About the Book
-
Author:
- Victoria Evans
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Goth Potatoes
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Talky Talk: The Exquisite Horror of Reality
Arty Art: Broody
Bonus Factor: Hunter
Relationship Status: I’d Hug You Even if You’re Too Cool For That
Content Warning: The History of Everything features feelings of abandonment and loneliness at the hands of a best friend.
Cover Story: Goth Potatoes
The two main characters of this graphic novel—Agnes and Daisy—have been best friends forever. They dress in gothic/alternative styles and love to watch genre TV shows and slasher films. This cover is a perfect depiction of the two, but I do wish the title was more prevalent. It gets a bit lost.
The Deal:
Agnes has just found out that her mom is moving them at the end of the summer. So she and her BFF Daisy make Big Plans, like they used to do when they were kids: trips to the fair, binging their favorite TV show, finally going to the local slasher movie marathon. It’ll be the perfect send-off summer. But then Daisy makes googly eyes at new kid in town Noah, and she begins asking Agnes to change plans to include Noah, or cancel them entirely. Agnes sees and feels everything slipping through her fingers, but, as a teen with a flair for the morose, she can’t figure out how to make things right.
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Agnes is a bit of a sad sack, but I don’t blame her. Being a loner with only one friend in high school is hard enough—when that best friend starts spending time with other people, often without you, it feels like a kick to the kidneys. Agnes’s mom is also somewhat absent and focused more on what’s best for her and Agnes on a larger scale; she has little idea what’s going on in Agnes’s life, and when she tries to connect, it’s always as more of an authority figure than friend. Agnes feels misunderstood and unliked and could really use someone who’s wholly in her corner.
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Daisy and Noah are cute together, but this story isn’t about them.
Talky Talk: The Exquisite Horror of Reality
It seems like Evans has some experience being a teenage girl who prefers to live on the outskirts of normal society, and with being a teenage girl who feels abandoned by her loved ones. The History of Everything is filled with real emotion and angst; even if you’ve never been anywhere close to Agnes and Daisy’s shoes, you’ll understand what they’re going through and why they feel so strongly about all of it.
Arty Art: Broody
Page via HarperAlley
Evans’s art is cute without being cutesy (except for when Daisy has literal heart eyes over Noah, but that’s appropriate for the feels) and her art style unique. Her use of colors tends toward the somber, which fits the story nicely. Agnes and Daisy aren’t rainbows and butterfly girls, and neither is the story. Although it’s a contemporary book, the gothic feel of it made me feel like I really was experiencing Agnes’s life.
Bonus Factor: Hunter
Agnes and Diasy share a love for a cheesy paranormal show called Hunter in which a former star athlete named Bonnie is turned into a demon hunter by “a bunch of old guys.” Daisy describes Bonnie like so: “She’s basically like a really powerful superhero whole destiny is to kill a bunch of monsters.” I’d watch that. (I think I already have?)
Relationship Status: I’d Hug You Even if You’re Too Cool For That
You were a delightful companion, Book. Even when things got real, I could sense the hope in you. I have a feeling you’re on your way to brighter days. But never let anyone persuade you into not being your authentic self, penchant for 80s new wave bands and all.
Literary Matchmaking
Kate Leth’s Mall Goth is another cute but not cutesy graphic novel filled with parent-caused angst and a retro love of shopping malls
Agnes and Daisy would love the paranormal aspects of Maggie Tokuda Hall and Lisa Sterle’s Squad.
Hari Conner’s I Shall Never Fall in Love is a period piece, but deals with timeless best friend friction.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from HarperAlley, but got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. The History of Everything is available now.
