Review: Gena/Finn by Kat Helgeson and Hannah Moskowitz

The story follows the unlikely friendship of two young women forged via fan fiction and message boards, and is told entirely in texts, chats, and blog posts.

Gena (short for Genevieve) and Finn (short for Stephanie) have little in common. Book-smart Gena is preparing to leave her posh boarding school for college; down-to-earth Finn is a twenty-something struggling to make ends meet in the big city. Gena’s romantic life is a series of reluctant one-night-stands; Finn is making a go of it with long-term boyfriend Charlie. But they share a passion for Up Below, a buddy cop TV show with a cult fan following. Gena is a darling of the fangirl scene, keeping a popular blog and writing fan fiction. Finn’s online life is a secret, even from Charlie. The pair spark an unlikely online friendship that deepens quickly (so quickly it scares them both), and as their individual “real” lives begin to fall apart, they increasingly seek shelter online, and with each other.

Dang. Gena/Finn kind of broke my heart. I was expecting a tale of friendship created by the internet, but what I got was so much more than that! Gena and Finn are both part of the fandom for cop show and start chatting a bit. Then they both go to a convention and find that they hit it off in real life too. They quickly become best friends and it couldn’t come at a better time as both girls’ lives are falling apart. Gena is having trouble settling into college and managing her mental health while Finn can’t get a job and is worried about what the future means for her and her boyfriend.

Gena/Finn was so cute and fun in the beginning. I couldn’t help but get swept up in their enthusiasm for their favorite show and their blossoming friendship. The inclusion of fan fiction and summary posts of the show that brought them together was also a nice touch. However, it’s when the book takes a darker turn that really got me hooked. I was very emotionally invested in this. Gena and Finn are going through some intense stuff and it just hurt my heart, but also warmed my heart at how Finn took care of Gena during this time.

I really do not want to spoil anything about Gena/Finn. You really have to read this one to get it. The relationship between Gena and Finn is wonderful! It gets pretty deep at points and I wasn’t sure which way I wanted it to go, but I am satisfied with how it all turned out. Just be warned that this is not a very upbeat book once things start going, but it does end on a hopeful note.

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