Cover Image: Flawed

Flawed

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

A poignant memoir based on the same-named Emmy nominated film, done with colorful artwork, about the author’s inner struggle after she falls for a lovely man, a plastic surgeon whose work she doesn’t believe in. What she believes, instead, is that she is imperfect with her larger nose and chronicles the impact of that challenge since childhood. 4/5 stars

Pub Date 01 Sep 2018

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine. Flawed #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

One of my favorite reads of 2019.
It’s a beautifully written autobiography. It tackles the issue of insecurity and how to accept it. The author goes through the cycles of being unaware, then aware and unhappy to ultimately accept herself as she is.
The illustrations are gorgeous. They gave a different boost and image to the book.
Everyone should read this book. I highly recommend parents to read/buy this book for their kids.
This little gem is simply captivating.

Special thanks to Andrea Dorfam, Firefly Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a very quick read that I can't fully make my mind up about. It's a sweet story with a bit childish but not less sweet illustrations, and it kept my attention all the 10-15 minutes it took me to get through, but I feel like it wasn't strong enough. It didn't leave an impression. It has something to say, that's for sure, and that meaning in itself is powerful and something I stand by with my whole self, but the story itself was too light and flat to really touch me.
It's a nice one-time read, though, and I'm sure many people would enjoy this book. I know I did, even though it won't be my favorite. I think it might work better on screen. (I take it that version exists, too, though I haven't yet checked it out.)

Was this review helpful?

With its playful, colorful illustrations, this graphic memoir could easily be mistaken for a children's book, however, the content quickly reveals the book is more appropriate for teens and adults. It is a story of challenging preconceived ideas about beauty and identity. Andrea meets Dave, a plastic surgeon, and mistakenly jumps to the conclusion that his profession is about indulging vanity, which makes it impossible for there to consider a relationship with him, and then their's the geographical distance between them.. This delightful little book documents how Andrea confronted her perceptions and opened herself to a life with Dave.

Was this review helpful?

Flawed by Andrea Dorfman is categorized as a New Adult biography/memoir. Written in the first person, it is the story of the author who is insecure about her big nose and grapples with falling in love with a plastic surgeon. I enjoyed the illustrations, but it seemed more geared towards children rather than adults. This book has an important message, but I think it would have translated better into a picture book for children.

Was this review helpful?

As an author and as a pediatrician, I really appreciated the author's delicate take on a very sensitive subject. She understood her audience and adapted real-life experiences to draw in young readers with this unique take on how we see, interpret and over-interpret each other. An excellent short read for impressionable children.

Was this review helpful?

I really liked this comic. It was so cute and had a big lesson: «We should love ourselfs for what we are. When we fell that we have some flaws the only person able to eliminate them is ourselfs!»
Being a surgeon and being an artist is the same, both try to achieve perfection. It is not always about the look, but how also the dammages that a person might get from an accident and the function that you can loose.
The most scary is when a parent choose to operate a son, just because the way they look. Should not the son be able to decide? After all it is his body.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book from NetGalley. I'm not obligated to give a positive review.

This graphic novel is really short. Under 100 pages. I know it's listed as new adult, but I kind of feel like it should be longer.

Review: The book is a memoir of Andrea falling in love with a plastic surgeon. She's in love with the person but hates his profession because of her feelings on plastic surgery.  Through letters and a long distance relationship, she come to terms with her insecurities she's had throughout her life.

The illustrations in book are wonderful.

Overall a nice book for a quick read.

Was this review helpful?

. . . . .

Was this review helpful?

“I was the person who decided I was flawed and, therefore, I was the only person who could do something to change my point of view.”

I have mixed feeling about this one!
While I liked the message and the empowerment the author wanted to give to the reader, I didn't get why it was targeted towards new adults/adults. The art is so simple and colorful, and I guess it would have worked better if it is targeted towards children.
I am confused... why is this for adults?

This is not a graphic novel. It is an auto-biographical picture book. Which made the experience shallow for me and made the book weak. I wanted more of it.

Overall, it was a quick read but I would recommend it only for children/teenagers as they can get more from it than adults.

*Thank you to Firefly Books Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars. This was a short but sweet read about accepting who you are, despite any flaws others might think you have. Andrea, who had struggled with feelings regarding her nose, meets a plastic surgeon who she is interested in and has to examine what it means to be with someone whose profession is to fix flaws. The story actually gave a lot of depth into Dave, the plastic surgeon and his profession being more than just fixing superficial flaws. I really liked the illustrations a lot and think I might enjoy the film even more because the writing felt a little choppy and stilted.

Was this review helpful?

I requested this ARC as I was interested in expanding my reading genres and wanted to explore comics/ graphics. This was probably not the best choice for my introduction. While I found the art ok the story itself was overly juvenile and pointless . I understand the author meant to impart a teaching lesson “Accept Yourself” “Be Happy With Yourself “ but I found Andi Dorfman judgemental, preachy and narrow minded in her own thinking and reasoning. This was not for me.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to preview this comic before publication.

Was this review helpful?

Flawed hit a little close to home for me, as I have always struggled with my self image concerning my nose. As someone who has always struggled with loving her large nose, Dorfman tells the true tale of her relationship with a plastic surgeon, and how she learned to cope with the idea of dating someone who's entire career was shaped around perfecting healthy people's "flaws." With the help of beautifully simplistic drawings, the author paints a picture of self acceptance and confidence. This novel is short, but impactful. I think anyone struggling with self image, of any kind, could get something out of Flawed.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this graphic novel, I gave it a four out of five stars. I really like the art style and the story. That we need to appreciate things about us even if we are insecure about them. Thank you to net galley for this earc.

Was this review helpful?

Flawed is a pictorial memoir by Andrea Dorfman. In it, she reveals her feelings about her appearance growing up; she was bullied about the size of her nose. When she becomes friends with a girl who faces the same problem, she thinks all is right again in her world.

As an adult, she struggles with her relationship with a plastic surgeon as she wonders "Do plastic surgeons only see flaws? Do they think of everyone as broken and in need of repair? Do they think they hold the key to beauty?"

In time, she comes to realize that it is only through self-acceptance that you can feel good about yourself, that everyone is flawed in some way and that others and the media don't get to make the call as to who is acceptable and who is not.

"And then something occurred to me. The point isn't to fit in, it's to embrace what makes each of us different. Why would you want to see yourself as ordinary when you can be...EXTRAORDINARY" A cute book dealing with a real issue that might help young people feel better about themselves.

My thanks to NetGalley and Firefly Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

I just loved everything about this book. The artwork, story and layout.
This book should be made available in schools as the story and the message within the story is important. Messages of accepting yourself , your beauty whoever you are.
A beautifully written story.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Firefly books ltd for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

Was this review helpful?

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. It was irritatingly simple but there was a universal truth that everyone can relate to. I think the graphics really help to add another layer to the thin content and tell a story all on its own.

Was this review helpful?

This is a book version of the film Flawed, but before you roll your eyes, know that this book was done by the original artist and author of the film. I admit, it’s a movie I have not seen. Flawed is a picture book for adults about one woman coming to terms with herself. Looking at things in new ways because of her relationship with a plastic surgeon. Knowing that it’s important how you see yourself and not how others see you is the main point of the book. Overall, it all works together wonderfully, for a short, and interesting read, and while geared for adults, I could see it being used in classrooms or after school groups.

Was this review helpful?

A short, cute graphic novel about accepting your flaws.
The author, Andrea, draws and writes about herself in this, which makes it more personal and somehow more enjoyable becuase you get the follow her journey from hating her flaws to love them.

It also makes you think; What is a flaw and who decides if it is a flaw?

Andrea's artstyle is adorable and fits so well with the story.



I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

A wonderful story about loving and accepting yourself. A great little read. I loved the illustrations.

Was this review helpful?