Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story

by Alex Krokus

“Shortly after his funeral, my dad started haunting me . . . and it’s been a delight!” —Alex



Inspired by real-life experience, Alex Krokus's graphic novel is a heartfelt and humorous story of losing a parent and getting to know him better after his passing.

Set over the course of a single year, this book follows Alex and his father’s ghost as they stroll along winter beaches, camp in rattlesnake-infested deserts, and share countless diner meals together. Between fielding fatherly lectures on the importance of doing his taxes, how to properly shovel the driveway, and why he should always tip twenty percent, Alex tries to figure out what he needs to say to his dad. 



Is this a good time for him to come out as bisexual? Or maybe he should ask his dad why he loved drinking so much when it nearly destroyed his health? With help from his mom, his brother, a whole cast of extended family members, and, of course, the ghost himself, Alex tries to figure out how to say goodbye.



In the tradition of Roz Chast's Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? and Alison Bechdel's Fun Home, this graphic novel uses humor to examine family foibles and eccentricities as well as the experience of losing a parent. Relatable and heartfelt, it speaks to the universal experience of grief and how it ripples through a community.

HEALING THROUGH Told in a series of vignettes with illustrated panels, this graphic narrative evokes the nostalgia of Sunday comic strips. Alex casts his family and friends as anthropomorphic animal characters, lending a playful irreverence to their most serious conversations. His insightful and honest exploration of grief and memory is punctuated with moments of levity and warmth, making this a cathartic, funny, and uplifting read.



EXCITING COMICS This is the first long-form graphic novel from cartoonist Alex Krokus. His webcomic, Loud & Smart, follows the mundane misadventures of raccoon Alex and his millennial friends as they navigate their arguably "adult" lives in the big city. In Talking to My Father's Ghost, Krokus brings his trademark humor to new narrative terrain, guiding readers through big, scary feelings with expert comedic timing and refreshing honesty.

Perfect  


Fans of Roz Chast, Sarah Anderson, Tyler Feder, and Michelle Zauner


Anyone looking for a funny, insightful book about grief, memory, and family relationships


Readers of Alex Krokus's comic strip series, Loud & Smart


People who enjoy unconventional ghost stories

Genres: Graphic Novels, Memoir, Comics, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Family, Death

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talking to My Father's Ghost
by Alex Krokus
This is a very touching graphic novel about a family that ends up losing the father to cancer. The main characters, besides the father, who comes back as a ghost, are the two boys and the mother. There is a large extended family, too.
Although the core of the story is grief, the author skillfully places appropriate humor throughout.
At the end of the funeral, Alex, one of the sons, sees his dad's ghost. Later, the ghost is around frequently, and they talk. Alex talks to all the family, but he is the only one who sees and speaks to the ghost.
The book shows how different people handle grief, and everyone may not respond the same way. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. There is also help if needed.
This is an entertaining and heartwarming, but also much needed book for those going through losing a loved one.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this tremendous book!

[TheConnieFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥ My Overall Thoughts ♥

I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did! The author did an amazing job with this heartfelt book. I really enjoyed the illustrations, the family photos at the end and how this entire book was presented! This is in the biographies and memoirs, comics, graphic novels, manga genres! The illustrations really brought me back to my childhood. I loved reading Garfield comics, those were my favorite! I really enjoyed how the author twists this book into a humor one, even though it is dealing with such a heavy and depressing topic.

♥ Book Synopsis & Rating ♥

This is a short story about a guy named Alex who talks to his father’s ghost, after his father’s passing. This is almost a true story that takes us on a journey about love, loss grief and happiness at the end of the tunnel. The book is set over a year and explains everything that Alex had experienced. Alex wonders about telling his ghostly father things, like is this the right time to tell him that he is really a bisexual. It is full of wit and laughter, as Alex processes the passing of his father. Be sure to read the content warnings. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!

♥ Thank You ♥

Thank you to NetGalley, author Alex Krokus and Chronicle Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

♥ Who I think would enjoy this book ♥

I think people that like reading illustrations on a dark topic would enjoy this book. It brings light to something that is very emotional and heartbreaking.

♥ Publication Date ♥

This book is expected to be published on August 5, 2025!

♥ Quick Review ♥

👻 Son sees his father as a ghost
✔️ Comics & illustrations
👻 Witty & Humorous
✔️ Loss / Grief
👻 Almost a True Story
✔️ Biography/ Memoir
👻 Emotional / Sad
✔️ One Year Time Span Book

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥

ツ౨ৎ

[Milly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing “mostly true” graphic novel memoir. Krokus surprised me with how much I enjoyed this book. I had so much fun with each chapter I read. Absolutely entertaining look at grief that explores how each of us grieve in different ways.

The story takes place over a year in little slice of life chapters that tend to end in some funny anecdote or line. As fun and hilarious as it is, Alex is also trying to navigate serious emotions like his grief throughout the story, remembering the best about his father as well as the “woulda coulda shouldas” that we all experience. It puts all those tough emotions out in an easy an enjoyable way. The bones of this book are perfectly well-structured so you’ll finish this book in no time without any narrative hiccups.

I liked the watercolor art and I know readers will enjoy it. Something about it is very nostalgic for an early 2000s’ kid.

Art: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Memoir:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Talking to my Father’s Ghost comes out August 5th 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley for having an advanced ecopy of this book available for an honest review.

[Dessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has such lovely pacing — a graphic novel told in two-page panel comics, each of which shares a rhythm. When I teach poetry I tell my students that the end of a poem is supposed to be revelatory, to change something in the way the reader sees things, and in that way poems can be a lot like jokes: they have a punchline, or, at least the same rhythm as a punchline does. Anyway, that’s how these comics feel — a lilt, a dependable tender-funny last panel, and the next comic a continuation but also a departure. This pacing matches grief, I think. And the watercolours are lovely.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This "almost true" graphic memoir explores grieving the death of the author's father via slice of life vignettes. It's lovely and humorous and poignant. I really liked the illustration style and how the author's relationship with his father did not end at death.

[Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this a lot more than I was expecting to! The story does a great job of capturing what grief feels like, but also being done in such a humorous way. I loved the way the story was told trough a series of scenes and snipets of different people's memories. I also loved the way it was illustrated, very simple, yet lovely to look at! Overall, I think I would recommend this book to just about anyone, as it's a good read for anyone who's ever lost someone, and hasn't everyone?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.

[Sarah Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic memoirs are some of my favorite graphic novels to read. This one was particularly touching. I loved the connection between the author’s father’s childhood comics, the author’s childhood comics cowritten with his father, and this comic being written about his father. The exploration of grief was so raw and real. By the end, I felt like I knew the family, too. How beautiful is it to be remembered for everything you are? Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent, gently comic book about grief and recovery after losing a father. Alex Krokus has fun portraying his family as various animals who all come at death from different angles. Specifically, Krokus is most interested in their opinion on ghosts since he seems to be seeing his father's ghost everywhere. (I'm guessing this the "almost true" part from the subtitle.)

The initial chapters go through the funeral and open-bar after party, then a few listless chapters as Krokus tries to find a way through grief, then a final few chapters featuring a road trip with Krokus's brother, who is almost entirely opposite in terms of personality. The book nicely breaks down everyone's relationship with Krokus's father - especially interesting is how everyone sees something different in the dead man.

I say "chapters" above, but that's not really how the book is broken up. Each two-page spread is a mini-comic, often with a punchline at the end. Until we get to the road trip, Talking to My Father's Ghost feels a bit disjointed, like a repackaging of random daily comics. Still, it never lost my interest, occasionally made me chuckle, and offered some good lessons on grief.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Talking to my father's ghost" presents an interesting blend of slice-of-life elements and the difficult process of dealing with grief. While the concept is strong, I found some of the extended passages focusing on everyday life didn't quite connect with me emotionally. Perhaps with a stronger sense of investment in those moments, they could have enhanced the overall narrative.

That being said, the scenes involving the father's ghost offered touching moments of wisdom and a comforting portrayal of farewell. And the brother, and roadtrip idea, all work well enough.

Ultimately, my feelings are somewhat divided. This is a short book that could very well resonate deeply with readers on an emotional level, even if it didn't fully achieve that for me.

[Raven Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

While there were a few bumps for me, overall this is a fun, funny and clever way of talking about grief. As we go through Alex's year after his fathers death, we see how he wanted to connect, how he could have and should have with his dad. But of course: Would have, could have, should haves......Yet, he finds a way to connect to him and the rest of his (living) family instead. Read via a reader copy.

[Nichole Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talking to my Father's Ghost is a very heartfelt comic. It felt like a cozy warm hug reading. This graphic novel is about a family that lost a father to cancer. There is just so much love in this book.

I loved how the main character was asking others how they cope with loss. Everyone handles grief in their own way. I absolutely adored this wise father owl ghost. He reminds me of my father that passed away 10yrs ago. I would have loved to tak to my father's ghost. I have so much that I never told him. In this story, Alex tells his father a lot of the things that he never got to tell him too. It is a beautiful way for processing the grief and working through accepting such a difficult loss.

Thank you to NetGalley, Author,Alex Krokus, and Chronicle Books for this ARC.

[Dan P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I've been reading a lot about grief lately. But then I realize no actually it's just that people write about things that affect them and death is one of the most affecting things there is, so everyone ultimately writes about it. The best part of this comic about a man losing his dad is imagining how much his dad would have loved the book 🥲

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blending the existential angst of BoJack Horseman with the gallows humor of Roz Chast’s Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, this graphic novel tackles grief and family baggage with surprising tenderness. It’s funny, raw, and moving. Alex—the most sentimental raccoon you’ll ever meet—narrates with lots of heart. And I found myself genuinely sad not to have met Jeff, his dad, who comes across like someone I’d want to have a beer with, despite his family’s disapproval. Great cover, too.

[Claire Mosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this not only emotionally affecting but also very funny. There were certain parts that got me in my feels about my own father, my own family - and the idea of what we pass down to our children.

And that sounds deep but also there is a lot of great humor here so I would recommend if you like your comics with a little haha boohoo in there.

[Cecily Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A darkly funny, touching story of anticipatory grief and the emotional aftermath of a son losing his father. A funny and honest family dynamic told with charm, wit, and very cute illustrations.

[Regine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving.

[Buffy Cautela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible! Me and Alex share a lot in common. I feel so seen by this graphic novel. Grief can be all encompassing, and I love the approach that Alex takes to tell his perspective on it. This is a must read for fans of graphic memoirs.

[Tim Ubels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might be the most sincere, wry and purposeful version of the "cartoonist writing autofiction dealing with grief" genre.

4.5/5

[Tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Krokus doesn’t miss.

[Diana Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

As advertised, this was a heartfelt and humorous look at a son coping with his father's death and all that brings- including a road trip through Arizona with his brother.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an Advance Reader's Copy. Publication date - August 5, 2025

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This moving sort of memoir is the story of the author dealing with the grief after the death of his father. His father haunts him throughout the story, as he tries to find out why he seems to be taking the death harder than those around him.

His mother seeks out a spiritualist to tell her what to do, though, as the ghost says, I didn’t go to that woman.

It is both funny and sad at the same time. The story takes place over a whole year, as he tries to find what the whole meaning is. They go to some land out in Arizona that has been passed down to them, but has no direct access road. He talks to friends and relatives, to see how they have dealt with death, and of course he talks to his dead dad.

For those who follow the author's webcomic “Loud & Smart” this is very much in that vein, the personal take on life in general.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 5th of August 2025.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

👻 Talking to My Father’s Ghost: An Almost True Story by Alex Krokus

A hauntingly beautiful graphic memoir where grief and humor dance between the panels, revealing how death can become the deepest conversation.

✨ Review
**🎨 Visual Storytelling Magic: Blends raw, sketch-like art with poetic narration—each page feels like a scrapbook of memories and what-ifs.

**😂 Grief with Grin: Tackles loss with unexpected wit (think: dad jokes from the afterlife), proving healing isn’t always solemn.

**🕰️ Time-Bending Intimacy: Collapses past and present—childhood anecdotes and adult regrets coexist like ghosts in the same room.

**💔 Universal Yet Personal: While deeply specific (Polish-American family quirks!), its themes of unfinished business resonate widely.

**🌈 Cathartic Creativity: Turns mourning into art—readers may finish wanting to doodle their own ghosts.

⭐ Star Breakdown (0–5)
Emotional Impact: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (A gut-punch that somehow leaves you smiling.)
Artistic Voice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.8/5) (Like Lynda Barry meets Fun Home—messy and magnificent.)
Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) (Refreshingly avoids grief memoir clichés.)
Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (A few transitions feel abrupt, but maybe grief is like that.)
Re-read Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (New details emerge like faint whispers on revisit.)
Overall: 4.7/5 - A séance in book form—equal parts laughter, tears, and the eerie sense someone’s reading over your shoulder.

🙏 Thank you to NetGalley and Alex Krokus for the advance review copy. This isn’t just a book—it’s a permission slip to talk to the ghosts you carry. Pair with Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? for another masterclass in illustrated grief.

Note: For fans of graphic memoirs like Persepolis or The Best We Could Do. Keep tissues and a pencil handy.

[Erika Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I was not expecting to love "Talking to My Father's Ghost" as much as I did! Alex Krokus has crafted a truly touching graphic memoir that hits all the right notes. The story follows Alex as he navigates the ups and downs of grief after losing his father to cancer. Truly a unique take on the whole grieving process.

As someone who has also lost my father, this book resonated with me on such a deep level. Krokus captures the complexity of grief perfectly, and I found myself relating to Alex's journey. The way he processes his emotions and reflects on his relationship with his dad brought back so many memories for me. It felt like I was walking alongside him, sharing those moments of longing and laughter.

What I loved most is how Krokus blends humor with heartache. There are moments that had me laughing out loud, even while dealing with such a heavy topic. It’s like he found a way to make grief relatable and even a little fun at times. The illustrations are gorgeous, too—super colorful and reminiscent of childhood comics, which added a nostalgic touch.

The conversations Alex has with his ghost dad are both hilarious and poignant. You really feel the love and the longing in their exchanges. Plus, the way he interacts with his family brings so much warmth to the story. It’s a reminder that even in loss, our loved ones continue to shape who we are.

If you’re looking for a graphic novel that’s equal parts funny and heartfelt, this is it! After finishing it, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences with loss.

Highly recommend this book to anyone who’s ever lost someone special or just loves a good story about family and connection. Trust me, you’ll want to pick this one up when it comes out!

[Prof. Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

💫 NetGalley ARC Review 💫

This graphic novel, clearly a deeply personal project for Alex Krokus, offers a raw and emotional look at grief and the complex process of saying goodbye to a parent. Inspired by real-life experience, the narrative follows Alex as he grapples with his father's passing, accompanied by his dad's ghost. Their interactions, ranging from mundane life advice to more profound discussions, aim to capture the enduring presence of a lost loved one.

However, the book's strength in its authenticity also becomes a bit of a drawback. It often reads less like a fully developed story and more like a personal journal or a therapeutic exercise. The episodic nature of their encounters—strolling on beaches, camping, sharing diner meals—can feel disjointed at times, making it difficult to find a strong narrative arc. While these moments are undoubtedly significant for Alex's grieving process, as a reader, the impact can be diminished.

The attempts to weave in heavier topics like Alex's bisexuality and his father's struggles with drinking feel a bit underdeveloped. They're touched upon, but not fully explored, leaving the reader wanting more depth beyond the immediate emotional processing. Ultimately, while genuinely heartfelt and a commendable effort in navigating personal loss, the graphic novel's structure and execution make it feel more like a private reflection shared publicly rather than a cohesive story designed for broader engagement.

[Ingrid Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by real-life experience, Alex Krokus's graphic novel is a heartfelt and humorous story of losing a parent and getting to know him better after his passing.

Set over the course of a year, Alex Krokus tells us a story of  his father dying at a young age.  It's an all to familiar story of a life that coulda, shoulda, been longer.  His father had some seriously bad habits, drinking too much, eating too much, working too much. But he seemed to have been a good father who loved his family and did everything to make their lives easier and better. 
After Alex's father passes, he begins to see his ghost and gets the chance to talk to him about all the things he wishes he had talked about before he left.
What a wonderful chance to have! A gift that nothing can compare to. You not only get to see that , yes, they are ok in the afterlife but that they are still here for you.
I know I would love a chhance to have a few more conversations with my dad. Maybe get some of the answers my little kid self asked that he thought I was too young to understand the answer to, who knows. If nothing to reinforce that I was loved by him and am more like him then I never knew.
Alexis Krokus has given all of us who have known greif a true gift with his story and art.  Thank you.

Highly recommended.  Expected publishing date August 05, 2025

Thanks to @netgalley and Chronical Books for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ebook ARC of this title, to be published August 5, 2025. An illustrated novel of the author's family - Jewish/Italian. There is lots of food in here!
The numerous characters (and thankfully there is a family tree at the beginning of the book) are drawn as clothed animals, fish, and insects.
The author is the younger of 2 sons (it appears his older brother is maybe 8-10 or more years older than him), and the "sensitive one". His brother is more a "bro", living in Colorado, and it seems he is in the sky diving business! Alex/the author is also bi. His father dies, fairly young, and Alex begins to see, and talk to, the ghost of his dad. Who was an outgoing, oversized charatcer (and accountant) who was loved by all. I wish we could have had some scenes from the open bar at the funeral! Alex asks various family members and friends how to deal with grief.
A very good book on families, and fathers and sons, and brothers - and grief.
Krokus adds a short section at the back of the book on how he develops a page/storyline/illustration. He also includes some family photos, which was nice - his dad was a big guy!
Enjoyed enough that I bought one of his earlier books, which collect some of his more recent "Loudest and Smartest" stories.
4 out of 5. Humorous, touching, enjoyable.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talking to My Father’s Ghost is a graphic memoir that explores the author’s process of grieving after the death of his father. Alex Krokus uses a comic strip layout, colorized with stunning watercolors, and andromorphic characters to share his experiences in the year after his father's death. Healing through humor is one of the key aspects of this bittersweet story. Alex is quite literally haunted by the ghost of his father. Alex spends time with his family and his father's ghost, sometimes simultaneously, reminiscing about the past and finding ways to move forward. Their conversations and memories are relatable, heartfelt, and funny. They cover a wide range of topics from silly family stories to harder conversations about the impact of alcoholism or the fact that Alex never actually told his father about his bisexual identity. Overall, this graphic memoir ghost story for adult readers is an insightful and amusing look at the process of healing after the loss of a parent.

Thank to Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talking to My Father's Ghost is a graphic memoir by Alex Krokus. It follows Alex in a series of vignettes that are told out of order throughout his life but all centering on his father's death. At first I thought the characters as animals was a different choice, but as it went on I realized it actually did help me tell the characters apart. That being said, there is a family tree to start off the book if readers need help. The drawings are simple, but they do not take away from the deeper topics in the book. An especially poignant part is where the author asks several family members how to deal with grief and loss as well as his trip with his brother to see land owned by their father. The book also really highlights just how many people are important players in each others' lives over a lifetime. Overall it is a lighthearted way to deal with a difficult topic. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for the ARC.

[Jose Villanueva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC!

I really really loved this graphic novel! Alex loses his father to cancer and looks for ways to deal with his grief. He starts having conversations with his father's "ghost" in hopes of finding answers and closure in the areas he failed to while his dad was alive.

While the premise sounds, and is, fairly simple, the combination of humor and heart immediately hooked me. While it never felt like the author was trying too hard to incite an emotional response, the inner monologue Alex was having with himself, his conversations with his family members and his time spent with his father's ghost all felt so real and genuine that I immediately connected.

Losing a parents is such a specific type of grief and with it comes a specific type of humor that you can't really fake. Krokus really put a lot of himself into this and it totally shows.

[Adri Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody is truly ready when a loved one passes. Whatever the circumstances, we all cope the best we can. As expected from the title, the main character/author’s father passed. Alex’s father, Jeff, had been dealing with an arduous bout with cancer, finally succumbing to the illness. Alex and his brother, Gerard, help their mother with all the funeral arrangements. As Alex muddles through the stages of grief, his father’s ghost follows him, providing commentary on various subjects and conversing with his son. This was very sweet and humorous. It was worth the read.

#ThxNetGalley #AlexKrokus #TalkingtoMyFathersGhost

Merged review:

Nobody is truly ready when a loved one passes. Whatever the circumstances, we all cope the best we can. As expected from the title, the main character/author’s father passed. Alex’s father, Jeff, had been dealing with an arduous bout with cancer, finally succumbing to the illness. Alex and his brother, Gerard, help their mother with all the funeral arrangements. As Alex muddles through the stages of grief, his father’s ghost follows him, providing commentary on various subjects and conversing with his son. This was very sweet and humorous. It was worth the read.

#ThxNetGalley #AlexKrokus #TalkingtoMyFathersGhost