Improve: How I Discovered Improv and Conquered Social Anxiety

by Alex Graudins

A graphic memoir for teens about the author's efforts to overcome her social anxiety by learning improv comedy.

Alex has crippling social anxiety. All day long, she is trapped in a web of negative thoughts and paralyzing fear. To pull herself free of this endless cycle, Alex does something truly terrifying: she signs up for an improv comedy class. By forcing herself to play silly games and act out ridiculous scenes, Alex confronts the unbearable weight of embarrassment, makes new friends, rediscovers parts of herself that she'd hidden away, and ultimately faces her greatest fear by performing onstage for all to see.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Memoir, Nonfiction, Comics, Mental Health, Biography, Adult

240 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2022

About the author

Alex Graudins is a cartoonist and illustrator currently living in Rhode Island. She is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts' cartooning class of 2016.

Reviews

[Courtney Floyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reviewer was given a copy of the book by the publisher on NetGalley.
TLDR: Strong protagonist with lackluster secondary characters, lots of focus on improv games and anxiety but loses a bit of the memoir aspect, confusing demographic because of juvenile art style with post-college graduate main character

Improve is a mix of memoir and informative nonfiction about improvisational theater. Alex delves into her life with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and at the same time, describes various improv methods and games she played during her improv classes. This book was well-written, and I enjoyed the game descriptions, though I wish the author would have focused more on Alex and her relationships with the others in her class. The games were fun to learn about, but the characters surrounding Alex felt one-dimensional. Their dialogue all sounded the same, and none of them felt like they could have lives outside of improv class.

Many graphic memoirs focus on anxiety and have a similar cartoon look to their illustrations. Unlike Guts by Raina Telgemeier and Real Friends by Shannon Hale, this book is not meant for children. The title is tagged as YA, but the target demographic can be confusing. Because the illustrations are similar to the above mentioned authors, many people would assume this to be a children's book. On the other hand, the character lends very few pages to her childhood or even teen years. Most of the books takes place after Alex has graduated college and is living with her parents again. Most teens would not relate to this experience, even if they are able to relate to the anxiety portion.

Improve is an enjoyable book with a solid main character. Alex sums up GAD with simple illustrations allowing the reader to visualize her feelings. I would recommend this book for new adults who don't know where they belong, anyone interested in theater (especially improvisational), or someone looking to get outside their comfort zone.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, funny, and thoughtful read that got me off social media and back into reading during the weekday.

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[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fairly decent graphic memoir about using improvisational comedy as a way to confront and mend cycles of anxiety and depression loses me when it gets bogged down in showing every single improv exercise the author ever did with re-enactments of scenes she found most memorable. All the improv comes at the expense of seeing how she is handling daily life and interacting with people outside the improv class. She lives with her parents, for instance, but they are barely there non-entities. Heck, even her improv classmates are little more than their names.

In the end it comes off as more an improv textbook than a personal story.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun memoir about social anxiety, believe it or not. Graudins is quite perceptive and honest, and the improv stuff is really interesting. She actually had me more than halfway interested in actually doing improv myself for a few pages, which is pretty impressive considering my own level of introversion.

[Isabella Basile · Rating 5 out of 5]

i had the privilege of tabling with alex at a local con recently and she is the loveliest person alive. i loved loved loved this memoir! it definitely hit close to home as a recent college grad with social anxiety trying to adjust to life with her parents. highly recommended!

[Deborah Zeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great message relayed in this book: it’s ok to fail forward. The memoir part of the story was good, learning about how the author overcame paralyzing social anxiety through improv. Kind of felt like an “improv for dummies” book. Definitely geared towards an older audience.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was an aspiring theater kid. I took extracurricular classes until high school. My high school had some very good arts programs and a lot of people did theater and band and/or choir. One year at Thespian conference someone from our class won a full scholarship to film school in LA. I paid my dues to work my way up from stage crew to being a weak dancer in the chorus to having a couple of speaking lines before quitting forever. I also played a lot of music until I graduated high school. At that point in my life there was this kind of cascade of realization that a), my natural level of talent was middling at best and I was not pretty enough to get the roles I really wanted, and, b), I wasn’t dedicated enough to the craft of either of these things to put in the real work it would take to seriously pursue them.

The point is: A lot of this book brought back memories for me. But because the book centers on anxiety most of them were cringe-y ones that still haunt me.

I did enjoy this book. And obviously it was a memoir and it did relatably and deeply examine anxiety. And even though Graudins did a great job of showing why the improv exercises were relevant to battling anxiety, the litany of exercises did start to get a little fatiguing. Really kind of a quibble because obviously this book resonated with me on a pretty deep level.

[alanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Fierce Reads for the ARC!

When did I start hiding this goofball part of me? Whatever the reason, I was happy to see her again.

Improve is a graphic novel about Alex, a woman with a generalized anxiety disorder and struggles especially in social situations because of anxiety. One day, she discovers the world of improv, and starts to realize maybe she can fit in and find people that like her for who she is.

As someone who has anxiety, I found this book to be very inspiring! I’ve tried improv exercises in theatre classes before, and I still don’t think it’s for me, but I did like the idea of finding something that has a similar effect. I really liked the end of the novel that tied into one of the improv exercises Alex had tried. I would recommend this to anyone else who has anxiety and would like to find something to help ease it a little.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good mental rep story and I love graphic novels and this was BOTH!! If we're being honest, I came in skeptical. I was worried this might be an ableist "the way my brain is is problematic and I did CBT in a cute improv style program and now I'm cured" story, but it's NOT! YAY! Thank you, Alex Graudins for an honest story about anxiety, depression, therapy, meds, and lifestyle choices that contribute to wellness (including our life long need to play and be silly and normalizing the ebb and flow of periodsof intensity and adapting approaches to mental halth care accordingly). Bonus: examples of tons of improv games that I now want to try! Friends, I'm looking at you, so get ready, haha!

[Michelle Skelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightfully told, beautifully illustrated, nice little story. I thought all the insight to improv was interesting, but I enjoyed her own personal journey more than the lessons on performance. Overall, I absolutely loved how the author normalized that it is difficult to fit into a group, find your place, and creating your own happiness is a continual journey.

[Alison M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relatable as a person who is learning to manage social anxiety. I am curious to try improv for fun and to learn a new skill. And who knows, maybe it will help a little.

While I enjoyed reading about all the exercises and games they did in class, sometimes it slowed the pacing of the book a little too much.

[Summer Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable and relatable graphic novel.

[Juju · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a very honest, vulnerable, and cleverly illustrated book. This author’s clearly got a lot of talent and courage. Highly recommend!

[Hesbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very vulnerable and real.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and FirstSecond Books for allowing me early ARC access to this book.

It took me a bit to finish this book. I’m not sure if it was because it really hit home for me or that life just got in the way, or maybe a little column A and a little of column B. But I really feel like this book resonated with me in a big way. I really felt Alex’s story and experiences with social anxiety. I know I struggle with many of the same issues and have a lot of the same dialogue going through my head all. the. time. I can really appreciate how she managed to work through many of the ongoing issues.

I feel like this is a book that could benefit my students, and it will be going on my fall list to buy!

[Great Books]

A graphic memoir sharing the author’s journey with anxiety and how an improv comedy class fueled self-discovery and empowered her to confront her fears.
Reviewer #6

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, hard to review this one. I think that I was expecting more memoir than instructional manual on improv. And that is very much a shame, because the artwork is lovely and the story parts of this are insightful and help to shed light on anxiety and coping with anxiety in a very real way. But I found that the many pages taken up with different improv techniques really detracted from the memoir and story. I get that it was a book about how she discovered improv, but the meat was really in the social anxiety portion of the book which got set to the side.

If you want to know about improv, then this is the book for you. If you want to read it because you like Graudins's other work and enjoy a graphic memoir, it's not a bad read and you can probably burn through it faster if you skip a lot of the improv pages which take up about half the book.

All in all, it was good. Just not what I was expecting. And it took me a long time to finish as a result. I kept getting bogged down in the improv and needing a brain break.

[Meghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me there were way too many descriptions of different improv theater exercises. I liked the art and thought the parts about social anxiety were well done, but this never came together. Also the note about the end about whiteness and racism in improv could have been added into the main part of the book as it was way more interesting than the preponderance of improv exercise descriptions, and I definitely noted a lack of racial diversity in the people depicted in the memoir. Curious what people with a theater or drama or improv background would think of this.

[Syntaxx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miigweetch NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a graphic novel personal memoir about a girl named Alex who struggles with social anxiety in young adulthood. After moving back in with her parents after college, Alex joins a local improv class in hopes of combating her anxiety, which has become fairly debilitating by this point in her life.

I admit to being a person who cringes at the mention of improv and I have absolutely ghosted every person who has ever invited me to watch their improv show (sorry pals if you’re reading this), which is why reading about how the art form helped someone in a positive way intrigued me. My main caveat with the story, and my reason for rating it three stars, is that this is advertised as being a book for teens, which I disagree with. Most of the action takes place with the main character as a young adult, and there is only a quick mention about Alex’s time in high school. I don’t think this story will resonate with teens simply because so many of Alex’s life experiences, and her struggles, are ahead of them developmentally.

The art is cute, cartoonish and simple. I liked how it was illustrated and found the panels easy to follow. I would have liked to see more of Alex’s peer relationships within the class developed; the middle of the book felt like a list of improv games, which while informative, wasn’t exactly the narrative I was looking for based on the back cover blurb.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Graudins has always been anxious, particularly when it comes to social interactions. While she found ways to cope in high school and college, the looming possibilities of post-college life left her feeling depressed and (even more) anxious. She had been interested in improv comedy for years, but never took the plunge until she saw a local group perform. Her therapist also suggested it as a way to build up her confidence. Finally, Alex signed up for a beginner's class and over time, her life did improve. Eventually, her improv classmates become like a second family and Alex gets a bit better at accepting failure, making small talk, and having thoughtful interactions in social situations. Alex shows the reader a plethora of improv techniques and games, framing her own reactions and struggles within them. I enjoyed learning more about improv, although there were moments when it seemed like these improv scenes were taking over the plot. As someone who has struggled a lot with anxiety and depression, I related to many of Alex's stories. There were quotes and pages that I shared with others because I found them so relatable. It was both relieving and terrifying to see myself in this story. I would recommend this to folks with an interest in improv, graphic novel fans, or those, like me, that have a history with anxiety.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel memoir of the author/illustrator’s experience living with anxiety and how she upon a recommendation from her therapist turned to improv classes after college to help her socialize and face some of her fears. She shares many of the things she learned in improv, the experiences she had, how it didn’t “fix” her anxiety, but how it did help in some ways.

I learned a whole lot about improv and different improv techniques/practices from this. In fact, a huge chunk of the book really reads like a crash course in improv with specific memories thrown in. I appreciate the author’s willingness to share her experiences with mental health issues and improv. It was brave of her to do so, and I think will also help those who also struggle with mental health, especially anxiety issues, to see that they aren’t the only ones.

Notes on content [based on the ARC]: 2-3 minor swears. No sex scenes. There’s a scene with the author on a toilet (tactfully drawn) and another in sports-style underwear. The author talks candidly about struggles with depression and anxiety and negative self talk that goes through her head. Some scenes with casual drinking. An improv sketch included a character that does drugs.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this autobiographical comic memoir, Rhode Island author Alex Graudins shares her experience with anxiety and how improv helped her face her fears to become stronger. With colorful panels, expressive details, and a remarkable ability to capture a sense of place, Graudins relates her journey through school to the dreaded world beyond where she lands in a strange state called Rhode Island, marooned with her parents. The best parts of the books were the memoir sections where the author portrays self-doubt complicated by the need to please. When the author introduces improv, the story gets weighed down by too many details about the sketches performed. Details about improv exercises and activities are valuable, but would be better relocated to a separate section. I worry that some readers may not get through these details to realize the author’s success which is not necessarily that she was able to conquer anxiety with improv but to understand that there are tools that can help with mental health and that success is a journey.

[Melissa Orth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Graudins shares her painful experiences with anxiety and depression and how she got into improv as a way to cope, perhaps even overcome these mental battles. She shares a lot about improv techniques and her inner struggles. Not much else about her life is divulged so sometimes the narrative can get repetitive. The descriptions of social anxiety and depression are, as mentioned, painful to read as I have felt the exact same way or thought the same thoughts as she has. However the improv doesn’t have quite the same impact. Graudins admits it’s hard to convey some of the acting and singing techniques in comic form but there are several “guess you had to have been there” moments that break the fun theater vibe. Helpful for people who may not have ever experienced anxiety and definitely of interest if readers want to know more about improv (she addresses several types and the way troupes are historically misogynistic and white) but as a memoir, I wanted to know more about her personally. I hope she writes something fictional at some point.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Improve: How I Discovered Improv and Conquered Social Anxiety is so many things! It's an autobiography of author/illustrator Alex Graudins' experiences with anxiety and improv, a how-to on basic improv exercises, and an inspiration!

While graphic memoir focuses on time spent post-college taking improv classes and living with her parents, it's geared towards young adults. Teen readers (especially ones with anxiety) will relate to the struggle to put yourself out there, imposter syndrome, and fear of failure.

The conversations around social anxiety are especially important after school closures due to COVID-19. Having worked with teens pre-, during, and post-closures, it's clear many need more practice and exposure to social interactions and talking to new people. This graphic memoir provides great ideas on breaking down barriers and encouraging interaction through improv, which is especially helpful for individuals who work with youth and new adults.

[Liva's reading antics · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opening and encouraging graphic novel memoir about living life with generalized anxiety disorder.

The author opens up about her fears and wrestles while proceeding with everyday life. She talks about earlier years, university time, and grown-up life after graduating. Each period of life brings different struggles, but the narrative is the same - self-doubt, fear, and overthinking rule her life.

In this graphic novel, the author tells how she benefited from discovering improv. Practicing improv helped her to overcome fears and move along in her life with anxiety. She starts to feel that there is a place where she can fit in and find a friendship that lasts through all challenges.

I think this graphic novel is a superb representation of anxiety. In addition, it shows in a lot of detail what improv is. If you are interested in any of these topics, pick this up!

Thanks to @netgalley, the author and publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my review!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I picked up this book but it was pretty good. I gave it 3 out 5 stars because in my head it wasn't anything special. There were some points of the story where I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again. However this wasn't always a bad thing because it was kind of cool to see all of the different improv games that Alex got to learn and play. As far as the storyline of the book goes, I wasn't quite sure if I really enjoyed it. It was a memoir in graphic novel form and that was okay but at some points I grew bored of the book. I stuck through though, and in the end enjoyed the message of the story. I also really enjoyed the little other "Alex" who gave all of the negative comments displaying the social anxiety. I felt as though that was a great way to show the social anxiety. Overall, this was a pretty good book in graphic novel format that describes Alex's real life and social anxiety throughout her life.

[Matt Glaviano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both of my kids liked this more than I did. And they're more the audience of it than I am - so keep that in mind.

I didn't feel like this book could decide what it wanted to be. It's a fairly good memoir (if a bit long), and a surprisingly good compendium of improv games. But combining the two doesn't really do either aspect any favors.

Not entirely clear on intended audience. The characters are drawn in a style that looks like a juvenile/teen graphic novel... but the narrator (who is nearly the youngest character in the book) is post-college and making friends with other adults.

Ultimately, while I enjoyed the book, I'm not sure it made it's point too well. While I can see how the author was benefited by learning improv, they certainly didn't - as the title states - "conquer" anything. Not that the author thinks that - maybe the title just oversells it. But it sorta sets you up for a different narrative than what you get.

[Sam - Read & Buried · Rating 4 out of 5]

Improve is a graphic memoir that takes the reader on a journey through the author's experience with anxiety, and how improv classes helped them. While this is a book marketed to teens, as an adult dealing with anxiety, there's a lot that an older audience can gain from this read, too. The artwork is fantastic and captures emotion wonderfully, which is important considering the subject matter. Most importantly, though, Graudins outlines numerous exercises for readers to do without requiring formalized classes, which is a fantastic way to break down barriers to access: not every teen has access to a local or school theatre, and this book puts those exercises directly in their hands and tells them that they can do it, too.

Thank you to First Second and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Improve is such a powerful tool. It is not one that many openly are willing to try, or even think will be useful to them, but for Alex improve opened up doors that they never expected to be opened. This is a lovely book showing how someone who is riddled with anxiety and never feeling like they could fit in is able to find a place where they were slowly able to open up and slowly learn that their anxiety was not always founded. This book does such a great job of highlighting different improve exercises, the struggles that one might think they are the only one dealing with, and also showing that it is okay to step outside your comfort zone. Improve doesn’t always mean you have to be perfect. In fact, many times you will think that you are failing, yet those watching it are receiving it in a totally different light. Such great book highlighting something so many people would never dream of doing. Improve is a powerful tool. Thank you so much to First Second Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have liked more of a memoir, such as how social anxiety manifests for the author and how it presents in certain situations. Instead this was 95% explaining and giving directions for improv exercises, and examples of what the author's class came up with when they did the exercises. It was informative if I ever plan on taking an improv class, but I wouldn't necessarily pick up a graphic novel for that information first. The title irks me, "How I Discovered Improv and Conquered Social Anxiety", as the ending didn't really have a resolution other than saying social anxiety is something to work on life long, and the improv classes were over. There was no "conquering" or even good follow through with showing lessons in improv helping in real life situations.