Nina misses Sundays. She has heard tales of a day of the week where one doesn’st have to do anything. As it is, the town she lives in, she has to work every day of the week. So she goes in search of Sunday, and meets a girl who says she will help her find the missing day. But, since this is a retelling of classic folk and fairy tales, the girl who helps is the one that find Sunday, while the girl who doens’t want to work, doesn’t.

It is a sweet retelling, and the fun thing about it is, since it is a graphic novel, all the pictures. How bright Sunday is, but how dark the other days of the week are. Each day is represented by a wolf. And Nina pets and adores the wolf when she meets him, whiel as the other girl ignores him.

It is a nice, quick read. Nina is believable, as one can get in a fairy tale, and the outcome is typical of folk tales, where the good people win.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This will be published in English (as it has previously been published in other languages), on the 17th of June 2025.

I love when I get surprise retellings of my favourite fairy tales.

I honestly requested the ARC of this based on vibes and artwork and as soon as our delightfully determined main character ventured into the well I immediately knew this was a Frau Holle retelling and I SHRIEKED with absolute childhood joy.

And what a retelling it is, I adored every aspect of this graphic novel, including the glimpse into the beginning drafts, character artwork, and the authors own relation to the tale being resold.

I HIGHLY suggest this tale for everyone, especially this rendition of it, because it is so relatable to our current work/life culture.

"The Lost Sunday" is such a delightful story with gorgeous illustrations that really draw you in. It’s a fresh and magical take on the classic "Frau Holle" fairy tale, and the artwork perfectly captures the enchanting atmosphere.

The extra info in the final pages was a nice touch! It gave more background on the story and made me appreciate it even more.

Incredibly beautiful story and imagery! I loved reading this so much. It was so cozy and light while reminding us of the importance of rest.

Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for the ARC!

A very quick, sweet read with beautiful illustrations and colouring. I love this interpretation of the Frau Holle fairy tale, and the message definitely resonates with me at the moment! If it were longer there would definitely be potential for some shed tears.

4.25/5

A town has all days of the week but not Sunday. Nina, sets out to find Sunday and get it back from the witch who has kept it locked. This book has absolutely amazing illustrations and as a illustrator myself this book is a great inspiration. I also like the last few pages of the book where the author talks about her process in making this book. I am floored by how good this book is on the whole. Though it was a quick read, this book has so much effort gone into it and it shows in the results. Thanks NetGalley for this book.

It is a superb modern folktale that teaches the life lesson of taking the time to appreciate your days and be hard-working and kind but present. The unique style, format, and color composition make this work stand out from the crowd. The only downside is occasionally, the words are difficult to read as they are incorporated into the illustrations.

As a Mom of young kids and a reader, the greatest compliment I can give is to share and buy works I appreciate. It is so different and leans toward the traditional style of storytelling that I am tempted to buy a physical copy. 4.5/5 Stars.

I read this ebook, sponsored through NetGalley, for an honest review.

Not quite a graphic novel and not quite a picture book, but nonetheless adorable and gorgeous. This is one I'll be buying for my own personal collection.

The Lost Sunday is a graphic novel, suitable for all ages, about a girl who lives in a land where Sunday has disappeared: she embarks on a quest to find it.

This was such a wonderful story, told through beautifully vibrant and joyful illustration, and I really liked the imagining of the days as wolves that had their own personalities. It was a feel-good story, that felt like a warm, fuzzy hug. It highlighted the importance of kindness, to the world around us and ourselves, and in finding time for rest and recovery: the importance of a Sunday to put aside tasks for a while, or just a little bit of time in our day-to-day lives carved out for rest or joy.

The fairytale vibes shone through in the story, and I could see the authors inspiration from The Brothers Grimm (Frau Holle) and Petre Ispirescu (The Old Man's Wise Daughter).

The Lost Sunday was a beautiful story that holds a strong 'moral of the tale' for any age of reader. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking for a short cozy read that reminds you of the importance of free time.

(4.5/5☆)

What a beautiful graphic novel! Covering a topic that's so important in our society nowadays, mixing it with traditional folklore and using gorgeous illustrations. Loved it!

I did not expect to be so moved by this story! It's quite a testimony to rest and community. The mixture of folk and fairytale with illustrations that jump off the page makes a beautiful book.

The story follows a young girl who works all week except on Sundays, as there is no Sunday, Frau Holle, the witch, has stolen it. After rushing through her tasks and leaving a big mess, she decides to confront the witch and reclaim Sunday so everyone can have a break.

On one hand, this narrative is a fantastical adventure as the girl attempts to rescue Sunday from the witch. On the other hand, it explores themes of time management, society as a whole and burnout.

This story is a perfect blend of fantasy, fairy tales and deeper meaning; it is a deeply moving and well-crafted story, and the art enhances the narrative and adds depth to the overall experience.

Overall, this story is amazing and a must-read for everyone, and I seriously cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

What a delightful book! I was lucky to receive a digital ARC of this gorgeous book from NetGalley for review purposes. Based on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, this takes place in a weary world without Sundays. The young protagonist works hard all week and ventures into another realm in search of Sundays to bring joy and rest to her dreary world. In this other realm, colors explode on the page as she shares kindness and elbow grease with areas in need. This book is filled with imagination, fanciful imagery, meaningful moments honoring good work and restorative rest. I loved this book and would wholeheartedly recommend it to young readers.

The Lost Sunday is a graphic novel retelling of the fairy tale Frau Holle. Nina lives in a world where there is no Sunday- she only has time to work and has no time to rest or play. Nina decides she’s had enough and goes to get Sunday back from the witch. Nina shows her courage and kind heart by helping others in need and cleaning up the witch’s land. I love this gothic style graphic novel that uses the art in incredibly interesting ways! I like how when she depicts Sunday/the witch’s land it’s bright colors and beautiful and when it’s the other days of the week it’s dingy and dark.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Lost Sunday.

The Lost Sunday was an adorable graphic novel combining elements from Frau Holle from the Brothers Grimm and "The Old Man's Wise Daughter" from a Romanian collection. The art was whimsy, with scenery straight out of a fairytale with fantastic colors. The moral that is taught in this novel (I will not spoil it) makes it the perfect book for children in elementary school to adults to read. It was indeed such a fun journey to take, and I'm quite excited and hopeful for more of Iléana Surducan's books to be translated. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Liked the concept of the story - but felt the storyline fell flat, was very 2D despite the imagery being multi-dimensional. Loved the illustrations and the coloration. Just would like a tightening of the story, more details - more character and scenic development. I do suspect that having the book in hand will make a significant difference in the experience. 4 star for illustration and colorization, 2 star for story line.

This is a cute fairy tale-like story about the days of the week. The art is charming, and the use of colours and textures go well with the whimsical nature of the book.

Iléana Surducan’s ‘The Lost Sunday’ is such a cute little graphic novel that is well worth the read. It captures the magic of folklore beautifully, blending whimsy and charm in a way that feels timeless yet fresh.

Plot: ★★★★★
The plot is fabulous - it follows an Aarne-Thompson type 480 folk tale, similar to ‘Frau Holle’ or ‘The Three Little Men in the Woods’. This is one of my favorite folk tale types, so I was absolutely delighted when I realized the inspiration behind ‘The Lost Sunday’. The story carries a classic fairy-tale essence but also has a unique, heartwarming spin that makes it stand out.

Character: ★★★★★
Nina is a great protagonist - curious, kind, and easy to root for. The way the days of the week are personified is truly wonderful; each has its own distinct personality, making them feel alive and engaging. Their interactions add so much depth to the story.

Setting: ★★★★★
The setting is beautifully crafted, with a dreamlike, fairy-tale quality that draws the reader in completely. It feels both magical and familiar, like stepping into an old legend that’s been passed down through generations.

Illustrations: ★★★★★
The illustrations are absolutely stunning. The style is vibrant, whimsical, and perfectly suited to the fairy-tale theme. Every page is rich with detail, enhancing the story and bringing its world to life in a way that words alone couldn’t achieve.

Engagement: ★★★★★
I was completely enchanted from start to finish. The pacing flows well, and there’s a wonderful balance between storytelling and visual storytelling that keeps the reader fully immersed.

Readability: ★★★★★
The story is easy to follow while still maintaining a rich, poetic quality. The text and illustrations work harmoniously to create a seamless reading experience.

Enjoyment: ★★★★★
I adored ‘The Lost Sunday’. It’s a beautifully told folk tale that feels both nostalgic and refreshing. If you love folklore, stunning illustrations, or whimsical stories with a timeless feel, this is definitely a must-read.

Iléana Surducan has created something truly special with ‘The Lost Sunday’. It’s a charming, visually gorgeous graphic novel that breathes new life into classic folk tale themes. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys folklore-inspired stories and beautiful artwork.

A beautiful fairy tale about rediscovering your free time!

Gorgeous artworks, honestly I want prints of some of these pages! The story was incredibly sweet and written like a fairytale (which it was) and I can't recommend it enough!

An absolutely beautiful take on “Frau Holle”, a story my mother used to read to me when I was sick as a child. The story follows Nina who works in a world where there is no Sunday and thus everyone is forced to work all days of the week. She goes down into the well of Frau Holle to locate Sunday and goes on a wonderful adventure. The art of this graphic novel is absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait to have a physical copy in my hands! Definitely recommend this for both young and old.