Book Review

12 Reasons Why I Love Her by Jamie S. Rich and Joelle Jones

12 Reasons Why I Love Her is a graphic novel that describes the romance between Gwen and Evan. Sadly, I loathed both Gwen and Evan so very, very much, that I am presenting this review as “10 Reasons Why I Hated This.”

Why ten and not twelve? Because coming up with twelve things just seemed too bitter. Includes spoilers.

  1. This is described as “a romance graphic novel told in twelve individual vignettes” but it does not have a happy ending although that may depend on how you interpret the ending. I realize that there’s currently a debate over whether a romance novel has to have a happy ending. I am firmly in the camp that rather likes tragic stories of love as long as they aren’t sold to me as a “Romance Novel.” To me, that label promises an HEA. I would have had a better experience if this had been a labeled a “love story” or something similar – yes, it is about romance, but it doesn’t meet “Romance Novel” criteria in my view.
  2. Evan is a whiny hipster, Gwen is a manic pixie dream girl, and both have, in the words of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “The emotional maturity of a blueberry scone.” This is a romance between two shallow, self-centered, immature people and accordingly I hope they stay together forever to protect the larger population from their personalities.
  3. On their first date Evan pouts the whole time and his reason for pouting is so sexist and douchey that I longed for him to burst into flames on the spot. He’s mad because Gwen bought him flowers and that they are better than the flowers he bought her, and he thinks that it’s the man’s job to bring flowers. Ass.Story panels - Evan is bringing GWen a small bouquet. Gwen - I 'm so glad you found my building. Did you have any trouble? Evan: No, not at all. In fact I was even able to stop and pick you up a little something. Gwen: holding enormous bouquet How funny. I got you a little something too
  4. Gwen is a manic pixie dream girl who gives terrible presents, does not appreciate Evan’s presents, and who cracks offensive jokes. Like all manic pixie dream girls, she is, I must admit, utterly adorable, but also insufferable.
  5. On their second date, Evan keeps suggesting they split a dessert even though Gwen clearly indicates that she wants to eat her own. Look, there are connotations to suggesting that a woman not eat a whole dessert. Even if there weren’t, it’s still a jerk move to try to stop her from ordering what she clearly wants to order. Shut up and eat your own dessert and leave the woman in peace.
  6. For the most part I love the art, which is black and white with a noir style and some pages of unexpected, dreamy softness. But I hate it that Gwen is drawn as being so thin that she is basically emaciated. This is what happens in a culture in which women are bullied out of eating a whole dessert.
  7. Evan drags Gwen to a movie that she tells him she doesn’t want to see and then he falls sleep during the movie. There’s a theme here – Evan DOES NOT LISTEN. OR CARE.
  8. I hate it that Gwen explains that an unplanned pregnancy ended in miscarriage. Her feelings about the miscarriage are powerful (she feels cheated because she didn’t choose the pregnancy and because of the miscarriage she also didn’t get to choose whether to end it or continue it). But it feels like a cop out – like this is yet another time that an author dodges the abortion issue by having something else happen so that the heroine doesn’t have to decide what to do and the reader doesn’t have to think about her decision.
  9. Gwen is a huge jerk for wanting to reconnect with her ex while saying that she still wants to be with Evan – not in an “open relationship” way, more in a “I’m drifting around and playing with both of you” way.
  10. Evan’s temper tantrum regarding Gwen seeing her ex is a two-year-old level tantrum. Honestly, Evan. “I hope you die,” he says. Get a fucking grip, asshole.

Author Jamie S. Rich has written a number of comics that focus on romance and he has a great feel for the tentative beginnings of romance and how it can fall apart in a cascade of small things. I had actually forgotten that I reviewed another one of his comics, A Boy and a Girl, which I reviewed here. At the time, I gave it a low grade (again, the ending threw me for a loop) but in retrospect I wish I had graded it higher because it was so creative and interesting and emotionally powerful. My advice for readers regarding Jamie S. Rich is to read his stuff (but maybe not 12 Reasons which is not his strongest work) and just be prepared for the probable absence of a happy ending.

With regard to 12 Reasons, I liked the inclusion of small moments (little jokes, a childhood story, Gwen’s horrible record collection) and I liked their “meet cute” at a movie theater. This couple made me laugh several times even though I deeply disliked them (especially Evan – Evan and I got off on the wrong foot and never recovered).

I did love the art, which is why the grade is a C-. There’s a great essay about all the artistic touches that can convey little details about the relationship at Comic Book Resources. Otherwise, aside from the images therein, I did not care for this book. I did, however, feel a deep need to re-read A Boy and a Girl so I guess that’s a plus.

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12 Reasons Why I Love Her by Jamie Rich

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  1. Bianca says:

    I agree with your statement “This is what happens in a culture in which women are bullied out of eating dessert.” I know this may sound old fashioned, but I also think this type of writing is an example of our modern, trendy, hip culture glorifies no real connections in romantic relationships and seems to abhor and mock marriage. Honestly, there are so many grown men walking around like grown up teenagers, frightened of monogamy and without much true respect for women….and so many grown women who truly don’t know how to deal with this sad phenomena, using articles titled “How to Make Him Commit For Good!” or similar as guidebooks. Sorry for the rant, lol, I’m just saddened at my age to observe so much glorification of genuine dislike and disrespect between people in relationships.

  2. As always, a thoughtful review. I only hope the author takes it in without getting defensive (although maybe an unrealistic hope, considering how Evan handled conflict/confrontation).

    I will add a devil’s advocate remark: there are a LOT of young men like Evan. They’ve hopelessly self-involved, juvenile with deeply ingrained misogynist beliefs. There are also a fair amount of Gwens out there too. For the especially annoying, narcissistic, subset of millennial culture (not ALL millennials, mind you) bet this comic work will ring true. The author captures gender equitable ‘douche-baggery’ quite well. If that was his intent? Bravo.

  3. Bianca says:

    Harper, you conveyed what I was feeling a lot more eloquently than I was able to! Thank you I’m so thankful to be in my forties and not in my twenties!

  4. Madge says:

    Gwen has a “bad” record collection? For once – just once, dammit! – I’d love to see the “girl” blow this loser hipster shorthand away with the biggest, baddest collection of limited edition vinyl available.

  5. CarrieS says:

    For the record, while her record collection is horrible, I also love it and want to come over and listen to it all day. I know longer have the book in my possession but if memory serves Barry Manilow is involved. The music of my youth! I can’t smile without you either, Barry!

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