I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For best friends Eleanor, her cousin Charlotte, and Georgiana, living in the countryside in the early 1800s has its perks and downfalls. Charlotte is falling for the local farm boy despite his humble background. Eleanor, or “Ellie,” is rambunctious and dearly loves her ailing father and London’s high societies. However, Georgiana felt more like themselves, dressing like their older brother and being called “George.” Through scandals, marriage prospects, and meddling aunts, the trio of friends find love in the most unlikeliest places. And will Ellie and George finally realize their love for each other?
This was so stunning and endearing. The artwork was beautiful: the dresses are gorgeous in ribbons and silks, and the men’s attire is handsome and dandy. Any fan of Jane Austen will fall for this comic adaptation of life in the Regency era of England. This graphic novel introduces the idea of queer life in the countryside, as well as family relationships and the idea of truly falling in love. It is an exquisite masterpiece!

This was a sweet graphic novel depicting Jane Austen-esque story with a twist. It explores class, race, gender, and sexuality in the regency period (and even includes historical information and resources after the story). I found that pacing was a little slow at times, but enjoyed the characters and the story. And the illustrations were beautiful. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAlley for this arc.

*Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for letting me read an ARC of this book through NetGalley! *

I Shall Never Fall in Love
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.28/10 overall

Characters - 7

Atmosphere - 8

Writing - 8

Plot - 7

Intrigue - 7

Logic - 7

Enjoyment - 7

Overall Thoughts:
I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, but I think this being a graphic novel helped me not feel as bored with it. I especially liked the humorous expressions that the characters had. I think I hoped for a bit more with the plot, as it was fairly predictable, but it was still sweet and interesting. It didn't leave a lasting impression on me, but it was still a decent book and, for the most part, I enjoyed it. :)

What makes I Shall Never Fall in Love stand out is its refreshing take on romance. Rather than being a typical love story, the novel offers a deeper look into what it means to love oneself and the complexities of emotional vulnerability. Conner’s exploration of love’s unpredictability and its transformative power makes this an engaging and thought-provoking read.

I really enjoyed this queer regency coming of age graphic novel. Both the story and the illustrations are great. The story follows three childhood friends and their evolving relationships as marriage/finding a partner seems to be to focus of everything (or at least what they’re expected to do). It’s also a time where folks are confronted with some hard truths they’ve been overlooking for a while, including racism, classism, and more. Worth checking out if you’re looking to get your regency fix, and a little history lesson at the end too. Thanks for NetGalley for the book.

<b>Actual Rating 4.5</b>

This was a delightful read! I loved all the nods to Austen’s various works that were incorporated throughout the book. This ranged from how characters acted (very clearly modeled off certain of Austen’s characters), to plot points, to certain events. And they weren’t pulled from a single book, but rather from across Austen’s works. This was really well done and made for a lovely homage.

The illustrations are quite cute. I enjoyed the style and how expressive the expressions were. The color palettes were really lovely as well. The author included a history section at the end of the story that provided information on some of the historical context of the topics (such as queerness and race), as well as some resources to check out to learn more about the topics. The pacing of the work got a bit slow in places, but it wasn’t a major detractor.

If you enjoy all things Austen and are looking for a YA romance, then this is well worth checking out. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Actual rating 4.0-4.5 stars.

I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner is an LGBTQIA+ historical fiction graphic novel set in the Georgian era of UK history. The book follows a trio of best friends as they navigate what coming of age means for them: George, who does not fit (and is not inclined to fit) into the gender roles expected of them; Charlotte, whose Blackness precludes her from the privileges her social station should be afforded; and Eleanor, who wants everything to be 'picture perfect'...but perhaps needs to open her eyes to really see what she already has.

Very thoroughly researched and broad in scope while still easily readable, this graphic novel is perfect for readers interested in a tasted of UK history in bite-sized chunks, or those intrigued by Jane Austen and Bridgerton, but who are daunted by period prose. Conner put a great amount of time and effort into the details of this book, as referenced by the notes and sketches at the end of the story, which include further resources and indications where slight liberties were taken. For the amount of content packed into these pages, the panels flow smoothly and the story is easy to follow. My one personal qualm is that Eleanor's plot arc was a little frustrating, but it was necessary for her character development and a reminder of why so much of this history isn't as well-known as it should be.

Readers who enjoy this title may also like anything by Jane Austen, Ruined by Sarah Vaughn, Northranger by Rey Terciero, miss widow by RoseEstelle (Webtoon), Belle (dir. Amma Asante), Chevalier (dir. Stephen Williams), The Black Mozart by Walter E. Smith, and Mavericks by Jenny Draper.

I have read many of Hari Conner’s stories over the years and have loved each of them. When I saw that they wrote a trans Regency era romance, I knew I had to pick it up. This was an absolutely wonderful story. Hari’s illustrations are stunning and I could not get enough of Eleanor and George’s story. I also enjoyed the inclusion of LGBTQ history at the end of the story. Definitely, highly recommend picking this one up.

A wonderful, gorgeously illustrated YA graphic novel featuring a trans main character, interracial love stories, Sapphic romance and so much more in this Edwardian story perfect for fans of the Bridgerton's. I thought this was extremely well written, relatable and had a great historical notes section included at the end that answered potential reader questions about what life was really like for the queer community of England at this time. Highly, highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I normally try to write coherent, thoughtful reviews but my love for this book is too powerful. As a non-binary lover of Austen, historical costuming, and queer history, this story felt made for me (thank you Hari Conner!). I Shall Never Fall in Love is a loose retelling of Emma the perfectly builds on the original novel's themes of learning to look past what's "proper" and being open to unexpected love with its diverse cast of loveably complex young people. The historical note at the end of the story also made my heart so happy. Conner's art style is so fun and expressive and the tone is arch and sweet in a lovely balance.
It's got everything- dramatic rainstorms, sapphic pining, making a binder out of short stays, himbo farmer, dunking on English food, black-mailing reprobates, recognizing and growing from your mistakes, dogs, gender euphoria, fashion, shenanigans at balls, plot relevant sheep management- what more could you need??

i'm not really usually into graphic novels but this queer austenland work was something i couldn't resist at all! 4 stars. tysm for thea rc.

Where "Most Ardently" left me wanting, this scratched the itch for a queer Jane Austen romance! So much queer joy in this even as our main characters have to overcome societal obstacles.

I would say this story largely draws upon Emma, with Emma's characterization influencing Eleanor's and giving her similar flaws of "clueless noblewoman uploading classist ideals." However, there are Pride and Prejudice influences as well in the plot and characters.

The style also paid homage to Jane Austen well, on of my favorite bits being "he made the invitation with the ease of one who did not have to be there to accommodate him." This does an excellent job of replicating Jane's satirical yet layered characters, aided by the expressiveness of the art style. So many panels would make excellent reaction images.

It's also nice to get a nuanced look at a black woman trying to find a place in Regency society, as Charlotte is aware her position is precarious yet wants to be loved for herself rather than make a "recommended" match.

I also appreciate the 8 or so pages taken at the end to provide greater historical context and more resources for research. I did think George seemed to draw on Anne Lister, so it was nice to have that confirmed in this section.

Why this book may be banned in some states: It’s an LBTQIA+ romance for young adults and might therefore cause conservative panic.

Its actual literary crimes: 1) It’s too freakin’ cute; and 2) it made me cry—then made me chuckle just a few pages later.

Seriously, I loved I SHALL NEVER FALL IN LOVE. This graphic novel incorporates elements of a couple of Austen’s novels, though I won’t tell you which one inspires the main plot. (Given that I teach Austen, it took me an embarrassingly long time to recognize it.) At the same time, it tells its own satisfying story of three friends trying to find their path in a hostile world.

I liked this book not only as a Regency romance author and reader, but as an academic who specializes in nineteenth-century British literature. I could easily see incorporating I SHALL NEVER FALL IN LOVE into a high school or college classroom, perhaps paired with one of the Austen novels that inspired it. It may, in fact, be the best YA Regency I’ve ever read.

Worth noting that the book has a good section of historical notes and "further reading" lists at the back. Instructors seeking to use this book in the classroom may find this helpful, but so might teen readers who want to learn more. Highly recommended!

Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.

I Shall Never Fall in Love is a queer graphic novel that follows George, Eleanor and Charlotte as they navigate love and friendship in Regency era England.
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I LOVED THIS BOOK! The art is lovely!! I loved the gorgeous watercolor drawings between each chapter. The Austen vibes are very strong with this one! I could totally see the inspiration from multiple Austen novels. I liked how the story balanced funny moments with deeper moments of reflection about society at the time. The Historical Corner at the end of the book is a great addition for readers unfamiliar with the actual historical context of the story. I also loved each of our main characters. Watching George, Charlotte and Eleanor navigate their places in society while trying to follow their heart had me rooting for their happiness. George had my whole heart. I loved watching them get to live more authentically as the story progressed. Fans of The Prince and the Dressmaker or Most Ardently will definitely love this book as much as I did!
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Thank you HarperCollins for providing this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The only complaint I have about this graphic novel is I wish there was more of it! A wonderful, queer, Austen-inspired romance. The characters are delightful. The social commentary is clever and subtle. Austen would be proud.

This queer, Austen-inspired romance is ideal for fans of The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Heartstopper, and Bridgerton. George is a lovingly crafted trans character trying to navigate who they are and their feelings about their best friend. Eleanor wants to do everything “right” including marrying the right boy, but finds that all she really wants to do is spend time with her best friend and her cousin. As the two try to balance regency era expectations and their own personal desires their friendship is tested. This was such a sweet addition to the canon of queer YA stories that will make you swoon with the joys and heartbreak of first love.

George is going through a lot. They like wearing their father's clothing, their better taking care of the family estate, and things are starting to feel different with their long time friend Eleanor. Then there's Eleanor, she's expected to marry but no man has piqued her interest. But she does like being withe George and cousin Charlotte. And Charlotte seems to be falling in love but the others do not seem happy for her.

For me, this was such a different look at the historical genre. Now that I think about it, this might be my first historical graphic novel. This was definitely different and it was a roller coaster ride because we get to navigate the different lives of three different characters.

This graphic novel takes a look on growing up, changes within friendships, social expectations, womanhood/person hood, and falling in love. It was so interesting seeing the perspective of a trans teen, a lesbian teen, and a black teen during that time period. I definitely felt like I learned a lot.

As much as I liked it, there were also certain things that I didn't like. There were parts that were confusing the story line, and even elements that felt so unnecessary. I guess what I'm saying is that I wasn't as satisfied as I thought I would be.

Overall, really good graphic novel. I can definitely see teens relating to the story and its significance. But there were just certain parts that didn't land for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the e-ARC of I Shall Never Fall In Love!

“If the previous heirs to Chilworth Hall could see the current heir and what they were doing with the place, they might well think George a traitorous disappointment - a thought George felt rather cheered by.”

I Shall Never Fall In Love is a stunning graphic novel set in regency England depicting diverse LGBT+ people and relationships in gorgeous illustrations.This a fast, enjoyable read with truly beautiful illustrations and flawed but well intentioned characters and pays sensitive care to both LGBT+ experiences and BIPOC ones. There is a “history corner” at the back providing historical context, further discussion on LGBT+ and BIPOC experiences in regency England, a breakdown of the historical accuracy of multiple sections of the graphic novel, and references for further reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed I Shall Never Fall In Love and would happily read further work by Hari Conner.

soooo cute! I love a gay historically fiction moment. I like how the relationship was formed and how the trans topic was handled.

This books was a cute and quick read inspired by many Jane Austen books, but especially "Emma." I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters and overall tone of the story, but I found the art to be a bit inconsistent, especially when it came to the characters. I also felt like the subject of historic racial prejudices was only included to give the main female character an opportunity to grow (a.k.a learn to be less racist), which I felt like was a bit of a disservice to the black characters and stories in the graphic novel. I would have loved to see those character voices developed more. Overall, I recommend this book for fans of regency romance, people looking for an easy read, or those looking for a more diverse historical story.

3.25/5 stars