Maisie is trying to find her art style, or maybe she’s trying to find herself. Her life starts to change when she arrives in London to enroll in university. She meets new people, makes new friends, and finds her purpose. The questions Maisie asks herself are very relatable, I really liked her as a main character. As for the side-characters, I found most of the adult characters to be quite immature, at times I had a hard time understanding their thought-process. Nevertheless, I enjoyed seeing Maisie grow up and discover herself. A great middle-grade.

The cover of this book gives a middle grade feel, however it’s a new adult story because Maisie Clark has just entered university!

Similar to the title, Maisie Clark has a complicated life. She’s trying to find her voice in her art which is difficult. She’s also trying to keep her brother, Calum from running away and trying to understand her emotions. I enjoyed how this book depicted the complexities of transitioning into an adult and trying to find one’s place. I thought it was well introduced and built with a good resolution because it wasn’t perfect but realistic.

That said, the relationships were quite something. Maisie Clark’s relationship with her brother, Calum, was one that disappointed me the most. I didn’t understand why Calum, who went searching for his little sister after running away from home, was now telling half truths and basically keeping quiet around Maisie Clark. When Calum ran away, Maisie Clark was a young child, no one told her what happened, so she did thought Calum had died at first. Therefore, I felt sad each time Calum was being an unnecessarily rude or quiet. I understand Maisie Clark was at times controlling or overly involved in Calum’s life but he could have honestly just explained things to her. I also felt like Maisie Clark seems to have developed a type of separation anxiety which was evident with her friend as well.

The romance aspect in this book was done well including her friendships. I loved how the romance felt natural and took its time. It was also enjoyable to see Maisie Clark changing Eli’s contact name throughout because it depicted how close and comfortable they had gotten. The diversity in this book feels natural and I love how it just fits. Also, Calum’s relationship with Ben was adorable and filled with trust. I’d read a separate story on them just for Ben because he’s an angel.

That said, the photography assignment Maisie Clark and Eli were working on was intriguing however the results felt underwhelming. I felt like they had a good and important concept but somehow it got lost in the story with the things surrounding Calum.

Overall this was a good read. The writing flows which makes this a quick and easy read. However, I felt like this story is dominated by Calum’s life, so Maisie Clark discovering her own art style was a little lost. I wish we got to read about her painting portraits because she loved those. Also, there is another book by this author, revolving around the same characters but not a prerequisite. I wish I had known earlier since I like reading books in order but I will it nonetheless.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy.

The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark or, as I call it, The Complex Art of Feeling Frustrated at Uni and Learning Boundaries. I liked how frustrating and frustrated the MC was through all the story and how she wanted to step out of the comfort zone out of spite. The truest university experience I have read in a long time, or at least the truest to my own experience. Maisie is kind of a mess and she knows it, and I loved how she explores boundaries and frustrations a lot. I liked how artsy and queer the book was, and it perfectly works as a stand-alone. It did feel a little bit slow at the beginning and the pace picked up at the second half, where it got easier to read. Definitely recommend it to young artists that are figuring themselves out!

I only realised this is a sequel because of the acknowledgements, oops, but it still worked as a standalone. Maise is a very charming main character and I love the focus on art! Solid writing and a cute plot even if it is a bit basic. A lot more queer rep than I was expecting, very pleasant surprise!

I really enjoyed this book! It was such a nice and refreshing read. The writing style was super easy to get into and I absolutely loved the representation Kleckner put into the story, which I wasn’t expecting when I started the book.

The focus on art, painting and photography was really interesting. It was great to read a celebration of creativity in the novel!

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and I would definitely recommend it! Thank you so much to the author and to Netgalley.

This was very cute and adorable! The type of book I need doing a time like this with everything going on in the world right now.... Loved the representation it had as well and the cover is so cute!!
Sadly can't write a longer review right now because im in a lot of pain, but I would highly recommend this book!

This was such a funny and heart warming coming of age story! Maisie is an artist who spent her childhood helping her dad paint portraits in his art studio and because all she has ever known is working alongside her father she recognizes her art looks so much like his so she decides to branch out in college and try new things.
We get to witness Maisie navigating what being an adult really is about! This was such a nice read because it made me look back on all the silly mistakes I made as a new adult! I also loved how hilarious Maisie is!
I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a light read!

“The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark” is a coming of age story about finding your purpose. This book had a hold of me from the very first page. The pacing was really good and the writing remained pretty solid throughout.

The main character Maisie Clark, is a bubbly, passionate, and doesn’t lack depth. Maisie moved to London to attend an art university. Watching her grow was definitely a highlight in the book. Maisie is a character you want to root for, and I enjoyed how her relationships helped shaped her journey. It was enjoyable to watch her find her voice as she explores London. Maisie’s character growth was rewarding to read.

This book mixes lightheartedness and meaningful, and the author does a great job. For funny moments that made me smile to tackling strong themes, this author was right on the nose. The pacing of the book was okay. Honestly, it felt kind of all over the place. Some moments seemed very slow while others were rather fast. I don’t think that Maisie’s actions always matched her age. She’s 18 attempting to navigate school, life, and her purpose and sometimes her actions just didn’t match.

A side note, I was obsessed with the London setting. I have a soft spot of anything British.

Overall, this book is a heartfelt and well-written Young Adult novel. If you enjoy reading coming-of-age stories but also like a little humour and growth, this book is for you.

“I came to London to learn who I am on my own, but that hasn’t meant being alone.”

I loved The Complex Art Of Being Masie Clark (it was one of my May’s top reads). It was a super easy read and a lot of themes deeply spoke to me. This story is deliciously queer –and completely related to the author’s first novel that also had Maisie as a MC (book2 can completely be read separately, that’s what I’ve done, but if you plan to read both, read book1 first or you’ll be deeply spoiled)– but most themes are completely universal.
I loved Maisie’s quest to find her voice in her art, how she puts herself in a difficult position for that. And I adored how she rediscovers herself on the path, and learns what it truly means to grow up. The link with her art is deep and super interesting as it creates a mirror effect between the book, her life, her art “from before”, her memories, her photography project, her relationships… that pattern repeats the same question about identity again and again, bringing fragmentary –though complementary with each other– answers. Piece by piece, Maisie starts understanding herself, accepting who she is, accepting to understand –and maybe let go– her family trauma.
All of this made this book so relevant and tender, through a whole cast of characters, each one super lovable and unique.

Thanks to the author and TopplingStacksTours for the eARC via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

i loved this book!! maisie was incredibly relatable and i couldn't help but empathise with her on a very deep level. i didn't realise going into this that maisie is bisexual and eli is a trans man! i absolutely adored every character in this and i can't wait to go back and read the book published about maisie's childhood. can't wait to see what sabrina kleckner does next!

2.5 stars. dnf-ing at 18 percent. It actually had a pretty good start, but I did not agree with some things brought into the story, so I decided not to finish it. My review will be published on June 11, on both Goodreads and fable.

Thank you for letting me read this book.

Watching Maisie learn about herself and discover what makes her unique while trying to make new friends and try new things was a ride but an interesting one.

"Artists are nostalgic."

I loved reading this one. Very relatable, too, even if you are only an artist or in the photography niche. It's about taking a courageous step and being willing to experiment, and putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations.
Maisie wants to challenge herself by learning different things, saying yes more, and self-discover her own style and self rather than copying her family's art style. She moved from New York to London and met new challenges and new relationships. I love that she tries hard. She has another motivation besides self-discovery as well. She doesn't want to look like a loser to her friend Alicia, who is winning at her university.
It's not easy. It's much easier to crave and run home because it's familiar.
Part of the book deals with her brother's relationship and how his actions were relevant to her growing up.
Very sweet, light YA. Makes me want to do more photography this summer.

I wish I had a large poster of this cover.

Sabrina Kleckner nailed the feeling of being a college freshman. All those away from home, parents aren't here to tell you what to do, trying to figure out what the hell you are doing with your life feelings? They are all here. I felt 18 again and that was a loooooooooong time ago.

Not to mention we've got a bit of family drama. So the angst, the coming of age, the drama, *chefs kiss*. Thank to Flux for an early copy.

My interest kind of deflated with this one, and I don't think I can pinpoint why. The characters were compelling, I did like the uni setting, the plot was fine. But by like 60% I was ready for it to end. The casual inclusion of a trans love interest was done wonderfully, and I wish we'd seen more of him and his relationship with Maisie. I get that this is not a romance and I liked the different subplots well enough to not want to sacrifice them for more page time for this guy, but I guess I'd rather he had been taken along on more than one side adventure.

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
A heartfelt coming-of-age journey wrapped in paint, photography, and personal growth—The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark is a sweet, introspective YA read.

Sabrina Kleckner delivers a soft, emotionally layered story about art, identity, and the scary—but necessary—process of stepping outside your comfort zone. Maisie’s struggle to find her creative voice while navigating life in a new country is both relatable and tender, and the quiet charm of her journey makes this book a cozy, satisfying read.

🎨 What worked:
Maisie’s inner world. Her doubt, fear of failure, and longing to be original in a family of artists make her a protagonist you can’t help but root for.

London setting + flatmate dynamics. The fish-out-of-water discomfort is real but never overdone, and the clash of personalities brings some subtle humor.

Slow-build friendship-to-something-more with Eli. Snarky, talented, and a bit guarded—Eli is the perfect artistic foil for Maisie, and their photography project leads to genuine, vulnerable moments.

Themes of family, grief, and healing. The emotional core deepens when a crime back home shakes old wounds loose, and Kleckner handles these moments with thoughtful care.

Queer rep. Calum and Benji’s relationship adds warmth and charm, offering a healthy sibling bond and meaningful support for Maisie.

🖼️ Why it’s 4 stars (not 5):
Pacing is gentle, maybe too much so. Some readers might find the story slow in places, especially early on.

Maisie’s growth is subtle. While realistic, the resolution might feel a little understated for those looking for big, sweeping emotional payoffs.

🎯 Final thoughts:
The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark is a lovely, character-driven YA about figuring out who you are when everything feels uncertain. It’s perfect for fans of Fangirl or Late to the Party who love introspective protagonists, creative self-discovery, and quiet emotional resonance.

A solid 4/5—sweet, sincere, and artistically inspiring.

The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark by Sabrina Kleckner was a wonderfully beautiful and messy novel about a girl named Maisie who’s trying to find herself when going off to university.

I loved all the characters in this book, they all felt so real and lively to me. I loved the humour and the writing was fun to read. I felt like it also captured Maisie’s awkwardness perfectly and without giving me any second hand embarrassment. All the relationships Maisie had were also lovely to read about, each one was so vastly different from each other and helped her develop as a character and person throughout the book. The struggles she went through with her friends and family as well as seeing her work through them was all really interesting to read about. The way Kleckner wrote Maisie’s emotions really drew me into the book as well.

This book is technically the sequel to another where we follow a much younger Maisie. I haven’t read it yet but I definitely will after loving this one so much!

ARC Review | The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark by Sabrina Kleckner
⭐️⭐️⭐️,5 /5

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the author for letting me read this one early! This is a short but thoughtful coming-of-age story (around 230 pages) centered on Maisie, an art student navigating the messy, complicated journey of figuring out who she really is.

Maisie’s internal world takes center stage — her insecurities, doubts, hopes, and identity struggles (including LGBTQ+ themes, which were refreshing to see). While there’s a sprinkle of romance with Eli, the cool, calm, slightly sarcastic love interest, the story is much more about self-discovery than swoony moments.

What I really liked? The art + photography project Maisie and Eli work on, which had me reflecting on how we present ourselves to the world vs. how we see ourselves. It’s a concept that feels very relevant, especially in today’s social media age.

What didn’t fully click for me? As someone in my mid-20s, I sometimes found Maisie’s internal conflicts a bit juvenile — I wanted to shake her and say, “Just say what you think, girl!” But I imagine younger readers (18–20s) will strongly connect with her struggles.

Overall, it’s a cozy, character-driven read perfect for anyone who enjoys stories about growing up, learning to stand in your own truth, and figuring out where you fit. I’m definitely curious to check out more from Sabrina Kleckner!

Five words to sum it up:
Introspective, artistic, emotional, youthful, relatable.

Huge thanks to NetGalley & North Star Editions💌

We get to know our MC Maisie, 18 years old girl who loves art but hates her art style and tries to make new friends away from her home, at london.

It’s really nice that we’re talking about getting to know new people and making new friends bc I think a lot of people have problem with that (or maybe it’s just me) but anyway - figuring out who you are, what do you like and what you don’t like, what do you prefer and what you don’t prefer is hard, especially at the teenage years. Someone knows right away, someone’s really struggling with their identity - it’s really different. I really like that theme of this book is this. Finding who you really are. 🥹💗

📝And the writing? So easy to
read, and one of the reasons is because it’s not like chapter one, chapter two and boom! she has three new friends. I’m glad it’s written in kind of realistic way about the problems that may be a bit silly, but lot of people are struggling with them all the time.

A gorgeous gorgeous novel about figuring out how to be completely and totally yourself. Maisie and her desire to try to push herself out of her comfort zone even to the point of uncomfortableness was truly resonant. Every character had me laughing, smiling and at many points absolutely sobbing. Eli and his black catness, Maisie and her feral corgi nature. A must read for everyone trying to figure themselves out.