My Boyfriend Is a Bear

You gotta take this one at face value, don't read into the human-bear relationship too much or it can get squicky and that's so not the point of this graphic novel. If you look past that, it's a story of starting new romantic relationships, and settling into happiness, and introducing your new love to your friends and family (and them being skeptical because that's what friends are for). And dealing with things when times are tough. It was really sweet, and honest, and the artwork was lovely.

Hilarious! Shout out to Bust Magazine, which is seen in a panel. So funny.

This was charming and totally weird. Great illustrations.

Gah, I got ...something in my eye. That's all. sniff So Cute!

charming, but a bit too simplistic

This is a very quick read, but I disliked it enough that I considered not finishing it. I went into this book fully expecting it to be strange (I mean, based on the title alone), but I was prepared to laugh incredulously and find sweet tidbits. At the very least, I didn't think I would come away with such a definitively negative experience.

The illustrations were cute, and there were a few nice moments. But I was put off by both the characters and plot. I did not like Nora. I did not like Ben (I know we're supposed to dislike him, but still, fuck Ben). I did not like Nora's cat abruptly passing away. I did not like how Nora went all New Moon Bella Swan when Bear was hibernating. To be blunt, I did not like the repeated confirmation of bestiality. I knew there were implications, obviously, but I wanted this book to be more of an absurd satire about human relationship dynamics and less "Nora and Bear broke her bed and if you were wondering do in fact have to sleep in separate rooms when she gets her period."

I think what bothers me the most is that I could have had a lot of fun with the premise, had it been handled differently. Maybe I set myself up for disappointment by thinking this was something it wasn't. That could be. But I'm still mad.

My Boyfriend Is a Bear is the story of an unlikely romance between a woman and her bear. This is a sweet graphic novel that is not as perverse as the title may imply. Ribon provides a romance with all the elements you expect: an unlikely couple, a chance encounter, and the mistrust and pressure to evolve for a partner that causes division. Farris's art is a simple and colorful comic style, but it fits the subject. One way this graphic novel stands out is in its lack of sentimentality. This is a sweet story, but it's not cloying. It parallels a realistic relationship without losing its heart or trying too hard. Lots to grah here.

This was a bit of an accidental choice. At first I did not intend to read it, but then I saw it at the library and was amused by Karen's review and thought it would be a quick read.

It's what you make of it, whimsical or perhaps surreal depending on your standing.

It was charming.

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Alright this is a hard one to review.

See, originally I wasn't going to request this one because the girl is in a relationship with a bear.... then I thought, “There was no way they'd write something like this! Maybe it is a Beauty & the Beast thing or a metaphor...”
NO
It is a woman and a bear from the wild.

She has bad luck with guys, usually ending up with weirdos or meanies (although I don't see why wearing suspenders automatically puts someone in the negative column), so when a bear shows up on her doorstep and they start to get along, she starts dating him.
Sure, the bear understands her, has his own way of communicating, is super sweet and attentive, and even gets a job at one point, but seriously?
Also how does a bear get a job???

Reading about a human and bear relationship is just so difficult because ‘bestiality' keeps running through my mind. Especially since they share a bed and there are hints that they have sex. WHY?!

It was so hard to read, but I will admit that I loved the artwork and I thought the story was cute. The bear is like the perfect boyfriend (except 1. he is a bear and 2. hibernation???). It gets three stars for the story-telling, the art, and I actually had some fun reading it.

It is uber cute and I could feel my emotions reaching out to relate to the main character and then I'd remember she is literally in a relationship with a bear, and I'd get uneasy again.

I don't know what to tell you. Do I recommend this to people??? I DON'T KNOW! If you don't mind the bear it is really cute, so maybe AND maybe you'll see more metaphors than I did and be able to appreciate it more. This is just a weird, weird book for me.