"Mismatched by Anne Camlin - A Comprehensive E-ARC Review and Discussion Questions for Book Clubs"

Mismatched by Anne Camlin

Illustrator: Isadora Zeferino

Publisher: Little Brown Books

Genres: Young Adult Romance, Fiction, LGBTQIAP+

Recommended ages: 13+

Netgalley shelf e-book graphic novel page count: 264

Expected Publication date: September 3rd, 2024

Thank You to Netgalley, author, illustrator, and publisher for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Date Started and Finished: June 6th, 2024 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐. 5

Synopsis:

In this LGBTQIATP+ graphic novel Emma adaption, Evan Horowitz, a teenage social media influencer with a knack for matchmaking, finds himself at a modern-day high school in Queens, New York. Despite his best friend Davi's advice, he devises a matchmaking strategy for Natalia, a new shy student at school. However, his ambition spirals out of control, resulting in a web of drama and miscommunication. The novel delves into the difficulties of finding love, prioritizing those closest to you, and selecting whether to prioritize one’s friendships over chances at romance.

Review:

The cover is stunningly illustrated, eye-catching, and cute. I enjoyed how the author presented and tackled the novel's themes of varied sexualities, gender identifications, personalities, and pasts. All the characters developed nicely. Readers can identify the flaws and traits of each character in the narrative. I found it realistic and interesting how some of the characters had to overcome obstacles to feel comfortable being themselves. The graphic novel teaches people to treat everyone with respect and kindness while trying to avoid passing judgment or making assumptions about others before getting to know them. The illustrations that appeared throughout the text were fantastic, but they were hazy at times in the e-book version, which could be due to a conversion issue. The primary critique I have, even though it contributes to Evan's overall character growth and learning, is the way he reacts, acts, and behaves toward some of the other characters because they do not behave or like the same things he does in real life. I believe the author could have possibly had Evan be a little less harsh towards them while still retaining his character development and learning over the narrative. The story is a loose adaptation of Emma, with Evan's matchmaking, but readers do not need to have read Emma to enjoy this book. The graphic novel contains excellent visuals, teachings, character development, and a plot that is simple to read, comprehend, and follow. Mismatched, written by Anne Camlin and drawn by Isadora Zeferino, is for individuals who enjoy good character development, the voyage of self-discovery and love, and the art of learning to value our friendships with others.

Discussion Questions for Mismatched, written by Anne Camlin and drawn by Isadora Zeferino

1.      What do you think of the book’s title? How does it relate to the book’s contents? What other title might you choose?

2.      What do you think about the book’s cover? How well does it convey what the book is about? If the book has been published with different covers, which one do you like best?

3.      Was there a specific scene that you liked?

a.      Which part(s) of the book caught your attention the most?

4.      What did you enjoy about this book?

5.       What did you dislike about the book?

6.      Which characters in the book did you like best?

7. Which characters did you like least?

8.      The book depicts running a school club. What are some clubs you would like to run or be a part of?

9.      After reading the book, what are some of the things you learned while reading?

10.  After reading the book, what are some things you would change or expand upon in the book?