I have had a lot of friends that grew up in strict Catholic households and felt a lot of Catholic -guilt growing up when they didn't attend church or confessional. This graphic novel helped me understand what they were going through a little more. I loved how not only did Catherine feel guilty from not attending church the one time, but she went all the way to think she was possessed. To my non-religious self, I found that hilarious. The graphics in this one were great, they matched the dark vibes of the book. I also liked how there were just a few characters., you really got to see each of there personalities and they were all enjoyable to follow. I read this one in one sitting, so I would definitely recommend it.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

A really well written and beautifully stunning story. The illustrations were vibrant and evocative, and the book keeps you guessing - is Catherine really possessed by a demon/many demons, is she having a mental breakdown, or are the giant black blobs just manifestations of her guilt? I read the majority of this graphic novel in one sitting, and I liked how everything played out. I had to shave off half a star because I can't, on principle, give a book 5 stars if there's cheating. My sympathy for Catherine dropped about 80% once that was revealed. I'm so glad Manolo stood firm and moved on at the end; he deserved better.

A beautifully illustrated graphic novel that tackles generational and religious trauma, relationships, and morals. It's a quick read but I really enjoyed it! The imagery is beautiful and it's a very relatable story of how we can create our worst nightmares ourselves. I do wish the demon that is haunting Catherine was more fleshed out but I think the twist kind of sets that in a different direction. There's funny, sad, and tender moments throughout. I'll definitely be giving this another read and checking out Meyer's future works.

I had originally started reading this on Webtoons years ago and was excited to see the book version. While I was invested in Catherine and her relationships with others, I found myself disconnected from the plot at the start. The demon aspect didn't feel as fleshed out as I would have expected, though it mostly falls into place later on. The second half of the book was emotionally impactful, with Catherine's trauma and guilt out in the open. The ending was bittersweet and hopeful, and the soft art style compliments this well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for the ARC!

Beautiful and captivating graphic novel. The story is a harmony of suspense, emotion, and comedic relief. I felt so connected with the main character and her battle with emotional turmoil and her moral compass. A beautiful story for anyone who has struggled with mental health and/or religious trauma.

Thank you! This one looks amazing and full review will be posted with TBR book tour date! I appreciate this opportunity.

"A relatable adult graphic novel about a woman who skips Sunday mass for the first time in her life only to discover she's possibly being possessed by a demon.

In her 20-something years of existence, Catherine never skipped mass once. As a recovering Irish American Catholic, she has mostly traded the world of communion and confessionals for the "city-girl" struggle of work-life balance, family, and her relationships. The only thing she has not been able to shake is her fear that something bad will happen if she misses Sunday mass.

But her fears become a reality when she skips mass for the first time and discovers she is now being possessed by a demon claiming to be the prince of hell. As she takes matters into her own hands and attempts to exorcise these demons (both the paranormal and emotional kind), Catherine must face her buried guilt and what it truly means to be good.

A cathartic and engaging view into the messy life of an urban women in her early twenties, Anna Meyer's Saint Catherine is truly a story of letting go of guilt and taking responsibility for your desires, hopes, and mistakes."

There's nothing Irish American Catholics do better than guilt. I should know.

Catherine misses mass one time and is now possessed by a demon. We get to see how the demon encompasses all of her Catholic guilt and quest to become a better person to avoid the depths of Hell.
Thoughts: I devoured this graphic novel in one sitting. The artwork is lovely and I could feel Catherine's internal turmoil. I also found the ending to be humorous regarding Vassago.

I absolutely loved Saint Catherine! It was such an amazing exploration of Catholic guilt using a metaphor of possession. As someone who was raised Catholic, it was incredibly easy to relate to everything in the story. I absolutely loved the illustrations of the demons and Saint Catherine because they gave a reflection of the traditional imagery of both with Catherine looking like a stained glass and the demons looking like oil ink blobs. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has any connection to religious guilt or just likes religious horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this digital eARC! :)
Tone/Vibes: dark, emotional, hopeful, reflective, sad, and medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Rating: 3.75/5.0

I was immediately intrigued by the concept of this graphic novel when first requesting it. The tone is quite dark, but the art is very calming and almost sepia toned. I liked that the composition was rather monochromatic with its storytelling.

The way the author depicted religious trauma and anxiety was very well done and believable. The message was clear that Catherine was only hurting herself without knowing it. But, from personal experience, also growing up in the Catholic Church (while both parents are still actively practicing), it was very relatable.

I really enjoyed the details of the side characters as well. Overall, it was a great story, and I would definitely like to read more from this author in the future!

Very much enjoyed it to the point where I think i might buy myself a physical copy once it's out! The art style and color palette worked so well for the story. Regardless of whether or not you grew up catholic there is so much to relate with this story.

This graphic novel gets it right! This story of Catherine trying to live her normal young adult life with the legacy of guilt and shame that comes with growing up in a fairly strict Catholic family is relatable for sure. The illustrations also mix in fantastical elements that mirror the "mysteries" of religion. I wish someone would've handed me this in high school!

eARC from Netgalley

I am so glad to see more religious trauma graphic novels coming out. I really enjoyed Youth Group awhile back. This book falls in the vein of Catholic trauma and being adult who still feels obligated to go to church and the guilt that can arise from that.
I relate to Catherine in this dilemma and think this graphic will resonate with a lot of teens and new adults.
Religious trauma is a tough subject, but an important one for us to talk about.
We can outgrow or change our views as we get older and leave the shadow of our parents lives and decisions, and I think this story does a great job of navigating this.
I will definitely make an effort as a librarian to get this book into our libraries.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my e-ARC of Saint Catherine!

•𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐄

1. If you grew up Catholic but have been led astray, then you’ll fully understand how Catherine has been feeling lately.
2. Does your guilt eat at you day after day? Try coming clean. It worked for Catherine - it could work for you.
3. Catherine decides to skip mass one Sunday morning and it changes the trajectory of her life. If you’ve ever been through that, you’ll relate well to Catherine!
4. Love to laugh? Catherine’s little demon buddy will have you cracking up!
5. If you’re looking for a graphic novel with LGBTQ rep, this one has it!

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

In her 20-something years of existence, Catherine never skipped mass once. As a recovering Irish American Catholic, she has mostly traded the world of communion and confessionals for the “city-girl” struggle of work-life balance, family, and her relationships. The only thing she has not been able to shake is her fear that something bad will happen if she misses Sunday mass.

But her fears become a reality when she skips mass for the first time and discovers she is now being possessed by a demon claiming to be the prince of hell. As she takes matters into her own hands and attempts to exorcise these demons (both the paranormal and emotional kind), Catherine must face her buried guilt and what it truly means to be good.

What happens when skip mass for the first time? For Catherine, it means being-haunted maybe by a demon, maybe by her own guilt. Saint Catherine is a chilling, introspective graphic novel that explores religious guilt and the struggle for self-acceptance. The eerie art and haunting narrative make you question what's real and what's internalized fear. As someone raised Catholic, this story hit deep. A must-read for those who psychological horror with emotional depth.

Fantastic!
This graphic novel hits a lot of check boxes for me.
I was raised by a Catholic mother who, thankfully, wasn't super pushy about me being Catholic, but I did learn about what Catholicism means to her. I chose my own path and I felt that I could relate to Catherine in that way.
I could understand her being scared about how not wanting to go to church anymore could come back to haunt her and in a way, it did, until the real truth is revealed. (I found it pretty funny to be honest.)
I thought that some of the choices that Catherine made, mostly in relation to how it affected her boyfriend were not great, but people make mistakes and they were able to make the right decisions in the end.
The art was fantastic, and I loved Catherine's two best friends as well as her roommate/best friend's girlfriend, it was a nice dynamic that Catherine had people that really cared for her during the tough time she was going through.
Overall, I think that Catherine's story gave me a lot to think about my own past and the future and I think stories that can make you really connect on an emotional level are some of the best ones out there.

Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.

Wow. The minute I started this book I could not put it down. This graphic novel has it all. Great story, great characters, clear artwork, and a fun twist at the end. I highly recommend.

I did not notice that this was a graphic novel when I first picked it up, so color me pleasantly surprised when I first started reading. I love the art and the use of red throughout the book. In terms of the story, our protagonist Catherine is just going through it. I thought she was a very interesting character in that I felt so much sympathy for what she was going through, but she is also conflict-avoidant to an extent that is bothersome. However, the novel takes care to show why she is that way which makes it more understandable.

I was surprised by the plot twist and I thought it was really clever how the author set it up. Definitely recommend for those looking for a story about taking accountability and growing from your mistakes while wrestling with that old-fashioned Catholic guilt.

Okay so, I don’t usually read graphic novels. I have actually never read one before. But Saint Catherine seemed really cool, so I requested the ARC, and I’m really happy I did!

The story is good. The pacing is good. And I loved the art style. It is such a well-done graphic novel overall. Catherine’s struggles with faith and identity felt so raw and real, even for someone like me who didn’t grow up religious at all. The novel explores a lot of stuff. It looks at guilt, self-worth, and the pressure to live up to certain moral or religious expectations etc.

Also, I really liked the relationships in the book. Catherine’s dynamics with her friends, her boyfriend, and especially her parents were complex and well-written. The way the book handled those relationships felt very natural.

That said, it wasn’t quite what I expected. The cover made it seem more horror focused, but it is not really a horror story. Still, I had a great time reading it, and I would definitely recommend checking it out when it drops or requesting the ARC if you can. It is a quick, fast paced read, and I would also suggest reading the author’s note at the end!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC, and best of luck to the author on the release!

I really enjoyed this graphic novel! The story of Catherine having to deal with guilt and trying to figure out how to properly navigate her life with it, while inadvertently making huge changes that don't just go away was well done. It's a really good portrayal of religious guilt, and seeing how much it affected Catherine was well done. I thought the art style is gorgeous, the selective colouring is really well used to aid in storytelling as well. The twist at the end I did like, because it ties it a bit more into reality. I do think if it wasn't as well done it could have skated into the realm of "it was all her imagination" but the fact it still had this lasting impact onto Catherine I think was a good move.
In all, i would absolutely recommend this to anyone dealing with religious questioning, of course, but also just anyone looking for a really well done graphic novel! I'd rate it at a 4.5, bumped to a 4 due to netgalley restrictions.
Thank you to netgalley and First Second books for giving access to the arc!