Review: Exquisite Corpse by Pénélope Bagieu

Title: Exquisite Corpse
Author: Pénélope Bagieu
Publisher: First Second
Age Group: Adult
Category: Graphic Novel
Release date: May 5th, 2015
Pages: 128 (Hardcover)
Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Publisher
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Zoe isn't exactly the intellectual type, which is why she doesn't recognize world-famous author Thomas Rocher when she stumbles into his apartment...and into his life. It's also why she doesn't know that Rocher is supposed to be dead. Turns out, Rocher faked his death years ago to escape his critics, and has been making a killing releasing his new work as "lost manuscripts," in cahoots with his editor/ex-wife Agathe. Neither of them would have invited a crass party girl like Zoe into their literary conspiracy of two, but now that she's there anyway. . . . Zoe doesn't know Balzac from Batman, but she's going to have to wise up fast... because she's sitting on the literary scandal of the century!

At the beginning of Exquisite Corpse, readers are introduced to a young woman named Zoe. It's not a secret that she's unhappy with her life.   Her job is a joke and her relationship isn't much better.  There's not much else keeping her tied down to work or her dead-beat boyfriend except for herself.  When she locks eyes with a man peering at her through his apartment window, things take an unexpected turn, and a new romance begins to bloom.

Thomas is a writer, quite famous for his work, but Zoe wouldn't know that.  Her sudden appearance inspires him, and as long as she keeps coming back, he's been able to write more than he has in years.  She's happier than she's been in a long time as well, so it seems to be working out for the both of them.  Though what they have going on is sweet at the start, the initial excitement begins to fizzle out when he spends a majority of his time trying to perfect his next bestseller.  This book has it all, from hopelessness to romance, even a big, steaming pile of deception.

Though the characters weren't around long enough for you to grow attached, they were still quite interesting.  The only complaint I have is that because it was so quick, it won't be hard to forget.  In comparison to the previous graphic novels I've read and reviewed, Exquisite Corpse doesn't hold up.  If you're looking for something light, I recommend this, because I zoomed through it in a matter of minutes.  Short and sweet, the illustrations were perfect and the ending left me quite amused.