MISMATCHED BY ANNE CAMLIN & ILLUSTRATED BY ISADORA ZEFERINO // spoiler-free book review: gushing over this queer graphic novel retelling of emma for days!!!

Rare that you see a graphic novel review from me right? Well let me tell you SHE WAS WORTH IT AND I MUST SPILL MY GUTS!!!

Let’s dive right in <3<3<3

Title: Mismatched
Author: Anne Camlin
Illustrator: Isadora Zeferino
Page count: 264
Date published: 3 September 2024
Genre: Young adult contemporary

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Synopsis:

A teen social media star learns he can’t control everything in this delicious, queer graphic novel adaptation that relocates Jane Austen’s Emma to a modern-day high school in Queens, New York.

Evan Horowitz has it beauty, brains, and a not-so-secret flair for matchmaking! An Insta influencer with a talent for makeup and a taste for romance, he’s no stranger to playing cupid for those hopelessly clueless in finding love.

So when shy transfer student Natalia shuffles into school one day, Evan can’t help but get his hands messy! With so many matches to choose from, it’s not long before he sets a plan in motion for Natalia—much against the better judgement of his level-headed best friend, Davi.

But he takes things too far, creating a web of drama that spirals out of his control. Can Evan learn to put the people closest to him before his misguided ambition? Or will he lose them and his own chance at romance, too?

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Big thanks to Pan Macmillan SA for the review copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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STAR RATING: (4.5 out of 5 stars)

If you were wondering if I would drop everything for a queer graphic novel that is also a Jane Austen retelling then you would be right!

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This is a genderbent retelling of Emma set in high school. We follow Evan, a beauty influencer, with what he thinks is a knack for matchmaking….

I see many reviews complaining about the choppiness of the story and how Evan is not redeemable and I might seem harsh when I say this but go touch grass and read the source material ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Emma is a difficult character to like and Evan is exactly the same. As an Emma defender till the day I die, I will even admit even I found it HARD with him. But that’s the entire point, and the care that Austen brings was brought forth by Camlin and Isadora, so BRAVA.

What I also loved about Evan’s characterisation is the fact that he is literally a beauty influencer and that acts as a more meta tie to the high-society England from Austen’s work, whilst still being able to connect to a modern audience. We love duality in this household!!!

One of my favourite things about reading/consuming retellings is taking my red tape and connecting everything back to the original, and this was all the fun. Particularly Miss Bates iykyk.

One thing I did expect from this was for the novel to keep some of the original Austen lines, which it… did not. I’m only disappointed because I love them so much and melt into a puddle every time I hear so is that even a critique?

A moment for the artwork!!!!

I mean???? I don’t think my words can do any justice to please bask in her glory *insert heart eyes*

Ugh, and I love a childhood friends to lovers so I mean OF COURSE? And they’re GAY? Who are you kidding, my excitement cannot be contained, and I probably need help *melts into a puddle*

If you’re an Austen fan looking for a graphic novel that will most certainly put a smile on your face, you’ve come to the right place <3<3<3

HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT DID YOU THINK? ARE YOU AN AUSTEN FAN? DO YOU LIKE EMMA? WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE CHARTACTER? I’D LOVE TO KNOW!