*reviewed from ebook courtesy of publisher via netgalley*

graphic semi-autobiographical memoir (true thoughts and feelings with fantastical imaginative elements), a 23 y.o. UK comic artist dealing with depression/suicidal ideation and crippling social anxiety while working and attending a comics convention and meeting an artist friend/potential boyfriend in the US; 196 pp.

Skillfully rendered, with gorgeously imaginative illustrations/layouts and an impactful storyline. It's clear that Thorogood has put a lot of thought and care into this, and it has paid off in this brilliantly human graphic memoir. It's fairly heartbreaking to read, when all you want to do is try to comfort Zoe but of course her problems aren't that simple.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this comic in return for a review:

Before reading this autobio, I unfortunately hadn't read anything else by Zoe Thorogood and now I wish I knew of her beforehand. The story is raw and emphasizes the anxiety of having a 'story' to a self-reflection when the author can barely control her own emotions.

This was a very personal piece that is reachable to the audience while reading. Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and imposter syndrome are all feelings that are often talked about in other media to bring mental health awareness. But rarely show what it is like when you struggle with wanting to be better but not fully understanding how.

This book hit me in the feels. The theme here is depression, and in that aspect, it’s a challenging read for me. I probably wouldn’t recommend this to those who are in the midst of an emotional crisis, but I can’t say for sure either. My big takeaway was that the artist here is incredibly talented, and I look forward to reading future work from them. Something about a “silent hill ripoff” is mentioned and it sounds perfect paired with this style.

This was exactly what I needed for waiting at the airport as I was able to finish it pretty much in one sitting! I love Zoe’s illustrations/artwork and was very impressed with how good she it’s with different styles (some more realistic while others are like cartoons). I found it a really interesting read, and this is actually my first graphic novel and I would read more from her.

Definitely recommend, especially if you are sleep deprived and cannot focus on reading a regular book.

Thank you for letting me read this NetGally!

First of all, Zoe Thorogood is an amazing artist.

This really felt like stream of consciousness to me, and not in a bad way. To me, the changes in art style and the different stories she told really highlighted the issues she wanted to discuss that were present in her life, and how she viewed herself. Reading the book really just felt like I was having a conversation with Zoe as she was telling me about her life.

I think if you're someone who struggles with depression or any other mental illness, you may find yourself having a hard time reading this. Some parts of this book were hard for me to read, because it almost felt like taking a magnifying glass to the inadequacies of my own life and experiences. Others may not like that, but I kind of did. It reminded me to be kinder to myself and others, because you really just don't know what's going on under their skin.

This is a wholly inventive book that kept me intrigued with every turn of the page. I loved getting a glimpse into the author’s thought process and the meta narrative really drew me in.

This is my favorite book of the year despite coming out a year ago. I know Thorogood hates the word “relatable” but it was cathartic to read about someone like me and who is also a creative. I loved how she used every art form imaginable to speak her mind and the things that happened in 6 months. Text messages, photos, realistic art, monsters, caricatures. It felt unbound which works for the story of the past 6 months of her life. I will definitely buy a physical copy soon and reading it left a pit In my stomach. I even wrote a new poem while reading so that says something. It glued me from beginning to end. My only issue is the NetGalley app. It kept blanking pages and crashing but in spite of that I pushed through and finished it in one sitting with a few breaks sprinkled in. I loved this book and I can’t wait to read more of Thorogood’s work in the future.

This book reminds me of the quote, "Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable." It tells the autobiographical story of an artist who is struggling with mental illness. The art is simultaneously gorgeous and terrifying. Maybe it's because I read this as an ebook, but the formatting seemed disorganized and that made it harder to follow along with.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Wow, the art? Stunning. I’ve never felt more visually represented on a page in terms of how depression feels. We prickly pear people aren’t always sunshine. Seeing someone grapple with this and how to grow was so refreshing. Loved this.

A six month record in the life of cartoonist Zoe Thorogood and how she feels as her life falls apart and how she survives. This was such an interesting book, you get to see a young woman's struggle with mental health in a difficult time, you get to see her thoughts and mindset as she deals with anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome. This was really fun to read and you really empathize a lot with Zoe, I found myself relating to a lot of her struggles and feelings, and the depiction of her struggles was so well done. Overall, I would definitely recommend it!

*Thanks Netgalley and Image Comics for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*