Everything Is Beautiful, and I'm Not Afraid

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this graphic novel!

Rating: 4 stars
Rep: bisexual & Chinese MC, mental illness (depression) rep.
Trigger warnings: homophobia, racism, sexism, body shaming.

A graphic memoir all about belonging, forgiveness, connection and identity, with absolutely stunning artwork and a very poetic, captivating writing style.

I adored this! The writing was so emotional and I could feel the MCs struggles to find a place they belong. The artwork was gorgeous and I loved the little "self-care" pages too!

Overall, I highly recommend checking this out if you like graphic memoirs all about identity.

I received an Arc from NetGalley to write an honest review.

Yao Xiao made this graphic novel that tells the story of an Asian girl living in New York.
Although that may not be an experience that fits in with the live story of every boy or girl, this graphic novel will appeal to many young people.

It's a story about being bisexual, about being different, about coping with expectations others can have and you can have about yourself. It gives us a peek in the mind of young people, and all the thoughts and worries they struggle with. But it also tells a story about hope, about finding a way out!

This makes this a book that should be read by young people all over the world, that need to know they are not the only one having doubts, worries and insecurites to battle with.

This comic collection is definitely for a certain audience. The author identifies as a queer Asian immigrant and it's quite an existential series of cartoons about issues like coming out to disapproving parents, stresses involved in being an immigrant from being afraid to speak out on social media to the legal costs, relationship troubles, depression and much more (favorite spread: the fear bingo, with squares like "racist comments when I'm not prepared" and cancer).

The artwork is often gorgeous and is in full color. It's a pretty sad book, though, and often like reading through a really artistic person's diary and doodles while they're going through an existential crisis. This is not a happy book but it is one that many young people will probably relate to. I know my oldest (21) would probably really enjoy it. I would preview it before purchasing, as it really does seem to have a niche audience. For those who relate though, or who want to understand the complex struggles of folks in Xiao's communities, it is an honest and heartfelt read with some nice art.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

This book isn't for everyone and I think that's why there are a lot of differing reviews. I really enjoyed it and I'll try to explain why.

The art style isn't exactly consistent (I feel like that's on purpose) and it's a little on the cartoon-y side but I actually really like it. There isn't a set formula like a four panel comic in this book, all the panels change from page to page making it feel more active and dynamic. The simplistic style also lends itself to focus less on the pictures and more on what is said and going on. That said, here are some truly lovely panels and full page spreads also included in here. Also there is more to art than making it conventionally attractive, it can be said that true art is a conveyance of feelings but art in itself is subjective .

This book does read more like confiding in your diary type of book, but it is definitely an art piece itself. Yao Xiao is telling a story that doesn't spell it out for the reader, in a traditional sense, and you're meant to read between the lines to fill in more of the story. There is a fair amount of referencing to being queer and an immigrant-which if you aren't those things you can't relate to but you can learn from. There is also other things that could be relatable, such as searching for your place in the world, accepting yourself, learning to speak positively, self-care, and just a ton of other things this book touches on.

Yao Xiao takes you on a journey to learn about her but also to learn about herself. She traverses many seemingly insignificant memories that obviously left a lasting impression on her, learning to accept herself-even if others won't, and learning that it doesn't make her any less if people don't accept her. This is such a lovely and open book that it almost feels like being confided in by a close friend.

Part illustrated diary, part advice in the form of comics (somewhat in the vein of Yuma Sakugawa’s Illustrated meditations).

I really enjoyed this. It was a simply drawn and told story of trying to find ones place, both in terms of sexuality and home. I really think this was a much needed addition to the queer comics. We need more stories about not only dealing with ones sexual orientation but also the intersectionality of dealing with immigrating to a new place.

This deals with the idea of finding home in the people that accept you. Feeling like an outsider in foreign lands. Missing home and yet not being accepted by family for who you are. And of course expressing and owning ones sexual identity. All of this done in such a simple yet effective way. It had a light hearted feeling but could tackle depression very well.

The book tackled so many ideas and was fantastic. I think it needed a little more cohesiveness though to draw everything back together. Maybe breaking up the comics into sections would help make the comics feel less scattered. But all in all I was able to draw parallels between the comics and could appreciate the message being said.

I keep seeing people say that there's something chaotic about the way that the book is set up, but that worked for me. I took away that it was meant to be jumbled, that it was meant to sound like a diary or someone trying to work through how they feel about life. There is no order to the way that we live even if we'd like to think so. There are no neat boxes to tuck ourselves away with or structure that will allow only the important story beats to shine through. The journey is just as much part of the experience.

Read them like self-contained stories like they're meant to be and all of a sudden everything makes more sense. Yao Xiao does an admirable job of trying to explain not just what the queer immigrant experience is like, but what -their- queer immigrant experience is like in particular. The beauty and pain of the experience, the chaotic mess of feelings, is at the core something that we can all empathize with even if our experiences differ on the whole.

I highly recommend reading this collection. It has some beautiful moments, some dark ones, and ones that made me smile just because it could.

So moved by this book. I'd seen some of Yao Xiao's work on Autostraddle over the years, and eagerly snapped this up. I was not disappointed.

An absolutely poetic graphic novel, beautifully done. And oh-my-god the feelings... all of the feelings. Dark and lonely; hopeful and at peace. This work clearly illustrates a restless searching for belonging - with society, with family and with oneself.

Favorites:
“I’m not afraid”
[…] But I’m still here.
Everything is fucking beautiful.
And I am not afraid.

“Don’t censor feelings”
It’s important to be mad
It’s important to be sad
It’s important to be angry and lost
And to carry on dreaming of what you love

"I don't have a box"
I don't want to choose a box.
I'm just... Hanging out. That's okay, yes?

** I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

It’s too much too take in at one go. Yao Xiao’s ‘Everything is Beautiful, and I’m Not afraid’ needs to be contemplated on page by page. It’s illustrations studied for it’s beauty and meaning and yet you can’t stop but turn the page to delve deeper. Her innermost thoughts laid bare, Xiao’s book is like navigating through stormy seas with an expert hand guiding you, leading you, prodding you to calmer waters, to safety. Pick and choose what you like, this book is a keeper to turn to, to turn over, to stare at, to help you move forward when you reach a dead end.

I enjoyed the emotional memoir quite a lot!

I would like to thank the publisher for giving me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the art style in this graphic novel and the story as well. I could relate to the main character on how people want to put them in a box and label them when they just want to be free and themselves. But not have to worry about putting themselves in a box and labeling themselves.

This graphic novel feels like a poetry collection. It is a collection with each page almost self-contained, but it all fits together into a memoir-ish story. There are so many topics of identity dealt with. Each page could stand alone framed on a wall.



I felt like this would make a great coffee table book to leave out and flip through leisurely. It would be jarring to try and read through all of the book in one sitting. I give this book a 4/5.

I didn't know what to expect going into this one, but the description made me want to pick it up. When I first dug into it I worried that the art style was too simple compared to the messages within, but I was happily surprised. The art and messages mix and blend perfectly and communicate what the author is expressing perfectly. There's a number of subjects discussed, in many ways centering around self acceptance but also touching on immigration issues, cultural acceptance, racism and more.

Though the comics are brief they are very poignant and thoughtful. They provide a window to a perspective of someone going through the issues presented. I would definitely recommend checking it out.

It is about sadness enveloping someone who is alien to everything surrounding. To his own blood as well as to foreign land.
It is about misfit who cannot escape traditional restraints and also cannot survive in the cage. So he is caught between two worlds, both of which are out of his control.
It depicts with extreme sadness how everything falls apart for main character.
Artwork is very good, eye-catching and innovative in most part. .
It is the artwork that kept me going inspite of it being a very sad book.
Overall a nice read for particular group of readers.
Cannot recommend it to everyone except may be to look at innovative use of artwork and changing backgrounds.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review copy.

Beautiful. This was dark and sad and wild and strong and happy and vulnerable... I enjoyed it so much. I felt the emotions so strongly throughout. Really well done. It’s the real people behind these type of books that bleed through and show who they are and what has made them.

This book is beautiful. It documents the author's journey as they processed through their different identities and the places where they want to belong or don't feel that they belong. Although the book doesn't always have clear transitions, it feels as though you are following the author's thought process. I would highly recommend reading it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I've read all the Baopu comics on Autostraddle and enjoyed reading this collection of new comics. The artwork and meandering storyline are almost dreamlike, as the author explores life as a queer person and an immigrant to the US.

I enjoyed this page turning book. It was well written. Glad that I read it. Will be checking other books by this author.

The Chinese American females tells about her unwelcome coming out to her parents and following life. The author tries to make herself believe that life is better than it seems.

LOVE this! Beautiful little poems about life, love, family, being an immigrant, feeling isolated, mental health and finding your sexual identity illustrated with adorably little cartoons that reflect the pain, confusion and beauty of the author's own life.

The main character is a queer immigrant from Asia. Via a series of comics, we see them go through ups and downs, strained relationships with their conservative family and more.

The illustrations are really beautiful. There isn't much of a story. I would have liked to known more about the main character apart from their internal thoughts.

I came to this book as a fan of comics shared on Autostraddle and this collection didn't disappoint. It's got that dreamy slightly bittersweet feel to it that I've come to enjoy from the Baopu comics. There are so many lovely little self-care insights and relateable musings on mental health, and feeling like an outsider. Even though I have never experienced being a long-term immigrant, it's not hard to understand the kind of longing for home and in-between and out of place feeling that might engender. Also, it has one of my favorites in there about not apologizing for taking up space, but saying thank you to your friends/family for being there instead. It's a very nice collection with a simple, but dreamy art style that feels like a warm blanket.

Everything Is Beautiful, and I’m Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection is a queer coming-of-age comic book following a Chinese woman living in America and ultimately facing the challenge of finding where she belongs as a queer immigrant.


I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was not familiar with Yao Xiao and her Baopu comic prior to this book, but apparently, it is an existing comic that is part of the online queer women magazine Autostraddle. This comic book follows the story of a bisexual Chinese immigrant living in New York City and the journey of finding her home in the world.

The book is very much a reflection of situations that happen and issues that people face, whether a woman, queer, or an immigrant. I find that comics are very powerful at this kind of look into the world since it is so visual, and although Xiao’s illustrations are simple in look they are still powerful.

The one downside of the comic is that some of the ordering of comics reads a little strange. It feels, in some sections, that is bounces around the timeline of the character’s overall journey so it is a little weird. However, it is not book ruining and the book overall has a clear introduction and conclusion of sorts. To me, it is a small issue that doesn’t terribly ruin the experience.

Overall, I find Xiao’s messages powerful and eye-opening. Since I only relate to Baopu as a woman, and not the queer and immigrant pieces of her, it is interesting to see things from that perspective. And the art is very nicely done and strengthens the messaging. I definitely think people should read this comic, regardless of if they are queer, female, or an immigrant, because it is so eye-opening to the issues those people face.

Everything Is Beautiful, and I’m Not Afraid: A Baopu Collection publishes on March 3rd, 2020.

I really enjoyed reading Everything is Beautiful, and I’m Not Afraid. As a queer Asian American, this was very relatable for me. I went through similar struggles with the clashing of my identity and my conservative Asian culture. The search for acceptance from family, for belonging, and for self-love was one that I think many queer Asians can relate to.

There are many other topics that Xiao touches upon such as fat-shaming in Asian culture, racism, xenophobia, etc., all of which are present in everyday life for Asian Americans. Every page felt like I was talking to a friend who just understands what I’ve been through and am still going through.

'11 months of fiction. 1 month of reality.'
.
.
Who else can relate to this?
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Me!

I love this book so much! Inspite of the cute and colourful illustration, this one is really hard-hitting talking about reality and queer gender issues. I would like to call this book a coming of age story and discuss issues that affect women on a day-to-day basis.
There are a few parts on racism and discrimination. There are a few original lines or poetry by the author in between which I really appreciate. The book talks mainly about how the author had been her entire life feeling stuck, invisible, confused and trapped (which we all feel at one time or the other) and then growing as a person after all these years of restrictions on writing and singing. This book is genuine in the sense that the illustrations stand out and depict exactly how the author felt. A
The first half of the book talks mainly about insecurities while the later half talks mainly about living and starting life all over again.
I appreciate the tips given in this collection regarding summer days, social interaction, spending and self-care. The book towards the end focuses more on accepting oneself when faced with body shaming, family issues, gender discrimination and how the author came to terms with being herself.
She urges the readers to keep trying and to love a little bit everyday.
Wow, I didn't expect all of these things when I picked up this book.
The book delivered more than what I had expected!
***Pride month is coming up and I am so glad I got to read this book!
Totally recommended 👍
Thank you #NetGalley for the book #EverythingisBeautifulandIAmNotAfraid

I loved this story! I think the idea of understanding who you are and finding your place in this world is relevant to all ages. This story resonated with the adolescent and young adult in me; I struggled to find a circle to call my own; I struggled with confidence and not allowing myself to get taken advantage of. Part interactive and wholly introspective, this is a great introduction into graphic novels and a story that is readable and approachable for all ages. The art isn't very detailed but still eye-catching. I think because it was simple, it added to the story instead of distracting the reader from the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this graphic novel!

I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this graphic novel, but it was extremely relatable and informative. I was mesmerized while reading it.

This is a collection of favorite comics from Baopu, Yao Xiao's monthly column on Autostraddle, and never-before-seen new works. The result is a lovely, biting, heartbreaking, charming semi-autobiographical journey of a young, queer, Chinese immigrant balancing independence and tradition, freedom and family, honesty and acceptance. This beautifully illustrated volume is simply a breath of fresh air.

Really beautiful story and emotional one as well. I think this is a great book about finding your identity and place of belonging. The author tackles issues in such a nuanced and kind way.

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

This book is one of the most pure graphic novels that I've read in a long time. It really reminds me of Tillie Walden's graphic novels. It's got that same kind of dreamy quality throughout the book. I loved all of the different topics that were tackled in this as well. I think it would be a great addition to any library, personal or otherwise. I would highly recommend this graphic novel.

This is an intense and personal collection of comic strips. There is nothing remotely 'HaHa funny' about them. Most of the ones I follow on social media do have personal incidents influencing their collections, but this one was of a slightly different ilk. I had seen one or two in passing forwards somewhere, that was enough for me to try the entire collection.

The author draws on her coming out to her mother and the way her life is fashioned around her life in the US while her roots continue to be an essential part of her. The imagery in each panel and the sides as well as background for some very beautiful. For the most part, there is a chronological order in which the panels and the story within it flows. The only problem was that a few of them were too existential and profound for my understanding. That said, someone with similar lives may draw strength from this narrative. 

There is not much more I could say regarding this particular title because it is a short collection of panels and was an engrossing read. It also does get you thinking.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my reading experience and the fact that I use my Instagram almost exclusively to follow comic strips like these.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

This was a beautiful graphic novel that addresses the life of a queer, young immigrant from China. It is a fantastic story.

An account by a queer Asian immigrant detailing her efforts to belong. It's more self-reflective in nature. Although I did enjoy some beautifully colored pages, the panels throughout the book did not work for me. It had some parts which were thought-provoking and overall was definitely a heartfelt read.

Everything is Beautiful, and I'm Not Afraid by Yao Xiao

3.75 stars

This is a graphic novel collection that follows the musings and thoughts of a bisexual Chinese immigrant living in American who has been rejected by her Chinese mother. The artwork is beautiful and has a lot of transcendental landscapes that will appeal as well as encourage a lot of women or men with similar stories. I can't relate personally, but I appreciated the heart of this and the emotional capacity that this graphic novel addresses. There are some pages that are stilted and feel a little awkward, but the overall message of this novel is powerful and I enjoyed some of the conversations and dialogue that could be started based off of the points with sexuality, immigration, diversity, bisexual erasure, and acceptance. There are even more topics addressed, but I think that those should be discovered on your own by picking up this small and simple graphic novel collection. I'm glad that I read it and while it won't be something I will always remember I am glad to have read someone's story that is so different from my own.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.25

Art Scale: 4

Plotastic Scale: 4

Cover Thoughts: I love the cover. It was drew me in and the title also reminds me of Slaughterhouse-Five, so that was a plus.

Thank you, Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing, for providing me with a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed selection! I felt the writing was well written and thought out. You could tell the author knew where they wanted it to go.

I loved this, loved loved loved it. Having said that, it's not going to be for everyone. It definitely struck a chord with me though. It's kinda stream-of-consciousness, skips around a bit, but that worked for me. There are slice-of-life bits, self-care bits, dealing with issues bits- depression, coming out to family and being rejected, being in another country, not knowing where you belong, and more. There are parts that made me sad, but it's also very hopeful. It's very personal, but I could see myself in many places (her journey with depression felt so familiar, the feelings of invisibility, loneliness, feelings of not being enough or being a disappointment....). I really enjoyed the artwork, it's very emotive, and has a child-like, innocent quality that blends so well with the writing, it feels poetic. A lovely book!

#EverythingIsBeautifulandImNotAfraid #NetGalley