I liked the bits about real historical figures, but overall this felt more like an instructional guide rather than a story. Might be great for people who are Catholic and queer or questioning.

"Hey, Mary!" by Andrew Wheeler is a story that will resonate with so many readers! This powerful story captures the beauty of friendship, personal growth, and the intersection between faith and self. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC! After reading, I immediately purchased a copy for my library system to share with others. The characters are relatable, and the story is full of warmth and wisdom. This book is a wonderful addition to any collection, and I highly recommend it to those seeking an uplifting and meaningful read!

I requested and received this book from NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

This is a graphic novel about a catholic boy learning to love and accept himself & God at the same time. It hit me sight in the religious trauma, though I was raised Baptist and not Cattolic.

This book captures the identity crisis many religious queer people experience at some point in their lives. That terror of loosing the community youve spent a lifetime building. The Faith rattling, earth shattering moment you come out. How the reactions of those people you tell could change the course of you life forever. The fear of hell. The question of "If God is Love", then why can't he lous queer peaple, love me?

Although I did not take the same path as Mark (the Mc) I have been in similar shoes. I enjoyed the way the story is told by Mark and through the stories of saints. (I just realized how profound I find this book.) I loved the ending. The art is beautiful and I love how the biblical character's appearance change with Mark's understanding of them. The story itself is a bit sad but that saddness is broken up by some silly and funny moments. I enjoyed this book. However, I do wish it had some form of bibliography.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this graphic novel. 4.5/5 stars.

I wish this graphic novel had been around for me and so many other former Catholics growing up years ago. It truly captures the religious influence of catholicism, but I appreciated how it shows how it can function with LGBTQ issues. It also discusses many parts of religious history, and it does so in an informative way. I also appreciated how the priest pointed out that not all Catholics are ready to progress into understanding and affirming LGBTQ issues, because that truly is a problem and division with Catholics.

Anyways, besides it being rushed with the romance subplot (like, why are they kissing at the end already), this was really beautiful and well done.

I found this coming of age, queer, religious graphic novel tender and absolutely perfect for young people also struggling with their identity, sexual orientation, and faith.

The topics in this story are very heavy but the way the story was told and illustrated softened the blows and really added that needed imagery to get the messages across.

I think this graphic novel would resonate with both teens and adults. And the artistry is so good!

{I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

A really great examination of where religion and queerness meet, in a well-illustrated graphic novel. Really looking forward to seeing what my library teens think of this one.

Mark is a devout and good Catholic. The issue is, he's figuring out he might be gay which is frowned upon in the Church. With the help of some friends, Mark finds that the Bible has conflicting stories, but generally, if one looks, they can find stories supporting queer relationships. Mark comes around to find a way forward.

This is a very Catholic oriented story, but some Catholics and Christians might find fault with this work. It's necessary though because it is a great exploration of The Church and the relationship with LGBTQ+ folk. Readers who need this book will find it and ultimately, it's a hopeful story.

Overall, a solid title to have on your high school and college shelves.

This was a great graphic novel. I loved the art style and the story itself. It was an emotional read and inspiring. I would definitely recommend to those struggling with their sexual/gender identity that are religious as well as those who, in general, need to see what the church/religion can be.

To be queer and religious is as much of a gift as it is a struggle.

This book embodies it with softness and understanding. Maybe too low stakes but the story is still one worth sharing.

Queer people deserves the good story.

This book offers something that is desperately needed by a certain demographic, specifically queer teens (or adults!) who are also devout Catholics. The main character, Mark, takes a great deal of comfort in his Catholic faith and involvement in the Church. Naturally, he feels scared and guilty once he realizes that he is gay. He worries that, if he comes out to his parents, they will reject him.

I would call this book light on plot and heavy on information (not a bad thing!). While the information is framed in the not-uncommon experience of a gay Catholic teen, it is really a vehicle for delivering a lot of enlightening information about biblical stories. The stories are reframed and contextualized in a way that pushes back against the Church's teaching on queerness. Much of the information is delivered by a drag queen (also a trans person?) of color, who offers a fascinating "gay walk through time." Mark also finds an ally and confidante in a compassionate priest at his church. In the end, he comes to realize that he need not abandon either his queerness or his Catholic faith.

This story is so validating, accessible, and relatable. I think it has the potential to provide a lot of comfort to readers.

This was a very thoughtful read, and I verymuch enjoyed it! As both a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a churchgoer and believer, it is an interesting line we walk, and I appreciate seeing the conversation about the Bible and God's overarching love. I lead with love in all I do, so to see that I am not alone and that these two sides of me can coexist is fantastic, and seeing it illustrated beautifully was fantastic. The illustrations were wonderful, the story and characters well formed, and the story was cohesive and offers thought-provoking perspectives. I look forward to owning this title!

Thank you Andrew Wheeler, Oni Press, and NetGalley for the ARC!

If your favourite niche musical is Bare: A Pop Opera, then this is the graphic novel for you. The contemporary, bubbly illustrations (in the masterful hand of Rye Hickman) are sweet, but don't be fooled: this is a story about a boy steeped in Catholic guilt and internalised homophobia.

Mark is a perfect little Catholic boy: he goes to church, prays, fantasises about kissing a boy in his class, volunteers for -- hang on, what was that middle one? Launched into a full on Catholic-guilt-induced gay panic, Mark channels his inner Scrooge and is visited by a variety of queer figures from history and religion, including St Sebastian (who, side note, was seen as such an icon for the queer community that Oscar Wilde took his name for a while after his time in prison).

This is such a hopeful book for anyone who has queer religious trauma, or even who just exists on the intersection of those identities. So put on some Ethel Cain and start reading!

This was such a beautiful exploration of sexuality and gender. I adore the art style and the overall message. I think including a bunch of religious icons who were seen as queer was such a nice and important touch in terms of Mark's story. "love is all that god is".... I definitely shed a tear or two.

'Hey Mary' is the story of a catholic teenager coming to terms with the idea that his sexuality may be just as important to him as his religion, and that it might not fit his family's expectations. To help work through the complexities and concerns that come with realising he might be different, Mark starts to talk to saints, who wander out of paintings and books to give advice (whether he asks directly or not).

As a queer person raised in the Catholic tradition, this graphic novel brought me a great deal of joy. It's hopeful, but doesn't shy away from the fear and isolation that people can feel. Beautifully and lovingly illustrated, with a warm and compassionate plot, I would absolutely recommend this book.

*Hey, Mary* by Andrew Wheeler is a beautifully crafted YA graphic novel that blends faith, identity, and self-acceptance in a way that truly resonates. It incorporates biblical stories in a fresh and thought-provoking manner, showing how they can be interpreted in multiple ways. The novel doesn’t shy away from portraying both the good and bad sides of society—how people judge, struggle, and ultimately grow.

At its heart, this is a coming-of-age story about a devout Christian teenager wrestling with his identity and learning to accept that he can be gay. The representation in this book is incredible—diverse characters, different perspectives, and a deeply moving journey of acceptance. It was fascinating to see how everyone in the story had their own struggles yet found ways to support each other.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about some aspects, but as the story unfolded, it truly grew on me. It’s honest, emotional, and filled with hope. *Hey, Mary* is a must-read for those who love introspective YA stories that explore faith, love, and the journey to self-acceptance.

Hey, Mary! is a very sweet, reflective read, which I am perhaps not the intended demographic for. I felt at first as though Mark was not developed enough as a character - he appeared to have so few personality traits and opinions. However, as the story unfurled the reasoning behind this became clear - and I was able to empathise with Mark a great deal, particularly in one moving section towards the end. This slow progression still affected how invested I felt in the book overall. The art style was engaging and felt like a good match for the story being told. All in all, this was a quick and heartfelt read.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

What an inspiring and educational book about the intersection of Catholicism and queerness! I never really thought about it in some of the ways described here, but I really liked Mark's journey through art and time and how he needs to accept all parts of himself in order to be happy. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it! Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This was a great graphic novel. I loved the art style and the story itself. It was an emotional read and inspiring. I would definitely recommend to those struggling with their sexual/gender identity that are religious as well as those who, in general, need to see what the church/religion can be.

I liked the artwork in this graphic novel a lot. I did also like the nuance it tried to portray in the various perspectives of religious and queer identities intersecting. I didn't feel the dialogue and pacing of the story was executed in a way I found compelling. I also didn't feel I really got to know the personalities of any of the individual characters well. I did very much like how much history and biblical narratives were included and described through a queer lens, I found it very fun, but it made the story feel more non-fiction-esque. The vibe felt more as if our main character was an "audience" character being narrated to for the sake of instruction. I think the core message and analysis of intersecting identities that seem to oppose each other was a good concept and I appreciated reading about it. I definitely think I'd still recommend it to teen readers, especially any who may be struggling with similar thoughts.

This comic was so good! From the unique art style, to the way that saints are used to illustrate the guilt and grief Mark feels about his sexuality and his religious beliefs, this was a delightful read.

I was brought up in the Catholic faith myself and I was lucky to never have experienced sermons that made me feel the guilt that’s expressed in this comic. I do have to say regardless for me I have let go of my faith in the Catholic Church since then. However, it never had anything to do with my sexuality.

I know that people like Mark who realize that the church often uses them as the image of what sin looks like causes so much internalized homophobia and pain. For many people this is the reason they disconnect from the church. It’s nice to read a story that showcases the queer historical figures of the church. This comic also gives a different perspective and interpretations of parts of the Bible.

A comic like this being found and read by a struggling queer teen who’s experiencing rejection from their church could potentially even be life-saving. Weather someone chooses to stay or leave the church when their experiencing rejection from it due to their sexuality, their choices are valid.

Hey, Mary! Is an important comic that will be all the more powerful for people to read now as Christian nationalism is taking hold all the more in many communities. For those who are religious it is so important to remember that compassion and empathy was always meant to be the heart of Christian faith. The trend towards rejecting people from faith for homosexuality is heartbreaking. I have hope that with stories like these it will be comfort to the future Marks of the world.