Member Reviews

Excellently illustrated and a staple of consistency in innovation and technique from this excellent graphic novelist! I can't wait to see what comes next.

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Ever since I came across Book Love, Debbie Tung is an author I've come to adore. She speaks from the heart and puts everything she has into each of her books (all which are proudly displayed in my home collection). There is a calming method in reading Tung's books because of the pace with which she creates them. I recommend her books to teens who are in need of a respite or adults who want to understand themselves. Everything Is Okay is yet another title to add to this roster of recommendations. I do love the addition of the watercolor pages in this book, and I'm certain many other readers will hopefully come out of reading it with a lighter heart and shoulders.

Highly recommended.

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I really related to this book. I could see myself in Debbie's story, and it was nice to see the evolution of her life and coming to terms with her anxiety and depression. I also really like the art style and the use of watercolour in the background.

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Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Everything is OK by Debbie Tung.

Can I just say that graphic novels are underrated? If there was suddenly a huge wave of mainstream graphic novels for adults, I'd gobble it up. Don't get me wrong, my imagination does just fine, but sometimes I grab different details, or get to see things from a new angle when the picture is created for me. It just makes reading a new and fun experience.

This is a darling, yet very important graphic novel about a young adult woman grappling with depression and anxiety, and finally seeking help when it begins to deeply affect her life. I loved how not linear it was. Healing is messy, it's not a solid line that keeps going up. We have to learn, relearn, and continuously practice what it means to heal and cope with those mental illnesses. The graphics and message are delightful. I would quickly recommend this to anyone, especially a young person who is just beginning to go through this journey. They are not alone!

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Thank you Netgalley and Debbie Tung for this ARC!

Firstly, the illustrations are so damn powerful they gave me chills. I felt so understood by this graphic novel and I know many other people can relate to it too. It is quite short but intense, and it covers the topic of depression and anxiety in such a natural and real way. I haven't read anything else from the author but this made me so curious about her other works. It gives a very necessary and hopeful message to people struggling with mental illnesses. The story is like a big warm fluffy hug from your very loved ones after a difficult day. Not just that, the author encourages you to ask for help so you can get treated if necessary and get new ways to cope with your issues.

I don't want to go into detail because I feel like the process of the first reading can become so meaningful in different ways for peple. I totally recommend it. I'm very grateful to the author for writing and illustrating such a real life experience.

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Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ok so I loved this. The past year especially has been really hard on me mentally and this comic just describes it so well what it's like to deal with things, the thoughts you are having and the way you react on social interactions of any kind. I was really shocked to read my own thoughts on paper with the comic and thought it was almost so relieving knowing that there are more people with these thoughts and those exact words.
I highly recommend this comic not only because of the topic or general style, it really turned out to be a self help book for me for the better which I cannot be more thankful for.

Thank you!

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And now another amazing book from Debbie Tung! I fell in love with her work since I read Quiet Girl in a Noisy World…which was just perfection and described how life as an introvert can be sometimes. This one is about mental illness, more specifically, anxiety and depression. I’ve read quite a few books that tackle different types of mental illness, and this is one of the best ones that I’ve seen. She was able to brilliantly weave such a sensitive subject matter with beautiful artwork and take you along on her dark journey to feeling the sun again. She goes into some amazing coping skills that I use on a daily basis, like CBT, mindfulness and my favorite… self-compassion. I highly recommend this one if you’re struggling with depression or know someone who does. I’ll be purchasing a few to gift for sure. 💜

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This graphic novel was amazing.
It's for everyone: those struggling with depression and anxiety, those who have a relative fighting with it, those who don't know much about and want to know more on how it feels inside, but also to those who can recognize themself in these situations and wasn't aware they might as well have depression and anxiety.

It's a very informative novel with a big take: your biggest step is realizing you need help and asking for it.
I like how it help you realize that therapy will indeed help you out, by going through the author's process with one. But it doesn't shame you for not reaching out to a therapist (yet), and it still gives you tips and informations that might help you work a little bit on your own depression.

Also I really love the art style, and the change from gray-ish overall to colorful (very pretty colors) at hopeful times. It suits super well and it's just overall really beautiful.

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Everything is OK is a raw and emotional story about living with depression and Anxiety. It depicts the mental illnesses very accurately so this is a warning that you will be touched by this art and story. I’ve cried a few times myself!
I related to Debbie’s story so much my heart warmed. Her story with mental health is something I closely relate to as I experience the same struggles she does. Also, the art in this book depicts the emotions precisely how I feel them, which is incredible. I think this will help people struggling with their mental health dramatically and also helps visualise mental illness for those who have never struggled with it themselves. I hope this book finds many undiagnosed people who can relate to the story and art as well! This book shines a light and gives an actual face to mental health and its struggles. The world will be a better place with this book in it!

thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an E-arc in axchange for an honest review!

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As always the author has very beautiful and simple art. Very captivating and trough colors shows her emotions.
This graphic book is for people with
Depression
Anxiety
Over thinking
Doubting
...
You can feel the emotions the author struggles with.
I hope she is better now and she sees she is not alone in this
<spoiler>she did mention at the end of the book she is better and creating books like this showed her that other people struggle with similar problems. </spoiler>

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I am so glad that I had an opportunity to read this book. I've read Quiet Girl in a Noisy World and I love it. I bet this book likely gave you experience whether you have or don't have depression. Such an inspiring and moving book.

Mental health is such an important subject that we have to learn. While reading Agatha Christie and Jane Eyre, I always faced the nerve breakdown term. So, I admit the mental problem is not just related to the millennial generation. We can't take small happiness for granted because some people are dying to be happy like you.

I learn a lot from this book. From deep breathing, the art of letting go, being grateful for what you have, doing what you love, sharing your thought, and being a good listener. And I just love the illustration. Simple yet realistic. The color rendition is very helpful to make the comic so lively.

Thanks to @netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an earc. This book will be published this September 6th. Check it out. I give 5 ⭐.

📚

#netgalley #DebbieTung #EverthingIsOkay

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This author does a phenomenal job at making her struggles with mental health and her journey through therapy relatable and accessible. The advice throughout this book focuses on self-compassion, something that is so difficult for people with mental illness but so important. I can’t wait to read more of Debbie Tung’s work.

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As someone who struggles with my mental health on a regular basis it is nice to be able to relate to a book. I find Tung's illustrations do a good job of expressing how our character is feeling.
It. can seem repetitive, but someone who has a mental illness may deal with the same feelings a countless times.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

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I think Tung is a decent cartoonist and some of the art is quite pretty. The message is faultless - love yourself, look after your mental health, don't be afraid to reach out, etc. But it's soooo repetitive. It's the same thing over and over. And it's the sort of thing you see posted on all kinds of social media sites too, so it's not particularly original or thoughtful. Its message also feels watered down through overuse so that it's less impressive or profound. I'm sure it'll be useful to younger readers who might not be exposed to this kind of thing and I can see it helping some people, but I just found it increasingly banal and tiresome long before the end.

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In Everything is OK, Debbie Tung has a way of capturing the mental health experience without fishing for pity and without the end result being rainbows coming out of her behind. This is a very realistic and relatable account of how she felt herself spiraling into depression and anxiety, the steps she took to seek help, and what avenues provided her with some relief. I appreciate the bird's-eye view of my similar experience with mental health without the sugarcoating that sometimes comes after people have found some relief. She nails the reactions of those around her, both familiars and strangers, who are trying to help her out of her "funk." She also brings up some of the things therapy has taught her, but does so in a way where it is clear she is not claiming to be an expert.

Tung's illustrations are clear and clean. I like how she varies between closer-up images when she is going through day-to-day activities or interactions and when she shows a wider view of how she sees herself in the world.

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who copes with depression and anxiety themselves, but it is also a great book for the people around these individuals too.

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"Even if the world around me is silent, it's always loud inside my head."
This little graphic novel spoke to me in a way I didn't expect it too. I myself am not struggling that much (and that is not my mind belittling it) but some days I do feel like I am not being productive, should work more and stop having free time. It can really upset your brain and body.
This comic has a dark but also lighthearted tone to it, and explains what goes on in the writers mind in a very simple but elegant way.

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I love this authors work!
This book really hits the mail on depression and how one feels truly while battling it.

This is me! This spoke to me!
I couldn’t put it down!

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I've been struggling with anxiety and depression since 2019, I didn’t know what that was at first and that was really scared, I didn’t know what was happening to me, for moments I just wish everything was over, thanks god I had the help of my love ones and I get the help that i needed, since then the road have been difficult some days I’m ok, some days I’m not, this book was about that and I feel so relate with the author about all the things that she was feeling, if you know someone or have mental illness get this book. is a masterpiece.

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Let me be honest: I don't normally read graphic novels (apart from Heartstopper) but as soon as I read the blurb of this book, I knew I had to get it.

Everything Is OK is the story about a woman struggling with depression and anxiety. And it’s not just any woman, it’s the author herself.
And that is actually a point that is very important to me, because I’m not the biggest fan of books whose main characters have mental illnesses, but the authors have no personal experience with said illnesses.

I love the style of the book, the drawings are simply gorgeous. I would actually love to print out a few and hang them on my walls.
I think that anyone who is suffering from depression or an anxiety disorder and panic attacks will be able to relate to certain situations or feelings that are shown in the book.

That said, the story is definitely a personal one and it’s important to remember that everyone's story is unique. Not everyone can afford therapy and some have to wait months for a place in therapy. Other people are dependent on drug treatment and spend a lot of time finding a suitable drug. And not everyone has a partner or family members to support them. And there are also people (like me) who have other chronic illnesses on top of their depression and anxiety.
Don't be discouraged if the story doesn't suit you completely, just pick what feels good.

I really liked that the book made me feel like I wasn’t alone. It’s not always easy to open up to others…and I guess it wasn’t the easiest thing for the author to tell her story and to open up to…well, everyone. But I‘m thankful she did because even if only one person can draw hope from the book, it was worth it.

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Loved this book! Thank you so much for writing this. The struggles that Debbie faces are very relatable to so many. She truly opened up her soul in this story and it shows. The images throughout were amazing and added to depth to the story.

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