DNF 48%

The art was cool, and the layering of languages in the art was pretty cool as English, French and Cantonese are all flying around.

The story just wasn't grabbing me. The main character spent so much time talking about herself and what she told Ping about herself, she didn't really show that she was all that interested in Ping. It seemed like Ping was doing all the heavy lifting in the relationship. That wasn't a dynamic that I really wanted to spend more time with.

It started so wonderfully. I loved the multilingual speech bubbles & dialogues, as well as the translations underneath. I only know a few basic words in French and never learned Cantonese, so this was nice to expand my vocabulary a bit. Especially the way they both started to learn the other’s native tongue, through pantomime and hand gestures, the way Ping explained some letters and James visually illustrated it. Beautiful.
I grew up bilingual, and with English being my third language, could relate to Sarah a lot. Also because I’m learning around 4 languages at the same time at the moment (well, not actively and with a lot of breaks, but still).
- How awkward small talk can become with a language barrier.
- How you struggle to find words in all languages you know because nothing describes what you’re feeling or you just forget them all (#byelingual) at once.
- How you forget your native tongue when you haven’t spoken it in a while.
- How your mind expands and the type of feeling you experience, once you’re on that level that makes you think & dream in that language. It’s quite indescribable, something one needs to experience it themselves, but James managed to find resonating words and pictures on how he at least perceives it.
Generally, James has a talent to describe and illustrate certain experiences and emotions. Poetically abstract, yet at the same time so greifbar (tangible).

I found it a bit sad when Sarah reached a level of almost-fluency where the overlapping bubbles weren’t needed anymore and it was only English. I prefer when dialogue is written in the original language they’re speaking in. But I guess it would’ve been too much for some readers, since at some point they only speak Cantonese.

As for their relationship, I loved how realistic their first meetings were kept. None of the “I’ll bump into you now because I’m the main character and I’m thinking of you so you’ll magically appear” which never happens in real life, no matter how close you live to each other.
It was very sweet how they got to know each other. Since Ping already spoke a bit of English, it was mostly Sarah learning Cantonese. And quite incredible how fast she picked up on it. (Although it’s mostly Ping’s Cantonese she learned, as later seen with Ping’s friends. ;))
I really adored the slow slice of life, living in the moment, enjoying the little things. How their friendship slowly became something romantic. How Sarah slowly realized she’s sexually/physically attracted to Ping, not just friendly/platonically. Very smooth transitions, thanks to the slowness, because we could get to know the characters at the same pace as them. So beautifully done.

However, then there’s a turn, a bit of a drama towards the end. The homophobia came a bit unexpected, although not surprising given their age. Still, the way it was handled was so cliche and such an overused trope ... so contrasting, alienating to the first half. There’s a happy end at least, but in-between their kiss and that ending there weren’t many pages, yet still could’ve been done so much better. More mature. Realistic, sure, but unnecessary. So many other ways to do it and still keep the realism. Felt like I was suddenly reading a YA rather than (N)A. And I would’ve liked a deeper – or any – explanation from Ping.
That‘s unfortunately the reason why it got a 0.75 star less.

Other than that little part, I do love it. Definitely a book I’d like to have in my shelves.

The art style is very nice too, fits the story. The way the colors have been used as part of storytelling, especially the complementary contrasts in the first few pages (i.e., blue surroundings, while Ping has a yellow jacket). Amazing how it’s all drawn on paper with watercolors too. In today’s digital age, that’s a love letter in itself.
I also liked the pink lineart sometimes. Which is technically the actual skin color of white people, so should be used more often. :P

Ps. Love languages become a small topic when they’re discussing how love is expressed in those 3 languages. I really do find it interesting how most asian languages don’t use the direct “I love you”, whereas that’s so common in the west.

~

Thank you to IDW Publishing on Netgalley for an eARC. The book is set to be released on May 6, 2025.

-Ayxan Solongo, 05.05.25

After moving to Paris, Sarah finds herself struggling with the French language as well as her corporate job. One day she runs into Ping, an au pair who also struggles with French. The two bond over their language struggles and end up learning each other languages. A friendship forms between the two and as time goes on and language’s are learned, the two find out some words are certainly hard to say.

Rating: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“When I speak another language, I can almost catch a glimpse, an entrevoit, of myself as another person…”

I loved this graphic novel. First, the art is lovely. I thought the style was fitting for the story. Light and airy.

I loved the plot about moving to a new country and learning the language. That struck me as I’ve had that experience. I especially loved that English, Cantonese, and French were all used.

The romance was well written and I found it so perfect. It didn’t feel fast, it felt so natural. I love Sarah and Ping so much!

I recommend reading Love Languages if you like linguistics, friends to lovers, and watercolor art.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Love Languages follows two foreigners who fall in love in Paris. Sarah works a corporate job, while Ping works for a wealthy Chinese family. Sarah is English, while Ping is from Hong Kong, and they both have to communicate with each other. While conversing in French, English, and Cantonese, they find a sense of understanding and love for each other.
I loved the graphics in this book. The vibrant watercolors matched the story's vibe. I also enjoyed the different languages incorporated throughout the story and how James Albon inserted the English translation so the readers could understand the characters' conversations. I will pick up more books by this author.
Thank you, James Albon, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review this arc.

Thank you to the author James Albon, the publisher IDW Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A comtemporary slow-burn love story between two foreigners that meet in Paris and slowly develop a friendship that would change into love. Sarah is from England and Ping is from Hong Kong. Sarah speaks English and is still learning French, and stopped her Cantonese lessons. Ping speaks Cantonese and English, which still is trying to learn more about, as well as French. They are each other's anchor and support.

What I found more lovely and beautifully woven is the relationship and the romantic attraction that blooms between them and how the invisible strings work in their favour to unite them once again against all odds. Laced with emotional, romantic and humour doses, this story shaped in the form of a vibrant, detailed graphic novel is quick-paced and is perfect for reading it in one-sitting.

This graphic novel uses the colours to send a message about our main character's emotions and feelings. The warm ones depicting her happy moments - with Ping, mostly, and the cold ones illustrating a dull, empty work life in her job with awful, homophobes and mysoginistic coworkers - even workers she's the boss of.

I enjoyed this story, overall. I would have loved more depth in Sarah's backstory at the home she left in England. Also, I would love a sequel in which this is explored and more development and moments of Sarah and Ping's love story. I felt as if it happened too towards the end, like we didn't get to enjoy seeing their relationship as a couple. Apart from this, I loved this story.

This book comes out on the 6th May, so stay tuned!

#LoveLanguages #Netgalley

This graphic novel was GORGEOUS. The watercolor artwork throughout the story was breathtaking to look at and the use of colors to portray emotions, even with how subtle it was at times, was phenomenal.

This story transcends language. The way Ping and Sarah begin their friendship awkwardly, using dictionaries and translating tools to communicate between three different languages, each one woven in between the others was so cool to see both in the text and the artwork of the story. I loved reading about Sarah learning more about herself and who is she is and who she loves. Her journey into discovering her queerness was a joy to read and I loved every minute of it.

This was a quick, beautiful story that everyone should add to their reading list!

Set in Paris, this is a story about two women. Sarah moved to Paris from England and met Ping, who is from Hong Kong. They developed a beautiful friendship that eventually evolved into a romantic relationship. The two often communicate in a mix of English, French, and Cantonese.

Both Sarah and Ping were navigating their lives in Paris on their own. What I appreciated about them was their eagerness to learn a new language to communicate with each other. I admired their friendship; they truly understood one another. Although the romance depicted in the book was brief, it was incredibly sweet.

I liked the watercolour illustrations; it was beautiful.

The only thing I didn’t like was the overlapping language in the text bubbles; following their conversations was confusing.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.

"Love Languages" is a gorgeously illustrated graphic novel about two foreign women in Paris bonding over their shared limited French skills. Sarah, a British woman working in the corporate world, and Ping, an au pair from Hong Kong working for a wealthy family, begin to develop their relationship after a chance meeting. As they spend more time together, their communication becomes a mix of French, English, Cantonese, and hand signals. As they spend time together and practice languages together, they become closer than either of them anticipated. This is a truly beautiful and rather quiet slice of life graphic novel, featuring characters that readers will cheer for and art that effectively conveys thoughts and emotions spoken and unspoken. Highly recommended for adult comic and graphic novel collections, and for anyone looking for a great sapphic romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Author, and the Publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was adorable. Beautifully written. I loved how things were automatically translated, though you still got to see the original language the characters were speaking in. I also loved how the art was more colorful whenever Sarah and Ping were together, versus whenever Sarah was without her. It was also colorful whenever she was thinking of Ping. I've seen that method used once before in a different type of media, but I think it worked brilliantly for the story here. The art for the panels were absolutely breathtaking. I'm not sure if it was originally done in watercolors or maybe just pastels, but it was great. The story also felt very organic in its pacing.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

I am learning more and more to not judge books by their covers and titles, moreover that there are so many wonderful things out there that I should just take a punt on them because then I might stumble upon a gem like this.

Love Languages is a beautiful graphic novel two women in Paris, one from Britain, the other from Hong Kong, in difficult and alienating places in their lives and the friendship that blossoms through their multi-lingual communication.

Written in English, French, and Cantonese with rich and charming ink and watercolour artwork, this is a feast for the eyes, heart, and mind. It has all the character, charm, and emotional resonance of a fabulous indie film.

I absolutely adored this and hovered it up in a single sitting, unable to keep still as I had to bodily express my emotions and got choked up.

Wonderful stuff!

This is such a beautiful story! It might take a little bit to get into the story of these two women feeling out of place in Paris but finding home in each other but it's definitely worth the wait. While I may have found myself skimming some parts, especially the parts of the men one of the women works with, I still thoroughly enjoyed this. The art style is also something I haven't seen much, such brilliant colours and soft watercolours. The romance was soft and sweet and I really felt myself rooting for these two to have a wonderful life together.
Great queer graphic novel!

Two women find themselves alone in France with limited knowledge of the language. After a few pleasant encounters the two of them realize they can each speak a little of their own language, a little of the other's, and a little French as well. As the two grow closer they begin to hodge podge their own language together using a mixture of French, Cantonese, and English: a love language, if you will.

I absolutely adored these characters. Sarah is so relatable in her shyness and self-doubt, and Ping is the perfect companion for her - so outgoing and kind. I loved the play on words that the title was, and the general theme that love and friendship are truly what bind people together entirely independent of language. I also liked all the ways they figured out how to communicate.

I find that many graphic novels have a tendency to rely more on one part of media than the other (either the words or images) but this one specifically struck an amazing balance relying on both to tell the story. I really appreciated it, especially since it would be easy to be frustratingly word-heavy in a book with language as a central topic and theme.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for stories about finding love in lonely places :)

This is a lovely sapphic romance between women from England and Hong Kong, both living in Paris. They are both struggling with the languages, yet find a way to communicate with each other. The art feels very Parisian, and I really liked how Albon handled showing their conversations in a mish mosh of language. I could have done without so much of Sarah's work stuff, but it did help to illustrate why she felt so lonely. Overall I enjoyed this, and I would read another graphic novel by Albon.

This was a really sweet mini love story of two people living in Paris, one whose native language is English, one whose native language is Cantonese, and how they slowly bridge the language gap between them to get to know each other. It was a quick read, and honestly, I could have used like, 50 more pages. Partially because the story needed a bit more depth and length, and partially because I enjoyed it so much! I thought the English text wrapped around the spoken language so that English-speakers can read it was a clever touch.

Thanks to Netgalley and Top Shelf for the e-ARC!

Love Languages was such a sweet little graphic novel. I loved the colourful art style. I also loved how James Albon manages to capture the flow of spoken language in picture. Some conversations are fluid, some are slow and confused. And he really manages to catch that feeling of joy when communication suddenly starts working.

The story takes place in Paris, but none of our main characters are from France. Sarah is from England but working at a French firm, Ping on the other hand is from Hong Kong. When they meet they only have fragments of English, French and Cantonese to use. But slowly and steadily they find a perfect mix and learn a lot of each others languages.

And slowly they become more and more important in each others lives.

Unfortunately, I found this story didn't work for me. I felt like we spent so much time in Sarah's head, in a very morose state, then all of a sudden she was professing her love. But previously, the other interactions we had Sarah internally wondering if she and Ping were even really friends, especially after grabbing lunch with people Ping knew. It felt like a chapter was missing, or even a thread connecting any sense of joy in Sarah's existence in any aspect of her life after spending more and more time with Ping. She never shared any aspect of what her burdens were with Ping because she was too worried about being seen as frivolous, so I'm unsure how you could be in love with someone you chose to share nothing with.

First the likes: I found the art style absolutely beautiful. It's watercolor-like, and the author is able to use the medium in different ways to show different emotions. I liked one specific panel where the main character's face is progressively less complexly drawn to signify losing herself/depression/sadness.

I liked that it's written in different languages, but I don't think it was handled in the best way all the time. I speak french and english, so I wanted to read both the french and the english, but sometimes the second would be written over the first, half a sentence here and half a sentence there, and it got difficult and confusing to read. Bigger panels and less text would've been great. Also there's no option in netgalley but to read it on your phone, and the text was small enough already without having to account for multiple languages and their translations in the same panel.

The main character was fleshed out correctly, but the relationship felt underdeveloped. Reading the author's notes it looks like they wrote this from their own experience, and maybe that played against it. Yes they know this people in real life, but maybe that prevented them from being able to write them for readers who don't know who they are. I don't think the couple made any sense, apart from being two foreigners in the same country. The jump from acquaitances who can't even string a sentence together to friends to lovers felt rushed, even for a lesbian couple.

Love Languages by James Albon was beautiful! It had a bit of a slow start at first. The main character, Sarah Huxley, moved from London to Paris for her job. She meets Ping, a woman from Hong Kong. Together they start communicating through French and English, and eventually Cantonese. I especially enjoyed how they communicated through a mix of languages and gestures. Eventually they become really good friends, and soon after their feelings for each other start to grow. While I eventually came to enjoy the story, the artwork was a bit distracting to me, but that’s more of a personal taste problem than a problem with the graphic novel itself. The artwork is painted in watercolor, which while impressive, comes off a bit rough. Overall, I would definitely recommend Love Languages to anyone who enjoys languages and LGBTQ+ stories.

Incredibly slow paced. The art was cute but I found the mix of languages, overlapping speech bubbles, and the lack of a real plot hard to follow. It picked up nicely in the second half once the romantic vibes started and ended up being an incredibly sweet story.

I picked up Love Languages on a whim, drawn in by the title and the promise of something quiet yet emotionally expansive—and that’s exactly what I got.

What I loved most about this book is how it captures the real messiness of human connection. The language barriers aren’t just a cute plot device—they’re woven deeply into the emotional fabric of the story. Misunderstandings, pauses, the silence between conversations—they all carry weight here. Albon does something really special with how he visually represents dialogue. Sometimes, entire panels are silent except for floating translation bubbles, or overlapping languages swirl in a chaotic blur. You feel the disorientation, the longing, and eventually, the warmth of connection.

And the watercolor artwork—gorgeous. It feels nostalgic and alive at the same time. There’s a softness to it that perfectly matches the hesitancy and growing affection between Sarah and Ping.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say the pacing toward the end felt a bit rushed. I found myself wishing for just a few more pages to sit with the characters after their emotional arc wraps. But in a way, maybe that mirrors life too—sometimes things happen quickly, all at once, and we only realize their impact later.

Love Languages isn’t loud or dramatic, but it stayed with me. It’s about the quiet power of empathy, the beauty in difference, and how we find connection even when the words don’t line up. A truly lovely read.