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.

A heartfelt coming-of-age story about Mark, a Catholic school student questioning his sexuality and faith. Reuniting with his now-out friend Luka sparks an exploration of queerness in religion, guided by imagined conversations with historical figures. The book blends storytelling with educational elements on queer history and biblical interpretations. As someone who attended a weekly chapel service, I related to Mark's questioning of self, God, and faith. Though I'm not religious now, I appreciated its message that queerness and religion can coexist. This would have meant a lot to my younger self.

I should start by saying that, as far as organised religion goes, I’m agnostic on the best days bordering on atheist on the worst (of which there are far too many at the moment).
However, I can see how important this book would be to anyone raised a in religious home or community in helping them question and come to terms with their feelings and struggles.
The art is good and the story has some really interesting biblical asides regarding queerness and diversity, some of which I wasn’t aware of previously.
There’s some interesting side characters including Jojo and a kindly young priest. Luka, the prospective boyfriend is sometimes unnecessarily harsh regarding Mark’s religion, in the way of fierce young people with a cause and not necessarily the empathy to consider others opinions.
I found Mark himself to be the least well rounded of the characters, I think maybe he suffered as a vehicle for the message the story wants to tell, and could have been better explored.
Ultimately a thought-provoking story of self-acceptance, coming out, and finding a balance between all parts of yourself.
And it has a happy ending, which I appreciated.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For young teenage Mark, being Catholic has its ups and downs. From questioning his sexuality to having sincere talks with the Virgin Mary, Mark is confused about his faith. However, with confessionals and talks with his gay friends, Mark slowly opens up to himself regardless of being Catholic.
It is a heartbreaking story of one young man who is questioning everything that means a lot to him. Symbolisms, the unsaid truths of the Bible, and the meaning behind God’s love all come together to show Mark that being gay and Catholic is okay. This graphic novel paints that very picture of unwavering love from God and the love that needs to be for yourself.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel and felt it did a good job exploring ideas of faith, religion, the Catholic Church, and queer identity. The artwork was gorgeous, the characters are really relatable (in their questions, frustrations, and wants), and it’s a message of love that folks need to hear. It thoughtfully creates space for those trying to understand and question the community in which they were raised, their identity, queer representation (and erasure), and how it all fits together. Well worth a read.

*3.5 stars
This has me a bit conflicted, but I'm overall glad that it exists for queer youth brought up in the Christian, specifically Catholic, faith. It's not perfect and definitely speeds over some important topics, but it's quick and heartfelt. As a disclaimer, I grew up Christian, but I have not identified as a Christian for <i>years</i>; someone who still identifies as a Christian <i>may</i> take something more out of this book.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: April 15, 2025

This graphic novel revolves around Mark, a devout Catholic coming to terms with being gay, and figuring out how those two things intersect.

Listen, I think this will be a great resource for any queer person trying to find space for religion in their life. So many kids could use this to help them process their feelings and feel understood, especially at a time when the world is so religiously hostile.

I also had some strong feelings and reactions to this as a queer person who left the Catholic Church over 25 years ago. As a current agnostic atheist, I struggled because some of the stories and messaging felt like religious propaganda which gave me the ick. I think this is strongly aimed toward current questioning Catholics, and not those who are comfortable in their faith (or lack thereof).

3 Stars!

I loved the art style of this! The illustrations and use of colour really helped to highlight key points throughout the storytelling. It added to the overall feeling i had whilst reading! Which was reflective and thought-provoking. This also had some genuine funny moments. As well as, some deep and really personal conversations - which were so essential for Mark to continue on his journey to self-discovery.

I found the language in this wasn't overly heavy but educational. I also appreciated the way different characters spoke about religion, queerness and identity. The representations and interpretations of religious figures throughout history was also great! As someone who isn't religious, i actually found this educational. In the sense of it allowing me to think about some of these figures that i vaguely remember learning about, in a completely new way.

The actual story wasn't necessarily for me. But i do think they'll be someone out there who'll find great comfort reading about religion and sexuality and discovering that sometimes you don't need to chose between the two.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for an ARC of this in return for an honest review!

one of the things i keep coming back to as a reader of primarily queer books, is that man... if these things had been around when i was a kid, i would be an entirely different human being now.

this is the kind of book that would have changed my life. i was never hardcore with my religion, but i went to a church school and for the first decade of my life i think i really did believe in something, but i remember the exact moment i stopped believing. i read a passage in the bible that told me i should fear the lord, followed by a bunch of things i shouldn't do and things i should frown on as a believer. it felt so sour to me, because i thought i was supposed to love god and he would love me no matter what i did or said or felt. it was a confusing time for me, and i had noone to talk to about it because all the people in my life were atheists or rigid believers, so i just quietly left god behind. much like jojo in this book, it wasn't that i didn't have space in my life for the church, but that it wouldn't make room for me.

i've always had a vivid sense of justice (thanks autism) but nothing hurts my heart more than seeing a religion that always seemed to focus so much on love turned sour by the people who choose to criticise others for the way they lead their lives and the things they think and feel.

i think this book is an incredibly important read, for all ages and all religions and all perspectives. it opens up a conversation that we rarely see and even more rarely have, and paints it in a non-biased but merely loving and welcoming way. i especially think this will be an important read for parents, as well as for children.

i loved this. wholly and completely. thank you for putting this in the world, and for giving me a chance to read it.

ARC Review
4 ⭐️ Stars

Mark struggles with accepting himself and processes the complexity of being Catholic and queer. Similar thought processes can happen to those outside of the religious community, especially those with friends or family in it.

It's a complex relationship of self acceptance as a teen but added conflicting pressures can add to how a teen comes into self acceptance. This is graphic novel for someone over 14.


I think this is an important topic but some of the flippant ways certain historical aspects are approached was off-putting.

The coming out scene was tough but the way the parents flipped like a light switch when Mark stood up for himself was odd. Parents, especially parents who are deeply into religions like Catholicism, they're likely going to struggle with acceptance of their child. I get that this is a YA book but the flippant was off-putting knowing that this is just the start of that struggle for Mark.

I really liked this book and the characters.
The idea was very good.
I do think there should of been more depth and background to the main character and his family though.
I loved it was a graphic novel.
It definitely worked well in that format.

This was great! An exploration of sexuality and religion and how the two intersect. Mark is Catholic, and his family is very active in the church community. He also has feelings for his openly gay friend, which leads to a lot of internalised homophobia as Mark battles with his feelings. Along the way he hears different perspectives of homosexuality and gender identity within the church from friends, acquaintances, and even a priest. There are some tough topics broached here, but there is a lot of humour as well which makes it a good balance overall. Perfect for the teen reader! 4.25/5

Thanks to #NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.