Cover Image: Tilly in Technicolor

Tilly in Technicolor

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

5 Stars If you thought that Mazey Eddings’ YA debut, Tilly in Technicolor, would be any less amazing than her previous works, I’m very happy to tell you that you thought wrong! Tilly in Technicolor packs the same emotional punch (if not more) than her Brush with Love series.

Teenager Tilly Twomley has finally graduated from high school and is ready for a fresh start with a summer spent traveling around Europe as an intern at her older sister’s nail polish startup. Tilly’s not exactly thrilled about the internship, but she was desperate to get out of Cleveland and away from her micromanaging and passive-aggressive mother. She knows her mother cares, but she just doesn’t understand Tilly and her ADHD mind. Tilly hopes the summer will provide a fresh perspective so she can figure out that age old question: what next? After a meet-disaster on the plane to London with a cute teen named Oliver, Tilly arrives and realizes that her seat-mate will be an intern along with Tilly. Oliver Clark has autism and is in love with color theory and photography, already having plans to study both at university in the fall. His plan is perfect and all set…that is until he meets Tilly. She’s his complete opposite in every way, but they may just fit together perfectly. Their connection grows as they bond over their neurodiversity. But what will happen after this summer?

Eddings is an author with autism and ADHD, and her novels about neurodiverse characters are so poignant because she writes from a place of authenticity. I have neither autism nor ADHD so I cannot fully understand the experiences of those who do, but reading Mazey’s works make me feel like I have somewhat of a better understanding of that experience. She infuses her stories with so much joy and sadness and humor and care, reflecting the full and authentic human experience, that her characters feel so real. Tilly and Oliver were so freakin’ adorable, both as individuals and as a couple. I want to wrap them both up and keep them safe forever. I didn’t want this story to end and I know it’s one that I’ll keep thinking about for a while. Now I can’t wait for Oliver’s sister’s story, Cubby Clark is Not in Love!

Was this review helpful?

5 Stars If you thought that Mazey Eddings’ YA debut, Tilly in Technicolor, would be any less amazing than her previous works, I’m very happy to tell you that you thought wrong! Tilly in Technicolor packs the same emotional punch (if not more) than her Brush with Love series.

Teenager Tilly Twomley has finally graduated from high school and is ready for a fresh start with a summer spent traveling around Europe as an intern at her older sister’s nail polish startup. Tilly’s not exactly thrilled about the internship, but she was desperate to get out of Cleveland and away from her micromanaging and passive-aggressive mother. She knows her mother cares, but she just doesn’t understand Tilly and her ADHD mind. Tilly hopes the summer will provide a fresh perspective so she can figure out that age old question: what next? After a meet-disaster on the plane to London with a cute teen named Oliver, Tilly arrives and realizes that her seat-mate will be an intern along with Tilly. Oliver Clark has autism and is in love with color theory and photography, already having plans to study both at university in the fall. His plan is perfect and all set…that is until he meets Tilly. She’s his complete opposite in every way, but they may just fit together perfectly. Their connection grows as they bond over their neurodiversity. But what will happen after this summer?

Eddings is an author with autism and ADHD, and her novels about neurodiverse characters are so poignant because she writes from a place of authenticity. I have neither autism nor ADHD so I cannot fully understand the experiences of those who do, but reading Mazey’s works make me feel like I have somewhat of a better understanding of that experience. She infuses her stories with so much joy and sadness and humor and care, reflecting the full and authentic human experience, that her characters feel so real. Tilly and Oliver were so freakin’ adorable, both as individuals and as a couple. I want to wrap them both up and keep them safe forever. I didn’t want this story to end and I know it’s one that I’ll keep thinking about for a while. Now I can’t wait for Oliver’s sister’s story, Cubby Clark is Not in Love!

Was this review helpful?

I read this book in well under 24 hours, and I feel the need to shout about it.
Tilly in Technicolor is *amazing.* As always, Eddings is a master at crafting neurodiverse characters who are so much AND their diagnosis. Tilly has ADHD, which is on the poorly managed side in the beginning. Her mother, in her attempts to 'help', has become a toxic relationship in her life. However, she sees a break in her future as she gets to join her sister traveling around Europe while trying to secure buyers for their start-up nail *lacquer* company. Oliver (Ollie) is autistic, and connects to others and the world through colors. He is also tapped to help with the start-up, on the social media front. The two of them by happenstance sit next to each other on their trans-Atlantic flight, and it's just... chaos. This continues for the first part of their journeys. Aspects of their personalities shaped by their neurodivergence clash- but both are hesitant about the vulnerabilities of revealing diagnoses. Once they do, though, instead of clashing, those traits become more of a safe haven. "Couples that stim together stay together."

I am such a sucker for romance with at least one neurodivine character (having multiple diagnoses myself), and having them both identify as such was amazing.When describing her relationship with her mom, Tilly rants about how the neurodivergent are always expected to do the changing- and never the neurotypicals. I connected with this in such a visceral way- I'm a teacher, and this is a problem that has really been bugging me this year. I loved the journey both Tilly and Oliver made, and the growth they made by opening up to each other. They were both lovable, as were the cast of supporting characters. I particularly loved how the crew of friends just refused to let the oft-used 3rd Act Breakup 'actually' happen- correctly pointing out that Ollie and Tilly just weren't communicating well.

Mazey Eddings was already an auto-buy author for me, and I'm so pleased that her debut YA novel lived up to the love I have for her 3 adult romances.

Was this review helpful?

i loved every moment of this! I'm autistic, and I just felt so seen by Oliver's POV. happy to see more neurodiverse characters in ya.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for the ecopy of Tilly in Technicolor.

This was such a delightful read. I adored Ollie and Tilly so much. Their character's had so much depth. Tilly in Technicolor was laugh out loud funny, quirky, and sweet. I enjoyed watching Ollie fall in love with Tilly; she was his opposite in every way, but together they were so perfect.

Was this review helpful?

Where to begin, where to begin… TILLY IN TECHNICOLOR is the sweetest, magical, sensational ride. This story is a love letter to neurodivergency and living authentically. It’s about two complex, well-rounded, passionate teens carving out a place for themselves in the world. Mazey Eddings has truly done it again with her stunning YA debut.

With outstanding banter, prose, character development, and pacing, this novel executes its wildly fun premise seamlessly. If you like stories that feature any of the following, so cannot recommend TILLY IN TECHNICOLOR enough: meet disasters, opposites attract romance, neurodivergent/ADHD and Autism rep, books about travel, humor, poignant scenes, the sweetest teenagers, first loves, utter chaos, a dabble in color theory, and so much more yummy goodness.

This is the kind of book I wish I had as a teenager - I loved and devoured every single word of it. Tilly and Ollie 5ever!!!!!!!

Was this review helpful?

Where to begin, where to begin… TILLY IN TECHNICOLOR is the sweetest, magical, sensational ride. This story is a love letter to neurodivergency and living authentically. It’s about two complex, well-rounded, passionate teens carving out a place for themselves in the world. Mazey Eddings has truly done it again with her stunning YA debut.

With outstanding banter, prose, character development, and pacing, this novel executes its wildly fun premise seamlessly. If you like stories that feature any of the following, so cannot recommend TILLY IN TECHNICOLOR enough: meet-disasters, opposites attract romance, neurodivergent/ADHD and Autism rep, books about travel, humor, poignant scenes, the sweetest teenagers, first loves, utter chaos, a dabble in color theory, and so much more yummy goodness.

This is the kind of book I wish I had as a teenager - I loved and devoured every single word of it. Tilly and Ollie 5ever!!!!!!!

Was this review helpful?

CW: ableism, COVID-19 pandemic (recounted), emesis, blood

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for inviting me to review a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I don’t care if you think that I’m being overdramatic by saying this, but I’ll say it. This book is going to change lives.

After a nightmare plane ride across the world, Tilly and Oliver find themselves interning at the same startup during the company’s summer tour through Europe. Tilly, who’s only here for the freedom from her overbearing mom, finds figuring out her next steps while still being able to focus on her passion for writing. Oliver, on the other hand, finds himself at odds with what he has planned for his future with Tilly coming into the picture. Yet, after a summer together, will their connection last?

From the dedication to the very end, Tilly in Technicolor is a love letter to the neurodivergent community. Eddings, who’s an #ActuallyAutistic author and also has ADHD, perfectly encapsulates the joys of being neurodivergent as well as the challenges of living in a world that isn’t designed for neurodivergent folks. Along with Tilly and Oliver for being accurate depictions of having ADHD (Tilly) and Autism (Oliver), this book is also a good look into what the lived experiences are for the neurodivergent community.

As a book lover who’s #ActuallyAutistic, I’ve always wanted to be seen in the books that I loved reading. Throughout the book, I felt so invigorated. I felt so validated by seeing characters that are so similar to me and that feeling is so incredible. Thanks to authors like Eddings, I’m so happy to see a generation of #ActuallyAutistic and disabled authors write stories that put us in the narrative.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk and please read this book.

Was this review helpful?

Trigger warnings: ableism in regards to adhd and autism, alcohol mention, sexual content mention

Mazey Eddings writes neurodiverse books that scratch my brain like no other. The mannerisms, descriptions, thought processes, and all around chaos vibes are so up my alley.

Tilly and Ollie were such soft and cute characters to follow through this book. Their confusion on feelings and sensations resonated with me despite me being a whole eight years older than they are. Their tentative connection over neurodivergence and subsequent romantic development was so tender and innocent. I loved them so much.

Tilly’s growth as a young girl finding her independence alongside unmasking her ADHD was a really heartwarming emotional journey to follow. I loved seeing her come out of her shell, shrug off the weight of others watching and scrutinising her, making choices that made her happy.

Superb book. Can’t wait for my physical copy!!

Was this review helpful?

This was a new to me author. I really liked this book. I thought the way that ADHD & Autism was presented with Oliver & Tilly was beautifully done. Her writing was immersive and the romance was super cute. I liked how the relationships with Tilly's Mom played out. As a Mom to a son with ADHD and Autism, this representation is necessary.

Was this review helpful?

I was so grateful to receive an arc of this book. Mazey Eddings is an author I wish I had discovered earlier and I will now begin to read everything in her backlist. This book was so perfectly sweet and a great romance. It dealt with challenges but showed that love is the most important force in the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I have read Mazey's other adult novels but this is her first YA novel and I was pleasantly surprised by it. It felt like a very authentic look into the neurodivergent teenage mind, which was well appreciated. Tilly to everyone else comes across as unmotivated and scattered, but really she is passionate about writing, she is very understanding of her own emotions and constantly feels misunderstood because of her ADHD.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing access to this title in exchange for an unbiased review. What a great read! Equal parts light-hearted fun and important cultural commentary, Eddings does a great job of capturing life and love in the world of contemporary teenagers. The dual POV was very well done and the characters were believable, both with complete, thoughtful story arcs that kept the pages turning. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK!
When I first read the synopsis for Tilly in Technicolor, I knew it was going to be right up my alley! When bright and bubbly Tilly meets soft and quiet Oliver, the two seem destined to be enemies. Where Oliver is all rounded curves and muted colors, Tilly is sharp edges and magnificent neons. Despite a disastrous first meeting on a transcontinental flight, they find themselves becoming more and more in tune with one another as they are stuck together interning for the same company. This story is truly a testament to not writing someone off based on a first impression and that sometimes people who appear to be incompatible end up being each other’s perfect complement.
I adored both of the main characters in this book, and I thought the dual POV was very well done. I will say that there were times when I thought the pacing was a bit off, making me feel like the plot was becoming a bit stagnant. In the end, I give it a solid 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

I was pleasantly surprised with this book, because at the start, it felt like a bit of a hot mess. A few too many meet cute (or not meet cute) moments on the plane, and I wasn't sure if Tilly's ADHD behaviours would wear on me or not. In the end, I stuck with the book through those initial chapters where I didn't really like Tilly, accepting that some of why I didn't like her was because I couldn't relate to how she was behaving because of her ADHD and that the author intended us to feel that way. I did find it surprising that Oliver's autism did not make me react the same way. I was more sympathetic to him as a character from start to finish, which is likely a judgement of my pre-conceived notions about behaviour and my own anxious tendencies.

I feel like this book does a very good job of capturing individuals who are not neurotypical. The fact that the author herself has both ADHD and autism (adult diagnosis) makes the depiction of both of these neurological states all the more revealing because they are based on how she has experienced things.

The characters are well developed, especially with the alternating POVs. Those around them are interesting but don't steal their thunder. And the plot moves nicely through the summer and the various cities. It was not a travel book at all, but there were some moments that revealed fun things about the places they visit. Tilly's mother was definitely hard to take for most of the book, and it made me think about whether or not I am doing anything with my children that may make them think that they are less than loved.

All in all, a good romance and a good look into how some people function differently than others and what that means in their relationships and their interaction with the world around them.

Was this review helpful?

I love everything that Mazey Eddings writes. She has a way with Words and I loved every minute of reading this book. This cover is gorgeous. The characters were entertaining, intriguing, and interesting. I can’t wait for her next book.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Alexis Neuville with St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday books for allowing me the chance to devour this eARC through NetGalley.

Where are the words to describe this book? They have left the building of me.

It was sweet and awesome and these neurodivergent loveballs had me rooting for them from the beginning. Mazey Eddings, gawdamn goddess that she is, wrote these two with such care and love. Tilly was so incredibly relatable (a future Lizzie friend, no doubt). Ollie was fun. His love and eye for color reminds me of my own hyper-fixation for some things. I was completely charmed and enchanted by this story and very much look forward to anything and everything Mazey Eddings brings forth into this world.

Was this review helpful?

An enormous thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and of course, Mazey Eddings for providing me with an eARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review, all opinions are my own.

Well, damn. I read this book in a single day because I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end and could not get enough of the story and characters.

Tilly was utterly brilliant and I absolutely loved every little victory for her throughout. Watching her and Ollie through every ordeal or moment they shared just made me so happy. This book brought so many emotions forward, and I loved every bit of it.

The ending had me crying and I will forever recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

I have been lucky to read all of Mazey Eddings' backlist and I have enjoyed them all! This story was no different! I adored the representation and the way she was so thoughtful in the characters. Im not typically a YA person, but I really enjoyed this!

Was this review helpful?

Love love love! Mazey Eddings always does an amazing job of writing real people and highlighting different ways for people to live. I've loved her other books and this one is no exception. I really enjoyed this YA book and always feel warm and fuzzy after reading them. :)

Thanks Mazey Eddings and NetGalley!

Was this review helpful?