I requested this title back before my blogging break. I have ended up with a number of titles that are overwhelming to catch up on now I am back from my blogging break. I am regretfully not going to be reading and reviewing this title, but now I am back from my blogging break, I am looking forward to reading and reviewing some of your future titles. Thank you so much for the opportunity and apologies.

Unfortunately I no longer wish to review this book as the first few chapters did not reel me in. Thank you for the opportunity.

I'm a huge fan of Non Pratt and I've loved everything by her that I've read. I always look forward to her books and as well as this e-book from Netgalley, I also own a signed paperback of this book.

I've not read the graphic novels of which this book is based, but from this book it seems as though the graphic novels would be a lot of fun! Based on three friend, Esther, Susan and Daisy, as readers follow their adventures in university navigating school work, friendships, hobbies and relationships. I enjoyed Giant Days and really related to a lot of it - being unsure of mixing old friends with new, clinging to friendships that aren't as genuine as I'd like them to be, the uncertainty of new things, being away from home. There was a lot I enjoyed about the book and I absolutely wish there were more university-based stories.

As a fan of the series I can tell you that Pratt's book can be included seamlessly in their canon. The author managed to capture exactly what I love about each character. More please!

I haven’t previously read the graphic novels this is based on but it’s a fun story with relatable characters. Made me want to pick up the graphic novels after!

I thoroughly enjoy the graphic novels of Giant Days. This gives me a lot of the same feels but it's just not the same. I think the art that goes along with the story really makes it the greatness it is.

I could spend forever with this bonkers crew. It's a delightful read and wonderful escape into the world of kids figuring out life and themselves.

Thank you for providing a copy of this book for review however I was unable to open the file for this document unfortunately! Apologies.

Many thanks to Netgalley in providing me an e-ARC of the book.

I have not read the graphic novels prior to reading this, hence my opinions are solely based on this novel. When I started reading this book, I did not think I would enjoy it. The author jumps right into the story and I felt like there was no time to gradually introduce and personalize with the characters. However, as I continued reading, I started to enjoy the plot and the characters as well. The plot is a bit silly, and the characters are quirky, but it was still fun to read.

The main thing I like about “Giant Days” is that it is never dull. There is always something happening with the three characters to keep the plot interesting. To begin with, I like how the author shifts between story-lines after each paragraph to keep the pace consistent. Personally, I found Daisy’s character and her story-line fascinating. I loved how she tries to participate in all the activities to socialize, given her background. I was hooked when she gets involved in the shady Yoga Club and starts to lose herself. Moreover, I also liked Esther and dramatic expressions on trying to befriend Vectra. Probably the only character who did not have much going for her was Susan. She seems to be a complex character, but the only thing that happens to her is McGraw coming back in her life.

Honestly, I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I had read the graphic novels first. There are a quite a lot of supporting characters like Reggie, Ed, and Kully, whom I could not connect with at all. There is also so much happening in the plot that I didn’t get to enjoy the characters as much I would have liked to. However, I really liked the theme of college friendship, and the interesting phases that the girls go through.

Overall, “Giant Days” was a good read, but I felt it could have been better. It has sparked my curiosity to pick up the graphic novels and give them a try.

Thank you for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had been almost saving this book for a rainy day, given the high praise of reviewers and recommendations. Maybe the bar was set so I, it was bound to fail. I found the characters 2-dimensional and flat. The situations and dialogue felt better suited for the original graphic novel format. I'm not sure what turning it into a novel really achieves. Disappointing.

I was so excited for this book, because I love the comic book version like crazy. When I got the chance to read the Advanced Reader Copy, I jumped for it.

One of the things that was not really apparent in the comic was how our three girls became friends, other then them just being roommates in the dorm before moving into a house together. So it was cool to learn how our girls first met and how they forged their friendship into what we see in the comic.

Okay, but on to the real stuff that brought down my star rating for this novel and any future recommendations I will not have for the novel adaptions.

One- There were big gaps in the book. The novel wants to stand on its own (which I get), so readers don’t have to read the comic before hand. But, the book keeps referring to big stuff (and some really great funny plot moments in the first volume of the paperback comic book). Leaving others confused and unable to completely understand the characters and plot ( I also had to kept checking and rereading lines from the comic and the novel to make sure I was thinking of the right moments they were talking about).

Two- The character point of view jumps. I really didn't like the jumps between girls, it’s hard to follow. You think your reading Daisy but you find out later it’s actually Susan, and Ed for very small parts. Along with this, was the text messages I was unable to tell who text messages between the characters are to and from

Three- Wished there was chapters for each character, boys included. Or just breaks in between with it clearly saying above (where the next section or passage started) which character point of view we are reading.

Four-Wanted more funny. The comic book series is so funny, there are times I'm reading it and break out laughing in public or just remembering it, sometime I laugh so hard I cry. It's also not just the visuals that give the funny, its the writing. There are so many great times that give you pause before you start laughing and snorting, all the while think same. This novel gave nothing of that hilarity and had maybe three crumbs of somewhat funny lines (no funny situations, as hard as they tried to make it).

Five-Wanted more depth and backstory to our characters and how their friendship works so well. The comic series does touch on the backstory of the characters and some of their relationship between them, but we really did not see any of that in this novel.

Six-More on Susan and McGraw. The whole comic series has this second focus of the tension/ hate/ feud and so on between Susan and McGraw. I mean that's a big reason I love the comic books, the girls lives are fascinating, but this thing between Susan and McGraw is insane and amazing at the same time.

Things I wished were in the novel from the first comic, which the novel is trying to cover.

1- The first time Susan sees McGraw on campus and how she reacts to Ed introducing him to the girls, it looks like fire is coming out of her eyes at him.

2-The Drama Field Activated, in which Susan activates Esther's Drama Fiels around her to cause torment to McGraw. i.e. a giant lunch room chaos, and domino reaction with is literally the funniest thing that made me fall in love with the series.

3-The whole side plot that is barely mentioned in the novel, when Esther is number three on a hottest first years list made by other college boys who have nothing good to do apparently. In the novel this is rushed passed and Esther is almost raped by three guys at party, but is quickly taken away by one of her girls. This party of Esther almost getting attacked never happens in the comic, she finds out she's on the list and goes to the Dean to get it taken care of, when he tells her boys will be boys. The guys who made the list then start a donation fund and who ever makes the top donations will get the phone numbers of the top ten girls-Esther included. Now, in the comic this is dealt with in the best way possible and it is not at all mentioned in the novel. I won't spoil it for you all, only suggest that you check out the paperback comic (the compilation of the first couple of issues) to find out the sweet, sweet justice of it all.

4-The Femmist magazine-The Men are Awful issue that Susan creates and puts a big photo of McGraw on the front cover. Even though McGraw is pretty much a big femmist and all about women's right and power being top.

5- The real backstory of Susan and McGraw. Towards the end of the first comic (not the issue, but the paperback bound copy), Susan reveals all to Esther about how she knows McGraw and everything they were together and to each other.

I do hope that in the final printed edition of this novel version of the comic book is changed and fixed up a bit more, but I know that's unlikely. Although if they do choose to make more of these novels based off of the comics that figure out their actual plan to see it through better.

Favorite quote(s):

Who’s what?Ed was too slow, and the girl had passed from view behind some trees.

That vision of gothic perfection.

Ed Gemmell glanced uncertainty at Esther, then at the window. Are you... admiring your own reflection? What? No. I’m not that vain.





Susan’s room was not one in which to step lightly. Or, indeed, heavily. Or at all, if you wanted to avoid breaking your neck. The floor was carpeted in clothes, and Daisy secretly held the theory that Susan simply rolled out of bed across the floor and emerged in whatever wrapped itself around her before she got to the door.



Name the skeleton.

Indiana Bones. A fellow archaeologist.



If there was one thing being a private investigator taught you, it was that knowledge was power. No need to share it with more people than necessary.



For all that her loyalties lay with Susan, there was no denying that McGraw was one of the most considerate, polite, and downright chivalrous people Daisy had ever encountered. He had the manners of a Regency gentleman, the mustache of a middle-aged man, and the youthful twinkle in his smile of someone who looked at the world and liked it. Which was probably exactly the reason Susan found him intolerable.



I have ... trust issues. Esther snorted at this, but Daisy settled her. I don’t want you to get to know me through someone else. I want you to get to know me through me.





Parties mean people, and you hate people.

Not all people. Susan studied the nubs of her fingernails before muttering. There’s a couple I think are all right.



Susan had been distracted by thoughts of smashing the phone repeatedly into Vectra’s face and settling things that way.





Phone’s on silent. Susan watched them all switch off the sound.

Yogi Bear?

Check. Esther.

Deliverance?

Check. Ed Gemmell.

Dry Old Stick? No response. McGraw. That’s you. Still no response. Fine. How about... Vengeful Kindling?”

McGraw twitched a smile. Copy that, Ragnarok Andy Roll.

They we’re ready.

Even though I've only read the first volume of the graphic novels, I was so excited to hear about this book inspired by the Giant Days series – and written by one of my favourite YA authors! In Giant Days, we follow the lives of "three university first-years: Daisy, the innocent home-schooled girl; Susan, the sardonic wit; and Esther, the vivacious drama queen". Continue reading this review over on Pretty Books: https://prettybooks.co.uk/2019/02/17/mini-reviews-fierce-fragile-hearts-giant-days-the-night-olivia-fell/

As an avid reader of the Giant Days comic series, it's obvious what draws the appeal. I adore Esther, Daisy, and Susan and this book capture their friendship perfectly (which is honestly the best part of the series). It's fun without taking itself too seriously. However, I don't know if I would recommend this to anyone who hasn't read the comics. While the story works well to explain it'self outside of the comic world, it does lose a certain touch of magic that the artwork brings. While this is absolutely something I would recommend to someone who already loves the series, i would not want to give this to someone unfamiliar with the comics.

Overall, the chance to visit with these characters outside their normal format was quite the treat and I would absolutely read more novelizations should they come about but I don't think this would be for everyone.

I made the mistake of starting the book before I had read any of the comics. In retrospect, that shouldn't be an issue but for me it was. I got roughly half way through this one before finally deciding to put it down. I couldn't remember who a single character was (A problem I also have with the comics) and their problems just didn't matter to me because everything seemed completely over the top and like secrets were being kept for absolutely no reason. I might try this again another time but for now, I think I'll give these characters a pass.

I absolutely love Giants Days; it's probably my favourite comic at the moment. It captures the university experience perfectly and is so easy to relate to. Unfortunately, the book seems to have been unable to replicate the unique spirit of the comics and falls flat. Maybe readers who haven't read the comics would appreciate this one more as they won't be able to make constant comparisons.

Unfortunately I didn't realize that the file I downloaded expired until it was past the archive date, so I am unable to read and review this.

I'm a huge fan of Non Pratt's writing, as she creates teenagers that feel more authentic than any other author I've encountered. Like her other books, 'Giant Days' is written with humour, sharp dialogue and characters that I rooted for. I buy all of Non's books and can't wait for the next one!

The biggest problem with the comic novelizations is that when you fall in love with characters in the comic book medium, it's hard to really adjust to them outside of that medium. Especially when the writers that taking on the characters are not the same as the comic book writers. I've been reading Giant Days for some time, and I love, love, LOVE the comics. Esther, Susan, and Daisy are absolutely my BFFs and I love going with them on their adventures. So of course I was beyond excited for the book! Another opportunity to introduce the world at large to my faves? YES PLEASE.

Overall, Non Pratt handled the world and the characters fairly well. Much like in the comics, there were some laugh out loud moments, and excellent descriptions that lent themselves very well to comic narratives. The prose was very readable, and the mystery of the strange yoga cult was definitely intriguing (DAISY JUST DON'T DO IT).

There were some definite weaknesses to the novel. While Susan and Daisy came off the page fairly well, Esther (who is my absolute favorite)--didn't quite work for me. And as a result, much of her story didn't work. (Honestly, if I think rather critically about Susan's depiction, I start feeling like that wasn't perfect either, but I'm trying not to think about it because it bothers me in different ways that I'm not sure I'm okay with dealing with).

I'd give the book 3.5 Stars. If you're a casual fan of Giant Days and wanna see these characters in other mediums, it's worth a read. If you like YA novels that at their core are about friendship, this book is certainly worth a read. The book definitely made me want to look more into Non Pratt's original writing, so it was definitely worthwhile

The Giant Days novel is a delight that will surely resonate with fans of the comic book series. Even if you haven't read the series before, this is a great jumping on point for anyone, and they'll have plenty of other material to follow it with should they be completely in love with the characters and world like countless others!

This book is excellent and I loved it a lot! It bought a series of graphic novels, that I love, to life! Well Done Non Pratt, your writing is excellent.