This is just positively weird. But ... weirdly appealing. After a spate of bad boyfriends, the heroine asks her girlfriends' advice about what to look for in a boyfriend. Tall, dark, handsome, strong and cuddly, a black bear fits the bill better than any man. There is a fun bit about her life going on when he returns to the woods to hibernate. Quirky and original. Recommended.

Nora, the charming protagonist of "My Boyfriend is a Bear", relates the story of her relationship with an American black bear. The two meet in passing while Nora is camping with her then-boyfriend; it's an illuminating trip, after which she breaks up with terrible Ben and re-embraces her own life. The bear finds her again some time later, and their relationship blossoms immediately.

It's an odd little comic. The artwork is cheerful and coherent, and Nora's narration is matter-of-fact. She seems like a really nice person, and the bear is an exceptionally good boyfriend; he builds a shelf highway for her cat, gives great hugs, and is a very good listener. During a tense first meeting with Nora's best friends, he diffuses the situation by juggling coffee creamers. Nora makes the bear his own clothes, learns all she can about his species and defends him when her friends and family disparage him. They find alternate activities when it becomes clear that, say, hiking or the zoo aren't ideal outings. While Nora and the bear are increasingly affectionate and refer to the physical nature of their relationship, the comic avoids actual bestiality. The focus is on a domestic, respectful, and loving relationship. It's nice.

The biggest obstacle the two lovers face is the age-old struggle of man versus nature--or, in this case, woman versus hibernation. When the bear heads back to the foothills of Los Angeles, Nora is left alone with her own doubts and worries. Will her bear return? How will she reconcile a season of her own growth with his season of sleep? Happily, "My Boyfriend is a Bear" resolves these questions in a way that's especially satisfying for anyone who has ever been separated from a loved one.

I found it extremely weird, but in a good way, and it made me laugh the entire time I was reading it. It's perfect for anyone who's in the mood to read something cute, funny and enjoyable.

This is just too adorable for words! Silly, super cute and full of hope, I now want my own bear boyfriend to cuddle and wrestle with.

The delightful story of Nora who, after a succession of terrible boyfriends, finds a much happier relationship with a 500 pound American black bear. My wife says it's very reminiscent of our home life, which is ridiculous; I'm not American. Be warned that, while mostly heartwarming and adorable, it does get pretty tear-jerking once hibernation looms.

(Netgalley ARC)

Review to be posted on all places closer to the release date.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

OMG, I just HAD to have this one when I spotted it during my vacation (yes, even during my vacation I had to check NG to see if there were any new fun books). A girl who, after countless of bad romances, falls in love with a bear. Yes, a bear!

Now, I have to say I wasn't as weirded out as many probably will be. I thank manga for that. :P I have seen people date aliens, cats/dogs/cat people, so a bear? Nothing special. Though I have to say that there were parts that had me go ehhhhhhhhhh. Knowing that these two have sex. The other parts? Eh, I didn't mind those, in fact Bear and Nora are just the cutest couple!

Plus, I can totally understand that Nora may just not go for a normal guy. She has truly terribly luck with men, and I know the feeling. I am happily in a relationship now, but before this lovely guy I also had my share of not so good relationships (either they weren't good to start with or they ended not that well), and I even had a time when I thought I wouldn't ever be happy with someone.

And the Bear was just the best. Even though he couldn't speak, he was highly intelligent, he seemed to understand English (though couldn't speak it), he eventually even got a job (which is totally amazing if you think about it). I can totally understand that Nora fully falls for the guy. He is there when she needs it, he comforts her when she has a shitty day, he is a great cuddler. He can fix things around the house. He and the cat are compatible too and they help out each other.
The only thing Bear can do better is not breaking everything left and right. But I am sure that he is trying his best to throw his hugeness not around like crazy.

I loved how Nora kept protecting and trying to argue against anyone who was trying to get her and Bear to break up. And there were a lot of people who were against her dating Bear. Not only one of her friends (the other was totally OK with Bear, even to the point I was worried that she would take Bear from Nora), but also the parents (though then again I am sure they acted this way with all her boyfriends), people at work, people on the street. But Nora wasn't deterred and she kept loving Bear more and more with each day.

The hibernation parts just broke my heart. It didn't help I had some sad Nightcore-ish music up, so I was on the border of crying. Poor Nora, but also poor Bear. He can't help his instincts, but I am sure he wishes he could just stay with Nora for all the time and not just half of the year.
I also wanted Bear to be awake and just swing Ben around a few times. Really, dude, she broke up with you. Don't TOUCH her, don't tell her you are not giving her up, don't come uninvited to her home. Just no. Ewww.
The ending to the hibernation, and the ending to the book, I was just crying. It was perfection. I am so happy for both Bear and Nora. I hope they will be together for a long time to come, and hopefully they can work with the hibernation.

The art was absolutely fabulous. The style was just perfect for this story. A perfect blend of seriousness/love/comedy.

All in all, a book I would highly recommend. It is a cute romance between a girl and her sweet Bear. You will be rooting for the two of them.

As odd as this title may sound, it is adorable! I happened to read it on Valentine's day, which was just perfectly fitting. I really enjoyed the author's humor but also the way she included "tough stuff" like the criticism of their union and the separation that hibernation brought on. The way the main character handles things feels actually very truthful. I also really liked the artwork. It is cartoonish but that fits the story quite well. There is quite a bit of adult language and a tiny bit of sexual innuendo so I wouldn't recommend this to kids but probably more mid to older teens, depending on the person. Overall, it was a hilarious but honest telling of a fanciful romance.

I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This comic is far cuter and far sweeter than I honestly expected. It's a quick but quirky read that is weirdly enjoyable in the most heartwarming way possible.

This was a cute book. I loved that it dealt with the positive (cuddling) and negative (breaking things) aspects of living with a bear. The Bear and cat interactions were the best.

Whimsical and weird! A solid choice for folks who enjoy off-beat humor.

The title of this graphic novel spells it out for you: Nora's boyfriend is a bear. No, not an avid fan of Chicago football, and not a hat-wearing wocka wocka standup comic -- an actual flesh and fur belongs-in-a-zoo-or-in-a-stream-salmon-swatting bear. Nora is a thoroughly modern Los Angeleno who hasn't had much luck in love. On a camping trip with the latest self-absorbed suitor, she wanders off and encounters a bear on the trail. What ensues isn't a survivalist tale, but a wholly unexpected modern suburban love story. Written by Pamela Ribon, the story magically balances a clever, goofy awareness of its off-kilter premise with, at heart, an unabashed sincerity and insight into the highs and lows in love and relationships. Cat Farris' illustrations are whimsically charming, especially the Los Angeles she captures, a Los Angeles I would love to live in instead of the one I actually do.

This was an enchanting read I couldn't put down once I started it. What I love most about this book is how much it believes in love. Highly recommended for the starry-eyed romantic in all of us.

A story of a lady and her bear, the title really does explain it all. This is a charming graphic novel about love, friendship, and just accepting who you are. I laughed and even shed a tear, curse my fondness for a good love story!

This was fun, weird, but fun. It made me laugh and the illustrations are great - colourful and cute. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something light, quirky, and fun.

This was a really sweet, weird and touching romance story that was exactly what I wanted. It wasn't a metaphor for real life relationship woes it was just a wonderful story about a young woman who is in love with the nicest black bear. It reminded me of a much brighter and happier Shape of Water, which was exemplified by the terrific art of Cat Farris. With Image publishing Twisted Romance and now this romance comics are making a comeback with a fun twist. Definitely recommend this book.

The title and cover grabbed me immediately: a woman in a relationship with a literal bear - where is this going to go? I was worried about the balance of the silly concept of a literal bear being the boyfriend with the exploration of relationships, but was pleasantly surprised by the comic's mix of silly and candidness. This is a book for adults with the inclusion of some language and sexual situations, but the relationship is very human (despite the animal component). I could relate to the battle of your wants vs those around you and how you see yourself vs how others see you.

It has a happy ending and a message of self discovery amidst the onslaught of outside opinions. It's a light read with adorable illustrations and a great sense of humor.

Sweet and funny graphic novel. Nora has had a string of confidence shattering relationships with men, and is tired of being treated as less than human by the men in her life. Then she meets a guy who is a little rough around the edges, but is always kind, caring, and fun. He just happens to be a bear. An actual bear, not a metaphorical bear. Despite this stretch of the imagination, or perhaps because of it, the story really rings true - the experiences of being shamed for the things you like or want, being unsupported and unheard, having friends disapprove or approve of your relationship and wondering how much that matters, being a little jealous and worried when your beloved is out of town, wishing for someone to listen and cuddle with and to take you out once in awhile - these things are universal. I laughed, I cried, I was uncomfortable. It was wonderful.

Sure, a human-bear relationship seems doomed to fail, but Nora and her Bear are a total power couple. I love that they are both wiling to be active participants in the relationship, each working to care for and support each other. I also feel that Bear is a very clever way to explore any relationship outside of a hetero / cis dynamic and the process of maturing. Love is about kindness, trust, and acceptance, not appearance, and Nora and Bear are the real deal.

Very weird but a lot of fun! Will make you laugh all the way through it.

A modern fable that reveals the daily joy and hard work of relationships while teaching readers to learn to follow their heart in the face of discrimination. After a series of bad relationships, Nora promises herself that she won’t compromise her needs for whoever she dates next. Then she meets the Bear, on the run from a wildfire, and finds her perfect mate. As friends and family show a range of reactions to her unusual choice, Nora finds herself falling farther in live with the perfect guy for her - even as she comes to terms with the reality that no relationship is perfect. I loved the art, first of all, with its splashy color and varied design that kept the action moving. I especially appreciated the deft use of magical realism that made a girl dating a bear so normal, even as his character acts as a stand-in for “the other” being discriminated against by a seemingly loving family. On the surface a fun, ridiculous story, but replace the bear with any minority - race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. - and readers can see the battles of so many couples who just want to be accepted by their friends and family. A wonderful addition for libraries looking for fewer superhero comics and more unique graphic novels for a diverse, adult audience.

This book is perfect for the quirky reader who is looking for something fun and different. In spite of the odd premise, this was a very cute book with a whole lot of heart. For some readers, this will be an easy sell. I can see others struggling with it a little, but I would still recommend it, especially to young adult readers and those interested in comics and graphic novels.

This was a breath of fresh air for me. I was truly surprised at how deep and touching this story was, and appreciated how different it was from the majority of graphic novels that I tend to read. I loved the main character Nora, and sympathized with her never ending struggle to find a decent, and respectful man that will treat her right. She ends up meeting Bear, and falling in love with him. As you can imagine, living and loving a 500 lb bear can come with its challenges, but also it's perks. I will admit to smiling, laughing, and even crying while reading this. I simply loved it, and will be recommending it to all of my graphic novel loving friends. I especially know my Litsy friends will be excited to gobble this one up.

I have received a much appreciated digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A friend mentioned this book to me and of course I had to immediately look it up. The description made me laugh and the art look great, so I decided to check it out. I loved this book beary much! The art is fantastic and the writing is witty and charming. It really, really is an actual bear and it's so ridiculous but adorable and so much fun!

Definitely a different basis for a graphic novel- but it works! Artwork is good, and the story is adorable. The Bear with little reading glasses gave me a smile every time!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

The story was strange but the art was great! You gotta love romance and satire smooshed together in one well drawn comic.

I adore this little graphic novel. From the illustrations to the pure emotions, I read this from cover to cover in glee. This book is a treat. A young woman’s relationship with an actual live bear is met with struggles – from a friend’s negative reactions, to the challenge of not seeing each other for the months of hibernation. Though the obstacles are definitely specific to their unique relationship, the message rings loud and clear for everyone to hold close: Do what makes you happy with the people (or bears?) that you love most and don’t worry about the rest. Five stars from me.