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Oni Press, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, is spotlighting Lara Pickle’s critically acclaimed 2024 adult graphic novel I FEEL AWFUL, THANKS! The Spanish author and illustrator’s debut graphic novel, translated into English for the first time, brings readers into a world of vivid colors, casting spells, and ancient covens. Lara Pickle’s I Feel Awful, Thanks is lushly illustrated and explores the hard-fought journey of self-acceptance in a complex world of swirling emotions and powerful potions!
Joana is a young witch who secured her dream job with a coven in London, her favorite city, where she can dedicate herself to creating potions, her favorite activity! However, she will soon discover the reality of city life is not so idyllic. Finding a flat is an ordeal, her “dream job” is stressful, and she’s totally alone. Little by little, she makes her place, but fatigue, sadness, and doubts threaten to topple her hard-earned success . . . until she starts talking to a professional who helps her realize in order to take care of herself, she must know herself.
Not every problem can disappear like magic. Out in bookstores everywhere, I FEEL AWFUL, THANKS advocates for self-love and seeking help. For more resources for mental health, visit the National Alliance on Mental Health.
“Pickle’s soft, friendly artwork fits the story’s cozy vibe, with appealing characters exploring detailed London streets and colorful interiors. The panels break into jagged shards whenever Joana has an anxiety attack, and swirls of color represent her whirling turmoil. The self-help advice may not be revelatory, but the charming art and worldbuilding bolster the reassuring message that ‘it’s okay to not be okay.’ Readers will be won over.” –PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Written from the heart and personal experience, Pickle’s debut is a compelling effort to help young adults feel seen through an imaginative delve into familiar psychological challenges.”—SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
“If you’re looking for a lovely book with great friendships and a focus on mental health, look no further. I Feel Awful, Thanks is incredibly wholesome with a great message. This is a perfect read for the upper-YA and post-YA crowd, but it’s also a great read for adults. Pickle does a great job at making mental health feel more normalized and less stigmatized, which is still lacking in society. I Feel Awful, Thanks also has a lovely romance side-plot and adorable, healthy friendships. What more could you want?”—BACKSHELF BOOKS
Lara Pickle is the pen name of Larisa Bumb, a Spanish-Romanian artist and storyteller who lives and works in London. I Feel Awful, Thanks is her debut graphic novel, and it was originally published in Spanish by VR Europa and also translated to French by Hachette Romains. Lara has worked on animation and video games with companies including Netflix, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney, and more.
Founded in 1997, Oni Press has a 25-year history as one of the industry’s most respected and acclaimed publishers of award-winning comic books and graphic novels with titles including Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim, K. O’Neill’s Tea Dragon Society, Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt's The Sixth Gun, Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer, Ezra Clayton Daniels' Upgrade Soul, Brenna Thummler’s Sheets trilogy, and many hundreds more. In 2019, Oni Press merged with Lion Forge Comics – the Eisner Award-winning independent comic book publisher founded by Academy Award-winning producer and entrepreneur David Steward II – to create one of the largest, independent libraries of comics content anywhere in media. The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group now exists as a publishing subsidiary of Steward’s diversified global media company, Polarity.
The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group publishes more than 60 original and licensed graphic novels annually, in addition to an extensive list of periodical comics.
