Joanne Starer’s Total Suplex of the Heart brings readers into the vibrant, chaotic world of local wrestling, blending elements of a coming-of-age story with the high drama of the wrestling circuit. However, while the premise is promising and there are moments of genuine insight, the novel struggles to find a balance between its more thoughtful themes and the often superficial drama that dominates much of the plot.

The protagonist, Georgie, is a young freelance journalist trying to make a name for herself by going undercover in a local wrestling scene. Starer gives her a relatable backstory—once a nerdy girl who loved watching wrestling with her dad, now a confident, attractive young woman navigating adulthood. Georgie’s journey from the sidelines of fandom to the center of the action is one that many readers, especially those with niche passions, can appreciate. Her attempt to prove to her mother (and herself) that she has a "real job" is also a driving force behind her decisions, adding some depth to her motivations.

However, the novel’s execution is uneven. Georgie’s dive into the wrestling world is packed with intense drama, from girl fights and casual hook-ups to questionable relationships with older men. While these situations are meant to explore the highs and lows of her experiences, they often feel more sensational than meaningful. The romance subplot, while present, doesn’t develop with much emotional depth, leaving some of the potential for real connection and growth untapped.

Georgie’s inner struggles, particularly around body image, toxic relationships, and the pressure to succeed in a male-dominated industry, are compelling but somewhat underdeveloped. The novel touches on serious issues like eating disorders and self-worth, but these themes don’t always get the attention they deserve. Instead, the focus shifts back and forth between Georgie’s emotional growth and the high-octane drama of the wrestling scene, leading to an imbalance that prevents the story from fully delivering on its potential.

The wrestling world itself is portrayed with a certain grittiness, and fans of the sport will appreciate the behind-the-scenes look at the life of local wrestlers. The action in the ring is well-written and exciting, offering some of the book’s most engaging moments. However, for readers unfamiliar with wrestling, the novel doesn’t delve deeply enough into the intricacies of the sport to make it feel essential to the plot. Instead, wrestling often feels like a backdrop for Georgie’s internal journey, rather than a central part of the story.

Where the book shines is in its unflinchingly honest portrayal of Georgie’s messiness and mistakes. Starer doesn’t shy away from showing her protagonist’s flaws, from her insecurities to her questionable decisions. This rawness gives the novel an edge and a sense of authenticity, though it’s also part of what makes the book difficult to fully embrace. Georgie’s lack of direction and her often self-destructive choices can be frustrating, and while this is true to the character’s arc, it doesn’t always make for an enjoyable read.

The pacing also falters at times. While the book starts strong with Georgie entering the wrestling world, it begins to lose momentum in the middle as the constant cycle of fights, drama, and romantic entanglements becomes repetitive. The final act picks up slightly as Georgie begins to reassess her life and make more grounded decisions, but by then, the emotional impact is somewhat diluted.

Final Thoughts:
Total Suplex of the Heart offers an intriguing concept and explores the pressures faced by young women in male-dominated spaces, but its execution falls short of its potential. While the wrestling scenes are lively and Georgie’s struggles feel raw and real, the novel’s reliance on drama and its uneven pacing hold it back. A 2.5-star read, this novel will appeal to fans of wrestling and those who enjoy messy coming-of-age stories, but it may leave others wanting more depth and emotional resonance.

I wanna start this off by saying I understand this was a biography graphic novel and I do feel bad giving it a negative review but it just wasn’t well done in my opinion.

The idea and concept I really enjoyed but the way it was written and executed wasn't for me. It lacked a lot! Don’t read this if you’re wanting more of the journalists aspect since it was maybe present for about 5 pages and then it was never mentioned again. The plot didn’t feel like it flowed, the story line jumped around like years at one point which left me confused for a few pages.

The story ended before we were able to see any resolution or growth. Everyone in this book are incredibly toxic people and they don't change at all throughout this. Abuse and eating disorders were just brushed off and joked about.

The cover makes it seem a bit like a potential cute wrestling rom com, but it just left me feeling icky and uncomfortable.

The art was the saving grace here imo! The art was stunning and incredibly done!

"Total Suplex of the Heart" is a graphic novel about Georgie, a journalist that gets involved in the wrestling world, and how it changes her life.

The story is somehow autobiographical so I'm willing to ignore some things beacuse it takes courage to share this experience.
But overall, the plot feelt disjointed. It was like reading an incomplete book that is missing the ending. I think I would enjoyed more if more aspects were fictionalized to give us some closure. There are so many situations and plot points tha are simply there, it makes sense it's not resolved if it's based in the authors life, but it made for a lacking reading experience.

On the bright side, the art and color use is beautiful.

It's worth mentioning that I was not expecting so many trigger warnings in the story. It would be great to have a list in the firs page because some heavy topics took me by surprise.

Overall, it's a good book, but it's not what I expected. I think it needs more pages to be able to tell the story properly and explore the themes it includes.

Content warnings for physical violence, bullying, anorexia, domestic abuse, familial abuse.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Humanoids Inc for the opportunity to read and review this graphic novel. Content warnings for physical violence, bullying, queer slurs, at anorexia, domestic abuse, familial abuse, and miscarriage. I will be honest this graphic novel was hard to read with both the subject matter and formatting (I felt like some of the story flow was very choppy and confusing). The art is beautiful, though, and I also appreciated the authors note at the end(don’t ignore it if you read this). Because of these points, I have to give this 3 out of 5 stars

An autobiographical story about finding yourself, healing from childhood trauma, and believing in yourself and your work.
I liked the art style. It was raw and real. Liked it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Humanoids Inc. for the e-book copy!

Total Suplex of the Heart is a fun read about Georgie, a journalist who joins a wrestling circuit for a new article. I liked that this book did not shy away from discussing Georgie's mental health as it related to her work and personal life. I did wish it was a bit longer or maybe two books so it could have had a slower pace. Overall, this was still a good read and if you wanted to know more about wrestling this has you covered.

3.5 rounded down

It was fine, but kinda jumpy story-wise. Didn't really work for me but I appreciate the willingness of the author to put her story out in the world

I don’t usually read graphic novels, but I was hooked by the description, so I decided to give it a try—and I actually ended up liking it a lot. Georgie’s story is honestly amazing, and the way it portrayed her struggle with mental health really hit me. It made me feel seen in a way I wasn’t expecting. Even though this isn’t the type of book I normally pick up, I’m really glad I did.

I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. Total Suplex of the Heart is a great story of a woman who joins a local wrestling team with a fascinating cast of characters. I really liked the storytelling in this one, and it made so much sense to find out that it was somewhat autobiographical at the end. For a book that looks pretty fun, it does cover a lot of serious topics like eating disorders and domestic violence so go into it with care.

Thanks to NetGalley, Joanne Starer, and Humanoids Inc for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own.

I really liked the initial concept of this story. Who doesn't love drama and wrestling? Also a fabulous title. I feel like the pacing was so fast that nothing made sense. I enjoyed the storyline with real life aspects that were based off true life experience, but felt this would be better suited as a longer work where there would be more time to really masterfully get the feelings wanted out of the reader. The jabs are there, just could have been done better!

"Have you ever discovered your true calling in an unexpected place and felt compelled to pursue it?” In Joanne Starer’s darkly compelling graphic novel, *Total Suplex of the Heart*, the protagonist, Georgie, does just that. A seemingly simple decision to write a web article about female wrestlers propels her into the heart of the highly misogynistic wrestling world. As Georgie navigates this challenging environment, she forms complex relationships—both uplifting and toxic—that shape her journey in profound ways.

The writing in *Total Suplex of the Heart* is raw, honest, and unapologetically profane. Joanne Starer doesn’t sugarcoat Georgie’s experiences, instead opting to portray the harsh realities with unflinching authenticity. The pacing is brisk, with the narrative frequently leaping weeks or even months ahead. This approach works well, given the novel's expansive timeline, allowing the story to focus on the most pivotal moments in Georgie’s journey. However, if Starer had chosen to delve deeper, this could have easily evolved into a captivating series.

The setting, though niche, is all the more intriguing for it. As someone who never had much interest in wrestling, I found myself learning about the scene in a way that was accessible and engaging, without being overly complex.

The artwork by Ornella Greco is stunning and perfectly complements the movement-heavy theme of the story. The dynamic visuals bring the world of wrestling to life, enhancing the impact of each scene.

Starer’s expertise as a graphic novel author is evident throughout this edition. The seamless blend of writing, art, and plot kept me hooked until the very end. I laughed, cried, and celebrated alongside Georgie, and I would highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone who appreciates raw, real-life stories that confront trauma and pain head-on. In the end, you’ll find beauty and a deeply satisfying payoff.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Humanoids Inc for providing this review copy.

**Triggers**

Anorexia, domestic violence, child abuse, depression, toxic relationship, profanity

Sports romances aren't my favorite things in the world, but 'Total Suplex of the Heart' was one I actually enjoyed.

I was initially drawn to Total Suplex of the Heart by its cover. Little did I know that the art style that initially captivated me was just a glimpse of the heartfelt and emotional story that followed. The narrative, while engaging, is not without its emotional toll, with themes of eating disorders, toxic relationships, and childhood abuse. These elements left me emotionally drained yet craving more of the story.

Georgie, our flawed yet wonderfully relatable protagonist, is a freelance reporter who embarks on a story about wrestling. Her journey leads her into the tumultuous world of wrestling, exposing her to both its fun and dark sides. Along the way, she encounters a diverse cast of characters, some of whom become her true friends, like JT. Her romantic choices may leave much to be desired, but her realness makes her story seven more engaging. I wish there was more of JT and his Mom.


I was unsure when I started reading. It was grittier than I was prepared to read, but it kept me locked in. Wanting to know more. I'm so glad I kept reading. Georgie’s story is one of survival. It's a story of strength and finding yourself. I would recommend this to others.

I received Total Suplex of the Heart from NetGalley. Thank you for letting me read an ARC of it in exchange for an honest review.

The pace of the story felt slow, and I couldn't get into it, but when I went on StoryGraph to look at the reviews to see if I could find anything to help me push through, I found the trigger warning list, which is approved by the authors on StoryGraph. I wondered why it wasn't included in the book, especially when topics include domestic abuse, eating disorder, physical abuse, child abuse, sexual harassment, and emotional abuse. Topics that could heavily trigger the reader if they go into the story blind.

Fun concept that unfortunately gave me literary whiplash. Giving this a 3 out of 5. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

When I read the summary for this graphic novel, I was immediately interested. I love seeing author's use art to explore their own stories, and this one definitely hits on some darker, more serious topics. However, the pacing of the story felt rushed at times. It wasn't always clear when a time jump had taken place, which led to some confusion over some of the behaviors and choices of the MC.

This story takes place in the boxing world, it shows how relationships can be very one-sided and unhealthy. There are a lot of things that happen in this story that are not suitable for younger readers. This is definitely an 18+ book. The art is very good, and the story does keep you invested.

I am a fan of comics as memoir and pseudo-memoir, and I liked how words and images came together from this creative team to explore this story. Proof that all varieties do story can be told in the form — including romance with nature storytelling elements.

Thank you to NatGalley and Humanoids Inc | Life Drawn for the ARC for a honest and in-depth review. And of course none would be possible without Joanne Starer and her hard work and creation.

4 out of 5 stars.

'Total Suplex of the Heart' by Joanne Starer is about a young and beautiful journalist who decides to first write a story about wrestling, but soon gets caught up in the magical world she never knew existed.

With stunning illustrations, quirky and loveable characters, this graphic novel will pull you in from the very first page and have you unable to put it down until the very end. With great humor and story comes a great graphical novel.

I would happily read this again and recommend it to others.

Fantastic read.

I really liked this graphic novel and while yea it’s about wrestling to an extent. It’s about so much more than that. Georgie has had crap thrown at her many different times and she has zero confidence in herself. We get to see Georgie grow and learn who she is and how she should make decisions for herself. I liked the deep aspect of this and appreciated the emotional and mental journey of Georgie. I kind of thought there would be more wrestling but overall great book and art.

3.5 Stars

I came into this story with an understanding of wrestling, but was still suprised at some of the inner-workings of the wrestling business that are described during the graphic novel.

The story covers various topics like misoginy and unfair treatment of women in the wrestling world, while our mfc has other issues she is dealing with from her personal life. Touching on the topic of how to discover yourself while being presently aware of the way people percieve you as a person and your persona/character, I think was very well done. I do think that there was a lot of interconnected plots going on, and found myself having to go back an re-read the prevous pages.


Thank you to NetGalley, Humanoids Inc., and Life Drawn for an e-arc!