In her signature comic style, Debbie Tung takes on a more serious topic from her other books as she tackles her own experiences with depression and anxiety. Her story serves as a help manual and cry of encouragement for those suffering for mental illness and is useful for those who know someone suffering from mental illness to better understand what their loved one is going through. Each page can stand as its own slice-of-life mini story, but overall they create a cohesive narrative as well. A timely read in today's mental health conversations.

Thank you to NetGalley, Debbie Tung, and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy of 'Everything Is OK" in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt extremely long and repetitive. While I liked and related to the subject matter, I felt like the same points were being made over and over again. I resorted to skimming a lot of it and even got tired of the illustrations. The plot was there, but it was all over the place, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but didn't work for this novel. There was almost no cohesion between the pages. I've read and loved Debbie Tung's novels before, but this one just wasn't that great.

This book is so, so special. Debbie Tung captures what it's like to struggle with mental health and I could really relate to her experience. She also instilled this strong feeling of hope in this book, which is such an amazing gift to readers. I really appreciated the representation of counseling in this book. I loved the illustrations and her use of black and white versus color. I am definitely going to get a physical copy! I can see myself recommending this book to so many people.

“For anyone who is going through a tough time. You are not alone. You matter. You are enough just as you are right now.”

That’s the dedication. It's kind of a visual “Killing Me Softly,” a la Roberta Flack.

Everything Is OK has a narrative woven through the book, but it is not something you could put on a plot diagram. After all, a narrative doesn’t always have to have a plot. Over the course of this narrative Tung covers depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, and the feeling of just not trying/doing/being enough with aching poignance. Brushes of color also do a lot to convey the emotional landscape.

The departure from the vague narrative to a pages-spanning scene with a mental health professional highlighted the importance of this moment in the narrative. There’s definitely therapy evangelism, and I support that. It wasn’t exaggerated for effect. The scene felt almost stark in that respect, although the art style remained as it had been throughout. There are several illustrations of therapy sessions, and the side-by-sides of how the protagonist appears and how they feel inside rings really true.

The protagonist’s partner seems like a really good person and reminded me of all those awful times my own partner couldn’t help me, even though he wanted to. They are wonderfully supportive and patient, modeling one way that a partner can help, even if it doesn’t feel like much.

There are a lot of affirmations and aphorisms throughout the latter portion of the book, some of which resonate more powerfully than others. Overall, I probably could use less of the second person, even though it hit me like a hammer in the dedication, and fewer of the spreads that look like they were designed to be hung on a wall.

A beautiful depiction of depression and anxiety. The drawings and use of color add to the story and the message immensely. A must-read for anyone going through mental health problems or anyone who knows someone that is going through these things. This is one of those books I will read and reread again and again!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This took me a bit to read because I was in the mood that this book is based on. So it took me a bit more. But I like this author and I like her comics. I recommend reading all of her books. I will definitely read more!

This graphic novel is an exploration of mental health and, therefore, contains many triggering topics. I was looking to use this text within my classroom library; however, the age group for which this book is suitable is not diverse enough for my needs. I would recommend it to older students who may be interested in reading about and exploring the issue of mental health and wellness.

EVERYTHING IS OK is a beautiful and intimate look at anxiety and depression, their effects on author Debbie Tung's life, and the road to recovery. This graphic novel tells a very particular story about one person's experience but its messages are universal; there is something for everyone here. Its insistence on self-compassion as a recovery tool is an important one, that will help many, many people.

Using comics, Debbie Tung does a marvelous job in describing falling into anxiety and depression, but also finding your way back out.

Expertly portraying how recovery is never linear and most importantly, takes time and effort, Tung is mindful and honest about how difficult it is to live with these illnesses and to recover from them.

Sometimes we need reminders, like this book, to show that we are not alone and with proper help, can move forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced read. This is my honest review.

I simply loved this book and the drawing style. This book is a memoir of how author Debbie Tung experiences anxiety and depression and how she manages to come to terms with them. It shows that it is also very important to have professional help and support from people close to you.
I think this book would help many people who struggle with their mental health.

Coming from being in a really bad place myself right now, this book did so much to help me understand that I am literally not alone. I have realized that I need to take more time to myself and do things that give me joy instead of always being there to please people. More people suffer than anyone can really realize. This book def. helped me on my mental health journey and made me realize that I need to start speaking up and letting more people in.


Thank you to the publisher Andrews McMeel Publishing for the advanced copy.

This was such a great book! I loved reading all about the author's struggles with depression and anxiety. It's always nice to read about something that you've gone through before and know that you're not alone. The artwork is also fantastic and I loved the color palette that was used throughout the book. Overall I would highly recommend this to anyone. I think it's a great book that everyone should read.

I've been reading more and more graphic novels that talk about mental health and I've realized that I really like reading about that topic in this format. Seeing these stories being told visually has been such a different experience for me. You see the journey of the struggle, hitting rock-bottom and then the recovery. There isn't a pill you can take that will immediately "cure" you from these mental health issues. It's a long journey of unlearning some self-distructive behavior for example and listening to your own needs by setting boundaries for yourself and other people.

There were parts that I found quite relatable. It's easy to get stuck in this spiral of sadness and it's so hard to get out of it. This memoir also shows the importance of having a support system. People who will help you get out of this spiral. There is always someone who's willing to be that support system for you!

Lastly, I would like to mention the way Tung played with colors. Every time the "character" (so the author herself) feels a little more hopeful, the drawings turn into colored drawings. The rest of the comic panels are gray. I'm pretty sure this was done on purpose and I think that's so clever.

I've enjoyed books by this author/ artist in the past so I knew I would like the art style. This is sort of a memoir/ inspirational book for people struggling with mental illness. The author discusses her acceptance of her depression and anxiety and strategies she has learned to cope with it. This is a very heartfelt book and definitely something that would help a struggling person feel less alone.

What a stunning graphic novel of owning your mental health and learning to exist in a world alongside it.

Loved it!
Full review will be posted soonish and I'll add links to blog as well.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A little disappointed in this one. I’m glad she is getting the help she clearly needed after reading her earlier books. I wish her books were a little more personal. This book was very heavy on the single page “inspirational poster” illustrations. Some of them felt repetitive or like filler. A little more depth would have been nice given the subject matter.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of Everything is Okay by Debbie Tung. This is a graphic novel about a woman suffering from anxiety and depression. Throughout the story, she learns it’s okay not to be okay all of the time and you have to be kind to yourself and not put constant pressure on yourself all of the time. This was such a deep and relatable read and it made me emotional reading about what felt like my own experiences; I would definitely recommend this, especially if you are someone struggling with mental health issues.

This is my first graphic novel by Debbie Tung and I love this so much. This was a brilliant way for Debbie to share her experience about her battle with depression and anxiety, her recovery journey and the support she had along the way.

We follow Debbie as she learns more about herself and why she is suffering from depression and anxiety and how there are days she just didn’t want to get up (We all have those days, don’t we?) When her days seem dark and bleak, she pushes herself to get up and do better. She slowly overcomes her struggles in a mindful manner and I was so happy for her for being brave.

When Debbie is sharing her journey, it feels like she understands me. I could relate to her and I see myself in her drawings. Her journey is raw and honest. She doesn’t try to fluff up her problems and instead gave me a glimpse into her thoughts and how she view herself and the world around her. I love how there are little advice that would help people cope with their struggles, letting people feel they are not alone in fighting their battles.

Although the story is short, it is also intense and it covers mental health in a real way. The story feels bleak at first but it also feels like a warm, fluffy hug especially after a long, hard day. I can’t wait to check out her other book, Quiet Girl in a Noisy World.

Thank you Netgalley and Andrews McMeel publishing for the arc.

Everything Is Okay is a graphic novel memoir about the author's struggle with depression and anxiety and understanding the importance of one's mental health. There are no new revelations, and it is more of a series of short comics rather than a story with one narrative through-line. However, I read this at a time when it was incredibly comforting to be reminded that we all have our own struggles and are not alone.

The graphics are primarily grayscale, with a rare burst of colour in a night sky or nature walk. I enjoyed how these enhanced the beauty of that moment and reflected the author's journey of understanding herself and learning to appreciate the small things.

I recommend this book if you are looking for a quick, encouraging read to help remind you that everything is, or will be, okay. This could also be an excellent gift for a friend or family member; to share one person's experience with mental health struggles.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the DRC!