This graphic novel was hilarious and well-drawn, definitely worth the money and the hype, and I hope will be successful!

I don't normally read graphic novels (or comics) so I'm not even sure why I picked this one up. It was a quick read, so I think it didn't give me the depth and nuance that traditional novels generally do. But the characters were unique and I loved the NYC 90s setting. The artwork was cool too (although I kinda wish it had been in color). The nostalgic vibe was interesting, but I don't think this is something I would go around recommending to everyone unless they have a specific interest in this genre.

Loved the art but the story left much to be desired. Appreciated the use of color and the art was engaging.

The idea of this book was intriguing, the execution was a bit lackluster for me. The concept and the illustrations were good, but the story just fell kind of short for me.

There was a strong sense of time and place that immersed me in the world depicted. It was unfortunate that the main character of color died, which is a trope that just sucks. But overall, it was a really good read.

Anjeline and Franck are two loners who form an unlikely friendship over a series of accidental meetings. I found the artwork to be great and descriptive that only a graphic novel can be. However, I did feel the story line kind of meandered. I don't really find that to be a negative though because teenage life is kind of like that. We all wonder until we figure ourselves out and The Strange Ones reflects that. Nothing insane happens, it just feels like a typical kind of teenage life, which is probably why I had such a strong feeling of nostalgia when I finished the novel. If you're looking for a quick read that will make you remember the freedom of youth, The Strange Ones is a good choice.

3/5 stars. Everyone is arguing that this graphic novel is crap but I think it’s just that you either like it or you hate it.

I was definitely feeling like the title made sense as I read to about half way. It was just kind of a strange way to present the story, but in a way that kept me invested. The characters interactions were genuine but also just kind of strange. Then, after the half way point I just kind of fell in love with the story. It was completely heartbreaking and warming all at the same time. The whole book is well done and the art is simple but matches the tone of the story.

I am surprisingly disappointed. I wasn't expecting anything outstandingly amazing but I was hoping to decently enjoy myself. Unfortunately, I didn't.

I didn't hate this book but it wasn't enjoyable for a few reasons. Firstly, there was no plot. This graphic novel felt like a dull list of a series of events. It was like this happened. And then this happened. And then this happened but WAIT... this happened.

And another thing, the writing style had the same problem that the plot did. It was dull and list-y. It had the same drab style of simply listing things as they happened. They'd be like We went to the park. We saw a bird. We ate lunch. I told Franck something. There was barely any dialogue and the dialogue that was there was clunky and awkward.

All that said, I really liked the drawing style. It was creative and well done. I like the dynamic (what little dynamic there was) between Franck and Anjeline (random note, Grammarly is trying to get me to change "Franck" to "Frank" and "Anjeline" to "Angeline" and honestly, I'm tempted to because these names are unnecessarily "quirky").

Overall, this book was well illustrated but that was just about the only things I enjoyed about it.

This is just a great story about finding those few people in your life that get who you are and connect with you in a special way. It's a great story about how men and women can be friends without worrying about sex or love getting in the way. It provides a beautiful discussion on grief and that sadness is okay. I loved the interactions between the two, and I loved watching Franck's buttons change in every other panel. The artwork is also beautiful, I enjoy hatch art in realistic styles, because you can focus on the image without it distorting everything. This was a really well done graphic novel, I very much enjoyed it.

Copy provided by NetGalley

The Strange Ones began as a slice-of-life story serialized in Jeremy Jusay’s alt-comics zine in the 1990s. Now, years later, Jusay’s returned to finish the story of two misfits living in New York City and collect it in a single volume. The tale of Angeline and Franck will speak to anyone who has ever felt alone until they found that one friend who got them in a way no one else ever did. Jusay weaves themes of friendship and coming-of-age into an evocative period-piece tapestry. He knows how to make the specific relateable. Even if you don’t relate to Angeline and Franck’s specific interests and quirks, you’ll relate to how they relate. Jusay’s black-and-white artwork is straightforward but ripe with emotion. The Strange Ones will leave you touched and imbued with the spirit of youthful yearning in a way that lingers long after you come to its end.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Graphic novels are not my "go-to" genre so I welcomed the opportunity to expand my reading world. I'm glad I had the chance to read it even though I didn't love it (more on that later).

The story follow Anjeline and Franck, lonely teens in NYC who happen to meet at a club/concert. They both see themselves as outsiders. They become friends and learn that they don't need to be alone.

The ending caught me by surprise and felt a little abrupt/harsh. And as an adult (who wasn't really an angsty teen), I had a hard time relating to the characters. But the story is well done and the drawings bring the characters and their feelings to life.

Franck and Anjeline are The Strange Ones in any crowd. They are misfits, who seem fated to be together. After all, didn’t they keep meeting accidentally on the busy streets of Manhattan?

This book tells their story from Anjeline's point of view. However, during the introduction, the author states that he modeled Franck after himself. Perhaps he just wanted to see the world through different eyes through his art.

The plot moves snail slow through the first half. But the buildup to the surprising conclusion is much faster paced. In addition, the art improves immensely during the book. The author began this memoir before heading to art school in 1994. He finished it fifteen years later after his art career was well established. So in addition to seeing the characters' growth, you can also see the author's.

If you enjoy reading graphic memoirs and are one of The Strange Ones yourself, you will enjoy this look back into time. The scenes in memorable locations in New York City like the cloisters were especially fun. 4 stars!

Thanks to Gallery 13, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review, "The Strange Ones" by Jeremy Jusay. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading this comic book. It started off slow but it really made an impression on me by the time I had finished it. This comic gave me a really moody YA vibe. Parts of it reminded me of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". I enjoyed Frank and Angeline's adventures.

I was a bit surprised by this graphic novel. It went in directions I didn’t expect, but that wasn’t a bad thing. If anything, it made for a more exciting read. This graphic novel is basically a love letter to this famous city. While it moved along, though it became something more. As it comes to a close we learn how a personal tragedy changed a persons life forever. If you are looking for something different then this is a graphic novel you might want to check out.

2.5
STARS

An interesting story about the relationship between two New Yorkers. Would have rated it higher, but it felt like there wasn’t much plot or point to what we were reading. It also had a lot of descriptions of places and things in New York. As I am not super familiar with New York, these things didn’t appeal to me, so the story may have been more interesting if I was a New Yorker myself or was more familiar with the area.

I feel as though I am unable to give valid feedback, due to the fact that this PDF file was so small and I was unable to successfully read it, therefore giving me a major headache whenever I tried to.

This book was very interesting I enjoyed the characters and how I became very hooked to both of them. I became very attached to the character in the book which was good

I didn't know what to expect when I was given the opportunity to review this eArc in exchange for my honest review from NetGalley and the publisher.
The beginning was slow to draw me in, but it was moving and interesting. Jusay's story follows two young adults in New York for a brief time in the early 1990s. The artwork is unique and just as engaging as the storylines. This is one book that will be added to my graphic novel shelf in the future.

If you have a good half hour to sit down and read a comic, this one is cute. I feel neutrally about it. It was funny in parts, but there wasn't much of a story besides the relationship between two New Yorkers. I suppose if you have spent any amount of time in NYC, you might appreciate this more than I did.