A young girl imagines a grand future for herself, far from the drab British suburbs. Two friends, once inseparable, find their connection gradually slipping away. Three women discuss how life in the big city makes them feel seen -- or invisible. In a series of interconnected vignettes, It's Not What You Thought It Would Be explores the circuitous paths lives can take and the changes in perspective gained along the way.

In a series of interconnected vignettes, Stewart focuses on the ordinary, slice-of-life moments -- teenagers climbing up and lounging on a rooftop, friends catching up over pints at the pub, a woman riding the night bus home -- and charges these scenes with a quiet intensity. Through keen observation and an ear for naturalistic dialogue, she reveals the complex natures of her characters, from their confidence to their insecurities, as they experience the joys and pains of growing up. Drawn in a variety of different styles, from watercolor to colored pencil to pen and ink, the style of this book echoes the evolution of the characters within.

Author: Lizzy Stewart
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
Published: 07/27/2021
Pages: 168
Weight: 1.75lbs
Size: 10.50h x 7.60w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781683964353


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 05/24/2021
Booklist 07/01/2021 pg. 44
Shelf Awareness 08/03/2021

About the Author
Stewart, Lizzy: - Lizzy Stewart is an illustrator and author from Plymouth who lives and works in London. She has written and illustrated three picture books for children as well as the graphic novella Walking Distance and the graphic novel It's Not What You Thought It Would Be. Her debut picture book There's a Tiger in the Garden won the Waterstones Children's book prize for picture books in 2017 as well as a World Illustration Award. She teaches illustration at Goldsmith's college.