The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark is a coming-of-age story that follows eighteen-year-old Maisie Clark and her journey of self-discovery.

Maisie’s family owns a portrait shop in Crescent Valley. Growing up in an artistic household and helping her father paint, it’s no surprise she fell in love with art and became skilled in portraiture. But as she got older, Maisie started doubting herself, feeling her work wasn’t her own and was too similar to her father’s. To find her own style, she moved to London to attend art college, exploring different mediums in search of something that felt uniquely hers.

Maisie's determination to find her own voice and her struggle with imposter syndrome was so relatable. I was so proud of her when she finally discovered herself and saw her own worth. Her character development was amazing to witness, and I loved following her journey.

I really liked this book. The pacing was good, though it felt a bit slow at times. The writing was simple, and I liked how it focused on Maisie's journey. I also appreciated how the author explored LGBTQ struggles and the impact of society and family on them.

3 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Flux for this arc in exchange for an honest review…

Firstly, I just gotta say… I feel attacked. Personally. (Not in a bad way)

There was something about this novel that felt so relatable and had more realism about transitioning into adulthood than other fiction novels that I’ve read before. It covered queer topics, struggles in one’s life we must overcome, and acceptance. I could see myself in Maisie Clark in some chapters; going to uni and enrolling into an art degree to find your own art style … relatable.

As good as this novel was, it was infuriating at times because of Maisie’s personality and how she has to butt in or try to be in her brother’s life. Her approach was bad but when the truth was all out in the open, it made sense. Also, what happened to Maisie and Eli afterwards? I need their romance to bloom. It was cute and their story needs to continue, please author!

If this novel was around when I was still in uni, this would’ve been a good book to consider for some of the questions asked. It definitely has me thinking about my own art approaches and art style.

The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark – A Heartfelt Journey of Self-Discovery
Review by Gheartie Kakashi.

📍 Publication outlet: Instagram – @gheartie
📆 Run date: January 17, 2025.

A more detailed review will be available in French for my followers on Instagram later today.

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Some books grip you from the first page with their fluid and honest writing. The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark by Sabrina Kleckner is one of them. This novel is more than just a story—it’s an introspective journey, a reflection on art, identity, and the importance of embracing imperfection.

The Story

Maisie Clark, an 18-year-old, leaves her small town of Crescent Valley for London, determined to reinvent herself as an artist. After years of following in her father’s footsteps in their family portrait shop, she decides to step away from painting—especially portraits—and explore new disciplines, like photography.

But her journey is anything but easy. Between her eccentric roommates, a critical (but honest) project partner, and her own insecurities, Maisie realizes her quest isn’t just about art—it’s about figuring out who she is and what she wants to express.

Fluid Writing, Universal Themes

The strength of this novel lies in its simplicity and fluid writing style. Sabrina Kleckner immerses us in Maisie’s complex thoughts, as she navigates the challenges of self-discovery. Maisie is relatable, making mistakes like the rest of us, but learning and growing along the way.

Her story captures that pivotal moment in life when we try to step out of the shadows of those who inspire us, while grappling with the fear of not being “enough.” Like many artists (and even non-artists), Maisie doubts the authenticity of her work, fearing it’s just a soulless imitation. But as the novel progresses, she learns an invaluable lesson: what matters isn’t having unique techniques but having something meaningful to express.

Memorable Scenes

The novel is filled with powerful, emotional moments that convey universal truths:
1. The conversation with her father: When Maisie confesses that she can’t see the difference between their portraits, her father gently reminds her that art isn’t about technique but about self-expression. It’s a poignant reminder to let go of perfectionism and focus on what truly matters.
2. The photography project with Eli: Through an experiment combining self-portraits and artist-taken portraits, Maisie learns a profound truth: we can’t control how others see us—only how we choose to present ourselves. This project highlights the importance of embracing all facets of our identity, whether visible or hidden.
3. The discussion with her brother: When Maisie criticizes his efforts to restore vandalized works as “impossible to fix,” her brother passionately argues that art doesn’t have to be perfect or “pretty” to matter. What counts is caring enough to create it in the first place.

A Message Beyond Art

The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark is not just about art—it’s about identity, self-acceptance, and the courage to embrace imperfection. This novel reminds us that we are not built in isolation: we are a mosaic of the people we’ve loved and the experiences that have shaped us.

The book also thoughtfully incorporates LGBTQ+ representation through the relationship between Maisie’s brother, Calum, and his partner, Benji.

Why You Should Read It

If you’re a young adult trying to find yourself or if you’ve ever felt the need to step away from a field or path because of the fear of living in someone else’s shadow, this novel will resonate deeply. Whether it’s art, education, or career choices, The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark reminds us that our voice matters—even if it’s imperfect.

The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark, published by North Star editions will be available on June 10, 2025. Add it to your reading list and immerse yourself in a story about art, identity, and the courage to be yourself.

it took me a while to read this, longer than needed but for some reason i just couldn't get through it.

i was really excited to read this as it sounded like something i would really enjoy, and i did enjoy it a bit!

maisie is a teenager who is very emotional. which honestly made me upset alot of the times throughout the book because she would only think of herself. and calum is frustrating, sooooo frustrating. it was definitely intended to be written that way but i just couldn't keep reading because i got TOO annoyed.

however my favourite characters are benji and eli. i loved eli and i loved the representation as it deeply resonated with me. i just wish we got to see more of both of them.

the ending was fast and felt incomplete. i mean it feels like the whole book was dragged and in the last 10% everything wrapped up. i think i would've given it 4 stars if it was a little longer because there was more to be said i feel like.

however i loved the overall vibe, it was artsy, it was cute and fun. everything that an YA needs!

This is such a good read, i wish i had read this when i was coming of age, so heartwarming and funny. This book was so so good and i honestly couldn’t have asked for it to be any better. It was wrote so well. I love there was also character development and it was definitely a book all young women should read.

I have not read a book that was about art like this one. Especially a YA book, but this one was really nice to read. I liked how different and complex each character was.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sabrina Kleckner for giving me a digital copy to review.

I loved the story of Maisie Clark. I related a lot to her struggles to find her own identity and feeling overshadowed by her dad’s identity. She kind of felt like she never existed without the one purpose of painting portraits the way her dad would do it and it is a struggle that I feel a lot of people can relate to. The struggle to have an identity of our own outside of who people want us to be. The pacing was good, the writing was compelling and the characters were relatable and likeable. Overall, a very interesting story that I will not hesitate to recommend.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I will start by saying that I am maybe not the target audience for this. I like a good young adult book once and a while, but this was more "teen" than young adult. I really disliked the main character, and her immaturity made this very difficult to finish. In fact, I found most of the characters fairly childish-- especially her brother, who is meant to be nearly 30.

The ending is very rushed, and this is very un-polished. Again, I definitely wasn't the target audience, but I do still feel that this book needs work.

Book Name: The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark
By Sabrina Kleckner @sabkleckner
Publisher: North Star Editions | @fluxbooks
PubDate: June 10, 2025
Genre: Romance / Teens & YA
My Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖
Book no 1/80

Wow. WOW! The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark is an absolute masterpiece and the perfect way to kick off my 2025 reading journey! Sabrina Kleckner’s writing is pure magic—her style shines so brightly, I couldn’t help but fall head over heels for this story and its characters.

Maisie’s journey is beautifully messy, heartbreakingly real, and incredibly touching. The way Sabrina Kleckner crafts Maisie’s struggles, triumphs, and her fight to find her voice is so relatable and inspiring. And oh, Eli! The chemistry between Maisie and Eli is so wonderfully written—it turned me into a blushing, giddy mess! Every interaction made my heart race, and I couldn’t get enough.

Calum and Benji—what can I say? Their love, struggles, and unwavering support for each other brought me to tears. The heartfelt LGBTQ+ representation made this my first LGBTQ+ read, and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction.

I loved how Maisie (Nosy) hilariously changed Eli’s name—from "The Ridiculous Boy" to "The Boy Who Doesn’t Look Like a Drowned Rat" to Eli Bauman! It had me laughing so hard. And the final proposal scene with Calum? Pure joy—it left me grinning.

This book didn’t just make me feel good; it reignited my childhood love for art. I’m now inspired to pick up my pencil again and start drawing!

This book made me laugh, cry, and left me with the warmest feeling. Sabrina Kleckner’s storytelling feels like a comforting hug for the soul. I HIGHLY recommend The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark—it will bring sunshine into your life, leave you smiling, and remind you of the beauty of finding yourself.

Thank you, NetGalley, North Star Editions, and Sabrina Kleckner, for the ARC copy of this beautiful book.

#TheComplexArtofBeingMaisieClark #NetGalley

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me this free ARC to read, and I am thankful to read this one. I would like to thank the publisher of this book, which is North Star Edition, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. Lastly, I would like to thank the Author for writing this beautiful book and I'm glad to found this nice book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The main character here in this book is Maisie Clark, and she's going to reach her dream, which is Art. She moved to London to learn more about art. Maisie explores more of herself, and as she takes a journey through her life, she will meet a lot of people. But can she find her voice as she explores the city of London and learns more about her art?

I liked the writing of the book, and it was the perfect book for middle-grade readers, which I recommend they read. The themes for this book are self-discovery and identity, which I also loved to read in some kinds of books. The cover of the book is colorful, which also has the main character of the book, and I think it's the synopsis of the book that caught my interest in reading this book. There also has some character development throughout the story, which is interesting to read more of.

The author explores the theme very well throughout the whole story of this book, and I like how she writes it. The pacing of the book is medium, which means there are some moments that are kind of slow or maybe kind of fast. But the ending is satisfying to me, and it was good to read the ending of the book. Overall, I would totally recommend this book, especially to young adults or middle school, and I would give it 4 stars for the story.

I took longer than I thought it would to write this review! Thanks to Netgalley, Sabrina Kleckner, and the publisher for an e-ARC of The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark.
A little more than three years ago, The Art of Running Away changed my life. When I saw there was a sequel to my favorite book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!
The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark begins around eight years after where we left off in The Art of Running Away. Still, when I started reading the book, it was like these characters I love so dearly had never left. I'm not gonna lie; I got a bit emotional seeing how much they grew paralleled by how different things are in my life compared with when I read the first book, too! Firstly, I have to talk about our main character. Amazingly, you can see how much Maisie matured, growing up from that 12-year-old rebuilding her relationship with her brother to an 18-year-old trying to find her purpose in life: she matured, she has new goals and new problems and deals with those problems differently, but that's still Maisie, her essence is the same, and you can see that in the little things: how her family's still her comfort, how she speaks before thinking when hot-headed, how she deals with her (now better than before) abandonment issues and how she always tries to make everybody around her happy. It was also terrific to see Maisie's insecurities about her future in a way that everybody feels during their first year of college. As I was reading about how she felt, I could only think: I was exactly like that when I entered college, and seeing her find herself was beautiful. Calum and Benji were excellent, as always. I never saw myself as much in a character as I see it in Calum, and oh my god, he keeps being just like me!! All the scenes involving THE question had me rolling with laughter. As for Eli, he was a delight! Another fantastic character who had such a great dynamic with Maisie, their back and forth, and them being so in love while trying not to was everything to me! The one thing that got me was that it felt a bit forced when Maisie and Eli went from fighting to friends to fighting again when they first met, but nothing that made my reading experience less delightful!

The complex art of being maisie Clark , this was a absolutely beautifully written story where we follow Maisie and her Journey to London to attend university and find herself.

I fell In love with this book, there was something so comforting about the story and characters. sure Maisie hadn’t found herself yet but going on that journey with her as she discovered more about who she truly was , was an absolute delight.

I recommend this book to everyone but most of all older teenagers and young adults, I think it is a book that most if not all people will truly enjoy.

Thank you Netgalley northstar editions and flux for the arc.

I adored the first book, The Art of Running Away, and in The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark, we are back with a grown up Maisie. Maisie is starting college near her brother and figuring out who she is and what she can bring to the art world. I adore her voice and personality, along with the cast of characters. (Benji <3).

In this book, we still get to connect with Maisie's family and Glenna's, but we also meet new friends, someone who's more than a friend, and some smart teachers/adults. It was fun watching Maisie fumble her way through art mediums she's not great at or doesn't like, to reach her conclusion, thanks to the insight from her brother. I loved the message about perspective in this book- how we view ourselves and how others view us.

We're all trying to find our place in the world and have something to say, and this book encapsulates both of those things so well.

The novel explores Maisie's struggle to find her creative voice, adapt to a new environment, and navigate complicated family ties. Kleckner's portrayal of Maisie's relationships, particularly with her brother and his boyfriend, offers emotional depth and meaningful LGBTQ+ representation. Set against a vibrant London backdrop, this coming-of age story promises to resonate with readers who love relatable characters, artistic journeys, and themes of growth and belonging.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in June. Oh Maisie, you absolutely beautiful chaos machine. You and this queer book were an absolute delight.

Thank you for the eARC NetGalley! ♡
This was a fun, light-hearted read about an 18 year old artist's first year in university as she struggles to find her own, unique style in the world. Maisie wants to try new things and step out of her comfort zone, which a lot of college students relate to as a freshman. The story features sibling dynamics, strengthening friendships, lgbt rep, personal struggles, and an overall message that will inspire you at the end. Eli and Benji were also some characters I enjoyed aside from Maisie.

This was overall a very YA, college, funny book that i fairly enjoyed most of the way through. It may not be my normal taste in books which is why it’s not a 4 or 5 star for me, but i did enjoy a lot of this book a lot

4.5 stars !

this book was so cute, i loved maisie so much, i think her character felt so honest and realistic! sabrina managed to write the different relationships so well, and whilst i haven't read the art of running away, i imagine it gives even more depth into the characters and their backstories exactly.

representation matters!! and i really appreciate how it was presented in this book, it genuinely didn't feel forced, yet was still highlighted well as it should be, because our identities are a major part of our lives.

i also think the message that everyone's art is distinct, and that perspective is such a large part of how we go about every day life, is so important, and was so intelligently spoken about.

such an enjoyable read, and has really helped me in my reading slump, i really recommend this :)

A coming-of-age story about Maisie trying to find her self and learning to speak up. Maisie goes to London to college because she wants to discover new art mediums after giving up doing portraits. She makes a try new things list and meets Eli. Maisie’s brother, Calum, is also in London and helps Maisie out. A fun family and friendship read.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

While at the beginning I wasn't sure this book was going to hit for me, it ended up being exactly what I needed. It's a beautiful story about coming of age and trying to find yourself. Maisie is a well written character with flaws that make her relatable. Her relationship with her brother was fleshed out well and their moments together made me tear up a few times. The only thing that took me out of the story a little bit was the fact that Maisie is supposed to be an American but she speaks in British English (using words like flat ect.). Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and would definitely recommend it.