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wenwanzhao's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Fantastic slice-of-life novel. It really does feel like you are being given a glimpse into the lives of group of friends. Details are given when needed, not for expository reasons. It makes the stories feel authentic and personal. A wonderful light read with slightly heavy themes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Dementia, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
thereaderfriend's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Loved this story! Loved the characters, their bonds, and how they all got their own sections. I do wish that some were more developed but loved it anyway! I also really enjoyed how the women were in different points of their life and each came through the best they could. Very beautiful artwork too <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Dementia, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia
emily_mh's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Ooo this was so good!! My top three favourite things about it were:
1. The art style. It looked sketch-y and the colour palette was divine - a mix of pinks, purples, blues, and yellows to represent the four MCs. I loved how expressive and gorgeous the illustrations looked.
2. The friendship between the four women was so natural and beautiful. Their connection was palpable and you could just SEE the love they had for one another.
3. It drove home the point that Black hair is not just a look, but an entire culture that white people like myself can never fully understand the significance of and therefore should not participate in. This book showed me many aspects of Black hair culture (although I am sure there are many more that it did not have the space to cover). It's having a whole day booked out to care for and style your hair; it's the music you listen to while doing it; it's the friends you talk to and the family you connect with. It's the style you choose and why you choose it. It's doing it yourself, having a friend or family member do it, or going to a salon. It's community.
In short, I LOVED this book and you should read it ASAP x
1. The art style. It looked sketch-y and the colour palette was divine - a mix of pinks, purples, blues, and yellows to represent the four MCs. I loved how expressive and gorgeous the illustrations looked.
2. The friendship between the four women was so natural and beautiful. Their connection was palpable and you could just SEE the love they had for one another.
3. It drove home the point that Black hair is not just a look, but an entire culture that white people like myself can never fully understand the significance of and therefore should not participate in. This book showed me many aspects of Black hair culture (although I am sure there are many more that it did not have the space to cover). It's having a whole day booked out to care for and style your hair; it's the music you listen to while doing it; it's the friends you talk to and the family you connect with. It's the style you choose and why you choose it. It's doing it yourself, having a friend or family member do it, or going to a salon. It's community.
In short, I LOVED this book and you should read it ASAP x
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Stalking, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual harassment, Drug use, Ableism, Racism, Misogyny, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: menstruationashylibrarian's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First of all, thank you, Jamila Rowser. I didn’t know I needed to read this graphic novel, but I NEEDED to read this graphic novel. I am loving and living for the new adult content.
Secondly, I don’t think there is much more this book could have done to represent friendship and new adulthood. Both the author and illustrator did a fantastic job creating scenes that felt real, honest, and relatable.
Wash Day Diaries tells the story of four (4) friends who are all experiencing different aspects of new adulthood and enveloping themselves in Black beauty and joy: Kimana (Kim) is growing her singing career; Cookie is working to amend family tension; Tanisha (Nisha) is exploring what love means for her life at the moment; and Davene is learning how to prioritize her mental health.
Through minimal dialogue, text conversations, and intricate illustrations, readers are emersed in four major life points in each of the characters' lives and taken through how all four women intertwineidly (yes, I just made that word up) interact with one another. The friendship and genuine connection between these characters leave something to be admired and, dare I say, envied.
I love the use of wordless spreads throughout this book. These spreads are really powerful and push the reader to consider what is actually happening in the action of the characters and why the illustrator and author chose to include those scenes. These spreads in particular seem to share the beauty and intricacies of caring for the female body
*SMALL SPOILERS AHEAD* READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!
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I think the way in which Cookie handles Davene sharing her mental health struggles is a representative and common response many people get when opening up about mental health, and with that being said, I think it is something that needs to be addressed. Cookie’s response to Davene when she shares that she was struggling with depression is to encourage positivity and encourage being around friends. She also scoffs in astonishment when Davene mentions asking her therapist about starting medication. This sort of reaction can feel really invalidating and potentially be super damaging.
I hate that this was Cookie’s response to her friend opening up about her mental health, but I am also kind of happy that Rowser chose to write the plot this way because it shows the raw truth behind mental health sigmas and assumptions, especially the ones that suggest you can “just be positive” and “think positive thoughts” to make things better.
I thought the follow-up for this interaction at Kim’s concert was a nice addition to show that Cookie really does care and is trying to understand. She is cognizant that Davene is out with friends after an extended absence of not going out with them and offers to stay back with her instead of going out to another party. This in turn gets the other two friends to stay in and have a girl's night, something they all seemed to need.
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I initially read the eARC through NetGalley and then reserved the physical version as soon as it became available through my public library. The added color to the illustrations in the final version was the icing on an already beautiful cake. There is so much detail and thought put into this book, and I am ready to recommend it to everyone and anyone who will listen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Stalking
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Stalking
Minor: Grief and Sexual harassment
kayladaila's review
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Cursing, and Drug use
Minor: Dementia, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, and Stalking
ollie_again's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Sexual harassment and Dementia
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
**Thank you to NetGalley, author Jamila Rowser, and Chronicle Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**
First of all, thank you. I didn’t know I needed to read this graphic novel, but I NEEDED to read this graphic novel. I am loving and living for the new adult content.
Secondly, I don’t think there is much more this book could have done to represent friendship and new adulthood. Both the author and illustrator did a fantastic job creating scenes that felt real, honest, and relatable.
Wash Day Diaries tells the story of four (4) friends who are all experiencing different aspects of new adulthood and enveloping themselves in Black beauty and joy: Kimana (Kim) is growing her singing career; Cookie is working to amend family tension; Tanisha (Nisha) is exploring what love means for her life at the moment; and Davene is learning how to prioritize her mental health.
Through minimal dialogue, text conversations, and intricate illustrations, readers are immersed in four major life points in each of the characters' lives and taken through how all four women intertwineidly (yes, I just made that word up) interact with one another. The friendship and genuine connection between these characters leave something to be admired and, dare I say, envied.
I love the use of wordless spreads throughout this book. These spreads are really powerful and push the reader to consider what is actually happening in the action of the characters and why the illustrator and author chose to include those scenes. These spreads in particular seem to share the beauty and intricacies of caring for the female body
*SMALL SPOILERS AHEAD* READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I think the way in which Cookie handles Davene sharing her mental health struggles is a representative and common response many people get when opening up about mental health, and with that being said, I think it is something that needs to be addressed. Cookie’s response to Davene when she shares that she was struggling with depression is to encourage positivity and encourage being around friends. She also scoffs in astonishment when Davene mentions asking her therapist about starting medication. This sort of reaction can feel really invalidating and potentially be super damaging.
I hate that this was Cookie’s response to her friend opening up about her mental health, but I am also kind of happy that Rowser chose to write the plot this way because it shows the raw truth behind mental health sigmas and assumptions, especially the ones that suggest you can “just be positive” and “think positive thoughts” to make things better.
I thought the follow-up for this interaction at Kim’s concert was a nice addition to show that Cookie really does care and is trying to understand. She is cognizant that Davene is out with friends after an extended absence of not going out with them and offers to stay back with her instead of going out to another party. This in turn gets the other two friends to stay in and have a girl's night, something they all seemed to need.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
There is so much detail and thought put into this book, and I am ready to recommend it to everyone and anyone who will listen. This is definitely one I will be rereading in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Grief and Sexual harassment
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
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 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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Biphobia
Minor: Sexual content and Dementia
blackheartbooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Wash Day Diaries tells the story of best friends Kim, Cookie, Tanisha, and Davene. Told in four mini comics, each with their own distinctive color palate and thematic overtones, Wash Day Diaries is a story of four friends caring for themselves, each other, and their hair. Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for an ARC.
This is one of the most beautiful graphic novels I've ever read. The way each character has a defined color palate, and seeing how those colors blend and merge when the women are on-page together, is really touching. Each woman is navigating her own story, and as friends, they seek solace together. Whether it be Cookie's fraught relationship with her grandmother & her exciting new relationship with crush Jordan, Kim's stalker ex-boyfriend & a flourishing music career, Nisha's dilemma on which of her boyfriends, if either, to committ to, and Davene's depression following hair-based discrimination at work, the lives of these women are portrayed with tender insight. The last vignette offers a glimpse into their life as a sisterhood, as confidants and best friends and fearless supporters of each other. This story poignantly chronicles the women as they care for themselves, each other, and their hair.
I was in love from the very first page.
This is one of the most beautiful graphic novels I've ever read. The way each character has a defined color palate, and seeing how those colors blend and merge when the women are on-page together, is really touching. Each woman is navigating her own story, and as friends, they seek solace together. Whether it be Cookie's fraught relationship with her grandmother & her exciting new relationship with crush Jordan, Kim's stalker ex-boyfriend & a flourishing music career, Nisha's dilemma on which of her boyfriends, if either, to committ to, and Davene's depression following hair-based discrimination at work, the lives of these women are portrayed with tender insight. The last vignette offers a glimpse into their life as a sisterhood, as confidants and best friends and fearless supporters of each other. This story poignantly chronicles the women as they care for themselves, each other, and their hair.
I was in love from the very first page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Stalking
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
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