A graphic novel that tries to have its cake and eat it, and pretty much succeeds. On the one side there is a cool, ironic distanced approach in a lot of the book, which is where the book is funniest. On the other hand is the need of the Nick, the main character, to find a real connection to other people, to be let in and to let in himself. Whenever this happens the world opens up to him, and the novel switches from a black, grey and white palet to full on colours.

We follow Nick, who is a cartoonist, as he tries to find a meaningful relationship, tries to find his place in life, and navigate his mother's illness.

The book is very funny, a dry kind of humour, that aches as much as it makes you laugh. The portion of the book that handles his mother's illness is really only introduced after you've met the mother a couple of times already, which is a smart decision. It is where the humour dissipates and real life hits.

Funny and moving. Not bad at all.

I like the premise of this book: a millenial guy who's kinda isolated, lonely and wants to connect with people - have real experiences and break through a numb malaise that modern life brings, particularly to his generation. That's great - I'm on board with that and looked forward to reading it. Except... he never really digs very deep into this aspect of the book. He tries to connect with some people, they exchange "real" talk briefly, and he moves on. The book then turns into this "mom has cancer" storyline and all the pieces kinda fall together predictably - they get to know each other, he connects more with his sister, and the girl he likes, blah blah blah. So disappointing that it had such potential and ended up being this forgettable and unremarkable book instead. I loved the art though - McPhail is a hugely talented cartoonist and I was so impressed with the cartooning. The painted art, signifying his "breakthroughs" to real feeling - WOW. Extraordinary. So gorgeous. Great art, decent writing but really weak story.

A perfect graphic novel for the millennial generation. After navigating his way through life without having "deep" interactions or connections with people, Nick suddenly shares his true feelings with a stranger and this open his eyes to a world of true human interaction and he begins to crave more. The rest of the novel follows him Nick through some funny and some sad experiences as he seeks a deeper human connection with family, friends, and strangers. This is a quick read that leaves the reader with a semblance of hope for Nick and his future.

I wasn't a total fan of the artwork (some of the facial expressions looked odd to me), but I did love the juxtaposition of the b/w and color illustrations.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Poignant graphic novel about interpersonal connections and a millenial's struggles with communication.

I waited a long time to read this book after picking it up because, honestly, I was anxious to read something hitting so close to home. During this difficult global time, I feel the lack of social connections very harshly. And in this book, the main character named Nick struggles to make interpersonal connections in his life, even though they are at hand's reach. Then, when Nick begins to put more effort in making more than superficial connections, things start to happen and he discovers new truths about himself.

I liked the story and the underlying exposition of human nature as much as the art work. When Nick finally connects with a person, the illustration change from balck and white to colorful. It was such a creative, interesting way of playing with color.

Frankly, this one was too short for me and I wished there was more at the end.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've said it before to my friend and I'll say it again: this book has no business being what it is. I mean, how dare you come into my house and spill out all the things I worry about right at my face? Rude, honestly.

IN tells the story of Nick, a young adult who probably needs some help, not only with his broken toilet. Talking to people isn't his forte, while avoiding awkward or difficult conversations certainly is. I suppose you could say he's also struggling with who he is, and the part he plays in the world. The story follows his daily life in a funny way, full of witty remarks and details, showing the reader his innermost turmoils and that soul-crushing sensation of when you don't have anything useful to contribute in a conversation.

I believe that the author was able to capture the feelings really well, and I recognized myself so much in parts of it. Honestly, I related so much that I was grateful for the fact that he managed to have a job. It gave me hope for myself (lmao).

One thing I thought was very special in this graphic novel were the drawings when Nick realizes that he isn't alone in his feelings, or when he is reaching a point in his human connection that he hasn't been able to before, or when he receives bad news. The change in style and the portrayal of what he feels through metaphoric imagery was a beautiful addition that was well tied up at the end.

I thought this was a pretty interesting book. Of course, I think it would be much more enjoyable in print form, but the story itself was intriguing and I enjoyed how McPhail portrayed the story through images. The mix of black-and-white with colour was different and elevated the story. Overall, I enjoyed reading it.

This was so lovely and so heart-breaking.
Nick is a wonderful protagonist; he’s awkward but funny and likable and compelling. He feels very real.
And Wren, omg Wren is who I want to be when I grow up – a wonderful character.

The story is told with economy, but each page has impact. And, there are some truly spectacular jokes mixed into this very poignant story and all are told in gorgeous artwork. The narrative (and aesthetic) use of color is so well done.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of In.

I wasn't sure what to expect from In; I enjoy graphic novels but they usual contain zombies, people running from zombies, violence and bloodshed, the supernatural or people killing zombies.

In's premise was intriguing and I'm pleased my request was approved.

In has a thoughtful premise about a young artist seeking a connection in our modern world filled with distractions, frustrations, and pretentious coffee shops.

At first, I found it difficult to get drawn into the story; I worried the tone was geared toward a younger crowd, millennial readers, but I found Nick to be a relatable character.

Nick is searching for a connection, a way to converse honestly and learn something about a person, whether it be his nephew, sister, mother, or the plumber, he's trying to do better with daily interactions because, let's face it, it's hard to connect, more so now in our plugged in world.

There are some funny moments; the way coffee shops are described (so true!), his sexy romps with Wren, and there are also the sad and tragic; loss, grief and sorrow.

The art is simplistic but works so well; Mr. McPhail conveys so much emotion and feeling from wide eyes and slack jawed expressions that I found myself either laughing out loud or nodding my head in agreement.

In is a thought provoking read that makes the reader consider his or her place in the world and how we are (dis)connected not just from nature, family and friends, but from ourselves.

It takes serious effort and discipline to connect with others, but also with yourself. Take that first step. And all the steps after. It's worth it. We're worth it.

I couldn't put this book down and read it in one sitting. Drawn with such a simplistic attention to detail, the brilliant artwork comes off looking easier than it could ever be in this story of Nick, who feels alienated to others and wants to be able to relate. There are some laugh out loud funny things in here, such as the night he has a bit of a romp with a woman after an impromptu date, as well as sad moments, and those that just make you think. Nick is a universal character that most of us can identify with. All the stars.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley and the author to read and review.

In a world full of feelings he doesn't understand, Nick has a moment of clarity while talking to a worker who comes to his house. He speaks what he's really feeling, without covering it up, and finds a moment of connection he didn't expect. That moment opens up a whole new world to him, and things around him change along with him. The artwork is distinctive, the story is told well, and I was left feeling both a sense of sadness and of hope.

This is a graphic novel that is made for the Millennial generation, but would do a lot of good for the generations around them, too. Everyone knows what it feels like to feel lost and alone in the world, and Nick's story focuses on that feeling. The description of this book calls it "poignant" and that word is absolutely one I would use to describe it as well. It is both heart-warming, and heart-wrenching in turn, and though nothing is perfect, it's as near-perfect as I think is possible.

I've enjoyed McPhail's illustrations in The New Yorker before so was intrigued when I saw he was releasing a graphic novel. <i>In</i> makes for a poignant read, focusing on finding connection in our day to day interactions with each other through a semi-autobiographical lens. Touching on grief, love and dating, this had a deep impact even with a relatively short page count.

The illustrations were beautiful, and I can only imagine this would be better in hard copy form. Recommended!

In this Graphic Novel, Will McPhail perfectly illustrates the difficulty of finding meaningful connections in our daily lives. The main character Nick weaves in and out of coffee shops and bars providing a window into the life of a Millennial trying to discover himself through the interactions with others. My favorite part is the discussions Nick has with his Plumber which are oddly profound. This book experiments with the contrast between black and white images and color images to emphasize important discoveries which is a new experience for me. Will captured the facial expressions of the characters so perfectly I could not see this book as being in any other form than the Graphic Novel. When I finished this book, I felt that I had gone down the water slide along with Nick and pushed about the bowl of life to come out the other end dazed and confused but at the same time uplifted. The images from this book are exquisite and will stay with me long after I have finished reading this masterpiece.

this started of by making me laugh with all it's sarcasm and millennial humor. then it made me feel seen, that way we all want to connect but have no idea how to do it these days. and it ended up making me cry, i wasn't expecting the story to take such a deep and emotional turn. but it was great. i really like the at style, specially the color pages.

This graphic novel managed to make me feel very empty inside though there were plenty of scenes that made me laugh out loud. The art style is very interesting and fitting. In the beginning, I wasn't sure where the plot was going but it seems to tell more than one story and I like that. The characters and their relationships to one another are really well done as well, perhaps that is even one of my favourite things.

Everything that happened seemed to make sense and/or well thought out and it's a story that goes deep. Good read!

I had to fight the very millennial urge to go “oh mood” while reading this which is both great and also terrible because I was under the impression I had the ability to form real sentences. Apparently not.

So.

Oof. What a mood.

I loved the story and the design so much ; im very excited to have a real copy in hand versus a digital one so I can experience the illustrations up close. This was very near and dear to my heart and also like something of a fairytale. I’m living it but know how it ends ? Eventually. Hopefully.

Anyways! I loved it. And I have very few eloquent words to express that. #millennials

McPhail's main character is the embodiment of detachment, a theme that is definitely both personal and universal in this particular historical period - feelings are repressed more and more and relationships come to a standstill as people do not know how to communicate with each other.

In. is a graphic novel by New Yorker cartoonist, Will McPhail. The artwork stands out primarily as the author has successfully incorporated the millennial generation's woe in connecting with people deeply, and also describing the protagonist's experiences of communication blending in the magic realism.

Nick is a young illustrator (one can take it as a semi-biographical story) who fancies visiting coffeeshops and bars because they seem cool. And I loved how each coffee shop and bar is described in a genius manner. The illustrations are mostly portraited in black and grey, but there are bursts of vivid scenes with gorgeous colours when Nick connects to a person while conversing. He is astounded by the dream (or nightmare) like scenarios that he gets drifted into when he makes a connection with the person on a deeper level. He wants to communicate, however, he hesitates thinking talking might probably be a waste of time for others. He wants to talk to his sister, mother and a girl that he likes. But it is only when he actively takes part in communicating his thoughts rather than just observing as an artist is what makes the story complex yet beautiful at the same time.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this graphic novel. It is minimal in art yet has an impact on creating wonderful scenes that makes you reflect on how we bond with people in such a distraction-filled environment. The story is of Nick - it is simple. But the inner monologues of the illustrator warmly touches you even after you are finished reading.

This book surprised me with how much I loved it. It follows Nick, a man living a very performative, pretentious, self-absorbed life, who struggles to connect with people beyond the surface-level. His environment, to the coffee shops he visits to his work to the people he interacts with, reinforces this issue. Nick starts making an effort to connect more deeply with people just as some big changes in his life start happening.

The art style of this graphic novel is very creative. Though much of it is rendered in the artist's typical New Yorker cartoonist black-and-white style, Will McPhail can often be quite clever with this look—for example, staging a date like a play (like the performance it is). The pages of color illustrations that come when Nick manages to connect with someone are simply breathtaking—they manage to visualize complex emotions in inventive and gorgeously rendered ways. And the story itself is very emotional and moving in a way you don't expect from the beginning of the story. I'll be thinking about this book for a while.

Dnf at 28%

I got the ARC for this from NetGalley. I was intrigued by the description, but I wonder if it had clearly specified that the target audience for this was adult readers (given mature content) would have changed my mind.

In first third of this story (i.e. upto where I read), McPhail gives us a character who is witty but going through apparently a “millenial” existential crisis. I put that word in quotation marks because I don’t like to paint my entire generation with the same brush stroke...are we all like Nick and Wren?

I imagine this might appeal to readers who find porn, one-night stands with strangers, and lewd interactions as normal occurences — yes they’ll recognize they’re not very idealistic but hey that’s life, it happens, move on...

Even if the character arc set out for this story suggests that the protagonist will redeem himself and there is actually a beautiful lesson within the story, I personally could not move any further; I find it difficult to invest in books where the protagonist is intentionally shown to indulge in serious self destructive behaviour explicity for casual humor. Dnf’ed for the sole reason that this is not the kind of book for me.

This is a humanistic work of art. This book makes way with the human experience, interactions between family members, and romantic interest much in the same way as Oliver Assayas did with Summer Hours and Terence Malick did with The Thin Red Line.

This book is the best graphic novel that I’ve read since Adrian Tomine’s The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist. It reminds me a lot of the deeply human experience of reading Colum McCann’s masterpiece, Apeirogon.

The book follows Nick, a young illustrator, who suddenly feels he can’t be stuck in his same forms of interactions. Opening up to a plumber starts shaping consequences that are very strange to Nick, and he dithers into entirely new worlds.

This is a masterpiece. 5/5.