The art was gorgeous, but that's about as far as I would go. None of the characters were likeable and the ones that could have been fell flat. This was different and I am always game for a graphic novel that pushes my tastes. I would avoid buying this one for your collection.

This sem-autobiographical graphic novel revolves around wrestling, especially the lives of female wrestlers or females in the wrestling scene. The beginning of the book covers a lot of the toxicity, abusive behaviour and the ugliness of the whole scene which really demotivated me to read this further. It takes a while for you to process all of these incidents or topics and even if you don’t want to read it further, you realise why it is important for someone to talk about these things.

The lead character’s friendships, relationships, and the way she looks at herself are explored in depth in the book, in larger glimpses in the second half. Her struggle with her own image and her struggle with choosing a partner who seemed perfect for her but was not is explored with clarity and also in an unbiased manner.

My problem with this book arises when you start off reading the book as a journalist’s perspective on the wrestling scene but there is absolutely no mention of journalism or any sort of investigative thought put in by the character.

The art was definitely a big element of the book which I liked. I would recommend this book if you are ready to read something funny which deals with heavier topics.

Thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids Inc for the ARC for an honest review!

Recommended: sure
for wrestling fans, for a story of overcoming yourself as your own worst enemy, for characters who make bad choices or fail but just keep trying despite the setbacks

Thoughts:
This was pretty tough to read in a few ways. First up is that it's about the wrestling scene in the early 2000s, which is a pretty toxic and terrible place really. Especially for women. So seeing the way she was treated made me feel kind of sick especially since I'm sure it's all quite accurate. Secondly was seeing the pain and struggles she faced, and how sometimes she made it worse for herself despite how much she was trying to change. She was often too close to the problem, couldn't see the forest for the trees kind of thing. The ending was really well done, and I think it could be dependent on each person's read of it whether it's "happy" or not, you know? Arguments could be made for a few different ways which I appreciate. There's lots of room for discussion.

The art is so perfect for the story. It had a lot of emotion that it could carry in the way people moved and the expressions, the coloring, all of it. I think it suited the story really well and emphasized the emotions in certain scenes to really bring me along with it. Subtleties were rare in this book because of the way the characters are as people, but the art helped fill and soften some of their forthrightness.

Getting a little glimpse inside wrestling life at that time was engaging if mildly sickening (not that I wasn't expecting it). If you're unfamiliar with wrestling, just know that the stuff in here is not exaggerated and the quip about having to do bra-and-panties matches her whole career is 100% accurate and that was a thing wayyyyyy longer than it ever should have been. :l

Thanks to Humanoids Inc and NetGalley for a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

I really enjoyed the plot line of this graphic novel and I the art was really cute. The formatting was a little hard to follow, but I think that was just because I was trying to read it on my phone.

Thank you Net Galley for this e arc. Total Suplex of the Heart is an adorable ode to wrestling and the female wrestling scene. The humor in the book is definitely a strong point for the book. I also love the art style. The story isn't the most compelling but it sure is fun.

This graphic novel was pretty good. I really loved the art and the color scheme. I appreciated that the book addressed some pretty complicated topics such as eating disorders, domestic violence, physical abuse. There probably should have been some mention of triggers or content warnings. A few of the reasons I only gave this three stars is because of the pacing, it was a little disjointed and erratic, it made it difficult to follow at times. I was also a little disappointed at the end that she wasn't able to have any positive female friendships. I understand that this work is semi-autobiographical so that's just how it goes. I appreciate the author's bravery for sharing her story and introducing me to some of the world of wrestling. That being said, I still felt like some of these heavy topics were just glossed over and I would've appreciated more conversation and resolution therein. I would recommend this graphic novel, with some content warnings for readers.

3.5 ⭐

I enjoyed the graphic novels. I love the illustrations and the colors. I feel that at the store needed some more developing. I love pacing was a little off, at times. Some topics, such as eating disorder and domestic violence, were presented but not addressed. I wished resources for those heavier topics were included. Overall, I would recommend it. It was a fun and quick read.

I imagined a more fun and light-hearted read from the description and the cover, and I think this graphic novel should have some content warnings, like eating disorders and emotional and physical abuse, from family members and partners.

The thing I enjoyed the most about the book was the Author’s Note at the end, saying it takes years to heal and start living in a way that is safe and good for oneself. She was so real for saying that, and I’m sure it can bring a lot of comfort for people going through similar stuff.

I did learn a lot about the wrestling scene (I knew absolutely nothing about it before), and as sad as the book is, it made me appreciate my “boring” but wholesome life.

I liked that many characters called G out on her bullshit, and pointed out toxic things she was doing, or other people were doing to her.

It was really sad that she ended up having no good female friendships, though.

SPOILERS AHEAD:
For some reason, right from the start, I knew Steve wasn’t the wholesome guy the book made him to be. When he was presented in a good light, he just seemed really basic to me, not wholesome. Yes, he wasn’t some complicated dude, but basic dudes can also be toxic.

I couldn’t understand Cassidy. She seemed a good friend, and she was presented to us as having moral integrity. However, she was all the time secretly betraying Georgia, and she didn’t even seem to regret it in the end.

Also, I think the version of Steve that Georgia got, and the one Cassidy got, were quite different. I mean, I’m guessing toxic men have varying degrees of toxicity, and they know which people they can abuse the most. But still...

All in all, I'd recommend it to people who like wrestling or want to find out more about it, especially women in wrestling. Or if you like graphic novels that present crude and heavy topics, without that being the main focus or deeply explored.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a super entertaining read! Based on the author’s experience in the wrestling world. It was full of relationship drama and hard issues like abuse and eating disorders. There’s a lot of language and abuse, so be aware going into it.

Oh, boy. Knowing that this is even somewhat autobiographical does make me feel bad for rating it so low, but I just did not enjoy it at all.

One of my biggest issues with this graphic novel was the pacing. It was confusing and hard to follow, and the book ended without any real resolution. Beyond that, however, I just kind of disliked every single character, including Georgie, the MC. She seemed to have a lot of internalized misogyny and came across as a pick-me, which are qualities I find extremely off-putting in women, fictional or otherwise. There was a lot of toxicity in this book, including sexual assault and disordered eating among others, and rather than being addressed, those topics were sort of glossed over and not taken very seriously.

I thought the premise of this was interesting, and I did enjoy the illustration style, but overall it wasn't for me and not something I'd recommend to others.

I did not expect to enjoy this graphic novel about wrestling, relationships & growing up so much! Starer presents this (semi-autobiographical?) tale and its extremely sensitive topics with great candor and honesty. We follow a pretty big cast of characters, but they're all extremely distinctive and fully fleshed out - even the minor actors are unique and they don't melt into the background of the main character's story. They all feel very human, flawed and interesting (especially our main character, who is kinda unlikeable).
Ornella Greco's art is lovely, colorful and apt to the story.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Drawing its title from a difficult, dangerous, and mostly illegal, wrestling move, “Total Suplex of the Heart " is an engaging and nuanced semi-autobiographical tale that portrays a young woman who navigates family dysfunction, eating disorders and serious self image issues as she is drawn into the world of wrestling. Expect a relatively light hearted narrative, a cast of colorful wrestlers, an extremely effective illustration of body dysmorphia, a troubled yet deeply likable protagonist and a deeply personal final essay from the author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Humanoids, Inc., for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

1.5 Stars.
I simply did not like this book. The ending was the worst thing of it all. I feel a lot of pity for Georgie.

I wanted to love this more than I did but unfortunately, the cover was misleading to the material that was inside. I was hoping for a love triangle romcom but the plot was lost. There was a lot of potential.

First thank you net galley for giving me access to this arc! There are spoilers ahead!
Honestly Georgie broke my heart. She dealt with so much crap and I just felt so sad for her. The only part I really smiled at was when she put pink highlights in her hair and when J.Ts mom came to her show. That made me really smile. I’m glad she had such a good friend in J.T because a lot of other people were not very good to her and I’m glad she could smile in the end.

While I understand that this book was bioautographical, I really did not enjoy how some of the big topics seemed to just be glossed over. The red flags for Stephen or whatever his name was started to become very obvious, and while I understand that it is difficult to see that when you are actually in the situation, I felt bad that the main character chose the guy over believing her friend. And while I love messy and slightly problematic women, this book really annoyed me because the main girl seemed like a pick-me. Also, the sexual harassment and abuse was not really dealt with, it was treated like it was okay at some parts which was really disappointing. I gave it 3 stars but I might change it to 2 since the more I think about it the more annoyed I get. Also the pacing was super confusing and make it difficult to stay connected to the book. Some of the times the events were confusing simply because of how the pacing was done and it also really made me less connected emotionally to the characters.

Total Suplex of the Heart begins as a promising story about ambition, relationships, and personal growth. However, as the plot progresses, it takes a darker turn with themes of abuse, disordered eating, and trauma from the main character’s past. Flashbacks reveal an abusive, controlling mother, while the main character’s boyfriend becomes physically abusive — without warning. The lack of trigger warnings for these heavy themes was troubling, especially as they are introduced abruptly. The unresolved and uncomfortable ending left me feeling unsettled, and while the book has its moments, it definitely requires content warnings to prepare readers for its more intense subject matter.

Review posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6851104294?book_show_action=false
Review posted on Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/b60ba86c-160e-4c33-b475-b12c3deacfa3?redirect=true

So this was definitely more autobiographical than fiction, and I think if I had realized that going in, I maybe would have had a better time with it. Overall it was enjoyable. I felt like there were chunks of storyline and context that were missing from the story though and it sort of jumped ahead too far each time.

The characters were all.. not great people? Which once I read the bit at the end of the book about it being true to the authors life, it made more sense. But as I was reading, not knowing that, I was like, "am I supposed to like these people??" Guess not!

The story is ultimately about finding yourself and your voice.

TW: Domestic Violence, Misogyny, Sexual Content

Fun, funny, well illustrated graphic novel about a girl getting into wrestling and getting into booking her own shows, plus a touch of drama

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.