I Love Him to Pieces

My Boyfriend Is a Monster #1

by Evonne Tsang, Janina Görrissen (Illustrator), Maria Viccar (Inker)

Can love survive the zombie apocalypse? Maybe Dicey's first chance at a real relationship was dead from the start. She's the star of her high school baseball team, and Jack's the star of the science program. Her idea of a study session includes sleeping in the sun, and his idea of a good game involves dungeons and dice. But opposites start attracting when they're assigned to be partners in a class project. Now an outbreak of a weird infection--it eats your brains and leaves you hungry for more--might not mean just the end of their first date. It might mean the end of everything. Will their relationship fall apart faster than zombies in the Florida sun, or can Dicey and Jack beat the odds and find a happy ending?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Zombies, Young Adult, Romance, Horror, Comics, Fantasy

123 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any girl who brings along a baseball bat on a first date has an automatic place in my heart! :D

I Love Him to Pieces blends cute and creepy moments with fun and touching illustrations to create a fast paced introduction to this graphic novel series. A “jock” falling for the “geek” tale filled with zombies? HELLO! I’m in!

Dicey Bell and Jack Chen are simply adorable! Dicey’s cute, smart, and fierce charm comes through and sparkles in her eyes! And she has set her sights on the geeky and loveable Jack Chen! We all have had hellish first dates, but these two literally have to survive their zombie apocalyptic start to their romance!

I can’t wait for their second date! :)

Pure fun!

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we have the first in the My Boyfriend is Dead series of graphic novels. From the two additional subtitles (My Date is Dead Weight or He Only Loves Me For My Brains) it's obvious that it's a zombie story. The zombie part actually takes awhile to build. The first half of the book is concentrated on the very natural and very cute growing relationship between Dicey (star of her high school baseball team) and Jack (D&D nerd). Dicey is no dumb jock, and Jack is no socially inept dork, and there are no sparkles in their love story. It's so refreshing to read a realistic, convincing romance in YA! I'm actually sad that each book in the series has a different couple, because I'll miss Dicey and Jack.

Obviously, this is not a hardcore zombie story. But really, in a series called My Boyfriend is Dead, you shouldn't expect one. It's the sort of zombie apocalypse that lasts a few days and is easily contained. But it's entertaining, it has some good dramatic tension, and it includes a girl killing masses of zombies with a baseball bat. I also give bonus points to any zombie story that includes a nod to how it would feel to lose your family to it, and there's a nice scene at a gas station late in the book that does exactly that, hitting both the sad and creepy buttons at once.

The art is exactly as the cover shows. (How sad is it that I feel like I need to spell that out? Return to Labyrinth, I'm looking at you.) It's cute and expressive, and it was easy to follow the action.

I used "cute" a lot in this review, and that's probably the takeaway here: it's a cute zombie love story.

[Beth McCraw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never been much into graphic novels, but while perusing my library for new releases in ebook, this collection showed up and looked kinda cute. I liked it!

[Rebecca Crunden]

Oh my gosh, I absolutely adored this!! The leads are so utterly sweet and dorky and sincere, the plot is fast paced and the artwork is fantastic! ♡♡♡

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read so many books lately that were amazing and I knew that eventually I'd read something I'd hate. I feel bad saying this, but I honestly did not like this at all. Most of the reviews had glowing things to say. I just didn't like anything about it. I'm fine with comics and I loved the idea of a zombie outbreak. It all just fell flat to me. It tried to be funny, but I didn't laugh or smile once.

I had two main problems with this graphic novel. First, the artwork. Not trying to sound shallow, but I didn't like how the people were drawn. The main character Dicey and all the other girls looked very butch. I know not everyone is super girly, but they came off as looking manly to me. Also, aside from Jack and the hick from the carwreck, they all looked the same to me. I was like, is that her dad or her friend John from school. My other problem was with the plot itself. Sure, there was a zombie attack, but incredibly nothing happened. They spent the whole time just running around with no real purpose. They'd smack a zombie or two, but it was just boring! The summary is pretty much, they prance around the town. Jack gets bit and then by the end of the day, the zombies have all been killed and everyone's given the antidote. I was like, 'are you serious?!'. Who the hell can clear a zombie problem in a day (two at most). To say it was anti-climatic is an understatement.

Also, I wasn't feeling the whole Jack and Dicey love thing. They barely knew each other and after one day they professed their love to each other. I know that the comic wasn't that long, but ohmigod, I hate insta-love. You'd think they'd make it a bit realistic and say that they wanted to go on a second date or something. At the rate they're going, I suspect they'll be married with three kids by next week.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isn't that nice, the jock (Dicey) and the geek (Jack Chen) go on a date, since well, clearly they like each other and I'm like aww there kind of, no, they are freaking adorable. I think the expressions and how they drawn, helps make the couple, like I said, freaking adorable. You can't help but smile.

Then what happens when there on their date, freaking zombies. Don't you hate it when that happens? Worst, date, ever?

Anyway, while looking for graphic novels to read, this series showed up and well, the covers caught my eye and I figure, eh, let's give them a read. The art style reminded me of Black is for Beginnings, especially with how the facial expressions are drawn or something. Anyway, pretty good read and wonder what the other books in the series and couples are like and what scenario they'll find themselves in.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I really am liking this series more than I thought I would.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was so rushed, it felt ridiculous.

[#ReadAllTheBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally got the chance to read this book via my local library and I'm glad that I finally got a chance to read this entry into the MBIAM series. I've heard that it was one of the better stories and for the most part this was true.

I have to say that my favorite aspect of the book had to have been the artwork. It was playful when it needed to be but still managed to bring across the serious tone of the story once Zombigeddon breaks loose. I could easily re-read this for the value of the artwork alone. If you're an art fan, you'll enjoy this part.

Story-wise, this was a decent read. There were a few patchy parts to the story where things got a little thin or felt a little meh, but overall it was one of the stronger offerings of this series. I especially liked how the author chose to develop the relationship between Jack and Dicey. Some of the other offerings in this series have chosen to develop the supernatural/magical angle first, then throw the romance in as an afterthought, and that's not done here. Rest assured, there is chemistry between these two and it's great. To be honest, my favorite parts of the book were all pre-zombie and I couldn't help but feel that this would have been a great story even without the zombie angle.

If you've been hesitating at getting or reading this because some of the other books in the series were lackluster, rest assured that this book is one of the better in the series. It's not the deepest book out there, but it serves its purpose and does it well. At the very least it's worth a library rental.

[Krystl Louwagie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This kind of just felt like it was trying too hard to fill a spot, a market. I didn't realize that these were all contained in each issue and don't continue onto the next. It doesn't give enough time to develop any attachment to the characters or story, really.
As a side that really doesn't have much to do with the story, there was this part that the male soft ball players were made to dress in dresses for making fun of the girl on the softball team, and it was supposed to be funny. And it is, I get that-in high school I loved it when the guys were silly and dressed up in "drag". Except it's also problematic, because wearing clothes associated with woman shouldn't technically be seen as a joke, or punishment, right? That's kind of just another way of saying being a woman is silly, and less, right? I'm not accusing this book of being insensitive, but it's just something that sat a little funny with me and I'm not sure on my thoughts, in general, in life, on this little issue. Just food for thought.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Evonne Tsangin käsikirjoittama ja Janina Görrissenin piirtämä sarjakuva "I Love Him to Pieces or My Date is Dead Weight or He Only Loves Me for My Brains" (Lerner, 2011) aloittaa nuorille suunnatun My Boyfriend is a Monster -sarjan. Se on floridalaiseen high schooliin sijoittuva tarina nörttipojasta ja baseballia pelaavasta urheilijatytöstä, joiden välille syntyy romanssi suunnilleen samoihin aikoihin kuin kaupungin kaduilla alkaa kuljeksia eläviä kuolleita.

Sarjakuvan sinänsä sympaattinen romanssiosio toimii paremmin kuin jostakin puolivälistä käynnistyvä kauhistelu, joka tuntuu suorastaan vähän päälleliimatulta. Piirrosjälki on ihan kelvollista.

Lukaisihan sitä tämmöisenkin.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprise. The characters were good and I liked the illustrations. The surprise part was that there was a good amount of time spent on their slowly developing relationship before things get crazy. Plus, the roles are reversed from the norm: she's the athlete and does much of the saving. It is possible to have romance (but not all that sweet) and still have plenty of action. The characters have friends and good relationships with their parents (overall). Life's not perfect but they aren't exactly the stereotype of the outsider, the nerd or the athlete. There is more going on.

As I said. A surprise. Very enjoyable.

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the concept of this book, but i really wish it wasn't to faced paced. I fell in love with the characters by the second page and i loved their life styles and the love story between them but i wish it was slowed down. A lot of information was skipped over and everything happened so fast that it was hard to get a hold of and I was really sad when it ended because there was so many questions that weren't answered.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

When baseball star Dicey and science nerd Jack are paired up for a school assignment, they fall for each other despite their many differences. Then zombies attack. The end.

There's nothing original or substantive about this silly little story, but the cute art and romance make it a good choice for fluffy romance lovers, zombie aficionados, and comics fans who have 20 minutes to kill.

[Lisa RV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprisingly cute and funny.

[Esme · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only gave this three stars because it was so ridiculous it made me laugh!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute but super short story about a jock girl and nerd boy who fall in love during the zombie apocalypse. A lot of details are cut due to the short number of pages but it’s cute for what it is.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute and fun. Loved Dicey and Jack!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
This was a fun read, but the relationship happened way too quickly to feel authentic. Despite this it was a fun read to be taken for what it is.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Zilliz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just did not do anything for me idk ¯\(ツ)/¯ It felt kind of bland and clichéd. I feel very indifferent towards this.

[Mary Havens · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this book a few days ago and it was just o.k. The zombie thing seemed tacked on. I will not look for sequels.

[Aimeekay · Rating 4 out of 5]

So my daughter brought this one home for me from school. (Told me she saw zombies and figured I’d like it, what a good girl!) My Boyfriend is a Monster is a cute little graphic novel. It seemed a bit thin at first, but those 124 pages had a whole lotta story packed in them.
I thought the interaction between Dicey and Jack was really cute. The first half of the book you get to see how they first start working together and a little bit about their own personal histories. The zombie action doesn’t start ‘til the second half, but the first part was interesting so I didn’t mind. As for the zombie part itself I think how the zombies come about is a neat twist.
I liked the artwork as well. It wasn’t as overly detailed as some of the manga I’ve read recently, but it was still well drawn. It seemed more realistic and down to earth, which fit the story perfectly.
The only issues I had with the story are some of the questions I was left with. For example: What was up with the monkey? I also kinda wondered what happened to some of the other characters. There is a second book, Made for Each Other, so I’m gonna assume some of those questions will be answered there.
Even though it’s a zombie novel there isn’t horrible gore, only zombie whacking violence. There’s the romance between Dicey and Jack too, but it’s G rated, so I feel comfortable recommending it to younger teens as well. (Yes there is violence but it’s not as detailed as other graphic novels I’ve seen. So if as a parent you’re unsure may I recommend you read it first? I think all parents should know what their kids are reading anyway) If I can get my hands on book 2 I definitely want to read it and see what happens to Jack and Dicey.

[Arminzerella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dicey and Jack are paired to parent an egg together for their health class. Jack is smart and nerdy, and Dicey is a cute jock who plays on the boys’ baseball team. Seemingly incompatible, the two nevertheless hit it off. On their first date, they skip school to have a picnic, and in the middle of it there’s a zombie virus outbreak (a fungus that turns people into zombies) and they have to evacuate. Jack is bitten by a zombie as they try to escape, and the only thing keeping the virus from spreading to his brain are the special pills he’s taking to slow its progress. As you’d imagine, Dicey is dynamite with her baseball bat – beating the zombies off as they make their way out of the city and the infection zone.

Funny and clever. Where was *my* Jack Chen in high school? Both Dicey and Jack are competent, smart, and attractive. Janina Gorrissen really brings them to life with her illustrations – captures their personalities, emotions, and determination. I really hope Jack is permanently cured, because kissing an almost-zombie is still kind of ick. Hope to see more of these guys in subsequent volumes!

From an interview with Dicey and Jack:

Sparkleshot: So what’s it like dating a zombie?

Dicey: There’s a difference between a zombie and a high school boy? Well, when you get a zombie’s attention, you know that it’ll stick with you, at least until it can eat your brains. Regular guys are more fickle.

Jack: I AM NOT A ZOMBIE!

[Sinai C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really loved the drawings...therefore, that earns a star. The drawings were so cute and at times, the expressions on a character's face would just make me burst out giggling. The other star goes to the overall relationship between the two main characters-- it's so ADORABLE! I thought there would be more drama about it or that one of the guys on the team would actually have a crush on her or something, but it kept it pretty clean and they seem so sweet together. The last star goes there because the first half of the book was very entertaining, the characters were pretty two-dimensional but still believable in real-life. However, it didn't get five because when it actually came to the zombies, I was just kind of lost. It was SO random. Had this just been a romance novel, I would have loved it to pieces, but the zombies and everything simply seemed to be forced in there. I didn't like how fast it ended with him getting saved so quickly while the WHOLE town seemed to have been zombified except for anyone that actually matters. I would cry if I had to mow down people I saw everyday. So the second half of the book didn't quite light a spark with me, though her interaction with a zombie woman at the gas station was probably the most memorable part of that half, even besides the long-awaited kisses on my part.

[verbava · Rating 4 out of 5]

з паранормальною романтикою сумно те, що вона рідко буває самоіронічна. навіть якщо в аторів наче є почуття гумору, воно не заходить на метатекстовий рівень – а цього іноді бракує, коли йдеться про міжвидове схрещування і спільну боротьбу за долі світу у всяких апокаліпсисах (незалежно від масштабу).
тому "i love him to pieces" особливо симпатичний: нехай тут значно більше романтики, ніж паранормального (появи зомбів доводиться чекати понад півкнижки), зате з жанровими кліше комікс розбирається дотепно, ніколи не стаючи занадто серйозним щодо самого себе. романтична героїня – так, білява і з чарівними щічками, але бейсболістка і приходить на побачення з битою. романтичний герой – так, високий красень, але суцільний нерд, в сенсі, ботанік (на цьому фоні зовсім чарівно виглядає підзаголовок "he only loves me for my brains"). локальний зомбі-апокаліпсис настає, але порятунок світу – справа третя, коли твого хлопця покусали і треба якось рятувати його, і так далі.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this were a movie, I'd own it and watch it repeatedly. Nerdy-cute smart high school kid Jack Chen is paired with exuberant, athletic Dicey Bell on the classic "parent an egg" project. Mutual crush ensues, which is adorable, but trouble in paradise arises on their first date. A disease outbreak, during which Jack is supposed to be taken to his scientist parents by special agents. Nothing could go wrong there, eh? The page size means that Görrissen packs a lot of action and detail into a small space, and she pulls it off. And anyone who can resist the gal in a sundress with a baseball bat, backed up by her geeky boy-crush holding a crowbar... well, you and I just aren't the same kind of people.

Sadly, I have tried reading all but one of the remaining My Boyfriend is a Monster series, and I could not bond with any of them. I just want the continuing adventures of Jack and Dicey! Which don't exist. Alas!

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to take a short break in the YA fiction to check out this charming and hilarious graphic novel. I'm glad that I did. I Love Him to Pieces was entertaining from the beginning and very original. I always enjoy reading about strong female heroines.

[Mary Wyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Enjoy :)