god what a good epilogue ending

3.5/5

all over the place but alright

loveddd these i felt that every story held my attention and the mix of weird with poignant everyday life was a healthy balance

also i especially loved the stories that were told in second person pov or were narrated by a collective consciousness (aka the twins story and the second to last story about the mothers)

Wow I really just adored this. It's something I could've read in one sitting but I took almost two weeks to just enjoy it and sit with the pages and the characters every few days and now they feel like a part of me. Something about the story and art style just hit me in the gut and I felt so much opportunity in Oli and her friends journey. The overwhelming feeling of having a dead end life in college and beyond because of capitalism was just so real and I think so many people can relate to what drives Oli. Not only did The Gulf deliver on making those encompassing anxieties affable but the dialogue and dynamics were really funny too! I genuinely was laughing out loud and the art style is just so gorgeous in its simplistic nature. Overall I would say read this for a graphic novel that has the same summer coming of age feeling as Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau, the same friendship and college feelings as Radio Silence by Alice Oseman, and for a cozy and calming nature adventure on an island that feels completely unique.

3.5/5: i have such mixed feelings. on one hand i thought this was really beautifully told and i tabbed an extreme amount of lines but i also think there was something missing overall. the ending also was so abrupt that im honestly surprised more people havent said anything about it (at least from what i’ve seen). i was also surprised at the lack of trigger warnings surrounding this on the internet because the depression, familial abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, and prob more i can’t think of was very prevalent and i dont think i’ve ever seen this recommended with a note about trigger warnings so ya! overall i enjoyed it and will definitely read sally rooney’s other books, im excited to watch the normal people show this week, but despite everything i don’t feel like i got a good grasp on the characters and i didn’t like the ending (though i can see why she gave it an abrupt ending)