A very powerful, moving story. Not just for anyone who feels like they don't belong anywhere, in any country (like Deb, half Korean and half American), but for people suffering from mental illness and insecurity. I thought the art was beautiful, and I could relate and also empathize with Deb during her depression struggles. She was also dealing with an abusive mother and questionably toxic friends, as well as a big decision many Korean women are faced with - deciding if they want plastic surgery, especially for their eyes. I understand PS is normalized in Korea, but in the US it's still very much looked down on, for the most part. Fantastic storytelling and visuals!

This graphic novel hit home, even though I don't have an immigration background a lot of things were relatable. Ugh and how I wish I could hug deborah throughout the book. The story is so captivating and real that it made me cry. I wasn't expecting a certain storyline that is similar to mine and to see it written out was emotional.
The graphics are so beautiful. This is definitly one of those books that I want in a physical copy and just browse in to relive it.

This is an incredible graphic memoir that drew me in and kept me hooked. Very serious, dark themes are explored as the reader follows Lee through their teen years. Lee has to deal with many issues (see content warnings below) and struggles to connect with peers. Their mother is abusive, verbally and physically at times. Nothing comes easy. Lee has to figure out where they belong and how they can express themselves. You can see how trauma and abuse affect Lee's interactions with others around them. However, there is a sense of hope of escaping into the world where you can slowly start to love and care for yourself. There are parts where their experiences feel like a gut punch to my own insecurities and life although I've never experienced the abuse Lee has. The story also touches on depression, anxiety, body image, and very complicated friendships and family bonds.

I love how this shows what it is like to not belong in the West or in the country of one's parents or birth, a common immigrant experience, in limbo between two worlds and fitting into none. I also enjoy the actual Korean language used in this. It really helps express the differences in culture that Lee is struggling with throughout the story. Also, it's a good way to practice my Korean.

The art style is beautiful, grey-blue and white, capturing the deep emotions and letting the details of the work smoothly present themselves. The composition helps express the pacing beautifully. I absolutely want to have this on my shelves.

Please look up trigger warnings. Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Limbo is such a rich, deeply personal graphic novel that follows Deb as they try to find their passion and navigate the often complicated relationships with friends, mental health, their Korean heritage, and family. This graphic memoir is genuinely incredible. Let’s get the obvious out of the way- the art is stunning. There are some full page illustrations that I literally want prints of. The transitions and framing of some panels are so creative and original, I was just floored. I read a lot of graphic novels, and the layout and artwork in this one is easily top five from the last five years. The story is a deeply personal one for the author, you know, because it’s a memoir. But it’s a relatable story, the fraught friendships of high school, trying to navigate your mental health, and that period in time where you have to figure out what you love to do and not what your parents think is best. This graphic novel has SO much packed into it, but as the format tends to be, it’s a really quick read. I can’t recommend this enough!

review to be posted on Instagram: @boozehoundbookclub closer to the pub date

Thank you to Netgalley and First Second books for an arc of this graphic memoir.

After reading this, I know that I have to get my hands on a physical copy once it's out! I have followed along with Deb JJ Lee's art for a few years now, she's one of my favorite illustrators so I just knew this would be the type of comic for me. This story follows Deb's life as a Korean American attempting to fit in and juggle the real stressors of school life, friendships, immigrant parent trauma, and her own self image. So many of the experiences in this memoir mirror my own as I'm sure a lot of diaspora kids will feel reading her story. In her author notes she mentions how a few of the experiences were included out of order or compressed to help with the narrative flow. This definitely doesn't take away from the story at all, in fact, I think the way she decided to ultimately tell the story gives more room for readers to really sit with and understand the way these events effect kids and follow them in their life. The therapy scenes genuinely made me tear up, this whole memoir felt like a hug and healing session. Aside from the story itself, my favorite aspect was the drawing style. I love when graphic memoirs include photography into the panels and follow it with a sensory description. Each panel had unique shading paired with precise linework for each character. The one and two page spreads were stunning and I'm sure they look even more amazing in print. If you're looking for a new memoir to add to your shelf, I highly recommend picking this up!

This memoir is beautifully illustrated and tells the story of Lees teenage years in which she battled anxiety and depression. This was a beautiful memoir but also extremely heavy at points which I wasn’t expecting.
She talks about her time in high school and the way she felt and attached herself to her small friend groups. I related a lot with this since I was also only good friends with a few people and not a major group, so this part really hit home. She illustrated her experiences in a beautiful way and while she mentioned she made some parts more generalized, such as the blatant racism and micro aggressions, she still very much gets her point across on her experiences of growing up Korean-American.
I would recommend this to absolutely everyone, it’s a beautiful memoir done in a really unique way. Definitely check trigger warnings if you’re someone that struggles with mental health and depression though.

In Limbo, is a quick YA read that follows the teenage years of a Korean girl in high school who is struggling to find her own identity while dealing with mental health issues.
Growing up I read comic books/manga and am a huge fan of Asian Lit, but In Limbo, is the first graphic memoir I’ve read. It’s a book my 16 year old niece mentioned to me too so I was excited to read it knowing it was based on the authors life experiences.
The artwork conveys the emotional struggle Deborah went through growing up Korean in America. Coping with family trauma, true friendships, being stereotyped, and learning to accept herself.
In Limbo will be published 3/7/23-Thank you NetGalley and First Second books for providing me with an ARC

In Limbo is Deb JJ Lee’s (they/them) comic memoir about their experiences growing up in the Korean diaspora. When Deb, the protagonist (she/her), and her family immigrate to America, she knows she’s different from everyone else. Deb is constantly bullied by her peers and othered by her teachers. She feels like she doesn’t belong because the world is constantly pointing out her differences. Deb is also dealing with the pressures of high school and an overbearing mom, and all of these factors take a toll on her mental health.

This graphic novel is an honest and vulnerable exploration of these hardships and what it's like to be a child of diaspora. It gracefully shows the ups and downs associated with high school, friendships, and mental health. It really does feel like a limbo of sorts, and this graphic novel explores Deb’s journey to navigating limbo and not just finding her way out, but to finding her place in the world and people who support her.

Lee’s artwork is sleek and I enjoyed the way they made use of the panels and spacial arrangements to tell this story. The illustrations are all in grayscale which provides a mellow and melancholic tone, and I think that works well for reflecting on these difficult years in the author’s life.

I enjoyed this graphic novel and I think you will too if you’re a fan of Tillie Walden or Debbie Tung, or just a fan of comic memoirs in general. Please check the content warnings before reading this one.

Thank you NetGalley and First Second Books for providing me with an eARC.

Rating: 4.5/5

I don't know how to start describing how the whole novel made me feel. I really think it's well built and shows how teenage is not easy and should be taken seriously when a child has depression. The drawing is amazing and combines blue colors to represent very good as Deborah feels, sad. At the beginning, I was not very convinced by the selfishness of a child who seeks to fit in, but after many unfair situations I connected with her. 4/5 ✨

In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee is a stunning memoir which follows a high school student struggling with mental health issues and finding her identity as a Korean-American immigrant. The autobiographical graphic novel shines a light on rather heavy themes such as suicide and difficult parent-child relationships. Still, the story manages to send an important and hopeful message. The beautiful art style was a perfect fit for the story.

This was a fantastic graphic memoir. This follows the high school years for the author, Deb, as they figure out who they are both at school, at home, and within themselves. This book is both beautifully illustrated and expertly told as it gets into tough subjects such as suicide and anxiety. This is a must read for any teens who feel like they don't fit in, especially with all the racial tensions that have happened in recent years.. I will be recommending this book for years to come.

Deb JJ Lee’s ‘In Limbo: A Graphic Memoir’ recounts Lee’s high school years as she struggles with her identity and finding her place in her world.

I really like the color story. The muted blues feel calming and retrospective - and really help add to the memoir’s tone. I also think that the graphic novel medium/format was the perfect choice for this memoir. It helps the heavily character driven storyline move from one point to the next and again reinforces the retrospective narrative. This medium/narrative combo results in a story that is both hard and beautiful. That bit about the pillars - I have never felt so seen in any kind of memoir/personal essays/biography before and it had me tearing up on my lunch break.

Thank you to First Second Books and NetGalley for providing an e-arc copy in return for an honest review. In Limbo: A Graphic Memoir comes out 03/07/2023.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free graphic novel!*

Trigger warnings for: suicide, self harm, mental health struggles, racism, mobbing, problematic mother daughter relationship

"In Limbo" is the best graphic novel and memoir I've read in a very long time. It's quite autobiographic and tells the story of Deborah whose Korean parents moved their family to the States when she was very young. Now in high school, Deb can no longer speak Korean, her relationship with her 'tiger mom' has deteriorated further just like her mental health. Becoming friends with Quinn seems to make things better for a little while, but not for always.

A touching, raw and wonderfully drawn graphic memoir that explores the Korean diaspora, language barriers, growing up, mental health struggles, and finding a way out of the deepest pits of despair. Even though the majority of the graphic novel is very dark, there is always some sort of hope. On a personal level this graphic memoir was very touching and I could relate to so much of it. This is a graphic novel that I will think about for a long time and which I will buy too. It reminded me a bit of "Fun Homes".

I heartily recommend this graphic memoir, it's quite wonderful. Read it, savour it, but stay safe (TWs!).

5 stars

♦️Deborah (Jung-Jin) Lee's family had emigrated from South Korea to the USA when she was very small. While growing up, she's always felt that neither does she fit into the Korean society (as she cannot speak the language) nor does she belong to the Americans (as she looks so different from them and also has a name which her teachers find it difficult to pronounce). As she starts high school, she struggles with her studies and also with the society's behavior towards her. At home, she is unable to fulfill her mother's expectations which is often met with ill treatment by her mother. A time comes when she is unable to find peace neither at home nor outside and grapples with mental health. Gradually she starts finding solace in art, gets happiness by taking care of herself and also by coming close to her roots. This book is her graphic memoir.

💥This was a perfect read for me and I almost flew through it. It is a coming of age story which focusses on mental health and what it feels like to be an Asian in USA.
💥The simple knowledge that the author had to go through so much pain is very heart-wrenching.
💥The book gives the readers a lesson to be kind to each other.
💥It gives a message to parents to deal with their children in a compassionate way so that they don't forget that their children are human beings too, not machines to fulfill their wishes.
💥The artwork inside the book and the cover page is just marvellous and definitely deserves praise.
💥This book clearly shows that instead of abusing our kids, if we put effort in understanding their problems, then it can save them from a lot of danger. It will provide them a safe space to pour out their feelings instead of making them intimidated.
💥This is a must-read book for every person especially those who are parents.

💥I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review!
TW: suicidal ideation, parental abuse, racism, mental illness
The moment I started reading this, it grasped my heart till the very end. Jung-Jin Lee, who goes by Deborah, emigrated from South Korea to the United States. The memoir shows her struggles of being Korean-American that affects her mental health. Personally, there were many moments that I believe people from different backgrounds can relate to that were shown in this story; parents pressuring you to be the best — leading to a tense relationship with them, not being able to speak perfect English, micro aggression, struggling/adapting to the changes within friendships, most of all having the need to understand their own culture and self. The illustration, gorgeous, capturing the main characters' struggles and emotions. Since I was reading the digital copy the colors weren’t overpowering and text was easy to read. I admire the small details that are illustrated when we see Deborah expressing her emotion.
Deb’s message in the acknowledgments emphasizes her journey making this story and the relationships she had with specific people. Personally I feel a sense of closure reading it becauseI I get an insight of the aftermath but also how this graphic novel came to be. In Limbo: A Graphic Memoir is a beautiful illustrated story that everyone should read!

This book blew me away, but it was a very heavy read. This debut memoir follows Deb through her high school years as she struggles in school, with friends, and with her transgenerational relationship with her parents. This memoir deals frankly with her struggles with mental illness and her surviving a suicide attempt, and the fallout that came after. The artwork throughout this book is expressive and well done and shows Deb's world with beautiful details. Portions of the text are written in untranslated Korean, and as a non-Korean speaker I felt the frustration and confusion that Deb felt.

In Limbo is a hard-hitting, coming-of-age graphic memoir that portrays the author's struggles with insecurities, racism, mental health, generational trauma, abuse, friendships, and much more.

I think that this novel did an incredible job of capturing just how complicated Deb's relationship with her parents was when she was younger. She was a constantly a victim of severe parental pressure (to get good grades, be a top-notch violin player, etc.) and constant emotional abuse, while simultaneously being told how her mom wants what's best for her and even seeing this in action through the support for her art. She really depicts just how complicated people are and how difficult it must be to live with these constant ups and downs.

On a more positive note, I liked the focus towards the end on the fact that you never know what anyone else is going through, and it made me ridiculously happy to read in her note that the author is still friends with Kate to this day. Additionally, I thought that the scene where the therapist talks about the importance of Deb expanding her world to establish more support structures was a strong one.

I found this memoir to be super impactful, and I believe that this really has the potential to really anyone who is going through similar experiences - regardless of age.

I hope to see this graphic novel everywhere once its published!

TW/CW: racism, mental illness, suicide ideation, and parental abuse

It was a candid memoir and a fantastic debut that tells the coming-of-age of a Korean American girl grappling with otherness, self-identity, growing up and the feeling of being caught in the limbo. Too Korean to be seen "truly" as an American, and too American to be seen as Korean by her relatives and other Korean-Americans. It's a beautifully drawn graphic memoir addressing family dynamics and issues that aren't often talked about. A solid read and definitely has put the author on my radar!

I adored this reflective and moving graphic memoir. The artwork is beautiful - I loved the monochrome style, which was so expressive and detailed. The personal story within the book is very grounded, managing to provide an almost objective view, whilst still conveying an expanse of feeling. Some themes were not in my frame of reference, and I found them very informative, whereas others mapped more closely to my own experiences - these rang very true. I keenly look forward to any other works Deb JJ Lee may put out.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel memoir. I do not typically read memoir/non fiction so a graphic novel was a great way to ease in. The art was absolutely beautiful and it handled difficult topics such as mental health, racism, abuse, friendships, family, and more. I wish it was longer so we could get even more of the story but it was good. 4/5 stars overall.