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.

This was an extremely emotional read that took me on a journey I didn't know I needed to go on. The cozy artstyle both contrasted and contributed to the building suspense in the story. The themes of religious trauma and identity were tackled very realistically and tactfully.

★ ★ ★ ★

Call me surprised because I actually ended up really enjoying the plot: A young woman who skips mass for the first time in over 20 years and then mysteriously thinks she’s been possessed by a demon.

Sign me up!

I wasn’t a big fan of our FMC, Catherine. Girl was spineless and did some crappy things to her boyfriend and friends. Like, she was FLAWED.

The friend group was fun though and I really loved how they went after Catherine at the climax. That twist was fun!!

My heart hurt the most for Manolo. That sweet man cared deeply for Catherine. I was SO HAPPY when he made that tough decision. BUT I feel with that ending that maybe, JUST MAYBE, they *could* have a future because it was still there.

As someone who has always struggled with faith and the Church, the message in this story is SO IMPORTANT. You can be a good person NO MATTER WHAT. The end.

♡ adult graphic novel
♥ diverse cast of characters
♡ religious struggles
♥ family expectations
♡ identity crisis

{I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

This is how you write a 350 page graphic novel. I was never bored. I was always engaged and just wanted to keep on reading. It's about a twenty-something living in New York. Her mother has always guilted her about going to church and she's never missed a mass. If you know any Catholics from the Northeast, this is a very common thing. Just ask my wife. The first time she decides to skip mass to spend the day with her boyfriend, something happens and she may be possessed by a demon. I'll leave the rest of the story up to you to find out what happens.

The art is wonderful. It's got this soft and clean feel to it with subtle colors. I really enjoyed it. Now I need to see if Anna Meyer has worked on anything else.

Saint Catherine was a beautiful exploration of finding your place in the world after growing up in a high pressure like Catholicism. Meyers art is evocative and emotional. I loved the use of color to show Catherine’s emotional state.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

As someone who also has a lot of Catholic guilt, this was a great story. I really enjoyed the art style of this story and the overall plot. Catherine's struggle with her "demons" felt very real and personal. From the estranged parents who've lost contact with most of their kids, to being afraid to stop going to church, this whole story was really moving. What I didn't expect was the actual ending with the parasite. I also wonder what it was that Monolo saw. He briefly mentioned it but I almost wanted to see what he actually saw drawn out. Oh well though! I'm also wondering if the end symbolizes that they're really not getting back together or if it means something else.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of an e-ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine, our main character, hasn't missed mass. Ever. When her boyfriend convinces her to ditch one Sunday morning, things begin to go... downhill. Skip mass = get possessed. Apparently.

Honestly? This book hit me right in the chest, especially with the whole religious trauma thing. It was refreshing and strangely cathartic to see a story that acknowledges how not everyone vibes with the faith they were raised in. Catherine's journey really dives into that in a way that felt super real.

And the art! Think super flat, almost paper cutouts, with this really limited color palette that somehow just WORKS. It reminded me a lot of Fun Home!

By the time I was on the last page, I was a mess. This book sneaks up on you!

It gets a 4/5 star rating from me. Somehow giving this a full 5 star feels sacrilegious...

Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer follows Catherine, a twenty something semi-religious girl who has never missed Sunday mass. Ever. Until one day, she does. She misses Sunday mass and goes out with her boyfriend, Manolo, to Staten Island where they adventure in an abandoned church. In this church, Cat falls off an altar and all of a sudden, she’s seeing a demon. Vassago, prince of hell, and his 27 legions of hell are now possessing Catherine. Catherine believes this is divine punishment for missing mass, and the presence of her demon makes her question herself and her actions. Even though she’s trying to do everything right, she just keeps messing up and eventually everything comes to a peak. Afterwards, Catherine’s life goes back to normal, bit by bit, piece by piece. This is a story of religious guilt, of friends and family, of doing what is best for yourself and for others.

My personal thoughts: First of all, before I even get into the story, the art style is just itching a scratch I didn’t know I had. It’s beautiful. I ran through the entire book. It made me cry, I really enjoyed this read. I was absolutely not expecting the squirrel thing, a well written surprise. I really enjoyed this read and I think I’ll be getting a copy for my shelf when it comes out.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this e-arc.

Guilt is a topic that’s often hard to describe much less visualize. Yet, Anna Meyer has found a way to do just that with her debut graphic novel, Saint Catherine, a story that examines religious guilt through a visually stunning perspective. Catherine is an adult adult woman living with roommates who has never missed a Sunday mass. Growing up Catholic with her devout family has left it’s marks, and it becomes very clear that Catherine’s relationship with the religion is a bit complex. Things grow even more complicated when Catherine does miss a Sunday mass and a demon pops up in her life, calling into questions her “goodness.” As Catherine grapples with this unconventional existence, she begins to learn more about herself and the truth behind her demons.

Telling this specific story as a graphic novel does extraordinary work as guilt is not an entity we can readily imagine. Meyer’s artistic rendering of the demon plaguing Catherine gives shape, weight, and dialogue to a topic that often times feels impossible to describe. Moreover, the religious iteration of guilt can be an even harder topic to discuss, yet Meyer’s story unpacks many of the nuances around this silent battle between self and rhetoric.

Catherine is a woman who struggles to feel confident in the things and people she loves give the shadow of her family’s Catholic background. In particular, her relationship with her mother seems to make this shadow loom even larger over Catherine, adding to the already taxing state of existence she experiences once the demon enters her life. However, the demon’s incessant commentary regarding Catherine’s morality works in a way that gives Catherine pause as she must evaluate what really matters most to her. This is a hard truth that many of us who have wrestled with Catholic guilt know all too well.

Visually stunning and deeply endearing, Saint Catherine is a graphic novel that touched my heart and soul for the earnest conversations it fosters. The artistic rendering of guilt through demonic possession and Catherine’s character arc feel notable within this narrative space of creative storytelling. Hard to put down and thoroughly enjoyable, Saint Catherine is a nuanced addition to the conversations around religious trauma.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I loved this! I thought the way Meyer used color was fantastic and it was very easy to tell if you were in the past or present. I also thought the ending was surprising and silly in the best way. I highly recommend.

I've been going in and out of religious horror these last couple years and this was a fun take on the genre. I liked this approach for a posession story, there was a good balance between the unreliable narration and the actual danger. I loved the character interactions, especially those involving catherine's roomate or her mother. The horror isnt particularly horrifying, its more of a vehicle for the Catherine's internal conflict. Theres isn't anything really shocking or upsetting depicted, which coupled with the art style makes it read as young adult despite the chatacters' ages. Its a solid comic and I can see it as a great gateway into the religious horror subgenre.

3.5 ⭐️

🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 6
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 6
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 6
Originality: 7
Wow Factor: 6

I really appreciated how this book tackled Catholic guilt—something so many people carry. As a Baptist, I still found it incredibly relatable and often funny. More than just a story about religion, it touches on the universal guilt that comes with being human and making mistakes. The art was beautiful, and the story was solid.

That said, it wasn’t exactly what I expected, and the reveal left me just a little disappointed.

Thanks to NetGalley, TBR & Beyond Tours, and 23rd St for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Ah cool. This is not just about trauma, there are actually paranormal events happening. The art and colors are perfect for this story.

Catherine isn't a devout Catholic anymore, not really, but she hasn't skipped mass in decades. If she does, something terrible will happen. And then, when she does miss mass, a demon shows up, tells her she's possessed now, and he's out for her soul. She sets out on a journey to be a good enough person to end this mess.
Beautiful art and a moving story. The religious trauma is so real. The supporting cast is interesting. This was a really good one.

this one was a little dark, a little silly, and all around a fun time. i related heavily to catherine's struggle to remain pious and good (as i feel so many of us raised in the faith are) and the demonic presence actually managed to provide a lot of good comedic relief. the art style was clean and striking, and the story was really enjoyable and fast-paced. obvious content warning if you're an ex-catholic.

Catherine may have moved out of her parent's house, but their Catholicism has followed her. Despite being in a relationship, having a job, and realizing she may not have the same beliefs as her parents, her mother's calls and guilt eat away at her. So when she misses mass for the first time, ever, she has a crisis of conscience and starts to belive that a string of bad luck is actually a sign she is possessed by evil.
An interesting, fantastical take on religion and guilt, Saint Catherine is a thoughtful read I am still thinking about weeks later.

Saint Catherine is a fantastic exercise in Catholic guilt, symbolism of that guilt, family strife, interpersonal drama, and more. When Catherine skips mass for the first time ever, she soon discovers a demon inside of her. Has it always been there or is this a result of her negligence? Through his love of hell, he pressures her to be brutally honest in all the ways she hasn't been in order to save her soul. But is it enough? In attempting to be a good Irish Catholic, she hurts those closest to her until she can no longer deal with the pressure.

The illustrations are fun and the demon is a humorous--well, I suppose we wouldn't call him a sidekick, but you know what I mean. Catherine's struggles are hugely relatable regardless of whether you're religious or not. If you feel guilty or ashamed, Catherine is someone you can relate to.

This all wraps up humorously and tidily, making it a well-rounded story.