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I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner: Review

I Shall Never Fall in Love is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel by Hari Conner. The novel focuses on childhood friends Eleanor, George, and Charlotte as they come of age in Regency England.

A key strength of the novel comes from the diverse range of characters portrayed by Conner. This range allows the novel to grapple with issues surrounding race, identity, and expectation in a way that is applicable to both the Regency period and modern society. At a time when period pieces are becoming increasingly popular in novels and on television, it is wonderful that more people can see themselves represented in these stories.

However, I would have loved the novel to delve deeper into the relationship between Eleanor and George. For most of the novel, the pair were oblivious to their romantic feelings—something that was obvious to the reader from the first chapter! This obliviousness was a major source of conflict in the plot, creating distance between Eleanor and George at numerous points. As a result, the novel struggled to fully showcase the development of their relationship. Nevertheless, the pair’s dynamic successfully contributed to the joyous and hopeful tone of the novel.

Period pieces are a particular favorite of mine, so this is a welcome addition to my bookshelf. Graphic novels have the ability to fully immerse the reader in the world crafted by the author, and Conner’s stunning artwork ensures that I Shall Never Fall in Love is no exception.

Review by Niamh O’Donnell


I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner: Review
Hari Conner
Simon & Schuster, 2024
Paperback, £12.99
ISBN: 9781398526709

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The First Move by Jenny Ireland: Review

The First Move

The First Move Book cover

The First Move
Jenny Ireland
Penguin Random House, April 2023
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9780241591826

The First Move is everything a YA contemporary novel should be: full of warmth, growth, and romance. Following two protagonists, Juliet and Ronan, the novel documents their personal struggles as well as telling their love story. Juliet is grieving the loss of the life she thought she would lead after being diagnosed with worsening arthritis, whilst Ronan grieves the loss of family life as he knew it after the death of a close family member. 

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Review: Too Dark to See by Chloë Heuch

Too Dark to See
Chloë Heuch
Firefly Press, 2020
Paperback £7.99
ISBN 9781913102166

Too Dark to See is not just another story about a teenage girl grieving her mother, although it is that too. At its core, this is a story about love and all the different kinds of love; familial love, romantic love, as well as the love that comes from our friends.

The novel follows our protagonist, Kay, as she tries to navigate the world after the tragic death of her mother. It encompasses a whole range of firsts for Kay, as she has to move to a new town, navigate teenage friendships, and grow up a lot faster than she perhaps would have otherwise. Whilst reading, it was often difficult to remind myself that Kay was only fifteen and sixteen years old throughout the span of the story. This is what makes Too Dark to See unique when there are so many contemporary YA stories out there that contain similar themes of grief. Heuch has masterfully written how grief can affect a person in a way that they cannot even see it, making this a book well worth reading.

This book’s writing style has a mythical, fairy tale-like quality to it. The reader feels almost detached from the story yet connected to it all at once. It is an odd feeling, but one that I think makes sense when you read the book. It is just another way that the author conveys the grief-filled emotions of Kay to readers.

I particularly loved when Kay meets and forms a bond with Siôn, for he is like a kindred spirit to her. He has also been through a lot, but he shares the peace that he has found in nature with Kay. She then discovers hope and purpose in the wildlife of the world that has taken so much from her in a really beautiful way.

This book is at times hard to read, but all-in-all, it is a special read that I highly recommend.

Niamh O’Donnell