4/5 (audiobook)

Okay...so this book started off as a 2.5- or 3-star rating for me. I was not loving the audiobook, but I wanted to read on because I had heard so many good things about this book. After getting about 1/4 of the way through, though, I started to look beyond the basic plotline and really look deeper into the characters and their lives, and my rating changed to 4 stars. This was a good idea (facepalm - wow, duh, you are supposed to read past the basic plot when you read books...).

I started to fall in love with Eliza the more Monstrous Sea developed and became clear that the platform was more than just a creative outlet for her. Going into the book, I figured that the title referred to more than just the monsters that Eliza created in her comic, but I was not quite sure where it was going to go. I was pleasantly surprised to see the mental health representation of anxiety in a way that was not completely overwhelming but realistic and relatable in representation, at least for myself.

The diversity of family life is something to be noted in this book, as well. I appreciate the way that Francesca Zappia developed the families throughout the book for both Eliza and Wallace. The relationship between Eliza and her brothers, Church and Sully, was pretty complex, and I really enjoy the way the three siblings grew closer, developed, and matured toward the end of the novel. As for Wallace's family, I thought it was really interesting how Zappia waited until about the end quarter of the novel to announce what happened to his birth family, especially as it was sent through an email. This format really represented Wallace's character and the way his father's story was mirrored by Eliza's suicidal thoughts was extremely impactful.

I would highly recommend this story for anyone looking for an impactful, inspirational read. This was the first book in a long time that made me want to buy the physical copy and reread it again right away.