could find something to relate to. From outgrowing friendships to falling in love with the wrong people to pursuing your goals, Christine is unfailingly honest in her diary, and this veracity is beautiful and inspiring.
A quick read, I love the artwork and doodles that would be in any diary. Everything comes together to create an experience so genuine that it’s hard to believe the author didn’t just sell her own teenage diary as fiction. I loved when Christine had to take breaks to process her emotions and when she used her diary and her artwork to do that instead. I appreciated her struggle between being a good friend or girlfriend and protecting herself. And I loved the slow burn friends to lovers that’s so painfully obvious from an outside perspective but completely surprising to those involved.
Geared towards the young end of the YA spectrum with a pretty PG approach to some big topics like sex and alcohol abuse, I genuinely enjoyed Be That Way. It was a nice relief from some recent dense reads, and I enjoyed the solid nostalgia hit.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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May 30, 2025
FA’ COME VUOI di Hope Larson. Un potente racconto illustrato, un diario di crescita che esplora i temi delle proprie passioni, del tradimento, del primo amore, dell'amicizia, dell'autoespressione e della forza dell'arte. Da 14 anni <3 https://ilmondodichri.com/fa-come-vuoi/
#facomevuoi #hopelarson #tunué #fumettoacolori
#facomevuoi #hopelarson #tunué #fumettoacolori
May 17, 2025
comic diaries are my favourite niche genre of books
June 18, 2023
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, I hadn’t heard anything about this book but I wanted to give it a go because the synopsis intrigued me. I really enjoyed this book, the story was great and the illustrations were phenomenal. I honestly could see this book as a movie and when I can see a book as a movie you know that means I’ve really enjoyed the book! I haven’t read very many comic books/graphic novels but I really loved this one and would definitely recommend it to anyone even if they don’t usually read comic books, it was a really fun and quick read that makes me want to start reading more comics/graphic novels. I loved the 90s vibes in this book too, I really enjoy books set in different decades. This book also covered important topics such as grief, friendships, breakups, love - the way that all of these topic were fleshed out was really well done. And can we just talk about the illustrations in this book, they were INCREDIBLE! The colours, the details, the style, I absolutely loved it all!
I gave this book 4.5 stars, I really recommend it to anyone who wants a fast paced, fun and entertaining read! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I gave this book 4.5 stars, I really recommend it to anyone who wants a fast paced, fun and entertaining read! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
July 1, 2023
So, I had kind of assumed that this was a graphic novel, but turns out it's not. Oops. There are illustrations, but it's definitely not a graphic novel.
The plot of Be That Way was pretty much exactly what the blurb promised - a teenage girl's diary entries. In this case this wasn't a good thing, because the book was boring. The plot is just the main character's day to day life, and honestly, teenagers just aren't that interesting. Since I was not invested in the story at all the book seemed to drag on forever.
The way the mc talked about her former friend or other girls was pretty mean sometimes, so that was something that bothered me.
In the end this was a disappointing read. I really enjoyed some of the author's previous works (e.g. Salt Magic, Goldie Vance), but this book didn't live up to my expectations.
[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
The plot of Be That Way was pretty much exactly what the blurb promised - a teenage girl's diary entries. In this case this wasn't a good thing, because the book was boring. The plot is just the main character's day to day life, and honestly, teenagers just aren't that interesting. Since I was not invested in the story at all the book seemed to drag on forever.
The way the mc talked about her former friend or other girls was pretty mean sometimes, so that was something that bothered me.
In the end this was a disappointing read. I really enjoyed some of the author's previous works (e.g. Salt Magic, Goldie Vance), but this book didn't live up to my expectations.
[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
March 26, 2024
The graphic novel that turns out Christine’s personal diary. She writes and draws about life, love and her dream as a writer and illustrator.
Tbh, too long and boring for me!
Tbh, too long and boring for me!
January 9, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest, spoiler-free review!
Themes: Growing Up, Changing
Representation: LGBT side characters
Content Warnings: Alcohol/Drugs, Toxic relationships, Death (minor)
Premise: It’s 1996 and Christine is 17. She vows to be a newer, “shiner” version of herself this year. However, things don’t go according to plan as Christine has to navigate friendship, university, and love.
Characters
Okay, I’m going to try and see if I can do a bit more of an informal review so this might end up being slightly on the shorter side. Yeah, I guess I finished my last exam of the year today (whoo!) so now I can review more books before summer school starts. (Boo physics.)
Anyways, since we’re getting off track but let’s talk about characters. Personally, I know the main character is supposed to be relatable. However, I cannot relate to her. However, this is just a me-being-"boring”-and-not-really-having-any-high-school-experiences problem since I am RARELY able to fully relate to a teenage character in a book, no offense. Also, I’m a 17-year-old 30 years into the future and not in 1996 and I’m Canadian so yeah, things are definitely different.
However, focusing more on Christine’s internal thoughts, I think it is pretty accurate to the teenage experience. I liked how her thoughts were experienced and there were moments where I was like, I felt that especially when it comes to her relationship with Landry.
My favourite thing is that even if this was supposed to be a more realistic story, you can clearly see Christine’s (albeit messy) character development. She recognies her mistakes and faults and that she deserves to pave her own path and make those changes.
In terms of other characters, I felt like they were well represented and relatable. We all know a Landry, someone whose life is messy and has been through a lot. We all know a Paul, a sweet friend. We all know someone or have heard of someone like Whit, someone who isn’t what they seem.
The only thing I wished there was more of was a bit more diving into the nuances and backstories of the other characters as well as better introduction of some side characters. However, I do understand that we are mostly limited to Chrisinte’s point of view and that if you were to write a journal/diary, you’d just refer to people by name without really giving much of a backstory.
But, overall, nice representation of the characters.
Rating: 4/5
Plot
I think I’m going to forfeit reviewing the plot for this one since there isn’t much of one. All I will say is that the journal narrative felt realistic and even though there were sometimes weird and random tidbits, everything connected to the bigger picture and character development. And as someone who keeps a journal, it felt fairly realistic to how I’d write in my journal.
Style
The style of this book is amazing! Absolutely stunning! Gorgeous!
First, let’s talk more about writing-type things which include the diction and themes and stuff.
In terms of diction, I think the writing style was realistic to what a teenager would write in their most personal diary, simple, to the point, with an emphasis on thoughts. As for themes, I thought they were well-explored. And finally, we have a smattering of pop culture references. Now, I’m not a 90s kid and I even had to Google some of them but, I felt like they were perfect for the story. Plus, I’m sure all you 90s kids will love it.
Now, let’s talk about the art which is absolutely *chef’s kiss.* Not only does the author have gorgeous, gorgeous illustrations, but she also uses a variety of styles! And she does this quite well as well which showcases her amazing talent. Like, even if you’re not the biggest fan of the story, you have to stay for the art because it is beautiful.
Finally, in terms of formatting, I loved how the author incorporated different styles of formatting in the book, including comics, writing, images, and full-scale drawings. I thought it was especially unique.
Rating: 5/5
Final Rating
Characters: 4/5
Plot: N/A
Formatting: 5/5
Final Rating: 4.5/5 (round to 5 stars)
Personal Rating: 4/5
Date Read: June 23rd, 2023
Date Reviewed: June 23rd, 2023
Themes: Growing Up, Changing
Representation: LGBT side characters
Content Warnings: Alcohol/Drugs, Toxic relationships, Death (minor)
Premise: It’s 1996 and Christine is 17. She vows to be a newer, “shiner” version of herself this year. However, things don’t go according to plan as Christine has to navigate friendship, university, and love.
Characters
Okay, I’m going to try and see if I can do a bit more of an informal review so this might end up being slightly on the shorter side. Yeah, I guess I finished my last exam of the year today (whoo!) so now I can review more books before summer school starts. (Boo physics.)
Anyways, since we’re getting off track but let’s talk about characters. Personally, I know the main character is supposed to be relatable. However, I cannot relate to her. However, this is just a me-being-"boring”-and-not-really-having-any-high-school-experiences problem since I am RARELY able to fully relate to a teenage character in a book, no offense. Also, I’m a 17-year-old 30 years into the future and not in 1996 and I’m Canadian so yeah, things are definitely different.
However, focusing more on Christine’s internal thoughts, I think it is pretty accurate to the teenage experience. I liked how her thoughts were experienced and there were moments where I was like, I felt that especially when it comes to her relationship with Landry.
My favourite thing is that even if this was supposed to be a more realistic story, you can clearly see Christine’s (albeit messy) character development. She recognies her mistakes and faults and that she deserves to pave her own path and make those changes.
In terms of other characters, I felt like they were well represented and relatable. We all know a Landry, someone whose life is messy and has been through a lot. We all know a Paul, a sweet friend. We all know someone or have heard of someone like Whit, someone who isn’t what they seem.
The only thing I wished there was more of was a bit more diving into the nuances and backstories of the other characters as well as better introduction of some side characters. However, I do understand that we are mostly limited to Chrisinte’s point of view and that if you were to write a journal/diary, you’d just refer to people by name without really giving much of a backstory.
But, overall, nice representation of the characters.
Rating: 4/5
Plot
I think I’m going to forfeit reviewing the plot for this one since there isn’t much of one. All I will say is that the journal narrative felt realistic and even though there were sometimes weird and random tidbits, everything connected to the bigger picture and character development. And as someone who keeps a journal, it felt fairly realistic to how I’d write in my journal.
Style
The style of this book is amazing! Absolutely stunning! Gorgeous!
First, let’s talk more about writing-type things which include the diction and themes and stuff.
In terms of diction, I think the writing style was realistic to what a teenager would write in their most personal diary, simple, to the point, with an emphasis on thoughts. As for themes, I thought they were well-explored. And finally, we have a smattering of pop culture references. Now, I’m not a 90s kid and I even had to Google some of them but, I felt like they were perfect for the story. Plus, I’m sure all you 90s kids will love it.
Now, let’s talk about the art which is absolutely *chef’s kiss.* Not only does the author have gorgeous, gorgeous illustrations, but she also uses a variety of styles! And she does this quite well as well which showcases her amazing talent. Like, even if you’re not the biggest fan of the story, you have to stay for the art because it is beautiful.
Finally, in terms of formatting, I loved how the author incorporated different styles of formatting in the book, including comics, writing, images, and full-scale drawings. I thought it was especially unique.
Rating: 5/5
Final Rating
Characters: 4/5
Plot: N/A
Formatting: 5/5
Final Rating: 4.5/5 (round to 5 stars)
Personal Rating: 4/5
Date Read: June 23rd, 2023
Date Reviewed: June 23rd, 2023
July 1, 2023
this is an example of those rar gems one finds through netgalley.
this is in the form of a girl's diary through one year of her life. so it's mainly in journal entries, but it also has her drawings, letters, and some graphic/comic strips of some significant events in her life. we follow her in her senior year of high school and she deals with a lot: love and heartbreak, losing friends and gaining new friends, discovering what it is you can do and what it you want to study in college.
I find myself at this age cringing at YA and high schoolers stories, but I was really invested in Christine's journey and finished the entire book in one setting.
this is in the form of a girl's diary through one year of her life. so it's mainly in journal entries, but it also has her drawings, letters, and some graphic/comic strips of some significant events in her life. we follow her in her senior year of high school and she deals with a lot: love and heartbreak, losing friends and gaining new friends, discovering what it is you can do and what it you want to study in college.
I find myself at this age cringing at YA and high schoolers stories, but I was really invested in Christine's journey and finished the entire book in one setting.
June 25, 2023
I liked this!
Did it say anything new or particularly interesting? Not really, but the writing is good, the teenagers feel like real teenagers (with intense emotions and impossible scenarios and a vision of the world filtered through everything that encompasses the life of a 16 year old without being overly cliché or making fun of them) and the story is cute.
Thank you NetGalley and Margaret Ferguson Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Did it say anything new or particularly interesting? Not really, but the writing is good, the teenagers feel like real teenagers (with intense emotions and impossible scenarios and a vision of the world filtered through everything that encompasses the life of a 16 year old without being overly cliché or making fun of them) and the story is cute.
Thank you NetGalley and Margaret Ferguson Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Read
December 1, 2023Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Manic Pixie Dream Girl
Drinking Buddy: Teen Crush
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (language, marijuana and alcohol)
Talky Talk: Teen Malaise
Bonus Factors: Journals, Video Stores
Bromance Status: Have a Great Summer!
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Manic Pixie Dream Girl
Drinking Buddy: Teen Crush
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (language, marijuana and alcohol)
Talky Talk: Teen Malaise
Bonus Factors: Journals, Video Stores
Bromance Status: Have a Great Summer!
Read the full book report here.
August 18, 2023
Hope Larson's Be That Way is a time capsule to the life of an artistic teen, finding their way in the 90's. Anyone who ever doodled their life in an hard-covered exercise book will find things to relate to in this book.
Hope Larson, award-winning illustrator (probably best known in comics circles for her work on Batgirl for DC) has created a 'year-in-the-life" graphic novel, which is told in journal style. The novel begins with a note that it is not a true story, but it could be. And your Grade 7 and up readers, especially those who identify as female, will very much relate. There's so much here - the boy next door, who might (or might not) be perfect, the best friend who sticks through you through everything (until she doesn't) while falling apart herself, the spaces and people that keep you sane in the bonkers society of high school, even a sympathetic parent, who is doing her best.
The gorgeous artwork adds multiple levels to the book. This would be a strong addition to a graphic novel collection for literature circles in a secondary classroom, and Larson's successful career as a graphic artist would also help some students see that lane of work as an option.
This one really captured me. There's nothing earth-shattering about it, and that is part of what makes it so good. It's a genuine year in the life, and there is laughter and tears and growth and loss, and that is as it should be. A solid 4.5 stars and a strong recommendation for 7-12 libraries to grab this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Margaret Ferguson books for the e-arc.
Hope Larson, award-winning illustrator (probably best known in comics circles for her work on Batgirl for DC) has created a 'year-in-the-life" graphic novel, which is told in journal style. The novel begins with a note that it is not a true story, but it could be. And your Grade 7 and up readers, especially those who identify as female, will very much relate. There's so much here - the boy next door, who might (or might not) be perfect, the best friend who sticks through you through everything (until she doesn't) while falling apart herself, the spaces and people that keep you sane in the bonkers society of high school, even a sympathetic parent, who is doing her best.
The gorgeous artwork adds multiple levels to the book. This would be a strong addition to a graphic novel collection for literature circles in a secondary classroom, and Larson's successful career as a graphic artist would also help some students see that lane of work as an option.
This one really captured me. There's nothing earth-shattering about it, and that is part of what makes it so good. It's a genuine year in the life, and there is laughter and tears and growth and loss, and that is as it should be. A solid 4.5 stars and a strong recommendation for 7-12 libraries to grab this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Margaret Ferguson books for the e-arc.
July 28, 2023
I had the opportunity to read the ARC of Be That Way by Hope Larson, and it was a delightful blast from the past! Set in the mid-90s, the story follows seventeen-year-old Christine as she navigates high school, troubled friendships, and her quest to be noticed. Through prose, illustrations, and comics in her diary, we get a glimpse into Christine's eventful year.
As Christine faces drama and a lonely summer after losing her best friend, Landry, and experiencing a rift with Paul, she finds new courage in unexpected places. She takes on a job at a video store, explores her artistic side, and gets romantically involved with her neighbor, Whit. The format of the book, presented as a journal with personalized touches and artwork, adds a unique and charming dimension to the story.
Hope Larson's powerful coming-of-age tale touches on themes of betrayal, first love, self-expression, and the power of art. Be That Way is a heartfelt and nostalgic journey that captures the essence of being a teenager in the pre-Internet era.
As Christine faces drama and a lonely summer after losing her best friend, Landry, and experiencing a rift with Paul, she finds new courage in unexpected places. She takes on a job at a video store, explores her artistic side, and gets romantically involved with her neighbor, Whit. The format of the book, presented as a journal with personalized touches and artwork, adds a unique and charming dimension to the story.
Hope Larson's powerful coming-of-age tale touches on themes of betrayal, first love, self-expression, and the power of art. Be That Way is a heartfelt and nostalgic journey that captures the essence of being a teenager in the pre-Internet era.
February 3, 2025
The diary format did not do this story any favors. It was tedious to read the entries, especially as they came off as unrealistic for a 16/17 year old. I think this would have been more effective as a true graphic novel.
Also, it feels like it tries way too hard to rack up '90s nostalgia points while also looking back with a contemporary eye on what would come across as cool.
I was also surprised by how Landry, the best friend character, was treated. She wasn't always the best friend, but she wasn't bad enough to be ditched and forgotten. Like I don't think the MC should have tried to fix her friend, but maybe tell an adult? Like she is wasted in public during the day and MC is like, Oh well glad she isn't my mess.
I don't know how old Hope Larson, the author, is, but this felt embarrassingly like someone writing fanfic about their life, if that makes sense.
Also, it feels like it tries way too hard to rack up '90s nostalgia points while also looking back with a contemporary eye on what would come across as cool.
I was also surprised by how Landry, the best friend character, was treated. She wasn't always the best friend, but she wasn't bad enough to be ditched and forgotten. Like I don't think the MC should have tried to fix her friend, but maybe tell an adult? Like she is wasted in public during the day and MC is like, Oh well glad she isn't my mess.
I don't know how old Hope Larson, the author, is, but this felt embarrassingly like someone writing fanfic about their life, if that makes sense.
March 30, 2024
Ok I’m sorry, but this was a disappointment.
It had its sweet moments, but I feel like there was no storyline other than toxic boyfriends?? It was just lacking on SO many levels.
Hope Larsons other books are so great, I don’t know how those books and this book came from the same person. This book was quite literally just high school drama that became published.
It had its sweet moments, but I feel like there was no storyline other than toxic boyfriends?? It was just lacking on SO many levels.
Hope Larsons other books are so great, I don’t know how those books and this book came from the same person. This book was quite literally just high school drama that became published.
August 3, 2023
So...what was the point of this? I mean, as a girl who was a teen in the 90s it was an interesting walk down memory lane at some points, but mostly it was like reading a diary full of silly teen drama and nothing really happens.
February 21, 2024
I didn't really care for this book. Why? Allow me to tell you.
Christine is not a nice person to listen to. She says rude things about people when she doesn't know them or their personality. She isn't a very nice person for a lot of the book. She talks against Paul's girlfriend Jennifer, her mom's friend, and Landry when their relationship ends.
Christine is extremely boy crazy. She talks way too much about getting a boyfriend and being someone other than herself. I understand being insecure, but she seems to have no interests or cares other than selfish, shallow cares. She wants to fall in lust with a boy, and then thinks that's a good thing.
Christine doesn't even seem to notice that her boyfriend Whit is awful. He manipulates her and he doesn't respect her privacy. She also ignores what other people say about him, such as the fact that he's a player. Other people shouldn't be taken 100% seriously, but she still should consider it.
Christine doesn't realize that lust doesn't lead to a good relationship. She wants to be like Landry so that, by her words, boys would fall in lust with her. She doesn't get that a simply lustful relationship isn't a true loving relationship. A lustful relationship only leads to the people involved wanting sex with the other.
Christine isn't responsible and doesn't follow the rules. Not only does she swim in Whit's pool while he's gone, but she also hides from her family that she has a boyfriend, doesn't pay attention when she's supposed to chauffeur her brother on a date, and drinks alcohol. None of that is okay in any way, shape, or form.
Christine seems to think she's a victim of everything. When she and her friend stop talking, she's the "victim". When she and Whit break up temporarily, she's the "victim". When she and Paul aren't talking, she's the "victim". I can hardly stand how she thinks she's the victim of all her problems, even though she had a part in them.
She seems to think that she is a great person. I'm not saying she is a horrible girl, but she isn't the most amazing person. She believes she deserves awesome things, doesn't realize that she's made mistakes, and thinks she's totally innocent. She doesn't take responsibility for the mistakes she's made.
Christine just isn't relatable. She's unkind, whiny, irresponsible, and shallow. I can't connect to her. Even when I'm in her head, she's very ignorant and boring, honestly. I would not read this again, as she's simply not my kind of person.
The book isn't even that well written. It's just dull and doesn't hold on to my attention. I wanted to read it and connect to it, but I didn't care for myself. I wanted to give up eventually, but I can't do that to myself; I have to know how a book turns out. I eventually finished it, but it hasn't stuck with me, beyond the final scene.
I would like to acknowledge a few good things, though:
. The last scene with Christine and Paul kissing was beautifully done.
. The art in general is pretty well drawn (I didn't care for the comics, but that's just my personal opinion).
. Christine and Whit broke up in the end.
I do not recommend this for anyone to read, teenage or adult. It wasn't a good book.
- Echo (they/them) ⚧️
Christine is not a nice person to listen to. She says rude things about people when she doesn't know them or their personality. She isn't a very nice person for a lot of the book. She talks against Paul's girlfriend Jennifer, her mom's friend, and Landry when their relationship ends.
Christine is extremely boy crazy. She talks way too much about getting a boyfriend and being someone other than herself. I understand being insecure, but she seems to have no interests or cares other than selfish, shallow cares. She wants to fall in lust with a boy, and then thinks that's a good thing.
Christine doesn't even seem to notice that her boyfriend Whit is awful. He manipulates her and he doesn't respect her privacy. She also ignores what other people say about him, such as the fact that he's a player. Other people shouldn't be taken 100% seriously, but she still should consider it.
Christine doesn't realize that lust doesn't lead to a good relationship. She wants to be like Landry so that, by her words, boys would fall in lust with her. She doesn't get that a simply lustful relationship isn't a true loving relationship. A lustful relationship only leads to the people involved wanting sex with the other.
Christine isn't responsible and doesn't follow the rules. Not only does she swim in Whit's pool while he's gone, but she also hides from her family that she has a boyfriend, doesn't pay attention when she's supposed to chauffeur her brother on a date, and drinks alcohol. None of that is okay in any way, shape, or form.
Christine seems to think she's a victim of everything. When she and her friend stop talking, she's the "victim". When she and Whit break up temporarily, she's the "victim". When she and Paul aren't talking, she's the "victim". I can hardly stand how she thinks she's the victim of all her problems, even though she had a part in them.
She seems to think that she is a great person. I'm not saying she is a horrible girl, but she isn't the most amazing person. She believes she deserves awesome things, doesn't realize that she's made mistakes, and thinks she's totally innocent. She doesn't take responsibility for the mistakes she's made.
Christine just isn't relatable. She's unkind, whiny, irresponsible, and shallow. I can't connect to her. Even when I'm in her head, she's very ignorant and boring, honestly. I would not read this again, as she's simply not my kind of person.
The book isn't even that well written. It's just dull and doesn't hold on to my attention. I wanted to read it and connect to it, but I didn't care for myself. I wanted to give up eventually, but I can't do that to myself; I have to know how a book turns out. I eventually finished it, but it hasn't stuck with me, beyond the final scene.
I would like to acknowledge a few good things, though:
. The last scene with Christine and Paul kissing was beautifully done.
. The art in general is pretty well drawn (I didn't care for the comics, but that's just my personal opinion).
. Christine and Whit broke up in the end.
I do not recommend this for anyone to read, teenage or adult. It wasn't a good book.
- Echo (they/them) ⚧️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2023
Okay, so this wasn't horrible and it wasn't great. I think it maybe hits as more nostalgia for adults than it would hit as relatable for teens, but maybe I'm wrong?
Christine is a junior in hs who is trying to be more "shiny" - she wants to be someone who attracts attention at every turn, much like her bff Landry. Very stereotypical teen wants and needs. But she's been drifting away from her friend Landry as she gets more involved in partying and alcohol, and then she shares a drunken kiss with her other bff Paul, and she's lost her only real friends. Cue all the normal teenage relationship drama, she and Landry don't make up and she doesn't miss their friendship, she ends up dating her neighbor (also Landry's ex) Whit who turns out to be a turdball, and gets a job at the local video store to save up for a car.
I was not feeling this story at all, and maybe it just wasn't for me. For a graphic-ish-novel, it really dragged, and Christine kind of sucks? They talk about her dad dying but she really doesn't show any grief in the story for him whatsoever. It moves the plot forward when she gets into the friendship-ending fight with Landry who throws it in her face, and when Whit uses it as a reason for her fitting his "damaged girl muse" nonsense, but never outside of that. Christine was not very understanding of Landry's situation, and just proceeds to talk shit about her and her alcohol abuse, knowing full well that her parents have drug abuse problems, instead of like, actually being her friend. It's not unlike teens, but it's shitty behavior either way. Maybe teens will eat this up, maybe they'll find it drags and is cringe like I did, I'm honestly not sure.
Christine is a junior in hs who is trying to be more "shiny" - she wants to be someone who attracts attention at every turn, much like her bff Landry. Very stereotypical teen wants and needs. But she's been drifting away from her friend Landry as she gets more involved in partying and alcohol, and then she shares a drunken kiss with her other bff Paul, and she's lost her only real friends. Cue all the normal teenage relationship drama, she and Landry don't make up and she doesn't miss their friendship, she ends up dating her neighbor (also Landry's ex) Whit who turns out to be a turdball, and gets a job at the local video store to save up for a car.
I was not feeling this story at all, and maybe it just wasn't for me. For a graphic-ish-novel, it really dragged, and Christine kind of sucks? They talk about her dad dying but she really doesn't show any grief in the story for him whatsoever. It moves the plot forward when she gets into the friendship-ending fight with Landry who throws it in her face, and when Whit uses it as a reason for her fitting his "damaged girl muse" nonsense, but never outside of that. Christine was not very understanding of Landry's situation, and just proceeds to talk shit about her and her alcohol abuse, knowing full well that her parents have drug abuse problems, instead of like, actually being her friend. It's not unlike teens, but it's shitty behavior either way. Maybe teens will eat this up, maybe they'll find it drags and is cringe like I did, I'm honestly not sure.
June 25, 2023
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
I saw Hope Larson and thought this would be another middle-grade graphic novel, but it's a YA mix of mostly prose with some artwork and comics thrown in. Young adult me probably would have loved this book, but grown=up me was rolling my eyes and annoyed that Larson once again values romantic relationships over platonic friendships.
Pros:
-I loved the structure of the book, told with diary entries and drawings
-This is definitely Larson's strongest artistic work. She has comics with her signature cartoony style (although more refined than the Eagle Rock series I'm familiar with), and also more realistic art
-The honest teenage overdramatic emotion is real
Cons:
-Although this is a YA book, it reads very much like a middle-grade but with cuss words
Questionable (Spoilers):
-The treatment of Landry. She was Christine's best friend until a fight and fall-out. Later, Landry is having a hard time and instead of sticking up for her and maybe giving their friendship a second chance, Christine is just like "Nope, I don't need her in my life anymore." I get it. That's a good message to have for truly toxic people, but her friend was hurting and Christine just brushed that aside because she was happy with her boyfriend. Okay. Teenagers do make stupid decisions though. And maybe I should have read their friendship as more toxic...
Either way, I'm disappointed that, in the majority of Larson's work I've read, the message is "Get yourself a boyfriend to be happy."
I saw Hope Larson and thought this would be another middle-grade graphic novel, but it's a YA mix of mostly prose with some artwork and comics thrown in. Young adult me probably would have loved this book, but grown=up me was rolling my eyes and annoyed that Larson once again values romantic relationships over platonic friendships.
Pros:
-I loved the structure of the book, told with diary entries and drawings
-This is definitely Larson's strongest artistic work. She has comics with her signature cartoony style (although more refined than the Eagle Rock series I'm familiar with), and also more realistic art
-The honest teenage overdramatic emotion is real
Cons:
-Although this is a YA book, it reads very much like a middle-grade but with cuss words
Questionable (Spoilers):
-The treatment of Landry. She was Christine's best friend until a fight and fall-out. Later, Landry is having a hard time and instead of sticking up for her and maybe giving their friendship a second chance, Christine is just like "Nope, I don't need her in my life anymore." I get it. That's a good message to have for truly toxic people, but her friend was hurting and Christine just brushed that aside because she was happy with her boyfriend. Okay. Teenagers do make stupid decisions though. And maybe I should have read their friendship as more toxic...
Either way, I'm disappointed that, in the majority of Larson's work I've read, the message is "Get yourself a boyfriend to be happy."
December 13, 2023
In a nutshell: A quick, engaging and somewhat forgettable read. If you want to remember (or experience) what it was like to be a teenager having friend and relationship turbulence, it’s a good time. If you want a plot-driven story, try something else.
Pros: The biggest selling point of this book is the formatting and its delivery of the story. It is one part prose, one part comic and one part sketchbook. Since the main character is an artist, she will sometimes break off mid-story to illustrate her day in comic form instead (often when she wants to include direct dialogue). Since I’m a fan of graphic novels, I enjoyed the mixed-media form of storytelling. If you were/are an avid doodler in school, I think you’d appreciate this book.
This is a character-driven story that focuses on Christine’s friendships and relationships during her senior year. I enjoyed the on-and-off friendship between her and Landry and thought the way it resolved itself was realistic (if maybe unsatisfying for some).
Mids/Cons: The boyfriend plotlines were predictable but okay to read. As characters, Whit offered no surprises and Paul was alright. However, reading Christine fall in love with them was enjoyable if fledgling teenage relationships are your cup of tea.
Overall: This book’s plot will not stick with you, but it’s fun to read while it lasts. Come for the cool book format, stay for the experience of being an uncertain, artsy teen in the 1990s. People who don’t like reading relationship drama need not apply.
Pros: The biggest selling point of this book is the formatting and its delivery of the story. It is one part prose, one part comic and one part sketchbook. Since the main character is an artist, she will sometimes break off mid-story to illustrate her day in comic form instead (often when she wants to include direct dialogue). Since I’m a fan of graphic novels, I enjoyed the mixed-media form of storytelling. If you were/are an avid doodler in school, I think you’d appreciate this book.
This is a character-driven story that focuses on Christine’s friendships and relationships during her senior year. I enjoyed the on-and-off friendship between her and Landry and thought the way it resolved itself was realistic (if maybe unsatisfying for some).
Mids/Cons: The boyfriend plotlines were predictable but okay to read. As characters, Whit offered no surprises and Paul was alright. However, reading Christine fall in love with them was enjoyable if fledgling teenage relationships are your cup of tea.
Overall: This book’s plot will not stick with you, but it’s fun to read while it lasts. Come for the cool book format, stay for the experience of being an uncertain, artsy teen in the 1990s. People who don’t like reading relationship drama need not apply.
June 24, 2023
I read an e-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
As soon as I started Christine's journal, I was invested and finished it in two days. It's a gem of a book mixing both prose and art in journal format. The artwork is exceptional. Its diversity kept me needing to flip the pages. The story was engaging, raw and a realistic portrayal of a year in an American high school teen girl's life back in the mid-90s. Christine pushes through the year dealing with grief from family loss as well as the familiar teenage challenges from friendships, dating and falling-in-love.
As someone who was a teen in the 90s, I loved being taken back there. It could be challenging for newer generations to relate to fads, music, movies and ideologies from almost thirty years ago, but I imagine those teen-feelings accompanying learning about yourself and struggling to find your place in relationships while being in a hurry to grow up ring true in any decade.
I just want to highlight this story is not about Christine wanting to be the most popular girl in school. It's not THAT boring ol' story. Yes, she wants to be "seen" a little bit more than she's used to, but it's not a popularity contest book where she's selfish, turns into a mean girl and throws her friends under the bus. Christine is sympathetic and remains true to herself.
Truly enjoyed BE THAT WAY and I'll be checking out the author's other books. Hope Larson is both a talented author and illustrator.
As soon as I started Christine's journal, I was invested and finished it in two days. It's a gem of a book mixing both prose and art in journal format. The artwork is exceptional. Its diversity kept me needing to flip the pages. The story was engaging, raw and a realistic portrayal of a year in an American high school teen girl's life back in the mid-90s. Christine pushes through the year dealing with grief from family loss as well as the familiar teenage challenges from friendships, dating and falling-in-love.
As someone who was a teen in the 90s, I loved being taken back there. It could be challenging for newer generations to relate to fads, music, movies and ideologies from almost thirty years ago, but I imagine those teen-feelings accompanying learning about yourself and struggling to find your place in relationships while being in a hurry to grow up ring true in any decade.
I just want to highlight this story is not about Christine wanting to be the most popular girl in school. It's not THAT boring ol' story. Yes, she wants to be "seen" a little bit more than she's used to, but it's not a popularity contest book where she's selfish, turns into a mean girl and throws her friends under the bus. Christine is sympathetic and remains true to herself.
Truly enjoyed BE THAT WAY and I'll be checking out the author's other books. Hope Larson is both a talented author and illustrator.
July 9, 2023
Larson has done a number of graphic novels for young adults, including some featuring classic comic book characters like Batgirl and a couple of “high school” series, but also the highly regarded standalone Salt Magic, which won an Eisner Award. This one, while it’s definitely a rom-com, is probably her most thoughtful book so far. It’s also about half-and-half text and illustration (and not all the latter is “comic book,” either). The narrator, Christine, is a high school senior in Asheville, North Carolina, and her life revolves mostly around her widowed mother, her two younger siblings, and her best friend, the boy-magnet and frequently uncontrolled Landry. And, of course, her writing and her drawing, in the form of this diary/journal, which covers the entire year of 1996, from New Year’s Day to the following New Year’s Eve. Chris is going to grow up a lot in the course of that year, losing old friends, acquiring new ones, losing her virginity, and having her heart broken more than once. She’s also going to learn some things about herself and what she’s capable of when she asserts herself, and that’s going to help as she faces going out into the world of college next year. The nice thing is, Christine is not an extraordinary person with amazing talents. She’s pretty ordinary, in fact. But watching her learn and mature is a fascinating experience and you’ll find yourself hoping for a sequel, just to find out what happens next.
June 16, 2023
I’m a 90s baby, but a 2000s kid and this book proved that to me. I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t recognize most of the references, but that doesn’t mean I enjoyed it any less!
“the way we treat books is seriously messed up. We chloroform them and cut them open and look at the strange tender organs that make them live, and in the process, kill ’em dead. What kind of way is that to act toward something beautiful?”
Christine is a teenager in the mid 90s. Like every other teen, she’s navigating through high school, friendships, siblings, romantic relationships, betrayals and breakups. She just wants to be that IT girl that everyone notices and wants to be friends with. Didn’t we all?
This story was so relatable-thinking our friends are prettier than us, hating our bodies, realizing said friends are not worth our time, feeling like we don’t fit in, being insecure about everything-all very teenagey.
I absolutely loved that this was told via journal entries and illustrations-it was like reading my own teen diary! The 90s grunge vibes were on point and really pulled you in to the time setting. The illustrations were seriously beautiful and some were honestly, therapeutic.
I throughly enjoyed this fast paced, feel good, coming of age story!
Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
“the way we treat books is seriously messed up. We chloroform them and cut them open and look at the strange tender organs that make them live, and in the process, kill ’em dead. What kind of way is that to act toward something beautiful?”
Christine is a teenager in the mid 90s. Like every other teen, she’s navigating through high school, friendships, siblings, romantic relationships, betrayals and breakups. She just wants to be that IT girl that everyone notices and wants to be friends with. Didn’t we all?
This story was so relatable-thinking our friends are prettier than us, hating our bodies, realizing said friends are not worth our time, feeling like we don’t fit in, being insecure about everything-all very teenagey.
I absolutely loved that this was told via journal entries and illustrations-it was like reading my own teen diary! The 90s grunge vibes were on point and really pulled you in to the time setting. The illustrations were seriously beautiful and some were honestly, therapeutic.
I throughly enjoyed this fast paced, feel good, coming of age story!
Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
December 21, 2024
Undeniably underrated. Christine would've loved "Lady Bird", "The Tortured Poets Department", & Lana Del Rey
Notable Quotes:
"For all his books, and his private writing chamber, and his New Yorker dreams, the truth is, he has nothing to say. He's not rotten at the core; he's hollow."
"It occurred to me that she's the Kerouac-type person Whit wants to be. After my shift I went to his house, looked at him in his preppy button-down, and tried to imagine him dropping out of Yale and changing his name to Vikram. I couldn't. But I could see him giving up writing and joining his dad's law firm.
I'm starting to see that our differences aren't a problem; they're the whole reason we like each other. When I look at him, I get to imagine what it must be like to have your life mapped out and locked down. When he looks at me, he imagines the opposite: family tragedy, an after-school job, no clue where I'll end up after school. Maybe he likes sad girls, complicated girls the same way he likes sad, complicated books. I'm like a sad, complicated book he can kiss."
"I say in the driveway and hoped the DJ would come on and say who the artist was, but as the minutes ticked by I asked myself how long I wanted to sit there, running down my battery.
The DJ isn't going to say the name of the song.
The boy I love isn't going to love me back.
I cut the motor and went inside."
Notable Quotes:
"For all his books, and his private writing chamber, and his New Yorker dreams, the truth is, he has nothing to say. He's not rotten at the core; he's hollow."
"It occurred to me that she's the Kerouac-type person Whit wants to be. After my shift I went to his house, looked at him in his preppy button-down, and tried to imagine him dropping out of Yale and changing his name to Vikram. I couldn't. But I could see him giving up writing and joining his dad's law firm.
I'm starting to see that our differences aren't a problem; they're the whole reason we like each other. When I look at him, I get to imagine what it must be like to have your life mapped out and locked down. When he looks at me, he imagines the opposite: family tragedy, an after-school job, no clue where I'll end up after school. Maybe he likes sad girls, complicated girls the same way he likes sad, complicated books. I'm like a sad, complicated book he can kiss."
"I say in the driveway and hoped the DJ would come on and say who the artist was, but as the minutes ticked by I asked myself how long I wanted to sit there, running down my battery.
The DJ isn't going to say the name of the song.
The boy I love isn't going to love me back.
I cut the motor and went inside."
June 29, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The format didn’t work for me personally, but I think some people will really enjoy it. Rather than a more traditional graphic novel, it’s a mix of longer diary entries (all text), short comics, illustrations, and some pages that are primarily illustration with sparse text. I really liked that the illustrations had a mixed media feel - some had a colored pencil look, some had a pen and ink look, etc. And while many of the comics feel modern and polished, there are plenty of illustrations that are a bit messy and look like they are authentically from a teenager’s journal. It really shows the range of the illustrator.
I think since the illustrations were so appealing, and then the journal entries were often large blocks of text, I tended to be less engaged in the large text portions. I ended up skimming some of them to just get enough of what was going on. I think I probably would have preferred to have the longer text blocks done in comics as well with just a few snippets of diary entries.
The format didn’t work for me personally, but I think some people will really enjoy it. Rather than a more traditional graphic novel, it’s a mix of longer diary entries (all text), short comics, illustrations, and some pages that are primarily illustration with sparse text. I really liked that the illustrations had a mixed media feel - some had a colored pencil look, some had a pen and ink look, etc. And while many of the comics feel modern and polished, there are plenty of illustrations that are a bit messy and look like they are authentically from a teenager’s journal. It really shows the range of the illustrator.
I think since the illustrations were so appealing, and then the journal entries were often large blocks of text, I tended to be less engaged in the large text portions. I ended up skimming some of them to just get enough of what was going on. I think I probably would have preferred to have the longer text blocks done in comics as well with just a few snippets of diary entries.
February 25, 2025
I had the opportunity to read the ARC of Be That Way by Hope Larson, and it was a delightful blast from the past! Set in the mid-90s, the story follows seventeen-year-old Christine as she navigates high school, troubled friendships, and her quest to be noticed. Through prose, illustrations, and comics in her diary, we get a glimpse into Christine's eventful year.
As Christine faces drama and a lonely summer after losing her best friend, Landry, and experiencing a rift with Paul, she finds new courage in unexpected places. She takes on a job at a video store, explores her artistic side, and gets romantically involved with her neighbor, Whit. The format of the book, presented as a journal with personalized touches and artwork, adds a unique and charming dimension to the story.
Hope Larson's powerful coming-of-age tale touches on themes of betrayal, first love, self-expression, and the power of art. Be That Way is a heartfelt and nostalgic journey that captures the essence of being a teenager in the pre-Internet era.
As Christine faces drama and a lonely summer after losing her best friend, Landry, and experiencing a rift with Paul, she finds new courage in unexpected places. She takes on a job at a video store, explores her artistic side, and gets romantically involved with her neighbor, Whit. The format of the book, presented as a journal with personalized touches and artwork, adds a unique and charming dimension to the story.
Hope Larson's powerful coming-of-age tale touches on themes of betrayal, first love, self-expression, and the power of art. Be That Way is a heartfelt and nostalgic journey that captures the essence of being a teenager in the pre-Internet era.
June 19, 2023
*Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
During the first 15-20% I was unsure of how I felt about it. But once I got into the story and the art style, I was really loving it.
Following Christine for a year during high school and seeing her go through relationship struggles—platonic and romantic—was really interesting and fun. The way Christine is written, the way she talks, thinks, acts, feels quite realistic.
And like any other teenager, she grows up and matures a lot in the span of a year. It’s so clear that she’s gotten older and found herself a little more by the end of the book.
I think the ending was fairly predictable. That being said, it was fun seeing how things played out. And the pacing was really nice, I never felt that something was dragging out or that something was rushed.
It being set in the 90s was fun, I kept getting slight Lizzie McGuire vibes!
Also (!) there’s some really amazing drawings that I enjoyed a lot.
During the first 15-20% I was unsure of how I felt about it. But once I got into the story and the art style, I was really loving it.
Following Christine for a year during high school and seeing her go through relationship struggles—platonic and romantic—was really interesting and fun. The way Christine is written, the way she talks, thinks, acts, feels quite realistic.
And like any other teenager, she grows up and matures a lot in the span of a year. It’s so clear that she’s gotten older and found herself a little more by the end of the book.
I think the ending was fairly predictable. That being said, it was fun seeing how things played out. And the pacing was really nice, I never felt that something was dragging out or that something was rushed.
It being set in the 90s was fun, I kept getting slight Lizzie McGuire vibes!
Also (!) there’s some really amazing drawings that I enjoyed a lot.
July 8, 2023
Be That Way is an incredibly charming mix of text, comics, and illustrations that combine to give you the impression that you're really peeking into the journal of a teenage girl in the 90s. It was thoroughly enjoyable for me, as someone who, although I was born in the 90s, remembers a time before smartphones and ubiquitous social media. Be That Way touches on all the staples of being a teenager - crushes, friendships, fights, break-ups, frustration with school, family, and figuring out what you want to do with your life. While I found it entertaining and charming, the story was a little trope-y; if you've read a lot of chick lit like I did in high school, you can pretty much see where things are going, but that doesn't undermine the overall experience. I did wish there was a little more time at the end for Christine to breath and enjoy the place she was at rather than cutting abruptly after a big moment, but that's a minor thing.
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