Thank you Netgalley and Oni Press for allowing me to read a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3,5 stars*

In Sheets we follow Marjorie, a teenage girl, and Wendell, a ghost, who are both outcasts and are struggling to fit in. After Wendell visits Marjorie’s laundromat, they realize they can help each other.

I read this graphic novel in one sitting. It was pretty enjoyable. I love how the author combined complex themes with laundry. The world was a bit confusing at first, but it gets better towards the ending. The art style isn’t my favourite, but I loved how the colours changed between the real world and the afterlife. If you like The Sad Ghost Club, you’ll definitely enjoy this book.

I enjoyed the artwork in this graphic novel! I liked the depiction of the human world and the ghost world, and I assume there will be an expansion of the differences in future books. Basically, the main human character runs her family’s laundry mat and is dealing with grief over her mom’s death. The main ghost character does not like that he is dead, so she sneaks into the human world. They both end up helping each other and starting a friendship.

This book heavily deals with the grief of losing your mother and sorrow over death, if you cannot handle that do not read this book.

*This book was given to me by Netgallery for an honest review*

I absolutely loved this book! If you love ghost stories and finding a place where you belong then this is the book for you!

This book was an emotional joy ride! The problems the main protagonists Marjorie and Wendell deal with are so relatable. Majorie going through and having to be an adult while still being a teenager while Wendell trying to find the place he belongs had me at the edge of my chair wondering what was going to happen next.

If you love good feeling, atmospheric reads then this is the one for you!

After hearing nothing but amazing things about Sheets from the ‘Books Unbound’ podcast, I knew I wanted to read it myself. I’m an avid graphic novel reader and so I’m surprised it took me as long as it did to get around to this series. This coming of age story is so heartwarming and beautiful. The art style, colour palette and story are almost addictive -I mean I read all three books in the trilogy back-to-back- I was so engaged with the story and genuinely loved the characters, I’ll be thinking about them for a long time coming. I would recommend this to those starting with graphic novels and those well versed just the same! Truely an amazing read.

Following a teenager named Marjorie who is struggling to keep her head above water and stop feeling invisible along with a ghost named Wendall who is feeling the same in the afterlife, Sheets is both heartwarming and poetic. I loved the illustrations and the message that you never really know when a connection will come along to help you feel seen and valued. The muted tones add to the vibes of the story. Loved it!

I read this very quickly as it flowed really fast. I enjoyed the story as it was sad at first but had the happy ending.

“Sheets” follows 13 year old Marjorie who runs her family’s laundromat after her mothers passing and her fathers descend into depression. It’s a bumpy ride keeping the business running but with the help of an unlikely friend the laundromat thrives in the end.

I was pretty confused in the beginning and it took a while to get into but when I did I enjoyed it! The art style has a nostalgic feel to it:)

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this story so much. Great read for fans of Dancing at the Pity Party and The Girl from the Sea. A mixture of humor, grief, and pure imagination. I love how the author combined more complex themes with the mundanity of laundry. The illustrations are gorgeous, I especially loved the use of different palettes when switching between worlds and the woodcutting style for the story within a story. The quality of story and art match each other.

This was just such a wholesome and beautiful read. Every spread took my breath away and the story made me that weird happy-sad and I just FELT so much while reading it. And Wendell has my whole heart!

Sheets by Brenna Thummler is a quick, sweet, coming-of-age story about a Junior High School girl who has to contend with crushes, bullies, grief and loss, stress, work, study, self-image, and spooky hauntings! This girl needs a break!

The graphic novel art style is a riot of colour when we follow the living and is a monotone blue when we follow the dead, this contrast really helps to give a depth to the weight of feelings of those who live in the land of the dead. It also helps to give a sense of urgency and panic to the stressful situation that our heroine finds herself in.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel and will be looking to pick up a physical copy for my collection and to look out for the sequel, too. This was a 5 star for me!

Thank you to NetGalley for making it possible for me to read this graphic novel.

I'm a person who goes to the library a lot but since I'm not from an English speaking country, their collection of English books is small and their collection of English graphic novels is non-existent. That's why I'm really happy that I got the chance to read Sheets through NetGalley. I've seen it around on Instagram quite a lot.

A few remarks: the art style wasn't my favorite personally, I prefer a more detailed art style but I did like the way the ghosts were drawn, those were adorable. The world was a bit confusing to me at first, you have the human and the ghost world. In the beginning it wasn't exactly clear how the world worked but towards the end it became better.

One thing but this is totally my fault, is that I thought it was going to be a lot more wholesome. This graphic novel deals with quite some serious topics, so please look up trigger warnings before you go into this.

I didn't know "Sheets" was a graphic novel when I borrowed it. I don't usually read graphic novels. But, I gave it a chance, and I don't regret it one bit.

Marjorie (a girl) and Wendell (a ghost) live parallel lives. Both are outcasts, struggling to fit in. Then Wendell happens upon Marjorie's laundromat and they realize that they can help each other.

This book is so impossibly wholesome. Wendell the ghost is so innocent and pure but he has a good heart and truly wants to help Marjorie.

The author also has the incredible ability to make a reader hate a character with a passion. That's how I felt about Mr Saubertuck and half of the laundromat's customers.

Despite the book's younger audience, it was able to touch on some deeper topics like grief/loss and PTSD in an understandable way.

Overall, this is a really solid graphic novel and I can't wait to read the sequel, "Delicates". Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Final rating: 4.5/5

Thank you to the author/illustrator, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.

I found this story both interesting and cute. It deals with a child's life when someone she loves is taken away and steps into the responsible role while her parent deals with turmoil making it hard for to be what she and her sibling need. It's both sad and true how sometimes, the child has to be the role model and take steps to care for one's family. Very cute story (and sad at times) while still maintaining an innocence. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a bittersweet graphic novel. Artwork and concept was a very cute take on the after life as well.

My Rating: 4 Stars.

If I had to use just three words to describe this graphic novel, they would be: wholesome, heartbreaking and nostalgic.

Luckily, I can use more than just three words, so let me explain…

“Sheets” follows two intertwining stories, beginning with Marjorie – a thirteen-year-old who runs her family’s business - and then introducing Wendell, a ghost-boy who struggles to fit in with those around him.

Marjorie grapples with the recent death of her mother and the depression that has turned her “100% opaque” father into a ghost, all while juggling the operation of a laundromat with her school schedule. Meanwhile, in the ghost world, Wendell grieves his own death, telling outlandish stories to his peers in order to avoid facing how he really died, and finding himself unable to make friends as a result.

I’d like to start by stating that the illustrations for this graphic novel are absolutely STUNNING! The use of a limited colour palette sets the tone for each scene and helps give insight into the character’s emotions.

Brenna Thummler has such a strong ability to make readers care about the story’s characters – whether it is loving them or hating them. Wendell’s character, as a whole, felt so wholesome and innocent, which only broke my heart for what he had been through. Meanwhile, I despised the main antagonist, Mr. Saubertuck, the instant he was introduced.

Thummler also manages to deal with such heavy topics, like death and grief in a heartwarming and innocent way. In no way does this story minimize these topics. Rather, the depiction of ghosts as literal bedsheets adds an innocence to the narrative, making the themes more easily digestible for a young audience, while simultaneously adding a layer of nuance and meaning.

I really enjoyed this story, though I often found myself wishing there was more of it. At times, I was confused, wondering if I had missed a page or two because the narrative seemed to shift so quickly! But, given that this is middle grade fiction, a fast-paced story makes sense. It also manages to the ghostly themes of the book!


This book is a 4 out of 5 stars for me, and I will definitely be re-reading it this Halloween!

This was just not for me. It was so confusing. Why was a child allowed to work the laundromat by herself? Why was this grown-ass man approaching a child and trying to manipulate and sabotage her into giving him the property? I don't know. It felt very scooby doo-ish, and not in a good way.

Disappointed with this one. I didn't enjoy it at all and the illustration style made me uncomfortable.
Maybe too young for me to have enjoyed so I wont expand too much on my thoughts as it would be unfair.

A graphic novel about the life of a girl who works in the laundry shop that she inherited from her mother. Her father lives a life isolated from people after the death of the mother. The girl takes care of all the family's business even though she is still a teenager. Her life intersects with the ghost of a young boy, and the journey begins.
I see that the writer portrayed the girl's suffering well, so how can a teenager take care of an entire family while she is the one who needs care, and her portrayal of the ghost boy and his feeling that he has been forgotten was painful, but it is realistic. Sometimes people forget what should not be forgotten.
The style of writing and drawing gave the situation that the author wanted to communicate to the readers.
The book is suitable for teenagers who think they need attention.
In this book, they may find that there are those who suffer like them or more than them.
I may be old but I don't like kids being interested in dating at this age.
I felt the suffering of mar jorie and wendell and loved the attempts of the ghosts to help so much that I believed in their existence, the author succeeded in convincing me of that.
I look forward to reading the rest of the parts.

I’d seen Sheets all over socials for quite a while so it was nice to be able to pick it up and see what it was about. It’s a sweet story with real heart, super cute ghosties too, but it has some nice messages to take away.

It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on grief, the death of a loved one, financial insecurity, & others.

Marjorie is treading water. At just thirteen (13) she must maintain her family’s laundromat, take care of her preschool-aged younger brother, go to school, & flow through the parental responsibilities that her father has long since abandoned. Since her mother's passing in a freak swimming accident at the local lake, Marjorie has been faced with turmoil, stress, & a slew of dread, all of which she has had to wade through alone. The family business suffers as she teeters to attempt to maintain some normalcy in her young life. The grownups around town show her no mercy, almost berating her for needing to attend school because she was not able to open the laundromat on the hour. In what appears to be the final hour, reprieve comes via the dirty sheet of a young ghost, Wendell.

Before moving forward with this review I would like to take a moment to highlight the content warning. This story deals almost exclusively with grief. Marjorie’s mother died & her father has all but physically abandoned his children as a consequence of what one might assume is Depression. Marjorie is faced with very detrimental circumstances. Her parent's passing is present throughout this story & emphasis is placed on the act of dying. While this is taking place, Wendell’s death at the age of eleven (11) is detailed & used as a means of reflecting on mortality. It is my opinion that the subject matter was approached with tact. However, for young readers who might not yet have been exposed to this topic or who may be particularly sensitive to the concept of loss—specifically the loss of a loved one—I would caution parents & guardians to approach this book ready to discuss what it means to pass away; where we go when we die; what happens to the people left behind. As always, be kind & gentle with yourselves & the young readers in your environments.

I have had this graphic novel sitting on my wish list for some time. It was a stroke of luck that it was made available to me by the publishers. I’m not sure what I had been expecting when I began reading this book. My mind’s eye was caught by the beautiful illustrations & I would be lying if I said these did not play a rather large role in my enjoyment of the book. Though the story itself is interesting & coy, the comic strips themselves were the reason I enjoyed this book so much. All of the characters felt so very alive; they had texture & colours, & their lives were full & detailed. At times, I found myself skipping the written word to delve further into the art.

This story adopts a very morbid stance. Marjorie is just a child & her circumstances were difficult to stomach. I have been the reader that I am today for many moons—my tendencies towards the absurd, the philosophical, the morbid, & overwhelming have been present all the reading years of my life. For some readers, that is not the case. I like to believe that I keep this group in mind when I read stories intended for younger readers. Because of this, I found this story’s tone to be quite shocking. The reader watches the main character shuffle through life, absolutely consumed with the dreadful consequences of her family situation. I won’t lie—I wanted the father to step up his game & found myself frustrated, not on one occasion, by the presence of the adults in this story.

I remember what it was like to be thirteen. I remember what these sentiments felt like. I remember walking through crowds alone to the gaze of grownups who were meant to know better than to let me be on my way. Being placed in this role, the neutral & silent reader was uncomfortable. This is why I must grant praise to the author. One is so often reminded of one’s own experiences, it is not easy to forget where we have come from. The ease by which this book encourages the reader to adopt the mature & theological stance is lovely. I am inclined to believe that it does not necessarily matter if a reader is an adult or a younger person; the author encourages & asks the reader to be present & kind toward Marjorie, & we oblige.

It would be unkind to say that the main obstacle Marjorie faces is the dreadful moustached man & his ploy to boot the family out of their home. Marjorie’s life is consumed by responsibilities. She is in charge of running the family business all on her own while going to school. This leads me to a small qualm. The duress that Marjorie is experiencing is already quite high—obscenely high for a child of her age. I do not believe there needed to be multiple antagonistic adults pinning for her demise all while the reader watches her delve deeper into herself & further away from the world.

The inclusion of multiple grownups looming over her shoulder, waiting for her to fail, felt particularly unfair & rather like overkill. The point is driven home in multiple instances; Marjorie is without parental protection. The main antagonist is breaking into the laundromat to vandalize it in the hopes of using the building for his yoga resort. All the while, Marjorie is suffering from a lack of sleep & is then expected to wake up the next morning & take care of her younger brother, then go to school. I recognize that I am an adult with many years of life experience on my tab. Therefore, I am taking this to heart. However, as I indicated earlier, I have some rather proximate experience in the furrow of Marjorie's life. The wee level of reprieve that is granted to Marjorie via the help of the ghosts is not enough to ease the story forward. One is left feeling horrible for a child who has legitimately no one looking out for her.

Sure, the swimming teacher & his family are kind to Marjorie but, the entire story revolves around the terrible time she is having, daily, surviving life with absent parents & tormenting local adults. I would have appreciated it if she had been given more freedom to be kind. One antagonist is enough, the entire town didn’t need to ride her back until it broke.

The first half of this story was very slow-moving & this worked to its benefit. Tensions were high as the characters were being introduced & readers were given the opportunity to understand each of the two main kids. Wendell’s character was such a vivid light in the darkened shades of his surroundings. Again, the illustrations that were paired with this part of the story were lovely & did an exceedingly good job of setting the tone of these sequences. I very much appreciated that each of the young protagonists felt like they were, indeed, kids of their age. This is perhaps aided by the fact that this story takes place in the 90s. The lack of media & collectivized gadgets eases the reader into the moment.

I opt to bring forth my adult perspective in the case of Wendell’s death; when we learn that all of the ghosts residing in the black & white town are the spirits of those that were forgotten, I felt a great pang in my heart. All those young children were left behind by the forgetfulness of people who were meant to be their guardians. Perhaps I am reading too much into this. The young boy who was killed by a train might have died many, many years ago—we are not given the logistics of the time of forgetting. Yet, I could not help but feel sad. Wendell died all of two (2) years ago & he is stuck because, as the story indicates, his own parents have forgotten about him.

Rather than twiddle thumbs, the story catapults itself forward after the main conflict has arisen. Wendell & his ghost friends arrive in the night to help Marjorie save her laundromat & give her special ghost detergent that will clear away any & all stains. Had the book set itself at a quicker pace throughout its entirety the ending might not have felt so rushed. Given the amount of information the reader is given, about both protagonists & the antagonist, I think it would have been to its benefit to see a greater restraint in terms of pacing.

This is the first book in what appears to now be a series of graphic novels, all of which I am eager to read. I am hopeful for the second instalment & will tune in for the third. This story set the tone for nostalgia & realism, all while guiding young readers through beautiful illustrations, reminiscent of a coastal town in autumn. I am rather glad to see this style of book remain beloved & highlight the very important subject matters that it does. In all, this was a good book. Readers will surely find characters to root for & questions to ask. If anything, this story might delight the curious reader, one who is eager to ask questions & delve deeper.

Ultimately, I am glad to have met Marjorie & Wendell. The pair of friends, once brief acquaintances, now lifetime soulmates, shed light on the love that can be shared when you have a friend. There is something to be said for the quaint breeze of youth that reminds us of how good it felt to be cared about by a friend; to have someone to call on when we needed a laugh or someone to share a favourite snack with. This book reminds me of the starting point of many of my friendships & how thankful I am for the ones that have lasted since far before my thirteenth year.

Thank you to NetGalley, Oni Press, & Brenna Thummler for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed reading this comic book. The way two worlds collide, the living world where Marjorie works a quite hard and lonely life and the ghost world where Wendell "lives" trying to find purpose, is amazing!