The book had some good intent but I didn't understand the point of the plot. And specially some concerning parts, like child nudity?
The weird parts didn't make up for the good ones

Unfortunately this title was archived before I had the chance to finish it and review it. It dos sound up my street so I will look for it at the bookstore or library.

I an unable to review this title, as it was archived before I had a chance to download and read it. This feedback is only to stop this title from adversely affecting my netgalley feedback rate. If in the future I have the opportunity to read this title, I will post a proper review here.

An interesting concept and great art! Somewhat voyeuristic, definitely some French sensibilities about sexuality and how we perceive each other's bodies.

Have not been able to access this book as it had either been deleted before or after downloading it. so i am not able to properly review this book

Thank you for the opportunity to review.

I feel bad, but I really couldn't get into this one. There were certain themes that did not sit right with me and I ended up DNF'ing the book.

ARC From Netgalley.
Severine is a literature student at a university, living reasonably everyday life. However, she seems drastically unnoticed in almost every situation. Her boyfriend has different interests, yet they always seem more important than hers; her professor isn’t listening when she asks for help, and the father of the child she babysits has his gaze on all his issues. This all changes when the child gets sick all over her shirt, and she is given one of his wife’s blouses to change into.

A white silk blouse, form-fitting and lower cut to show off cleavage, just wearing it gives Severine confidence. Men indeed begin to notice her, and their eyes are filled with desire. It’s as if something magical has changed her, and the power of finally being seen will never allow her to go back.

Author Bastien Vives (POLINA, A SISTER, THE BUTCHERY), a French author and artist of renown, brings this tale that, in my opinion, achieves two goals: 1) Shows the power the female visual form has on men. 2) It Shows us, as the reader, an all too common trope of both visual and written entertainment: an attractive woman can do whatever she wants, provided she has both the body and clothing to attract men for purposes of attention and sexual conquest.

Nowadays, society strives for body positivity among all shapes, sizes, races, and genders, so this narrow-minded view feels like a step backward. Vives can convey his point well with his minimalistic art style and visual storytelling, but the message feels like something we’ve seen before.

Adults only, as this contains graphic sexual imagery.

This was a disappointing and tiring read. As other reviewers have noted, there was a surprising amount of misogyny present in this graphic novel. When I first read the description, I was hopeful that the magical blouse would simply be a tool through which our heroine could find her own self worth and innate sensuality. I should not have gotten my hopes up. The plot was a typical male fantasy and the art was underwhelming.

Séverine is loaned a silk blouse which suddenly causes her to be noticed by men. I did not care for the main character. She has more confidence in the blouse than herself. Even after it is stained and torn she still wears it and makes poor choices. I did not like the artwork of faces without eyes. I found it as creepy as the story. It was a quick read

I didn't get a chance to read it while on NetGalley, but I did pick it up at my local comic shop last week. It's about a painfully average girl who gains confidence after wearing a new shirt.

Also, I'm LOVING all the European comics that Ablaze is putting out. They got my attention with their Marie Llovet releases (my favorite comic artist of all time!) and Elle(s). Can't wait to check out more from the publisher.

'Bastien Vives' The Blouse' with story and art by Bastien Vives with translation by Fabrice Sapolsky is a graphic novel about a forgettable young woman who is transformed by an unforgettable piece of clothing.

They say that clothes make the man, and that is true in The Blouse. A mostly invisible young woman is loaned a silk blouse after an accident while babysitting, and the garment makes her suddenly noticeable. She like the attention so much that it leads her to make poor choices.

I didn't like this story much because I could never care for the main character Severine. She has no depth and is used by the men in her life once she dons the blouse. Perhaps the story is meant to be a lesson of some sort, and the art is decent enough, but I found it as forgettable as the main character.

I went into this graphic novel hoping to thuroughly enjoy it.

Unfortunately, I found a lot of sexism. This woman suddenly has sex appeal because of a blouse, is noticed and starts cheating. I wish, in 2022 I wouldn't encounter these things anymore

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Diamond Book Distributors and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I was truly disappointed that such a misogynistic theme would exist in 2022.

I somehow like the minimal artwork.

And I would say this book is not for everyone, specifically the youngsters. I feel different readers will interpret the story and the characters in their own ways.

The book deals with obsession and infidelity.

Sadly, I couldn’t enjoy this graphic novel.

Thank you, Diamond Book Distributors, for the advance reading copy.

**I received an advance copy from NetGalley**

I didn't really know what to expect going into this read, and apparently that was a bad idea.
From what felt like the sexist ideal that a blouse makes a woman more attractive, to the graphic images of both male and female body parts I am at a loss for words. Can I unread this?

I'm not sure who would read this, but it's definitely not me.

I wasn't able to even open the file and I definitely have the right software to do so. Very disappointed as I wanted to read it.

Séverine Is a student of Classical Literature at the Sorbonne. She is looked upon as a plain person. Though she lives with her boyfriend, he is always busy with tv or video games. After babysitting, her charge throws up on her. The father comes home telling her that he will clean up his little girl and she should go to clean her top. After cleaning it up, she returns to the father and daughter with her still dirty top. He gives her his wife’s blouse to wear home. She can call and make arrangements where to return it. She tries calling him but can’t return it. Why? She decides to wear it that day. As the day passes, she is noticed by men and even her boyfriend. She keeps wearing it and becomes self confident. She has also suddenly appear lovely to look at.kShe still tries to return the blouse but it doesn’t happen. When the blouse gets turned, she goes shopping to look for more blouses like the one she was wearing. She finds out they have been discontinued by the company who made them. Can she still find copies? She feels the needs to at least return one blouse to the man for his wife. Does she?

The woman is portrayed by the illustrator as a plain woman. After the blouse is given to her to wear, she become a sensuous and contemporary woman. Her beauty shines as well as her beauty through self confidence. I enjoyed seeing the woman gaining her self confidence. This is a book for mature readers.

I actually couldn't download it. I was interested in the premise. I am giving it one star as a placeholder.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I could not read the whole book. The file just simply didn't let me. I liked the art of this graphic novel. The story didn't get me. So, that's why I give this book 2 stars,.

What... What was that?? What did I just read??? The plot is problematic but somehow it was saved by the arts