yes I read this in 20 minutes, yes i cried, and??

first of all the illustrations in this book are beautiful. they show the meaning behind the text in ways that wonderfully and gracefully elevate the story, like the string being cut at the end of the book. and oh my goddd this book was emotional. the revelation she had about "karmic retribution" for not understanding her mentally ill mother, causing her to become like her (for a moment) was heartbreaking yet so real.

I recommend if u want a quick emotional, beautiful story

4.5/5 (rounded)

thank you Netgalley eARC for this copy!

*thank you to Netgalley and First Second Books for the eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*

I knew from the first page of this graphic novel that it would be a good one, full of emotion and relatability. The themes of a mother/daughter relationship damaged by mental illness from the perspective of the daughter are very close to me. It felt like a mirror to some of my own experiences, including the anger, pain, trauma, and grief for what could have been. Very good read, beautiful, thoughtful art, and overall 4/5 stars!

*Thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for early copy for review*

As this is a memoir it's hard to judge someone's life and assign a number value to it. I really liked this and found the art beautiful. A 5 star is for a favorite of the year and I don't think this will be that. I love books dealing with mental health and I'm so glad the author treated her own. This would be a great story to have in a classroom for discussion.

What a beautiful, profound graphic memoir. I was drawn in by this eARC and couldn't stop until I had learned if Lily was ok in the end. For all her challenges and transitions, she has thrived and created such a meaningful book that will resonate with readers. I really respect how open she was about her mother's mental health and her own struggles with mental health. I feel like I am drowning when my anxiety and depression take over, and medicine has been my saving grace. It feels so authentic to see your experiences reflected in a book.

I recommend this book for schools, libraries, and therapists.

I was welling up with tears the entire time, this hit far too close to home and was, also, just sad! It had such a maturely hopeful ending and there were so many quotes that felt like an arrow to the heart. PLUS THE ART??? I'm going to be recommending this left and right when it comes out next year

I loved this so much. My only quibble is that it wasn't long enough. I wanted more of the story. I know it must be hard to do a memoir. I am not brave enough to do one, so who am I to talk.

3.75 rounded to a 4-star

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for this book!
A touching memoir that describes the impacts of generational trauma, especially during adolescence. The author grew up with a mother who had a mental illness, and the rest of the novel describes the author's thoughts and impacts deriving from her experiences. I love how powerful this book is, in that it shows the author's experiences in processing unexplainable/uncontrollable things that occurred, while still managing to carve her own path/life. I wish that there was more insight and intimacy in the plot-- the pacing was slightly rushed in some parts, and I wish the author had been able to touch more on her emotions and feelings, rather than focusing on the physical events that occurred.

On another art, the art style is beautiful! I love the rich color schemes that Qian used throughout the novel, which matched the emotions she experienced.

The thing about memoirs is that they’re someone’s story so there’s nothing for you to comment about the plot. It just is.
Until we meet again tells the story of the author growing up in Canada and China, and her family’s struggles with belonging and mental illness. I found myself relating to her a bit, having dealt with family members with severe mental illness like her mom, and having dealt with depression myself like the author, but I felt that something was lacking. It feels like just a brief overview of the authors life, like she’s giving me a brief summary of her life as we chat over drinks. I wanted the story to have more depth.
That said, the use of color is great and I liked the author’s art style, it complemented the story seamlessly. It was a nice read.

This is an autobiographical memoir of the author’s childhood. Her mother’s mental health. Her parents’ divorce. An eating disorder. The constant moves. Everything felt temporary.
As an adult, Lily has written such a poignant graphic novel that reflects on all of this and her own struggles with mental illness.

#ThxNetGalley #LilyKimQian #UntilWeMeetAgain

This beautifully illustrated memoir had me hooked from the first page.

The art is definitely the highlight for me! The colors were absolutely beautiful, and the lack of line art and textures of the brush makes each page look like a painting that should be in a museum!

The book itself was beautiful too, the hardships Lily faces at such a young age are so heartbreaking, and her being moved around from place to place with little to no say in her own life.

It felt very real, which is what you want from a memoir!

A complicated memoir of being raised by someone who needed help with their mental help, the many years that went by before anyone said suggested help, and the years it took to accept the help. All of this took a deep toll on the author’s own mental health, and her own journey is part of the story. Her illustrations and color palette reflect the turmoil and sadness experienced. Many will related to the need to not talk about our mental health and the ramifications.

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for this DRC.
#UntilWeMeetAgain #NetGalley

Until We Meet Again is a bittersweet story of a tumultuous life lived up to present day. The emotions are raw and very real. This was incredibly relatable for me. I think it touches on a lot of things many of us may go through or deal with. Loss, grief, self doubt, and mental illness are just a few things discussed. The style of the book also added at times more levity or emotional depth and I feel this just made it that much more impactful.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review.

There is something about a graphic memoir that gets me! This one was beautifully crafted not only through the illustrations, but in how the author told her story. The way it was written and how everything was conveyed through the imagery, made me as the reader feel it what she was saying! I truly adored this one and will be passing it along to our teen librarian to purchase it for us in the future!
4.5/5

Until We Meet Again is a memoir graphic novel, depicting the life of author Lily Qian. She provides us insight into her mental health growing up, both her triumphs and struggles with living up to the expectations set by those around her. She is able to recognize these patterns and ultimately start on the path to healing herself.

I felt connected to her character, especially when it comes to growing up in an Asian household, where mental health issues are viewed as weakness. The graphics perfectly suited Lily’s writing style and I could easily picture myself in those moments.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved the art in this graphic memoir, I look forward to adding it to my shelf when it comes out! There were many hard-hitting moments that I personally resonated with, which absolutely enhanced the experience. Although some aspects of identity are unique, struggling with your identity and your place in the world is not. That message is so important to the YA audience, so it will be getting highly recommend in my store!

Lily and her father keep moving. Ever since her mother had a mental breakdown, they have found themselves moving from place to place.This makes it hard for Lily to make friends, or even think that anything will last. And when her mother pops back into her life from time to time, she finds this all jarring and even more disruptive.


This is a very touching memoir. Because the author is so young, some things are left open, such as what will happen to her parents now that she is living elsewhere, having graduated college.


Although I didn’t cry, I did feel for Lily and all she had to put up with.


The illustrations are gorgeous, and lovely to look at,as she explains about mental illness, and shows us how it feels, the knots that wind around her, enveloping her thoughts.
Here is to hoping we will get more graphic novels from this very talented author.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 21st of April 2026.

Beautifully illustrated graphic memoir. The art style, use of color, and bold lines enhance the minimal words. The novel tackles complex relationships and emotions in a sophisticated yet simple way. At its heart, it is a book about self-discovery and coming to terms with the realities of mental illness and healing. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys memoirs or graphic novels.

Thank you, NetGalley and First Second, for an ARC of this novel! All opinions are my own.

This graphic memoir is special in so many ways. First, the coloring is absolutely beautiful. It softens the heavy topics covered in this story. Second, the book relies more on visuals than on words. The words are the foundation, but the nuance and emotion comes from the graphics. This memoir is raw and honest, and I appreciate how the author was able to give a voice her own struggles as well as those of so many others.

Thank you NetGalley and First Second for an ARC of this novel!

Thank you, NetGalley and First Second Books, for this ARC. The illustration for this memoir was incredibly beautiful. The writing was very comforting and easy to connect to despite the heavy topics and themes that were covered. I loved that the memoir covers the experiences and effects of moving so frequently as a young child, in addition to mental health and the strong stigma around it that persists in Asian culture.

Graphic memoirs are my favorite way to read nonfiction. The art style and design choices add so much to the deep and personal story the author is writing. In "Until We Meet Again," Qian's art style is so satisfying and comforting. I loved the art that brought Qian's words and her deeper meaning to life.

Qian's memoir follows her complicated childhood and how her trauma continued to build and affect her later in life. From an absent mother to the stigmatization of mental health and asking for help, Qian traces her life's path from past to present. Qian talks about what it was like to grow up moving homes, living as an immigrant, and having separated parents. A deeply personal story brought to life by Qian's gorgeous art style.

One of my favorite parts of "Until We Meet Again" was the way Qian split up the story. At the beginning of the book, sections are titled by place, but as the story progresses and Qian talks about her life as an adult, the titles switch to the people in her life. The color pallet is another of my favorite details. Despite only using a few colors, Qian is able to create a robust world and unique characters. I love to see a graphic novel use limited colors. It is a testament to the artist's skill.

I didn't find anything to criticize or note during my read. "Until We Meet Again" is a well-written memoir that uses art to convey the deeper parts of the story. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys memoirs or graphic novels. 4.5/5