A fun, short read. I had seen several of the strips in this collection around the internet before reading, but I enjoy Andersen's art and her sweet and straightforward sense of humor.

I think we all need a bit of relatability sometimes and that is exactly what I find in Sarah Andersen’s hilarious illustrations. I love that this particular collection is called Big Mushy Happy Lump because that is totally what I aspire to be (chronic depression and anxiety mess up the ‘happy’ part for me a lot, though), and I really love that Andersen uses her own experiences of anxiety and the big bad world to create drawings that actually represent life for so many people – not the sugar coated, everything is awesome life, but the curling on the sofa and not moving at all life.

The focus on self-love, the importance of friendship, the shittiness of anxiety and depression and self-doubt, the greatness of books and caffeine are all things that appear regularly in Andersen’s illustrations, and at the risk of being repetitive they are so relatable because of it. Life is hard, people are mean, hormones are evil, but there are silver linings – books, hot cups of tea, stealing your partner’s warmth, puppies – that make things a little bit easier sometimes. Coincidentally, Sarah Andersen’s simple black and white drawings are one of those silver linings for me, and they never fail to make me smile.

Most people with a brain cell or two know that life isn’t always brilliant, especially with everything currently going wrong in the world, but this collection – and everything that Andersen draws, I feel – puts a funny spin on it all, a ‘things are terrible but let’s laugh, just for a minute’ spin on it. Let’s face it, most of us laugh and use humour so that we don’t cry or spiral down some abyss of loathing, and that is the beauty of this collection. Anyone who has never been exposed to ‘Sarah’s Scribbles’ should go and get themselves some exposure, and anyone who already loves it should go and get this new book when it’s released.

We should all try to be big mushy happy lumps, and accept that sometimes stuff sucks and life is hard, but at the end of the day we are all majestic goddesses (and gods) who deserve a giggle.

This is such an awesome book! I could relate to so much to this book that I feel like Sarah crawled right in my brain and poked around. It is a great complement to her other book "Adulthood Is A Myth".

A quick and fun read! This one is just as entertaining and relatable as her first collection. Some pages had me nodding my head in agreement and others laughing out loud.

Wacky fun, Big Mushy Happy Lump is like finding your soulmate/BFF. Smart and quirky it perfectly captures our most intimate and introspective moments. Perfect for a quick pick me up or a virtual sympathetic shoulder to cry on, Sarah Andersen knows when and how to comfort our fragile egos.

I read the first volume of Sarah’s Scribbles last year and thoroughly enjoyed it, so when I saw a chance to read and review this volume I couldn’t resist. This collection is even better than the last, and covers so many important topics, making it fun, but also a must read. Topics covered in this volume include social anxiety, self perception and relationships, all told in a fun comic scribble style.

What I loved most about this collection of scribbles is how I could identify to so many of the pages. For readers it is so important to read books that you can identify with, and this one really hits the mark. Whether it be wanting to steal my boyfriends hoodies, as they are clearly more comfortable than mine, or whether it be getting that correct angle on a selfie so that I don’t have ten thousand chins. This book explores fun topics, and also more serious topics in a clever and reassuring manner. As you read the pages and giggle to yourself at the scribbles, you realise you aren’t alone, that what you feel about various different experiences in life are common feelings, you basically learn that you are ‘normal’.

While this book works as a standalone, I would highly recommend you read the first book in this collection first, as I think you will get the most out of the books this way. These books help you find confidence in how you relate to so many everyday problems, yet in a humorous and somehow also still sensitive way. I can’t recommend this book enough, and if you are trying to decide whether to read it or not, I highly recommend you just jump on in.

absolutely loved this one, I didn't think I could like this one more then her first book - Adulthood is a Myth - but my worries that I might not love this one as much proved to be completed unfounded, the illustrated personal essays in this one were so great & I loved all the comics as well. I'm so glad I saw this on NetGalley & then finally decided to read it today because this was exactly what I needed to read

I read this and then gave it to my wife who is an introvert and she could not stop laughing. Sarah Andersen does a great job of letting her artwork speak for her. She conveys emotions and anxieties of feeling awkward in a seemingly simple, cute character. I enjoyed it but my wife, who could relate to every page, loved it. I would recommend this book for anyone but if you're not sure you'll like it, check out her Instagram. Many of her comics were published in this book but there were enough new ones that it's worth buying.

A Big Mushy Happy thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Sarah Andersen's latest collection.
I don't possess enough love to shower on Sarah's work. Her comics are so universally appealing, ageless and completely spot on. It's as if I confided all my secrets and fears to Sarah and then she managed to make them silly, darling and totally normal.
LOVED the collection. Will ABSOLUTELY be buying as gifts for everyone I know!

If you liked Hyperbole and a Half (but with a little less depression) or almost every character Ellie Kemper has portrayed, this is definitely right up your alley. Great gift, will put a smile on your face! Sarah Andersen is a hilarious introvert who likes books and stealing hoodies.

I think she puts out very updated, relevant content that is super sweet and isn’t mean (which is rare these days!).

5/5 stars, would laugh again

Hilarious and very relatable. Sarah sketched everyday life events, even the smalest things. As enjoyable as the first book!

I admit I don't have a lot of experience reading graphic novels, but I fell in love with these illustrations as soon as I saw the cover. And what better way to start the year with a light read full of 'down to earth' and endearing illustrations and situations that are extremely easy to relate to? Big Mushy Happy Lump is actually the second comic by the author and is coming out on March 7th; the first, Adulthood Is A Myth, I will be looking forward to read soon. I had a lot of fun reading this graphic novel and it was really easy to connect to the illustrated personal essays of Sarah Andersen. I could see myself in so many of the real-life situations! The essays talk about the author's real-life experiences with for example anxiety, career and relationships. They are both fun to read, orginal, easy to relate to and feel authentic; the illustrations a real treat. This bundle would make a perfect gift!

I loved this graphic novel. Even though the author is much younger than me, I could related to most of the topics in this graphic novel.

So this started out as just a collection of comics;. About half way though the author started adding in what drove her to write those comics. About dealing with depression or being an introvert. Before reading this book I had only seen one of the strips (the one about the book store). I can see how the strip works on a day to day, or week to week basis. That being said, I would have liked author commentary throughout, or not at all.

Added Goodreads
Added Litsy

Sarah Andersen follows up her Goodreads Choice Award-winning book Adulthood is a Myth with Big Mushy Happy Lump, which is essentially more of the same - if it ain’t broke, eh?

Andersen’s strips are humorous and self-deprecating snapshots focusing on her insecurities, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, social awkwardness, period pains, and general self-loathing (procrastination) couched within drawings of cute big-eyed/small-bodied figures.

That might sound a bit too neurotic but Andersen turns her public therapy into really funny strips. I laughed at the feline Paris Hilton (that vapid face was dead on!) and Sarah’s expression at seeing a puppy in a sweater, and her observations on tattoos and the differences between men/women’s fashion were insightful and clever.

She’s doing something different from her first book in the second half of this book by branching out into longer-form narratives. Included are stories on learning to overthink less, the Saga of Sadie (a cute kitty who helped solve her mouse problem and showed her why people love cats), and The Sweater Thief, which was adorable. I can see her maybe moving away from strips soon and building up to a book length-narrative - these encouraging longer pieces definitely show she’s got the storytelling rhythm down.

Andersen’s strips are charming and easily accessible and, like many other readers I expect, I identified with her anti-social tendencies to be alone, watching Netflix or reading, over mingling with real people in the real world - blech! Combine that with self-awareness, imagination, comedic timing and wit and it’s not hard to see why people respond to her books.

Not all the strips are home-runs and a few feel like retreads of similar strips from the first book, but Big Mushy Happy Lump is still a very enjoyable, fun read - fans of Sarah’s Scribbles will love this!

A superior collection of comics, and strips used to illustrate essays, regarding the modern foibles, social diseases, isolation, period pain and a whole lot more that women like our author have to put up with. I might have laughed more, but it was a strong work, compared to a recent British variant on the same I shall leave nameless, and as a sophomore volume shows no second-album-syndrome symptoms.

A cute cartoon collection for those that like social awkward humor.

Sarah Andersen is definitely the master of the small one-shot comics, but I enjoyed the inclusion of the longer comics (especially the story about the kitten).