This was a breath of fresh air for me. I was truly surprised at how deep and touching this story was, and appreciated how different it was from the majority of graphic novels that I tend to read. I loved the main character Nora, and sympathized with her never ending struggle to find a decent, and respectful man that will treat her right. She ends up meeting Bear, and falling in love with him. As you can imagine, living and loving a 500 lb bear can come with its challenges, but also it's perks. I will admit to smiling, laughing, and even crying while reading this. I simply loved it, and will be recommending it to all of my graphic novel loving friends. I especially know my Litsy friends will be excited to gobble this one up.

I have received a much appreciated digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book is perfect for the quirky reader who is looking for something fun and different. In spite of the odd premise, this was a very cute book with a whole lot of heart. For some readers, this will be an easy sell. I can see others struggling with it a little, but I would still recommend it, especially to young adult readers and those interested in comics and graphic novels.

Alright this is a hard one to review.

See, originally I wasn't going to request this one because the girl is in a relationship with a bear.... then I thought, "There was no way they'd write something like this! Maybe it is a Beauty & the Beast thing or a metaphor..."
NO
It is a woman and a bear from the wild.

She has bad luck with guys, usually ending up with weirdos or meanies (although I don't see why wearing suspenders automatically puts someone in the negative column), so when a bear shows up on her doorstep and they start to get along, she starts dating him.
Sure, the bear understands her, has his own way of communicating, is super sweet and attentive, and even gets a job at one point, but seriously?
Also how does a bear get a job???

Reading about a human and bear relationship is just so difficult because 'bestiality' keeps running through my mind. Especially since they share a bed and there are hints that they have sex. WHY?!

It was so hard to read, but I will admit that I loved the artwork and I thought the story was cute. The bear is like the perfect boyfriend (except 1. he is a bear and 2. hibernation???). It gets three stars for the story-telling, the art, and I actually had some fun reading it.

It is uber cute and I could feel my emotions reaching out to relate to the main character and then I'd remember she is literally in a relationship with a bear, and I'd get uneasy again.

I don't know what to tell you. Do I recommend this to people??? I DON'T KNOW! If you don't mind the bear it is really cute, so maybe AND maybe you'll see more metaphors than I did and be able to appreciate it more. This is just a weird, weird book for me.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A friend mentioned this book to me and of course I had to immediately look it up. The description made me laugh and the art look great, so I decided to check it out. I loved this book beary much! The art is fantastic and the writing is witty and charming. It really, really is an actual bear and it's so ridiculous but adorable and so much fun!

LOVE THIS BOOK. Well-paced story, interesting characters, lovely artwork, strong emotional punch at the end. It leans right into the surreal central concept – the title isn't a metaphor, and though the story can be read as an allegory for an 'opposites attract' relationship, it's also literal. I also liked that it doesn't flinch at the logical conclusion that Nora and the bear would have a sex life (even mentioning periods). I liked this a lot, and will be buying a copy when it's out.

If you read The Gracekeepers and shipped North and the bear, this is the book for you.

Grah. My Boyfriend is a Bear is a quirky graphic novel of Nora, a young woman who's been less than lucky in love, and her adventures dating an American black bear. You might think to yourself: "Oh, this is just another one of those comics where the animal is personified.". HA. NO. He's a no-nonsense, no talking, hibernating, real bear. After years of awful relationships with douchey men, Nora comes face to face with bear after a night of serious drinking, and finds that they have some sort of bond. What follows is a hilariously cute plot, following Nora and Bear as they try to tackle normal aspects of relationships (like going out to the movies, or the farmer's market), that are more than just a little difficult if you're a bear. Along the way, we see how her friends, parents, and even an ex-boyfriend react around their relationship. Is it destined to be true love? Or will it all fall apart?

I wasn't really sold on the premise of a novel about graphic novel about dating but with blurbs from Rainbow Rowell and Jojo Moyes, I thought I should give this quirky premise a try. But unfortunately, I was slightly disappointed by My Boyfriend is a Bear.

Nora has always had terrible dating experiences but when she meets a bear, things change. The graphic novel revolves around Nora who attempts to make her relationship with Bear work. It is described as a metaphor for modern dating by the blurbs and jacket copy.

I thought the art style was really cute and definitely aesthetically pleasing but I do agree with other reviewers who say that they were waiting for a metaphor about dating. My Boyfriend is a Bear was literally just about a young woman who falls in love with a bear (???). I was really waiting for something deeper to happen. Of course, there's a suspension of disbelief that has to be accepted, which I decided to do going into the book, but I felt like there was no real reason behind the novel since the execution was too literal in its premise. Readers will literally see scenes of Nora and her boyfriend who is an actual bear. I think this would've made more sense if there was some sort of "lesson" that the main character learns about modern dating but there was no lesson, unless the lesson is that we should all date actual animals which...... is not what I expected to say the least.

Overall, My Boyfriend is a Bear has cute illustrations and a quirky premise but if you're expecting to see a metaphor about human dating, prepare to be disappointed.

3/5 Stars

This is a graphic novel about a girl and her bear boyfriend. And no, I'm not talking a big burly guy with this huge beard and lots of chest hair. I mean a literal bear. An American Black bear to be specific. The book starts out okay: girl goes camping with her boyfriend (a human) and realizes he's actually trash and dumps him. And that's when things got weird. Was it cute? Yeah. Was it weird? Fuck yeah. Would I recommend it? If you need a good laugh or going through an identity crisis where you think you're a bear. All jokes aside, the art was beautiful, and if the author/artist want to write something that's not bestiality, I'll definitely read it.

This was cute and quirky but I couldn't quite get past the implied bestiality, haha. I did really enjoy the art, especially the scene where they got drunk and their faces turned Picasso-esque. I probably won't recommend it to my teens, but I know some adults who would probably enjoy this.

Very weird but a lot of fun! Will make you laugh all the way through it.

A modern fable that reveals the daily joy and hard work of relationships while teaching readers to learn to follow their heart in the face of discrimination. After a series of bad relationships, Nora promises herself that she won’t compromise her needs for whoever she dates next. Then she meets the Bear, on the run from a wildfire, and finds her perfect mate. As friends and family show a range of reactions to her unusual choice, Nora finds herself falling farther in live with the perfect guy for her - even as she comes to terms with the reality that no relationship is perfect. I loved the art, first of all, with its splashy color and varied design that kept the action moving. I especially appreciated the deft use of magical realism that made a girl dating a bear so normal, even as his character acts as a stand-in for “the other” being discriminated against by a seemingly loving family. On the surface a fun, ridiculous story, but replace the bear with any minority - race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. - and readers can see the battles of so many couples who just want to be accepted by their friends and family. A wonderful addition for libraries looking for fewer superhero comics and more unique graphic novels for a diverse, adult audience.

The artwork and storytelling in this graphic novel about a girl falling in love with an actual bear is adorable, but I don't understand it. I have mixed feelings because I expected there to be a "lesson" sort of ending. Something about modern dating or how people in "non-traditional" relationships are treated by even family and friends. But there wasn't really any of that. It seems to just be a quirky story about a girl that is in love (and having sex with) an actual bear. So, obviously, there's quite a bit of suspension of disbelief necessary.



With all that aside, it's a fun comic. I liked how the art changed when they were in a drunken state. It's fun to see L.A. locations featured.



I give this graphic novel a 3.5/5. This is mostly because I didn't understand what I was supposed to get out of this story. It felt like it was missing something to make it deeper.

As I've said time and again, I love that Netgalley allows me early access to titles so that I know ahead of time what collection (juvenile, YA, or adult) a graphic novel needs to be in. This particular title is one I would call that fun genre "new adult."

Farris's art is a delightfully perfect match to Ribon's story, just realistic enough, while still being cartoon-y. I must admit, I did not think I would be rooting for a human and a bear to make it work, but this book has made me change my mind. Though I did appreciate that Nora's parents and friends were very concerned with her life choices.

Sure, a human-bear relationship seems doomed to fail, but Nora and her Bear are a total power couple. I love that they are both wiling to be active participants in the relationship, each working to care for and support each other. I also feel that Bear is a very clever way to explore any relationship outside of a hetero / cis dynamic and the process of maturing. Love is about kindness, trust, and acceptance, not appearance, and Nora and Bear are the real deal.

An interesting romance between a young woman and a bear. The prospect of a bear/human relationship will be off putting for some. If you can get past that element you'll find an introspective look at twenty something relationships. I'd recommend this to twenty-somethings who loved The Shape of Water.

"My Boyfriend is a Bear" is a sweet story about the ups and downs of the dating world and what you need out of life. The artwork was very vibrant and the panels of emotions appeared genuine. But what was great about it was that it does not take itself too seriously, allowing the reader to just "go with the flow" of the story and enjoy the sweet connection between the two main characters.

The title and cover grabbed me immediately: a woman in a relationship with a literal bear - where is this going to go? I was worried about the balance of the silly concept of a literal bear being the boyfriend with the exploration of relationships, but was pleasantly surprised by the comic's mix of silly and candidness. This is a book for adults with the inclusion of some language and sexual situations, but the relationship is very human (despite the animal component). I could relate to the battle of your wants vs those around you and how you see yourself vs how others see you.

It has a happy ending and a message of self discovery amidst the onslaught of outside opinions. It's a light read with adorable illustrations and a great sense of humor.

Sweet and funny graphic novel. Nora has had a string of confidence shattering relationships with men, and is tired of being treated as less than human by the men in her life. Then she meets a guy who is a little rough around the edges, but is always kind, caring, and fun. He just happens to be a bear. An actual bear, not a metaphorical bear. Despite this stretch of the imagination, or perhaps because of it, the story really rings true - the experiences of being shamed for the things you like or want, being unsupported and unheard, having friends disapprove or approve of your relationship and wondering how much that matters, being a little jealous and worried when your beloved is out of town, wishing for someone to listen and cuddle with and to take you out once in awhile - these things are universal. I laughed, I cried, I was uncomfortable. It was wonderful.

This was a really sweet, weird and touching romance story that was exactly what I wanted. It wasn't a metaphor for real life relationship woes it was just a wonderful story about a young woman who is in love with the nicest black bear. It reminded me of a much brighter and happier Shape of Water, which was exemplified by the terrific art of Cat Farris. With Image publishing Twisted Romance and now this romance comics are making a comeback with a fun twist. Definitely recommend this book.

http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2018/03/13/my-boyfriend-is-a-bear-is-a-fresh-romantic-comedy-that-shirks-all-the-tired-tropes-of-the-genre/