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After reading a bunch of novels in a row, I decided I really wanted to pick up a graphic novel. Something I could maybe read in a day or two (maybe even an evening), and really enjoy. I looked through the collection on my own shelves but I decided to pick up something I had on my Netgalley account this time! As I was scrolling through my Netgalley, I was really caught by the cover of Wash Day Diaries (we all know I am a huge cover buyer), so my choice was immediately made!

SPOILERS AHEAD

Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie are all friends who live in NYC. We follow each character for a short period of time in their life as they encounter the daily woes and daily highs life has to offer. Such as relationship troubles and mental health struggles. Each character gets their own short comic with a whole group reunion at the end of the story!

I really really loved this graphic novel! The art inside was amazing. Each panel was detailed and I loved the colors they used. Additionally, I really loved each of the main characters we got to meet. I feel like their stories were all unique and amazing. I loved getting to know each of them before coming together as a group. I highly recommend picking up this graphic novel! It will be available on June 14th!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

***I also want to give a tremendous thank you to the publisher for granting me an E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

WASH DAY DIARIES, a gorgeous graphic novel told in a short-stories-forming-a-novel format, allows readers to eavesdrop on four best friends in this slice-of-life journey through their individual Wash Days. Rowser and Smith create a warm, pastel-laden world (as well as access to our protagonists' private group chat), showcasing friendship, support, body inclusivity, Black hair, and Black joy. Each of the stories takes a different road--one through mental health challenges, one through family reconnection, one through trying to choose a romantic partner--yet they all ruminate on identity, appearance, culture, and being seen. What's especially thoughtful is the portrayal of emerging adulthood and balancing independent living with one's need for connection and community. Older high school students and college students may especially resonate with the protagonists' challenges around choosing a career, having a longer-term significant other, and stepping outside of the family home. By turns funny and emotional, this is a wonderful addition for the older YA graphic novel crowd.

I just adored this book!! The friendships are so strong and I loved the illustrations. The color palette was also very pleasing.

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved how the stories wove together and seeing the different way people get their hair done, both stylistically by whom. The art was wonderful, and I felt matched the storyline nicely. Between the writing and illustrations, the book had a very soft, warm, laid back feel to it.

I loved this book and I'm definitely wanting more. I loved the friendship between the girls and their stories. I enjoyed learning about how they take care of their hair. I cried and laughed with the girls. I can't wait to read more.

I truly enjoyed this one as it was reminiscent of the relationships I have with my friends. All of us are going through something yet we continue to support and love one another.

I really enjoyed that it’s all connected by hair in some way. Within the black community and especially for black women, our hair is our glory. It’s how we connect to each other, and express ourselves.

I’ll be sharing this one with my daughters when it’s released.

Thank you Netgalley and Chronicle Books for an advance copy of Wash Day Diaries.

This comic was cute, real and extremely relatable, especially the first story of staying in all day to wash and condition hair. I love the artwork and the intricate relationships between the four friends.

There's something to admire about a story that relates so deeply to not only the prejudices and situations one faces as a black woman, but also how ones hair can affect their mood/overall day. Having a bad hair day is the equivalent of feeling ugly, unworthy and stressed. There's nothing that makes a day go wrong like not having your hair reflect how you feel about yourself.

This story was entertaining, hilarious at it's moments and gave insights to what it means to properly care for ones hair; during the good and bad days. Each story reflects a different situation and various ways a black woman takes care of her hair, to proper washing, protective styles, sleep necessities, and a fun night out. Awesome job to the authors for such an amazing and heartfelt comic.
5/5 stars!

It’s the little things that count.

Wash day gave me so much warmth to know that 4 girls and their friendship is something I can relate to. Each woman have little things that I’m like “that’s surely me” or “that’s is my friend”. The lingo, the wash day process and it ends with a sleepover. It sums up 20’s and 30’s black women to a T and period. The way we give compliments by pointing out one things, groups chats and the way we will stand up and defend our friends. Their friendship is nonjudgemental and it just *chef’s kiss*. I would love more from the author. I love it!!

This was a very stable book. It wasn't extraordinary but it has promise as a continuing series. I was annoyed at the dismissal of one character's mental health issues and how her friend said a crystal would solve everything but I am hopeful that this will be cleared up in the next installment.

I loved how rich Black culture was in this book. The panels showing how Black women care for their beautiful hair in different ways was amazing. I am not Black but I am a poc with very curly hair and owe my life to Black women who taught me everything I know about taking care of it! I loved how full of joy, friendship, sisterhood this book was.

This was a fun look at the friendship among a group of young Black women. It was a nice way to see into their lives in more ways than normal (the idea of a wash day for their hair).

There is some language - like you would have in most books geared toward young adults - but it is done in a natural way. It is a good story with fun illustrations.

This was such a fun read! I really loved the imagery and the variety of perspectives throughout this book. It allowed such a fun feeling of friendship, community, and even a little bit of romance sprinkled in. I wanted more from these characters, and wanted to see even more of their everyday lives. I hope a sequel to this comes out!

5 stars! I loved the art and the flow of the stories. I loved this friend group and I hope there is more. I really felt Davene’s story the most.
It was funny, endearing and just all around great.

I would like to offer a sincere thank you to Netgalley and to Chronicle Books for providing me a copy of Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith in return for an honest review.

Wash Day Diaries follows four friends, each on her own wash day. Kimana, Cookie, Tanisha and Davene each have a part in the book where they dedicate a day to hair care. This was a cute and quick read that had a strong female friendship theme. I really enjoyed how the dialogue flowed naturally throughout the book, and I really loved the story telling via group chat text with the flashbacks of events. It was very entertaining and had me giggling the whole time.

The illustrations were well presented and fit will with the speech bubbles. However the art style is not my favorite. I liked the color palette and I loved the representation of routines with hair products and steps. We see many ways different women take care of their hair.

This was different and special. But it was not outstanding to me. I still really enjoyed it.

I NEED MORE ABOUT THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN!

This follows four best friends as they navigate life in the Bronx. It shows four different stories that intertwine and how they each go about their own wash day.

I absolutely loved the illustrations and the use of colors in this graphic novel was so captivating! The women in this story are so real and raw, I love how they are all there for each other no matter what. These short stories broke my heart,made me laugh,and warmed my heart.

I wish that this was longer because I NEED to know what happens next with each of them!

Wash Day Diaries is a beautiful graphic novel that follows a group of four friends in their everyday lives in the Bronx through short stories. This story is an ode to Black beauty, friendship, and hair.

I have virtually no criticisms for this graphic novel. Despite being short stories, I did not feel like the stories were incomplete or missing any elements in being full fleshed out. I loved that the stories were all connected and focused on a group of friends.

The stories in Wash Day Diaries were relatable even as a white woman. I think this will really resonate with a lot of Black women. It was great to see the friends’ daily hair routines and styling. I also really appreciated the depiction of depression and interactions with friends in regards to it. The portrayal was very realistic. Throughout this graphic novel, the friendship between these women was beautiful, supportive, and real.

Wash Day Diaries is composed of vibrant, colorful pages which are my favorite type of graphic novel. The art is outstanding, and I will definitely be seeking out more by Robyn Smith.

Overall, I really enjoyed Wash Day Diaries. I think it encompasses Black joy and friendship. I definitely recommend it.

I absolutely loved everything about this graphic novel! The art was stunning and I really enjoyed how each character had her own color palette used during the chapter with her story to further the tone. Each of the four women featured in this got their time to shine with a look into their lives and routines, with plenty of crossover/influence from the others that all came together in the final chapter for a beautiful story about friendship and support. I sincerely hope that this will be continued on in a series as I loved each of the main characters and can’t help but want to learn more about them (individually and as a friend group). Thank you to NetGalley for my eARC!

The artwork is absolutely beautiful in this novel! Each character was wonderfully brought to life and how we got to see each of their points of view.

The friendship between the four friends had to have been my favorite part, and I loved when they four of them were together and interacting!

I was able to review Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith and Chronicles Books
for providing me with an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wash Day Diaries tells the story of Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie told through five selections. The four friends share a story of life, unity, community and love. This is my very first adult graphic novel and it did not disappoint. This story is one of friendship and womanhood. I hope the series continues for many more volumes!

Sounds trite and overused by this point, but I FELT SEEN by this book. The trip to the beauty shop in the beauty supply store, taking off the earrings and the shoes and squaring up for a friend, giving no air to catcalling a-holes, ALL OF IT. The artwork was beautiful throughout, the pacing had me in a chokehold ("Group Text" is a storytelling masterpiece), and everyone sounded like me. Like my sisters. Like my mom. Thank for putting this out in the universe; it is needed, wanted, and appreciated. #RepresentationSTILLMatters

As someone with a 4C hair type who has spent hours on my hair, I felt incredibly seen in this beautiful graphic novel that celebrates the Black hair care process. I am obsessed with the color palette of the illustrations; they are simply gorgeous! I also love all of the characters, and I laughed so much while reading this!