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Lavender Clouds
With a beautiful art style and a swift sense of humor, Lavender Clouds is breakthrough work from a leading voice in mental health comics.
Eisner Award nominated author Bex Ollerton—known as @Schnumn to her thousands of followers—is a talented comic artist who feels energized and courageous on some days and exhausted and emotionally depleted on others. In Lavender Clouds, she translates her experiences with autism, ADHD, and mental health into a series of colorful, emotionally resonant comics that tell stories of neurodiversity and resilience.
With a tone that is sharp but always sensitive, this debut book collection describes the many insights and strategies the author has learned on her journey to self-acceptance. Among the many topics addressed in the book are the folly of "foolproof" organization strategies, the perils of burnout, the joy of small hopes, and the importance of growing at your own pace and on your own path.
Breathtaking in its artistic range and emotional truth, Lavender Clouds offers an enlightening and uplifting read for anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, or other issues.
Eisner Award nominated author Bex Ollerton—known as @Schnumn to her thousands of followers—is a talented comic artist who feels energized and courageous on some days and exhausted and emotionally depleted on others. In Lavender Clouds, she translates her experiences with autism, ADHD, and mental health into a series of colorful, emotionally resonant comics that tell stories of neurodiversity and resilience.
With a tone that is sharp but always sensitive, this debut book collection describes the many insights and strategies the author has learned on her journey to self-acceptance. Among the many topics addressed in the book are the folly of "foolproof" organization strategies, the perils of burnout, the joy of small hopes, and the importance of growing at your own pace and on your own path.
Breathtaking in its artistic range and emotional truth, Lavender Clouds offers an enlightening and uplifting read for anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, or other issues.
144 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2024
40 people are currently reading
906 people want to read
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July 27, 2024
Overthinking and burnout? Who, me? Lavender Clouds from graphic novelist Bex Ollerton, aka Schnumn, is a gorgeously illustrated and gracefully vulnerable look at life with neurodivergence. Moving through an open and heartfelt look at her own struggles, anxieties and inner discourse on issues of mental health this is, much like Ollerton’s previous work Sensory: Life on the Spectrum, not necessarily a self-help book but more a memoir that manages to be rather comforting to those who might happen to feel seen and understood by Ollerton’s depiction as well as an excellent insight into neurodivergence for those hoping for experiential accounts. Touching upon topics around productivity, burnout, interpersonal communications, self worth, depression, anxiety and more, Ollerton takes the reader through some fairly heavy and dark subject matter while her adorable artwork infused with plenty of humor keeps it from descending too much into darkness. An excellent and insightful book, Lavender Clouds really spoke to me, made me spend some time considering my own mental health, and was a rather rewarding read.
I find the graphic novel format to be a rather excellent medium for memoir and other information-based topics as a method of presenting it in a fun and accessible fashion. Ollerton has an excellent use of space and framing, balancing the art with the text in a way that allows it to be decently text heavy without feeling like it is burdening the pacing or page. The use of color is really well done with rather soft, pleasing palette choices that feel comforting to look at coupled with the rather dreamy art style (a lot of it reminds me of like…the sort of images that people use to accompany “lofi relax” playlists on youtube). It’s a great use of visual literacy and plays into a lot of self-deprecating humor in ways that is rather enlightening and carries a lot of emotional resonance. Ollerton’s ability to shift styles while maintaining an overall aesthetic is quite impressive, and the style shifts occur frequently to give each section its own unique feel and compliment the intended emotional impact while still feeling rather cohesive.
Reading this helped me to assess a lot of my own life in ways that I found very comforting and I suspect many will feel quite seen by these pages. It does tend toward the more frustrating aspects of trying to process the world around you and can be rather heavy, but it also reminds you how much your feelings are valid and you are not alone in feeling them. As Ollerton writes ‘the sky doesn’t need to be clear to be beautiful’ and this book can feel quite empowering and enable you to embrace yourself even in the darker aspects. The use of humor helps, and I frequently was able to laugh at myself when I saw issues I know I struggle with reflected on the page. Particularly in terms of overworking, burnout, and task avoidance:
Attacked…
Burnout is real and heaping work upon work with the best of intentions of actually doing it will speed you to that edge. I felt very seen by this segment, particularly considering periods of extreme productivity that rotate with periods of utter inability to force yourself to do anything. As someone with some pretty high functioning ADHD, I definitely feel this and how having so much to do not only disrupts my executive function but in the rare moments of time where you aren’t being directed by work or the needs of others it is impossible to just relax or decide to do something I want to do. As she writes, you can be ‘so overworked I don’t know how to take a break anymore.’ YEP. I also really resonated with the section on how ‘I don’t want to be constantly available,’ and the constant stream of the attention economy demanding your focus be pulled in endless ways gets exhausting. In a job that requires this all day every day it can be difficult to relax even off the clock because I feel I never am allowed to prioritize even my own thoughts without feeling obligated to bend my attention elsewhere. This section was a great reminder to stop and think about that.
Also attacked…
I really enjoyed Ollerton’s discussions on the spiral of anxiety leading to avoidance leading to shame and so on, something I frequently feel (like…maybe right now thinking about the emails I need to send…). It is a good reminder how one will often internalize everything and heap shame and self-frustration onto themselves in ways that people may not understand. This is particularly frustrating when, as Ollerton explains, so much of public presentation is trying to appear “normal,” stressing over every interaction and judging oneself which can be exhausting though others are likely unaware what is going on under the surface. It is all a good reminder for empathy and understanding and to consider that others have a lot of inner turmoil we cannot see so give people more grace and care. Which shouldn’t have to be said but just be kind to others. In this way Ollerton also discusses boundaries and how frustrating it can be when simply trying to respect your own boundaries can upset others who believe simply having boundaries is a personal attack on them. ‘Disrespecting my boundaries says more about you than it does about me,’ Ollerton writes, which is important to keep in mind when one is made to feel shame over simply trying to have boundaries. There is also some good discussion on avoiding the shame placed by toxic positivity, such as, she writes ‘the implication that people are depressed because they aren’t grateful enough is dismissive, reductive and harmful’
Lavender Clouds is a lovely little read. It isn’t something that has answers necessarily, but it is a great look at processing the feelings and sorting them in your own head. Giving space to your feelings and allowing yourself to recognize them as valid is already a huge step. This is also quite accessible and great for both teens and adults. Short but informative, heavy but comforting, this was a rewarding read.
4/5
I find the graphic novel format to be a rather excellent medium for memoir and other information-based topics as a method of presenting it in a fun and accessible fashion. Ollerton has an excellent use of space and framing, balancing the art with the text in a way that allows it to be decently text heavy without feeling like it is burdening the pacing or page. The use of color is really well done with rather soft, pleasing palette choices that feel comforting to look at coupled with the rather dreamy art style (a lot of it reminds me of like…the sort of images that people use to accompany “lofi relax” playlists on youtube). It’s a great use of visual literacy and plays into a lot of self-deprecating humor in ways that is rather enlightening and carries a lot of emotional resonance. Ollerton’s ability to shift styles while maintaining an overall aesthetic is quite impressive, and the style shifts occur frequently to give each section its own unique feel and compliment the intended emotional impact while still feeling rather cohesive.
Reading this helped me to assess a lot of my own life in ways that I found very comforting and I suspect many will feel quite seen by these pages. It does tend toward the more frustrating aspects of trying to process the world around you and can be rather heavy, but it also reminds you how much your feelings are valid and you are not alone in feeling them. As Ollerton writes ‘the sky doesn’t need to be clear to be beautiful’ and this book can feel quite empowering and enable you to embrace yourself even in the darker aspects. The use of humor helps, and I frequently was able to laugh at myself when I saw issues I know I struggle with reflected on the page. Particularly in terms of overworking, burnout, and task avoidance:
Attacked…
Burnout is real and heaping work upon work with the best of intentions of actually doing it will speed you to that edge. I felt very seen by this segment, particularly considering periods of extreme productivity that rotate with periods of utter inability to force yourself to do anything. As someone with some pretty high functioning ADHD, I definitely feel this and how having so much to do not only disrupts my executive function but in the rare moments of time where you aren’t being directed by work or the needs of others it is impossible to just relax or decide to do something I want to do. As she writes, you can be ‘so overworked I don’t know how to take a break anymore.’ YEP. I also really resonated with the section on how ‘I don’t want to be constantly available,’ and the constant stream of the attention economy demanding your focus be pulled in endless ways gets exhausting. In a job that requires this all day every day it can be difficult to relax even off the clock because I feel I never am allowed to prioritize even my own thoughts without feeling obligated to bend my attention elsewhere. This section was a great reminder to stop and think about that.
Also attacked…
I really enjoyed Ollerton’s discussions on the spiral of anxiety leading to avoidance leading to shame and so on, something I frequently feel (like…maybe right now thinking about the emails I need to send…). It is a good reminder how one will often internalize everything and heap shame and self-frustration onto themselves in ways that people may not understand. This is particularly frustrating when, as Ollerton explains, so much of public presentation is trying to appear “normal,” stressing over every interaction and judging oneself which can be exhausting though others are likely unaware what is going on under the surface. It is all a good reminder for empathy and understanding and to consider that others have a lot of inner turmoil we cannot see so give people more grace and care. Which shouldn’t have to be said but just be kind to others. In this way Ollerton also discusses boundaries and how frustrating it can be when simply trying to respect your own boundaries can upset others who believe simply having boundaries is a personal attack on them. ‘Disrespecting my boundaries says more about you than it does about me,’ Ollerton writes, which is important to keep in mind when one is made to feel shame over simply trying to have boundaries. There is also some good discussion on avoiding the shame placed by toxic positivity, such as, she writes ‘the implication that people are depressed because they aren’t grateful enough is dismissive, reductive and harmful’
Lavender Clouds is a lovely little read. It isn’t something that has answers necessarily, but it is a great look at processing the feelings and sorting them in your own head. Giving space to your feelings and allowing yourself to recognize them as valid is already a huge step. This is also quite accessible and great for both teens and adults. Short but informative, heavy but comforting, this was a rewarding read.
4/5
June 23, 2024
this pretty little comic collection feels very much born out of 2020. the struggle of everyday depression and anxiety, magnified and distorted by the isolation of quarantine.
i really appreciate the way ollerton presents herself in this book. she makes art about being neurodivergent and mentally ill, and also makes it soft and pretty purple and pleasing to the eye. her art style is adorable, and it's really nice to see dark and lonely moments portrayed in such a lovely way.
some reviewers are critical of the bleakness of the book, but i'm glad ollerton didn't sugarcoat anything here. it's a picture of a person who is struggling every day to find hope in the hopelessness, light in the darkness. i see someone who is trying.
if you are someone who shares similar struggles to ollerton's, i would be mindful of finding the right time to read this book, as it could bring you down. but it may also be a balm, reminding us we are not alone. kudos to ollerton for being so real.
💜💜💜
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
i really appreciate the way ollerton presents herself in this book. she makes art about being neurodivergent and mentally ill, and also makes it soft and pretty purple and pleasing to the eye. her art style is adorable, and it's really nice to see dark and lonely moments portrayed in such a lovely way.
some reviewers are critical of the bleakness of the book, but i'm glad ollerton didn't sugarcoat anything here. it's a picture of a person who is struggling every day to find hope in the hopelessness, light in the darkness. i see someone who is trying.
if you are someone who shares similar struggles to ollerton's, i would be mindful of finding the right time to read this book, as it could bring you down. but it may also be a balm, reminding us we are not alone. kudos to ollerton for being so real.
💜💜💜
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
April 30, 2024
At first I liked this book. I am neuro divergent and could relate to what was being said. However it only focused on the negative and after a while it started to not only drag on and get repetitive but also make me depressed and anxious. I wish some of the positive aspects had been shown and/or the book had been shorter. I got an advanced readers copy from net galley but my opinion is my own.
October 28, 2024
I feel seen.
A therapeutic and comforting read that made me feel less alone. The book delves into so many important and relatable topics such as mental health struggles, burnout, toxic positivity, healing and more. That inner critic and voice... accurate or what?!
I adored the purple colour palette and simple yet eye-catching illustrations. The text-to-image ratio was ideal too, making this an even more engaging and enjoyable comics collection that you can turn to for comfort and solace.
Highly recommend this to everyone, whether neurodivergent or not.
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for the Netgalley ARC.
A therapeutic and comforting read that made me feel less alone. The book delves into so many important and relatable topics such as mental health struggles, burnout, toxic positivity, healing and more. That inner critic and voice... accurate or what?!
I adored the purple colour palette and simple yet eye-catching illustrations. The text-to-image ratio was ideal too, making this an even more engaging and enjoyable comics collection that you can turn to for comfort and solace.
Highly recommend this to everyone, whether neurodivergent or not.
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing for the Netgalley ARC.
May 19, 2024
I liked it, but it was full of a lot of negativity with not much happiness thrown in. Lots of healing and progression was mentioned, but it wasn't shown, just the negativity.
July 25, 2024
this read me to FILTH like i know i'm burnt out and coping poorly okay you don't gotta make me all self aware about it, damn!!!
January 1, 2025
This wasn't exactly what I expected. I really liked Ollerton's part in Sensory: Life on the Spectrum and was therefore looking forward to reading this. I recognized one or two comics from that collection in this one.
Unfortunately, for some reason the flow in this was really bad, and reading the volume straight through felt like being pelted in the face with an almost insurmountable level of executive dysfunction, depression, burnout, and social anxiety.
Things get a bit more positive and hopeful by the end, but I could have used a few more rays of sunshine woven throughout the whole work. Lavender Clouds presents very little in the way of strategies for dealing with all of these negative feelings - they're basically just something to endure. Lots of folks will likely find this relatable, but be sure you're in a decent enough headspace before diving in.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Unfortunately, for some reason the flow in this was really bad, and reading the volume straight through felt like being pelted in the face with an almost insurmountable level of executive dysfunction, depression, burnout, and social anxiety.
Things get a bit more positive and hopeful by the end, but I could have used a few more rays of sunshine woven throughout the whole work. Lavender Clouds presents very little in the way of strategies for dealing with all of these negative feelings - they're basically just something to endure. Lots of folks will likely find this relatable, but be sure you're in a decent enough headspace before diving in.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
July 8, 2024
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Lavender Clouds is a graphic novel/comic book not just for people who are neurodivergent, have anxiety or/and depression but is also for people around them to give them insight into what life is like for people with any of these things.
As an anxiety sufferer and sufferer of depression I could relate to so much of this book, and it made me feel understood and less alone.
The colour scheme is relaxing and beautiful through the book, and the book feels like a hug from someone who understands and accepts you for who you are.
Lavender Clouds is a graphic novel/comic book not just for people who are neurodivergent, have anxiety or/and depression but is also for people around them to give them insight into what life is like for people with any of these things.
As an anxiety sufferer and sufferer of depression I could relate to so much of this book, and it made me feel understood and less alone.
The colour scheme is relaxing and beautiful through the book, and the book feels like a hug from someone who understands and accepts you for who you are.
March 20, 2025
The comics were stronger in the beginning. Somewhere around the middle the author lost me. I'd say this book focuses on the negative aspects so readers know they're not alone, but there really aren't any coping mechanisms presented.
June 26, 2024
schnumn save us!!!!! after reading sensory, i am SO excited to see what lies ahead in lavender clouds :D
____________________________________________________________
happy publishing day :D my excitement was warranted- i loved this!
4.5/5 stars
let's get into it! this is a graphic novel about neurodivergence and mental health based on the author’s audhd experiences. this book felt like it had 3 major acts: the first third was more humorous, the middle third was more dark, and the last third was more hopeful. while some of it was hard to read, all of it was relatable. i laughed and was touched more than a few times by the author’s lovely writing and expressive illustrations.
i will say, based on the title and my experience with the author’s other work, this wasn’t the upbeat and self-help type of informational that i originally expected it to be throughout. however! i think i had goofy, unrealistic expectations, given their previous work involved a lot of collaboration/perspectives. i'm sure people who haven't lived through the synapse-snapping layers of built up neurodivergent exhaustion will find this more humorous throughout than i did. either way, the main conclusions i took away from the book were optimistic, which does make reflecting on the reading experience satisfying.
all in all, i definitely recommend this to my neurodivergent siblings and i will continue to look forward to the future work of this creator! thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
____________________________________________________________
happy publishing day :D my excitement was warranted- i loved this!
4.5/5 stars
let's get into it! this is a graphic novel about neurodivergence and mental health based on the author’s audhd experiences. this book felt like it had 3 major acts: the first third was more humorous, the middle third was more dark, and the last third was more hopeful. while some of it was hard to read, all of it was relatable. i laughed and was touched more than a few times by the author’s lovely writing and expressive illustrations.
i will say, based on the title and my experience with the author’s other work, this wasn’t the upbeat and self-help type of informational that i originally expected it to be throughout. however! i think i had goofy, unrealistic expectations, given their previous work involved a lot of collaboration/perspectives. i'm sure people who haven't lived through the synapse-snapping layers of built up neurodivergent exhaustion will find this more humorous throughout than i did. either way, the main conclusions i took away from the book were optimistic, which does make reflecting on the reading experience satisfying.
all in all, i definitely recommend this to my neurodivergent siblings and i will continue to look forward to the future work of this creator! thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2025
Wow. Bex Ollerton really put herself out there and I truly thank her for having the cojones to share all of that with the world. She really dives deep into anxiety, what in her life causes the anxiety and how it effects her emotional and mental health. From spirals, depressive episodes, self-termination thoughts, a little bit of bipolar episodes - so definitely an example of neurodivergence. Very thought provoking and self-reflection inducing scenarios that prove to be quite informative and a little daunting. Really serves up and laser focuses on how much negativity can snowball into an avalanche of self-hatred and despondency. The way positivity can sometimes be toxic and that it's not always a counter to negative thoughts and feelings. A constant struggle and battle with yourself against your own thoughts but also the thoughts of others. I really like that the graphic novel format made it easier to digest and be open to Bex's experience(s) however it doesn't detract from the seriousness or gravity of the topic at hand. Not suitable for younger audiences but ok for young adult to adult readers, in my opinion. Fast read as well but with a lasting impression. Absolutely recommend.
May 10, 2024
The poetic title Lavender Clouds caught my attention, and made me read this book. And I’m very glad for that!
Reading this book was like traveling back in time to my younger self.
I recognized so many facets of my own journey: internal dialog, struggles and motivations in this graphic novel.
Like the piles of internal shame, fear of people being mad at you for no reason, anxiety around answering other people’s messages and procrastination loops.
Very grateful that this book exists and is so very honest about mental health. That makes the road to getting to know and embrace your own pace a little less lonely.
Bex Ollerton | @Schnumn filled this graphic novel with tiny funny twists, pastel colored illustration and well drawn graphic characters. A joy to read, with a nuanced and hopeful ending.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for receiving an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Reading this book was like traveling back in time to my younger self.
I recognized so many facets of my own journey: internal dialog, struggles and motivations in this graphic novel.
Like the piles of internal shame, fear of people being mad at you for no reason, anxiety around answering other people’s messages and procrastination loops.
Very grateful that this book exists and is so very honest about mental health. That makes the road to getting to know and embrace your own pace a little less lonely.
Bex Ollerton | @Schnumn filled this graphic novel with tiny funny twists, pastel colored illustration and well drawn graphic characters. A joy to read, with a nuanced and hopeful ending.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for receiving an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 13, 2025
Upon reading some other reviews on the book saying that lots of it was snowballing into self deprecation and focusing on the negative, I was scared at first that I would feel worse after reading it, but I ended up liking it through to the end.
I will agree most of it was focused on the negative aspects, and sometimes I got a little whiplash because it would be happy one page and sad another, but there were also definitely some motivational and positive aspects of the author's disabilities and mental health issues and realizations that the author has made throughout her life and throughout creating the book that can guide the reader into a positive mindset. It's important to remember though that this is a memoir, not a self help book, and seeing someone go through something related to their neurodivergence so intensely, and to be able to relate to it word for word, is what helped me the most while reading it.
Sure, a part of me was expecting some sort of easy solution before I even opened the book to the first page, but it is just so reassuring to be able to relate to someone and feel deeply understood through reading this text, leading me to be able to organize my struggles and thoughts into a better form of understanding in a way that allows myself to begin to heal and accept myself for the way I am and the way I could be.
Some quotes I liked (There are much more than this...lol):
"I can't only accept the parts of myself that I like. If I am truly going to love myself, I have to accept it all. I am my strengths. I am also my flaws. And even though much of it will change with time...for now, I will treat it all with compassion (129)."
"All any of us can do is to do our best with what we have. I have to believe that's enough (133)."
I will agree most of it was focused on the negative aspects, and sometimes I got a little whiplash because it would be happy one page and sad another, but there were also definitely some motivational and positive aspects of the author's disabilities and mental health issues and realizations that the author has made throughout her life and throughout creating the book that can guide the reader into a positive mindset. It's important to remember though that this is a memoir, not a self help book, and seeing someone go through something related to their neurodivergence so intensely, and to be able to relate to it word for word, is what helped me the most while reading it.
Sure, a part of me was expecting some sort of easy solution before I even opened the book to the first page, but it is just so reassuring to be able to relate to someone and feel deeply understood through reading this text, leading me to be able to organize my struggles and thoughts into a better form of understanding in a way that allows myself to begin to heal and accept myself for the way I am and the way I could be.
Some quotes I liked (There are much more than this...lol):
"I can't only accept the parts of myself that I like. If I am truly going to love myself, I have to accept it all. I am my strengths. I am also my flaws. And even though much of it will change with time...for now, I will treat it all with compassion (129)."
"All any of us can do is to do our best with what we have. I have to believe that's enough (133)."
April 20, 2024
Oof, Lavender Clouds actually made me feel pretty depressed. It was relatable at times, though I don’t struggle with all of the same mental health pieces. I just didn’t feel the sense of hope that I was looking for with this one, unfortunately.
I think that there’s a lot of people out there this book could probably help, though, so I want to stress that my feelings on the matter are exceedingly personal. I imagine this is likely true for the author as well. So, while this book of relatable comics was definitely was not for me, I know there’s an audience out there who will deeply appreciate it.
I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think that there’s a lot of people out there this book could probably help, though, so I want to stress that my feelings on the matter are exceedingly personal. I imagine this is likely true for the author as well. So, while this book of relatable comics was definitely was not for me, I know there’s an audience out there who will deeply appreciate it.
I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2024
Lavender Clouds is a collection of comics about the author's life. The comics touch on mental health, neurodivergence, burnout, asking others for help, and so much more!
I've read similar comics before and they can be on the cliché side (not that that matters if it makes it into the right hands at the right moment!), but I did not feel that way about this book. This collection is very relatable and I was impressed with the artist's ability to depict such deep thoughts, feelings and emotions in one-page comics. Self-care and prioritizing mental health is something we hear about a lot more these days, which is great, but it has also become a monetized trend, on social media especially. Lavender Clouds does not feel that way to me. This collection is real and honest and shows the realities of complicated feelings and how overwhelming life can be. At the same time it promotes taking care of yourself, treating yourself with kindness, and realizing that we all have our own paths and that there is no reason to rush through life or compare ourselves to others. The art is also stunning! This book would be a great gift for anyone having a hard time. It would be especially great for young people who are struggling with similar issues.
e-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've read similar comics before and they can be on the cliché side (not that that matters if it makes it into the right hands at the right moment!), but I did not feel that way about this book. This collection is very relatable and I was impressed with the artist's ability to depict such deep thoughts, feelings and emotions in one-page comics. Self-care and prioritizing mental health is something we hear about a lot more these days, which is great, but it has also become a monetized trend, on social media especially. Lavender Clouds does not feel that way to me. This collection is real and honest and shows the realities of complicated feelings and how overwhelming life can be. At the same time it promotes taking care of yourself, treating yourself with kindness, and realizing that we all have our own paths and that there is no reason to rush through life or compare ourselves to others. The art is also stunning! This book would be a great gift for anyone having a hard time. It would be especially great for young people who are struggling with similar issues.
e-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2024
3.5 stars!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book. My opinions are my own.
The first thing that drew me to this book was its cover. Of course that is often the case with books, but I just loved the title, the colours, the clouds... It immediately felt like something I might relate to. And I did, to some parts of the book. I recognized some of the struggles that come with being neurodivergent, and also some of the despair that comes with burnout.
A lot of similar comic books (that I've read, at least) combine those heavy feelings with humour or uplifting comics in between the darker ones. That is not what this book is like. It is a very personal story. I want to thank the author/artist for being so honest and showing the depth of her feelings, even when they get more and more bleak. Those feelings definitely came across and made me feel a bit of her pain. It does end on a slightly more positive note and I hope the artist can hold on to that for a good long while :)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book. My opinions are my own.
The first thing that drew me to this book was its cover. Of course that is often the case with books, but I just loved the title, the colours, the clouds... It immediately felt like something I might relate to. And I did, to some parts of the book. I recognized some of the struggles that come with being neurodivergent, and also some of the despair that comes with burnout.
A lot of similar comic books (that I've read, at least) combine those heavy feelings with humour or uplifting comics in between the darker ones. That is not what this book is like. It is a very personal story. I want to thank the author/artist for being so honest and showing the depth of her feelings, even when they get more and more bleak. Those feelings definitely came across and made me feel a bit of her pain. It does end on a slightly more positive note and I hope the artist can hold on to that for a good long while :)
August 22, 2024
I imagine the goal of this is to raise awareness of neurodivergence and mental health, which it does. Several pages would make great wall hangings for sure.
That said, these are not exactly entertaining comics in the sense you may expect. Really, no yuks to be had. Instead you’ll find advice, relatability or affirmation, and a warm “it’s ok” for those experiencing depression, burnout, anxiety or other mental health challenges. At the very least, you’ll realize that you’re not alone.
TBH, in the beginning I was like what the heck is this. By its’ end, I was enrapt.
Available on Hoopla. Manga-like art.
That said, these are not exactly entertaining comics in the sense you may expect. Really, no yuks to be had. Instead you’ll find advice, relatability or affirmation, and a warm “it’s ok” for those experiencing depression, burnout, anxiety or other mental health challenges. At the very least, you’ll realize that you’re not alone.
TBH, in the beginning I was like what the heck is this. By its’ end, I was enrapt.
Available on Hoopla. Manga-like art.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2024
I've read so many cartoon collections about neurodivergence, anxiety, and depression that it's getting harder for new ones to stand out. This one isn't bad, for instance, but it didn't have the spark or energy to really grab me.
If there are any demerits to be issued, I think there was a little too much focus on procrastination. Also, I really question the author's decision to entirely exclude her partner from the book -- an admission that comes out in the acknowledgments. Based on the themes of loneliness and isolation that run through the book, that seems like a huge omission and a very disingenuous choice for an autobiographical work.
If there are any demerits to be issued, I think there was a little too much focus on procrastination. Also, I really question the author's decision to entirely exclude her partner from the book -- an admission that comes out in the acknowledgments. Based on the themes of loneliness and isolation that run through the book, that seems like a huge omission and a very disingenuous choice for an autobiographical work.
September 3, 2024
3.5 stars.
Lavender Clouds is a really lovely collection of comics from Bex Ollerton (aka Schnumn) about neurodivergence and mental health. I'm neurodivergent and have struggled with my mental health most of my life, so I found the collection extremely relatable. Some of the comics are funny or sweet, but a lot of them are honestly quite sad in a way that does get repetitive--they're great to read as individual comics online, but overwhelming to read in a collected form without other content to balance it out. Still, I did really enjoy and relate to this, and I would recommend giving it a go for anyone looking to feel not so alone.
Lavender Clouds is a really lovely collection of comics from Bex Ollerton (aka Schnumn) about neurodivergence and mental health. I'm neurodivergent and have struggled with my mental health most of my life, so I found the collection extremely relatable. Some of the comics are funny or sweet, but a lot of them are honestly quite sad in a way that does get repetitive--they're great to read as individual comics online, but overwhelming to read in a collected form without other content to balance it out. Still, I did really enjoy and relate to this, and I would recommend giving it a go for anyone looking to feel not so alone.
September 2, 2024
God I see myself so much in this book. I have got to work on getting a diagnosis..
April 26, 2024
Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC from netgalley in exchange for a review.
This book is a collection of short comic strips centered around the author's life and her experience with mental health, neurodivergence, burn out, trauma, healing and more in that field.
I have made it a goal of mine this year to read more books by and for disabled authors and audiences and in that regard this is definitely a very interesting book. I often found myself nodding along in understanding to some parts and relating the experiences of friends and loved ones to others.
And while I definitely don't think any memoir about mental health needs to be constantly upbeat and positive, I found this anthology a bit... taxing at times in its repetition of the negative aspects without any real strategies shown to deal with it. I had expected a bit more in the field of resilience and explorations of how exactly the fields of being an artist overlap with the authors experience of neurodivergence (there is some, but it doesn't really delve as deep as I had hoped it would). I unfortunately have to also say that my enjoyment of this book suffered since I a have been reading quite a few books in the field of neurodivergence and mental health this year and maybe that led to me just expecting a bit too much of this one.
The art style is very interesting and easy to follow and I particularly enjoyed the way art was used to portray various emotional states, I enjoyed that a lot! And despite my issues, this is a book I will be recommending to my neurodivergent artist friends, who might enjoy it more than I did!
This book is a collection of short comic strips centered around the author's life and her experience with mental health, neurodivergence, burn out, trauma, healing and more in that field.
I have made it a goal of mine this year to read more books by and for disabled authors and audiences and in that regard this is definitely a very interesting book. I often found myself nodding along in understanding to some parts and relating the experiences of friends and loved ones to others.
And while I definitely don't think any memoir about mental health needs to be constantly upbeat and positive, I found this anthology a bit... taxing at times in its repetition of the negative aspects without any real strategies shown to deal with it. I had expected a bit more in the field of resilience and explorations of how exactly the fields of being an artist overlap with the authors experience of neurodivergence (there is some, but it doesn't really delve as deep as I had hoped it would). I unfortunately have to also say that my enjoyment of this book suffered since I a have been reading quite a few books in the field of neurodivergence and mental health this year and maybe that led to me just expecting a bit too much of this one.
The art style is very interesting and easy to follow and I particularly enjoyed the way art was used to portray various emotional states, I enjoyed that a lot! And despite my issues, this is a book I will be recommending to my neurodivergent artist friends, who might enjoy it more than I did!
September 5, 2025
The book has a lot about to-do lists and procrastination, anxiety about pretty much everything, mood-swings, negative self-talk, overthinking, and feeling overwhelmed (unsurprisingly, considering the relationship the author portrays to have with social media) … and the cycle continues.
Although much of this was relatable, it was extremely repetitive (which it is, I know) but to just keep looping back in a book ?
So in essence, this is an introspection, which is great if it helps you deal with issues, but I am not sure about books like this which seem to be just a personal process – do we need to publish this?
I didn't feel the book brought any new insights, although it is good to know that the author is working at dealing with her problems.
(also: really annoying when artists draw musical notes incorrectly - and use Shakespearean English incorrectly!)
Although much of this was relatable, it was extremely repetitive (which it is, I know) but to just keep looping back in a book ?
So in essence, this is an introspection, which is great if it helps you deal with issues, but I am not sure about books like this which seem to be just a personal process – do we need to publish this?
I didn't feel the book brought any new insights, although it is good to know that the author is working at dealing with her problems.
(also: really annoying when artists draw musical notes incorrectly - and use Shakespearean English incorrectly!)
August 15, 2025
I read the physical copy of Lavender Clouds and was pulled in from the very first page. Written as a memoir-style graphic novel about the neurodivergent experience, it resonated with me in a deeply personal way. I connected immensely with the main character, and each comic scenario felt both authentic and validating.
The illustrations are cozy and expressive, and the book evokes a wide range of emotions — comfort, sadness, joy, and ultimately a sense of hope. It’s beautifully done and feels like a gentle reminder that you’re not alone.
I think anyone who is neurodivergent will appreciate this book and likely see themselves reflected in it — and it’s also a wonderful read for anyone who wants to better understand the experience. I would absolutely read more from Bex Ollerton.
The illustrations are cozy and expressive, and the book evokes a wide range of emotions — comfort, sadness, joy, and ultimately a sense of hope. It’s beautifully done and feels like a gentle reminder that you’re not alone.
I think anyone who is neurodivergent will appreciate this book and likely see themselves reflected in it — and it’s also a wonderful read for anyone who wants to better understand the experience. I would absolutely read more from Bex Ollerton.
August 6, 2024
Your typical comic strips about mental health, lots of common place, some relatable messages, and some other that feel a bit pointless, but oh well... at least the art was really cute, even though kind of slightly repetitive.
(And yes, I don't know why I keep picking this kind of graphic novels, when I am so not a self-help book kind of person...).
(And yes, I don't know why I keep picking this kind of graphic novels, when I am so not a self-help book kind of person...).
April 20, 2025
Journal style comics. Not a narrative. Would probably be more impactful as one-offs rather than all read in one sitting
Read
March 3, 2025Pull quotes/notes
"WHICH TYPE OF NEURODIVERGENT ARE YOU?
The Trash Possum Neurodivergent
The Overwhelmed Sobbing Neurodivergent
The Feral Goblin Neurodivergent
The Shutdown and Shut-Out Neurodivergent
The Neurodivergent Who Overthinks Which Type of Neurodivergent They Are Even Though There Are No Stakes
The Full-Time Actor
The Dedicated Planner
The Collector
The Expert
The Good Listener." (10-11)
"I wish I was a good depressed person...the kind of person who asks for and appreciates help.
'Maybe this photo of my cat will cheer u up!'
But depression tends to make me cynical and mean.
'I literally could not give less of a shit about this cat I've never met.'
I've learned not to direct my negativity outwards.
'Haha, very cute, thanks.'
I wish I could say the same about directing it inward.
'I'm such a piece of shit. They were trying to be nice and I'm just a horrible person.'
'It's not an irrational belief if it's literally the truth. Like, I'm just being realistic.'
'...Uh-huh.'
' 'Cause, like, I'm not just being self-deprecating. I know, objectively, that I suck.
And I know it's not a mental health thing because I can make an actual list of all my awful traits. It's a real thing.'
'And it's cool because, like, knowing I suck means that I can, like, accept that I suck.
It's not a mental health thing, it's just the truth.'
'It's not a trauma thing either!'
[flat eyed flat mouthed face]." (20-21)
"[cycle chart]
You are presented with a task to do! ➡️
You acknowledge that doing the task ASAP would be best. ➡️
Anxiety kicks in. You don't know what you're afraid of. ➡️
You give in to procrastination (usually this means mindlessly scrolling Twitter while feeling stressed out). ➡️
The task is now urgent. Panic and hate yourself for being a fool. ➡️
You finally start the task and realize it's not that bad. ➡️
[You are presented with a task to do]" (43)
"WHICH TYPE OF NEURODIVERGENT ARE YOU?
The Trash Possum Neurodivergent
The Overwhelmed Sobbing Neurodivergent
The Feral Goblin Neurodivergent
The Shutdown and Shut-Out Neurodivergent
The Neurodivergent Who Overthinks Which Type of Neurodivergent They Are Even Though There Are No Stakes
The Full-Time Actor
The Dedicated Planner
The Collector
The Expert
The Good Listener." (10-11)
"I wish I was a good depressed person...the kind of person who asks for and appreciates help.
'Maybe this photo of my cat will cheer u up!'
But depression tends to make me cynical and mean.
'I literally could not give less of a shit about this cat I've never met.'
I've learned not to direct my negativity outwards.
'Haha, very cute, thanks.'
I wish I could say the same about directing it inward.
'I'm such a piece of shit. They were trying to be nice and I'm just a horrible person.'
'It's not an irrational belief if it's literally the truth. Like, I'm just being realistic.'
'...Uh-huh.'
' 'Cause, like, I'm not just being self-deprecating. I know, objectively, that I suck.
And I know it's not a mental health thing because I can make an actual list of all my awful traits. It's a real thing.'
'And it's cool because, like, knowing I suck means that I can, like, accept that I suck.
It's not a mental health thing, it's just the truth.'
'It's not a trauma thing either!'
[flat eyed flat mouthed face]." (20-21)
"[cycle chart]
You are presented with a task to do! ➡️
You acknowledge that doing the task ASAP would be best. ➡️
Anxiety kicks in. You don't know what you're afraid of. ➡️
You give in to procrastination (usually this means mindlessly scrolling Twitter while feeling stressed out). ➡️
The task is now urgent. Panic and hate yourself for being a fool. ➡️
You finally start the task and realize it's not that bad. ➡️
[You are presented with a task to do]" (43)
July 2, 2025
I was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD when I was young - and again as an adult. I have vague memories of tests and such, other than the memories shared about how I was when I was younger. I was a few years older when I had a horrible experience at a dress up day gone wrong. I wanted to be George from Curious George, but didn't have a book to go with it. Suffice to say, I did not have a good day. As any child might believe, I wanted to be understood and accepted without people asking; I wanted to be seen. I know today it was foolish, of course. I even had a classmate offer to let me be a part of their book, though I pushed them away, because that's easier right? Poor timing and terrible coping skills aside, you might be wondering how this is relevant.This book compiles a set of comics that sometimes got pretty close at thoughts/feelings/experiences that I've had over my 20+ some odd years of life in this world. I may over-dramatize a lot, which I may be doing with this review. And no one is perfect, but I do have to seriously express my thanks and gratitude for knowing someone else out there gets it, besides my wonderful partner of course. While you may not jive with how negative it may seem, or the author's sense of humor, I think it's duly important that we recognize how important it is to feel seen. And that's what this book does for me; I feel seen.
June 28, 2024
I received a copy from Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I picked this up because it’s a look into one person’s neurodivergent experience with life, mental health, and burnout. As a neurodivergent person, I thought it was an excellent book to pick up. It was great to see Bex Ollerton (aka @Schnumn on Instagram) share their experiences with Autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. I could feel their emotions coming through the pages, which is quite bleak at times. I think that this is an important read because it’s very enlightening and relatable for many, but I think that you’ll be okay if you don’t go in expecting a light and fluffy read.
The artwork is beautiful. I also really like that they used art as their way to share their experiences. Reading about Bex’s feelings and experiences spiked my anxiety at times, but I think it’s an excellent read. I don’t know if I would say this was uplifting like it was mentioned in the summary, but it certainly is relatable. If you’re looking for a light pick-me-up read, this is not the book for you. It’s not all bleak, but Bex shares a lot about their struggles with their mental health, which isn’t always always something bright and happy.
I picked this up because it’s a look into one person’s neurodivergent experience with life, mental health, and burnout. As a neurodivergent person, I thought it was an excellent book to pick up. It was great to see Bex Ollerton (aka @Schnumn on Instagram) share their experiences with Autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. I could feel their emotions coming through the pages, which is quite bleak at times. I think that this is an important read because it’s very enlightening and relatable for many, but I think that you’ll be okay if you don’t go in expecting a light and fluffy read.
The artwork is beautiful. I also really like that they used art as their way to share their experiences. Reading about Bex’s feelings and experiences spiked my anxiety at times, but I think it’s an excellent read. I don’t know if I would say this was uplifting like it was mentioned in the summary, but it certainly is relatable. If you’re looking for a light pick-me-up read, this is not the book for you. It’s not all bleak, but Bex shares a lot about their struggles with their mental health, which isn’t always always something bright and happy.
June 14, 2024
I liked this little graphic novel. The illustrations are cute and the language is funny in a casual and self-depricating kind of way.
The overall tone of the book is fairy negative (but in a light-hearted way), wherein the author recounts their experiences with depression, anxiety and stress in a very forward manner.
You should note that this is by no means a self-help book and the author doesn't really offer any 'answer' to the experiences presented in each of the comics. I don't think that takes away from the book at all, but rather gives a very real representation of what it's like to live with depression, etc.
I think any neurodivergent person who suffers from depression or anxiety would find this book to be incredibly relateable.
Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The overall tone of the book is fairy negative (but in a light-hearted way), wherein the author recounts their experiences with depression, anxiety and stress in a very forward manner.
You should note that this is by no means a self-help book and the author doesn't really offer any 'answer' to the experiences presented in each of the comics. I don't think that takes away from the book at all, but rather gives a very real representation of what it's like to live with depression, etc.
I think any neurodivergent person who suffers from depression or anxiety would find this book to be incredibly relateable.
Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
June 3, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the arc.
One of the most validating things I've read. This graphic novel provides a raw and honest insight into the life of someone who is neurodivergent, as well as how life can look with anxiety and depression.
The illustrations were brilliant and really captured what it can be like living with ADHD/autism/mental health struggles. I found myself looking at some of the spreads and thinking "that's me!! I've never been able to explain it before" and I imagine so many others will feel similarly.
I would definitely be mindful of your headspace when reading this, while incredibly validating it may be difficult if you're in a depressive episode! (My one wish for this was that it provided more hope!)
Available June 25.
One of the most validating things I've read. This graphic novel provides a raw and honest insight into the life of someone who is neurodivergent, as well as how life can look with anxiety and depression.
The illustrations were brilliant and really captured what it can be like living with ADHD/autism/mental health struggles. I found myself looking at some of the spreads and thinking "that's me!! I've never been able to explain it before" and I imagine so many others will feel similarly.
I would definitely be mindful of your headspace when reading this, while incredibly validating it may be difficult if you're in a depressive episode! (My one wish for this was that it provided more hope!)
Available June 25.
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