Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

This YA contemporary was hugely popular about a year or so ago I think, but I never got around to reading it even though I had a copy. Lately I've been gravitating towards trying to alternate quick, fluffy reads with heavier thrillers, so I knew this one would be a good choice. What I did not know, however, is how much I would actually love this one. There is a big trigger warning on this book for suicide and suicidal thoughts that I do want to mention.

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia follows teenager Eliza Mirk. On the surface, she appears to be a regular teenage girl. She hates school, she tends to keep to herself, and she spends all her time online. But the truth is that she is secretly the creator of a hugely popular webcomic Monstrous Sea. When Eliza comes face to face with a Monstrous Sea superfan and fanfiction writer in the new boy at her school, she is faced with the decision of whether or not to tell him who she really is.

This book was so amazing! I was invested in Eliza and her life from the very beginning. I loved the concept of her webcomic and getting to see snippets of the art and story throughout the book. But more importantly, I really appreciated how this book tackled mental illness. Eliza struggled with anxiety, and later panic attacks. Another main character also had some struggles that I can't detail too much without spoilers. The book also handled the issue of how intense online communities can be, and the pressure that online creators (and even just creators in general) face. 

If you have ever been part of a fandom, you will enjoy this read. If you've ever thought your are a loner and spend too much time online (*raises hand*), you will enjoy this read. If you love YA contemporaries with adorable romances and impossible-to-not-root-for characters, you will enjoy this read. I absolutely can't wait to pick up more of Zappia's work now. And there is even a serial novel highlighted in this book, The Children of Hypnos, that Zappia wrote that can be found online. This was a fantastic book, and I can definitely see myself revisiting it!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars