I’m not really sure what I was expecting from this graphic novel (it has been a long time since I requested this one), but this one was more hard-hitting than I thought it would be.

I really liked the art style for this one. It really added to the story, and I always think that when the art is more detailed, it’s easier to be more involved in the story. I do, however, wish the ending was a little more put together. I understand that Josy is still on her journey, but it still felt unfinished.

Overall, though, I think this was a powerful story with a great message about how it is never too late to find who you are.

While I do like the theme of starting anew no matter the age or circumstance, I do think it needed to explore more on communication. I understand the "show don't tell" aspect and the vehement refusal of Josy's family however it felt a bit off. I enjoyed it, but wish the emotional aspect hit harder.

Between her 60th birthday meal and her birthday cake, Josy trundles her cabin case to the door, and leaves, her husband, kids and grandkids aghast and not comprehending. Initially she and the VW campervan fix up at a bland, nowheresville kind of car park, partly because it already houses a young single mother (and a pet chicken). Just wanting to be free, she finds a way into that friendship, which leads to more friendships, which lead to more, but she is yet to find out to what extent she really needs the solitude, and how welcome a return to her live love might actually be.

All told this is excellent work, with characterful yet unflashy visuals, and a similar approach to the text. It doesn't need the jokes of a Shirley Valentine, it doesn't need the histrionics of a broken family (although Josy's kids don't exactly take the departure lying down) and it doesn't need to be the presenter of a mahoosive epiphany. If you near the end of this ever wondering if any of this is from real life, then you will not be alone. Definitely asking questions about female agency and choice at a certain age, but doing it with not an atom of the firebrand, campaigning style of story, this features very likeable people in very grounded and real circumstances. Clearly women in their fifties should be reading more graphic novels, as here is one perfect for them – and for many other types of people too. Four and a half stars.

Josy realises on her 60th birthday that she isn’t where she wants to be, so packs a bag and leaves everything else’s (and everyone) behind.

I really liked this graphic novel. I felt for Josy so much throughout the story. It’s such a lovely story of finding out who you really are, and I’m so glad Josy took the plunge and left. She meets some lovely people along the way, and I just wanted her to be who she wanted to be. I don’t want to say any more and ruin the story, but please give it a go.

This was not even remotely what I expected but I really enjoyed it! I had never read a graphic novel before and I really liked the way it’s done on kindle! You can read it like regular full pages or picture by picture, which is what I did.

On her sixtieth birthday, Josy decides she’s had enough. She needs to get away and get her freedom back. She takes off in her VW minibus leaving her family in her wake. On her own, Josy finds solace in strangers who are supporting her when her family is not.

I enjoyed the story a lot. The end was very unexpected. Not what she realizes necessarily but what events happen. It’s quite emotional and heartbreaking.

Thank you NetGalley and Europe Comics for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Beautifully written and made me feel so many unexpected emotions it was a wonderful read I will definetely read more from this author. The art embodied all the many emotions I felt.

Ingrid Chabbert, why do you have to hurt my feelings like that?!

Josy is turning 60 years old. Her husband, her children, her grandchildren are all gathered for lunch to celebrate her birthday. She joins them but something feels off and right when the cake is brought out, Josy doesn't blow out the candles... she gets up, picks up her suitcase, gets in her minivan and drives off leaving everything behind.

Her family doesn't understand what's going on and they keep bombarding her with texts and missed calls and fowl angry words that don't show any desire to truly understand why she left and what's going through her mind.
Josy, on the other hand, doesn't have all the answers: she knows she isn't happy and hasn't been for a long time, she knows she had to leave and be on her own and figure out her path.
She finds herself a lovely neighbour in the parking lot where she parks her minivan, she meets a group of women who got out of unhappy marriages and are rejoicing in their newfound freedom to be themselves... and there, Joy finds a new friend, a woman Joy feels like she's known her whole life.

I adored Ingrid Chabbert's Waves. I know she doesn't shy away from hard topics, from traumatic events that tragically uphold your whole life and perspective on life.
I was not expecting this graphic novel to take the turn it did but holy hell, did it strike me hard. I felt heartbroken for Josy, for her family who just wouldn't listen to her nor give a chance to explain, for losing happiness after finding it perhaps for the first time in her life at 60 years old.
I saw how hard it can be for a woman - for any human being, for that matter - to find your path, to find your happiness and to have the strenght to make hard choices, to finally think about yourself and what you want at such an old age.

I was in awe and I loved every single page and word of this.
Ingrid Chabbert did it again.

------------> Ps. There's a typo at the end of page 96: "mintues" instead of "minutes" <-----------

Josy turns 60 and feels she has had enough of the marriage that is just there, and nothing else. So while it is the middle of winter, she goes off to live in her VW bus, in a caravan park, that has only one other resident.

Josy meets others who have done the same, and makes a very good friend, who becomes her lover, and life is good. Well, other than the fact that her kids and husband don't understand why she left, or what is going on.

On the surface, it seems to be a good story of liberation. But I had some issues with it. I'm 63, and some of the things she goes through seem a long time coming, and she seems very surprised that she could fall in love with a woman, at this stage in her life.

The other thing I disliked was what happened to her lover. Typical for lesbian love stories of the last century, but should not be now, but perhaps it is because it is French.


<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

**Disclaimer: I received a free advanced readers copy of Sixty Years in Winter by Ingrid Chabbert through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity.

Sixty Years in Winter by Ingrid Chabbert is an adult graphic novel.  It's about a woman who decides to leave her husband on her sixtieth birthday and to strike her own path.  On the way she discovers who she really is.  It was published on June 22, 2022.  I rated it 4 stars on Goodreads.


Here's the summary from Goodreads:

A subtle and touching tale of liberation, following a protagonist on the path to self-discovery. On the day of her sixtieth birthday, Josy refuses to blow out the candles on her cake. Her bags are packed. She's come to a decision: she's going to win back her freedom by taking off in her old Volkswagen minibus! Even if it means leaving behind her husband and family. In a state of shock, they all blame her for making such a selfish move. But is it really so selfish to listen to that little voice deep within? Josy soon finds support among new friends who have faced similar scorn and incomprehension from family and society... But will that be enough to stop her from leaving once more? Perhaps a newfound love can help her find her way...
I really enjoyed this graphic novel.  I had not a single clue of what to expect going into it, so I found myself both surprised and delighted by it.
Josy was a really interesting character.  She's well written, and well developed.  You feel for her in the choice that she has made to leave her husband and you feel for her as she works to discover herself and who she really is.  I've never read a book from the perspective of a woman of her age, but I found this one really interesting.  It's a graphic novel so you can't really say she was a compelling narrator, but she was a compelling character.
The art style was really nice.  I liked the use of colour and the realistic design of the characters.  It was clear who each person was, and there was in general so very nice detailing.  I liked the way the panels were designed, and I also enjoyed the occasional full page design that was included.
The story was well written.  I especially liked the brief romance that was included.  The build up of it was relatively quick, but the way that they interacted on their way to them getting together made a lot of sense to me.  You could feel the butterflies and the spark as it was built.
Overall, I highly recommend this graphic novel for adult readers.   You should definitely check it out.

Sixty Years in Winter follows our MC on a journey of self-discovery and the pursuit of happiness. Caught in a life she is no longer happy with, she aims to discover just what she craves in life and the lifestyle she wishes to lead.

This is entirely relatable. For anyone who has ever felt stuck or trying to fill a void, this one hits home. For starters, I love that our MC takes ACTION. Right off the bat we know she is a strong-willed woman who is resolute in changing her life. She is stone-cold, with a very aggressive and straight-forward personality. Which plays so well into Josy's character development. As this hardened, tough posterior slowly begins to soften throughout.

We find out later that Josy makes, and pursues, a major life change, when she meets Christine and the other members of the LWS. All of a sudden, she is introduced to this whole new world of fulfillment and joy, once she has yet to experience in this sense. The moment she goes to her first LWS meeting, you see her walls come down. She's smiling, dancing, drinking, and we get this whole new side to Josy. She isn't just some stern old lady. She was just looking for that spark in life again.

She later develops feelings for Christine and yet another new spark is ignited, and her character development gets even deeper. I am a SUCKER for these sexuality discoveries, as they lead to this whole new character with a brand new outlook on life and it's refreshing to see! You can't help but root for Josy. Here she was, maddened at the life she was living, makes the resolution to change her fortune, and now she's doing it. I love that feeling of becoming so engrossed in a character, that when happiness strikes, you can't help but smile along with them. She's turned her life around :)

But of course, every good book has a twist or two, and this one definitely does! One I did NOT see coming, but I love that. Much like the finding happiness, when you've become so engrossed in a character, you feel every emotion you do. And I love when a book hooks me like that. Not only just applauding for them in their ups, but also feeling for them when they're down. It's that connection that truly makes Josy's character so addictive. It's not all sunshine and rainbows. She's gotten that taste of the life she wants to live, but now she's come to this realization that it is going to take work, and there will be bumps in the road. It irks me when the MC has everything just GIVEN to them. I love it when they face obstacles and we see the after-effects of those obstacles. And more importantly, the character's response to those obstacles.

I also genuinely love Josy's friendship with Camelia! Camelia is such a breath of fresh air and adds such a bright component to this book. She's that "ride-or-die" best friend. Sharing in Josy's happiness, and bolstering Josy up when she's down. I missed her when she wasn't on the page!

Overall such a wonderful story of love, loss, and the pursuit of happiness!

This book follows a woman bogged down with her marriage and responsibilities. So, on the 60th birthday, she up and leaves everything and everyone behind. She has no plans but also knows she doesn't want to live her old life anymore. Driving into a car park in her minibus, she settles into new dig. And here she finally makes new friends, explores new possibilities and a possible love interest while dealing with the blame her family throws at her.

The story was a good one and will make you sit back a little.

Thank you NetGalley and Europa Comics for giving me the opportunity to read this.

Josy makes the decision on her 60th birthday to leave behind the life she knows for the life she desires. Living in on old VW minibus, she meets new friends and starts finding new parts of herself, but her family just wants her home.

I appreciated Josy's struggles in a loveless marriage and her wish to find something more, but I couldn't connect with the way she did it. Why wait until her 60th birthday party when her entire family was there? Why not talk to her husband about how she was feeling instead of just leaving seemingly out of the blue to her family?

Also, as the ending approached there was a dramatic and abrupt element that seemed to come out of nowhere and was not really necessary in my mind.

The artwork was beautiful and it was nice to see older women's bodies portrayed realistically and respectfully.

This graphic novel was heartbreakingly beautiful.

This book follows Josy, a 60-year-old grandma who has chosen, at her 60th birthday celebration party, now is the ideal time to at long last carry on with the existence she needs in a Volkswagon minibus. Through this story, we see Josy's battle with her family, clearing up for other people and herself the why behind everything, and her new connections along the street.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this amazing story.

On her sixtieth birthday, Josy just made up her mind to be free from home. The illustration tells all the problems she had through this year. I pity her. When your loved ones don't understand and take you for granted. This is so wrong. So, when she packed her belongings and drove the VW to nowhere, I'm happy for her. Good riddance.

Then she met her new friends and tried to be herself and do what she love. This is an inspiring story with beautiful illustrations. Everyone deserves to be happy.

Thanks to @netgalley and Europe Comics for providing an earc. I recommended this 5 ⭐️ reads.

#donereading #SixtyYearsInWinter #IngridChabbert

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and enjoy this beautifully written e-arc.
Great graphic novel and the illustrations were amazing. The story was beautifully told.

A queer, moving yet heart-breaking graphic novel following 60 year old Judy, who on her birthday decided that she'd had enough and was leaving. A decision that seemed selfish to the rest of her family, Judy starts afresh in her mini-voltswagon van and begins to meet new friends whilst navigating her feelings for her family.

I didn't quite know what to expect going in, but it soon felt as though the topic of the comic hit rather close to home.. The raw emotions of Judy's unhappiness, her reluctance to love again and ultimately the ending, truly shine through with the illustrations and texts - and although you may not agree with her actions at times, you can appreciate and understand her reasoning behind them.

I wasn't a huge fan of her family (especially her children), and their harrasing behaviour felt stiffling. It wasn't difficult to see why Judy had been so unhappy with her life, and you can't help but root for her happiness.

The comic itself is cozy and an easy read! With many touching moments, rainy scenes and beautiful artwork, this is a great graphic novel to snuggle up with on a rainy day/night.

-
Rating: 3.5/5
--- Thank you so much to Netgalley and Europe Comic for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Beautiful story portraying the concept that finding your true self can happen at any age.

A really beautiful plot with stunning illustrations

Sixty Years in Winter is about Josy, who is a 60-year-old woman, working on self-discovery. Josy decided that she needs to find her freedom--before it is too late.

I liked that this graphic novel features an older main character. It reminds readers that it is never too late for anyone to change paths and find their true selves. Although I liked the main themes, I found the story too abrupt and I felt like I needed more to feel really connected to Josy. Aside from that, I find the art SO beautiful! And Josy’s old Volkswagen minibus?? AMAZING.

Overall, I recommend this to anyone who wants a fast-paced, emotional read!

This is a beautiful story of finding yourself no matter what age. I really loved that this graphic novel featured an older female lead who is finding herself even at 60! yes, there is no, "it's too late" when it comes to your life and this story really shows that and for that alone it gets high marks. The art in it is also very well done, and the translation is great. My only criticism is that the story moves way too fast for the reader to feel the full force of the changes in the protagonist's life. Because it moves so quickly, things that should have a big impact only feel like they should have a big impact. I guess I would have loved for this to have been a longer graphic novel or even a limited series. Hey, asking for more of the thing you are reading is not a bad thing. it's a recommendation from me. We definitely more narratives that focus on older women!

The graphics were really great in this book and the overall story was intriguing. However, this book just fell short for me in being a book I’d recommend and towards the end it felt a little unfinished. However, I think this book deserves four stars because the art was great and the story was interesting.
Pros:
The art was really good and so realistic.
The story was easy to follow along with.
The self discovery in this book was great. Josy did everything “right” base on what society tells women we should want in life yet she was unhappy. This is normal and so often men are depicted as being the one who leaves yet when a woman does the same thing she’s viewed as selfish and a homewecker. Josy’s family was so unsupportive and I liked that she was able to recognize that her children became different people than who she thought they would be which created a rift.
I liked that Josy discovered her sexuality as well and found someone she was able to connect with more than her husband.

Cons:
I wish Josy had gotten her happy ending with her partner. She finally found someone who made her feel good in a relationship and losing that was upsetting.
The ending felt a little unfinished. It simply felt like Josy was leaving again without a clear plan like the first time. If there had even been one scene where she actually filed for a divorce, something to make it more permanent, I would’ve liked it more.