Thank you Maverick for a copy of In Mourning!

"Paula Cheshire tells the story of her complex feelings and her grieving process after the loss of her mother, walking us through the process of her loss. And, while this loss hurts more than anything, the grieving process—being in mourning—leads to one goal: learning to live with this newfound pain and learning to grow from it without letting it take you over."

Incredibly well done! An absolute must read even if you are not going through grief (at this time). One of those books that are just so heartfelt, it makes you think of others in a different light, perhaps with more understanding and empathy.

For fans of Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder.

An absolute must read.
As someone who lost their mother and has struggled with emotions, it was nice to see and read the character going through the emotions, the different phases.
The colour scheme helps setting the mood of the book.

I really loved this graphic novel! It pulls you right into Paula’s grieving process after losing her mother to cancer, and takes you through all the different stages of grief. It’s such an emotional rollercoaster, and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. I’d definitely recommend this one for both YA readers and adults.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC

Only a graphic novel can show the roller coaster of emotions in this way and Cheshire has such talent both illustrating her story as well as emoting about the loss of her mother in her 20s, which has good company with other books like [book:Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir|50010932] and [book:Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?|18594409] and [book:Crying in H Mart|54814676]and even a dose of (though it's different) [book:I’m Glad My Mom Died|59366244] as a juxtaposition.

Either way this bridges the age range of upper YA into new adult / adult because of her age and how she deadens her emotions with alcohol and marijuana while navigating adult relationships and friendships. Some of the topics won't necessarily be experiences that an older teen would have. But mourning is mourning and this deeply felt experience and how she moves through the stages (excellently plotted and paced, by the way) is just a feather in the cap of this story that could be a mirror, a window, or a sliding glass door for any reader. And as a reader, even if you want to live more inside the art, that's just as enriching as the empathetic understanding of a grieving daughter.

Cartoonist Paula Cheshire opens her heart and invites us to share her experience of dealing with the loss of her Mother from cancer. Beautifully told and illustrated, Paula doesn't shy away from ugly side of grief as she takes us through how her mother's death affected her own mental, emotional and physical wellbeing, and the impact it had on her relationships with family and friends. We are with her as she develops unhealthy coping mechanisms, and as she reaches out to seek help.

In Mourning is a powerful exploration of love and loss and I feel very privileged that Paula Cheshire chose to share it with us.

Rating: 3 stars for the ability to be a mirror or a sliding glass door on losing a mother

My Thoughts:
The back cover has a graphic of a phone with the words "call your mother" on it. That is really what this book is a reminder of. It is about being present for each other through the good memories as well as the not as good memories. It is about embracing each person in our life, both chosen and given to us, through health and illness, scarcity and abundance.

This is a story of a daughter, and although she is an adult, she is still also a daughter. She loses her mother to cancer and talks about being on a cliff with the dark abyss below her called grief. It is messy and self destructive, but for readers who need this, it will help them to feel less alone. As for me, I think I will call my mother.

Just a side note: Paula Cheshire sounds like a very white name. I said that for the next 4 years of Trump hell, I am sticking to my mission to read only diverse, non-white authors writing diverse books. So here is a little about Paula Cheshire. This is the pen name for Spanish cartoonist and illustrator Paula Garci Vázquez. International. Not American.

Finally, from We Need Diverse Books, here is the definition of diversity that I am using to choose my books:
We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA+, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural and religious minorities.
From the Publisher:
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE DIES?
The fact of the matter is, no one really knows. What is left behind is what we really know: a tornado of emotions and a feeling of deep, complex change: that what was once there now no longer is.

Paula Cheshire tells the story of her complex feelings and her grieving process after the loss of her mother, walking us through the process of her loss. And, while this loss hurts more than anything, the grieving process—being in mourning—leads to one goal: learning to live with this newfound pain and learning to grow from it without letting it take you over.

Publication Information:
Author: Paula Cheshire
Publisher: Maverick (August 26, 2025)
Print length: 136 pages

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In Mourning is a short and sweet graphic novel about how Paula processed and coped with her mother’s death following pancreatic cancer. The story was well written, the art was cute and I think it was a beautiful tribute to her loss. Great graphic novel for teens to read when they’re dealing with the loss of a parent.

#IndigoEmployee

In Mourning is a profound exploration into the author's grieving process, it is moving. A reading that undoubtedly has a strong emotional impact.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this advanced reader's copy.

Loved this book! The artwork, story, and meaning was really well done. I loved the message this book portrayed. It was well executed.

A beautiful story about the emotions that we feel when someone we love dies.
The feeling of loss is the obvious emotion but the unspoken ones, the imsomnia, the depresion, the guilt and the anger.
We don't talk about these feeling because its just to hard, and we are so sure no one understands or wants to hear about them.

The journey she went through when her mother died had me in tears. Not because it was so tragic but because it was so familar. I have felt each of these emotions from the loss of my sister 30 years ago, to the passing of my father, and the passing of my mother.
Insomnia is such an old friend, to sleep seems odd.
And yes, I do not speak about these things to friends or family for a myriad of reasons.

Pau;a Cheshire hit home on all of these feelings in an honest and unvarnished way. Even with the sad theme, this book is beautiful.
As is her art and style.
Highly Recommended. Expected Publishing date; August 26, 2025

Thanks to @netgalley and Mad Cave Studios/Maverick for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I lost my mother 2 years ago and I still feel like it just happened. This author's graphic novel about her own experience losing her mother is completely relatable. Cheshire goes through the different stages of grief, and that really happens, but with my mother the loss is so big it feels like I keep needing to start over. I highly recommend this to anyone dealing with loss who doesn't want to feel so alone.

“In Mourning” is a touching and deeply personal story about the author’s experience with losing her mother.

The book explores the stages of grief with honesty and emotion, making it relatable for others who have gone through loss.

The art style is nice and simple.

While it’s a sad read, it’s also meaningful and well done. A good book for those looking to understand or reflect on mourning.

I recived this book from Netgalley and I absolutely loved this. I lost my mother a few years back due to cancer, and it was the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. I didn't realize what I was feeling was normal. I thankfully had a very supportive loved ones that loved her as much as I did. Thank you so much for sending me this. It was an honor to read it. I love that it is a book anyone really could read.

A deeply moving and tragic novel about grief. No one can ever be prepared for losing a parent, but Cheshire does a fantastic job of navigating the stages of grief, while also providing hilariously relatable quips along the way. You can see how difficult this piece was for Cheshire, and I think that adds to the intensity and depth that resonated with me after finishing. Will definitely be recommending for those in need of a book about grief.

This book was both beautiful and emotional. My mom is my best friend, and knowing that someday I'll lose her is always hard to face. However, reading and seeing someone else's grief process and realizations let me see that when that dark day does come, I won't be alone in the world, and my feelings will be normal. The art throughout is beautiful and pleasing, I could see this author/artist making it very big in the realm of art.

Oh my gosh this made my cry. I have been struggling with the concept of death as I grow older. I’m scared of how it’ll feel to lose people and live in a world without those I love. I am worried about being able to “handle” it. I also replay all of the ways I’ve made people’s lives harder with who I am as a person (sometimes emotional, sometimes confrontational and argumentative).

This graphic novel hit me hard in so many ways but was also so hopeful and helped me acknowledge and ease my worries.

Thank you so much for the arc and just for sharing your story. It is so relatable and real and raw. I know this graphic novel is going to help so many others out there process their grief and learn to be gentle with themselves.