A quick and wholesome read. Ileana transported me to a new universe that felt like a warm hug. Starting at the colours and ending on the plot itself, from the beginning to the end I felt intrigued and welcomed in this world.
Could not recommend more for a little break on a busy day 😉

The Lost Sunday by Ileana Surducan is a fascinating and beautifully illustrated children's book that touches on the themes of rest, joy and work. At first, the reader may be confused about the relationship between the wolves and the days of the week, but as Surducan leads the reader and the main character along the way, we begin to understand the relationships and the deeper meaning behind the characters. I can see this book being used in a multitude of ways in a lower elementary classroom, and it is a book I will definitely be picking up. Thank you so much to NetGalley for this copy of The Lost Sunday to enjoy!

Be still, my heart! I adore this retelling! In Germany we grow up with the fairy tale of Frau Hölle and at first I was a little grumpy that she supposedly is a witch. But like in fairy tales it wasn't as it seemed at first and had some other layers of the story.

I love the introduction of the weekdays and how they were later groomed by Nina. Those illustrations are so beautiful that I want one tattooed on my body! The twist of the Double as a counterpart to Nina, the latter always simply doing the work because it has to be done, was lovable. I'm always a little bit conflicted about the message of "doing nothing brings you nowhere" because as a person with mental health problems I think it is always responsible to take breaks.
Of course, the Double is in this iteration not only "lazy" but actively letting others to the work to profit of it. So it felt much less condemning for people who want but can't work as hard as others.

What I also love is the community Nina has - it stands behind her decision to get Sunday back and it waits for her because she is an important part of their town.

I will be happily reading more by Ileana Surducan!

This was a fantastic story and loved the artwork too! I need a copy for the library and a copy for home so I can read it over and over. All ages need to read this book and appreciate a daily times to rest and relax for a moment.
Thank you so much NetGalley for introducing me to this lovely book 📕 ❤️

This is a wonderful tale about how important it is to have some time off in your busy life. Beautifully illustrated, this is a lesson everyone should take to heart. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Nina misses Sundays. She has heard tales of a day of the week where one doesn’st have to do anything. As it is, the town she lives in, she has to work every day of the week. So she goes in search of Sunday, and meets a girl who says she will help her find the missing day. But, since this is a retelling of classic folk and fairy tales, the girl who helps is the one that find Sunday, while the girl who doens’t want to work, doesn’t.

It is a sweet retelling, and the fun thing about it is, since it is a graphic novel, all the pictures. How bright Sunday is, but how dark the other days of the week are. Each day is represented by a wolf. And Nina pets and adores the wolf when she meets him, whiel as the other girl ignores him.

It is a nice, quick read. Nina is believable, as one can get in a fairy tale, and the outcome is typical of folk tales, where the good people win.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This will be published in English (as it has previously been published in other languages), on the 17th of June 2025.

I love when I get surprise retellings of my favourite fairy tales.

I honestly requested the ARC of this based on vibes and artwork and as soon as our delightfully determined main character ventured into the well I immediately knew this was a Frau Holle retelling and I SHRIEKED with absolute childhood joy.

And what a retelling it is, I adored every aspect of this graphic novel, including the glimpse into the beginning drafts, character artwork, and the authors own relation to the tale being resold.

I HIGHLY suggest this tale for everyone, especially this rendition of it, because it is so relatable to our current work/life culture.

"The Lost Sunday" is such a delightful story with gorgeous illustrations that really draw you in. It’s a fresh and magical take on the classic "Frau Holle" fairy tale, and the artwork perfectly captures the enchanting atmosphere.

The extra info in the final pages was a nice touch! It gave more background on the story and made me appreciate it even more.

Incredibly beautiful story and imagery! I loved reading this so much. It was so cozy and light while reminding us of the importance of rest.

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for the ARC!

A very quick, sweet read with beautiful illustrations and colouring. I love this interpretation of the Frau Holle fairy tale, and the message definitely resonates with me at the moment! If it were longer there would definitely be potential for some shed tears.

4.25/5

A town has all days of the week but not Sunday. Nina, sets out to find Sunday and get it back from the witch who has kept it locked. This book has absolutely amazing illustrations and as a illustrator myself this book is a great inspiration. I also like the last few pages of the book where the author talks about her process in making this book. I am floored by how good this book is on the whole. Though it was a quick read, this book has so much effort gone into it and it shows in the results. Thanks NetGalley for this book.

It is a superb modern folktale that teaches the life lesson of taking the time to appreciate your days and be hard-working and kind but present. The unique style, format, and color composition make this work stand out from the crowd. The only downside is occasionally, the words are difficult to read as they are incorporated into the illustrations.

As a Mom of young kids and a reader, the greatest compliment I can give is to share and buy works I appreciate. It is so different and leans toward the traditional style of storytelling that I am tempted to buy a physical copy. 4.5/5 Stars.

I read this ebook, sponsored through NetGalley, for an honest review.

Not quite a graphic novel and not quite a picture book, but nonetheless adorable and gorgeous. This is one I'll be buying for my own personal collection.

The Lost Sunday is a graphic novel, suitable for all ages, about a girl who lives in a land where Sunday has disappeared: she embarks on a quest to find it.

This was such a wonderful story, told through beautifully vibrant and joyful illustration, and I really liked the imagining of the days as wolves that had their own personalities. It was a feel-good story, that felt like a warm, fuzzy hug. It highlighted the importance of kindness, to the world around us and ourselves, and in finding time for rest and recovery: the importance of a Sunday to put aside tasks for a while, or just a little bit of time in our day-to-day lives carved out for rest or joy.

The fairytale vibes shone through in the story, and I could see the authors inspiration from The Brothers Grimm (Frau Holle) and Petre Ispirescu (The Old Man's Wise Daughter).

The Lost Sunday was a beautiful story that holds a strong 'moral of the tale' for any age of reader. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking for a short cozy read that reminds you of the importance of free time.

(4.5/5☆)

What a beautiful graphic novel! Covering a topic that's so important in our society nowadays, mixing it with traditional folklore and using gorgeous illustrations. Loved it!

I did not expect to be so moved by this story! It's quite a testimony to rest and community. The mixture of folk and fairytale with illustrations that jump off the page makes a beautiful book.

The story follows a young girl who works all week except on Sundays, as there is no Sunday, Frau Holle, the witch, has stolen it. After rushing through her tasks and leaving a big mess, she decides to confront the witch and reclaim Sunday so everyone can have a break.

On one hand, this narrative is a fantastical adventure as the girl attempts to rescue Sunday from the witch. On the other hand, it explores themes of time management, society as a whole and burnout.

This story is a perfect blend of fantasy, fairy tales and deeper meaning; it is a deeply moving and well-crafted story, and the art enhances the narrative and adds depth to the overall experience.

Overall, this story is amazing and a must-read for everyone, and I seriously cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

What a delightful book! I was lucky to receive a digital ARC of this gorgeous book from NetGalley for review purposes. Based on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, this takes place in a weary world without Sundays. The young protagonist works hard all week and ventures into another realm in search of Sundays to bring joy and rest to her dreary world. In this other realm, colors explode on the page as she shares kindness and elbow grease with areas in need. This book is filled with imagination, fanciful imagery, meaningful moments honoring good work and restorative rest. I loved this book and would wholeheartedly recommend it to young readers.

The Lost Sunday is a graphic novel retelling of the fairy tale Frau Holle. Nina lives in a world where there is no Sunday- she only has time to work and has no time to rest or play. Nina decides she’s had enough and goes to get Sunday back from the witch. Nina shows her courage and kind heart by helping others in need and cleaning up the witch’s land. I love this gothic style graphic novel that uses the art in incredibly interesting ways! I like how when she depicts Sunday/the witch’s land it’s bright colors and beautiful and when it’s the other days of the week it’s dingy and dark.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Lost Sunday.

The Lost Sunday was an adorable graphic novel combining elements from Frau Holle from the Brothers Grimm and "The Old Man's Wise Daughter" from a Romanian collection. The art was whimsy, with scenery straight out of a fairytale with fantastic colors. The moral that is taught in this novel (I will not spoil it) makes it the perfect book for children in elementary school to adults to read. It was indeed such a fun journey to take, and I'm quite excited and hopeful for more of Iléana Surducan's books to be translated. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.