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Blue is Currently Reading

Blue is currently reading

Eliza and Her Monsters

by Francesca Zappia (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: 2024, 2025, currently-reading

Reading for the 8th time

read in July 2021

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Blue said:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

" ⚠ TRGGER WARNING⚠ - This review discusses mental health issues, parental suicide and trauma responses.
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I was so entranced by this book. Each time I pick it up, I get lost in the pages, I get lost in Eliza's world, and the world of Monstrous Sea. Th ⚠ TRGGER WARNING⚠ - This review discusses mental health issues, parental suicide and trauma responses.
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I was so entranced by this book. Each time I pick it up, I get lost in the pages, I get lost in Eliza's world, and the world of Monstrous Sea. The characters have all taught me so much. Both Wallace and Eliza have taught me that it's okay to seek out space for myself in crowds, and to communicate in a way that makes me most comfortable, whether that's writing or speaking, typing or sign. The book itself also taught me so much. It made me laugh, and it made me cry (a lot). But one of things I liked most about this book (aside from the characters) is the mental health awareness. Eliza having panic attacks, and the mention of depressive spirals. Wallace having trauma from his father's suicide, and the subsequent selective mutism.
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One point I do want to specifically address is the feelings Eliza experiences when she's sat at Wellhouse Turn. And she's thinking about the consequences of going through with what she's thinking about, up until Wallace turns up terrified. All of those things do go through someone's mind, and I pray to God none of you ever have to experience that. It made me feel seen and understood in a way I haven't really before. Each time I've read this, I get to the same point and want to start crying. It genuinely makes me emotional even thinking about those scenes. It honestly breaks my heart watching her going through those things, even knowing how it ends, and that it gets better after that point, and that she doesn't feel that bad later on. Because I know how it feels to be in that moment. To want that release, that feeling of escape. But I also know how the next part feels, when you can see with some perspective, and when things look just a little bit brighter.
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And that, to me, is what makes this book so magical. That if can cover such serious topics, while still remaining a happy book overall. That it can balance the heavy content with the fantasy of Monstrous Sea, and make it believable. ...more "

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— Nov 04, 2026 02:19PM

Jul 27, 2025 09:24AM · see review