Wash Day Diaries

Books I get from netgalley are either a hit or a miss. Wash Day Diaries was immaculate though. I loved every page in this! First off the artwork was amazing, lved the color scheme. The plot was simple but I enjoyed the friendship dynamic between the women. All four women are different but they also mesh together real well. I would love ride or die friends like these. I can't wait to see what else Jamila Rowser comes out with!

-

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This graphic novel was a beautiful slice of life story that follows four different friends. There are 5 shorter stories in the graphic novel, one for each woman, and then one that celebrates their friendship.

This graphic novel showed the diversity and connections between black women from hair to their love lives to mental health. I loved how each woman was so different and there was so much representation in this short graphic novel. We saw a toxic ex, depression and mental health struggles, queer representation, trying to reconnect with family, and love life struggles.

This honestly had everything I could ever want and more and don't even get me started on the art style! It was absolutely so stunning and one of my favorite art styles I've ever seen in a graphic novel.

Thank you to Chronicle Books, Jamila Rowser, Robyn Smith, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

This is a slice of life graphic novel about four different best friends! The theme connecting theme of the stories, hair care, is woven into each story. The art style is both cozy and expressive, with each woman having her own color scheme. These stories take place mostly during the summer, and it really feels like a summery story! Unfortunately over the course of the story, one friend tells another that she shouldn't get antidepressants and gives her a crystal instead, and we see the depressed friend simply crawl back into bed afterwards. While this story is slice of life and we don't really follow up on any of their individual stories, this was the least cozy story that I wish had a better ending, and knocks the rating down a quarter star. 4.75 stars. Find this review and more at my blog, geographreads.com!

New Obsession. I love how real and raw this book is like we get to see black women in their true form. Like we get to see how hair could effect each and every women in a good and bad way. How much it's not just about “hair” it means more to black women and it will forever be. I love this book so much it speaks so much to a younger version of myself I think this book isn't for young girls but its something that as you get older it really speaks to a older audience because it reminds you how much hair really connects women no matter what it looks like. I really love this book and probably one of my favorite graphic novels of this year. I highly recommend it and I'm glad I was able to have the opportunity to read it.

How wonderful is it to read a graphic novel that celebrates Black women! How we all come in all shapes and sizes. The beauty of our hair and the love and care is put in to make sure they poppin'. I loved how it showed Black women from all walks of life. This shows Black queer women, Black women that struggle with mental health, Black women walking away from what could be a toxic relationship, and Black women putting themselves first before any man!!! We absolutely love to see it.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This was so good. I loved it.

It all started on a wash day. Four best friends from different walks of life, cultures, and professions. We get to follow them as they do life and how hair is interwoven into everything they do. Wash day became a day of vulnerability in instances where several besties in the friend group came to realizations and made peace with decisions made. Wearing a wig allowed one bestie to do life a little easier especially when she was having a rough time of it but also this notion that natural hair is unprofessional added unneeded stress in her life. Getting braids installed allowed another bestie to ground herself and come to terms with what she wanted and what she did not.

Another highlight was the half Puerto Rican/Dominican bestie and all the little cultural nuggets dropped throughout. We are more similar than different, and I felt seen.

This drops July 5th. I have already pre-ordered it.

How wonderful is it to read a graphic novel that celebrates Black women! How we all come in all shapes and sizes. The beauty of our hair and the love and care is put in to make sure they poppin'. I loved how it showed Black women from all walks of life. This shows Black queer women, Black women that struggle with mental health, Black women walking away from what could be a toxic relationship, and Black women putting themselves first before any man!!! We absolutely love to see it.

I was just looking for a book that features a POC that experiences joy and not trauma for a reading challenge. I was recommended this book. Over all it is nicely drawn and was interesting to read but found that I didn’t agree with how somethings were treated.

One character has depression and is told not to take their medication by their friend who was earlier shown smoking. Then her depression is glossed over. Another character has someone interested in her but she brushes them off like not right now but then hooks up with someone famous just because. One girl has a stalker that shows up at her show then leaves once confronted by her friends and it’s left at that.

The book leaves so much unfinished. I can understand that this is supposed to be just a glimpse in the life but each storyline brought up to much issues and left it there. The stories didn’t feel in tone with what I thought was the vibe of the book.