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Good Luck To Us All: A Graphic Memoir of Sorts
In this graphic memoir, Cape Town artist Karen Vermeulen reflects on the absurdities of contemporary womanhood—from romance and friendship to the ever-elusive “self-care”.
Trust her—Karen is trying really hard to be an adult. Harder than she should probably have to, as a thirty-something with a cat, a flat, and a job. She would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for those meddling influencers, always raising the bar of what it means to be a proper woman.
Accompanied by her trademark quirky artwork and signature wit, Karen pokes fun at her attempts to “grow up”: whether that’s becoming a meditation girlie, getting Botox, faking self-confidence, using dating apps, going to therapy, or living the childfree life (unless you count her feline companion Sir Henry, which, of course, she does.)
From emotional support pigs to ectopic pregnancies, cuticle care to under-boob chakras, the laugh-out-loud and deeply perceptive illustrated essays in Good Luck To Us All are a testament to these wild and crazy times.
Trust her—Karen is trying really hard to be an adult. Harder than she should probably have to, as a thirty-something with a cat, a flat, and a job. She would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for those meddling influencers, always raising the bar of what it means to be a proper woman.
Accompanied by her trademark quirky artwork and signature wit, Karen pokes fun at her attempts to “grow up”: whether that’s becoming a meditation girlie, getting Botox, faking self-confidence, using dating apps, going to therapy, or living the childfree life (unless you count her feline companion Sir Henry, which, of course, she does.)
From emotional support pigs to ectopic pregnancies, cuticle care to under-boob chakras, the laugh-out-loud and deeply perceptive illustrated essays in Good Luck To Us All are a testament to these wild and crazy times.
240 pages, Paperback
Published February 18, 2025
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45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 15, 2024
A collection of biographical essays, some very personal and quite serious, most are quite light and funny. Well.. I say funny, and I did laugh a couple of times, but most of the time I didn't. Vermeulen's lighter stories (about subjects like yoga, and dating apps) are filled with observations that are kind of predictable, they barely bring an original take.
The more personal stories are much better and hit harder. There's a story about Vermeulen's toxic, coercive ex, and it needs to be read to be believed. Another story about a surprise pregnancy while Vermeulen isn't sure she wants a child, and the many conflicting thoughts and feelings that caused, is heartbreaking and fascinating.
The art is quite cartoony, and works well.
3.5 stars
(Thanks to Catalyst Press for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)
The more personal stories are much better and hit harder. There's a story about Vermeulen's toxic, coercive ex, and it needs to be read to be believed. Another story about a surprise pregnancy while Vermeulen isn't sure she wants a child, and the many conflicting thoughts and feelings that caused, is heartbreaking and fascinating.
The art is quite cartoony, and works well.
3.5 stars
(Thanks to Catalyst Press for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)
November 13, 2025
Sympaattisia, humoristisia kuvitettuja esseitä nelikynppisen lapsettoman sinkkunaisen arjesta. Monet Vermeulenin kokemukset kuulostavat hyvin tutuilta, ja niitäkin, joista minulla ei ole omakohtaista kokemusta, kuvataan helposti samaistuttavalla tavalla. Vermeulen asuu Kapkaupungissa, ja oli mielenkiintoista kuulla myös elämästä Etelä-Afrikassa.
Huumorista ja teemoista tulee vähän mieleen Sarah Andersen. Voisin kuvitella, että jos Andersen on puhutellut, tämäkin voi vedota. (Pätee ainakin minuun.)
Huumorista ja teemoista tulee vähän mieleen Sarah Andersen. Voisin kuvitella, että jos Andersen on puhutellut, tämäkin voi vedota. (Pätee ainakin minuun.)
February 11, 2025
Snippets of life told humorously and truthfully with great cartoons throughout. If you’ve been single in your 30’s, adored a cat, been on terrible dates, or tried to cheat at yoga with copious amounts of savasana, you’ll like this book.
Thanks to Catalyst Press for an early copy.
May 3, 2025
I laughed out loud many times!
February 19, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed the author's honest reflections on her life. The book struck a perfect balance, offering humor in some parts and depth in others. I especially loved the illustrations; they really enhanced the overall enjoyment and added a playful touch to the book. One quote that really stuck with me was “My BF would be an involved dad, and the thought of him holding our baby turned my heart liquid. But I would have to be the mom, and moms have it f*cking hard.” Thanks to the publisher for sending me this advanced copy.
May 12, 2025
First, big thanks to Doug and Emily for holding down the fort while I went on what I thought was going to be a working holiday... that turned into a mostly devices-free holiday. It was thus a delight to come back to work, and read and laugh and cry my way through what has turned out to be the next 5-star book on my 2025 list, Karen Vermeulen's astonishing and gracious Good Luck To Us All.
This graphic memoir skips lightly over the first thirty-something years of the author's life, telling us briefly about her work and world travels and disinterest in "settling down" before finding herself firmly in her 30s, single and living alone in Cape Town, South Africa. Figuring she might as well add a middle sobriquet to her chosen descriptor, she decides to adopt a cat which, unsurprisingly to this animal lover, turns out to be the best decision of her life (even if she is horribly allergic to cats.)
The chapters that follow delve with both humor and brutal honesty into the issues that plague single middle-aged women worldwide. Pets and (other people's) children get several chapters, as do physical and spiritual health, in hilarious essays on yoga and meditation retreats. More poignant are the passages on aging and beauty. It's probably the mom in me, but I wanted to reach through the pages and tell her "baby, no" every time she put herself down. Perhaps it's also the fact that I'm a person who's worked (and is still working!) hard to earn my self-esteem, and hate it when people (myself included!) have a hard time embracing their own joy and loveliness.
And Ms Vermeulen does try, and often succeeds! Her compulsive over-sharing and dark humor -- both traits we have in common -- make her very easy to relate to, even if her path has been quite different from my own. The sense of intimacy she builds with readers through this book is also surprisingly persuasive: I cannot tell you how tempted I was to get a cat after reading of her love for dear Henry.
But perhaps the most moving parts of this book for me were the ones on human relationships. Dating gets several chapters, ofc, from the horrors of apps, actually meeting people and, later, into several very tough chapters on relationships. The chicken story reminded me of my break-up from the ex whom I still call the Trash Fire: at the time of experiencing it, the ordeal feels absurd to the point of horrific, but you know, even in the moment, that it's going to make an AMAZING story for you and your friends to cackle over later.
That said, the chapter I appreciate most comes from one of the most painful experiences that she and I have ever had to endure. What I'm about to discuss next is a bit of a spoiler, but I think it's really important to talk about and I'll explain why shortly, so apologies if this gives away a detail you'd rather be in suspense of when reading the book. You can stop reading here if you want to remain entirely spoiler-free, but if you read on, well, this is on you now.
Ms Vermeulen was surprised to get pregnant in her late 30s. She wasn't interested in having kids, but she also couldn't help feeling that the unplanned and not entirely desired pregnancy was a gift. Her boyfriend was supportive but ultimately left the decision up to her. It was, however, a decision she wound up not having to make, as the fetus turned out not to be viable.
Having gone through two miscarriages where I had similarly muddled up feelings -- I love babies and already had three lovely ones. But did I really want to deal with the complicated reality of having more? -- I felt her sorrow and guilt and confusion so keenly. Losing a pregnancy you're ambivalent about is a sucker punch, on top of all the hormones already washing through your body. Reading her account of her own experience, I cried with the relief of feeling seen. Miscarriages are hard enough to talk about without also adding on the complexity of ambivalent feelings. She's genuinely the first person I know who's put into words a lot of my own distress at the experience. I'm so grateful she's brought it out into the open, so that anyone who's ever had that kind of loss can better cope with the unwarranted shame of losing a pregnancy you both wanted and were terrified of.
Ms Vermeulen's accompanying cartoon art nicely punctuates the proceedings, adding even more humor and pathos than her words alone could convey. I know she feels a bit embarrassed that it took her seven years to finish this book, but I think it was a phenomenal use of seven years, and a memoir she couldn't have written and drawn as well in less. It's not a perfect book but it's raw and refreshing, rather like the sushi she (also relatably) can't give up. I loved it.
Good Luck To Us All by Karen Vermeulen was published February 18 2025 by Catalyst Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This graphic memoir skips lightly over the first thirty-something years of the author's life, telling us briefly about her work and world travels and disinterest in "settling down" before finding herself firmly in her 30s, single and living alone in Cape Town, South Africa. Figuring she might as well add a middle sobriquet to her chosen descriptor, she decides to adopt a cat which, unsurprisingly to this animal lover, turns out to be the best decision of her life (even if she is horribly allergic to cats.)
The chapters that follow delve with both humor and brutal honesty into the issues that plague single middle-aged women worldwide. Pets and (other people's) children get several chapters, as do physical and spiritual health, in hilarious essays on yoga and meditation retreats. More poignant are the passages on aging and beauty. It's probably the mom in me, but I wanted to reach through the pages and tell her "baby, no" every time she put herself down. Perhaps it's also the fact that I'm a person who's worked (and is still working!) hard to earn my self-esteem, and hate it when people (myself included!) have a hard time embracing their own joy and loveliness.
And Ms Vermeulen does try, and often succeeds! Her compulsive over-sharing and dark humor -- both traits we have in common -- make her very easy to relate to, even if her path has been quite different from my own. The sense of intimacy she builds with readers through this book is also surprisingly persuasive: I cannot tell you how tempted I was to get a cat after reading of her love for dear Henry.
But perhaps the most moving parts of this book for me were the ones on human relationships. Dating gets several chapters, ofc, from the horrors of apps, actually meeting people and, later, into several very tough chapters on relationships. The chicken story reminded me of my break-up from the ex whom I still call the Trash Fire: at the time of experiencing it, the ordeal feels absurd to the point of horrific, but you know, even in the moment, that it's going to make an AMAZING story for you and your friends to cackle over later.
That said, the chapter I appreciate most comes from one of the most painful experiences that she and I have ever had to endure. What I'm about to discuss next is a bit of a spoiler, but I think it's really important to talk about and I'll explain why shortly, so apologies if this gives away a detail you'd rather be in suspense of when reading the book. You can stop reading here if you want to remain entirely spoiler-free, but if you read on, well, this is on you now.
Ms Vermeulen was surprised to get pregnant in her late 30s. She wasn't interested in having kids, but she also couldn't help feeling that the unplanned and not entirely desired pregnancy was a gift. Her boyfriend was supportive but ultimately left the decision up to her. It was, however, a decision she wound up not having to make, as the fetus turned out not to be viable.
Having gone through two miscarriages where I had similarly muddled up feelings -- I love babies and already had three lovely ones. But did I really want to deal with the complicated reality of having more? -- I felt her sorrow and guilt and confusion so keenly. Losing a pregnancy you're ambivalent about is a sucker punch, on top of all the hormones already washing through your body. Reading her account of her own experience, I cried with the relief of feeling seen. Miscarriages are hard enough to talk about without also adding on the complexity of ambivalent feelings. She's genuinely the first person I know who's put into words a lot of my own distress at the experience. I'm so grateful she's brought it out into the open, so that anyone who's ever had that kind of loss can better cope with the unwarranted shame of losing a pregnancy you both wanted and were terrified of.
Ms Vermeulen's accompanying cartoon art nicely punctuates the proceedings, adding even more humor and pathos than her words alone could convey. I know she feels a bit embarrassed that it took her seven years to finish this book, but I think it was a phenomenal use of seven years, and a memoir she couldn't have written and drawn as well in less. It's not a perfect book but it's raw and refreshing, rather like the sushi she (also relatably) can't give up. I loved it.
Good Luck To Us All by Karen Vermeulen was published February 18 2025 by Catalyst Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
July 17, 2025
I picked this up on a whim at the library since I was going to a BYOB event and didn't have a book. It was okay -- the author talked about her cat too much. I found some parts relatable and other parts not. I worry that I may become like her in the future, and it gave me food for thought about dating and getting pregnant. It always good to learn about other peoples' lives.
I appreciated learning more about South Africa, though it through glimpses and context. I didn't find the book funny and don't recall laughing or smiling while reading.
I appreciated learning more about South Africa, though it through glimpses and context. I didn't find the book funny and don't recall laughing or smiling while reading.
July 1, 2025
3.5 stars. Picked this up on a whim at the library because I enjoy graphic novels and hadn’t really read a memoir version before. (no, that’s not true, come to think of it—the 5 star Persepolis was memoir). Anyway I enjoyed it, parts of it were funny, and the best two bits were the sections about her ex and about getting unintentionally pregnant and then losing the baby — but overall it isn’t one I would recommend to friends. I do admire her artwork!
November 10, 2025
Kipuilukertomuksia humoristisen katseen läpi. Epäonnistunutta deittailua, joogailua, sosiaalisiin normeihin mahtumista, ja ennen kaikkea vaikeuksista huolimatta melko onnistunutta kissan omistamista. Kepeän otteen alla on myös vakavampia aiheita, kuten parisuhdeväkivaltaa ja vakavia terveysvaikeuksia. Tyylillinen tasapainottelu onnistuu kuitenkin hyvin.
Kirja kuvaa länsimaisen naisen elämää, vaikka tekijä onkin eteläafrikkalainen. Paikallisväri näkyy hetkittäin, mutta yllättävän vähän.
Kirja kuvaa länsimaisen naisen elämää, vaikka tekijä onkin eteläafrikkalainen. Paikallisväri näkyy hetkittäin, mutta yllättävän vähän.
November 5, 2024
An okay graphic novel - memoir of sorts is a good way to describe it. At times there was too much text, which feels like a weird thing to complain about regarding a book, but I guess I wanted more graphic and less novel.
Themes: single woman, cats, yoga, adulting
Advanced Reader Copy courtesy of the publisher via Edelweiss Plus. Publication date January 28, 2025
Themes: single woman, cats, yoga, adulting
Advanced Reader Copy courtesy of the publisher via Edelweiss Plus. Publication date January 28, 2025
February 15, 2025
This is so relatable that it had moments where it went from fun to slightly depressing, but I admire Vermeulen's dedication to sharing her truth. She has no filter and shares things that not many talk about in a way that feels natural. The story often feels like you're having tea with that one friend who overshares without realizing it.
Thank you to Catalyst Press for the review copy!
Thank you to Catalyst Press for the review copy!
November 2, 2025
Thank you for sharing this with me (us)! Unique, funny and playful. The illustrations and the way she brushes in humor..the dating apps!!! ughhhh never again! There are moments of harsh truths she shares in a way that doesn't get you emotional, but you can relate and appreciate the lightness she is able to bring into it. Just read the book, love it! Even if you just look at the pictures!
November 11, 2025
Finally! A picture book for adults.
Warning: will result in tears - of laughter and empathy.
Karen’s illustrations and quirky take on the wtafness of life in this crazy age are on point. I feel seen.
Definitely worth a read.
Warning: will result in tears - of laughter and empathy.
Karen’s illustrations and quirky take on the wtafness of life in this crazy age are on point. I feel seen.
Definitely worth a read.
April 5, 2025
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected I would. I have not much in common with a 30-something straight cat lady but got a few laughs out of this.
April 8, 2025
This delightfully funny debut graphic novel is light and easy to read yet thought provoking and poignant. A must read.
April 12, 2025
Raw, real and radiantly funny!
This book is an absolute gem - equal parts heartfelt and hilarious.
The illustrations add a unique charm - perfectly decorating the stories told.
I enjoyed it!
This book is an absolute gem - equal parts heartfelt and hilarious.
The illustrations add a unique charm - perfectly decorating the stories told.
I enjoyed it!
Read
August 11, 2025comparing adulthood to an avocado--sounds about right
October 9, 2025
I laughed many times at the wild stories and zany illustrations, it's a must for those who don't wish to take themselves too seriously. Loved it!
October 9, 2025
A light and funny book, you read it quickly
October 12, 2025
There isn’t anything else out there like it! The illustrations are so funny and quirky and really bring the stories to life. It’s relatable and funny and all together a brilliant book!
December 24, 2025
just a sweet little breath of fresh air that i read in its entirety on christmas eve morning
January 3, 2026
Graphic memoirs are one of my favorite genres and this is one of the better ones I've read in a while. Perfect balance of vulnerability, realness, and humor!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews