This was really sweet, loved the illustrations and art style. I can see my kids really enjoying this book. I also enjoyed the overaching message.

This book is a reimagining of a fairytale called many things, but most often the Old Man’s Wise Daughter. The story is about a young girl. In this case, there’s a twin from another dimension. And they both set off on the same task. To find Sunday. Our main girl takes the way of hard work, and our lazy girl takes the way of rest. Two different courses of action get two different rewards. This book was lovely. It’s a little odd in the beginning, but once you’re used to it, you’re enamored. This story has a ton of heart, and the story will resonate with the readers. Be sure to read the extras at the end. Both where the story came from, where to the characters came from, and information about what makes this an enduring fairytale. Add all of that to wonderfully beautiful and fun illustrations and this is a book that will be shared for years to come.

This is a really fantastic hybrid of two fairy tales. It's a great story about finding time to rest and recharge. You don't always have to be productive! You can find time for rest! And also, don't be a selfish jerk. Really liked it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for this ARC

This is an delightfully darling fairytale. I loved the whimsical illustrations and the palette was stunning.

Highlights the very real dangers of how overworking can be so damaging to our mental health. The real need for our time away from work heavy schedules.

This book was an absolutely delightful fairytale retelling highlighting the dangers of overwork and mental burden. I loved the art style and the simple narration.

This was a surprising little graphic novel. It’s story is precise and goes in a linear fashion while simultaneously being a little whimsical.

Our lead protagonist is a hardworking girl who works all days of the week, which is six of them since Sunday is missing. These jobs start to take a toll on her as well as the individuals who do this every day as well. Knowing just the rumour of the lost Sunday, she sets out to find and bring it back.

What follows is an interesting tale for all ages with nice art. The author’s notes at the end as an extra dimension to everything.

I would highly recommend this to fans of graphic novels and odd little fairy tales.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Thank you Oni Press for a copy of The Lost Sunday!

"Nina lives in a dusty town, haunted by the six angry wolves of the week—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each day brings never-ending chores and drudgery. Legend speaks of a seventh day to rest—Sunday—but everybody knows an evil witch stole it and keeps it locked away. When Nina finally says enough is enough, she sets out on an ambitious quest for rest, but will she be able to vanquish the witch and bring back the lost Sunday?"

Gosh, what a timely story -- not just for children but parents/adults as well. A storybook reminding us of the importance of leisure, rest, and a day just for yourself to do nothing and chill.

The story telling reminds me of the folk stories/fairy tales I grew up with and the art is absolutely enchanting! I can't wait to have my own physical copy.

I really loved the message that I think this book wanted to send, but felt like it didn’t quite land as intended. I loved the art, but felt some mixed messaging about the need for rest while glamorizing a strong work ethic. The two wolves inside The Lost Sunday are industriousness and anti-capitalism and I’m not sure who wins?

That being said I enjoyed the notes at the end about the folklore that inspired the author and after reading those was better able to appreciate the book as a whole.

The Lost Sunday is a charming, all-ages graphic novel that blends folklore and fairytale magic into a thoughtful story about burnout, balance, and the importance of rest.

Nina lives in a dusty town ruled by the six angry wolves of the week, Monday through Saturday, each one bringing a never-ending stream of work and obligation. The mysterious seventh day, Sunday, is said to have been stolen by an evil witch, and Nina finally decides enough is enough. Her quest to bring Sunday back is both whimsical and meaningful, offering readers a gentle reminder of the value of leisure and self-care.

I found this book to be a very sweet and heartwarming read. The art style and illustrations were absolutely beautiful, and the story would be a lovely one to read alongside a child. There’s a deeper message running beneath the magical surface, one that adults will also resonate with, about the way our modern lives often leave little room for pause or play.

The Lost Sunday is a cozy and thoughtful graphic novel that brings a bit of magic to a very real problem.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful retelling of various fairy-tales, including a Romanian one, but also a book about burnout and taking breaks. Plus the art is so cool and fun and it flows with the story. I'm enchanted and I cannot wait to read more graphic novels by Ileana Surducan.

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this ebook. I read it along with my niece, who has recently started learning more English to taste the waters for my young English students. We were both very excited about the poetry and rhymes and reading it aloud was delightful. We also loved the art! My niece is quite nitpicky when it comes to liking picture books, so this is a compliment on her behalf. I really liked the themes myself and enjoyed the colours of it all. It is quite important to learn the importance of rest and work-balance when it comes to such a frenetic world, and The Lost Sunday was a warm breeze of fresh air.

Something important! My small nephew wanted to read along with us and, although he has complications while reading, he found it quite easy to read, so props for the font choice, it made the whole experience more accessible. I will be looking into purchasing it for the classroom!

Nina is fed up of working every day of the week when no job is ever finished and there's no Sunday for them to have a rest. So she decides to search for the evil with who stole Sunday and try to get it back!
Beautiful, colourful illustrations and a lovely story.

This book is for anyone who's ever struggled with a to-do list or felt like they don't have enough hours in the day. This book incorporates bits of folklore while also highlighting the importance of rest and relaxation.

Love the illustrations and it’s a fun and light read. I recommend you to read this graphic novel that I managed to read in one sitting.

Thank you to the author, Oni Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting, I have had continuing familial health challenges to contend with in the past months.

This graphic novel take on a traditional folktale is so well done - beautiful and expressive illustrations that are much more art than comic, and a clever story that unobtrusively makes an important point about living together in community. Younger readers may not get the point of the story, but they will love the illustrations, and older readers - and grownups! - will get a lot out of the story, buttressed by the strong images.

Nina lives in a world without Sundays. Every day, Monday through Saturday, she is overwhelmed with never ending work. Despite working with those she loves Nina is tired of this life, and dreams of a Sunday where she can do absolutely nothing. Determined to help her community and herself, Nina ventures down a magical well in search for the witch who stole Sunday.

The Lost Sunday is an absolute delight. Nina is kind, thoughtful, and completely relatable. She doesn't necessarily want to do the work before her, but she recognizes those around her need the help. Her kindness ultimately benefits her in the long run, and in a way that didn't feel predictable for the reader.

I was delighted by Surducan's creativity, her characters, and her dreamy artwork. I loved the author's notes at the end of the story, and appreciated the stories that ultimately inspired her completely charming story.

As an ARC reader you always hope you're going to find a new favorite or be completely enthralled with the story. The Lost Sunday absolutely delivered on all those hopes, and I will definitely be looking for a physical copy for my own library. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this opportunity.

This was a short graphic novel that would work well for younger readers just stepping into graphic novels. Fairytale retellings are always popular, especially if they aren't as well known. The art style was very beautiful, resembling storybook like illustrations, but more modern. While I feel the plot could use more explanation for the "twin" foil character for readers unfamiliar with the story, I liked the plot and felt it brought up a good lesson.

The Lost Sunday is well-drawn take on a traditional folktale about a town where Sunday has been lost. The main character, Nina, goes on a journey to bring it back and restore rest to her town.

The illustrations are super charming, and I would definitely recommend it to readers. Unfortunately, this isn't the type of story that my students gravitate toward, so I will not be purchasing for my own school library at this time.

In a Nutshell: A graphic novel highlighting the issue of burnouts and the importance of breaks. Brilliant story written in fairy-tale style. Some of the most visually stimulating illustrations I have ever seen. Contains an excellent message for kiddos as well as adults. Much recommended to everyone!

Plot Preview:
Young Nina lives in a dusty old town where, haunted by the six angry wolves of the week, everyone faces endless drudgery. The seventh day brings no respite because there is NO seventh day. Legend has it that an evil witch stole Sunday for her own personal use.
One day, Nina, fed up of the never-ending chores, declares that enough is enough. She sets off on a quest to go to the witch and get Sunday back.

This book was first published in Romanian in 2021 under the title ‘Duminica pierdută’. This English translation is to be published in June 2025. This story takes inspiration from multiple versions of a fairy tale, the original being the German ‘Frau Holle’, written by the Brothers Grimm in 1812.

This is one of the cleverest and most stunning graphic novels I have ever read! After a long time, I found a book that I could easily dole out the full 5 stars too. Though it is quite short, barely 78 pages long including the add-on content, it packs quite a punch.

We adults know what a burnout feels like. In today’s world, with the endless quest for more and better, many of us, despite being fatigued and stressed, have stopped taking the time to just sit and breathe, to spend quality time without screens, to dive into nature first-hand. However, as W.H. Davies’ famous poem ‘Leisure’ says, “What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.” This book gently reminds us of the importance of good work-life balance and the value of leisure time.

While there are many aspects I absolutely enjoyed, I most appreciate the depiction of Nina’s quest. It uses a trope often found in fairy tales, but the author found a smart way of making it unique. I also love how the entire community is supportive of Nina’s journey. Though she is the only one to venture on the dangerous journey, the book highlights the ways in which the townsfolk helped her before and after. Fairy tales often contain solo quests of bravado, so seeing the other characters also play a part, however small, is welcome.

There are some things the story leaves unaddressed (specifically related to the events prior to the start), but these don’t impact the ongoing plot. And the end result is so fabulous that it is easy to thwart those teeny doubts.

Where do I begin praising the illustrations!? They are utterly divine! I usually give about 60-40 weightage to plot and graphics respectively in illustrated books, but in this book, the graphics alone were easily worth a 1000 points. Such an imaginative rendering of the days of the week and the other fantastical elements! Such amazing intricacies in the background! Such a clever use of colour and shadows! Such smart character detailing! I would love to get a physical copy of this book just to gaze at the sketches.

The lettering is also amazing. The speech bubbles come in the usual pattern, but there are many added lines and even onomatopoeic sound effects hidden in the illustrations. The writing style of these helps us *hear* the sound perfectly.

Though a graphic novel with a young lead character, this is a fairy tale for all ages. Kids will enjoy the words. Adults will hopefully appreciate what’s being said between the lines. There is a lot of clever metaphorical content in the plot. If you are like me – slow with literary metaphors, do not worry. The bonus content at the end explains some of the hidden figurative content.

All in all, the three of us (my two little buddy readers and I) enjoyed this beautiful journey. Nina’s quest made us all not just understand the value of me-time but also appreciate the power of human imagination as visible in those glorious illustrations.

Much, much recommended, especially to fantasy and fairy tale lovers! This would be a fabulous book for the entire family. Maybe toss away those teeny screens and read this magical book together – that could be your first step towards quality free-time.

5 stars, without a doubt!

My thanks to Oni Press for providing the DRC of “The Lost Sunday” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Knowing that this book is based off of a fable with a deep history, it makes it all the more whimsical and clever. This graphic novel is an accomplishment and a beautiful way of taking a fable and giving it new life.