Wash Day Diaries

I adored this book so much! It has interwoven stories of four best friends who are there for each other until the end. Immediately you can tell how powerful their friendship is and each woman springs to life on the page while they deal with struggles, romance, self-care, and triumphs.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Wash Day Diaries is set to be published on 14 June 2022.

It was relatable, real, and fun! I loved how the author incorporated each woman’s hair routine or styling into their day to day lives and issues. Each woman had their own life problems and I loved how supportive the friends were to each other. It was real and even raw in some forms. I enjoyed it, great to see a graphic novel with characters that look like me.

A series of vignettes which captures a lot of emotions. There are a lot of relatable day things, like dudes hitting on you, or getting dirty looks on the bus. The brevity of each scene, by necessity of the format, also captures how you can't always dwell on everything. Your friends not understanding your mental health issues, or a family member not accepting who you are, There are some things you just have to live with, that you can do nothing about.

I loved this story! It was so good! I've been looking for a slice of life story about Black friends like this one. Even though it was short it did a great job setting up little bit's of everyone's background and situation. I could definitely see it expanded into a series in the future.

This story follows 4 Black friends who live in the Bronx it starts with wash day and styling their hair and expands to different stories about their current situations. Dating, mental health, careers are just some of the topic touched upon in this short space. These felt like real life women to me.

So many funny and true to life moments. I screamed when Davene pulled that Jamaican flag out of her bra!

This was such a heartwarming comic.

In this we are following 4 different friends who are dealing with different things in their own lives but are also able to come together and provide each other with support and love.

Jamila Rowser does a good job of showing the therapeutic process for Black women of just getting their hair done, the bonding that comes between the person getting their hair done and the person doing their hair; the sisterhood and intimacy behind the whole process.

There was such an accurate description of depression in one scene that literally took my breath away because it was so beyond relatable for me. I really appreciated seeing how the friends rallied together to make sure the girl who was suffering was ok.

This was such a heartwarming portrayal of Black sisterhood and friendship. I loved the friend group in this comic and how they always had each others backs through everything.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith is an #ownvoices graphic novel that tells the story of four best friends and their lives in the Bronx. According to the description, the book "takes its title from the wash day experience shared by Black women everywhere of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of washing, conditioning, and nourishing their hair." Through interconnected stories about their hair routines, the reader gets a window into each character's life.

Overall, Wash Day Diaries is an interesting look into the lives of black women. I've been trying to read more diverse books lately, and I definitely learned a lot from reading this graphic novel. I also love that this book is #ownvoices and is based on the creators' own experiences. There definitely needs to be more graphic novels featuring black voices. I did take off 1 star though, because I wasn't a huge fan of the art. If you're intrigued by the description, or if you're a fan of #ownvoices graphic novels, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!

When the original Wash Day came out, I gobbled it up. And the funny thing is, it was just the story of taking care of your hair when you are a black woman. But it was so sweet, so tenderly told, that it made it into this set of stories, as the first one.

The rest of the stories follow the other friends. Friends of all shapes and sizes. Friends that discuss their love life, and their life in group chats. Friends that sleep around and accidentally run into the two men they slept with at the same event. And friend that keep a nasty "ex" away when he shouldn't be there.

It is a wonderful collection of stories, and funny.

Highly recommend it.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley and Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

4.5

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This comic was so delightful. I sat down intending to read for a few minutes and ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting. Way day diaries follows four best friends over each of their individual hair wash days and then ends with a chapter about them all going out together.

Each girl had her own color scheme that just perfectly matched her character. I don't know how the author was able to showcase each girl's personality so clearly in only a few pages, but I felt like I genuinely knew each one.

I loved seeing the friendships and it's always great to see a story about Black joy! (But take this with a grain of salt since I'm a white reviewer).

Overall this comic was absolutely fantastic. My one qualm that took this down a half star for me had to do with a scene between Cookie and Davena. Davena is suffering from depression and is telling Cookie about how she's been struggling and had started seeing a therapist. She and her therapist are talking about the possibility of antidepressants. At this point, Cookie tells her not to do it since she looks fine (red flag!), you don't know what it will do to your body and mind (red flag!), and offers her a crystal instead. There's already so much stigma around getting professional help and it's disappointing to see this handled so poorly in the text. This did knock the book down a half star for me, but I would still highly recommend it for comic readers since the overall story and art style were so fabulous.

How wonderful is it to read a graphic novel that celebrates Black women! How we all come in all shapes and sizes. The beauty of our hair and the love and care is put in to make sure they poppin'. I loved how it showed Black women from all walks of life. This shows Black queer women, Black women that struggle with mental health, Black women walking away from what could be a toxic relationship, and Black women putting themselves first before any man!!! We absolutely love to see it.

Wash Day Diaries is the empowering graphic novel you didn’t know you needed. This new collaboration by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith focuses on the importance of caring for yourselves, those around you, and what makes you feel most at home.

Throughout the graphic novel, we learn about this close group of four friends in one of the most intimate ways possible: their hair care routines. For most people of color, washing their hair can take a whole day, which causes Kim, Nisha, Davene, andCookie and to pause their life for just a moment and give themselves some self love.

As well rounded and compelling as the main characters are, the true highlight of Wash Day Diaries is the fifth main character: The Bronx. Throughout the panels are snapshots of the daily Bronx life: BEC’s, late night train rides, and the subtle threat of gentrification making its way up north. It was clear that Rowser and Smith not only loved creating these close friends, but they also love the borough they chose to showcase.

If you’re looking for a graphic novel that gives you the strength to love yourself and push through anyone or thing that stands in your way, I highly recommend. However, please note that there is a chapter focusing around depression, so if such content is sensitive for you, I would skip this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for offering a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was great! I loved the theme of friendship, the queer representation and the mental health representation.

This graphic novel does a great job at showing how hair is extremely important to black women. It connects us and can bring us together. I highly recommend for a good quick read.

Wash Day Diaries tells the story of Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie told thought five selections. The four friends share a story of life, unity, community, love, and depression. This was a delight to read as the story touched me in places I have experienced personally and with my friends. The story starts with wash day which for most naturals is a whole story all unto itself (I literally felt the all day nature of wash day and getting my hair braided).
This is the story we all needed and experiences in our every day life. This was simply a delight to experience!
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Wash Day Diaries tells the story of four best friends—Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie—through five connected short story comics that follow these young women through the ups and downs of their daily lives in the Bronx.

The book takes its title from the wash day experience shared by Black women everywhere of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of washing, conditioning, and nourishing their hair. Each short story uses hair routines as a window into these four characters' everyday lives and how they care for each other.

This was a cute little interconnected short story connection about four black friends just living their day to day lives. I love how we gotten to see how each of the girls gotten their hair done and how it connected to their own stories. I would say that my stand out favorites were ride or die, and La bendición. I did wished that it was longer though but overall this was good short story collection.

A realistic look into this colorful friend group as well as the members themselves. Wash Day Diaries is heartwarming and reflective and I felt like I could and was watching it on tv. The illustration left a little to be desired in my personal opinion but overall enjoyed reading this graphic novel.

With stunning illustrations, a wonderfully empowering message that encourages readers to embrace who they are, this is a charming and joyful story for everyone to read.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wash Day Diaries tells the story of four best friends—Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie—through five connected short story comics that follow these young women through the ups and downs of their daily lives in the Bronx.

The book takes its title from the wash day experience shared by Black women everywhere of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of washing, conditioning, and nourishing their hair. Each short story uses hair routines as a window into these four characters' everyday lives and how they care for each other.

Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith originally kickstarted their critically acclaimed, award-winning slice of life mini comic, Wash Day, inspired by Rowser's own wash day ritual and their shared desire to see more comics featuring the daily lived experiences of young Black women. Wash Day Diaries includes an updated, full color version of this original comic—which follows Kim, a 26-year-old woman living in the Bronx—as the book's first chapter and expands into a graphic novel with short stories about these vibrant and relatable new characters.

In expanding the story of Kim and her friends, the authors pay tribute to Black sisterhood through portraits of shared, yet deeply personal experiences of Black hair care. From self-care to spilling the tea at an hours-long salon appointment to healing family rifts, the stories are brought to life through beautifully drawn characters and different color palettes reflecting the mood in each story.- Goodreads

As a 30 something-year-old Black woman, I wish I had a close-knit of Black women friends. This book hit close to home. Not just because of that need but because of Davene. Her story is me. In every sense of the story that was told is me.

But beyond this, I loved everything about this book. I loved every woman, all their stories, how wash day shapes their day, their week. This book is genuine, heartwarming, funny, emotional and just damn good.

It should have been longer and no it should not be a 35 chapters book but a graphic novel series for sure.

5 Pickles

I NEED MORE!! I finally understand the fascination with comics. I not into this thinking I’ll relate to the characters because I, too, have an extended Was Day Routine on Sundays. What I got was a telling of my life, my family’s and friends’ experiences. I would purchase multiple of this book and the rest of the series. Everything in this, I ADORED!! The side stories, the moment with Granny, and the mental health awareness all poke to my soul, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have read this.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my very first adult graphic novel and it did not disappoint. This story is one of friendship, womanhood, and Blackness. I loved everything about it. Even in this short tale, I learned so much about the characters and really cared about their stories. The structure, the color scheme, the drawings, everything was perfect. 5 stars!

This is such a great book. It's got gorgeous, joyous art, a lovely focus on Black friendship and Black hair, astoundingly well-developed characters for a series of connected vignettes, and some effective but brief things to say about mental health, toxic positivity and depression, and stalkers. I cannot wait for this to come out in hard copy, and I hope we'll get to see more of these awesome characters in other forms one day, too.

This story was an ode to Black women and sisterhood. I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading it. If you read this and like it, I highly recommend watching Harlem on Amazon Prime! It has very similar vibes and is a great way to follow the lives of a different group of four Black women navigating life and love in New York.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Wash Day Diaries! I thought this was a great graphic novel and I flew through it! I enjoyed the friendship of all the characters and the real life issues they were each facing. I’d recommend this graphic novel to everyone!

I read Wash Day years ago and wished that it was longer. Now that this is here I am so happy to see it! Reading this story of friendship and the positive interactions with other black women was so so well done! Wash Day diaries in compulsively readable. I hope the series continues for many more volumes!

A wonderfully written and illustrated collaboration, and a beautiful book. I will gladly share this title with young readers and friends who enjoy graphic novels.

This was so beautiful! A slice of life story about 4 black women, their hair, and their friendship. In a short book it discusses mental health, careers, dating and familial relationships, and more.

Beautiful artwork, a cute set of interweaving storylines, and characters with distinct, familiar personalities. This is such a pleasurable read and makes you feel like you're part of their friend group and their group chat. I really appreciate the care that went into highlighting how each woman has a different approach to their relationship with their hair and that each one is valid.

I'll have to keep an eye out for more from this writing duo!

I don’t think I’ve ever liked a book as much as I love this book. This is the first time and I see myself in a graphic novel. This was so relatable down to the group chat and the drama. It shows the character and differences of every friend while knowing at the end of the day I’ve got your back. You also can’t forget the importance of hair and diversity! This is a must buy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wash Day Diaries follows a group of four friends and has 5 short stories. There's one for each girl, and one for the group. I really enjoyed how realistic it was in portraying their lies both in and out of the friendship because each character was going though something different like struggles with mental health or dealing with a family issues. At the end, the notes on character and chapter design made me appreciate the comic even more as it really showed the attention and detail that went in and I always appreciate some behind the scenes details. Everyone should go check this book out when it comes out on June 14, 2022!

I absolutely loved reading this graphic novel. Black joy is something we don't see very often and I was really excited to get a peek into what that looks like for a group of best friends.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for this book!

3.5!

This was a sweet, quick read that highlighted female friendship in a lovely way. You meet each of the girls as they navigate their lives, starting with their hair appointments. Though this isn't something I have any experience with, it's that sense of identity that each girl portrays that I can relate to. The art style was nicely done. I enjoyed this!

A great story that reflects the everyday life of black women in America. I felt that each character was unique and gave a lot to the story.

Wash Day Diaries is a short, beautifully illustrated graphic novel following four young, Black women and their lives, friendships, and gorgeous hair.
The illustration in this book is beautiful. I absolutely loved the depiction of our hair! Whether it’s the braids, the twist outs, or even just our bonnets, it was all magnificent to see depicted in such a celebratory way! I also loved that the artist showed real bodies! Not everyone had curves, not everyone was perfect, and I love that!
This book tackled a couple hard topics, such as depression, in a way that didn’t make you sad, but just made you see life as it is for different types of Black women. I also enjoyed seeing the casual sapphic representation.
My only problem with this book is that I wish it was longer. It could’ve went more in depth and answered some questions I had toward the end. If this ever becomes a series, I’ll be very happy!
This graphic novel shows the connection that Black women have with our hair and with each other in a way that celebrates us and shows us unconditional love! I’d recommend this graphic novel to every Black woman that is looking for a graphic novel that shows us in such a unapologetically Black light!

Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

TW: nudity; sexual situations; depression; dementia; violent ex-boyfriend (all trigger warnings are very mild)

Wash Day Diaries was a brilliant read. I love the way it tells an each character story with different ways of getting their hair done. I'm hoping there is more to tell, and I'll be waiting for it to come out.

This was an absolute delight in every possible way. I loved the interwoven stories and depiction of friendship. The portrayal of mental health struggle from one character was so relatable and honestly portrayed. I deeply appreciated that. The art was a GIFT. This was one of the best graphic novels I’ve read from an artistic standpoint.

I also laughed out loud in several places. I loved this book and will reread it.

I loved this book. It’s a perfect easy read especially for graphic novel lovers like myself! I found myself really relating to the some of the characters. This book touched base on things like culture, mental health, new careers, and family issues. 4.75/5 stars for me and a great first read for 2022!!
Thank you to Chronicle Books and Netgalley for sending this ARC!!

First read of the year and it started with a BANG!

Amazing storyline following the lives of four best friends, all from different backgrounds, cultures and situations.. all the girls grow on you and I found myself completely submerged by the end of each chapter.

Will be buying as soon as it’s released and I’ll be keeping an eye on Rowser, she’s going places.


thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This graphic novel was a delight. The different short stories of all the ladies in this squad getting their hair washed or doing someone else’s hair for them all tied together for the last short story. These ladies obviously love each other a lot.

I liked the accurate depiction of depression that Davene’s story showed. Especially that she felt like her friend didn’t understand at all and then later we see that she does understand better than we thought.

I loved Cookie. She’s a fun character who had a lovely heartbreaking story with her Abuela.

One of the things I really liked was the way that they showed one of them sitting in a salon chair and reading their group chat. The way it did the flashbacks during that story with the group text messages was just great.

Really enjoyed this comic. I love the depth of each character is shown and how quickly we get to know each of them. As people are in reality, they are each so different--different clothing styles, different personalities, different issues--and yet they are so bonded together. Their friendship was my favorite part. The art is beautiful and captures each of their styles and personalities so well. I love that it took the time and pages to show each of the girl's wash day routines that reflected their styles as well. The story and writing also captured me. So real and raw. While the smoking and nudity wasn't my style, and would have preferred the comic without it, I think a lot of readers and "new adult" fans will really enjoy this graphic novel.

slight tw: depression/mental health

Honestly I didn't know what to expect when reading this story, but it did pleasantly surprise me! We get four short stories of these four best friends, and we see them going about their daily lives in New York. I felt as thought the characters truly were easily to love which made it very easy for me to read. I also thought that the art style was so beautiful!

I do wish that for one of the short stories (don't want to name names and spoil anything) that we dove more into the mental health aspect and her thoughts. I felt as though I was given quite a bit that I could relate with, but wished that it could have been explored even more. Possibly we might see more into her headspace in the next book if this does become a series (which would be amazing)... I'm unsure.

Either way these characters were so lovable and their friend group dynamic makes my heart warm. I would definitely be interested in reading more books from this author in the future!

I really loved this graphic novel which read as a love letter to Black sisterhood and self care rituals. The book links five short stories that feature four friends in the Bronx, using hair care / wash day rituals to bind the stories together. The beautiful illustrations are colorful and eye-catching and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. Highly recommend!

I love stories like this about tight, close-knit friend groups. All these girls has such perfectly distinct personalities, and I fell in love which all of them so quickly. Giving them each their own chapter and then having them all coming together at the end was so smart and it just made everything flow so well. The group text chapter, in particular was genius and I could read an entire graphic novel using that setup. I hope this gets a sequel because I need to see what happens to these girls!

Ahhh, I loved every moment of reading this! The stories are incredibly authentic and make me want to call up my home girls and catch up on life! Every detail is perfection.

Wash Day Chronicles is a refreshingly honest celebration of Black and Brown womanhood! I was in love with the hilarious text messages and conversations to the textures Smith illustrates. I almost felt as if I was a part of this group of friends. Rowser did a wonderful job keeping the text authentic to each character, their beliefs, and feelings. This was an absolute joy to read and I look forward to more works by these creators.

Major thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this advanced copy of Wash Day Diaries in exchange for an honest review. Wash Day Diaries is scheduled to hit shelves on June 14th, 2022 and is currently available for preorder.

I. Love. This. The characters are complex, the stories are relatable, and the art itself is so fun and beautiful and clever (there is one specific panel in “Group Chat” that I just adore you’ll know it when you see it)!

This story follows four twenty-something best friends living in New York City (a genre I will never get tired of), specifically they live in the Bronx. Kim is super excited for her upcoming show, except for the nagging feeling in her brain that the ex- she’s been dodging is going to show up. Nisha is embracing her hoe phase, but once her love life and her work life cross paths it sends her running for the hills. Davene is severely depressed and trying to call out for help, but her friends can’t see the signs. Last but not least, Cookie goes to visit her estranged abuela and they reconcile, even if abuela doesn’t remember it.

Wash Day Diaries is Sex & the City for the next generation and for all the non-white women in the audience. This graphic novel is a character-heavy, slice-of-life story which I absolutely love; it has so much room for growth and continuation with potential for a series and even for television adaptation and I hope that everyone who reads can understand that. The representation of depression is very well done and true to life and the artist’s ability to show us what Davene is going through with next to no words is just beautiful. The story has a great balance of light and heavy subject matter; it evokes all kinds of emotions in the audience in all the right ways; and the actual friendship between these four women is so heartfelt and it’s just so easy to fall in love with them all.

I really really loved this graphic novel! I felt so many emotions while reading this but namely JOY. I was laughing, cheering, cringing, and lamenting the triumphs and hardships of these friends throughout the book. The colors, textures, and patterns were the first things that caught my attention, and they continued to provide depth to the story as it progressed. The background imagery even created its own story with nods to various intertwined cultures and the gentrification that plagues the city. I loved how this comic broke the fourth wall in the Group Chat chapter (my favorite chapter)—a character pushes up the panel like a movie theater curtain! And, I really enjoyed how the friends were interposed into the memory as they added their commentary via texts!

I very much appreciated this love letter to Black girls, their friendships, and their hair, and I can’t recommend it enough. Be sure to look out for it this June!

The illustrations in this graphic novel is absolutely STUNNING! 😍
I just read this with my sister and we couldn’t shut up about how beautiful the artwork was and how relatable every character was!

The story was funny & heartwarming!
It explored the beauty of friendship, love, mental health, and of course gorgeous Black hair care! 🖤👏🏿

This was a quick fun read and I can’t wait for it to come out so I can have it on my shelf! I loved it!

Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith is a feminist, friendship-focused graphic novel centered around four friends and their personal lives. I really enjoyed the strong bond the girls had with each other! The way they rely on and empower each other was really the focal point of the graphic novel. I adored the art style and coloring of the pages and panels- the entire thing was incredibly aesthetically pleasing! Wash Day Diaries also contains some great queer representation as well as mental health representation! I do wish that the situation/storyline focused on depression was developed further. I am giving this book four stars because I do wish this book was longer- maybe some things were left out to leave room for a sequel..? If so then I'm looking forward to it!!

This book was well written and illustrated. Several things were highly relatable. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Actual rating: 5/5 star

This graphic novel was a beautiful slice of life story that follows four different friends. There are 5 shorter stories in the graphic novel, one for each woman, and then one that celebrates their friendship.

This graphic novel showed the diversity and connections between black women from hair to their love lives to mental health. I loved how each woman was so different and there was so much representation in this short graphic novel. We saw a toxic ex, depression and mental health struggles, queer representation, trying to reconnect with family, and love life struggles.

This honestly had everything I could ever want and more and don't even get me started on the art style! It was absolutely so stunning and one of my favorite art styles I've ever seen in a graphic novel.

Thank you to Chronicle Books, Jamila Rowser, Robyn Smith, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wash Day Diaries is a beautiful book. It's visually stunning, dynamic, and evocative, and a glowing tribute to ride-or-die female friendship. This is something special, and I hope to see much more from these characters! I will be recommending to friends and library patrons far and wide.

Many thanks to the creators, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I just recently got into graphic novels and this was recommended to me. I loved it! I could relate on so many levels I love how cookie was there for Davene. She really needed it. Malik was a “bug-a-boo” for real. Wash day is a real struggle especially when you have a lot of hair. The graphics were beautiful and I loved the varied representation.

In this graphic novel we follow four friends and their adventures on their wash day's. Within the black community wash day takes the whole day and keeping up with that routine can be a sign of your mental health. Each friend has their own struggles that they have to deal with whether it's mental health, familial acceptance, boyfriend issues, and more.

I love that the author was able to take a singular even that everybody goes through and parallel it with issue black women have to deal with. They also made sure to give each friend their own "voice" and "personality" early on. Allowing every reader to laugh and enjoy because they see themselves in the character or a friend. Additionally, I enjoyed the art style and thought it helped to complete the graphic novel experience in a great way.

*I just reviewed Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith. #WashDayDiaries #NetGalley

The cover draws you in, but it’s the depiction of this friendship and the thread of the each person’s relationship with their hair that keeps you pulled in.

My favorite section was the Group Chat - I love how the panels pulled you into the chat, showing friends reacting to various high points in Tanisha’s story. I also liked how the writing/art depicted Tanisha getting her hair done and looping her best friends into her love-ish triangle.

The art and style of the book is beautiful and I just loved seeing these three and how they bonded while also honoring each pers

I loved this graphic novel so much! From the storyline to the beautiful illustrations, I was completely hooked. It revolves around four best friends who each have their own story, but all get tied together through bonding, self-care, and their hair care routine. I believe the way friendship, mental health, family, and culture is represented is well-executed. I would love to read more about these characters!

Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story starts a bit slow paced for my taste, but after the second story it starts getting interesting. It revolves around four women and hair care. It was very fun to take a peek into the life of these women and their relationship with hair and the world. You can tell this story was made with a lot of love and care. Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have only read one other graphic novel before. I have been challenging myself to read more out of my comfort zone lately and I am so glad I read this one! I will definitely be on the lookout for more diverse graphic novels. I loved the story of these friends. I want more from these friends. I have 3 best friends and that scene at the show was so funny because I could see my friends doing the same thing. I highly recommend this book.

Books I get from netgalley are either a hit or a miss. Wash Day Diaries was immaculate though. I loved every page in this! First off the artwork was amazing, lved the color scheme. The plot was simple but I enjoyed the friendship dynamic between the women. All four women are different but they also mesh together real well. I would love ride or die friends like these. I can't wait to see what else Jamila Rowser comes out with!

I loved this book! 11/10 stars !!
The graphic novel does get to a bit of a slow start, but I ended up more than appreciating my decision to stick around. Set in New York City, this story follows four black girl best friends as the bond over their hair and life in general. It made me laugh out loud, cry and kept me engaged all the way through to the last page.
This short read manages to touch on so many topics including depression, dating, familial ties, domestic violence, policing and friendship. Some are covered in passing and some make up a larger part of the story, but I felt like all were done well.
With a group of friends, its often easy to skip over the stories of one or two of them, but I appreciated that we got to spend time with each of the girls and get to know them. Even better, this did not feel like so many Black stories that are marketed for representation, but end up telling the story of Black pain. I felt so represented and related to so many of the girls' experiences. The only inaccurate thing was one of the characters keeping in her glasses while getting her hair done!
In conclusion, get this, read this YOU WILL LOVE T

Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith is a stunning graphic novel that takes us through the hair routines of a group of four women. These women are best friends and their relationship with one another is so genuine and caring. They may misunderstand each other in some ways, but at their core, they truly care for each other.
This story had me laughing and crying from one page to the next. My emotions were all over the place — and I loved it! The story takes place in the Bronx and it captures city life and language perfectly.
I did not want this end! I hope this becomes a series, but meanwhile I’ll be re-reading it until I have a physical copy and then re-reading some more.
Thank you to Netgalley, the authors, and the publisher for an advanced copy!

This was cute graphic novel. Friendship, hair care, depression, etc. It was nice to see the differences between the girls on their days and them all cumulatively coming together in the end. I think the realness is the kind of friendship I think every gal strives for.

Wash Day Diaries is hands down one of the best ensemble graphic novels I have ever read. It's attention to each character's development and nuance and beautiful intertwining of stories made it absolutely captivating. Like, I want to binge four seasons of this on Netflix.

I flew through this book in less than an hour. "Wash Day Diaries" is about the friendship between four natural (hair) queens. The story stays true to the title in that the entire book is entangled with the attention and routines placed in caring for natural hair. It also embraces the struggles some have with living in a society where natural hair isn't always considered "professional" or "acceptable" and the desire to cover their own beauty to appease the masses. The book is not just about hair. "Wash Day Diaries" also tackles mental health, some stigmas associated with minorities, and how easily people can overlook/ be oblivious to your pain when you force a smile on your face. It weaves in some common scenarios minority women face on a regular basis internally and externally. This isn't a long book so I do not want to discuss every topic it covers in this review. I will sum it up by simply saying every woman, especially a woman of color, can find herself in one or all of these women.

I want to start off by saying that I am not own voices so please seek out those reviews first and take everything i say with a grain of salt.
I really enjoyed this. The art was beautiful and I really enjoyed the plot. The stories were really sweet and I felt like i learned a lot about each woman in the short time I had with them. I also found the story to be extremely heart warming.

Thank you Net Galley and Chronicle Books for allowing me to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This comic book is full of black girl magic while also providing relatable events when it comes to managing hair, relationships, and battling everyday life challenges. I was initially drawn to this book because I am a black woman who goes through the daily struggles of wash day and trying to find the best hairstyle to accommodate me but as I began to read the comic an discover how each of the girls bonded with each other it made me realize that the value of friendship is important, it is important for women to uplift each other and stick together.

This graphic novel was sweet and endearing. The reader was taken on a journey of friendship and 4 different perspectives of wash day. These girls were loving, funny, and supportive. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy because the artwork is so whimsical. What I loved the most is that wash day was visually self-care, rather than an arduous task.

CN: street harassment, mental health concerns on page (depression), dementia, bi phobia, mention of hair discrimination (possibly teasing), ex with progressive threatening behavior (consider a restraining order), on page marijuana use

This was a beautiful graphic novel about everyday life, friendships, relationships and love. The is rep and mental illness in this book was well done. I related to all the characters and want to give them all great big hugs.

I loved this graphic novel. The art style and color choices were great. I liked how in each section we followed a different character but they still all tied into each other. I would definitely read from this author again!

An amazing graphic novel depicting the beautiful intricacies of Black friendship. We see complex and dynamic characters whose vibrancy shines off the page. There’s a fierceness among them as they explore everything from mental illness to romantic relationships while supporting and loving one another.

You will want to be friends with all of these women; at least I do!

The story tells you about four friends that are each dealing with their own struggles, however they are supporting each other. The topics that are raised range from domestic violence to a sassy love triangle. My favorite part of the book was the represention of different sizes, colors, and personalities. As a plus size women it is encouraging to see people like me in a graphic novel. The only complaint I have about this book is that I wish there was more. I really loved the characters and started to be invested in what was going to happen next.

As a graphic novel the illustrations were fun and easy to understand. I was able to learn a lot about the girls hair routines and their personalities. My favorite part was the group chat chapter. They use innovative ways to show the girls having a conversation together with flashbacks.

I plan to post this review on my bookstagram account where I have over 1,000 followers; it will be posted closer to the release date.

An empowering graphic novel with beautiful illustrations and colour palettes that depicts a close knit group of Black women as well as the individual characters and their struggles in less than 200 pages. I wasn’t expecting to get so attached to these characters given how short the novel is but the author managed to completely hook me from the first page. Mental health, friendship, relationships, and self-discovery were all touched upon with care, and I love how hair care was interwoven through all of it and strengthened relationships. This story has true-to-life portrayals of relationships and the love you can have for each other even through your differences and misunderstandings.

I would like to thank Chronicle books and Netgalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the depiction of friendship, family and mental health in this book. Their relationships and characters felt so real and the art was gorgeous.

Such a gorgeous, slice of life about a group of friends and the ways their lives unfold and intersect over the course of a couple days. The artwork is just stunning, the story is emotional and lovely, the friendships are real. I especially liked that the women didn't fight among themselves or have any frenemies crap going on, just real support and love. I loved the way real life issues were woven into the story, the keys between the fingers, cat callers, angry white people on the train, and the well meaning friend suggesting crystals to cure depression.

I absolutely adored every page of this, and easily ended up finishing it in one sitting. The colors were so vibrant, and the art style was warm and welcoming. Even with only little pieces of these four women's lives, I felt like I knew them. I appreciated the different personalities and problems that each faced, and how they all came together for each other in their own ways. It really felt like I was a fly on the wall of these four friends going about their life. And, of course, with such an interesting way to share their lives, differences, and similarities all through their wash day experiences.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

Typically with all anthology stories, I tend to have a problem where I really like certain stories and dislike others. I felt this way about Wash Day Diaries. I loved some of the girls' perspectives, while others needed a reality check. For example, I loved Cookie and Davene's portions. Davene's felt very relatable with her issues of depression and struggling with a career path that may not be right, and Cookie's heartfelt day with her estranged grandma was sweet. However, Kim and Tanisha just came off as annoying to me. They bothered me so much that I struggled reading the portions of the book where they were all together.

Overall, I would say give this book a read. I'm sure there will be portions you enjoy, and like me, you may have issues with a few parts as well.

I just wish there was more text. Even with the artwork which is incredible, I still felt like I didn't know the characters. Like I missed some big secret.

Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Roser & Robyn Smith
⭐️3.5
Stunning art & vibrant colors. I love the book's message by empowering young women to stay true to themselves. It tells the story about the friendship that four young women share about their wash day.

Thank You Netgalley for an arc, here is my honest review.

I love this book so much! The illustrations in this graphic novel are stunning!! The details for everyone’s hair are amazing. I loved how everyone had their own hairstyle!

The best thing about this book is the friendships between all four girls; it’s heartwarming and reminded me of my friend group. There’s even talks about mental health that I think were done mostly great, though one characters reaction slightly annoyed me, everything else great.

I can’t wait for this to come out so I can have a physical copy!

The illustrations in this novel are vibrant and real. We get to walk with these women through their lives as the face challenges, that make them stronger empowered women.


Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

My thoughts 💭: I loved the friendship between the women and using hair care as a connecting between the different stories. It follows 4 black women who are friends that lives in the Bronx and it starts with each other either washing their hair or styling their hair and different stories about their current life situations, like mental health, dating and careers these are some they talked about. I definitely recommend this graphic novel

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

An amazing view into the hair care rituals and friendship between a beautiful and diverse group of women. We journey with them through life events, dating and dealing with depression. This would make an amazing televised series or movie. Can't wait for part 2.

I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel; from the detailed graphics to the strong friendships created by four best friends, Kim, Tanisha, Davenport, and Cookie. Seeing the quartet bond and grow together was both inspiring and lovely, showing readers that it's possible to build deep friendships and sure is worth it when you have someone to lean on. The stories and voices of each character was beautiful, along with getting a look at their wash day routine and hair styling.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange of an honest review.

This is a slice of life graphic novel about four different best friends! The theme connecting theme of the stories, hair care, is woven into each story. The art style is both cozy and expressive, with each woman having her own color scheme. These stories take place mostly during the summer, and it really feels like a summery story! Unfortunately over the course of the story, one friend tells another that she shouldn’t get antidepressants and gives her a crystal instead, and we see the depressed friend simply crawl back into bed afterwards. While this story is slice of life and we don’t really follow up on any of their individual stories, this was the least cozy story that I wish had a better ending, and knocks the rating down a quarter star. 4.75 stars.

I don’t normally read slice of life stories but I loved this one. It was a truly lovely story of female friendship centered around taking care of their hair. It was beautiful to see these stories revolving around various forms and stages of self-care and community. I would definitely read more. I also can’t speak enough about how much I truly love the friendship of these four women and the last chapter especially made me feel warm inside. Everyone should be lucky enough to know friendship like that.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

Let's start with that cover. The illustrations and colors in this book are gorgeous. The color vibe of the cover follows thru to the rest of the book. It gave me Spring / Summer vibes.

I loved how these women were portrayed. They were all beautiful in their own right with realistic bodies. I am a little jealous of their friendship. I like how they all protected each other and backed each other up whether it was a family, career, or mental health issues. I am looking forward to getting to know this group of women a little more and vibing with the next book.

Wash day diaries is a short graphic novel about friendship, love, depression & the importance of self care & sisterhood in the African American community. I loved each character and how they each contributed to their friend group. Although I would have loved for it to be longer, I think it was a great representation of black culture.

This is the first time in my life I’ve ever read a graphic novel like this. (In a good way) I’m a POC and I definitely related to the stories throughout the novel. I LOVED seeing POC doing they’re hair. Wash day yesss. I’ve been natural over 10 years and I could smell and feel ever product . I was Immersed into the story. I Resonated strongly with Davene and her struggle with depression. The battle of debating on antidepressants. Therapy the whole nine. I loved how her friends stood by her self and left with her. It’s needed that support. I also loved cookies character. I definitely that person pulling a crystal out my bra lol. Also being a biracial woman who is Puerto Rican/Black I loved the self representation. Great read I’m looking forward to more from this author.

I am so here for "Wash Day Diaries"! To see The Bronx represented...to see Castle Hill represented...to see the struggles of living on the 5 train represented...to see the ritual of self-care on wash day represented...I can't even begin to verbalize how much this means to me! You'll hear it again and again but representation does matter.

Wash Day Diaries is a glimpse into a day in the life of each of these 4 friends. Wash day ties into each of their stories. If you don't know what wash day means pick up this graphic novel.

Wash Day Diaries felt like a peek into my own life as a woman and even more so as a Black woman when it came to seeing the panels of these ladies dealing with hair. I loved the details of the illustrations as well as the storylines. My favorite story was Bright Side but at the same time, the only letdown in Bright Side was how Davene’s mental health was addressed. Although Cook’s responses were pretty realistic in how people/friends sometimes respond to someone with depression, I still would’ve liked to see a better wrap up of Davene’s story. Other than that, I would love to see MORE from all their storylines so I hope this becomes a series.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this wonderful comic!

**Special thanks to Chronicle Books and Netgalley for providing me with a digital advanced reader's copy, in exchange for my honest review.

Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith

The premise:
In a gorgeous slice of life comic, four black women are united by two sacred things: friendship and wash day.

Rating: 5 🌟

Topics/Themes:
Wash Day Diaries follows each of the four women throughout their day, grounded in the ritual of a wash day. The story also tackles big topics like depression, harassment, and workplace racism in a way that is uniquely hopeful. They are not glossed over, sanded down and polished, or wrapped in a neat little bow that is pleasing to the audience. They are messy, and raw and real, but there is a distinct overtone of hope and the power of a good support network.

Plot:
The book is decidedly a slice of life story, which is a part of what makes it so wonderful. Every single action, interaction between characters, and event, feels real and genuine. Each of the primary characters is featured in their own segment of the book participating in the ritual of self-love that is washing their hair, and the book is closed by a segment that highlights the love they have for each other, and ties the story up in a warm and comforting bow, hazy with kindness, love, and friendship.

Characters:
From a visual angle, each character is clearly designed with care, and the collaboration between the authors on the story and the art is obvious, each character aligned with their story and full of life. Each character is unique and has their own clear voice, and each segment explores the featured character’s relationship with themselves and their relationship with the other characters. I value well developed characters, and Wash Day Diaries is carefully crafted with some of the most full-of-life characters I have ever had the privilege of interacting with.

Conclusions:
Wash Day Diaries is stunning in so many ways. From gorgeous, lively characters, to a careful, deliberate, and overwhelmingly heartwarming plot, I have decidedly fallen in love with Wash Day Diaries, and I am confident you will too. It is a celebration of black women, their hair, and their love for each other. If you want a story that makes you remember the value of ordinary days, and renews a sense of hope you may have lost, you need to read Wash Day Diaries.


HEA/HFN (Happily Ever After/Happy For Now)?
[It’s a slice of life story, and is happy for now in the way that real life tends to be. ]

Content Warnings:
[Mild warnings for: Depression/mental illness workplace discrimination (on the basis of natural hair); and a toxic ex ]

Notes: This review has been drafted, and I have given the book a star rating on Goodreads and Storygraph, but I will not be publishing the full review until late May/early June, 2022 (closer to pub date). I will review the book then on Goodreads, Storygraph, and Amazon, and promote the reviews on Twitter, possibly posting a review to twitter as well.

This graphic novel was so cute! I love seeing so many parts of the story being told through texting the tea in the group chat, and I love seeing a tight-knit friend group that would do anything to help and protect each other. The art is fantastic, and the depiction of the importance of their hair is really well done, showing different styles, but also how it connects them to each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing me with an ARC of this title!

This book is gorgeous - the illustrations are great, the content is so spot-on. I typically haven't been a big graphic novel reader, but now I have to check out more of them. I cannot get enough!

I'm so glad I picked this up. This was absolutely lovely. The color palette was beautiful. I loved the art in this and also really loved the use of kind of fourth wall breaking with panels. Each chapter and each girl I loved learning about. It's such a great story that talks about friendship and mental health and queerness. I just wanted more. I would easily read a series about this group. I also have questions and want to know more about them and their stories.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel! All of the stories were woven together beautifully. I also loved how each character's story had its own specific art style. The art and writing were fun and colorful. I also loved the focus on female friendship!

LOVE THIS! This friendship brought you right in and really made you feel as if you were a part of it.

Wash Day Diaries is a beautiful graphic novel on four young black women that seamlessly weaves together stories of their family, friends, hair, and relationships with a brilliant array of colors. Each page is like looking at different stages of a sunset, in pinks, oranges, purples!

It's a very fun look at modern friendship in the city, and feels incredibly real. The young women are put into a wide variety of sad, serious, and fun situations: abusive relationships, grandparents with dementia, modern dating, depression, and more. It's interwoven with group chats, meetups, dance parties and other activities, which bring a bit of levity to heavy themes.

I would absolutely recommend this book for a relatable comic/graphic novel for older teens+. The cover may not be totally indicative of some of the serious content inside, just something to keep in mind!

I loved this!! The art was beautiful, the friendship was beautiful, and the stories were short enough to keep my attention. A fast read that surprisingly hit some hard topics and handled them so well! Loved!!

A beautifully touching story about an incredibly charismatic, relatable, and loveable group of friends with incredible art!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an arc of this!

I had so much fun reading this. The colors, the artwork, THE HAIR, everything was simply beautiful.
I liked getting to see every character's personality and style through the slice-of-life style, but would've definitely loved to know more about them as I felt that some things just got put aside to focus on various things.
But again, the hair!! I've been on my own natural hair journey and it was so wonderful to see that in this comic as well which is why I wanted to read it, and I'm very glad I did😊

Wash Day Diaries is a wonderful collection of stories about 4 friends. The dialogue is spectacular. The friendships are lovely. The art is magnificent! I really loved Wash Day Diaries.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

REVIEW:

✨gorgeous gorgeous girls read stories about gorgeous gorgeous girls supporting each other. i was in need of something quick to read just for a quick fix. i scrolled through NetGalley and saw that this one was available!

✨I really enjoyed this comic so much. I loved each girl’s individual stories and the way that the girls supported each other. This even brought me to TEARS!!! Cookie’s individual story really had me emotional and I can’t wait for more people to get their hands on this!

✨another part that I loved about this comic were the colors too! Each girl had their own color and that represented them throughout the stories and they all went together so well. The colors also weren’t just what they wore it also had like an aura to them of that color because the room would be tinted in the color scheme or something. It was really cool!

✨I hope more people find Wash Day Diaries and pick it up. I think that it says a lot about community and just black girl power in general. I’m not a black girl, obviously from my picture, but the way that their wash rituals were depicted and how having their hair done could change their whole demeanor was so excellently pictured for this white girl to understand. But then there was just the overarching theme of community too that really made this story the most special.

✨Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for letting me read this before release in exchange for an honest review!

It is my hope that this is just the beginning of a graphic novel series following the characters in introduced in Wash Day Diaries. It’s a wonderful representation of the multi-ethnic experience for those who culturally have hair that requires so much more tending to of our hair beyond a quick wash and go (if only!). However, there’s something beautiful about the caring of one’s hair that becomes a communal experience for the girls in Wash Day. Many woman will see themselves represented in the stories, which in itself is critical and often missed, especially in graphic novels. Beyond that thread there is much more to the stories of the four girls beyond hair; themes include topics of female friendship, LGBTQIAPD+, life challenges, relationships and depression..
Only one caveat that should be mentioned. There was a scene that could potentially be misconstrued by readers who’s experiences in life have not exposed them what it’s like to be a person of color out and about in life in the US. In the last of the four stories (Ride of Die), the friends are on the subway having a good time, the illustrations of the Caucasian passengers on the subway are illustrated as being irritated, disgusted, etc. by the girls’ presence. While I believe I understand the authors’ intentions, the lack of any explanation leaves room for misconceptions and honestly an opportunity was lost to “educate” through these stories that this may be a common experience for people of color. It’s not enough to deter my recommendation because there is much to love about the graphic novel. Recommended for adult GN collections, because of mature topics including sex, cigarette and marijuana smoking, etc.

This was such a wonderful graphic novel. There are five sections and each section follows a different character in the friend group. Each character was so well constructed and felt real. I also loved the relationships in this friend group. This is a slice of life book that is so beautifully drawn and written.
It was a quick read but I enjoyed every second of it.

This is one of the cutest graphic novels I’ve read recently. The art style is so fun and the characters feel so realistic. I loved seeing how dynamic all the girls were and hearing their stories. The concept of showing hair as a means of therapy and communication was very impactful as well. I wanted to be a part of the friend group. My only criticism is that it felt a little short. I wish there was more to the story because I wasn’t ready for it to end!

I absolutely loved this book. Its nothing of what I expected but way more. Wash day diaries brought the Brooklyn girl out of me. Its extremely relatable. I would recommend this book to everyone.

We all four friends through their wash day day and their lives, but also the sisterhood of black women. Yesss!!! I loved the coloring , the storytelling and did my heart love this graphic novel.

you know the kind of love that you feel so strongly for another individual, the kind that makes you wanna do just about anything you can to help them and make sure they're okay??

that's exactly the kind of love the women in this book have for each other. they are filled individually with so much light and passion. the bond that they have is absolutely unbreakable.

the art style in this was fantastic and so pleasing to the eye. i enjoyed every second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

So, maybe I teared up a little bit at how much care was put into depicting friendships between Black women and Black haircare in this graphic novel. the story is simple but real and funny and heartfelt, and the characters’ mannerisms reminded me so much of the Black women i grew up around that it felt like I was listening to conversations between my mom and her sisters. I always love seeing things like wash day and beauty supply store trips represented in media because those are aspects of my own life that not a lot of people I know outside of my family can relate to. and I also enjoyed the art and the formatting; the way the characters’ stories converged at the end worked really well. I hope to see more from the creators!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /💧 / 🌶

Tropes: x

TW/CW: depression and sexual content

Representation: black/ multicultural

Favorite quote: x

Thoughts: I was given this book as an arc in exchange for an honest review. This was the first graphic novel that i had read, AND IT DIDNT DISAPPOINT. I love all the aspects of hair in this story, and it really showed how important hair is in our community! I loved the topics of depression in this novel, but i will say the friend pissed me off. And i hope people who read this see that the way the friend reacted and responded was the incorrect way! But this graphic novel was a great time and i really cant wait to read more and get a physical copy of it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this graphic novel! I think the art style and color scheme complements the story well.

This was a heartfelt story about four friends who support each other through their personal and collective struggles of everyday life.

I recommend this to anyone who is searching for multicultural representation (each friend has a different ethnicity/nationality/culture) and a celebration of womanhood, self care, and identity.

I really liked this graphic novel both in the art and the story! The art style is really pretty, and I love the bright color scheme because a lot of the graphic novels I’ve read so far have a more muted color scheme and this was a nice change!

I loved that the story centered on the same day and each chapter followed a different character. All four of the girls were so funny and I loved the closeness of their relationships. And I loved how even though each chapter was focused on a different character they still came together to form a single narrative.

One of my favorite parts of the story was how they included mental health in the story. Especially because when Davene shares how she’s feeling with Cookie, she tries to understand and be supportive instead of being totally dismissive.

Overall, I thought it was a really fun read and would definitely recommend it if you’re in the mood for something fun and quick!

Wash Day Diaries is a collection of vignettes featuring four friends Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie. I really enjoyed the representation of Black women in this graphic novel and the artwork was beautiful. It was refreshing to see different scenarios of real-life depicted and how these friends uplifted and showed each other love. It was also lovely to see how hair routines were showcased in each short story, and how important self-care/taking care of your mental health is. Even though I loved the stories, I would have preferred them to be a little longer just to flow better.

Thank you Net Galley and Chronicle Books for the ARC!

This was absolutely gorgeous... The art is beautiful, the story was funny and showcases four amazing friends. I loved the art style and all the colors used, like this was just really pretty all around. There was just so much care that went into this and it really showed. I would recommend this to anyone who wants an enjoyable quick read that will give you your daily dose of serotonin.

Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this beautiful comic.

I absolutely loved this comic. This book follows the lives of four young black women who are friends. I am so happy that a comic was made like this! Every picture in the comic was great because it was so detailed. You can read the story, then go back and enjoy each illustration.

The topics touched on in this comic are mental health struggles (i.e., depression), queer representation, trying to reconnect with family, and an ex not being able to let go. There is also a page where marijuana is being smoked, so I would recommend this graphic novel for a young adult.

I am a fan of this comic, and I will be buying this series. I even went online to buy Wash Day stickers.

ARC REVIEW

If you’re looking for a fun, easy, light read that still talks about important topics — this is for you! The art is so amazing in this novel & the color palette is soothing while remaining exciting. All of the main characters are lovable and complex. I want to be friends with all of them!! Although my life is very different from these women’s, I found myself relating a lot of topics in the story to my own life — friends’ and my own struggles with mental health, grandparents with dementia, kicking abusers out of local shows. I truly think there’s something that could draw any reader into this storyline.

This is a story I could find myself reading again and again & one I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I received a free ARC through NetGalley for my honest review.

This was such a lovely read! The four main characters were unique, complex, and super relatable. I was kind of reminded of Sex and the City, four gorgeous and funny women living their best lives, without any of the toxicity. And instead of the City being a character, we move from story to story through a narrative centered on haircare.

Now, I'm a white woman, so I don't have the same care routine as someone with natural hair. But I have some relative idea of the maintenance and style method of black hair, along with the social stigmas women have to deal with surrounding their styling decisions. This story educational in sharing very vivid narratives around haircare for black women - the highs and the lows.

Each character face their own private struggles - Kim's creepy ex, Cookie's estranged relative, Davene's depression brought on by a stressful career, Nisha's (okay, kind of funny) dating issues. And while each woman was by no means perfect - for instance, Cookie discourages Davene from seeking professional medical help - it only served to solidifies them as characters. Their friend group and group chat had me giggling through every chapter, because who among us hasn't sent emergency texts following a disastrous hook-up situation?

But going back to vivid - the use of color in this book was simply breathtaking. Not only did it do a lot to establish the setting for each character, the way the mood shifts from page to page was really tangible, yet subtle.

I really enjoyed reading Wash Day Diaries and found it heartwarming, enlightening, a relatable. A great read for 20 and 30-somethings who are also wading through life, held up by the support of friends.

This is a wonderful read. Between the artwork and the realness of the characters.
We watch as each women is her own, but also the support and the importance of friendship as they intertwin together in all aspects of each others lives. The good, the bad, the unsure, and the needed.
I am not a POC and while I think anyone could relate to and enjoy this story, I feel it's incredibly important to young women of color to experience and relate, more than I might.
The similarities I shared and those I don't, are exactly what others need to read and feel.

**Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

This was absolutely beautiful! The vignettes centering on each of the girls' lives were so enchanting and beautiful and unique. It's a short graphic novel but the characters just feel so genuine. As someone who isn't black, I can't speak for representation myself but a story created by POC and centering on four beautiful powerful black women was just a delight to read and experience. The art style has an amazing color palette and I really love how it integrates digital components like the girls' group chat was so inventive and just really enhanced the reading. I highly recommend and really really wish there could be a continuation of these girls' stories!!

I loved this! The illustrations and dialogue were on point! 5/5 stars!

This is a realistic look at the day-to-day life of a Black woman. I've never related so much to characters as much as I did to the four amazing women in this empowering graphic novel. From the time-consuming wash days, to hanging out on the train, to the groupchats. This is a story of friendship, love and support. I want more!

I love the different depictions of the Black hair journey because we all experience it differently. I also loved the friendship between the four characters and what they’re going through individually but still able to be there for each other collectively. It accomplished a lot in a short amount of time!

I really enjoyed how this was a realistic, slice of life kind of story about Black female friendship. It was refreshing. The characters felt real to me and I very quickly got invested in their stories. It made me wish I had a friend group I could spend time with, share things with, and enjoy telling stories in a group chat with, especially during a pandemic where everyone feels extra isolated.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a copy of this ARC in order for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this! First of all, the art style was so gorgeous and was perfect for the story. The art was what hooked me at first, and I’m so glad that it did, because I loved the rest of the graphic novel! The way that the story was structured to create a nice and clear flow for the story and the different formats used (like one chapter being told through a group chat) we’re just some of the things that kept me reading all the way through. I was also so enthralled by the well developed characters and their stories, and found myself laughing so many times! The only downside was that I wish there was more, cause I so wanted to know more about these characters’ lives!

Super quick and easy read. I love the vibes that radiated from the book. I would have to say Davenne and Cookie were my favorites. This book was full of color and a lot of other aspects that happen in a womens life. I’m so very glad that I was able to read this.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved the graphic novel!!!!!! It was so relatable and I loved the story of 4 friends who would support each other to the ends of the universe.

I truly enjoyed this graphic novel! Following intertwining vignettes of four Black friends in NYC, this was a sweet depiction of friendship, but also touched on some more serious topics, like mental health, stalkers, and more. I felt like these were balanced super well tonally with the otherwise lighter vibe. Also, the drawings are GORGEOUS, as are the color palettes selected for each vignette – somehow both vibrant AND pastel at the same time, and it totally worked.

Also, with most graphic novels, I usually feel like they're either a) far too short for what they try to accomplish, or b) filled with so many random subplots that don't add anything to the story – that was SO NOT the case here. Rather, the story stayed true to its roots (pun intended) of centering around the wash day and the daily, everyday experiences of its characters, yet also told a satisfying story arc. Overall, I loved this and for certain recommend it!

I adored this new adult graphic novel! The pacing of the story was great with the blending of multiple stories from each girl's perspective as they move through their day living in the Bronx. I loved the strong themes of sisterhood/friendship and support! There is also great representation in this novel, especially with mental health and having relatives with dementia. Not to mention, the art is so beautiful and vibrant with the colors used. This story felt very real and relatable - I would easily recommend this graphic novel.

This book was beautiful! I LOVED LOVED the art and seeing each girl's hair rituals. It was so nice to see depression handled well, and I loved how healthy the friendships were.

This book was better than I expected! Different stories about friends like the modern day show “girlfriends”, this is definitely something you would want to get a glass of wine and enjoy. This book was cute, funny, and relatable. For myself being a natural hair black queen it brought me joy to really see myself in a book. What a way to start off black history month!

I give it 4 ⭐️ only because I wish it was longer and more detailed about the girls lives.

This was so great! I really loved following these four girls and seeing the things they were dealing with and facing, and how their hair wash day was something they needed to make time for, no matter what else was going on. I loved the friendship and everything about this one!

The art style and simplistic writing style grew on me as I read. It was a very cute comic if you enjoy character focused stories over plot. There isn’t a ton packed into each page so it makes for a really quick read, great for an evening.

An excellent slice-of-life comic. The attention to detail in the panels about doing Black hair were so calming and stunning. I cackled at the antics, I closed the book because I couldn't believe the drama I had just read, I grinned at the bond between these women. An atmospheric story that will take you through the full gamut of emotions.

I got an ARC of this book.

This is just the most wholesome and wonderful graphic novel I have read in a long time. It is a slice of life of four friends. They each get their own chapter where they are the focus. I would have read a hundred books about them without even a second thought.

There were some major topics covered like stalking/domestic violence and depression. Despite those things, this is still wholesome and gentle. The characters have support, they have each other, they have a happy ending sort of situation. It didn’t feel like any of them were in danger, because they were supported so heavily. It is so rare that stalking is seen as a bad thing in popular media. It is seen as romantic most of the time, because he cares just so much he can’t stop. Gross. This book doesn’t fall into that trap. Instead it was a group effort and there was no “maybe he is a good guy” feelings. It was very clear cut, he had to leave no matter what he said. I just can’t get enough of that.

The depression! The friends might not understand fully, but they still love and support. When she wants to leave early from the event, her friends are like “cool, lets go” and started a sleep over instead of letting her go alone or making fun of her for not being as into being out as they are. It was just the perfect handling of it.

The art is GORGEOUS. The color choices fit everything so perfectly.

You need to read this.

This is the first book I got to read for Netgalley and what a fun book to start out on! I've been following the Wash Day Diaries saga ever since the initial Kickstarter and what a treat it is to see how much it's grown!

This book is a set of five vignettes into the lives of four friends in the Bronx and all the stories are tied to black hair care in one way or another. The first story is a remastered version of the initial mini-comic, now in full color instead of gray-scale. Comparing the two comics, it looks like the panels have been at least partially redrawn (the way the flags hang on page 15 is the main tell) and it looks stunning. The soft blues and purples coloring the scenes are so pretty and peaceful; it's reminiscent of soap bubbles really. Perfect for the framing device. Plot-wise, it's just a slice of life look at Kim washing her hair. I really like it, I think it's simple but not basic, and I think it's a really great setup for the rest of the stories. The other four stories are just as sweet to read, and I hope you'll give this book a chance and experience them for yourself! Love it love it love it, what a great book!

I loved this graphic novel from front to back. The sisterhood and just black girl magic in this book was just amazing like chef’s kiss amazing. I love the color and vibe that this book gave off and I hope this authors continues to make more graphic novels or even a regular novel because I will definitely read it. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this e-ARC

A fun quick read. I love anecdotal ensembles, and this one is well drawn and the anecdotes are varied enough for everyone to relate to at least one. It is a super quick read, but it has enough interesting details to fully flesh out its story and characters.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Wash Day Diaries is wonderful. Female friendship, phenomenal art style, a fun story with multiple perspectives that pulls you in, and excellent writing. What more can you want?

Cute graphic novel of 4 friends each dealing with something but come together to support each other with love and friendship. Really pretty illustrations and graphics. The girls felt super real and each had their own distinct personality which I really liked! Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy.

Don’t remove the kinks from your hair! Remove them from your brain!”- Marcus Garvey

Thank you Writer Jamila Rowser, artist Robyn Smith and Chronicle Books for an advanced copy of Wash Day Diaries. The graphic novel looks at the lives of four friends connected through their deeply personal experiences of Black Haircare and self-care.

The story chronicles a day in the life of 4 friends, based in the Bronx neighborhood- Kimana - a musician suffering from being stalked by her ex- her roommate Cookie- representing the black LGBTQIA’s community and trying to mend her relationship with grandmother suffering from dementia - Tanisha, with some of the funniest bits which are rather situational- stuck between a model and artist and has a rough time choosing between a love life and her independent lifestyle- and finally Davene- suffering from depression and having the other 3 as a support system to overcome it.

All these story life experiences are dealt with underlying humor which helps entertainingly convey the message. Davene’s story remained with me with her issues loosely demonstrating the equal opportunity lawsuit black females face at their work, case in point the 2010 Chastity Jones discrimination case due to her natural hair.

On the negative side, some images are for adults which can be avoided to widen the audience reach. Major positive- Color schema used to differentiate between past and present and the texting thumbnails. Huge shoutout to colourists Bex Glendining and Kazimir Lee. It might be a bit difficult to get into it initially but once in, it’s a fun, sweet and fast read-Highly recommended! The book comes out on 14 June 2022.

#BookReview #netgalley #graphicnovel #newadult

TW: depression, prescription anti-depressants, dementia, aggressive ex-boyfriend.

This colorful graphic novel portrays the lives of four best friends living in the Bronx. Kim, Tanisha, Davene and Cookie have their own spirit whether it be through their voice, fashion or lifestyle. We follow these ladies through the conversations or their inner circle, the troubles (and amusing moments) life throws at them but especially their hair care routines. Thanks to the color palette and design of the novel, each moment of washing, conditioning and styling feels so intimate between the reader and the character. These scenes are straightforwardly an ode to Black girl heritage, a celebration.

The sense of warmth and sisterhood between the four was uncapped. I appreciated that this graphic novel exudes a certain closeness in the Black mental health and LGBTQ+ community that isn’t always presented in modern literature (unfortunately), or in reality. More exactly, there is a conversation between two characters about depression and prescribed anti-depressants. While this conversation was limited, it still brought forth the important representation and idea of “hard subjects” in the Black community. These women defy this incongruity by coming from different walks of life and come together through the bond of hair care, simple joys of sleep overs and more.

I loved that the scenes and characters felt so in sync with the colors and composition of this graphic novel. I couldn’t help but admire the honest body images and the realness of women at home (no bra, messy hair, you know!).

Thank you to Jamila Rowser and Robin A. Smith for this beautiful novel!
Big thank you to Netgalley for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for this free e-ARC. The following is my voluntary and unbiased review.

I picked this based on the lively and colorful cover and the description. It is a graphic novel that focuses on four young, black women in NY who are each facing their own challenges and struggles. One has a family member with dementia, another is dealing with depression, a third is building a music career while dealing with a problematic ex. The 4th's dating life is... complicated. I like the diversity in backgrounds, sexuality, personality, but the strength of the story is in their connections with each other and their strong friendship.

It is structured as 4 short, interconnected stories. I liked them all, but my favorite was Group Chat, both because it was funny and because I liked some of the interesting visual techniques.

Overall, I recommend this story and hope that the authors publish more, either as continuations of Wash Day Diaries or new stories. 4.5 stars.

CW/TW: Stalking, brushing off of therapy, depression, mentions of homophobia, dementia

I randomly downloaded this on Netgalley because it was available as a “Read Now” book, and I’m glad I did!

This book follows the stories of a group of four friends - all interconnected by hair care!

It’s a fun slice of life graphic novel that focuses on Black women, their daily struggles, but mostly their joy and support of each other.

The art is beautiful and vibrant, just like the characters.

Huge thank you to Chronicle Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this!

What a beautifully done collection of art. This is one of the better graphic novels I’ve read, and the best one I’ve read in a while. The art is well done, the color palette that is individual to each woman and story, but blended together by the end, and the well written storyline all helped to tell the story of these 4 women. However I would call it less of a beginning to end traditional story, and more of a look into the every day life of Cookie, Kimana, Davene, and Tanisha which I really enjoyed. It explores depression and mental illness struggles, misogyny, abuse and toxic relationships, racism, but also these 4 women were fun and intelligent, strong and multifaceted. This was the author’s exploration and celebration of what it is to be a black woman; the time and effort put into this story really came through. It was a great quick read, and I highly recommend this graphic novel.

Release date: June, 14th, 2022

*thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

In this book, with beautiful art, Jamila Rowser shows us vignettes from the lives of four friends, Kim, Cookie, Nisha and Davene, through the lens of their relationships with hair. Each of the four friends wrestles with different problems: aging relatives, the pressures to conform in the workplace, imposter syndrome, relationship problems, settling down. But they all found solace in each other. They could all pile unto one bed after a long day, tie their hair up in bonnets and scarves and hold space for each other. So many things made me chuckle while reading it: Davene pulling out a flag when Dancehall came on, the group chat, Nisha going to the hairstylist without washing her hair. But many other things were heartfelt too, such as friends coming together to stop a potentially violent ex from ruining Kim’s show, Davene’s struggle with her mental health.

This was a joy to read. Wash day is a right of passage and a permanent part of life for Black girls. For most of us, Wash Day is the day you stay at home and dedicate attention to yourself, with no plans of going out. But it can also be a day for community, especially if you spend it in places like a hair salon or with your friends. I am keeping my fingers crossed because I want to see what’s next in the lives of the four girls.

This is a super short, lovely graphic novel that took my breath away. From the start, I had a feeling that the title and cover alone would give way to amazing Black girl love and compassion. The infinite uniqueness between this friend group is breathtaking. I've read so many graphic novels/stories and always thought: "This would be lovelier if I could relate to it."

As a Desi woman, seeing so much care go into this from the amazing creators just...

I can't even formulate words. I read this in one sitting, and from the art to the words to the issues pertaining at hand, I could relate in small bursts. The overlapping beauty of culture, the humor, the seriousness of depressive cycles, the importance of friendship and protecting your own from toxic men; (chefs kiss).

I seriously cannot wait for June 13th. My own friend group will be getting copies from me as gifts in celebration of a gorgeous graphic that is a gift in itself.

I wanted to love this, but both the illustrations and stories left me wanting more. Still en enjoyable read.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this graphic novel!
As soon as I saw this was read now on NG, I instantly downloaded and read the whole thing in one sitting. I really loved the writing, art style, colour scheme and set up. We follow 4 main characters connected by friendship and see a peak in their daily lives.
Highly recommend this one!

Can we have more New Adult graphic novels please because this was just divine! I really enjoyed this graphic novel, it was the perfect glimpse into the lives of four young women, it covered a range of topics in a small amount of pages, from relationships to depression to friendships and more. I loved the focus and celebration of Black hair as well. To me this story focused on a very typical, strong friendship between four unique women, but new adult stories are so rarely told that this was a delight to read.

Beautifully rendered and written, Wash Day Diaries follows the lives of four Black friends who live in the Bronx as they navigate life's ups and downs. Characters feel real and realized, and their joys and sorrows are given the space they deserve.

Credits
Art: Robyn Smith
Writing: Jamila Rowser
Colors: Robyn Smith, Bex Glendining, Kazimir Lee
Wash Day Script Editor: J.A. Micheline
Editor: Sahara Clement, Juliette Capra
Designer and lettering layout: Neil Egan
Lettering Assistance: Angie Kang

I picked this up since I seen four black girls on the cover with hair! Such a pretty cover!

Quick read, cute graphics I really wish that there was more backstory and story in general!

Covered a lot of important topics both visually and literally.

I did see myself throughout this book and I will be purchasing!

I really enjoyed Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith. This was a graphic novel that really shined a light on the day in, day out, trials and tribulations of a group of friends and covered a lot of different topics that women encounter. I loved the multiple perspectives within the same overall storyline. The graphics were great and the story flowed so well, highlighting the strong friendship between the girls. Highly recommend it!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC!

This is the first time I’ve felt truly “seen” while reading a book. This book does so many things uniquely and well. First of all it’s a book that focuses on adult female friendship. I haven’t heard a story like that in ages. Secondly, it tells these stories by focusing on the hair of Black women. This is a HUGE deal because Black women’s hair is a major social and political statement just for existing. (There are countless stories of Black women’s natural hair being considered “unprofessional” or Black woman being forced to change their hair to participate in the workplace.) This is also the first time I’ve ever seen the Black female bodies being presented as existing just for themselves rather than for anyone else’s gratification. It has some extremely “real” feeling moments: the pain of getting your hair braided, the tension of walking past catcallers, all sorts of little things readers would notice and recognize.The color palette is very cozy and really highlights the intimacy of these female relationships. The relationships are heartwarming and the stories, despite their short length, pack quite a punch.

Wash Day Diaries weaves the story of four friends together in this sweet slice of life graphic novel. Dealing with relevant issues such as depression, having a loved one with dementia, and sticking up for your friends, this one hit me right in the feels. I especially loved the gorgeous art and the natural style of conversation between the characters. What a wonderful addition to any library! Though this graphic novel may be geared towards adults, I would even recommend it to a YA audience as well.

This was really cute/fun. I especially enjoyed the 2nd story, it was funny and genuine in a way that made me feel as if I was a part of the group chat, hanging on to what would come next. Most of the other ones felt to me to be a bit too thin. Only skimming the bare surface of a story with depth. While it's not necessarily needed to dive deep in what is intended to be a slice of life story, it seems that there was some unutilized potential. Like, I said, cute fun story, but very little to make it stand out as a special reading experience.

*arc review

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I say myself and my friends in the story. Art is really and colors are vivid. This is must read. The characters friendship are warm to the heart.

This was such a nice slice of life graphic novel! The art and different depictions of the four women's hair was beautiful. It covers so many topics in a short space of time, but it does it beautifully.

There was a little group chat section that reminded me of spilling tea with my own friends and it made me really happy.

I don't really have a whole lot to say about this graphic novel. I didn't really feel particularly one way about this book. It was a fine read. I quite liked the art. I also loved the friendship element to this book. It was just a bit confusing in the beginning, and like I mentioned before it didn't make me feel strongly one way or the other at all.

I love this so much! The art amazing. The friends group squad goals for real. I can't speak on any of the cultural things because I am white but I still loved this and appreciated their stories. I really hope we get more. I'd love to see how the group grows and what happens with everyone going forward.

This is a short, cute book addressing friendship, specifically the power, encouragement, and support that comes from a tight friend group.

Yes to more incredibly and diverse graphic novels where you see characters just living their ordinary lives, where nothing major happens but you see and learn and feel so much <3

Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie are four black women in their twenties who are friends with each other and we follow them throughout their wash day - the day in which they take some time off to care for their hair, whether that involves "simply" washing it or braiding it and so on and... we see what happens on that day in their lives.

The graphic novel is almost "divided" into short stories, each one focusing on one of the girls, but we see them telling each other stories through group texting, meeting each other, going to one's house or a party; they come in and out and it all blends in seamlessly.
I loved the drawings, I loved how the artists showed through words and color the beauty and gloriousness of these black women and their hair and how messy and complicated and also happy their lives are; the amount of timea and the care their hair requires, the racism they experience everyday, the mental health stigma...
I loved the colors and shapes and I absolutely adored how the images were placed on the page, the uhm... imaging montage?

I'd recommend this to anyone and I can't wait to see what these authors will put out next!

I loved seeing myself in all the black women shown in this book, it's a type of representation that I don't get very often without the addition of gratuitous pain or turmoil. Quick, calm, and easy read. Wish there was more

*eARC provided by Netgalley and Chronicle Books, review provided by ya girl ;)

Beautiful stories, beautiful illustrations! My only complaint about this comic is that I want more!!! I got to the end and was like, wait, where's the rest? Inside this comic, you'll find tension, drama, sisterhood, family wounds, mental health struggles, and dreams. Throughout every struggle Cookie, Tanisha, Devane, and Kim face, their girlfriends are right there to support them.

Thank you so much to net galley for sending me a copy of this book! I loved this and the artwork is so cute. I would love to see more from these characters!

This was a fun story to read. I was able to read an early review copy through Netgalley.

I loved how the stories were told through the lens of haircare. I'm a big fan of Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and the theme of hair in this graphic novel made me think of the hair themes in that book.

I also appreciated the mental health representation. I think the way that the character's friend responded to her depression was a good depiction of how a situation like that may play out in real life.

Overall this was a fun book, introducing us to a fun set of characters. While this was a set of short stories interwoven together I think that certain characters were given more "air time" than others. I'd like to see future books delving deeper into each of the characters.

Link to Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4541894713

This wonderful novel was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. It follows a unique format of each of the girls stories, from heartbreaking to empowering. Highly recommend picking up this amazing novel when it hits the shelves.

Wash Day Diaries is a graphic novel focused around four best friends in five connected short story comics. We follow Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie, each having their own story within the novel. We get quick glimpses into their lives in the Bronx. The novel depicts their life experiences but also shows their different wash day routines in the midst of estranged family relationships, love triangles, and complicated ex drama. We go through days with these four friends together and separately.

While reading this novel, it’s important to note that they are short comics, while this novel does tackle important topics of being a black woman, it’s going to be as much about what is said but also what is shown by the illustrator. I enjoyed this book and held a constant smile on my face while reading it. It was the epitome of authentic life as a black woman, getting up early for wash day, the different stages to managing my curls, complete with twisting and drying and styling. Each woman has a different approach as do we all with how we manage and style our hair. The illustrator utilized the unspoken to depict these things while we learned of the women’s lives through texts, conversations, and flashbacks. There was also a moment that resonated with me most with Davene’s short story. This story had some of the telltale signs of mental health issues. There were subtle signs in the illustrations that spoke volumes of a messy house, avoiding work, missing appointments, and declining invites with friends before it was even spoken by the character that she was dealing with depression. There was also a moment with a friend that truly played upon the stigma surrounding therapy and depression.

The moment was short-lived and as a short story it wasn’t completely dealt with, but later in the story, support was shown and unspoken understanding that essentially spoke volumes and counteracted the reaction in earlier panels. Each woman has a story of turmoil and strength, and this book is also a celebration of friendship. It’s a reassuring tale that despite it all, friends are always there to support each other. It has black woman magic on each page - spoken and unspoken.

I was glad to have the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley. Wash Day Diaries is out June 14, 2022.

I am in love with Wash Day Diaries. Jamila Rowser pulls together an awesome creative team with Robyn Smith drawing (and coloring), and Bex Glendining, and Kazimir Lee. Wash Day Diaries follows four friends over the course a couple days as they go through their different beauty routines and their daily lives and how those two things intersect and bring them together. I loved learning even more about hair care routines of minority women since they do differ so much from my own. The art captures the long processes in quick succession giving a wonderful overview of the daily hair care challenges different types of hair textures present. On top of the celebration of different hair, there's wonderful friendships between four strong women. Seriously such a good read.

I just finished Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith. This was a celebration of natural hair, beauty, and friendship! The artwork was beautiful! I loved how relatable and humorous each story was. There are a total of five stories that dealt with self care, dating, family relationships, mental health and friendship. I loved how relatable the pictures of all the haircare pictures were. This was the first graphic novel I’ve read that had connected short stories. I enjoyed reading each one and the release date is June 14, 2022.

Disclaimer: This ARC was provided by Netgalley and Chronicle Books.

Have you ever open a book and knew that you would immediately relate to it. Well this is how I felt as soon as I seen the first illustration of washday diaries 🔥

This manga gave me life like no other manga I have read has. It had everything that you would think of in the day-to-day life of a BIPOC group of women. It included group chats, messy situations, and forgiveness. As a BIPOC it was refreshing to see myself within these pages. As well as see people who resembled me. I also loved the inclusion of the Spanish language and Latin community. It was a easy read, and I felt like I knew each of these characters. I felt one with the pages and there were several times I had to stop from Laughing so hard. Let’s not fail to mention the art style was flawless, it had texture and color my word the colors. From the characters skin tones/hair textures, to the backdrops it was so well done. It was so relatable and I was sad when it was done, I hope this author creates more content like this. I will gladly give my money for it.

If you are someone who loves good tea, ride or die friends, and some messy situation this manga is for you.

*Received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Chronicle Books. All thoughts are my own.*

Wash Day Diaries is an interconnected short story series of four friends--Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie--as they go about their lives in the Bronx. Each story uses the character's relationship with hair and the care that it represents to give an intimate peek into their lives. But it's also an overall story about the power and beauty of female friendships that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

What I loved about the stories in this collection was the depth of emotions each story captured in a short amount of time. One of the things that wowed me about this graphic novel was how it used silence so beautifully, which is a testament to Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith's collaboration. There were several pages where Rowser let her characters just be in the moment and soak up themselves--no thought bubbles or narrative asides to disrupt the page--but they got to just be present in a way you don't see in graphic novels very often. And this also let Smith's art shine and take center stage.

This graphic novel also has one of my favorite visualizations of group texts. The way the art interacted with the text exchanges welcomed you into the friend group and felt like you were a part of the conversation. The art, in general, was stunning and the monochromatic color palette for each character gave such effortless vibes for each individual.

As a reviewer, I can't personally speak to the representation of the Black experience since it isn't my own, but I want to call out how much love and care Rowser and Smith put into these characters because it emanates from the page so clearly. Both in the sense that it's clear these creators love these characters and what they represent, but also that the characters clearly love and respect one another. And wow is that a powerful thing to read about! I don't think there are enough examples of loving female friendships in media, and this is my new favorite example of what good looks like.

Try this if you...
-love tv shows like Girlfriends, The Bold Type, or Insecure
-miss the feels of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
-live for a beautiful, femme aesthetic

Content Warnings [All Minor]
-Stalker ex
-Depression/anxiety
-loved one with dementia/Alzheimer's

The joy of this book is in the details. There is so much being said without being said. Jamila and Robyn utilize this form of literature to the fullest. You really have to slow down and look, and I mean look, at every page. Scour every panel or you will miss it. I know that this book is directed towards young black women but this is a story for all women. I found that I laughed, nodded, and commiserated with many of the situations of these four lovely women.

A huge thank you for my e-ARC, which was provided by the publisher, author, and illustrator via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Would I read it again?
Unlikely

Would I recommend it?
It depends on my audience. This book is most likely for a mature audience. There is some language, drug use, and sexual situations.

Is it a permanent addition to my library?
No

Content Warnings?
There is a chapter dedicated to Depression and I would avoid it if this is a difficult topic for you.

This was such a cute graphic novel!! I loved getting to know each of the girls and seeing them all come together in the end. Each chapter was focused on one of the main girls and how their friendship all tie together in the end showing their love and support for each other no matter the situation.

The illustrations are extremely well done and it was super enjoyable to read this slice of life. I think the author did a wonderful job writing each character and did a great job making each one super unique. The author also included many different topics and situations that people can relate to; we saw mental health topics be discussed, family struggles, toxic ex's, lgbt representation, and much more. I loved how quickly I was able to binge this graphic novel and how each character while all are different have some sort of relatable aspect.

I was able to pick this up as an ARC from Netgalley and I am so glad that I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this eARC of Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith. This was such a fun read and the end had me smiling from ear to ear! This is a fantastic story of female friendship and solidarity. Wash Day Diaries follows four close friends as they navigate romantic relationships, mental health struggles, careers, and family reconciliation. This graphic novel was touching, encouraging, and absolutely beautiful. The graphics and coloring were absolutely gorgeous. 10/10 recommend if you're looking for the perfect pick-me-up read.

A beautiful graphic novel from beginning to end. From the illustration to the storyline, Wash Day Diaries was a tender insight into four Black women's lives and their relationships with one another and their haircare routine. Their friendship was so delightful to read about and I wish I could have read more about them and their day-to-day. Seeing this take place in the Bronx added a layer of familiarity and realness to the lives of these four women. Highly recommend!

You can tell there is heart poured into this graphic novel, can feel the creators sheer love for their story in each page.

The daily vignettes revolving around the girls’ hair care are all interesting and unique, but still realistic. They feed into the over arching plot seamlessly.

I really love their friendship, most of all. It was a joy to read! Everyone needs people like these girls in their life.

This is an ARC review. Imma be honest here and say it was like watching TV I didn't realize was interconnected. It was queer. It was soft. It was honest. It was an ode to Black womanhood, sisterhood, and our beautiful hair. Group Chat was my favorite and not just because of the sexy bits. Group chat was my favorite because the dialogue felt authentic. The cursing, the AAVE, the Ebonics. All of it felt so true to life. They wrapped their hair! Omg, the part about depression and how even with support (and crystals) you still might need help from medication was so real. I couldn't get enough of these stories!!!! This was just so Black, feminine, and beautiful.

This was such a lovely step into the lives of four Bronx women. I know next to nothing about the upkeep of black hair, but I thoroughly enjoyed learning while immersed in this story. I also didn't know much about the book itself before I started, and was pleasantly surprised by the formatting with each girl getting their own chapter. I especially liked Tanisha's chapter with the flashback art style.

I'd also like to shout out how Davene's depression was handled. It felt a little frustrating and shaky in her own chapter, but true to life, with Cookie trying to solve her problems instead of listening. But Cookie redeemed herself in the end. I loved that she pulled Davene aside and asked if she wanted an out. It was so thoughtful and sweet. They were all such lovely friends. More than anything, I love stories about friendship and the love between friends. It can be so touching. Even as some chapters, like Cookie's and Davene's, were particularly heavy. They always had one another's' backs even if no one else did.

The art was excellent. So colorful and lifelike; the tones well-matched each friend and their moods. And there was a wealth of diversity within their lives and stories. I hope to see more from this team!

Thank you, NetGalley and Chronicle books for the ARC!

First off, I LOVE the cover of this book and the illustration style. The colors were perfect. Hair is such an important part of Black culture and the way they framed an entire graphic novel around it is awesome! Seeing all the different textures and styles was amazing.

The characters and subjects inside are super relatable, and it really targeted so many details about being a young, Black woman. You have the infamous wash day (of course), group chats, the guy problems, mental health issues...it really hits a lot of aspects that are present in our day to day lives. I think the authors did a great job creating content and characters that readers can relate to. It's always nice to feel "seen," and I think this book will give that feeling to a lot of its readers. The way everything came together at the end was a nice touch, and it just really shows how important it is to have that support system in place when life throws different issues your way.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

This graphic novel is short sweet and too the point. The book covers several different styles and care of black hair. But there’s so much more that than. Strong friendships, family reconnections, and mental health.

I only took off the .5 because one character is talking about taking anti depressants and the other girl tells her just to carry a crystal with her instead. I would have loved to see her corrected to destigmatize medication.

I’m seriously obsessed with everything else about this book. The art style was fantastic and each girl was so different.

I can’t wait to see Wash Day Diaries on shelves on June 14th!!

This graphic novel was such a quick and fun read! It felt so relatable in many respects. I was smiling while flipping through the pages and on the verge of tears at the same struggles I faced that the girls encounter. I love that it follows 4 black women who all have to navigate doing their hair on “Wash Day” and how it really is a rollercoaster, just like the relationships they have with others. I love seeing that they enjoy life. I appreciate the variety of representation that is within blackness. I would love to see a continuation with more tales from the girls.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy.

The way I saw myself as well as the women in my life throughout this entire graphic novel both in words and images was magical! The stories covered topics such as dating, depression, dementia and of course friendship. It beautiful showcases the intimate ways black women love on and relate to one another. The author and illustrator respectfully pay homage to our rituals like the Wash Day process, hair braiding, surrounding the loser boyfriend like a pride of lionesses and a good old fashion sleepover. The characters both main and secondary are so beautifully drawn. The different shapes, sizes, hair textures and skin complexions made my mouth water. Simply put, beautiful black and brown people. I smiled the entire time I read this and I can't wait to gift this to the women in my tribe.

Full review closer to publication date!

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

WASH DAY DIARIES is a fun, funny, realistic yet uplifting comic that celebrates female friendship and black womanhood through relatable, all-too-real stories and distinct, vibrant art.

I really like the NYC setting and all the stuff this dynamic urban city allows the characters to experience. The characters jump off the page, and while they're not perfect, they all try their best, supporting one another through life's adventures and struggles.

It's also very refreshing to see black hair and its upkeep--and all the subtle larger societal issues related to them because of microaggressions and racism--depicted here, and for a non-black person like me, it's also informational and illuminating.

And of course, this book wouldn't be what it is without the vibrant art. Although it can look stiff at times, overall it's creative, colorful, and I highly enjoy the color scheme; it also dynamically adds to the narrative and storytelling as well.

This is a comic with a lot of heart, and its representation of black women--and their joys and trials--makes it an important one too.

Wash Day Diaries - just wow! This story was phenomenal and powerful. Wash Day Diaries tells the stories of four best friends, the stories are woven together, so you really get a feel for how meaningful and powerful their friendship is. Ranging from romance struggles to mental health this charming and important story is easy to pick up and is important - so many people need to read this!

They learn to be independent but also when it is best to ask for help and accept the help. They included an Afro-Latina (yay), who is also pretty light-skinned; showing that black women come in all colors and languages.
The drawings are stunning and the stories are so touching from depression to love to an estranged family. You can really see them as humans instead of as one-dimensional.

This was perfect. Such a cute read that had real life problems. And a black woman I felt so at home reading this and found myself smiling often!!

I love when black women, period.

It was so nice and refreshing to read a slice of life following the tales of four black friends.

It covers so many interesting topics ranging from hair care to mental health.

The characters all felt like real people and the art style was absolutely beautiful.

This is a five star read! As a Black woman this felt very validating in numerous ways from hair, to interpersonal relationships, and mental health. Gorgeous art with great attention to detail.

WOW WOW WOW.

Embarrassed to say this was the first graphic novel/comic I’ve ever read. BUT absolutely devoured this novel and was captivated by the absolutely beautiful and vibrant artwork that filled the pages.

This story follows four best friends as they begin their days with washing / doing their hair and then goes deeper into their personal lives. I was honestly amazed by how impactful each short story was—my favorite was centered around mental health. I loved the last portion of the novel when all the women come together and their stories intertwine. The last illustrations made my heart melt and reminded me how strong female friendship is 💖☺️

Highly recommend—5 ⭐️

This was a very fun, quick read. I was surprised by the amount of depth that was in here, considering the graphic novel consists of 5 slice-of-life short comics. The art work was absolutely beautiful, and I loved that the comics didn't shy away from harder topics, even though they were so short, while also just being a lot of fun and showing a wonderful friendship.

I loved this one! The art is so beautiful and vibrant. I really liked how the book interwove the story of the friendship of these young women along with their hair care routines. There was so much packed into this little book. One of my favorite scenes was in "Group Chat" when Nisha was relaying the events of her day. There was a really cool effect with the art that was so clever! I look forward to reading more from this author and graphic artist!

Such an easy 5 stars! I haven't read a lot of graphic novels but I absolutely adored this one! From the art to the story, everything was perfect!

I love the different depictions of wash day as it varies from person to person. I also loved the ride or die sisterhood that is shown between the girls. It was so much more than a book about wash day, it was about being there for your girls when they need you. Will definitely be purchasing this when it comes out.

Wash Day Diaries sums up what I and I would say most black women with natural hair go through. I love the highlights on the struggle it is to take care of our natural hair yet, the time and care we also put into it.

I loved the characters they to represented what real sisterhood is. They stuck together, loved and supported each other. I loved that this story showed that we as black women need to start lifting each other up and not keep tearing us down over crazy insignificant things that don't matter.

I feel this story showed respect and power something that has always been taking away from black women. Absolutely loved this!

5 ⭐
***Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for allowing to read and review this**

Oh my goodness, the art, the concept, the stories. This was Black Girl Magic personified. I loved the emphasis on hair because as a Black woman, hair is such an important aspect of who I am. Each person involved had their own story to tell, but they all intertwined. This is definitely a group of friends that I would love to be a part of .It was also interesting to see what role hair played in each story. I hope we get more of this in the future.

Wash Day Diaries is an ode to Black Girl Magic and Black Girl Hair. Hair is such an important piece of Black identity, no matter the style. Natural, permed, wig, braids, low fade, big afro. No matter what it is, our hair (or lack their of) tells our story. Each of the stories in this graphic novel focuses in on this Black friend group and hair plays a role in some way. Abusive relationships, friendship, grief, depression, familial relationships, sexuality, and love are all topics touched on within Wash Day Diaries. I loved each story and the fact that the book was kicked off with Wash Day, well, I can't imagine anything more perfect.

With absolutely stunning artwork, this collection features 5 comics about a group of 4 friends and their adventures around NYC. This is a celebration of friendship and of care, self-care and the care for community around them, as shown through taking care of their hair. Each character felt distinct and realistic as they dealt with dating, family, mental health, and career troubles. It's fantastic.

Wash Day Diaries is beautiful. Each page is an artistic masterpiece. The various styles featured, curls, braids, cornrows, become the basis upon which the story is built, both figuratively as these women’s tales are connected by their hair and literally as the details of the different styles become the background the images are juxtaposed against.

This graphic novel follows a set of four friends, each with a unique story, as they nurture their hair and their souls on wash day. My personal favorite of these stories was Group Chat because of how well it captured the personality and spark of the storytelling. Each character’s unique color palette, whether it’s Davene’s blues or Cookie’s sunburst, reflects her personality and her unique challenges and experiences. Altogether, the stories and art are intentionally and gently emotional. When I first started reading this, I didn’t anticipate the level of raw emotion that would be captured so quickly and with so few words. There is an intimacy in the connections that these women share as they style their own and each other’s hair that symbolizes the rich cultural tradition of Black women caring for themselves and each other.

Once I started this book I couldn’t walk away. I devoured the whole book in one sitting and when I finished reading it once, I went back to revisit my favorite scenes again, and then again. A final note, I will never personally understand the experience of a wash day and the beauty of cultivating Black hair, and that’s okay. Wash Day Diaries created a window for me to see a bit more clearly into a community full of love and kindness and I am so appreciative to have had the chance to look.

5 powerful, beautiful, strong, female friendship stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy for review ^^

I really loved this. I came in blind, not reading too much about the novel. I wanted to be completely surprised, besides reading a bit from the title's description.

This was so beautiful and powerful, sometimes dark, and just so much more than I expected. This is about celebrating Black beauty and culture and cherishing amazing female friendships. This graphic novel is composed of a handful of short stories and they all tie beautifully in together. I smiled, laughed, and cried throughout. And can we talk about how GORGEOUS these illustrations are?? A true work of art in every aspect.

My only disappointment would be that this is a standalone! T_T I would absolutely read more of this, were it a series. Amazing and stunning!