Bex Ollerton has complied a lovely collection of comics that represent what mental health struggles can feel like. I’ve read a decent amount of mental health books in my time and haven’t related to any as strongly as this one. The simple and beautiful artwork finds a way to express what words can’t when it comes to mental health, and I may even find myself sharing some with my therapist XD

<b> 3.5 stars </b>

I love love loved the artwork. The colour palette was one of my favourites. This book is going to be an important addition to the booksphere. As someone who struggles with depression and anxiety some pages where like looking in a mirror. I’m also 100 percent sure I’ve ADHD.

If you’re well versed in mental health and self-help novels I don’t really see you getting anything new from Lavender Clouds- though again I did enjoy the illustrations, I’d give it a chance for that alone- and some pages were a little repetitive. However, if you’re only beginning to try to understand mental health either for yourself or a friend then this is a perfect starting point. Plus again, the colourful illustrations and cute character work is a bonus.

Overall: I liked it and I would recommend this graphic novel.

*Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I love graphic novels /comics. For me is the most artistic way to express a story and in this story Bex Ollerton found a beautiful way to tell her journey that is so personal and intimate that it closely touches every fiber of my neurodivergent heart.
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It is difficult to try to find the words so that another person can understand what goes through the heart and mind of a neurodivergent person and in this beautiful book it is so well expressed that it is felt on the skin of everyone who sits down to read it.
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It is both so simple and difficult to understand at the same time. But I think it's just a matter of taking the time, in this case time to read.
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Not only is it about neurodivergent, it touches on mental health issues and gives voice to put into words or drawings dark parts that are not always considered. Representation is important so we can start to notice how different and varied we can be.
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No two people are the same and no journey is the same as another, perhaps it does not represent everyone but I am glad that there are more books like this and that they exist to reach and touch those who need them.
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Thanks to Bex Ollerton and Andrews McMeel publishing for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

"Lavender Clouds" is a set of comics about the author's struggles with mental health, neurodivergence, burnout, and more. The comics are extremely relatable, especially if you struggle with the same issues as the author. I do and I found myself nodding along to each comic. It was nice to not feel alone with my own issues. The only downside is that it's a tough read if you are currently in not a good headspace.

I was interested in reading through this book because I was positive that I've seen these comics floating around the web - and I definitely have! It was nice to read through the entire collection. I relate heavily to a lot of the feelings and themes that Ollerton made comics about. I think that this collection will help others to know that they are not alone in these feelings. Highly recommend.

Thanks for letting me preview this graphic novel.
It was incredibly inspirational, the importance of mental health is still so underrated. And these drawings that tell of daily life, are great testimony.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for this E-ARC.

This graphic novel talks about the experience and reality of being neurodiverse, and in this case having ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder).

As someone who has had ADD, I saw a lot of myself within this comic alongside the experiences like burning out and the emotional side of having ADD. The art style is pretty and colourful reflecting the mood of the authors feelings and emotions.

Highly recommend if you are interested in learning about ADHD or if you are neurodiverse definitely give this book a go.

A pretty good string of comics that didn't do a lot for me unfortunately. Regardless, very well illustrated.

The poetic title Lavender Clouds caught my attention, and made me read this book. And I’m very glad for that!

Reading this book was like traveling back in time to my younger self.

I recognized so many facets of my own journey: internal dialog, struggles and motivations in this graphic novel.

Like the piles of internal shame, fear of people being mad at you for no reason, anxiety around answering other people’s messages and procrastination loops.

Very grateful that this book exists and is so very honest about mental health. That makes the road to getting to know and embrace your own pace a little less lonely.

Bex Ollerton | @Schnumn filled this graphic novel with tiny funny twists, pastel colored illustration and well drawn graphic characters. A joy to read, with a nuanced and hopeful ending.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for receiving an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did not think I would be called out several times reading this book. I have requested to have this book in our library, and I will be getting a copy for myself to share with my family.

I'm new to Bex Ollerton, but honestly surprised I haven't found them earlier on social media! I will be following ASAP now

I really loved this book! It's a collection of comics (not one linear story, or even related comics to progress a story, though some you can tell are definitely tied to each other) It's a collection of individual comics about the authors mental health, ADHD, anxiety, autism, and depression, And let me tell you, it was HARD to see myself to clearly in some of those comics. I felt very seen in a way that healed and a way that hurt.

If you deal with mental health or illness issues, this may be a really comforting read if you can relate to it and feel less alone! If you do not deal with mental illness of your own, I'd hope that reading these comics could help you better understand the inner workings of a loved one that does struggle.

I saved a bunch of the pages while reading, and I just know I'll need to buy a physical copy of the book when it comes out. The author also has a book about Autism specifically and I'm looking forward to reading that one as well.

absolutely loved this series of comics, as someone who suffers mental health and also has a neurodivergent mind, it was really comforting to read comics that i heavily relate to.

the comics move from serious to comical and everything in between which just shows the scope of how neurodivergent people cope on the day to day

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend and I can’t wait to buy a copy for myself and I really enjoyed the art style 🙂

Rating 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really related to this, the art is sweet and the mental health and social issues that the book focuses on are really relevant. I think a lot of people will feel a connection to this book. I'd love to hang some of the pages in places I'll see them as a reminder to myself on hard days.

I liked this collection of comics, I just wish that it had been a bit better edited. There are quite a few comics that were very similar in theme and meaning and it felt a bit repetitive. I did like that comics tended to go from discovering your neurotype, to the pit, to setting boundries and learning your accommodations, to hope. I've seen that some people found the tone depressing, and while I can see that, I felt that I understood what Ollerton was trying to convey.

This was a joy to read, thank you so much for the ARC!

I'm a huge fan of Debbie Tung and her writing and drawing style, and this was similar to that (in a good way!) Alle Debbie Tung Fans will love this book. The only thing I was missing was a clearer red line through the entire book, or maybe a bit more fictional touch to it.

But the read was great. And I love the theme both in the characters, colors and the mental health / cronichal health. Health problems like the one you cant see are something that the society needs to talk more about, and this book is really helping with this. I belive that this book will both be helpful for the people experince this and can relate, but also people around them who can get to know whta happens inside their heads.

Thumbs up and five stars for this! I love it!

3.5 stars!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book. My opinions are my own.

The first thing that drew me to this book was its cover. Of course that is often the case with books, but I just loved the title, the colours, the clouds... It immediately felt like something I might relate to. And I did, to some parts of the book. I recognized some of the struggles that come with being neurodivergent, and also some of the despair that comes with burnout.

A lot of similar comic books (that I've read, at least) combine those heavy feelings with humour or uplifting comics in between the darker ones. That is not what this book is like. It is a very personal story. I want to thank the author/artist for being so honest and showing the depth of her feelings, even when they get more and more bleak. Those feelings definitely came across and made me feel a bit of her pain. It does end on a slightly more positive note and I hope the artist can hold on to that for a good long while :)

Though some aspects were absolutely relatable and the art work was STUNNING, I felt this was a bit repetitive and focused too much on the negatives. It felt a bit overwhelming to read. Still absolutely loved the art though!

As someone who’s autistic and adhd, I felt so seen and understood in this book. The author really seems to understand the struggles people like me face. I very much appreciate that this book exists. It makes me feel a tiny bit less alone with my struggles.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book for review.

This was such a wonderful little collection of comics. I found it so relatable! I have no doubt that a few of the topics will come up in my therapy sessions lol.

I will say that the overall tone of this book was more negative than I was expecting. Were I in a darker place, I think I'd have had trouble getting through it. I would not recommend this to those who are in one of the "valleys" of their healing journey. Specific anxiety triggers are mentioned, such as making phone calls, self-deprecation, ruminating thoughts, etc. The author's thought patterns are plainly written out, including the highs and lows of the situations. It would be easy to spiral into your own anxiety with those!

That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'll definitely be recommending this one be added to our collection at my library!