I Shall Never Fall in Love – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Graphic novel, LGBTQ+, romance, inclusivity, diversity.
YA book title: I Shall Never Fall in Love.
YA author: Hari Conner.
Genre: Graphic novel.
Published by: Simon and Schuster.
ISBN: 9781398526709.
Recommended for children aged: 14+ year-olds.
First published: Paperback September 2024.
This children’s book is ideal for: KS3 & KS4 diverse reading lists.
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Our review:
Suitors, society, secrets – growing up has never been easy…
Despite her mother’s early death, Eleanor lives a charmed life in Regency Era Surrey, keeping house for her invalid father and beloved cousin Charlotte. Eleanor and Charlotte are as close as sisters and love spending time with their neighbour George.
“George was born Georgina and proclaimed a girl although they had mixed feelings on the matter.”
Although the villagers think that George is a little strange with their interest in farming and running their father’s estate, Eleanor and Charlotte accept them exactly as they are and the three are firm friends.
Over the years George’s feelings for Eleanor deepen and turn into something more than friendship. But George does their best to ignore such confusing thoughts and is kept busy avoiding their scheming aunt’s matchmaking efforts, and trying to run the failing family estate. Not to mention secretly dressing as a boy long after they are supposed to have grown out of such habits…
Eleanor is also bound by convention and is expected to marry a suitable man to protect her family’s prospects. But she is more concerned with finding a suitable match for her cousin Charlotte than pursuing her own romantic interests. She wants to do right by her family but she never feels as close to the men she meets at the endless society balls as she does to George.
But George is keeping dangerous secrets and the enduring friendship of the trio is being put to the test by societal expectations and family pressure. George, Eleanor and Charlotte must all face the question of what they are willing to sacrifice to be true to themselves and find their own happily ever after.
I Shall Never Fall in Love is a wonderfully diverse and inclusive graphic novel. The Regency era is beautifully brought to light in the full-colour illustrations and Bridgerton fans will love the attention to detail of the period clothing and mannerisms. The dialogue is sharp and funny and the focus of being true to yourself is highly relevant to a modern readership.
Non-binary author Hari Conner is the creator of the webcomic Finding Home which has received more than 5 million views and won the Scottish Independent Comic Book Award for Best Artist in 2017.
An insightful ‘History corner’ at the back of the book gives the reader insight into aspects of LGBTQ+ history, as well as facts about Regency fashion, food and cultural diversity. Elements of several Austen novels are scattered throughout the text, with the story itself influenced by real trans and queer history, including that of Anne Lister of Gentleman Jack fame. Love has always been love, regardless of pronouns or fashion choices.
I Shall Never Fall in Love is a heart-warmingly inclusive period romance, perfect for fans of Lex Croucher’s Gwen and Art are Not in Love and Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper.
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for the review copy.
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If you like I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner you might also like: our reviews of The ‘Luis Ortega’ Survival Club by Sonora Reyes, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes, Scattered Showers by Rainbow Rowell and Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher.
Browse our LGBTQIA+ stories for 11-16 year olds list.
