Acorn Library

I just bought a copy. This wants to live on my shelve. <3

Finding your passion in the most unexpected place and deciding to just go for it, because nothing else is on the horizon? That’s totally Georgie. In Total Suplex of the Heart by Joanne Starer, Georgie starts out writing a web article about female wrestlers. One research day later, she finds herself in the ring and liking it. Since the male-dominated world of professional wrestling is not a cakewalk for young women, this journey comes with high ups and very low downs for Georgie.

The writing is authentic and raw. Nothing gets sugarcoated. The story moves quickly, skipping over weeks or months at a time, which actually, I thought works well since it covers a long period and focuses on the most important moments. Honestly, if Starer had wanted to spend more time on the story, this could have easily turned into an amazing series.

The wrestling setting is pretty niche, but that’s what made it more interesting for me. As always when you learn something new and generally about injustices you had no clue of. I learned a lot, I have not discovered a new passion but I would definitely dive into similar sports again after this.

And the art is just stunning. Ornella Greco did a fantastic job with her work. It is beautiful and perfect for a story that focuses on a physical sport.

You can really tell that Starer knows her stuff when it comes to graphic novels. I couldn’t put this one down until I’d finished it. The writing, the art, the plot—everything just flows together so well. This book made me laugh and cry with Georgie. If you’re into real-life stories that don’t shy away from mental health topics, I can’t recommend this graphic novel enough. Plus, the ending is totally worth it and comes with a little surprise page that will wreck your heart. </3

Big thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids Inc. for the review copy!

Triggers
Anorexia, domestic violence, child abuse, depression, toxic relationship, profanity