What do you think?
Rate this book
Hello Sunshine
In this lush and creepy young adult graphic novel about mental health, healing, and romance, a troubled teen suddenly disappears from his small town—sending his loved ones on a paranormal journey to save him from his inner demons.
Noah is heartbroken. He returns from bible camp to find that Alex, his secret boyfriend, has had a breakdown and disappeared. He wishes more than anything that he hadn’t left that day.
Sky is determined. She’ll stop at nothing to find her childhood friend, even if it means alienating the people she loves.
Izzy is ashamed. She knew something weird was going on with Alex, and she didn’t say anything to her boyfriend, Jamie—Alex’s twin brother. If she had, would Alex still be here?
Jamie is angry. Angry at Alex for being gone, angry at himself for not noticing something was wrong, and angry at his long-dead mother, Desdemona, who had problems of her own.
But what if there was something more to Desdemona’s demons than just mental illness? Why is Jamie seeing her ghost? And can he get past his hatred of her if it means finding out what happened to his brother?
Noah is heartbroken. He returns from bible camp to find that Alex, his secret boyfriend, has had a breakdown and disappeared. He wishes more than anything that he hadn’t left that day.
Sky is determined. She’ll stop at nothing to find her childhood friend, even if it means alienating the people she loves.
Izzy is ashamed. She knew something weird was going on with Alex, and she didn’t say anything to her boyfriend, Jamie—Alex’s twin brother. If she had, would Alex still be here?
Jamie is angry. Angry at Alex for being gone, angry at himself for not noticing something was wrong, and angry at his long-dead mother, Desdemona, who had problems of her own.
But what if there was something more to Desdemona’s demons than just mental illness? Why is Jamie seeing her ghost? And can he get past his hatred of her if it means finding out what happened to his brother?
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
October 29, 2025
AAAAAAAAH!!!! Honestly I think everyone should read this to understand severe mental illness better, ESPECIALLY any fan of the horror genre. But it was also GRIPPING, genuinely scary, both heavy in parts and beautiful and made me cry.
I was surprised how BIG the story was. Being almost 400 pages with dense dialogue and many panels per page, it must have been a massive undertaking to create - but it makes for a deliciously rich graphic novel with each of the cast’s voice and personality getting space to develop unusually fully.
The art style, spot blacks, colour, texture and grime are also absolutely perfect for YA horror and the supernatural elements of the story - I’ve rarely seen comic art enhance genre storytelling so effectively. In particular, the parts with characters experiencing delusions and psychosis are so real and vivid, and the comic and medium brings them to life completely. (To the extent that imo you might want to make sure you’re in the right headspace before reading, especially if you experience those things in whatever capacity.)
No spoilers, but the way the plot BOTH does the supernatural-horror-genre stuff extremely well, but ALSO clearly delineates and portrays the reality of experiencing psychosis is so fucking CLEVER and so effective.
Truly an incredible book and a testament to what comics can do - I hope it reaches as many teens and adults as possible.
I was surprised how BIG the story was. Being almost 400 pages with dense dialogue and many panels per page, it must have been a massive undertaking to create - but it makes for a deliciously rich graphic novel with each of the cast’s voice and personality getting space to develop unusually fully.
The art style, spot blacks, colour, texture and grime are also absolutely perfect for YA horror and the supernatural elements of the story - I’ve rarely seen comic art enhance genre storytelling so effectively. In particular, the parts with characters experiencing delusions and psychosis are so real and vivid, and the comic and medium brings them to life completely. (To the extent that imo you might want to make sure you’re in the right headspace before reading, especially if you experience those things in whatever capacity.)
No spoilers, but the way the plot BOTH does the supernatural-horror-genre stuff extremely well, but ALSO clearly delineates and portrays the reality of experiencing psychosis is so fucking CLEVER and so effective.
Truly an incredible book and a testament to what comics can do - I hope it reaches as many teens and adults as possible.
June 4, 2026
Noah returns from Bible Camp to discover something terrible has happened in his absence. The boy he was secretly sort of dating, Alex, has gone missing. And horrible rumors swirl around his disappearance- that he threatened or attacked someone with a knife, that he went crazy, that he was stalking Noah, that he was a danger to himself and others. None of this matches what Noah knew of Alex, a gentle daydreamy stoner who loved drawing, music, watching horror movies, and walking around town with his dog. Noah teams up with a set of other teens who aren't willing to accept that Alex is gone- Alex's friends Izzy and Sky, and his twin brother, Jamie. As the four begin snooping deeper- breaking into police files and prying up vents in the old Victorian house Jamie and Alex grew up in- they become more and more convinced that something terrible, and possibly supernatural, happened. They find blood and human teeth under the floors. They start having lucid dreams in which Alex tells them to stop looking for him. This is a horror story, but it's also a very compassionate look at living with schizophrenia, loving someone schizophrenia, and how to reach and build trust with someone experiencing their first massive mental health break. I am wuss, and there were times this book felt almost too scary for me. But by the end I found myself thinking about how much scarier it would be to live trapped by the cruel voices of your own mind, which is exactly what I think the author was hoping to communicate. Extremely well executed and astonishingly gentle for a book which also contains demons, murder, and an alternate paranoid hell reality.
December 3, 2025
Given the number of 5 and 4 stars ratings for this graphic novel, I am clearly an outlier. Though I appreciate the creator’s effort on showing the reader what it’s like having a psychosis and wanting to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness, I had a really hard time reading it.
The images and dialogue boxes and balloons are super compressed. I wasn’t a fan of the artwork. This story is told from multiple povs and it meanders because of it. The story is super dense and slow paced. I also didn’t like the fact that fantasy was thrown into it at the last second which in my opinion didn’t add much to the story overall.
TW: suicide, murder, self harm, underage drug use, and homophobia.
The images and dialogue boxes and balloons are super compressed. I wasn’t a fan of the artwork. This story is told from multiple povs and it meanders because of it. The story is super dense and slow paced. I also didn’t like the fact that fantasy was thrown into it at the last second which in my opinion didn’t add much to the story overall.
TW: suicide, murder, self harm, underage drug use, and homophobia.
October 30, 2025
the way this graphic novel has a chokehold on me. it's so good wow
October 3, 2025
4.5 Stars, rounded up
This might be a graphic novel, but it is by no means a quick and easy read. It's dark. It's heavy. And it does a really good job dancing around questions of mental illness, demonic forces, and blurred lines of reality and fantasy. It's an excellent read, but it isn't for the faint of heart. So cautious readers do beware!
Anyway, my full review is available at Gateway Reviews. Do swing by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
This might be a graphic novel, but it is by no means a quick and easy read. It's dark. It's heavy. And it does a really good job dancing around questions of mental illness, demonic forces, and blurred lines of reality and fantasy. It's an excellent read, but it isn't for the faint of heart. So cautious readers do beware!
Anyway, my full review is available at Gateway Reviews. Do swing by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
October 6, 2025
Alex is gone ... or is he?
This graphic novel follows five different characters as they struggle to figure out what's real and what's fiction, and what really happened to Alex.
How can I convey to you how impactful I found this book? I read a lot of magical realism, and I know how tricky it can be to bridge the gap between whether something is real or psychosis. But I don't think I've ever seen both magic and mental health paired in a way that makes you want to understand both. In some ways, this book is truly terrifying: showing us a world where nothing is real but anything can still have real effects. In other ways, this book is defiantly compassionate, reminding us that psychosis is an understandable medical condition and that whether a person has bipolar, schizophrenia, or another condition that makes them more likely to experience psychosis, they're human and worthy of love. My heart absolutely broke as each character realized that they had the power to help or harm the situation. But this book is also wildly fantastical and beautifully illustrated. I love every character (except Greyson, of course), and I appreciate the way this book has given me a new perspective on mental health and horror media. You should probably read it too.
This graphic novel follows five different characters as they struggle to figure out what's real and what's fiction, and what really happened to Alex.
How can I convey to you how impactful I found this book? I read a lot of magical realism, and I know how tricky it can be to bridge the gap between whether something is real or psychosis. But I don't think I've ever seen both magic and mental health paired in a way that makes you want to understand both. In some ways, this book is truly terrifying: showing us a world where nothing is real but anything can still have real effects. In other ways, this book is defiantly compassionate, reminding us that psychosis is an understandable medical condition and that whether a person has bipolar, schizophrenia, or another condition that makes them more likely to experience psychosis, they're human and worthy of love. My heart absolutely broke as each character realized that they had the power to help or harm the situation. But this book is also wildly fantastical and beautifully illustrated. I love every character (except Greyson, of course), and I appreciate the way this book has given me a new perspective on mental health and horror media. You should probably read it too.
October 13, 2025
I read the whole thing in one sitting and I'm at a complete loss for words, but hopefully my incoherent babbling will suffice. Keezy Young's ability to meticulously navigate the mindspace of mental illness and articulate these experiences so that people who don't think they can relate suddenly CAN is absolutely incredible. You can feel exactly what Alex is going through with every emotion, every nuance of his panicked, confused, lost and tired thoughts as he faces these challenges almost entirely alone. Holy cow. Talk about character voice. I could go on!
It's a lot longer than I expected, and there was even a portion that felt a little too fantastical, maybe filler-y or drawn out, particularly because it's almost entirely led by dialogue which can get tiring to read (I should have taken a break, really). But the last third of it really revealed everything Keezy was actually trying to say, and the delivery packs a massive emotional punch. Another one of her work (I love Sunflowers for the same reasons) that will stick with me for years.
It's a lot longer than I expected, and there was even a portion that felt a little too fantastical, maybe filler-y or drawn out, particularly because it's almost entirely led by dialogue which can get tiring to read (I should have taken a break, really). But the last third of it really revealed everything Keezy was actually trying to say, and the delivery packs a massive emotional punch. Another one of her work (I love Sunflowers for the same reasons) that will stick with me for years.
November 7, 2025
I'm as shocked as everyone else that I'm giving a YA book 5 stars but this was really a winner. The pacing of the story is excellent. The art style really worked for me, and the background work and lettering was really elaborate. I'm impressed by the character work that was done in such a short span of time. I found it both scary at times and also emotionally affecting. If I'm knocking it for anything, it's that the final section dragged a bit and the ending wasn't quite the knock-out I thought it might be. Still, I can see myself revisiting this in the future.
September 28, 2025
I feel very soft towards all the characters in the book. I’m very happy most of the characters were queer.
October 25, 2025
powerful and emotional depiction of schizoaffective disorders and what happens when your hallucinations begin coming to life featuring one very good dog
March 8, 2026
"Are you dead?
…Am I?
I don’t know I don’t want you to be, but…
I don’t think it matters."
This is one that I never read the synopsis for. Spotted the cover and loved it. Then all the comic/manga lovers coming into the library kept speaking highly of this, so I had to join the club. Their recommendation was right because I loved this.
The art, the story, and the true look at mental illness makes this stand out above the rest. It was amazing. I definitely need a hug after reading this.
…Am I?
I don’t know I don’t want you to be, but…
I don’t think it matters."
This is one that I never read the synopsis for. Spotted the cover and loved it. Then all the comic/manga lovers coming into the library kept speaking highly of this, so I had to join the club. Their recommendation was right because I loved this.
The art, the story, and the true look at mental illness makes this stand out above the rest. It was amazing. I definitely need a hug after reading this.
October 5, 2025
This is one of those rare books that is both fantastical horror and the horrors of reality. Mental illness is a topic that so few people write or illustrate correctly, too often delving further into the fantastic or the horrific and by doing so inflicting harm on those who deal with the reality of it themselves. No such issues with that here, as the topic is tackled with grace and conviction, letting the reader understand and experience the realities of some mental health challenges while wrapped in the realm of the fantastical. The main character deals with both, and the author clearly had something they wanted their audience to experience. It came through in spades, and I think was tackled with compassion through the agenda. I hope this is clear as far as reviews go, I'm still living in the world they created and wrestling with my thoughts. That said, this is a 10/10 story of friendship and family, magic and mental health, and excellent dogs.
December 20, 2025
hmmmm not my thing unfortunately. I struggle with this kind of YA book a lot, in that it feels simultaneously very wordy and desperate to explain itself. I was initially interested because I know people who have experiences close to this subject matter, but ultimately I felt like the magical elements overstuff the story and make it feel more inauthentic. The characters tend towards broad archetypes in a way that made it hard for me to recognize them as familiar people.
Young's color palettes are beautiful, though, and they have a control of panel-to-panel pace that at its best reminds me of David Aja. Where that control gets lost for me is in the characters' tendency to talk a lot without saying much (this is quite long for a debut YA graphic novel, at over 350 pages), and in the panel compositions themselves; at its worst, this is a lot of talking heads. You spend a lot of time looking at characters framed in samey ways with maudlin expressions that run together.
Young's color palettes are beautiful, though, and they have a control of panel-to-panel pace that at its best reminds me of David Aja. Where that control gets lost for me is in the characters' tendency to talk a lot without saying much (this is quite long for a debut YA graphic novel, at over 350 pages), and in the panel compositions themselves; at its worst, this is a lot of talking heads. You spend a lot of time looking at characters framed in samey ways with maudlin expressions that run together.
April 15, 2026
j’ai pas trop aimé 👉👈
et putain la trad est aux fraises
et putain la trad est aux fraises
May 28, 2026
PEAK!!! The art was gorgeous and creepy, the multiple POVs were so creative and I loved the different ways each character documented their thoughts, and the ownvoices psychosis rep was so important— it was compassionately done, even within a horror story such as this one!!! And all the queer rep was a wonderful bonus, especially a casually trans character!
(I couldn’t figure out what the cast meant by Noah not being subtle about being Alex’s boyfriend tho… I know he’s gay but. fellas. is it gay to care about your classmate you befriended and clearly showed signs of mental illness before suddenly going missing🤨 )
The dialogue between everyone was done so well, the story gave a lot of time for everyone to be a fleshed-out character and I ADORED that!
Unfortunately, though, I did not cry, regardless of how emotional (and compassionate) the narrative was. That said, there were some absolutely gut-wrenching uses of visual storytelling, especially in the last third. (Again!! Gorgeous art!! A little retro, uncanny when it needs to be, while adding some strangely adorable quality to the main cast— I’ll attribute that to the rounder shapes and simpler facial features. Awesome dynamic poses too, especially with the monsters.)
Holy shit, though. Alex’s POV. What an absolute ride. I’d never read a psychotic break that long and visceral in my life.
A gripping, appropriately lengthy mystery that I highly recommend.
(I couldn’t figure out what the cast meant by Noah not being subtle about being Alex’s boyfriend tho… I know he’s gay but. fellas. is it gay to care about your classmate you befriended and clearly showed signs of mental illness before suddenly going missing🤨 )
The dialogue between everyone was done so well, the story gave a lot of time for everyone to be a fleshed-out character and I ADORED that!
Unfortunately, though, I did not cry, regardless of how emotional (and compassionate) the narrative was. That said, there were some absolutely gut-wrenching uses of visual storytelling, especially in the last third. (Again!! Gorgeous art!! A little retro, uncanny when it needs to be, while adding some strangely adorable quality to the main cast— I’ll attribute that to the rounder shapes and simpler facial features. Awesome dynamic poses too, especially with the monsters.)
Holy shit, though. Alex’s POV. What an absolute ride. I’d never read a psychotic break that long and visceral in my life.
A gripping, appropriately lengthy mystery that I highly recommend.
Read
May 26, 2026when it all came together IT ALL CAME TOGETHER
January 25, 2026
hello sunshine goodbye rain
December 10, 2025
Mentions of suicide, murder, violent parent towards child (potential sexual abuse), missing teen, death and grief, parental loss, ghosts, demons, kicked out by religious family for being gay, faith based summer camp, troubled family, séance, mental health issues, delusions
This was utterly fascinating from page 1! Right from the start we got a secret relationship, a teen grappling between religion and his feelings. There was a sweet coming out for both being gay and in revealing a new relationship, as well as oodles of mystery.
While this was about mental health, love of all forms, friendship and family, it was also just a bunch of scared teens who are trying their best to do the right thing and be brave, with flashes of maturity and insight.
I don't want to say much about the plot because it's a rollercoaster ride better experienced firsthand. However, I will say that I loved the cast of characters, their individual journeys and how the plot itself was explored. The flashbacks were strategically placed and cleverly used. The magic elements were just right without being too much. Most of all, it was a beautiful, reaffirming, if at times quite creepy story about love, family, friendship and brothers.
I'd read it again in a heartbeat.
This was utterly fascinating from page 1! Right from the start we got a secret relationship, a teen grappling between religion and his feelings. There was a sweet coming out for both being gay and in revealing a new relationship, as well as oodles of mystery.
While this was about mental health, love of all forms, friendship and family, it was also just a bunch of scared teens who are trying their best to do the right thing and be brave, with flashes of maturity and insight.
I don't want to say much about the plot because it's a rollercoaster ride better experienced firsthand. However, I will say that I loved the cast of characters, their individual journeys and how the plot itself was explored. The flashbacks were strategically placed and cleverly used. The magic elements were just right without being too much. Most of all, it was a beautiful, reaffirming, if at times quite creepy story about love, family, friendship and brothers.
I'd read it again in a heartbeat.
April 19, 2026
This was a really thoughtful and loving depiction of a mental illness. The colorist did an amazing job. The art becomes really visually interesting the further you go.
I wasn't sure about a supernatural element at first, but it made the mental illness take on a clear visible form in-universe for the rest of the cast so it serves it purpose
This is also a good depiction of mental health issues in a horror story where the person struggling isn't the 'monster.' I can't stress enough how much care went into this
The pacing is imperfect but it's okay.
A really well done and moving graphic novel! I got emotional talking about it irl
I wasn't sure about a supernatural element at first, but it made the mental illness take on a clear visible form in-universe for the rest of the cast so it serves it purpose
This is also a good depiction of mental health issues in a horror story where the person struggling isn't the 'monster.' I can't stress enough how much care went into this
The pacing is imperfect but it's okay.
A really well done and moving graphic novel! I got emotional talking about it irl
May 8, 2026
Ok ce comics m’a GAGGED
Les dessins sont superbes, que ce soit les personnages, les lieux et les créatures + l’ambiance à la Gravity falls mixé à Stranger things était génialissime !
J’ai trouvé que la métaphore qui est filée tout le long du récit était aussi vraiment bien fichue (le mot de l’auteurice à la fin, on aime).
Vraiment une pépite 🤌
Les dessins sont superbes, que ce soit les personnages, les lieux et les créatures + l’ambiance à la Gravity falls mixé à Stranger things était génialissime !
J’ai trouvé que la métaphore qui est filée tout le long du récit était aussi vraiment bien fichue (le mot de l’auteurice à la fin, on aime).
Vraiment une pépite 🤌
June 25, 2026
I LOVE when horror helps bring awareness to stigmas and real world issues.
This graphic novel did just that. It had all the fantasy and horror elements I love, but it brought in mental health, LGBTQ+, and complicated relationship dynamics too that boosted the horror factor I loved so much.
I hope this author comes out with more soon!
This graphic novel did just that. It had all the fantasy and horror elements I love, but it brought in mental health, LGBTQ+, and complicated relationship dynamics too that boosted the horror factor I loved so much.
I hope this author comes out with more soon!
November 10, 2025
Alllllllll the stars. 🩷
November 11, 2025
Even with excitedly seeing previews for it online for years, this graphic novel still blew me away like nothing else I've read in a long time. I'm not feeling able to structure my thoughts at the moment, so, thematically, a list of just some of my favorite things:
-the body language and expression work is phenomenal. As a comic artist it's easy to fall into visual shorthands, but every single moment feels grounded and real, in both the dialogue and the art. (A small moment I remember: the subtle, thoughtful pause on Alex's face before he chances saying, "You know Grayson kind of sucks.")
-interesting, multifaceted, genuinely likeable characters who are never watered down to appeal to the audience
-the colors!! somehow both vivid and beautifully muted. Every friend I show this to immediately says "wow" on just flipping through the pages
-the narrative framework (multiple pov, epistolary, chronological jumps, dreamlike interludes) is both inventive and interesting and manages to never get confusing, or at least never in an unintended way
-this comic gets deeply, deeply scary. As a scary comics enjoyer I don't think I've been unnerved reading a printed comic like this in my life. The horror spans a very wide range - in a world of ghosts and demons, an encounter with a police officer (especially given real world context) is the most viscerally frightening
-on that note, finally: the treatment of the subject matter is extremely well done. No punches are pulled: it's sympathetic and gutwrenching and heartbreakingly real. Without getting into spoilers, I was curious (though never worried, because I trusted the author) how the fantastical elements would interplay with the depictions of mental illness, and wasn't disappointed. On that note:
-I think a lesser story, even a very well-meaning one, would tackle a subject like this and wrap everything up with a prettier, tidier, "easier" resolution. I really appreciated the ending. I thought it was perfect.
I'm not sure a jumble of my thoughts like this is actually useful as a review or just serves as a love-dump for the comic, but yeah. I loved it!! A masterwork I encourage everyone to check out
-the body language and expression work is phenomenal. As a comic artist it's easy to fall into visual shorthands, but every single moment feels grounded and real, in both the dialogue and the art. (A small moment I remember: the subtle, thoughtful pause on Alex's face before he chances saying, "You know Grayson kind of sucks.")
-interesting, multifaceted, genuinely likeable characters who are never watered down to appeal to the audience
-the colors!! somehow both vivid and beautifully muted. Every friend I show this to immediately says "wow" on just flipping through the pages
-the narrative framework (multiple pov, epistolary, chronological jumps, dreamlike interludes) is both inventive and interesting and manages to never get confusing, or at least never in an unintended way
-this comic gets deeply, deeply scary. As a scary comics enjoyer I don't think I've been unnerved reading a printed comic like this in my life. The horror spans a very wide range - in a world of ghosts and demons, an encounter with a police officer (especially given real world context) is the most viscerally frightening
-on that note, finally: the treatment of the subject matter is extremely well done. No punches are pulled: it's sympathetic and gutwrenching and heartbreakingly real. Without getting into spoilers, I was curious (though never worried, because I trusted the author) how the fantastical elements would interplay with the depictions of mental illness, and wasn't disappointed. On that note:
-I think a lesser story, even a very well-meaning one, would tackle a subject like this and wrap everything up with a prettier, tidier, "easier" resolution. I really appreciated the ending. I thought it was perfect.
I'm not sure a jumble of my thoughts like this is actually useful as a review or just serves as a love-dump for the comic, but yeah. I loved it!! A masterwork I encourage everyone to check out
February 20, 2026
What an incredible book. The art is phenomenal and striking, the story grabs your attention right away, and the honest and vulnerable look at grief and is very moving. You can tell the author put so much love and thought into this work. It's didactic without hitting you over the head, and I feel as if I've genuinely learned important things about mental health.
February 6, 2026
This is a great book for anyone who wants to read and feel seen in their mental illness as well as have some supernatural fun. But my goodness was it a slog to get through.
I can't put my finger on whether the pacing is the issue or if it's just me. Maybe it's me having a hard time getting into it. But this was a book I was recommended and I wanted to finish it for that person.
I think my biggest issue with it is how within each chapter, we would get a POV from a different person who would then be sure and convince the rest of the kids what was going on. I think the author ends up tying that back into the plot by having a kid say 'we've all jumped to conclusions and been sure about something only for that not to be the case' and that's... I guess? But instead it felt like being yanked around a lot.
I like the idea, and the characters each seemed fun. I loved the whole Scooby gang aspect, but yeah... Not my favorite.
I can't put my finger on whether the pacing is the issue or if it's just me. Maybe it's me having a hard time getting into it. But this was a book I was recommended and I wanted to finish it for that person.
I think my biggest issue with it is how within each chapter, we would get a POV from a different person who would then be sure and convince the rest of the kids what was going on. I think the author ends up tying that back into the plot by having a kid say 'we've all jumped to conclusions and been sure about something only for that not to be the case' and that's... I guess? But instead it felt like being yanked around a lot.
I like the idea, and the characters each seemed fun. I loved the whole Scooby gang aspect, but yeah... Not my favorite.
November 24, 2025
I don't normally go into spoiler territory when talking about books because I generally think if a book can only be discussed by its plotting than it's probably not all that great of a book. I'm making an exception here not because this book is bad, but because to unpack any of the book's themes you have to discuss the reveal of what happened to the "main" character.
First I want to say I did enjoy reading the book. Anyone who confuses this with some light little graphic novel is doing the story and the author a disservice, because this sucker is dense in all senses of the word. It is dialogue-heavy with multiple perspective characters giving us a pretty in-depth look into the world it is creating. It's appropriately creepy, not only in concept but in execution. The author's use of color palate is really exceptional and they do a wonderful job at setting up the premise and the major scenes not only with the art but with the script as well. The story is atmospheric, eerie, tender, and extremely genuine.
Where it went a little south for me is in the reveal of Alex's fate. Lots of authors have presented stories where the central line of questioning is "Is this supernatural thing actually happening to our character or is the character just mentally ill?" This is practically a trope, so finding that same question presented here is somewhat familiar ground. What Hello, Sunshine does to distinguish itself is opting to go the route of both - in this case, Alex is experiencing haunting, tormenting demons BECAUSE he is experiencing his first schizophrenic episode but he ALSO is a genuine witch with magic powers he is just learning about. Unfortunately, doing both at the same time is where the story lost me. It's not that I think authors can't find ways to blend mental health disorders with actual magic or supernatural events, I'm just not sure this author is quite seasoned enough yet to pull that off effectively. It felt a little too cute by half.
I should also say that Keezy Young is open about their own mental health diagnosis and it's clear they wrote this story with a ton of sympathy toward Alex as a character going through what he is. There's a sense of wish-fulfillment at play here that I can only assume Young is expressing for themselves. Unfortunately for me, that resulted not in sympathetic characters and a storyline that made me want to know what happened, but instead it turned into an extended period of indulgence. We have characters that, in coddling Alex for his illness-based delusions, are intended to come off as kind and supportive but do so in ways that, in life, would actually be horribly destructive. I may be making too many assumptions here, but it feels like the author saying, "this is how I wish I had been treated when I first began to struggle with my diagnosis" without possibly considering that unconditional support and indulgence in a delusion is not, in fact, healthy for someone experiencing a major health event (even one that could be, in the case of the story, helped along by actual magic and manifested demons).
I can tell that Hello, Sunshine was a deeply personal project for the author. They're still a little green, as evidenced by some flashback sequences not being clearly set up and so the experience of suddenly shifting scenes can leave the reader disoriented. But they have a clear point of view and they're plenty talented at storytelling. I will definitely check out future projects they work on.
First I want to say I did enjoy reading the book. Anyone who confuses this with some light little graphic novel is doing the story and the author a disservice, because this sucker is dense in all senses of the word. It is dialogue-heavy with multiple perspective characters giving us a pretty in-depth look into the world it is creating. It's appropriately creepy, not only in concept but in execution. The author's use of color palate is really exceptional and they do a wonderful job at setting up the premise and the major scenes not only with the art but with the script as well. The story is atmospheric, eerie, tender, and extremely genuine.
Where it went a little south for me is in the reveal of Alex's fate. Lots of authors have presented stories where the central line of questioning is "Is this supernatural thing actually happening to our character or is the character just mentally ill?" This is practically a trope, so finding that same question presented here is somewhat familiar ground. What Hello, Sunshine does to distinguish itself is opting to go the route of both - in this case, Alex is experiencing haunting, tormenting demons BECAUSE he is experiencing his first schizophrenic episode but he ALSO is a genuine witch with magic powers he is just learning about. Unfortunately, doing both at the same time is where the story lost me. It's not that I think authors can't find ways to blend mental health disorders with actual magic or supernatural events, I'm just not sure this author is quite seasoned enough yet to pull that off effectively. It felt a little too cute by half.
I should also say that Keezy Young is open about their own mental health diagnosis and it's clear they wrote this story with a ton of sympathy toward Alex as a character going through what he is. There's a sense of wish-fulfillment at play here that I can only assume Young is expressing for themselves. Unfortunately for me, that resulted not in sympathetic characters and a storyline that made me want to know what happened, but instead it turned into an extended period of indulgence. We have characters that, in coddling Alex for his illness-based delusions, are intended to come off as kind and supportive but do so in ways that, in life, would actually be horribly destructive. I may be making too many assumptions here, but it feels like the author saying, "this is how I wish I had been treated when I first began to struggle with my diagnosis" without possibly considering that unconditional support and indulgence in a delusion is not, in fact, healthy for someone experiencing a major health event (even one that could be, in the case of the story, helped along by actual magic and manifested demons).
I can tell that Hello, Sunshine was a deeply personal project for the author. They're still a little green, as evidenced by some flashback sequences not being clearly set up and so the experience of suddenly shifting scenes can leave the reader disoriented. But they have a clear point of view and they're plenty talented at storytelling. I will definitely check out future projects they work on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2026
Horror where the supernatural is real AND a compassionate portrayal of psychosis? Yes, for once we can have both!
January 16, 2026
Spectacular. Give this to the Stranger Things fan in your life. Thoughtfully explores and complicates the historical linkage between mental illness and the supernatural in horror fiction.
Really well paced. The kids feel real, and the dialogue sounds right. The slow burn gives the story enough time to breathe, the mystery to unfold, and for the characters to develop.
The art is solid. Sort of a cross between Tillie Walden and Andrea Sorrentino’s work on Gideon Falls.
Really well paced. The kids feel real, and the dialogue sounds right. The slow burn gives the story enough time to breathe, the mystery to unfold, and for the characters to develop.
The art is solid. Sort of a cross between Tillie Walden and Andrea Sorrentino’s work on Gideon Falls.
June 3, 2025
i believe the message this book is trying to teach is overly important, and people should talk about it, because talking about mental health is not tabbo, it's not a bad thing, and we should normalize not feeling 100% ourselves, withouth feeling guilty. the overall story is important, is powerful.
however, this was impossible to read, and believe me, i tried. every single one of the formats netgalley offers you showed me this graphic novel in the grainiest version possible. i spent the entire time i spent reading this graphic novel squinting my eyes and trying to figure out what the words said.
thank you NG, LBB and keezy young for the arc of hello sunshine!
however, this was impossible to read, and believe me, i tried. every single one of the formats netgalley offers you showed me this graphic novel in the grainiest version possible. i spent the entire time i spent reading this graphic novel squinting my eyes and trying to figure out what the words said.
thank you NG, LBB and keezy young for the arc of hello sunshine!
November 8, 2025
Impeccable mix of spooky, romance, and real mental health experiences
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews