Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Frankenstein’s monster genre is booming. With Poor Things being such a popular movie, I could see other books taking these messages and playing around with it. This book was short and to the point and I enjoyed it. Helga learns the purpose of her birth and meets people both good and bad that help shape who she is. She’s rebelling against her father and learning what it means to be human and your own person. I didn’t really see the romance at the end. It felt forced. Helga never showed any interest at all and it seemed random. Other than that, it was a solid book.

I loved Penny. She and Helga doing marching tattoos made me go awwww. Anna was cool too but her whole character felt off? Like she was one way the whole book and she flipped at the end for convenience. I got vibes from Clyde at the beginning and he was way too annoying I would have thrown him in the trash. But you can’t really fault someone who’s been alive for like 2 days. I was also confused by their location. The sky was orange? And they weren’t in the states? And it seemed like some scientific version of magic in a way.

catherine yu has really come a long way from her previous ya horror, and helga is a treat for those who like a subverted frankenstein narrative. leaning into some of the more humorous elements is what helped this novel shine, and i found that the world building, even in such a small, condensed world, was pretty well done.

I like the idea of a retelling of Frankenstein from the monster's perspective, but this version just doesn't do it for me.

Helga's narration was irritating, at best. I actually found it to be disingenuous considering her cog. She's supposed to be intelligent and cultured, based on her programming. Instead, we get an abundance of "whatever"s and sullen teenage slang.

This just wasn't for me.

Such a cute twist on the story of Frankenstein and I couldn’t get enough of it. I’m not typically a YA reader as some of the writing can definitely reflect, but did not have that problem with Helga! A charming retelling, I will be recommending!

Thank you Netgalley and Page Street for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Helga" by Catherine Yu is a bold reimagining of the classic Frankenstein tale, blending elements of drama, comedy, and social commentary into a unique story. I love Frankenstein retellings, and I absolutely loved this book, mainly because of just how much of a badass Helga’s character is as well as the humor shown throughout the book. This is just a really fun book, and I really enjoyed it!

Set in the vibrant city of Amaris City, "Helga" follows the titular character, a reanimated creation of Dr. Marietta's science experiment. Helga, previously known as Marietta, quickly asserts her independence and sets out to explore the world around her. Yu skillfully shows Helga's curiosity and naivety, painting a vivid picture of her journey of self-discovery as she learns who she is as her own person while also struggling with the idea of being alone.

As Helga navigates the bustling city, she encounters various characters and experiences, including the charming but flawed Clyde. Their relationship unfolds rapidly, reflecting Helga's lack of understanding of human emotions and societal norms. There was a bit too much focus on romance in the first half, in my opinion, though it did fit with the original Frankenstein in wanting to not be alone and to have a companion. I liked the queer aspect in the book, especially towards the end.

Yu explores themes of class inequality and gentrification, highlighting the contrast between Uphill and Downhill, two distinct areas of Amaris City. I really enjoyed the incorporation of the social issues in the story, though the more serious themes involving gentrification disrupted the flow of the story and didn’t really seem to connect to Helga’s experiences at times. I feel like these points needed more development in the book. What I absolutely loved were the subtle hints about the environment, which showed that things weren’t quite right with Amaris City. Some things were more obvious (like fish growing feet) while others were a bit more subtle (like the color of the sky). I liked finding these little hints, which did end up contributing to the plot at the end.

Overall, “Helga” is a very fun and unique Frankenstein retelling. Yu's rich characterization and imaginative world-building shine through, offering you a fresh perspective on the Frankenstein mythos. With its blend of humor, drama, and social commentary, "Helga" is a thought-provoking read that has made me eager to read more from Yu.