Anna Meyer has certainly captured the weird and specific ways being raised in the Catholic Church and trying to break away from it as a young adult can mess with your mind- Catherine's determination to follow a set of rules and lack of a wider understanding of what makes a "good person" is particularly poignant. The side characters were also all charming and felt real.

The art was lovely and expressive, and I loved the use of a limited color pallet.

My main complaint is that I went into this hoping that the book would have a bit more horror to it, and was disappointed there. I also found that while the emotional arc of the story are completed well, the ending itself felt a little rushed.

Thank you to Netgalley and First Second books for a review copy of this book!

I picked this up based on my interest in St. Catherine of Siena, but as I read it, this book really resonated with me as someone who grew up a cradle Catholic and has struggled in my walk with the faith. It's a perfect read for millennials who grew up religious but grapple with guilt of not living up to their parents' expectations of religiousness.

This was a really good coming of age graphic novel! I flew through this one and found it to be really relatable and interesting. I really liked Catherine’s character and her struggles felt real and believable. I loved the art style and thought it complimented the story well. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

I really enjoyed reading "Saint Catherine." I was raised Catholic and no longer practice, so I imagine I am part of the target audience for this book. It handles the topic of Catholicism more respectfully than I thought it would based on the blurb, and thankfully religion is not the only focus of the story. The art was also very well done, with character designs that fit the story. Without giving away any spoilers, I thought the story was wrapped up in a satisfying manner, and serves as a good reminder that we all have to live with the choices that we make.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who grew up devoutly catholic and has lived with the intense view that hell is something very real and all of your miss steps will lead you there, I identified with this graphic novel deeply. I understand where Catherine is coming from. I had terrible night terrors as a child and many of my manifestations were religious. Haunting visions of demons, devils and the damned. Overall this graphic novel really spoke to that experience.

often as we leave home and are faced with deciding on our own whether to continue with church the way our parents saw it or can we find a way to find our own faith. a great read for all who struggle with this.

There were parts of the ARC that were missing, but from what I could read, I enjoyed it. I plan on purchasing it so I can read it more in depth when it comes out because I enjoy the art of the graphic novel and I like the plot.

A beautiful graphic novel about religious trauma. This is a much needed message for those out there who need to hear that the standards you use to define yourself as a good person shouldn't be rooted in guilt and fear. Shocking twist ending! So cute and healing.

This was a fun and interesting novel, it was gorgeous and I thought the story was very nice. I just don't think I was the target audience for this one.

Thank you to First Second Books and Netgalley for an eARC of this book!

I enjoyed Saint Catherine so much. Though I did not grow up catholic, I did grow up in a very Christian household. I went to church every week. Went to a Christian school, worked at Christian jobs, etc. I didn't know anyone outside of my religion for a long time. Reading this reminds me of my early college experience (which I still am going through). I felt really bad skipping church when I first did it, and though I got over that, then proceeded to find my way back to God, I find this thought process very relatable. I really like this sub-genre of kind of religious non-religious books that First Second Books has put out! It's so good, and it's honestly really interesting to read about. I cannot wait to pick up my own copy of this.

This is a stunning and often funny graphic novel that tackles complex feelings like guilt, faith, and devotion. Religion and the belief in heaven and hell can be a scary thing, especially for a child, and SAINT CATHERINE grapples with these big topics in a relatable and unique way. Meyer places her skeptical heroine in the middle of a diverse and loving found family, including her BIPOC, queer roommate, Kim, and Latino bf, Manolo, much to the chagrin of her extremely Catholic and conservative biological family. Catherine's guilt over her faith, or lack thereof, and some deep-seated secrets she's keeping from her family and boyfriend, eventually make her believe she's been possessed by a demon. I loved all of the illustrations in SAINT CATHERINE, but especially of her witty demon friend, who is kind of like a gooey version of Lucy from DISENCHANTMENT. With gorgeous art reminiscent of Lucie Byron's THIEVES and trauma I'm sure most of us can identify with, SAINT CATHERINE is a stellar debut from newcomer Anna Meyer that I can't wait to buy physically for my graphic novel collection.

Catherine has never missed a single Sunday mass, but on the one day she does, she is possesed by a demon who wants her soul and starts making her question her choices and life style, including a choice she made a year ago that would change everything as she knew it. I loved the story telling, the artwork and the metaphorical sense of a "parasite" for inner guilt.

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.