'I Shall Never Fall in Love' - what a great graphic novel.
It's widely described as an LBGTQ+ retelling of a Jane Austen novel - mostly 'Emma', with a bit of 'Pride and Prejudice' - and it is exactly that.
It is a sweet, funny, yet realistic English regency era coming-of-age story, starring a teenage trio: Eleanor Woodford, a white, fat, upper class lesbian (or bisexual, at least); her cousin Charlotte Woodford, a biracial (half white, half Black) young woman who was taken in through charity by Eleanor's parents, and has to marry into high society and provide for her own poor parents, but she is in love with a farm boy, Robert Miller; and George Kinsley, a white, transmasc nonbinary, high class person who is more than capable of handling their own estate and business.
Each character has their own quirks, hobbies, stereotype-defying strengths, weaknesses, and flaws. Most present in the story - Eleanor and George are clearly in love with each other. But in typical cisheteronormative and classist fashion, and via typical Jane Austen obstacles, it takes them a while to realise this.
But can they ever be together? Will it be possible?
Other notable players include: Eleanor's ailing, largely hypochondriac and fretful father; John Kinsley, George's older brother who fled to London; Caroline Grey, George's first fling; Sophie Shah, another BIPOC girl, who is "delicate" and a "beautiful, perfect young lady"; Henry Whitby, a friend of John's, who basically plays the role of George Wickham from 'Pride and Prejudice'; and Beth, the best maid ever to George.
It's all a wonderful, charming, funny, enriching, enlightening ride.
'I Shall Never Fall in Love' teaches us about LBGTQ+ history, specifically in regency England (around 1818), and how LBGTQ+ people have always existed, everywhere. It also makes a big point in acknowledging that slavery happened, and its effects and influences in society are still present, and it is, in many ways, and in other parts of the world (in 1818, and even the present), still happening. It is how practically every empire was built.
These events were, and are, real. And 'I Shall Never Fall in Love' doesn't sugarcoat any of it, even with its general lighthearted tone. We learn about history - about humanity's greatest monstrosities, and the "incalculable suffering" (to quote Charlotte) caused by the "superiors" in society - for a reason. So we can learn from them and never repeat them. So we can always do better.
Of all the main characters, Eleanor, who has snobbish tendencies, has the most flaws she needs to learn and develop out of. She doesn't want to fall in love and marry. She is apprehensive about marrying any man, despite her late mother's wishes. But at the same time, she has her classism issues - which links to her insecurities and fickleness - and it is one aspect of her mother's influence that she unconsciously carried and took to heart.
It is another important lesson the graphic novel teaches: parents are not perfect, and they are not always right about everything.
Although the graphic novel focuses far more on Eleanor and George - the white characters - than on Charlotte, and they are more developed than her, and it has no LBGTQ+ rep in the BIPOC characters, I still recommend 'I Shall Never Fall in Love'. What a gorgeous, brilliant, delightful, well-researched, smart, passionate, diverse, #ownvoices story.
The art is beautiful, colourful, expressive, and adaptable to the tone of any event. Every page looks terrific, but for me personally, one particular panel made me swoon, and it is of a rosy, rose-coloured, fairy tale little cottage near the end. I want to live in a house like that some day!
'I Shall Never Fall in Love' has its Jane Austen influence, and it doubles as belonging on the same pop culture, mass appeal shelf as 'Bridgerton', the 'My Lady Jane' Amazon Prime adaptation (though that counts as more historical fantasy), 'The Prince and the Dressmaker', 'The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich' (ditto historical fantasy), 'Stage Dreams', 'Patience & Esther', 'Patience & Sarah', the 'Goodbye, My Rose Garden' manga, the 'Montague Siblings' novels, the 'Feminine Pursuits' novels, Alexis Hall's 'A Lady for a Duke', E.M. Foster's 'Maurice', Sarah Waters' works, Cat Sebastian's works, Joanna Chambers' works, K.J. Charles' works, and Lex Croucher's works, in terms of diverse (meaning: truth telling) historical fiction.
'I Shall Never Fall in Love' - I guess a more accurate title should be 'I Shall Never Marry'-- oops! I'm getting into spoiler territory. I shall leave off for now!
Read it and educate yourself, and find clarity, love, and hope.
Final Score: 4/5
P.S. One weird flaw I forgot to mention: Robert Miller is said many times to have sisters... but we never see them, save for in a couple panels and in the background, and even then we're not sure if those women are his sisters. We don't ever find out their names, nor even how many sisters there are. What?
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