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!

This was such a unique idea! I loved the storyline and getting to learn about this character and the inner workings of her mind, as well as her relationship with the religion she was brought up in, and how that has impacted her relationships with the people close to her. It was a bit of a dark, spooky vibe but also humorous and with an emotional depth and realism.

Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer is a visually stunning graphic novel with a compelling premise, but it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. The artwork is rich and atmospheric, though the storytelling sometimes feels rushed. While the main character is intriguing, some supporting characters feel underdeveloped, making it hard to fully connect with the story. It’s an enjoyable read for fans of graphic novels, but it leaves you wishing for a bit more depth.

Going into this, I knew we were getting somewhat of a religious graphic novel, but I was not ready, let me tell you.

As the reader you get angst, you get inside look of being possessed by one (or 27 demons), and you get to see the live Catherine built for herself outside of her religion and how those to co-exist and end up saving her (in a way).

I absolutely loved this read and the art! Big thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!

I loved this beautiful and emotional graphic novel about Catholic guilt.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reading copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion!

The twist definitely threw me for a loop! Beautifully illustrated with a storyline that definitely made some of my own old feelings of religious guilt flare up. Still a really enjoyable read though!

I absolutely loved this graphic novel. As someone who grew up Catholic I really connected with the main character Catherine, and I found her story to be intriguing to follow because she was possessed by a demon. The illustrations of this graphic novel are so fun and I loved the demon.

The conflict in this really threw me for a loop because I was not expecting it and it is something I know a lot of people wouldn't be able to get past. The theme throughout the story is forgiveness, both self-forgiveness and grace from others. I loved the side characters in this graphic novel as well, overall I would definitely recommend picking up a physical copy of this issue. I recommend it to all the Catholics and ex-Catholics out there.

Thank you to First Second Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a copy of this graphic novel.

This was a phenomenal graphic novel. Our protagonist Catherine—named after the patron saint—struggles to define what it truly means to be good.

In her twenty years of life, she's never skipped mass. She fears that something terrible will happen once she finally does, because every "first" she's ever had has ended terribly.

Despite her crippling guilt, she does miss Sunday mass, instead spending the day with her boyfriend. She's then possessed by what she sees as a demon, who proposes stealing her soul.

I don't know if it's because of how I was raised, but this story packed a punch and I definitely ugly cried towards the end. There was something about it that resonated so deeply with me, and I really saw myself in Catherine.

The art was cute, but also very impressive! I loved how Catherine's demons were portrayed, and all of the religious imagery was beautiful.

Sending a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Saint Catherine is a visual representation of religious guilt and the inner demons we face in all facets of life. Along with pushing against the ideals your parents hold you to. We may not always agree with the way our parents raised us, once we get older it's up to us to decide if it's the way we want to continue with our lives.
I loved the art, the overall story, and the way it brought in the story of Saint Catherine to mirror the story. The cast is loveable, and the characters are loveable. The main character is flawed in a realistic. I sat and read it in a single sitting. Catherine reflects a lot of us and the doubts that we have in life about whether we're good people or on the right path or a path that our parents would be proud of. At the end of the day, it's up to us to get out of our heads and look around at our lives.

Saint Catherine is a very interesting take on catholic guilt, with a literal personification of a demon. The book juxtaposes the whole thing with a very silly, cartoonish art style. A unique book, I wish the art was more detailed but I loved this unique take on a graphic novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced readers copy of Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer.

I know this book has a fantasy element to it, but it was so relatable. From the family dynamics, to relationships, and reader’s own feelings, this book has a five out of five stars for me. Parts of the book were hard to read, because of the intensity of emotions that appears in the reader, however the whole book feels like a big bear hug. What a wonderful and heartwarming read. This book will speak to those who deal with religious guilt and who feel like they aren’t good enough. Saint Catherine is the perfect book for a moment of comfort in dealing with your own personal struggles.

This was a beautiful graphic novel that will engage readers across life experience. The art is well-done and additive, and the story is relatable, empathetic, and relevant.

As someone who was also raised religious and then dropped it, I can relate a lot to this story. It's actually really well done. Dialogue that works almost all the time, with some excellent imagery and a cool "guilt" is the "demon" idea that actually worked well for the story being told. I liked all the characters, as they were all flawed in some way. I also appreciated the realistic ending, and the unsureness of it all, only made it hit more powerful. A little wordy at times, but overall very much enjoyable read.

Saint Catherine is a reflective and dark yet witty and relatable story about religious trauma and guilt and how we view ourselves when we worry too much about if we are good people. The main character was flawed in a believable way, and the cast was charming. Even the demon was darkly endearing.

First off, the artwork in this book is impeccably beautiful. The images that took up entire pages were my favorite. It really added to enhancing the way Catherine was experiencing the world around her, and her facial expressions portrayed the tension and anxiety she was feeling throughout the plot.

As a milennial with some Catholic guilt, many pieces of Catherine's story resonnated with me. She's a kind and gentle person who is struggling to reconcile with growing up and moving past a lot of the parts of her childhood that troubled her. The problem is she can't - and she's confronted with a legitamite demon who follows her around as a manifestation of her anxieties and guilt. Her current life, a boyfriend & living in the city with her new friends whose lives are growing through major changes, is something she deep down struggles to cope with because she can't seperate herself enough of the "Good Catholic Girl" she was "meant" to be. We see her struggle to communicate this with her mother especially.

The demon becomes scarier and scarier, reminding her that there isn't a way out of the guilt or shame she feels and it really affects her to point where her actions become drastic. The reveal was not what I was expecting, but appreciated as a way for her to be able to move on.

A solid story of a young woman who has a hard time dealing with change, guilt, and moving on - beautifully depicted in the images of the pages.

This story was both expected and unexpected. I think there should be more stories that relate back to a person's religious upbringing and potential trauma associated with it. Living in the "Bible belt," this seems very appropriate! The take on the story was neat, and Anna Meyer did not disappoint. I am thankful for the ARC and plan to purchase a copy for my library's collection.

I selected this book from the catalog because I was drawn in by the artstyle and color palette. Saint Catherine follows the story of a young woman wracked with religious guilt, primarily from her mother. She forces herself to Catholic mass every week, despite not feeling a sense of enjoyment from it. I am a Protestant and have no understanding of the ins and outs of Catholicism. My dad was a former Head Deacon and has been Associate Pastor for the last 15 years. I'm not guilted into attending church and I enjoy it for the most part. I like my Sunday School and learning more about the Bible each week. I'm secure in my faith and haven't experienced Catherine's doubts about her belief. The insidious presence that magnified the heroine's guilt was an interesting touch, even if the denouement was a joke. Despite not relating to the protagonist's plight and judging her past decisions, it was a unique graphic novel. I loved the illustrations, even if I can't say the same for the plot. Saint Catherine may resonate for other people, but I'm not in that particular audience. I'm not perfect myself and I'm certainly no saint!

As a former Catholic who loves graphic novels, this felt like it was written especially for me. The illustrations and color palette are fantastic, the feelings of guilt and fear that Catherine navigates are relatable, and all of the characters are charming. Highly recommend this!

Netgalley graciously provided me with an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Aaaah. good old Catholic guilt. Even when you grow up, move away from your parents and embark on your own life, it never quite leaves you. At least, it definitely has not left Catherine who feels like she HAS to keep going to mass (even though she doesn't believe in it) just to make her SUPER Catholic mom happy. When she ditches ONE TIME, she not only starts seeing a demon, but her entire life starts to implode.
The author does some interesting things here. From changing from grayscale in flashbacks to muted oranges in the present to really trippy dream and demon sequences it works well to demonstrate Catherine's confusion and self-hatred. A good case study on breaking free of indoctrination.