⊰ 1 star

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, I will be giving this book 1 star due to the use of AI for the images in this book. I thought the images were quite cute (though a bit bland), but there are obvious AI mistakes in the images and the style of the images throughout the book changes so much.
The writing style was bland and very repetitive, even though not even all of the 100 pages have text on them.

I genuinely loved this sweet, soft story. I just want to run home to my cats and snuggle them! A reminder to be still and quiet is one we all need from time to time.

Truthfully don’t know what the point of this book was and then come to find out, the illustrations are AI produced. 😑🙃
Big no no for me.

The writing itself was repetitive. I see what the author was trying to point out, about the beauty of sitting still and seeing the world through a cat’s POV. But even that fell flat for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Chantilly Cat Press and Caroline Bell for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This was just a surprising hopeful book. There was so much feelings and heart that went into each illustration and it shows so much. The story itself was simple but powerful

This one was very cute and sweet, but I wish there was more of a story. It was very cozy and interesting to read, but it felt more like a goft book than anything.

This was adorable!!! George is an absolute sweetheart. The illustrations were just amazing. So cozy and cute I wanna cry. Also, George teaching us the art of being still was so lighthearted yet it taught me so much.
Cat TV is absolutely the cutest thing ever, I'll have to watch Cat TV (or how George calls or 'perfect') more often.
I am absolutely obsessed. This melted and healed my heart. So glad I decided to read this ☹️🩷

Caroline Bell has made this little gem as a love letter to her cat George. George is quiet and loving, and Bell spends the book pondering what George is thinking and feeling. It is not a joke book, rather a real meditation on what our pets' inner lives are like. A great gift for any cat lover.

I went into What George Thinks When He Sits Still expecting something soft, cozy, and heartwarming. You know, the kind of quiet little story that feels like a purring cat on your lap on a rainy afternoon. Instead, what I got felt more like a list.

The premise is sweet enough: a cat named George and what might be going through his head while he sits still. As a cat owner myself (although, sadly, mine remembers the sound of the food bowl a lot more than the sound of my voice), I was ready to be charmed. But the book doesn’t really tell a story—it just catalogs George’s daily behaviors in a loosely poetic, observational way.

Now, that approach might work if the visuals carried it. And to be fair, the illustrations are cute. There’s a clear affection for George in every brushstroke. But there’s a lack of consistency that really threw me off. Sometimes George has long fur, sometimes short. Sometimes he has stripes, then suddenly he doesn’t. Even the page colors change in ways that feel random rather than intentional. Maybe it’s supposed to be whimsical, but it just came across as… sloppy? Disconnected?

I’m not a graphic novel expert, but I do expect a certain harmony—a rhythm between text and image, between one page and the next. Here, everything felt a bit too unstructured to leave a lasting impression.

Ultimately, this was a disappointment. I wanted to love it, and I still think George is a good boy (most of the time). But I was hoping for more story, more cohesion, more… something. Instead, I just felt like I was flipping through a scrapbook with no clear thread.

This is a cute book that is written as a love letter to the authors cat.
Thanks to NetGalley for this eArc.

The art is magnificent and George is so charming. I like that it has cat notes at the end. I have no flaws to say, because I think the book is lovely. Perfect for cat lovers!

A beautiful little graphic novel that emphasises the beauty in taking life slow and appreciating the quieter things in life and being appreciative of what is around you and the joys of slowing down. This book has beautiful and really important messages especially for younger audiences. The illustrations are also gorgeous!!

This was a really quick, calming read which was nice after a stressful day. The illustrations were really cute. it seems like a mixture between a picture book, mindfulness book or children's book, either way, I want to give George a cuddle 😻

“I love you, I’m here, I’m yours”

What George Thinks When He Sits Still is such an adorable book into the mind of your house pet, in this case an adorable orange cat!

I loved the different styles of illustrations with George’s thoughts 💭. This book was a lovely little mindful moment with a bit of cat psychology thrown in. Such a cute book!!

I thought this would be a cute graphic novel but it's more like a picture book with lots of words. Definitely went in with the wrong expectations. The illustration only pages took me out of the narrative instead of carrying me through. Sometimes George would have stripes and sometimes he wouldn't. Furry, not furry I can understand because he could have gotten a it cut. But the way he looked was inconsistent and confusing for me as well. Wasn't sure if it was the same cat...

There were many moments where I was reminded of my boyfriend's cat and it made my heart warm. But personally, I would have enjoyed it a lot more if this was in Carol's perspective wondering about what George is thinking or in George's perspective, all first person instead of third person.

This was a cute story about a cute and quiet cat. I enjoyed the illustrations and the messaging around being present in the moment. The book could be improved with some small modifications, like creating consistency in the style of prose, font sizing and organization of ideas, but it is still enjoyable. It makes me want to remember to stop and smell the roses.

This graphic novel is such a beautiful little gem.
It tells the story of a cat named George, and everything about it—from the soft, comforting art to the gentle narration—feels intentionally crafted and quietly charming. The illustrations are pleasing to the eye, never loud or overwhelming, which made reading it feel like wrapping myself in a cosy blanket.

I especially loved the thoughtful little details: the page listing all of George’s favourite things was such a sweet touch, and the line “Some cats sit in boxes, but I sit in castles” made me stop and smile. It was such a simple, whimsical moment that stayed with me.

Toward the end, the book becomes surprisingly educational with a section of cat facts that I genuinely enjoyed—perfect for curious readers and feline fans alike.

I’d absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves cats, or anyone looking for something soft, cosy, and quietly delightful. It’s a quick read, but one that leaves a lingering warmth.
It’s not just a book—it’s a comfort.

Cute illustrations and messaging, but was confused by the breaking of the third person on one section in the middle, briefly it switches to first person, then switches back, which is all a bit confusing and jarring. I also would appreciate on the pages about George pouncing on feet under the covers to include in the illustration the person's head, as at present they look headless and I don't understand the logistics of the drawing. Also Carol was introduced a bit too late in the book to be named in my opinion, I think it would be best for readers to leave her unnamed. Lastly, some of the lines are a bit repetitive in the first third of the book, maybe edition for clarity would be helpful.

I liked the cute idea of this book and that's why I picked it up. I thought it would be sweet and calming but it ended up feeling really disjointed and noticed a few odd illustrations which led me and others to speculate the use of AI.

Interesting to see it laid out like this and not like a book but i suppose it was intentional? Regardless the content was lovely and the art is amazing! I think lots of these pages would make fab prints

The premise was lovely and the themes had heart, but the delivery didn't quite land. The writing felt a bit flat, and while the illustrations were sweet, they didn’t leave a lasting impression.