I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review of this book! :)

A beautiful comic that follows four Black women who are friends and their journeys around: partners, mental illness, family, and more. It is touching and emotional but also funny - as are experiences in any friend group. My favorite story was probably Davene’s because depression is something that has also impacted large swaths of my life - and I felt the (sad) familiarity of it not being taken seriously enough by a friend (or disregarded entirely). Cookie’s story with her grandma was also familiar in some ways - and the ending made me tear up.

I also want to note Robyn Smith’s gorgeous art - it was soft, flowing, and colorful! I’ve been reading a lot of graphic novels recently, and this art really stuck out to me. It really adds an excellent dimension to the story overall.

Very much enjoyed this!

E-ARC provided by Netgalley
Really enjoyed this one and I love that we followed each friend and the group chat part was really fun!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of Wash Day Diaries in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: 4.75 Stars Rounded Up

Wash Day Diaries is an #OwnVoices graphic novel that is an extension of the authors’ slice of life comic, Wash Day, that released in 2018. Wash Day Diaries is a celebration of Black women, Black hair, Black sisterhood and Black joy!

What I Loved:
* The characters were so relatable! The group chat chapter reminded me so much of group chats I’ve had with my own friends.
* The illustrations and the color palette chosen are absolutely gorgeous!!!! 😍 All the little details and closeups of when the girls were doing or getting their hair done are beautiful 🤩
* This graphic novel made me feel seen! It pays tribute to Black women, Black Hair, Black Culture, Black Joy and all the little things that make me proud to be a Black woman!
* It’s the Black Sisterhood for me! I loved seeing the way they hyped each other up before going out to the club and how they had Kim’s back. Too often we see women pitted against each other so it was beautiful to see the opposite of that portrayed in this graphic novel.
* This graphic novel discussed a lot of issues faced by Black women including intimate partner violence (stalking) and the stigmatization of mental health in Black and Brown communities.
* LGBTQIA+ rep is explored through Cookie’s character as she navigates her relationship with a family member who isn’t accepting of her sexuality.
* Sex positivity is highlighted in Nisha’s story during the group chat chapter which was absolutely hilarious 😂 and so real!

What I Didn’t Love:
* I selfishly wish it was longer! I wanted more of Kim, Cookie, Nisha and Davene because by the end I felt like they were my good friends!
* I’m all about using crystals for health and wellness but I wanted Davene’s depression to be handled in a way that was less dismissive of her desire to take medication.

For many Black and Brown women, wash day is a sacred ritual and the way the author and illustrator used it to give us a glimpse into the everyday lives of four very different Black women was ingenious and impeccably done.

Note to Publisher: This review will be posted on my Instagram account closer to publication.

This book is ✨Black joy✨ come to life! The art is just stunning, and the characters felt very individual and realistic. This feels like a very authentic and valuable addition to the graphic novel world, which is a genre that could definitely benefit from more BIPOC creators getting the attention they deserve. Wash Day Diaries is a quick read, and it's character-driven without a lot of action–but I think the beauty of it is in its mundanity. This book feels like you're spending an evening with this group of four best friends, listening to them talk about their day, the latest gossip, and daily frustrations. It's frustratingly rare that readers get to enjoy stories about Black characters (women especially) just *existing* without constantly facing pain and struggle and Wash Day Diaries gives us exactly that–watching four women celebrating and supporting each other.

My only complaint from this book is the way that mental health treatment for depression was addressed for one of the characters–when one of our MCs mentions that she has been struggling and is considering getting back on antidepressants, Cookie invalidates this by telling her that she doesn't need them and instead just needs to carry a crystal with her. I was hoping that we would've seen this corrected or addressed as an unsupportive and arguably dangerous response later in the book but it was never mentioned again.

Truly all I have to say about this book is this: I NEED MORE!

I am salivating for more of these 4 stories, and I demand it be made soon. There is so much richness in the colors and images, but each individual story as well.

Personally, as a black women, I have never seen something so accurate and uplifting in a graphic novel. Wash days are incredibly scared to me, and to Rowser intertwine them with each character was beautiful. Hair is powerful, black women are powerful and together its dynamite!

Not really a spoiler, but content warning coming up in 3...2....1....

The representation of depression, coming out, abusive relationships was done in such a realistic way, even in such a short time frame. I really would like to see a longer length novel to dive into the world built around these 4 lovely women.

If you skipped all this, you just need to know that YES READ IT! Can't wait for this too hit the stands!

Wash Day Diaries is such a fun book! I appreciate its use of perspective and the amount of reality packed into the details of the dialogue and drawings. In such a short amount of time, Rowser and Smith are able to do and feel so much. The illustration style and color palette drew me in, and it was well worth the read. There is so much characterization found in the mundanities of existing, and so much support portrayed in this friend group. Beautiful and fun 10/10.

What makes Wash Day Diaries different from other graphic novels I've read in the same genre is Jamila's ability to communicate such lifelike, familiar characters with short, unencumbered writing. Her decisions of what to tell and what to show (with the incredible art by Robyn Smith) achieved quick rapport between reader and characters. We are INVESTED emotionally in these women. (SPOILERS) Davene's story in Bright Side stands out as one of the most frank yet gentle depictions of depression I've encountered in the world of comics. Some of the art decisions, like in Cookie's story where the elevator closes in 3 frames or memories were framed by the wash-sink bubbles, had me emotional. I was caught off guard by the emotional rendering of her visit with the abuela who rejected her for who she loved, a poignant and devastating tale with a perfectly imperfect conclusion. The art overall was employed powerfully to tell the story in between what was said out loud by all characters. Robyn's illustrations conveyed the character's mood as much through atmosphere, neighborhood shots and curated close ups as through the characters actual expressions.

This graphic novel also stands out as significant in the landscape of comics-world for bringing wide audiences into an important, distinctive aspect of Black womxn's experiences: rituals and community around hair care. It also normalizes conversations around depression and grief in BIPOC spaces, while also showing the hurdles and hurts that accompany these conversations (even if your friends are truly well-meaning). For many readers, this book will reflect rhythms of their own life back to them in a celebratory way; the "you are seen and known and loved" quality of this book is strong.

Featured on my bookstagram:

This week I received a free digital ARC of Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser from NetGalley- thank you Chronicle Books! (Pics from Chronicle’s website)

I am EXCITED to tell you about this book:
🙌🏾 Five related short stories carry you along with best friends Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie as they navigate relationships with lovers, family members, and their own selves, leaning on each other for support and hot takes in the group chat and around their Bronx neighborhoods.
💘The electric pastel color palette and the use of one dominant color per short story amplifies the mood and emotions of that character’s slice of life. Art wise, this book is it 🥳 Cheers to @robrosmo
👀 Detailed frames both slow down time and suck the reader into the moment with the friends. An open drawer of scarves, close shots of braiding, the slow closing of an elevator drawer…over and over again Jamila’s writing and Robyn’s Art pack a one-two punch that makes this an immersive reading experience
✨Wash Day Diaries is ensemble cast slice of life graphic novel genre at its best! A great read honoring black women and various rhythms of life and community around hair care ✨
📚 If you aren’t a graphic novel / comics reader, or maybe you prefer other literary genres with hefty stories about intertwined friends, families, and daily life, this is the graphic novel starting point for you.

Releasing on June 14, Wash Day Diaries is one to get on your pre orders and TBRs asap 💖

“From writer Jamila Rowser and artist Robyn Smith comes a captivating graphic novel love letter to the beauty and endurance of Black women, their friendships, and their hair…The book takes its title from the wash day experience shared by Black women everywhere of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of washing, conditioning, and nourishing their hair. Each short story uses hair routines as a window into these four characters' everyday lives and how they care for each other…
At times touching, quiet, triumphant, and laugh out loud funny, the stories of Wash Day Diaries pay a loving tribute to Black joy and the resilience of Black women.” -Chronicle Books
#washdaydiaries

Wash Day Diaries is a celebration of life, friendships, and, of course, Black hair. Set in the Bronx, Wash Day Diaries introduces us to four best friends, Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie -- each chapter is dedicated to a snippet of their life. The final chapter features all of the characters together on a night out. While Wash Day Diaries is on the shorter end of graphic novels, the characters felt so real. Each of the characters have their own personality, struggles, and hairstyle -- and I loved how the characters were so supportive of each other.

Besides the heartwarming story, the illustrations and color palette took my breath away, making Wash Day Diaries a beautiful graphic novel not to be missed.

**Note to publisher: This review will be posted on bookstagram @movedbyprose closer to publication day**

A relatable story if I’ve ever read one! Such a great story with characters that feel genuine. Love the art

This was such a good and comforting read, The artwork is absolutely beautiful. I love following the friendship of these four black women, it is just so wholesome. I definitely think this will be a new feel good read. I really enjoyed it. The story is good, the art is lovely, definitely a worthwhile read.

CW/TW: ableism via well-meaning medical advice that does more harm than good (basically someone suggests their friend use a crystal for their mental illness instead of the anti-depressants they were considering), grandparent with Alzheimer's, mental illness, verbally abusive and stalker ex-boyfriend

This was a nice sneak-peak into the lives of four women living in the Bronx. It's funny, heartwarming, has moments of seriousness and action, and the art is gorgeous! I really loved the importance of hair in this and how it can make you celebrate or hide yourself. The story is broken into a few parts where they face their challenges with work, mental health, family acceptance, disability, an abusive ex, and the importance of friendship.

The one minor thing I think was missing was a conversation about the importance of prescription medication vs new-age medicine. It would've been nice to see that confronted, but it wasn't a huge issue imo.

Thanks Chronicle books and NetGalley for the eARC.

This story was great! I was a bit nervous at the beginning. I didn’t honestly want to read a book about Wash day—as a black man, I get stressed just thinking about wash day…ahahaha. But, this graphic novel is so layered. I loved the characters, my favorite chapter was the group chat chapter. As well as the chapter that touched on mental health.

What a delight! This short and sweet graphic novel is a beautiful celebration of the friendship, struggles, and joys of black women. Although it's short, it hits on a wide range of issues - relationships (healthy and unhealthy), family, LGBTQ+ identity, depression, discrimination in the workplace, and more. But it's not all heavy - all of these issues are brought up in the context of the life and friendship of four black women, through panels of gorgeously drawn and colored artwork. I loved it!

"Wash Day Diaries" is a phenomenal collection of connected short story comics about the lives of four beautiful friends- Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie. The stories had really good depth to them and the characters were really well done and easy to connect with. I very much enjoyed reading this graphic novel and can't wait to purchase it for the library I work for!

Loved it, the artwork is amazing and the story too. I like how the story focus on each girl, I loved that it shows the progress of how these girls take care of their natural hair (which I felt related because I also have natural hair) and the friendship is so cute. This book is one of my favorite graphic books so far. I can’t wait to see if there’s a continuation with the story in the future.

Wash Day Diaries is a wonderful graphic novel telling interconnected tales about four friends. The stories are personal, funny, touching, and full of depth and nuance. Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie are delightful characters and their stories left me wanting more.

The stories in this collection look at relationships, mental health issues, the power of friendship, and the realities of living in the modern age.

I am such a fan of comics like this. I love stories about the daily lives of compelling characters. I highly recommend this book!

**Post will not be published until May 14, 2022, but an excerpt will be on Goodreads.
Publication Date: June 14, 2022

My Thoughts:
This graphic of shorts gives a glimpse of four friends as they navigate mental health, work, dating and what black girl magic means for these young women. This is a like showing up in the middle of a play that is already going. Don't worry about the beginning or the end. Just keep up.

My one niggling caution, though is how Cookie comes over to Davene's apartment and notices that Davene's apartment is not like her, but when Davene confesses that she is not well and she is in thereapy thinking of taking medication, Cookie says no and gives her a citrine. Cookie's solution is to be more positive. At one point, Cookie says, "Is it really that serious? You seem fine." Mental health needs to be taken seriously and friends need to support each other and not just shrug it off. This is dangerous to feel that Davene's closest friends do not see the red flags and rally around her friend, even to the point of not shaming her if she wants to be on Prozac.

Some nudity, brief sex scene. This is for YA and older teens.

From the Publisher:
Wash Day Diaries tells the story of four best friends—Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie—through five connected short story comics that follow these young women through the ups and downs of their daily lives in the Bronx.

The book takes its title from the wash day experience shared by Black women everywhere of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of washing, conditioning, and nourishing their hair. Each short story uses hair routines as a window into these four characters' everyday lives and how they care for each other.

Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith originally kickstarted their critically acclaimed, award-winning slice of life mini comic, Wash Day, inspired by Rowser's own wash day ritual and their shared desire to see more comics featuring the daily lived experiences of young Black women. Wash Day Diaries includes an updated, full color version of this original comic—which follows Kim, a 26-year-old woman living in the Bronx—as the book's first chapter and expands into a graphic novel with short stories about these vibrant and relatable new characters.

In expanding the story of Kim and her friends, the authors pay tribute to Black sisterhood through portraits of shared, yet deeply personal experiences of Black hair care. From self-care to spilling the tea at an hours-long salon appointment to healing family rifts, the stories are brought to life through beautifully drawn characters and different color palettes reflecting the mood in each story.

At times touching, quiet, triumphant, and laugh out loud funny, the stories of Wash Day Diaries pay a loving tribute to Black joy and the resilience of Black women.

This was beautiful I love the art I loved everything about it. I love the friendships and the expression of self-love this was a beautiful story and I will definitely be recommending this to all of my friends

Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC!

I loved this book so much! The characters, stories and the art was great!

Wash Day Diaries is inspirational and heart-warming. It touches on many of the subjects faced by black women and ties it in with the black woman’s crown: her hair. We experience life thru the eyes of four ladies who are friends, each one dealing with a different life issue, but also experiencing a day in the life of “What do I do with my hair?”. The panels are colorful and engaging, but because of the way they are drawn, they are less like a comic book and more of a graphic novel. I especially enjoyed peeking into the concept by seeing some of the Process Pages at the end and what goes into the creation of a panel. It was good to “see me” in this graphic novel. I hope that we will continue to see more novels such as this so that they become the norm instead of the exception. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, artist, and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.