Thank you to Andrew McNeels Publishing for an e-arc of this book! This was SUCH a cute anthology of the sad nuggie comics. I loved how sad nuggie’s life was so relatable, but the struggles were presented with such levity and humor that it wouldn’t make you melancholy. I think this would be a cute thing to read a little bit of every day and remind yourself that you’re not alone — everyone deals with ups and downs. Highly recommend!!

4.25 🌟

I absolutely adored Sad Nuggie!! Context/Topics were so relatable. The illustrations are amazing! I was engaged with Sad Nuggie on every page! Can’t wait for more.

*ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Sad Nuggie: Life is Sweet and Sour by Sad Nuggie and Anastasia Sevastyanova was just okay for me. It is a collection of comic panels that I will say I've certainly never been told life stories from a chicken nugget before, so...that's something, I guess. These comics felt a bit like they were poking fun at someone's anxiety and life struggles, which, maybe they were, but I didn't find that particularly funny or entertaining, just made me feel bad for them. Cute art, but prob won't pick up any Sad Nuggie comics again.

I did not expect to enjoy this little Sad Nuggie so much but it was so relatable and it made me feel seen. This is a little comic about an anxious little Nugget and his daily life, from work to therapy to the little sweet and sour moments in life.

I adored it. No notes. It was adorable and cute!

This was a DNF for me – it just failed to provide any entertainment that I was seeking, and was certainly low on the insight, too.

Its simple pleasure is designed for adults who don't feel like their life is going anywhere but who are content to watch Sad Nuggie's perseverance in spite of bad circumstances.

So cute! The illustrations are adorable, and the storylines are very relatable. The email to the client and the weekend storyline were 100% me.

Thanks #NetGalley and #HachetteIndia for the ARC.

I have been following Sad Nuggie on Instagram for a while now. When I saw that NetGalley had the ebook ARC available, I knew that I needed to read it. The illustrations for Sad Nuggie are so cute! I enjoyed going on Sad Nuggie’s adventures with him in this sweet little graphic novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this absolutely adorable little gem!
Sad Nuggie: Life is Sweet and Sour is a heartwarming graphic novel full of gentle humour, relatable emotions, and an irresistibly cute chicken nugget protagonist. Sad Nuggie may be small and crispy on the outside, but inside they're full of squishy feelings we can all relate to—anxiety, self-doubt, tiny joys, and existential snack-based musings.
The illustrations by Anastasia Sevastyanova are soft, expressive, and full of charm. Every page feels like a comforting snack for the soul, reminding us that it's okay to be a little sad sometimes, and that sweetness can be found even in sour moments.
A perfect read for anyone who needs a little pick-me-up or a gentle reminder that feelings are valid—no matter how nugget-sized they may be.

Not something I would purchase for the collection or my own collection, but I can see others finding it interesting. The graphics are cute sometimes, but other than that, I wasn’t too connected with the graphics or the content in general.

This was a bite-sized novel, much like its main character. The art was adorable, I loved Sad Nuggie! He was a little silly and relatable as he struggled through "adulthood." I loved the graphics; they were bright, clear, and well-drawn. The author did a great job at conveying emotion (of a chicken nugget, nonetheless, I didn't think that was possible). This book is more like comic strips of different events, although it has a fairly linear plotline. It was sweet, cute, and enjoyable!

I absolutely ADORED Sad Nuggie!! The story as a whole is so relatable, even down to the small things like not wanting to cook because a dish you need is dirty. I loved how therapy was brought in at the end of every chapter as a sort of check-in to reflect on the things that have gone on in his life. Hopefully they come out with a stuffy of him because I definitely need to pick one up to go along with this book!

This book is so cute! Thank you for the copy.

-The illustration is great, bright and simple enough to figure out the objects drawn.
-The have chapters but inside though chapters is chaos. ( no story flows though, it can be a reflection of real life. Which is a mess)
-Relatability is at it's core, with the colorful illustrations is where it trick you that this is about sunshine and rainbow and if the sad nuggie will win at life, then bam! life is hard, get used to this.

I love Sad Nuggie when it comes up on my social media reels so of course I had to pick up this book. This is like the background story of Sad Nuggie when he's not doing the things seen on those reels. There's Sad Nuggie between therapy appointments, finding a job, life at home, having fun with friends, and also being the couch potato introvert we all want to be. It was a fun read,

#arc
#netgalley
#sadnuggie

This was a soft, empathetic, and visually engaging exploration of mental health, particularly through the lens of anxiety and depression. The graphic novel format made a heavy topic feel approachable without watering it down.

As someone with anxiety and ADHD, I saw myself in Sad Nuggie’s overwhelm, disorganization, and quiet fight for self. The therapy scenes, the coping tools, the decision to date themselves instead of forcing healing through others; it all hit in a gentle but powerful way. I appreciated the honesty in showing how hard it can be to follow through, even with the best intentions.

My only note: while marketed as a book about depression, it leaned more heavily into anxiety throughout, and the word “depression” wasn’t explicitly mentioned until the back matter. Some added clarity here would have strengthened the messaging. With that said , this is an important, affirming read. I’d love to see more from this author and more of Sad Nuggie’s journey.

I have been a fan of Sad Nuggie for a while now, and was thrilled to see a Sad Nuggie comic! Sad Nuggie is an adorable little anxious chicken nugget, and he's just trying to get through life. The illustration is so cute, and the messages are all so relatable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adore Sad Nuggie and was really excited to read this new book. Sad Nuggie tries so hard and most times things don't go as he plans, but the important thing is he keeps trying. I see myself in Sad Nuggie and found myself laughing and tearing up throughout this book as I too have dealt with the same things he has.

The art in the book is simple but the artist completely captures the emotions on a chicken nugget shaped character.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sad Nuggie and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC!

SO CUTE!

I love the art style! Extremely adorable! And the comic style reminds me of the book "Dinosaur Friendship". I enjoyed the book immensely.

Some of the stories are extremely relatable, what Sad Nuggie does when he is overwhelmed... <spoiler>He takes a nap! So relatable</spoiler>

I did dock a star off because sometimes, <spoiler>things seem to go extremely badly for poor little nuggie, and he is perpetually in tears.</spoiler>

Overall, and extremely relatable and cute read.

P.S. I am extremely thankful to have received this book as an advanced e-book for an honest review.

This was an adorable read that targeted me hard and made me feel heard. Every thing ends up being this weird anxiety trigger and to know I can deeply relate to this Nugget makes my whole day.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an advanced copy for an honest review.

I’m always keeping an eye out for books that mix honesty with empathy—and surprise me with humor along the way. Sad Nuggie: Life Is Sweet and Sour is exactly that kind of gem. It follows a little chicken nugget who’s always a bit sad but still showing up, finding ways to be kind and hopeful—even when life is messy and overwhelming.

The vibe is cozy and relatable. Sad Nuggie chats about big things—like moving, starting therapy, feeling anxious—but in a way that’s gentle and accessible. He’s vulnerable yet resilient, which made me think of so many folks I know. The illustrations by Anastasia Sevastyanova are bright, simple, and expressive—they ground the emotion in a way kids (and adults) can see and feel. What I really love is how the book normalizes those little daily struggles and makes them feel seen—not shameful. Sad Nuggie may be tiny and melancholy, but he keeps choosing to show up, to care, to keep trying. That message is gold for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, especially young readers or teens navigating a tough emotional space.

At 128 pages, it's approachable but not superficial—that kind of lightness holds space for real feeling. I can absolutely see this as a tool in group sessions, school support, or just a reminder that being imperfect doesn’t make you unworthy.

In short: sweet, honest, and surprisingly powerful. Definitely a book I’ll be recommending—to people I care about and anyone who needs a little emotional lift without being told to “just get over it."