Hello Sunshine

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Author(s)

Keezy Young

Publisher Name

Little Brown Ink

Genre(s)

Age Range

14+

Release Date

September 23, 2025

ISBN13

978-0316509572

ISBN10 or ASIN

In this lush and romantic queer horror graphic novel, a troubled teen disappears from his small town—sending his loved ones on a paranormal journey to bring him home.

Noah is heartbroken. He returns from Bible camp to find that Alex, his secret boyfriend, has had a breakdown and disappeared. He wishes more than anything that he hadn’t left that day.

Sky is determined. She’ll stop at nothing to find her childhood friend, even if it means alienating the people she loves.

Izzy is ashamed. She knew something weird was going on with Alex, and she didn’t say anything to her boyfriend, Jamie—Alex’s twin brother. If she had, would Alex still be here?

Jamie is angry. Angry at Alex for being gone, angry at himself for not noticing something was wrong, and angry at his long-dead mother, Desdemona, who had problems of her own.

But what if there was something more to Desdemona’s demons? Why is Jamie seeing her ghost? And can he get past his hatred of her if it means finding out what happened to his brother?

Editor review

1 review

Detailed Horror Graphic Novel on Mental Health

March 13, 2026 (Updated: July 12, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

3.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

What I Liked: This book is a bit confusing from the start as it transitions between the various characters’ perspectives. Something else that is confusing at the beginning of the book is that Alex is missing, and the conspiracy theories the characters are creating seem realistic because you are just as lost as they are. While these portions can be confusing its important to continue reading as things get explained further along the story.

The book is told through several different perspectives, and we get a view from Noah, Sky, Izzy, Jamie, and Alex. These various perspectives do a fantastic job of providing you with a glimpse at each of their relationships with Alex and how that relationship impacted Alex’s life. Each of these perspectives is fascinating as you get a chance to see how they all feel about Alex’s disappearance and how they each feel about “failing” him. Jamie’s portion is important to the story, as that is when you get more insight into his mom, and the information that Jamie was aware of that was kept from Alex.

The minute the book shifts and we begin looking at things through Alex’s perspective, and we learn about how this is Alex’s world, it gets heavy as we see how Alex’s psychosis is impacting him. The illustrations throughout this portion of the book work great in contrast to the other characters’ portions, as they are darker, and the text on the page isn’t clear, as some of the text includes the voices that only Alex can hear. This part can also be confusing as it’s complex and layered, and there are moments in which you aren’t sure if Alex really is a bad guy and if his beliefs are framed in reality.

There are so many heartbreaking scenes throughout this book as we get a glimpse into Desdemona’s life and how her mental health deteriorated. It was hard to see as Alex began exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia, and how scared he was because he wasn’t aware of the family history. As Alex finds out more information about his mom and the magic he possesses, he’s able to learn how to cope and move forward, given this diagnosis. This book does a great job of highlighting the importance of a support system and how others can help someone as long as they are patient and willing to stand by them.

Final Verdict: Hello Sunshine is a detailed graphic novel that provides a realistic and compassionate portrayal of schizophrenia. Young adults ages 14 and up will enjoy reading this, and it’s great to gain perspective on mental health issues and the impact they have not only on the individual but those around them.

Adrien Carter, Newsletter Manager and Staff Reviewer Top 10 Reviewer 453 reviews

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User reviews

1 review

Overall rating

4.5

Writing Style

4.0(1)

Plot

5.0(1)

Characters

4.0(1)

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0(1)

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Accurate portrayal of mental health!

March 24, 2026 (Updated: July 12, 2026)

Overall rating

4.5

Writing Style

4.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

Hello Sunshine is one of those stories that feels confusing at first on purpose, and that actually ends up being one of its strengths.

The story follows a group of people trying to understand what happened to Alex after he suddenly disappears, and you see everything through different perspectives like Noah, Sky, Izzy, and Jamie. At the beginning, it honestly feels a little messy because no one really knows the truth, and everyone is dealing with guilt in their own way. But that confusion works, because it puts you in the same position as the characters, trying to piece everything together.

As the story goes on, things start to get heavier, especially when you begin to understand Alex’s experience. The shift into his perspective is probably the most powerful part of the book. The artwork becomes darker and more chaotic, and the text itself reflects what’s going on in his mind, which makes it feel intense and sometimes uncomfortable to read. I think that was done really well, because it doesn’t just tell you what he’s going through, it makes you feel it in a visual way. It also adds a layer of uncertainty where you’re not always sure what’s real and what isn’t.

Another part that stood out to me is how much the story focuses on the people around Alex, not just Alex himself. Everyone feels like they could have done something differently, and that guilt shows up in different ways like anger, denial, or regret. Jamie’s storyline especially adds depth because of his connection to their mother and the mystery around her. It slowly reveals that what’s happening might not just be random, and that there’s something deeper tied to their family.

Personally, I think this book does a really good job balancing horror with real emotional topics. It’s not just scary because of ghosts or paranormal elements, it’s unsettling because of how real the characters feel and how serious the situation is. The story also shows how important it is to have people who care about you, especially when things get overwhelming. It doesn’t make things seem easy or magically fixed, which made it feel more honest.

Overall, it’s a unique and emotional graphic novel that takes some patience at the start but becomes very meaningful by the end. It mixes mystery, horror, and real life struggles in a way that sticks with you, especially because of how it handles mental health and relationships.

Good Points

Powerful and emotional portrayal of mental health

Unique artwork that reflects different perspectives

Strong focus on relationships and support systems