A beautifully illustrated tale about pausing and finding time to relax and enjoy your life. It felt, to me, a great metaphor for burn out which I loved. The art style was vibrant and whimsical. The world was incredibly inventive and I could easily see this getting adapted for the big screen.

Imagine if a Sunday went missing—what would happen? The Lost Sunday takes that curious question and turns it into a beautifully illustrated adventure that’s both heartwarming and thought-provoking.

This book isn’t just a feast for the eyes (though the colors and artwork are seriously stunning); it truly is a gentle reminder that life isn’t all hustle despite what society may say. Sometimes, the most important thing we can do for ourselves is pause, breathe, and savor the moment. Without that balance, even the most meaningful efforts can become exhausting. It has made me change the way I view my weekends. Rather than resent Sunday because that means Monday is fast approaching, I’ll view it as an opportunity to rest and just be!!

Whether you’re a kid enchanted by the pictures or an adult in need of a quiet reminder to slow down, this book has something magical for everyone. It’s like a cozy hug wrapped in pages!

This graphic novel was absolutely adorable.
The story follows a young girl who helps everyone at their jobs every day of the week besides Sunday - because Sundays don't exist anymore. On a quest to find the lost Sunday she meets her double, who seems to be quite the opposite of her: very lazy and never helps anyone.

The illustration style is beautiful, and I especially liked how the illustrator worked with different levels of colourfulness to dsitinguish between the world of being busy and stressed and the world of leisure and friendship. I loved the idea that every weekday is a specific wolf, it invokes the fairy tale idea of "the big bad wolf" but then gives it a pleasant twist.

Just a wonderful book that I must have as a hardcopy as soon as it comes out!

This is such an adorable story. It is set in a grim, crowded town where everyone is always busy and working Monday through Saturday. There is no Sunday because it is missing. It was stolen by a witch. Nina is tired of working so hard and she is determined to find the witch and get Sunday back. The story follows Nina along that journey. The art is colorful and whimsy and very cute.

Thank you NetGalley, Oni Press & Ileana Surducan for an eARC of this book in exchange of my honest review. #NetGalley #TheLostSunday

With whimsical artwork and a story that shows the importance of time, 'The Lost Sunday' is a tale for those of any age.

I think this book showed the importance of balance; hard work is good and something that can help others and you can be proud of, BUT, if you do not give yourself time to rest and enjoy your time, it becomes negative and draining. The use of color and tones in the book highlighted the perils and trials, both above the well & down within it, excellently.

I would recommend this to anyone. Kids with enjoy the art & vibrant colors and adults will find solace with the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for gifting me an early copy of The Lost Sunday.

This was so lovely and sweet and has so many messages for readers of all ages!
Absolutely recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for gifting me an early copy of The Lost Sunday!

This was such a lovely sweet story about Nina, a girl who lives in a world where there is no Sunday. She works every day, helping her community, and has no time to rest or take a break. So one day she decides do go down a well in which it is rumored that an evil witch is keeping Sunday locked away. But, as always, things are never what they seem.

I appreciated this illustrated book so much because it can be read on so many different levels and it has so many lovely messages to offer: be kind to others and help whenver you can, because that good you put out will find its way back to you; don't be greedy, appreciate the small things and you'll be all the more richer for it; do not sit and wait for things to happen, but go out and work hard and make things happen; and, most importantly, learn to listen to yourself, take care of yourself and take breaks when you need to because we are only human after all.

The illustrations were also so lovely, I really had a great time!
Also, I learned that this story was inspired by two older stories - “Frau Holle” published in 1812 by the Brothers Grimm and “The Old Man’s Wise Daughter” published in 1872 as part of The Legends or Fairy Tales of Romanians collection by Petre Ispirescu - which is so fascinating because the illustrator is Romanian, and I'm guessing where the origin story of this book took off!

This book was absolutely delightful. It felt like a breath of fresh air. The illustrations are stunning and lovingly detailed, taking you right into the fairytale world the author created inspired by Grimm’s fairytales and Romanian folk tales.
The protagonist - in a typical fairytale manner - is kind, determined, and always strives for the greater good. I especially enjoyed her lazy doppelgänger, who was an homage to the evil stepsister characters who do no good and get their karma.
I only wish the book had been a little bit longer, so I could’ve explored the world and its side characters more. The animals representing the days of the week were one of the most fascinating aspects to me.

This was so so wonderful!!

A beautifully illustrated book about the days of the week without a Sunday. Until the protagonist goes on an adventure to rescue Sunday and with it “free time” to do the things people enjoy.

As someone doing her PhD at the moment, this got me in all the feels and made me so happy.

I got this ARC from Netgalley.

An absolutely charming and whimsical graphic novel about giving yourself a breather every now and again. I loved the art style, the drawings had so many details and were so fantastical! I love wolves, so obviously I was enamored by the days of the week being wolves. I thought this was a simply wonderful book!

This story, framed as a fairytale, holds something much deeper. It speaks to the way modern life strips us of time for ourselves, of silence, of presence. The town Nina lives in feels like a metaphor for one’s mental space, overrun with clutter, pressure, and unspoken secrets. People have forgotten how to pause, how to truly connect, how to even see one another. In the rush of the week, they’ve lost themselves and each other. The wolves of the weekdays are more than just beasts. They're the weight of constant doing, without a moment for being.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It was so engaging I didn’t want it to end. The illustrations are absolutely phenomenal; full of warmth, movement, and expressive charm. Every page invites you to linger a little longer. It’s the kind of book that gently tugs at something deep inside you.

Such a wholesome read! Whimsical illustrations are so gorgeous! I have toa admit the cover enchanted me at the beginning and so I was drawn to reading it but the book did not fail to deliver. Its a book to read to relax and absorb a good life lesson in a whimsical way. Today's society emphasizes productivity as an absolute must, failure to comply can even lead to isolation and many cases depression. This book shows an important lesson that taking time to rest is a must. Its important. It's not bad. The book is about making time for yourself and incorporating rest in your life. It may be a whimsical illustrated book, but it has a self care message. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good whimsical illustrated comic with a deep message or just gifting it to anyone that needs to open their eyes to this lesson. It's a 5 star read.

Thank you Oni Press and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this delightful book. This great book with whimsical illustrations and an important message was short, fast-paced, and a pleasure to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press in exchange for an honest review.

What a great book and a great message! Productivity is so greatly admired in our society that we tend to look down on anything less than, including resting. This book is about evening out our loads and making time for rest in our lives. It's a self-care book when it comes down to it-- and one that I think a lot of people need in their lives.

The art is so beautiful and full of colors that felt so cozy and inviting. The details brought it all to life. Burnout is so common nowadays that I wish I could just handout this book on the side of the street. I would absolutely recommend this book... to everyone really! The message behind it is so meaninful, and honestly, something I struggle with very often. While this book didn't magically cure me of overworking myself, I do feel that it comforted me, made me feel a little lighter and that it was acceptable for me to rest more (which it is!).

I loved the way the author took inspiration from other fairytales to create a new story for modern people! The little tidbits at the end explaining those inspirations was very interesting to see.

Review to be posted on IG (@seas.libary) before or on 6/16/2025.

**Review: *The Lost Sunday* by Ileana Surducan**

A complete vibe! I gave *The Lost Sunday* 4 stars because it was such a delightful, meaningful, and quick read. It took me just 30 minutes, but every moment was enjoyable. I tend to fly through graphic novels, but this one stood out with its whimsical art, playful storytelling, and a heartwarming message at its core.

The story felt both magical and grounded, with a subtle moral that hits home without being preachy. It had that fairy-tale charm mixed with everyday emotion, making it an engaging read for all ages. The illustrations were soft and expressive, adding to the cozy, dreamy atmosphere of the book.

Whether you're looking for a short escape or something to spark a little self-reflection, this book delivers. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who loves graphic novels with heart and meaning. It’s a perfect one-sitting read you won’t regret picking up.

A fairytale reimagining for the 21st century.
so
Nina lives in a town where there are only 6 days of the week, and they are all angry wolves. Tired of working day in, day out she goes on a quest to retrieve the seventh wolf, Sunday... along the way, there are many obstacles.

The Lost Sunday is a beautiful graphic novel about the importance of having some well-deserved rest and joy in your week. It's a very quick read, the artwork is divine, and the story universal. I had a great little break reading it - that's my rest for the day sorted...

Many thanks to Oni Press for letting me read an e-ARC of this via Netgalley. It's absolutely beautiful, and I imagine the art will be even nicer in print.

An interesting premise about rest and free time and how important it is to stop sometimes and breathe. This is told through the imagined extra day of a Sunday which could be the day of rest in a frenetic life. The imagery is very cartoony and strong black lines with angular characters and background. The days of the week without rest are darker and without colour and the colour sneaks in for the rest and relaxation. The words are in tight groups and bubbles around the page which wasn’t always easy for my youngest to follow when they wanted to read alone. The final quart or so of the book is an explanation of the drawings and construction of the pages as well as the characters which is an interesting addition. A good read, although the style didn’t totally enthral my youngest who struggled a bit with the page set up.

What a ch.arming story! Sweet illustrations accompany Nina in this darling fairy-tale inspired journey. I’m so excited to share this book with young readers!

I kept picking at the implications around productivity and human value, but you know what? It's not that deep. This is a kind, quirky, beautifully illustrated children's graphic novel about valuing your free time and remembering WHY you work. The main character is rewarded for hard work and helping people, but instead of gem and wealth (like the folktales "The Lost Sunday" is based on) she's rewarded with community support and an appreciation for her free time. The art was really beautiful, and the more I think about the allegory, the more I like it. The illustrations are STUNNING. It's very short and clearly meant for kids, but I know a few adults *coughcoughme* who could benefit from a clever reminder that work is not the end goal, and that burnout can sap the color from the world.

Utterly charming. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Lost Sunday is a retelling of a fairy tale that has several iterations. One comes from the Grimm brothers, another is a Romanian story, and similar tales are in folklore across the world. The story centers on a hard working little girl who helps around her town, but there is always too much work to do. Their week goes Monday to Saturday, and she believes if she can find the missing Sunday, they will finally get a break. She has to travel down a well and find the "evil witch" who took Sunday!
Its very sweetly illustrated and has the feel of a classic fairytale. Its a cute story perfect for early readers.