4/5⭐️

Sad Nuggie: Life Is Sweet and Sour is an adorably heartfelt and hilariously quirky read that takes on mental health in a way that feels fresh, accessible, and genuinely sweet. I loved how it explored big feelings—like sadness, anxiety, and self-doubt—with a light touch and lots of clever humor. The wordplay (like turning “Tinder” into “Tender”) was hilarious and spot-on.

Visually, the book is gorgeous—Anastasia Svetlyanova’s illustrations are expressive, fun, and bring so much personality to Sad Nuggie and his world. It’s visually engaging and full of charm from start to finish.

One thing that stood out (in a funny-but-strange way) was Sad Nuggie’s diet—chicken wings, chicken nuggets… it’s pretty much all he eats. Given that he is a nugget, it’s a little weird, but also kind of fits with the book’s absurd and playful vibe.

What I appreciated most was how the story communicated that not every day is perfect, and that’s totally okay. It’s all about how you frame those moments and find ways to cope—and that’s such an important message, especially for kids. I would definitely share this with my own kids to open up conversations about emotions and how we respond to tough days.

That said, one thing I do wish the book had addressed more clearly was the scene with Sad Nuggie and his therapist. He tells them he’s fine when he clearly isn’t—and while that’s a very real experience, I would’ve loved to see a moment later on where he opens up and shares the truth. For young readers, it’s so valuable to show that therapists are safe people to be honest with. A little scene of growth or vulnerability there could have made an already strong message even more impactful.

Overall, Sad Nuggie: Life Is Sweet and Sour is a fantastic read—funny, meaningful, and full of heart. I’d absolutely read more from this author and illustrator duo, and I think it’s a great tool for readers of all ages to talk about mental health in a relatable, warm, and creative way.

Love the online comics and now really enjoyed this in book form. Perfect gift book for adults and older teens.

I haven’t really followed sad nuggie before but really enjoyed this book! The art style is very cute and easy to follow. As someone currently experiencing burnout I truly resonated with the story.

I love Sad Nuggie and was excited to see that there is now a book. The comics are cozy and cute and relatable.

Book 115 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I resonate with the sad nuggie as I have been very stressed out, feeling blue, and just been a downright Debby Downer.

Things have been rough at times, and I am looking forward to more positives in the money side soon as it seems to be heading in the wrong direction - out of pocket versus in cos of medicals.

Here is to manifesting more new projects and closing more hustles.

I feel you sad nuggie I do i do.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is such a cute little book. Just a week in the life of a sad nuggie. Maybe I’m biased since it’s based in Toronto, but I loved how it showed off my city.

Maybe it's just my mental health journey of late, but this book made me CRY.

Not just a lil teary-eyed, not a little misty.

Sobbing.

Sad Nuggie is just where I, and many other people are, in life - walking through life, holding back tears, doing our best despite the horrors, feeling too overwhelmed/sad/anxious to figure out how to make your life better. I did feel bad that Nuggie was just on his phone the whole time, instead of taking breaks, and getting off the phone. I'm happy Sad Nuggie found his people, and I hope I will too one day.

Sad Nuggie is a quick and fun read for all ages sharing the hard parts of life in a humorous way. All of us can relate to Nuggie in one way or another, which is what makes these comics so great. I have read the sad nuggie comics for a long time, and I was so excited to see that there was a book that came out for it. I hope that there are more sad nuggie books released.

This was such a cute, quick read, and I totally relate to Sad Nuggie. I think the best way to make life a little better is to take it one step at a time, at your own pace, just like Sad Nuggie!

This was a cute, very quick read. Sad Nuggie is an adorable character that despite being a chicken nugget is somehow very relatable. I recommend if you are looking for quick comics to read.

Sad Nuggie is both hilarious and deeply relatable. It touches on themes like therapy, life’s challenges, and everyday struggles in a way that feels personal and honest. The adorable art style adds the perfect touch of charm to balance the emotional depth.

Okay Sad Nuggie is adorable and I love him. This is a super cute, quick read guaranteed to make you smile at least a little bit.

This was so cute and so relatable. I am not much of a graphic novel reader but I loved it. The graphics were really nice as well.

Lovely and relatable!!

I'd like to thank the publisher, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

It was fun, relatable and cute. I would have liked it better if the stories were a bit longer, and if there had been more of them. Really enjoyed the drawing style.

I wasn't expecting to love Sad Nuggie as much as I did. I'm glad I was able to have access to this book via Netgalley. The colorful illustrations were so cute and I found them relatable. I've already recommended it to a few people.

I never expected to relate to a nuggie so much, yet here I am! He is very relatable and equally adorable. The art is genuinely pleasing and super cute! I'd read more for sure!

Sad Nuggie in book form, YES!
Tackling life's issues with anxiety and taking those baby steps to succeed.
Sad Nuggie has filled up social media to bring normalcy to feelings of uncertainty and strife
in getting through this thing we call life. It's a great read for anyone who may struggle with anxiety.

I was already a fan of Sad Nuggie from social media so I really enjoyed going through the comics. Very relatable, cozy and cute.

Sometimes the most profound comfort comes from knowing others share our struggles, even when delivered through a melancholic chicken nugget.