a nice and easy to follow story that everybody can relate to! the story of everyday life of an adult woman with children and a lot of responsibilities. you can feel the stress oozing through the pages and start to question if this story is actually about you. it reminded me of the first year of the pandemic, where we suddenly had a lot more to do than usual and i was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. if that sounds scary - don't be, the story puts a nice perspective how important your own health is.

i think the ending was a bit rushed and awkwardly brought up but maybe you'll enjoy it anyway. the art style is nice to look at, reminds me of some comics i saw in my childhood, although the influencer girl looked so scary to me, but i think that was intentional.

thanks to NetGalley for the digital copy.

Are YOU a supermom? Then this graphic novel is for YOU!!
With the use of the superb illustrations Amalia tells a tale mom’s of COVID and post-COVID times are all too aware of. More responsibilities and more put on their shoulders with less and less time for themselves. This graphic novel tells the story so carefully and so very clearly. It’s not easy!! And then when the supermom is told that they must take time for themselves or perish…this becomes the quest they must face. How to create the balance of self and others. This novel told the story in a chaotically funny manner, while still making the point- MOM’s NEED THEIR OWN TIME. The story was also told in a supportive way and not blaming or guilt shaming in any manner. There was a sense of release reading of other mom’s being in the same situation around the world. And a sense of hope understanding that there is a way to do it… MAKE the time for whatever it is that is needed (yourself, family, etc.).

Self help in a graphic nvoel format. I LOVE it!!

Grateful to have received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley & EuropeComics

This was a very sweet but stressing graphic novel. Amalia is the mother of four year old Lili and stepmother of 17-year-old Nora. She has a full-time job and she is always running around doing tasks and chores. Her husband is also not much help, and when she takes more than she can handle and she reaches burnout, she cracks.

I liked this very much because it was such a raw story and highlights the importance of mental health. This talks about how we cannot do everything and sometimes need to take a step back and reconsider our live's priorities. I liked the relation of Amalia with her daughters. The husband was so stressing and always screaming I did not like him very much.

Also I liked the side story of Nora with social media, and how she learns to like herself the way she is and not pretend to be someone else. This was the first novel I have read that mentions covid and wow did I not need that.

3.75 stars.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel.

In this story, Amalia and her family are encountering a stressful time and as the story progresses, you realize that taking a step back and re-evaluating things might be important for them as something is right about to give.

I enjoyed the story overall and think that this might be a very good read for those who are encountering stress or burnout. Some things I would have liked to see different: I found the font a bit difficult to read (although it's aesthetically pretty charming), the father character in particular was a bit much for me, and some of the language was off-putting, especially early on. However the progression of the story was really good and landed on an ending I was definitely satisfied with.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CW: family conflict, stress, burnout

Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for a copy of this ARC!

I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting into when I requested this one, but as someone who has lived in France I was curious what the representation of a modern French family would be.

In a lot of ways this graphic novel was uncomfortable because the relationships are strained, and the environment is failing.. It talks about struggling with burnout, and social media presences, and authenticity, none of which were what I expected exactly but it was refreshing to see how it all came together.

I really loved the simplistic art style and the way it captured the beauty of the country side and nature. I’m weak for watercolor styles so I knew that at the very least I’d love that aspect, but I was pleasantly surprised because I enjoyed all of it.

I would recommend this slice of life comic to anyone interested in the environment, family life, contemporary comics, and activism. My only criticism is that because it’s slice of life comic I don’t think it necessarily warrants more than one read, but the illustration are appealing enough that I can see myself flipping through it again, even if I didn’t read the whole thing.

This book touched me deeply. For some time now I think I might be walking in the direction of a burnout myself, and seeing my struggles showcased so clearly on this comic made me feel things - a mixture of relief and despair. I'm trying to take better care of myself so I don't end up like Amalia, but it's a slow journey, I just hope I cen get there like she did.

Overall the book is amazing. It's simple yet perfect, her struggles and tiredness are evident on every page of the comic, and it's really inspiring how the whole family had to change in order for her to get better as well.

I liked the illustrations a lot more than the actual book. The book had a nice message. But it was pretty short. ( I'm not criticizing here).

Burnout is very real. I've seen many people like Amalia. Nora was kinda relatable when I was in High school.
The only problem was the font it was kinda hard to read. Otherwise it was great. Thanks to Netgalley for the book.

Amalia is a comic about a woman who is simply exhausted by her monotonous routine and suffers from a burnout both at work and in her personal life.

She is distracted from the beauties of life by her overbearing child, a sulking step daughter and an absent-minded husband who is more interested in the news than her.

I felt the book was a nice reminder of how once in a while, we need a break. To just break away from our duties and enjoy life!

Rating– 🌟🌟🌟/5

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I thoroughly enjoyed and to a certain extent resonated with this.

Trying to be perfect, to be on top of everything, and be there for everyone - the repercussions are burnout ultimately.

This graphic novel expresses the story of a family going through daily life with daily struggles that suck you in.

If I have one complaint, it was the font. As much as cursive is beautiful, it got tiring to read. Illustrations were great.

As much as Lili is adorable, she is a bit of a brat. She needed a spank.

Amalia was my first European, slice of life comic, and I really enjoyed it! I found Ama’s story to be extremely relatable— a mother who is just trying to do it all. However, Ama finds herself burned out and it leads to health issues. I think Ama’s relatability and struggles are a good reminder for us, the readers. Nora, the teenage daughter, is also another character I really enjoyed. She’s just a teenage girl trying to find her place in the world and deal with the pressures of having an “online presence.” I think the only character I really couldn’t stand was Karim. He seemed self-centered and just angry all of the time, especially when he got upset with Ama for not wanting to have sex. His character growth was very limited, except for the bakery he opened at the end?

Overall, I found the short, beautifully drawn comic to be an enjoyable weekend read!

(Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I loved the art style of this graphic novel, it was so pretty! I loved the family dynamic and how real all the characters felt. The story was a little slow in places but I loved the growth and development all the family members had.

I wasn't sure this graphic novel would be a good fit for me because I'm not a mother, but I was intrigued for other reasons. Burnout? Check. Environmental hazards? Check. Let me just give you the description: "Amalia is on the verge of burnout. Her family life—with her husband, Karim; her 4-year-old daughter, Lili; and her 17-year-old stepdaughter, Nora—is nothing but rushing around, screaming, and doors slamming. At work, they talk about agility, flexibility, and adaptation, but her workload is slipping away from her. As she drives through the countryside, she sees diseased wheat fields and polluted rivers. She can’t even listen to the radio without some new story about deadly attacks and a dying climate. Amalia struggles, tries, fails… and eventually, she cracks."

But nowhere does it say that this graphic novel is also filled with deep metaphors and such an introspective way of looking at life that it made me cry. I was definitely pleasantly surprised.

If you are human, this book is for you.

Amalia is definitely a heartwarming read. It was nice to see the journey the entire family went on through and I wanted to see Amalia find peace in her life. The scene transitions were a bit jarring at times, but I enjoyed seeing everyone’s individual lives and inner struggles.
My main issue is the font. It’s extremely hard to read, and even though it fit with the overall aesthetic of the book it was hard to read.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for honest opinion!

I loved the book, mostly because Amalia reminds me so much of my mom, always running on fumes to make sure everything is perfectly set up for us. I'm glad that Amalia was able to take a step back and find some sort of balance in her life. That everyone put efforts to change the toxic situation at home. It is a very thoughtful, heart touching story. The illustrations are beautifully done as well. Recommended!

This book stressed me out. I was so anxious for her and the other characters. That's how I know that I enjoyed this and that it was written and drawn well, because I could almost feel and understand what they were going through. I did not enjoy the font used, but got so into the story and artwork that I overlooked it.

I like the storyline and the details about how burnout works. medicine can't fix everything. maybe your body and mind need some timeout to recover too.it is a cute and quick read but touches so many relatable subjects, although the husband should decrease the amount of yelling. im having unpleasant flashbacks when the husband nags and yells. Nora’s storyline is also sweet. I resonate a lot with her character.

I like the concept of not having square frames(??) it makes the story and family look more chaotic and the messages are easier to be delivered to the readers. The illustrations are so cute too!! I laughed so hard at the part where Nora went to the influencer's event. Everyone looks the same and does the same influencer thingy. Sadly, this is actually how our generation today is. Everyone is aiming to fit in 'that' stereotypes and is addicted to doing well on the social media platform. I like Lily, she is so sweet. She plays a very important role in keeping her mother sane (although she is one of the reasons why her mother is exhausted all the time haha)

I didn't like the font. It makes it harder to understand some words since I'm reading on my phone and I can't zoom in on every word (it will be crashed and make it harder to read)
The husband also needs to stop being an asshole to his wife and expect sex at night. Even when they are vacationing on the mountain, the husband still has a temper and basically yells to his daughter. Men, please do better for your wives and children's sake! Professional and personal burnout can't be cured by just going to the mountain. It requires a load of effort to try to stop doing everything. Maybe it could be better if Amalia tries to reach out to the professional/other people who wise. or show Amalia's struggle to overcome her burnout. I assure you that reading under the tree will not solve your problem.

All in all, Im glad that Amalia is willing to slow down a little. Definitely a great read for me.

Thank you, NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The ultimate feel-good graphic novel about dealing with burnout and the importance of slowing down and finding something that makes you happy. Super short and sweet. Oh, and I love how the pacing perfectly translates the chaos and stress of our daily lives into the graphic novel genre!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @EuropeComics for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am sorry, I am giving this one a miss. Maybe if, just like the synopsis said, would focus on Amalia alone, I would have liked it more, but for now it is just so chaotic. We get the POV of the dad, the stepdaughter as well and well while I did like the stepdaughter at times.. the dad wasn't entirely my fav.
Plus, the font while fitting with the story/the art, was just hard to read, even with my new glasses. I thought maybe now I could read them a bit better and get through things, but no. This time it is not my eyes, this time it is really the font.
Great art though, and I did like the the mom's POV and I wanted to give her a hug. So I am giving it 1.5 stars for those two elements.

The premise of the graphic novel is a really strong nod towards the current conditions of the world and its people. However, I think that all the individual plotlines are distracting when reading this. The daughter and her identity crisis, the father buried in the food and production crisis really pull away from Amalia and her journey by involving way too many other elements.

The art style is very pleasant but while the text is nice towards the general style it can be hard to read from time to time (certain letters more than others).

I read this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, I almost didn't finish it because I did not read the synopsis prior and couldn't figure out where this was going. I can't say I exactly enjoyed it, but it did touch on really important topics, like taking time for yourself to prevent burnout, especially in light of the recent world events and pandemic.