ashleyholstrom's Reviews (1.38k)

This may not look like a one-sitting read, but it’s a super breezy mishmash of students at this, well, SuperMutant Magic Academy! It’s like high school, but for mutants (not to be confused with the X-Men)! It’s great!

From 10 Short Graphic Novels and Memoirs to Read in One Sitting at Book Riot.

In 1978 in “Yop City,” Ivory Coast, things are nice. Aya is 19 and serious, while her friends Adjuoa and Bintou are easygoing and looking for fun. They’re breaking their parents’ rules, sneaking out and going to discos and dancing. We get to see a life in Africa that’s not normally portrayed in comics—one that’s fun and full of joy. This is just lovely.

From 10 Short Graphic Novels and Memoirs to Read in One Sitting at Book Riot.

Nicole Georges’ work is beautiful and this graphic memoir of her life with a rowdy pup hit me right in the heart. Beija is a bad girl: She pees on the carpet and gets in fights with other dogs. But she’s still a good girl at heart. She’s faithful to her human. Fetch is a dog-centric memoir, and honestly, I can’t believe there aren’t more books with this focal point. You’ll smile, you’ll cry, and you’ll hug your furry pal tight.

From our Favorite Under-the-Radar Books of 2017 at Book Riot.

Take It as a Compliment is the product of interviews and conversations with women and men who have been sexually abused or harassed. The art is striking, with just a few colors used throughout. Every story is akin to one we’ve heard about before, but they’re visual and compiled for us to wonder: What do we have to do to end sexual harassment on trains and sidewalks?

From 10 Short Graphic Novels and Memoirs to Read in One Sitting at Book Riot.

Sheets is a lovely little graphic novel about a girl named Marjorie and a ghost boy named Wendell. Marjorie’s mother died, so now she runs her family’s laundromat, and Wendell wreaks havoc on said laundromat because he’s a ghost wearing a sheet. It’s a sweet story about determination and friendship when life is hard and confusing. The art is lovely, and the colors are mostly pink/purple/blue. It’s the perfect cozy rainy-day read.

Ever wonder what depression looks like? This is it. Jane Mai takes her mental health and existential crisis and turns it into a gorgeous little book. Bugs come out of her eyes and mouth. She wears an eyepatch because she sees bad things. She’s alone, alone, alone. But things will get better.

From 10 Short Graphic Novels and Memoirs to Read in One Sitting at Book Riot.

Lucy Bellwood RULES! She spent a year at sea, and this is her guide to how to be a sailor! It’s the perfect book to read in one sitting—preferably near a body of water.

From 10 Short Graphic Novels and Memoirs to Read in One Sitting at Book Riot.

Rejoice! Ellen Forney has given us a guide to navigating life with a mood disorder. Using her experience living with bipolar disorder, Forney shares her tips ‘n’ tricks for handling all aspects of mental health: sleep, human contact, meds, therapy, etc. At the end of each chapter, there are cute merit badges to keep you going! While she mostly refers to bipolar, this advice could be applied to many mental illnesses — and is good for all humans in general. It’s all done in her classic, light-hearted style and is just so lovely and wise. This is a wonderful book to keep on your shelf for when things get hard.

From the Best Books of 2018 at Book Riot.

This right here is a gorgeously designed collection of essays about menstruation. Every topic—and maybe even topics you wouldn’t think of—are covered here. Madame Gandhi writes about free bleeding while running the London Marathon. Wiley Reading writes about being a trans man with a period. Emma Straub writes about living with a horrendously painful period without questioning it for far too long.

From Get Your Bleed on: 5 Important Books about Periods at Book Riot.