I'll be honest; I don't get the Catholic guilt, so I feel like I miss the theme and mood of this graphic novel. The art is soft orange and red tones and the art has fluid lines with mostly female characters with realistic bodies. The art was enjoyable.

I really enjoyed Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer.
It's a story of morality. The fear of not being a good enough person or living your life to right way.
Catherine misses Sunday mass for the first time in over 20 years and she's soon plagued with a demon who confirms her worst fear. A decision she made one night a year ago also isn't light on her mind and her demon knows this. The plot twist was definitely unexpected!!

What will happen to Catherine after she discovers that a demon possesses her?

Catherine is a 20-year-old Irish-American woman who has never skipped Mass, fearing that something terrible might happen if she does. She kept this habit a secret from her boyfriend, Manolo, until one night when she decided to tell him. The following day, Manolo invited her to spend the day with him, and in that moment, she chose to skip Mass for the first time. Later, Catherine discovers that she is possessed by demons who are the princes of Hell. What will she do next?

While the narrative captured my attention with its twists and turns, I found myself disappointed by the conclusion. Throughout the story, there seemed to be an underlying tension that often cast a shadow over both attending Mass and embracing the Faith itself, which left me feeling unsettled (I understand and respect that people have different experiences with their faith). This book also marked my initiation into the world of adult graphic novels, making it a memorable experience.

Catherine, the protagonist, emerges as a deeply layered character, filled with a mix of insecurities and aspirations that make her relatable yet intriguing. In contrast, Manolo lingered in the background, his presence subtle and understated compared to the vibrant dynamics of the other characters.

I would recommend this book to those who appreciate a narrative rich in complexity and depth, eager to explore stories that challenge as much as they engage.

Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚

Netgalley review, possible plot points mentioned below.

First off, the art style is incredible, I really enjoy how muted most of the colors are in the backgrounds or in other supporting characters, it truly makes Catherin's hair pop.

Also the demons are adorable, they are a nice balance between that and a little menacing at times (especially the one with two eyes)

I didn't grow up religous, I don't even honestly know much about any of them but I am dear to many who can relate towards Catherine and I feel like it truly shows their perspective and feelings when it comes to guilt and religious upbringing.

I also appreciate that while it ended relatively happy, not everything was magically repaired. Catherine still was in the wrong with cheating, Manolo was deeply hurt, it wouldn't have been fair nor realistic to let them get back together at least right away without communication past the parasite.

Speaking of parasites, I feel like I shouldn't have liked the hallucinating parasites as much as I do, I think it ends up tying everything up well enough and was enough of a shock factor, I would never have guessed parasites.

I thank the authors and netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

A fun and exciting story that tells us to let go of guilt, very relatable and beautiful artwork. I also liked how unique the storytelling was.

When I first started reading this, I wasn't really in the right mindset and found the beginning to be boring and hard to get into. I decided to put it down for a bit and return to it later, and I'm glad I did. I really liked how the author used this opportunity to deconstruct their views on religion.

Catherine has a pretty average day-to-day life living in the city with roommates and a boyfriend. Soon, she is haunted by a black blob that claims to be a prince of hell and that Catherine herself is going there when she dies. Every time she tries to do something "right," she ends up hurting herself or others. This graphic novel is a perfect description of Catholic guilt, and I related so hard to the terror of one day going to hell because of my actions, even if they weren't on purpose.

The art style is definitely hit or miss for me. I liked most of the pages, but there were a few where I really struggled with the angles and dimensions. Sometimes, the page came across as very flat, and the perspective was off.

This is a wonderful graphic novel, and it resonated with me. Sometimes, those you love hurt you, and sometimes, you hurt others. Sometimes, you hurt yourself. None of those things makes you a bad person.

This was really sweet, cathartic, and healing for my guilty little Irish catholic soul. It’s a different way that I’ve seen religion play a factor for characters in a book like this. It portrayed everyone as just trying their best, and sometimes in doing that you still hurt those around you. This is perhaps the most adult title I’ve read from first second. A lot of people could gain from reading this book

Saint Catherine was a creepy, reflective graphic novel exploring what it is to be raised in a Catholic family and community, and how to grow with and/or out of it.

We get a brief glimpse into Catherine’s day-to-day with her boyfriend and roommates, her work, and her reluctant but dedicated relationship with the church. Pretty quickly Catherine finds herself haunted by an ominous multi-eyed blob who seems to feed on her guilty and transgressions. I really liked the way this resolved and my only complaint would be that I’d love to see more as a few plot lines felt unfinished, though potentially this was on purpose/for effect.

This comic is an amazing representation of Catholic guilt. It makes the idea of the demon that is whispering in your ear to do bad is a real and tangible thing. Catherine begins seeing this little kinda cute blob of a demon. The demon begins putting into her mind feelings of shame, guilt, and sadness. It creates a wedge between her, her friends, and her boyfriend. Her life begins to crumble around her.

The story goes on as she works through her difficult feelings and the discovery of what she’s really seeing and why happens in the end. It’s a mystery that kept me intrigued by this fun concept for a comic.

I loved the art and I loved how it melded cute with spooky. The story was well-written and well thought out. It spoke to me on a deep level as I was raised Catholic and I too have since left my faith. I thought the way the anxiety that a Catholic person has was portrayed perfectly.

This is a great comic to read for anyone whose had a history of difficulty with faith. It’s also a great look at mental health issues and dealing with problems in relationships. It is a solid pick up for any comic collection.

This graphic novel is a phenomenal exploration of religious guilt. I never quite knew where the story was going to go which kept it interesting, but it was very easy to follow. It heavily discusses the influence of concepts of morality, consequences of deviating from those morals, and moving forward after facing the consequences. While this isn't a feel good story, I do think it still has an overall hopeful message. Although this particular plot exists within a Catholic lens, I also think its relatable across strict religious institutions in general. I very much enjoyed the artwork, and found the text spacing easy for my brain and eyes to digest quickly. I would very much recommend this book to anyone who wants a thought provoking read.

Saint Catherine was a delicious read for anyone with lingering relgious trauma, or just enjoys compelling characters, spooky vibes, and heart wrenching moments. I was taken by surprise by how lovely the art work was, and how well it did at setting a tone. Loved it.

Top 5 Reasons to Read:
1. Atmospheric Artwork - this book uses color and monochromatic sequences intertwined with the plot
2. Importance of platonic love - this book features a ton of different relationships and treats them all as contributing important pieces to our lives
3. Overcoming religious guilt - Saint Catherine struggles with differences in her religious practice and beliefs, especially compared with others who are not as strict to her expectations
4. Hilarious demon sidekick - I mean what could be better in a story like this
5. Confronting generational trauma - Catherine’s journey forward intertwines with a need to establish her own beliefs separate from those handed down to her

I loved this adult graphic novel & it’sabsolutely worth the read. The story follows Catherine who believes if she skips Sunday Mass, something horrible will happen, because of her religious upbringing. You watch her struggle with her own faith and beliefs; also how it affects her relationships with friends and family. This graphic novel is incredibly relatable, and grasps all the subjects captivatingly. I absolutely loved Catherine’s friendships with Olga & Kim. Kim is hilarious, I included a scene where I actually laughed out loud.
.
Also the representation is EVERYWHERE in this book! There’s Latinx rep, Queer rep, BiPoc rep, Chronic pain rep, Religious rep (not just catholic). I enjoy reading books with so much representation, as I am a Latina with chronic pain.

This is a stunning debut. Meyer uses creative plotting and gorgeous images to tackle to subject of religious trauma in a deeply emotional and unique fashion. While some of the protagonist's relationships felt a bit thinner than I'd have preferred at times, I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel and will be recommending it to the readers in my store.

A gorgeous graphic novel, first of all. I think perhaps disjointed at times, but maybe that's because I was reading it as a "single-page" rather than full spread.

Adored the story. Very relatable.

Illustration: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Wow—I loved this. I ate it up. The author did an incredible job crafting an accessible, relatable, and honestly refreshing graphic novel. If you grew up in a very religious household and are currently on a spiritual journey, reestablishing what faith looks like for you, I think Saint Catherine will really speak to you.

The author explores these themes in a way that’s playful, real, and emotional. So much of this story is about growing up, navigating everyday struggles, and figuring out what’s next. But it’s also deeply about guilt—the weight of it, how it festers when left unresolved, and how it can manifest in our lives, especially when tied to religious trauma. Catherine, our main character, lives in the city and feels awkward and unsure of herself. She finds joy in her friendships and relationship, but she’s constantly questioning whether she deserves happiness, whether she’s good, and how her upbringing is shaping her current emotional landscape.

One of the highlights of this book is how diverse the cast is—Catherine’s friend group is filled with rich, authentic characters who each feel like someone you could call up today. It was honestly amazing seeing a friend group that reminded me so much of my own. Catherine stands out as the most religious of the group, so when she misses Sunday mass for the first time in her life, everything changes. That choice sets the story in motion. Suddenly, Catherine finds herself haunted, possibly possessed, by a demon calling himself the Prince of Hell, and he’s made it clear he wants her soul.

What makes this so entertaining is Catherine’s inner dialogue and banter with the demon. She stumbles through trying to figure out what she’s done wrong and how to fix it, and it’s darkly funny but also profound. The author delivers a story that is deeply human while illuminating heavy topics with heart and humor.

And the illustration—chef’s kiss. The artwork perfectly matches the energy of the story. It amplifies the pacing and emotion, especially through the use of color. The story begins mostly in black-and-white, reflecting the rigid structure Catherine has boxed herself into. As the story progresses, color starts seeping in, until the whole book bursts into vibrancy—mirroring Catherine’s emotional transformation.

I also loved the relationship dynamics, particularly between Catherine and her boyfriend. Every relationship felt realistic and thoughtfully developed. The ending doesn’t tie everything up neatly, but it gives us closure, growth, and real emotional payoff. It’s cheeky, sharp, and clever in how it approaches religious trauma, guilt, and forgiveness—especially in showing how we can give power to something when we leave it unexamined. This is absolutely a graphic novel I’ll be buying, and I can’t wait to see what this author does next.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and 23rd St. for this great graphic novel!

What a beautiful story!

Catherine for the first time in her entire life skips sunday mass. What should be an exciting change in her day ends up being life changing. She makes the horrific discovery that she’s a host for demons trying to take her soul to hell. Grappling with her new situation she opts to live more honestly which sounds good and dandy until it costs her her job and loving partner. What else will she sacrifice to absolve herself?

This was a great graphic novel that I think will appeal to readers of all ages, especially the adults but perhaps even some older YA readers. I think it will also appeal to those who have a non-linear relationship with religion. I genuinely didn't think that a story about a young woman who believes she's possessed by dozens of evil spirits because she missed church one time could be so entertaining. However, the author did a fantastic job bringing Catherine's story to life. I didn't expect to feel a slew of emotions from frustration and shock to heartbreak and overwhelming sadness to healing contentment, but this made me run the gamut.

Catherine was a pretty flawed character and while that made it so she wasn't the most likable, it did make her more realistic and relatable. She's young, makes questionable if not downright awful decisions, and is a bit self-centered at times, but she also genuinely cares about the friends and family in her life. It was honestly almost painful how relatable Catherine was to me but it also made me connect to this story even more. In particular, her struggle to reconcile what religion means to her as an adult vs how she was raised with religion as a child, was something that really hit home. While this book is specifically about Catholicism, I think anyone who has been raised religiously and whose faith has changed as they have grown will be able to relate. I know it made me reflect on my own journey with my religion, what that means to me now considering where I live, and I'm honestly still trying to figure that out even now!

But I digress... This graphic novel clearly made me feel and think a lot and I greatly appreciated that about the story. I was pleasantly surprised by it and having such wonderful artwork to accompany an impactful story made it no hardship to get through. The story is a mix of flashbacks onto childhood and the early days of her relationship with Manolo and I love the colour choices used to depict these scenes, and it was a great way to indicate the differences between the past and present. Although the overall colour palette is more muted, I think it fit Catherine's story perfectly, especially the contrasting red and black accents. I really love this style of art and how "simple" yet evocative it can be. There aren't many huge scenes but zoomed in and intimate scenes with beautiful detailing and textures. My favourite part is how the expressions are captured so well through shading and simply drawn expressions. It's so well done!

That ending, while bittersweet, felt quite hopeful and it surprisingly made me teary eyed because I didn't want to believe that their story was over. Those last few lines: "it's up before over" somehow just really struck me hard. I think this is a story that I can see myself revisiting on occasion, especially the climax and the end. I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a thought-provoking, relatable, and realistic adult graphic novel about growing up, working through the past to heal and find your way forward, even if it's through the most unexpected of events!

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to 23rd St. for providing a digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you’ve ever grown up Catholic and felt haunted by guilt for literally everything, Saint Catherine will hit you right in the soul—and make you laugh while doing it.

This adult graphic novel follows Catherine, a twenty-something Irish American woman who’s never missed Sunday mass… until she finally skips it and suddenly finds herself possibly possessed by a demon. What follows is a funny, oddly touching, and very real look at the intersection of religion, anxiety, and identity.

The real magic here is in the voice. Anna Meyer writes with sharp humor and an almost uncomfortable honesty about the inner life of someone trying to untangle herself from inherited beliefs. Catherine’s inner dialogue, especially her banter with the demon (who might be real or might just be her guilt given form), is absolutely golden.

Visually, the book is just as clever. It starts in black and white and shifts to color the moment Catherine first sees the demon as a kid—such a brilliant choice that mirrors her internal shift. The artwork is expressive and playful without losing emotional weight.

There’s also excellent representation—Catherine’s best friend Kim is a grounded, lovable lesbian character who isn’t reduced to a stereotype. The friendship adds a layer of heart that balances out the chaos.

If you enjoy stories about messy young adulthood, mental health, religious trauma, or just want a smart, emotional, and deeply human read with a touch of the supernatural, you’ll probably love this.

It’s raw, funny, and surprisingly comforting for anyone who's ever asked, "Am I a bad person if I skip mass?" (Spoiler: you’re not.)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – One of the most relatable graphic novels I’ve read in a long time.

This graphic novel was great. I appreciate the representation of Catholic/religious guilt and, without any spoilers, wondering if she's truly possessed or if it's a manifestation of the guilt. It's, unfortunately, relatable for many people, including myself, but it was a great way to feel seen and validated. Definitely would pick this up.