5/5 for realistic depictions of women's bodies.

I had reservations when I began reading this that the love depicted in this graphic novel was going to be toxic, and not well rounded.

This is not the case. The bad relationships are depicted as such, and the relationships that are healthy stress what help makes them work and what makes them shine.

This was a beautiful story about love and loss.

It is also gay on the side and it SLAPS!

This quote summarizes the whole book:
"... this is what "love is forever" means: its not timeless but it leaves a mark so deep that it accompanies us all our life"

4 stars

A coming of age, summer vacation story about sexuality, young love, friendship, & identity.

[What I liked:]

•I like the movement in the art style. There are some creative panels/pages with borders, showing background music, & ones that look like journal entries or letters. The colors are vibrant, like I’d imagine southern Italy to be like.

•The story touches on consent, unhealthy & healthy relationships, parent-teen relationships, etc. without being didactic. It was interesting to see Viola, the MC, engaging with the thoughts & views of others & over time processing & synthesizing (or rejecting) them to build her own views of love.

•The story is very touching, especially Viola’s friendship with Lili & Paola, & her relationship with Ireneo. I think the ending is very fitting, a good note to end on that gives closure & shows how much Viola has grown.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•At the very end, Viola says in a letter that the summer changed her whole family, but it’s not clear how it affected anyone but her. I needed some more clarity on that. I’m also not clear on why she decided not to keep in touch with Ireneo.

CW: jealous/controlling relationship, physically abusive relationship, controlling/abusive parents, terminal illness, doctor assisted death

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]