I adore this book. Even though it didn't go quite the way I expected it to, I still loved every minute of reading it. The world needs more books like this -- books that really get the fandom experience. I loved Fangirl, but the main character always felt so removed from fandom, despite being this really popular fic writer. With Gena/Finn, the two of them are so immersed in fandom and it's such a core part of the way they interact with the world that it felt much more authentic to me. I desperately need more books like this in my life - full of characters who experience the world the way I do and have these weird, crazy online relationships with people they've never met who all love the same thing. This book is definitely going on my list of favorites. ( )

This book started out really strong. It was snappy - the unconventional format was fun and worked really well. The story of the two main characters was interesting and relatable. Then, the authors felt like there needed to be a big dramatic moment. I'd argue it actually didn't. I was fully invested - looking forward to more. But the plot gets hijacked and there is some really terrible poetry that takes up pages and pages (i read the ebook and the font went HUGE for it.

Sigh.

I liked it while it lasted. ( )

I'm not crying you're crying.

Oh my god. This book. Just when you think you know where it was going, you end up somewhere completely unexpected.

Despite the cute premise, the back cover blurb, and the happy geeky fangirling that is this book's first half, it gets dark. And then it gets even darker.

Holy shit. Did it get dark.

But I still really liked it. It's a story about finding human connection, and how some relationships transcend labels. That happened with Gena and Zach, who were were basically siblings as children. And with Finn and Gena. And even Finn and Charlie and Gena.

This was a beautiful book. The telling was a bit strange but the epistolary format ended up working. It's a format I really enjoy because the reader has to do work and fill in the blanks.

And maybe I saw myself in the book, when the friendships I made via online fandom in high school and college survive to this day. ( )

While this is a good fandom portrayal it was hard for me to read. Keeping up with the blog posts, chats and emails, required much looking back at subject lines and from lines. The kids may have an easier time of it, but if they read like I do, they will naturally skip the short information and shift to the longer texts. I did really like the premise though. ( )

A really interesting and intense exploration of fandom friendships, mental illness, and relationships in the gray space between friendly and romantic ( )