Hi, friend.

It’s about that time of year when my brain wants to take a hiatus from reading text-heavy books and only allows comics inside. Shockingly, this has no relation to current events—they’re just the (horrible, terrible, rotten) cherry on top. A thing my therapist told me was to remember that I can’t save the world until I fix my own shit first. So I’m trying.

If you, too, are having a hard time reading books with too many words, here are some of my recent favorite cozy little comics that uplift me and/or make me feel less alone.

Programming note: You may have noticed extra posts from the normal monthly routine around here! This summer I’m collaborating with some excellent bookish people to bring you even more books to shove in your eyeballs. I have a few more of these extras lined up for the rest of the summer, and after that it’ll be back to one monthly post.

The books

In Love & Pajamas: A Collection of Comics about Being Yourself Together by Catana Chetwynd

Catana Chetwynd has the most adorable comics about modern relationships, from the goofy to the sincere. This is the third of the series, which I read back-to-back on the couch while my husband played Elden Ring, and it’s perfect. If you’re in a relationship, you’ll find yourself in so many of these comics.

Barely Functional Adult: It’ll All Make Sense Eventually by Meichi Ng

Meichi Ng draws perfect, #relatable scenes as a young adult trying to figure out how this whole life thing works. Barely Functional Adult is a series of stories covering heartbreak, therapy, and everything in between, illustrated with cartoons in her signature style. It’ll make you laugh and sigh and feel so seen.

Everything Is OK by Debbie Tung (out September 6, 2022)

This is, hands down, Debbie Tung’s best book yet. She puts the experience of depression and anxiety into perfect words and pictures; I’m in awe of how she’s captured exactly what “having a monster inside my head” feels like.

🖤 I’ve compiled many lists like these after my summer comics reading the last few years; here are emotionally devastating graphic memoirs about mental illness (2021), nonfiction comics on Hoopla (2019), comics to get you through a reading slump (2019), cute comics about relationships (2018), and comics to read in one sitting (2018).

If you have any favorites, please tell me all about them in the comments so I have more to read this summer!

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The links

Nonfiction Manga to Teach You Something New

I’m tip-toeing my way into the world of manga with nonfiction, and each of these is an absolute delight.

True Crime Audiobooks to Keep You Up All Night

Because sometimes the only way to absorb a true crime story is having someone read it to you while you do other things.

The boost

Every Friday, the Weekly Filet delivers a selection of great things to read, watch, and listen to. If you like to see the world and yourself from new perspectives, this one is for you. Subscribe here!

✨ If you’d like to sponsor a future edition of Crooked Reads, fill out this form and I’ll get in touch ASAP!

The backlist

In case you missed ’em, or want to peep the archives:

The poll

I hope you’re finding some peace and comfort in the world, wherever you are.

xoxo

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Crooked Reads

Cozy Comics for Your Summertime Sadness