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

I Shall Never Fall in Love is a well-rounded Austen-esque graphic novel with a large cast of diverse characters. The graphic novel has a thorough historical primer which added context to various aspects of the story which will be especially helpful for younger readers who may not have come across the existence of historical queer people before. Overall I enjoyed this story, but there were parts that felt a little out of character for Eleanor and dragged a bit. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys graphic novels or queer stories.
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC in trade for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

After having my eye on this for MONTHS, I finally picked it up and am BEYOND happy that I did!! It's absolutely everything a queer regency fan could hope for. The art was whimsical, gorgeous, and at times made me laugh out loud (the expressions!!). I feel like that's a pretty good description of the plot of this fun, heart-felt, charming graphic novel, too!

I truly loved the way each character fit into each other's lives while still having their own stories to tell. All had different experiences and paths, yet their bonds stayed despite the ups and downs life brought their ways. And for characters who were on the outside of what society deemed "acceptable" and "proper", their difficulties were acknowledged but they were also celebrated in their identities, which I loved!

If you're looking for a funny, feel-good, diverse (and very queer!) Jane Austen-esque book with lovely art, then this should be your next read!

Absolutely BRILLIANT. Hari Conner is a wildly talented & thoughtful writer and artist. I only wish this book were twice as long!

This graphic novel is exactly right for queer rep for teens. It highlights the struggle between what is expected of one and what is truly right for them. Love it!

Inspired by Jane Austen, I Shall Never Fall in Love is like The Prince and the Dressmaker meets historical fiction regency era. Featuring queer representation, I Shall Never Fall in Love balances the opportunities for these queer characters in the past, while also celebrating love. With precious moments, I Shall Never Fall in Love is a delight. There are some beautiful scenes of George finding others, to know we aren't alone, to find a community. For queer folks to figure out how to survive, to make compromises, and to also find their own happiness.

As Jane Austen once said, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Young George Kingsley may not be a man in the traditional sense, but they have just inherited their father's estate - and they'd love a wife, if only 1800s England was more open-minded. Instead, they must dress as a girl and pretend their neighbor Eleanor Woodford is nothing more than a dear friend.

Except... Eleanor has never wanted to marry a man either. And now that George is "too busy" to spend time with Eleanor, she's started to wonder if her feelings for George might go beyond mere friendship.

Set in Surrey and London in 1807, I Shall Never Fall in Love takes on issues of race, class, gender, attraction and mental health, all while maintaining a surprisingly light-hearted tone. The main and supporting cast are (for the most part) endearing, and readers will cheer on their happy endings. Conner's illustrations pair beautifully with the story, featuring expressive characters and colorful backdrops.

All-told, this is a charming historical romance sure to appeal to fans of Heartstopper, The Prince and the Dressmaker, Check, Please!, or even Jane Austen herself.

"The Prince and the Dressmaker goes to Austenland in this historically inspired, joyfully queer, stunningly romantic graphic novel mash-up of Jane Austen novels - where two friends discover their feelings for each other and find a space in their world for their love and identity.

George has major problems: They've just inherited the failing family estate, and the feelings for their best friend, Eleanor, have become more complicated than ever. Not to mention, if anyone found out they were secretly dressing in men's clothes, George is sure it would be ruination for the family name.

Eleanor has always wanted to do everything "right," including falling in love - but she's never met a boy she was interested in. She'd much rather spend time with her best friend, George, and beloved cousin Charlotte. However, when a new suitor comes to town, she finds her closest friendships threatened, forcing her to rethink what "right" means and confront feelings she never knew she had.

Perfect for fans of Alice Oseman and Ngozi Ukazu, I Shall Never Fall in Love shines a light on what it means to be true to yourself and rewrites the rules for what makes a happily ever after."

You just mentioned two books I love! SOLD!

I Shall Never Fall In Love is a charming #OwnVoices graphic novel about three friends (or maybe more-than-friends?) coming of age in Regency England. George--someone who today would probably identify as transmasc--is the main character, navigating their gender journey and feelings about marriage and romantic relationships with best friend Eleanor and her cousin Charlotte. All are charming, multidimensional characters, and the few supporting romantic interests and friends are (mostly) well-rounded as well, with a couple of Stereotypical Regency Male Gentry as foils for the girls.

The art is reminiscent of Raina Telgemaier, with a cartoonish aesthetic that could seem a bit anachronistic for a historical setting, but Hari Conner's attention to detail on the clothing and hairstyles keep things feeling authentic. I particularly enjoyed George's outfits, which bore great resemblance to Anne Lister's in the BBC series Gentleman Jack and is fitting as Lister is referenced in the epigram and in the historical notes section. (As an aside, I would buy the book for the historical notes section alone--it's a great, well-researched FAQ for anyone who wants to combat erasure/misconceptions of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC people in British history and learn more about some fantastic historical figures.)

And finally, it is FUNNY! Some of the facial expressions alone made me laugh out loud, and the banter between the friends is very witty.

5/5 stars, will buy and recommend to friends.

I Shall Never Fall in Love is a wholesome queer book perfect for fans of Bridgerton! It’s centered around three friends in regency-era England. While society views them as a group of girls, George’s view of themself doesn’t align with this. After finally being given the chance to inherit, George realizes they have long harbored feelings for their friend Elinor, who is busy worrying about being the proper lady that her deceased mother wanted her to be. Amidst their love story, we meet Charlotte, who is trying to marry up in the world to secure her family’s spot in society. This is difficult when you’re black in the midst of a society that is still profiting off of black people’s labor in the Americas. She is often overlooked even though she is the most educated young woman in the room. And on top of this, her own friend won’t even acknowledge that she’s the victim of prejudice. The three friends quarrel and make up and quarrel some more while trying to figure out how to live their lives as themselves in Regency England.

I loved this story! It’s such a cute, wholesome queer tale! And I loved the History Corner at the end! This is perfect for fans of Heartstopper, Bridgerton and the Princess and the Grilled Cheese!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the eARC, but it did not affect my review in any way!

It is truly a pleasure to read about characters discovering their authentic self and watch friendships adapt.