I received an advanced copy of Delicates through NetGalley so I could share my review with you! My review doesn’t contain spoilers for Delicates, or its predecessor, Sheets.

Content Warning: Delicates contains discussions of suicide, parental death, depression, grief, and bullying.

Sometimes, you don’t have to die to feel like a ghost. Marjorie Glatt has felt like a shadow of herself since her mother’s death left her to care for the family business, Glatt’s Laundry. On top of trying to cope with such a monumental loss from her life, Marjorie never feels like she is quite enough for this world. Her family needs all she can give, leaving little time for friends or life outside the laundromat. But, Marjorie’s life gets turned upside down when she discovers a stray ghost named Wendell, who snuck into the world of the living seeking purpose and acceptance. Together, Marjorie and Wendell develop a tentative friendship and begin to learn together the many different forms a friendship can take.

You can get your copy of Delicates on March 16th from Oni Press!

The color palette and soft-90s vibes in both Sheets and Delicates give the stories an ethereal tone, perfectly capturing the plot within the world of art! These books managed to be playful while dealing with some seriously heavy topics, which is a difficult feat to manage. I never would’ve thought that ghosts, laundromats, and coping with grief would make such an irresistible trio, but Sheets and Delicates proved me wrong! I found that I enjoyed Delicates even more than Sheets, as Eliza was my favorite character from the moment she stepped onto the page. These books present a vital message about visibility, friendship, and what it means to be alive even when all hope seems lost.

My Recommendation-
If you are looking for a ghost story with spring vibes to celebrate the changing of the seasons, you need to check out Delicates and Sheets! Though these books deal with more mature emotional themes, they would be completely appropriate for a middle-grade reader, or for any graphic-novel-loving adult!

Can I just rave about how cute the illustrations in this are. Let's marinate on that for a few...

Ok, now the review. I really enjoyed "Delicates". Although it is a bit heavier than the first book, I loved the overall message behind it. It tackles many issues throughout. Although this is a sequel, it can be read alone ( though I definitely recommend checking out "Sheets" as well.)

Fitting in. Belonging. Connecting. No matter how confident and popular people may appear to be, at some point, everyone feels like they don't quite fit. In this sequel to Sheets, Majorie thinks that she's finally made it; she's friends with the popular crew. However, she soon realizes that her newfound friends might not accept her if they knew about Wendell, her ghost friend, or her befriending Eliza, the victim of her popular friends' bullying. This is a powerful story of standing up for what you know is right, remaining true to yourself, and embracing what makes you unique.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy for review*

CW: bullying, suicidal ideation

Brenna Thummler really tackles hard topics in her previous work Sheets and she’s at it again with Delicates. She shows the sides of middle school that most don’t want to believe are true or want to talk about. The topics were handled very well and I’m hoping that we get to see one that helps the father in the future.

3.5 ⭐

This is the follow-up to Sheets but it can be read on its own. You're just gonna miss why Marjorie hosts a bunch of ghosts in her family's laundromat and the long version of Wendell's backstory but it should not prevent you from enjoying Delicates.

This book started a bit too slow for my taste, it took pretty long to set up the stage of Marjorie's life now and introducing Eliza, the new character at the center of this story. It picks up after the first third though and I enjoyed it way more. It's a story about grief, not fitting in, bullying, showing up for your friends, finding your truth and standing up for those who need it.

The art is obviously similar to Sheets which works for me, especially the blend of colors, it feels fluffy and soft.

Also, Wendell is so precious and as much a delight as he was in the first book 💜

I was so stoked for Delicates and it did not disappoint! What I especially loved is that while reading Sheets definitely helps, Delicates could easily be read by itself. Thummler artwork is charming and her storytelling hits every mark. I really can't wait to recommend.

CW: Depression, Suicidal thoughts, illusions to suicide, bullying, grief & loss

Set in the late 90s, Delicates follows Marjorie Glatt a year after her mother's passing, and her laundromat was infested with ghosts. In this sequel, we follow Marjorie's eighth-grade year, trying to fit in and find herself while her dad and younger brother are still grieving the loss of her mother.

This story is filled with metaphors about being a ghost and feeling invisible. I loved the focus on Eliza, a Black girl who is passionate about photography. Specifically, paranormal photography. She uses the darkroom at her school and teaches the reader about dark-rooms and how they operate. As a photographer, I really appreciated this aspect of the book as I used a darkroom in my Digital Photography classes in high school.

I really enjoyed the way depression and suicidal thoughts were dealt with. Eliza, who is bullied at school for her interest in ghosts and ghost photography. We learn why she is so infatuated with the subject of ghosts and the message of how bullying really affects someone mentally which Marjorie also learns.

This is one of my favorite graphic novel series and I really enjoyed the sequel and getting to see where the story went after the ending of the first.

Delicates is a wonderful follow-up to Sheets. Delicates is a story of friendship filled with compassion and empathy. The story has depth and complexity and is beautifully illustrated. I love the color palette! Often times, graphic novels are lacking in plot and are primarily character-driven. Thummler accomplishes both in this tale of finding yourself and standing up for what is right.

While the novel focuses more on Eliza than Marjorie (the protagonist of Sheets) it easily alternates points of view. Thummler does an excellent job approaching sensitive topics (e.g., mental health, bullying, loneliness) in an honest yet delicate way. I recommend this book, especially for kids in middle grades and older, although adults will love it just as much.

A good sequel!
Like the first volume, this bookis very cute while dealing with important subjects, especially during adolescence. It's soft, beautiful and to discover! ^^

A sequel just as cute as the first one! It is very easy to jump into if you do not remember Sheets. I love that the ghost are classic style! Such a fun read that I highly recommend!

Wow was this a delight. If you enjoyed Sheets, I think you will enjoy Thummler's new installation, Delicates. The art style and coloring was very 80's. You could see the change of color depending on the emotion of the scene and I really enjoyed that. The theme of loss and not feeling like you belong was very well thought out. It was relatable and funny. The scenes with the ghosts, including wendell were both heartwarming and funny. Although I was frustrated with the main character and the choices she made, she eventually redeemed herself by understanding that bullying is not okay especially when you stand by and do nothing to prevent it from happening. I felt that the issues that the father had were not resolved or even addressed, but i understood it was not the focus of the story. Overall I do recommend for those who are looking for a quick read, recommend reading it in the fall time.

thank you Oni Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review

where Sheets lacked some plot in my opinion, Delicates absolutely came through for me. the topics that were discussed in this graphic novel are so important, especially for children in middle school. bullying obviously still happens and it's so harmful. Delicates hit this topic at the exact right spot. I've been bullied myself when I was younger and I could relate to Eliza on a next level. it was just really well done in my opinion.

the art in this graphic novel was also sO beautiful. I could look at it for days. I'm actually going to use the art in this as inspiration for my own illustrations🥰

if sheets didn't live up to your expectations, definitely read the sequel because it won't disappoint!

tw for suicidal thoughts and bullying

Delicates is just as good as Sheets, however this time it covers a few more topics. I feel like the focus this time is on bullying, lonliness, "fitting in", and peer - pressure. I believe it is best to read Sheets first before reading this one, in order to get a background on Marjorie, and Wendell and the ghosts.
Delicates introduces us to a new character named Eliza, who is starting to feel like an outsider. She's seen as "the weird kid" at school due to her hobby and interest in photography and ghosts. She likes to be alone and wants to capture a ghost on film. Marjorie on the other hand is starting to be accepted into the popular group of kids at school and is finding herself with less time for Wendell, leading Wendell to feel even more invisible.
The lessons to be learned were the importance of friendships and that its good to be kind, and to apologise when you're in the wrong.
The last book touched on grief and the effect death has on a family, and I would like to have seen Marjorie's Dad get a bit better with dealing with his grief and engage more as a parent, but perhaps this will follow in another book?
Once again, I loved the illustrations, the drawings are enjoyable in relaxing and soothing colours with characters wearing fun outfits, and some lovely hairstyles!
Overall it was an emotional and moving graphic novel.

Content warning: Bullying, and references to suicide

I loved this book even more that the first one. I felt that the hard topics were subtle but so loud. The way they were dealt with were really well done. And as usually the illustrations were goegeous

This is a wonderful follow-up to Sheets. It has more emotional depth and more heartbreaking moments than it’s predecessor, so be aware going in that this is not a light read.

I was given a free copy from @netgalley and @onipress in exchange for my honest review.
This is the second book in this YA graphic novel series. I read the first book, Sheets, back in November. This one starts soon after Sheets with Marjorie getting some of the things she longed for in the first (mainly popularity) and coming to realize that isn't always all it's cracked up to be! I liked the lessons she learned along the way about what being a good friend really means. This story, like the first, deals with some pretty big topics (ex. bullying, death, suicidal thoughts), without being too heavy!
I would definitely recommend it if you've read the first, but since this one doesn't come out until 23 Mar you still have time to read Sheets first!
#NetGalley #Delicates

Delicates is the sequel to Sheets, which I've read last year when a friend recommended it to me and loved it just after a few pages. I was so excited to see Delicates available for request on NetGalley, I've hit that button even thinking.

To be honest, I liked Delicates better than Sheets. This one is dealing with important themes such as bullying, depression, and finding your ME in this mess of a world. These are important themes and need to be talked about, not put on the side and I'm glad Brenna decided to write/draw about them, thank you.

In my opinion, this comic is a must-read for every teen out there.

*Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC copy of Delicates*

tw: depression, suicidal thoughts/behaviour, bullying

I read Sheets (book #1) last year and it became one of my favorite graphic novels. Sheets was really adorable and wholesome. Delicates, on the other hand, leaned more on heavier themes.

Delicates picks up where Sheets end. Marjorie's life has been different ever since she's taken Wendell under her wing, and become friends. The laundromat has been doing well, she has popular friends but yet she doesn't feel so satisfied. For one, her friends are very ignorant, wild and apparent bullies. It is in this midst that she finds Eliza, a quiet and shy girl with her own life, wandering with a camera in the hopes of capturing a ghost. And then things happen.

I enjoyed this book so much, especially the thematic illustrations and Marjorie's character growth. The author portrayed toxic friendships here and gave it layers that made great sense. I didn't like Marjorie's friends but then I also felt a kind of sympathy towards them. I loved Wendell, of course, and Eliza - although creepy at first - grew on me.

Moreover, I loved how silent grieving was taken up in the plot, and the various faces of depression. The ending was so intense and I was biting my nails, keeping my fingers crossed. I loved the end, really. It was fitting and had so much impact packed into it. How asking for help when needed is okay, helping a friend, realising your toxic friendships, how pulling yourself away from them is alright - this little graphic novel talks so much of these in such beautiful and subtle light.

I read Sheets last year and adored the art style/aesthetic, the color choices, the 80s cultural references, and the adorable character that was Wendell. While I found the story to be heartwarming and well worth the read, I felt it was fairly simple and brushed the surface of some hard hitting, emotional subject matter. I didn't pay the graphic novel much mind until I saw a sequel was coming out. It definitely piqued my curiosity. Turns out, everything I craved from Sheets, I got in Delicates. They dove head first into some dark and sad conversations, showed great character growth in both Marjorie and Wendell, and introduced a precious new character named Eliza (wish I could be friends with someone like her). While all of these story aspects took time away from Wendell's interaction with Marjorie, which may be a setback for certain readers, I felt it was a perfectly fine price to pay for the messages they ended the story with. I found myself screenshotting so much of the novel (for my own personal viewing until it comes out, of course) and even setting one of the images as my iPad wallpaper. If you loved the art in Sheets, even that felt elevated in Delicates. It's hard to create a sequel that lives up to the original, especially when the original didn't really warrant a sequel in the first place. But Brenna Thummler knocked it out of the park with this one. I'm so excited to recommend this to friends.

The story begins sometime after the events of Sheets. Marjorie has a group of very popular friends now and finally in addition to working at the laundry she manages to have a social life, she not only manages to see ghosts but someone real who considers her and takes her with them to the most popular events and parties. This is why Marjorie is afraid that her friends will discover ghosts and that they may abandon her for her misunderstood weirdness. Wendell, on the other hand, is the usual prankster ghost who always wants to play and have fun with her friend but, for the first time, he begins to feel more alone than he is, he begins to feel like Eliza, recently arrived at school and who tries to capture ghosts in his photographs because that's exactly how he feels: invisible and a walking ghost. It is near the area where Wendell and Marjorie that the two meet for the first time and will clash over the course of the story.

What does Wendell want from Marjorie? Will the laundry girl realize how wrong her new group of friends is for her? Will she be able to have the strength she needs to mature, change and truly be herself?

The plot of this story is very long and shows us even more than it should, I would have limited myself to telling less, leaving the reader curious; maybe the best thing would have been to put fewer details and instead insert the last sentences that prompt curiosity about what the story is about in this second volume.

The cover of this second volume takes up the line of the first volume on the colors and traits of the story but this time in the foreground we find the lens of Eliza, a girl who believes in ghosts and can't wait to find one to photograph. In fact, at the center of the lens is Wendell who couldn't be a more real and explosive ghost. I find the right cover and in line with what will happen inside the book and which I will not reveal to you obviously. The title is very simple and as for the previous volume it consists of a single word that encompasses everything: Delicates, which is one of the types of washes that are done in the washing machine and that is precisely what this story is based on. This time the story is delicate, with themes even more important than those of the human and ghost bond and loneliness. There is much much more here.

The setting and the time are the same as in the previous volume: a small town not defined also because we will see very little of it: the house and laundry where Marjorie lives and works and the school she attends, in a story at the end of the years 90, about twenty years ago probably for clothing and so on.

The characters in this story are the same as in the previous volume, with some genuinely noteworthy additions. In this volume I found the dullest girl from the previous volume despite having friends and how happier she was alone with Wendell and her ghost friends.

Marjorie is growing up and is leaving the laundry more and more aside. She feels the responsibilities as a teenager, she feels the responsibilities towards her little brother even if her father tries to take her away from work to make her live her adolescence in the best possible way. Although she now has popular friends in the school, Marjorie doesn't seem to be that happy and is perpetually at odds with what her classmates do and say despite not telling her openly and keeping it all inside, keeping aloof and detached. The thing that bothers the most is the fact that she does not act and does not bring out what instead she would like to say and hides behind the fear of ghosts and how she would be judged without thinking that already what they do she finds it terribly wrong even if she continues to stay. next to those people.

Wendell is a ghost of a dead kid and he doesn't seem to have changed much since the first volume except for the fact that he would like to keep doing the games and things he did before not realizing how much his friend Marjorie is changing and growing and being. a ghost is not that easy in the human world. He then begins to feel a veil of loneliness that makes him even more childish in the hope of drawing attention to him not just from his old friend but from the reader himself.

Eliza is a girl who has a teacher in her own school and who loves photography very much. More than anything in his photographs he would like to capture ghosts and hopes to finally be able to see one for real. Why ghosts? Because Eliza feels alone, marginalized and completely invisible, as if she were walking in the streets, in the school and everywhere she went and no one could really see her. Eliza is a character who could be each of us and in which everyone can reflect and to which I felt particularly attached.

The central pivot of this story is very different from the previous volume. This story shows us the importance of being seen at least once, and the invisible side that most of us may have experienced at least once in our life. A powerful tale and graphic novel about those who stay out of the crowd, the marginalized, the story of someone who longs to be seen.

The style used is very simple and the author reconfirms herself as truly amazing, wonderful and simple both in terms of the tables and graphics in light colors, with pastel tones that appear on the red chrome and in terms of this story that affects every point that wants to hit.

I really appreciated the theme of being invisible and feeling marginalized, the character of Eliza in search of the ghost to photograph in the hope of feeling less alone and appreciated by someone like her. Yet her photos are simple landscapes and the only one who seems to have real ghosts with her is Marjorie who is now with friends who do not appreciate her company very much and vice versa. In fact, Marjorie seems to be with them only for the simple fact of being in and popular and for once feeling part of a group, not because she really considers them friends, distancing Eliza like everyone else, albeit giving her a glimmer.

I didn't really appreciate this change of Marjorie and the change of position. She also suffered the same things, she too felt lonely and unloved, especially after the family pain and all that happened to her. I was amazed that on some occasions she did nothing for Eliza, that she did not intervene in the teasing of her friends towards other people and that she did not try or at least try to make them understand that they were wrong. It limited itself to mere silence. I can understand this position, which is the same that many young people today take in order to be part of a group and let themselves be carried away by others but it is synonymous with little personality and not really being something strong. I found this disheartening for her character, a strange and peculiar change that in some places even made me hate her; I wanted to say "Wake up and look around!". I felt very close to the character of Eliza who takes hold page after page and makes her debut bringing to the center of all marginalization and loneliness, a current and powerful theme that I appreciated very much.

The sad thing is that Wendell becomes a kind of ornament, a makeshift that the author seems to have put in the middle because of the ghosts that Eliza wanted to photograph but did not give him a real fundamental role other than the metaphorical one of the theme itself. In fact, even Wendell tries to get noticed as well as Eliza.

The book is of astonishing power and you will appreciate it even more than the first volume by feeling at least like one of the characters in this story. You cannot fail to reflect yourself in one of them. The story is definitely worth reading, albeit in English and I hope it will soon arrive in Italy as the first volume has been translated. I absolutely recommend, especially to young readers.

Brenna Thummler is even more confirmed, as well as an illustrator, a real narrator of an interesting story, with modern themes. A story of friendship, acceptance and rebirth, marginalization and feeling invisible in the midst of so many people. A real, simple and genuine story that makes you think.

My rating for this book is: 4 stars and a half .