Member Reviews

This book is about the daily life of a woman. It ranges from mating habits to social conduct and it was really funny to read.

I already knew some of her work but almost none were featured in this graphic novel, making its content fresh.

The drawing style is inevitably funny and I found myself laughing out loud in some pages.

It’s a fast read that I recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I have to admit that I'm disappointed by LADY STUFF. I loved some of the comics and could relate to a few of them (definitely not most though), but what disappointed me was that I don't think calling it "Lady Stuff" is very accurate.

Because of the title and subtitle, I was expecting this collection to have some kind of cultural commentary or for there to be comics that had to do with feminism and equality, but really the only "secrets" had to do with makeup mishaps, 2 fairly similar comics about shaving your legs (one to do with seasons changing, the other the length of a relationship), a couple of comics about periods, and other superficial subjects, like clothes. However, the majority of the comics in this collection actually aren't "secrets to being a woman" at all, and are instead random observations and thoughts, or things that have presumably happened to the illustrator and author of the collection, Loryn Brantz.

I'm giving this one 3 stars for the comics I really liked (mostly the dog ones and the one comic that had to do with books which I've seen floating around the internet for a while already), but the rest of the collection definitely wasn't anything like the title led me to expect it to be. I do think it's worth reading, but I'd recommend going into it without the expectations that I had. For the most part, LADY STUFF doesn't contain any kind of serious undertones--it really is just a straight-forward compilation of Loryn Brantz's illustrations separated into several subjects: Grooming and Habitat Maintenance, Life Ambitions, Mating Habits, Self-Care, and Social Conduct. I do enjoy Loryn's artistic style and I like how she frames her comics with titles--her style reminds me of Kate Beaton, who I adore, so I did like being able to look through all of her comics in a collection.

So, to sum it up, I enjoyed the artwork and the light-hearted feel of these comics, and if you're looking for a light collection of illustrations that will make you smile and chuckle to yourself, I definitely think you should give this collection a gander, but don't expect it to be a collection of comics on social commentary because it definitely isn't that. :P

Was this review helpful?

Hilarious and definitely explicates the highs and lows of life as a woman.

Was this review helpful?

Do you ever find yourself finding a funny comic and just spending the next 3 hours going through every comic published by that person? Well this is what it felt like when I opened page 1… next thing I know it’s 3 hours later and I keep trying to swipe left to get to the next page that doesn’t exist. So stalking buzzfeed pages I went for more comic strips.

I have found myself either vehemently agreeing to some of these lady like behaviors… or saying ‘hey this is my friend’. Adorably drawn and couldn’t be even more true.

So either way you will get a fun time if you ever found yourself being a lady, even if just for a brief moment being #LadyLike.

Was this review helpful?

*An ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

This short collection or Brantz's comics was very cute. The "ten steps to drive a man crazy" made me laugh and I would have liked to see some more long-form pieces from her, rather than almost entirely one or two panel jokes.

Was this review helpful?

<p>After getting <a href="https://www.librarything.com/work/9801777/93703202">bogged down</a> and it being humid and me being miserable, I needed something quick and easy to read. Et voilà, <a href="https://www.librarything.com/work/19917635/144629420">Lady Stuff</a> comic of a roly-poly, always cold, sleepy, female protagonist bumbling through life in the way I do. I have to remember that whenever I get stressed out about how adult-like all these people around me are, indeed there are people as lazy and unsure of themselves as me, making comics for me to grin at, and make myself feel all that much better about burritoing myself away to suspiciously regard the outside world.</p>

<p>So yay! I enjoyed it. Yay yay!</p>

<p><A href="https://www.librarything.com/work/19917635/144629420">Lady Stuff: Secrets to Being a Woman</a> by Loryn Brantz went on sale September 26, 2017.</p>

<p><small>I received a copy free from <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">Netgalley</a> in exchange for an honest review.</small></p>

Was this review helpful?

I LOVED THIS. I've never followed this comic before, but it is TOO RELATABLE. I'd say about 90% of them had me like, YEP, ME AF. If you want a quick read that'll make you giggle, pick this one up for sure!

Was this review helpful?

3.5
Soooo funny!!
I've been following Loryn's comics since a year ago, so some of them were really familiar to me, but I enjoyed reading them.
I think most of the comics were relatable and hilarous, except the "10 things to do to drive a man crazy", that was weird. But, overall I think is a funny, entertaining and easy read that anyone could enjoy.

Was this review helpful?

Treat to read!! Hilarious, extremely relatable and succinct! Perfect for getting you out of a reading slump or a quick read, hence, perfect for me! The concept was amazing, and I liked how the comic was divided into sections - made it much more organized. The artwork incorporated the writer's ideas perfectly and were executed in the best possible way.

Shout out to the title, it completely won me over, because I'm a lady! I do stuff! Obviously, I should be able to relate to this book on a personal level because of that, right? And surprisingly enough, I was able to relate.

I laughed out loud and really enjoyed reading this light-hearted unicorn of a book!

Was this review helpful?

Everyone has probably seen this artist's work online and having it collected in one book is even better. Yes, women will identify with these scenarios a little more than men, but everyone will get a bit of a laugh out of something. A fun, quick read to put a smile on your face.

Was this review helpful?

I have to be honest, I totally enjoy Loryn her posts on instagram. Having them all in a book just isn't doing it for me. Granted I already knew most of them. On the internet I just have one or a couple a day and then it is fine and they make me chuckle, all of them together just isn't a great reading experience. So I say: go follow her online ;)

Was this review helpful?

I love this funny-comic-cartoons. This particular book, I had seen a lot of the cartoons inside on Buzzfeed and stuff, but it was really enjoyable to read through this book. Its short - it took me about 20 minutes to get through. The artwork is really nice, its funny, and its really relatable. (Save for one cartoon that was more cringe-y than funny...)

I recommend it!

Was this review helpful?

As a devoted Loryn Brantz follower on Instagram, I was so excited to see this book available as an ARC. Readers familiar with her work may find this book a bit of deja vu as there are a lot of repeats, but personally I am happy to see her best work all put together in one place, and in thematic order! The author has a magical way of hitting the nail on the head of what the small (and humorous) trials and tribulations of womanhood are like and this is sure to make you smile. I think this would make an EXCELLENT and unique coffee table book.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2130290339

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun and short comic collection, with a bunch of situations any girl can relate to. Some of the situations were told/drawn too many times by other popular authors, like Sarah Andersen, so I found them boring, especially since I didn't really like the illustrative style, it could have been much better, and it doesn't have a special flair to it. There are some things I liked though, so it isn't all bad. Some situations were really funny, and not done before/a lot, and I could totally relate, like the squeaky shoe-fart, pet hairs on clothes, and especially the beach stone - it does look magical when you pick it up, but when you get home it goes straight to trash after a short consideration - because it's just a freaking stone. :)

Was this review helpful?

Funny and often very true. A good book to give as a gift!

Was this review helpful?

This is really good, funny, and relateable comics for a quick read!

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book; though while some of the cartoons were laugh-out-loud funny, there were some that I didn’t connect with. (And not because I’m not a lady. At least I don’t think so.)

And I completely relate to her issues with lactose intolerance and late-night cereal.

Recommended, but it’s a quick read, and probably not something I’d keep on my shelf.

Was this review helpful?

I am kind of a sucker for this style of comics. See also: Sarah Scribbles. Funny women writing and drawing relatable comics is definitely what I'm here for.

And these are pretty freaking fantastic.

A quick, easy, and very funny read. Worth your time if you enjoy this style.

Was this review helpful?

I've gotta tell ya, I love so much of what Andrews McMeel publishes.

But I've also gotta tell ya, the first chapter of this comics collection almost turned me off.

Brantz is another new-to-me illustrator. I requested to review this copy because it looked like it would be wittily snarky and relatable. But the first chapter, Grooming and Habitat Maintenance, honestly, almost made me put the book down. Though there were a couple of funny panels, the humor felt like a safe, 80's, Cathy comics sort of thing (okay, it make me think of a Kathy Griffin-like hey, isn't it so hard being a woman, what with boobs and all? --- I'm not a K.G. fan, obviously, though based on recent news, looks like maybe her stuff has improved!). But I kept reading and was rewarded with more relatable content, and ended up quite happy.

That last one? I've done that last one! Within the last week!

I ended up enjoying this one so much. Brantz is delightfully strong in translating passing thoughts and actions that we all do all the time but would have difficulty explaining to someone. If you like Hyperbole and a Half or Sarah Andersen, I feel confident you'll like Brantz.

Lady Stuff: Secrets to Being a Woman will be released Tuesday, September 26th.

Was this review helpful?