I wasn't really sold on the premise of a novel about graphic novel about dating but with blurbs from Rainbow Rowell and Jojo Moyes, I thought I should give this quirky premise a try. But unfortunately, I was slightly disappointed by My Boyfriend is a Bear.

Nora has always had terrible dating experiences but when she meets a bear, things change. The graphic novel revolves around Nora who attempts to make her relationship with Bear work. It is described as a metaphor for modern dating by the blurbs and jacket copy.

I thought the art style was really cute and definitely aesthetically pleasing but I do agree with other reviewers who say that they were waiting for a metaphor about dating. My Boyfriend is a Bear was literally just about a young woman who falls in love with a bear (???). I was really waiting for something deeper to happen. Of course, there's a suspension of disbelief that has to be accepted, which I decided to do going into the book, but I felt like there was no real reason behind the novel since the execution was too literal in its premise. Readers will literally see scenes of Nora and her boyfriend who is an actual bear. I think this would've made more sense if there was some sort of "lesson" that the main character learns about modern dating but there was no lesson, unless the lesson is that we should all date actual animals which...... is not what I expected to say the least.

Overall, My Boyfriend is a Bear has cute illustrations and a quirky premise but if you're expecting to see a metaphor about human dating, prepare to be disappointed.

This was cute and quirky but I couldn't quite get past the implied bestiality, haha. I did really enjoy the art, especially the scene where they got drunk and their faces turned Picasso-esque. I probably won't recommend it to my teens, but I know some adults who would probably enjoy this.

Very weird but a lot of fun! Will make you laugh all the way through it.

A modern fable that reveals the daily joy and hard work of relationships while teaching readers to learn to follow their heart in the face of discrimination. After a series of bad relationships, Nora promises herself that she won’t compromise her needs for whoever she dates next. Then she meets the Bear, on the run from a wildfire, and finds her perfect mate. As friends and family show a range of reactions to her unusual choice, Nora finds herself falling farther in live with the perfect guy for her - even as she comes to terms with the reality that no relationship is perfect. I loved the art, first of all, with its splashy color and varied design that kept the action moving. I especially appreciated the deft use of magical realism that made a girl dating a bear so normal, even as his character acts as a stand-in for “the other” being discriminated against by a seemingly loving family. On the surface a fun, ridiculous story, but replace the bear with any minority - race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. - and readers can see the battles of so many couples who just want to be accepted by their friends and family. A wonderful addition for libraries looking for fewer superhero comics and more unique graphic novels for a diverse, adult audience.

The artwork and storytelling in this graphic novel about a girl falling in love with an actual bear is adorable, but I don't understand it. I have mixed feelings because I expected there to be a "lesson" sort of ending. Something about modern dating or how people in "non-traditional" relationships are treated by even family and friends. But there wasn't really any of that. It seems to just be a quirky story about a girl that is in love (and having sex with) an actual bear. So, obviously, there's quite a bit of suspension of disbelief necessary.



With all that aside, it's a fun comic. I liked how the art changed when they were in a drunken state. It's fun to see L.A. locations featured.



I give this graphic novel a 3.5/5. This is mostly because I didn't understand what I was supposed to get out of this story. It felt like it was missing something to make it deeper.

As I've said time and again, I love that Netgalley allows me early access to titles so that I know ahead of time what collection (juvenile, YA, or adult) a graphic novel needs to be in. This particular title is one I would call that fun genre "new adult."

Farris's art is a delightfully perfect match to Ribon's story, just realistic enough, while still being cartoon-y. I must admit, I did not think I would be rooting for a human and a bear to make it work, but this book has made me change my mind. Though I did appreciate that Nora's parents and friends were very concerned with her life choices.

Sure, a human-bear relationship seems doomed to fail, but Nora and her Bear are a total power couple. I love that they are both wiling to be active participants in the relationship, each working to care for and support each other. I also feel that Bear is a very clever way to explore any relationship outside of a hetero / cis dynamic and the process of maturing. Love is about kindness, trust, and acceptance, not appearance, and Nora and Bear are the real deal.

An interesting romance between a young woman and a bear. The prospect of a bear/human relationship will be off putting for some. If you can get past that element you'll find an introspective look at twenty something relationships. I'd recommend this to twenty-somethings who loved The Shape of Water.

The title and cover grabbed me immediately: a woman in a relationship with a literal bear - where is this going to go? I was worried about the balance of the silly concept of a literal bear being the boyfriend with the exploration of relationships, but was pleasantly surprised by the comic's mix of silly and candidness. This is a book for adults with the inclusion of some language and sexual situations, but the relationship is very human (despite the animal component). I could relate to the battle of your wants vs those around you and how you see yourself vs how others see you.

It has a happy ending and a message of self discovery amidst the onslaught of outside opinions. It's a light read with adorable illustrations and a great sense of humor.

Sweet and funny graphic novel. Nora has had a string of confidence shattering relationships with men, and is tired of being treated as less than human by the men in her life. Then she meets a guy who is a little rough around the edges, but is always kind, caring, and fun. He just happens to be a bear. An actual bear, not a metaphorical bear. Despite this stretch of the imagination, or perhaps because of it, the story really rings true - the experiences of being shamed for the things you like or want, being unsupported and unheard, having friends disapprove or approve of your relationship and wondering how much that matters, being a little jealous and worried when your beloved is out of town, wishing for someone to listen and cuddle with and to take you out once in awhile - these things are universal. I laughed, I cried, I was uncomfortable. It was wonderful.

This was a really sweet, weird and touching romance story that was exactly what I wanted. It wasn't a metaphor for real life relationship woes it was just a wonderful story about a young woman who is in love with the nicest black bear. It reminded me of a much brighter and happier Shape of Water, which was exemplified by the terrific art of Cat Farris. With Image publishing Twisted Romance and now this romance comics are making a comeback with a fun twist. Definitely recommend this book.

http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2018/03/13/my-boyfriend-is-a-bear-is-a-fresh-romantic-comedy-that-shirks-all-the-tired-tropes-of-the-genre/

I really had no idea what to make of this. I am not a graphic novel reader, but I do what I'm told for the Book Riot challenge, and sometimes my boyfriend reminds me of a bear so the title definitely caught my eye. I liked the art a lot. The story... it was weird. If you can get past the weirdness of inter-species romance, it is quite an interesting commentary on being with who you love regardless of your differences and what your friends say and the long distance, etc. etc. etc. It certainly got me thinking about some things in my relationship, despite the fact that my boyfriend is, in fact, human. Strange, fun, and a bit thought-provoking.

Sweet.

But weird.

Was it supposed to mean anything on a deeper level? I don’t know. I’m confused.

It was hard to get past the fact that she was having a physical relationship with a bear.

I don’t know.

Fun if you feel like you can get past that.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for a copy in return for an honest review.</i>

A story of a lady and her bear, the title really does explain it all. This is a charming graphic novel about love, friendship, and just accepting who you are. I laughed and even shed a tear, curse my fondness for a good love story!

This book is adorable, but you can't think about it too much.

The art is beautiful. It's beautiful and fluid and adorable and I love the character designs. I couldn't get over how cute Bear was and I kept giggling over his various faces. On the other hand, it feels like I'm proving Nora's rude friend right by praising the Bear just for his cuteness. On the other other hand, he's a BEAR. He IS cute and repeatedly acts cute on purpose in the story itself and I'm just reading too much into it.

See that's what I mean about not thinking about it. If you want to really enjoy this book, enjoy the cute art and the cute bear and the cute girl and the cute cat. Just don't think about it too much. Yes, it's a real bear. No, it's not a bear shifter or an anthropomorphized bear. It's literally just a real bear. Yes, she falls in love with the bear. Yes, she fucks the bear (thankfully not on-page, that'd be a very different type of literature). Yes, the book is absolute bonkers and I kinda love it. I just can't think about it at all.

The title of this graphic novel spells it out for you: Nora's boyfriend is a bear. No, not an avid fan of Chicago football, and not a hat-wearing wocka wocka standup comic -- an actual flesh and fur belongs-in-a-zoo-or-in-a-stream-salmon-swatting bear. Nora is a thoroughly modern Los Angeleno who hasn't had much luck in love. On a camping trip with the latest self-absorbed suitor, she wanders off and encounters a bear on the trail. What ensues isn't a survivalist tale, but a wholly unexpected modern suburban love story. Written by Pamela Ribon, the story magically balances a clever, goofy awareness of its off-kilter premise with, at heart, an unabashed sincerity and insight into the highs and lows in love and relationships. Cat Farris' illustrations are whimsically charming, especially the Los Angeles she captures, a Los Angeles I would love to live in instead of the one I actually do.

This was an enchanting read I couldn't put down once I started it. What I love most about this book is how much it believes in love. Highly recommended for the starry-eyed romantic in all of us.

What caught my attention about this book was the title. I didn't really expect the real bear but OMG. 😂

It was a fun read, I like it. I can recommend this to someone who wants to spend some time reading but not much. I read it in one sitting. Although I didn't like much the idea of a girl having not only romantically but also sexually relationship with an actual bear. Plus, the death of her cat just made me sad.

I didn't care for Nora. At all. She doesn't know how to chose her friends, or her dates, or her job but makes it look like it's such an universal conspiracy to make her life miserable.
To make things right, a bear picks her for its mate. Apparently, the bear doesn't mind her reading Glamour instead of Kerouac. I liked the bear, it was fun.