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It's Not What You Thought It Would Be

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( 593 ratings, 81 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
It's Not What You Thought It Would Be gently explores the evolving lives and relationships of women through a series of interconnected vignettes. From a young girl's dreams beyond suburban life to friendships drifting apart, and the experience of feeling seen or invisible in a big city, Lizzy Stewart captures the quiet intensity of ordinary moments and the shifting perspectives that come with growing up. The artwork varies across styles like watercolor, coloured pencil, and pen and ink, mirroring the characters’ own evolution.
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Format: Hardback
$4799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This thoughtful graphic novel will appeal to readers interested in women's lives, relationships, and coming-of-age stories portrayed with nuance and emotional depth.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

This poignant coming-of-age story follows several young women on their circuitous paths to adulthood.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A young girl imagines a grand future for herself, far from the drab British suburbs. Two friends, once inseparable, find their connection gradually slipping away. Three women discuss how life in the big city makes them feel seen - or invisible. In a series of interconnected vignettes, It's Not What You Thought It Would Be explores the circuitous paths lives can take and the changes in perspective gained along the way.

In these interconnected vignettes, Stewart focuses on the ordinary, slice-of-life moments - teenagers climbing up and lounging on a rooftop, friends catching up over pints at the pub, a woman riding the night bus home - and charges these scenes with a quiet intensity. Through keen observation and an ear for naturalistic dialogue, she reveals the complex natures of her characters, from their confidence to their insecurities, as they experience the joys and pains of growing up.

Drawn in a variety of different styles, from watercolour to coloured pencil to pen and ink, the style of this book echoes the evolution of the characters within.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

"Lizzy Stewart cleverly examines the ebbs and flows of women's relationships from childhood to adulthood in her insightful adult graphic debut. Her compassionate depictions of women alone, women together, will undoubtedly find welcoming audiences." — Shelf Awareness

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781683964353

Publisher: Fantagraphics

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 29 July 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: Fantagraphics

Illustration: 168 Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 197.0mm

Height: 272.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 168

About the Author

Lizzy Stewart is a British illustrator and author who teaches illustration at Goldsmiths College in London. She has written and illustrated three picture books for children alongside Walking Distance, an illustrated essay, and It's Not What You Thought It Would Be, a graphic short-story collection. Her debut picture book There's a Tiger in the Garden won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Picture Books in 2017.

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