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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, Paperback
First published September 23, 2025
43 people are currently reading
1179 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
November 8, 2025
Impeccable mix of spooky, romance, and real mental health experiences
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!
December 1, 2025
A big big swing — large in page count, narrative density, and thematic ambition. It’s a thorny exploration of mental illness and heritability and family trauma, but crossed with supernatural horror... and for teens!
Now, I'm already familiar with the use of supernatural elements as allegories for psychological situations. And my experience of this book is colored by reading the author’s prior short work Sunflowers , a candid nonfiction comic about their experience as bipolar. What makes this one extra challenging is that it does both — fantasy stuff as allegory for mental illness, AND explicit discussion of mental illness, with both layers coexisting and intersecting at the same time. Reading through it, I sometimes wondered: is that choice narratively self-defeating ("a hat on a hat"), or perhaps an insult to the reality of these disorders and the people who live with them? But by the end I was won over. The book has its cake and eats it too.
It doesn't hurt that Keezy Young is terrific at visual atmosphere — a "real world" that feels grounded and appealing, juxtaposed with truly horrific depictions of mental breakdown. I am not much of a horror fan, but Young may be the most effective artist I've ever seen in demonstrating Lovecraft's insight that losing one's mind is far more frightening than any monster or violent threat. And Young's skill with the comfortable "realistic" scenes, combined with the lengthy story giving us time to get familiar with this world, makes the threat of the climax stronger because we feel what's at stake.
After decades in the comics industry, I so appreciate this reminder that the field still holds plenty of surprises. I never would have predicted such fertile territory to lie at the midpoint of such disparate segments of American comics: Mike Mignola, Raina Telgemeier, Tessa Hulls, Nate Powell, E. M. Carroll, Ngozi Ukazu, etc. That's not to diminish any of Young's accomplishment here, which indeed feels quite personal. As John Russell Taylor's The Art Nouveau Book in Britain recently reminded me, art often evolves when you juxtapose surprising elements of preexisting work and then synthesize/fuse them together.
Now, I'm already familiar with the use of supernatural elements as allegories for psychological situations. And my experience of this book is colored by reading the author’s prior short work Sunflowers , a candid nonfiction comic about their experience as bipolar. What makes this one extra challenging is that it does both — fantasy stuff as allegory for mental illness, AND explicit discussion of mental illness, with both layers coexisting and intersecting at the same time. Reading through it, I sometimes wondered: is that choice narratively self-defeating ("a hat on a hat"), or perhaps an insult to the reality of these disorders and the people who live with them? But by the end I was won over. The book has its cake and eats it too.
It doesn't hurt that Keezy Young is terrific at visual atmosphere — a "real world" that feels grounded and appealing, juxtaposed with truly horrific depictions of mental breakdown. I am not much of a horror fan, but Young may be the most effective artist I've ever seen in demonstrating Lovecraft's insight that losing one's mind is far more frightening than any monster or violent threat. And Young's skill with the comfortable "realistic" scenes, combined with the lengthy story giving us time to get familiar with this world, makes the threat of the climax stronger because we feel what's at stake.
After decades in the comics industry, I so appreciate this reminder that the field still holds plenty of surprises. I never would have predicted such fertile territory to lie at the midpoint of such disparate segments of American comics: Mike Mignola, Raina Telgemeier, Tessa Hulls, Nate Powell, E. M. Carroll, Ngozi Ukazu, etc. That's not to diminish any of Young's accomplishment here, which indeed feels quite personal. As John Russell Taylor's The Art Nouveau Book in Britain recently reminded me, art often evolves when you juxtapose surprising elements of preexisting work and then synthesize/fuse them together.
October 23, 2025
So, this is an unexpected INTENSE and tender read.
I really appreciate how this story is not only a captivating supernatural, horror read but, also, a thoughtful exploration of a young person’s first psychotic episode.
As this author mentions in their end note, there are not a lot of good representations of people with disorders like schizophrenia (schizoaffective)—especially not of young people. Most people experiencing an intense episode for the first time are depicted in media as being violent and uncontrollable. That’s obviously a very damaging portrayal.
Here, this story does a good job of not only portraying Alex’s struggles with compassion and understanding but also of explaining why people don’t seek help sooner or are afraid of reaching out for help. It’s brain chemistry; not a character flaw.
I liked all of that.
More, I appreciate how mental illness is the bogeyman here. There’s ACTUAL magic and spell-casting. Having schizophrenia is not the horror; it’s the feeling of being isolated and unable to ask for help that needs to be overcome—and that requires friends who care and love you enough to be there no matter what.
This is such a good story.
It’s some genuinely good, meaningful storytelling paired with some killer illustrations. There are some horrifying, deeply unsettling scenes in this one.
If you’re a fan of more thoughtful horror stories, I’d definitely recommend checking out this one~
I really appreciate how this story is not only a captivating supernatural, horror read but, also, a thoughtful exploration of a young person’s first psychotic episode.
As this author mentions in their end note, there are not a lot of good representations of people with disorders like schizophrenia (schizoaffective)—especially not of young people. Most people experiencing an intense episode for the first time are depicted in media as being violent and uncontrollable. That’s obviously a very damaging portrayal.
Here, this story does a good job of not only portraying Alex’s struggles with compassion and understanding but also of explaining why people don’t seek help sooner or are afraid of reaching out for help. It’s brain chemistry; not a character flaw.
I liked all of that.
More, I appreciate how mental illness is the bogeyman here. There’s ACTUAL magic and spell-casting. Having schizophrenia is not the horror; it’s the feeling of being isolated and unable to ask for help that needs to be overcome—and that requires friends who care and love you enough to be there no matter what.
This is such a good story.
It’s some genuinely good, meaningful storytelling paired with some killer illustrations. There are some horrifying, deeply unsettling scenes in this one.
If you’re a fan of more thoughtful horror stories, I’d definitely recommend checking out this one~
November 4, 2025
This comic is a goddamn work of art and I'm so blown away by it that I'm going to have to break its greatness down into sections, but before that (and most importantly): the dog lives and everyone is gay.
First, the narrative. Young takes horror tropes, a genre that is often damaging to those with mental illnesses, and repurposes them to make a story that is as horrifying as it is healing. There are moments of violence, but they aren't used as plot points or to make characters seem volatile. All of this would be impressive enough, but it's also quite literally scary in multiple ways. Fear and jump scares can be difficult in a graphic format but this book will have me double checking shadows for weeks.
Second, the art. This comic is a MOOD. These pages would be kickass on their own in black and white but the colors give it a leery haunted vibe. Bright saturated reds and yellows mark scenes where Alex feels happy and safe, then dull and darken into blues and ochres as his mood and mental state change.
Thirdly, the lettering. If Young doesn't get an Eisner nomination I will be BEREFT. Each character has their own font style, voices in Alex’s head chorus across wallpapers and out of paintings and through windows, it's the most impressive lettering I've seen all year.
This book deals with mental issues so lovingly, with a horror story that switches to a found family story so fast that it'll replace the shivers down your spine with tears. 10/10 recommend.
First, the narrative. Young takes horror tropes, a genre that is often damaging to those with mental illnesses, and repurposes them to make a story that is as horrifying as it is healing. There are moments of violence, but they aren't used as plot points or to make characters seem volatile. All of this would be impressive enough, but it's also quite literally scary in multiple ways. Fear and jump scares can be difficult in a graphic format but this book will have me double checking shadows for weeks.
Second, the art. This comic is a MOOD. These pages would be kickass on their own in black and white but the colors give it a leery haunted vibe. Bright saturated reds and yellows mark scenes where Alex feels happy and safe, then dull and darken into blues and ochres as his mood and mental state change.
Thirdly, the lettering. If Young doesn't get an Eisner nomination I will be BEREFT. Each character has their own font style, voices in Alex’s head chorus across wallpapers and out of paintings and through windows, it's the most impressive lettering I've seen all year.
This book deals with mental issues so lovingly, with a horror story that switches to a found family story so fast that it'll replace the shivers down your spine with tears. 10/10 recommend.
January 29, 2026
I’ve never read a graphic novel quite like this — it surprised me, in the best way possible.
Metaphor in fiction can be so powerful. Keezy Young used supernatural and horror elements to represent psychosis, and to emphasize the real danger behind mental health crises. I think that many authors would have presented this metaphor as something that could be defeated in the end, but Young made a deliberate point that mental illness is not a demon that can be killed. There is no magical cure, no final boss to defeat, because mental illness is a lifelong condition — you can hopefully find tools, support, and understanding people to try to make the journey easier, but it is never over, and I love that this doesn’t try to pretend it is.
I so appreciate the message of this story — which was incredibly poignant and moving — but I also loved the art, the scruffy little gang of misfits, the mystery and horror elements, the multiple POV chapters, and the humour sprinkled throughout. This had many heartwarming moments, and a beautiful chosen family theme. Most of all, I loved the bestest girl in the entire world, Cass! 🐕
Metaphor in fiction can be so powerful. Keezy Young used supernatural and horror elements to represent psychosis, and to emphasize the real danger behind mental health crises. I think that many authors would have presented this metaphor as something that could be defeated in the end, but Young made a deliberate point that mental illness is not a demon that can be killed. There is no magical cure, no final boss to defeat, because mental illness is a lifelong condition — you can hopefully find tools, support, and understanding people to try to make the journey easier, but it is never over, and I love that this doesn’t try to pretend it is.
I so appreciate the message of this story — which was incredibly poignant and moving — but I also loved the art, the scruffy little gang of misfits, the mystery and horror elements, the multiple POV chapters, and the humour sprinkled throughout. This had many heartwarming moments, and a beautiful chosen family theme. Most of all, I loved the bestest girl in the entire world, Cass! 🐕
January 10, 2026
Wow. Just wow. The first part of this book, up until Alex's solo chapter, was good but just good, nothing more. Then Alex's chapter came and it blew me away. I forgot I was even reading, every single thing about that one chapter was captivating. And the rest of the novel afterwards just increased how I felt about this book.
I will say here to start with, I have very little first hand experience with someone experiencing psychosis. I was only a child when I experienced a loved one with psychosis, I didn't understand it and I was shielded from most of it. So most of what I know comes from media; but this was the greatest understanding of schizophrenia I have ever seen. The author's note at the end is very important and shouldn't be skipped, and it explains more about the reasoning and choices made in this book.
I'll be thinking about this one for a long time, as well as buying myself a physical copy. Wonderful story, though if you're to check this out, make sure you're able to handle a serious depiction of severe mental illness.
I will say here to start with, I have very little first hand experience with someone experiencing psychosis. I was only a child when I experienced a loved one with psychosis, I didn't understand it and I was shielded from most of it. So most of what I know comes from media; but this was the greatest understanding of schizophrenia I have ever seen. The author's note at the end is very important and shouldn't be skipped, and it explains more about the reasoning and choices made in this book.
I'll be thinking about this one for a long time, as well as buying myself a physical copy. Wonderful story, though if you're to check this out, make sure you're able to handle a serious depiction of severe mental illness.
December 28, 2025
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Favorite Character: Alex, followed by Noah and then Jamie
Favorite Part: The Epilogue, when Alex is back in the real world and happy for the most part.
Thoughts: What a delightful portrayal of mental illness and how horror media can affect the mental health issues someone is already having!!! I really resonanted with this, not in the exact way someone with Schizophrenia or Psychosis would, but as a mentally ill person who does experience hallucinations and voices, this felt very genuine, without being harmful!!! I loved this and actually read it slower because I wanted to get more out of it!!! All in all, if you want good representation of mental illness in horror media, I would highly recommend this for you!!!
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Favorite Character: Alex, followed by Noah and then Jamie
Favorite Part: The Epilogue, when Alex is back in the real world and happy for the most part.
Thoughts: What a delightful portrayal of mental illness and how horror media can affect the mental health issues someone is already having!!! I really resonanted with this, not in the exact way someone with Schizophrenia or Psychosis would, but as a mentally ill person who does experience hallucinations and voices, this felt very genuine, without being harmful!!! I loved this and actually read it slower because I wanted to get more out of it!!! All in all, if you want good representation of mental illness in horror media, I would highly recommend this for you!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2025
Heartfelt, scary, and beautifully illustrated, Hello Sunshine is the best sort of catharsis horror can offer while also not letting the genre off the hook. The way we examine and filter our fears can have unexpected consequences—not just for us, but tremendous collateral damage. This was a very, very good deconstruction, all while still being a love letter to horror.
The characters were wonderfully written, and I feel as if I’ve known echoes of them through my life—within myself, as well. It’s good shit.
And I cannot tell you how delighted a certain twist made me. 🐈⬛
(Also, Alex is right: I hate the word ochre.)
I recommend pairing Hello Sunshine with two other of Keezy Young’s comics: Sunflowers and Just Going for a Walk. Both are short, so check them out.
The characters were wonderfully written, and I feel as if I’ve known echoes of them through my life—within myself, as well. It’s good shit.
And I cannot tell you how delighted a certain twist made me. 🐈⬛
(Also, Alex is right: I hate the word ochre.)
I recommend pairing Hello Sunshine with two other of Keezy Young’s comics: Sunflowers and Just Going for a Walk. Both are short, so check them out.
October 11, 2025
this was really intense but really wonderful as well. a very well thought out and complex depiction of schizophrenia and what happens when you also have magic. horror, fantasy, small romance, friendship, mystery. i loved the use of different povs (very rare in graphic novels) and the art was spectacular. really great and varied rep, great characters with really strong/complex relationships with each other, their families, and the world. so much happened in this book and i was here for all of it. almost cried and very glad i read this one!
also just the best dog ever!!!
also just the best dog ever!!!
November 16, 2025
Loved it - very well done graphic novel with a charming cast of characters and strong message from lived experience. Art was sick, I love the overall vibe. Also not sure if it's intentional but the lack of eye whites in the art style seems like a scooby doo reference to me, which fits considering this mystery solving teens and a dog premise.
I have some nitpicks, but they didn't impact the reading experience for me.
I have some nitpicks, but they didn't impact the reading experience for me.
December 14, 2025
One of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read, and one that handles mental illness so well. This book expertly combines a delicate portrayal of mental illness with the supernatural (without making it a metaphor - two things can exist at the same time). The art style is phenomenal, both modern and drawing on classic comic styles. Also, the diversity and the way it is portrayed in this story is so well done.
Definitely pick up if you are a fan of horror comics or supernatural mysteries akin to Twin Peaks or Stranger Things. Also, you know what, I’m going to say it - Scooby Doo. Do yourself a favor and go in knowing nothing and follow our intrepid group of friends.
Definitely pick up if you are a fan of horror comics or supernatural mysteries akin to Twin Peaks or Stranger Things. Also, you know what, I’m going to say it - Scooby Doo. Do yourself a favor and go in knowing nothing and follow our intrepid group of friends.
January 28, 2026
What an amazing book. The art was beautiful and quite creepy at some times. The characters were all great. I really like how they handled mental illness in this. How everyone treated Alex later on in the book was really excellent, where they really tried to understand how he was feeling even if they couldn't see or understand what he was talking about. I found myself reading this really slowly to appreciate all of the little nuances in the artwork.
December 19, 2025
This book is heartbreakingly beautiful in it's art, scary and unnerving, but most of all it's about love and hope and not giving up and how hard that is. I'm so happy I happened upon the authors art and went along from there.
December 30, 2025
This is the best I've ever seen mental illness framed in a fantasy setting.
There's an extremely vivid depiction of what having a psychotic episode is like, as well as great examples of how to help a friend in its throes. Honestly they should chuck this in every classroom and school library.
There's an extremely vivid depiction of what having a psychotic episode is like, as well as great examples of how to help a friend in its throes. Honestly they should chuck this in every classroom and school library.
December 24, 2025
This is probably one of the best graphic novels I've ever read. Heavy as sh*t, but outstanding nonetheless.
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.
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