Gena/Finn Review
I have a read or heard of a variety of books about fandoms. Some being about girls whom draw fan art, others about going to conventions, etc. Never though have I read a book like gena/finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson. The book is first of all, extremely creative in the form in which the story is told. Through direct messages, text, emails, fan art, fiction, articles, letters, and more we are able to see what exactly is happening not only in the fandom, but in the two main character's personal lives as well. The story follows two girls whom are in the same fandom for a show called Up Below and how they form a friendship as well as deal with personal issues that are mixing into fandom life and vice versa. Gena is dealing with going to college for first time as well as the fact that she was a young child star whom left her show years ago. Gena is also dealing with mental health issues such as her past with having hallucinations as a child and dealing currently with depression. Finn is in her 20's and dealing with personal problems of her own. Besides her struggle to find work, she is also struggling with her boyfriend possibly wanting to get married. Throughout the book Gena and Finn start to become friends and talk to each other about fandom, life, and more.
This review will not contain many, if any, spoilers, as I think it is a book that I do not want to spoil for the rest of you and want as many people as possible to read . This book I feel is amazingly creative, relatable, and at time tear jerking. The poetry and just writing in general of the book felt very poetic. The various forms of communications they used to tell the story were unique and versatile. I never felt when I was reading that they were using the text messaging structure for too long or a diary entry format more than they needed to. The use of letters also was very "show and not directly tell," which I appreciated. I feel that Gena and Finn's love of this show, the actors, and for each other was something that many people can understand. Whether the love is more of a romantic love or just a friendship love is up to the reader I think (though I feel there was somewhat of a clear ending when you do finish the book). But No matter what, I feel that the many readers whom have been involved in an fandom online, can say they do have at least one to a few internet friends whom they will share their theories about what will happen next seasons or how they love a certain ship or what actors they love on a show or which character they hate, etc. Online friends also can end up talking somewhat about real life/personal issues that they are having. Sometimes it relates back to fandom, sometimes just to get things off their chest, or sometimes just because they are slowly becoming more than just fandom friends and want to know more than just what ship he or she loves or how many seasons of a show he or she has seen. I feel that Finn and Gena embody that type of friendship perfectly and the book, gena/finn is a great example of what being in a fandom, fangirling, and having online friendships that can grow into best friendships really can be like. Maybe not everyone can relate to Gena's past as a child star or maybe not everyone will understand Finn's struggles of possibly being in love with more than one person at the same time or not being able to figure out who you really love? Or maybe they do? What I do know for sure is this book will be perfect for anyone who is, or ever has been, in a fandom and has ever had any online friends, because they know how powerful and amazing it is to be in a fandom and have those kinds of friendships. With Gena and Finn, one TV show was able to bring them together, well with one book, gena/finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson, I believe it will be able to bring a whole audience of readers, fangirls, and maybe even people just curious about the fandom life, together. Which is pretty amazing if you ask me.
I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. **** out of *****
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