This Book Is for You: I Hope You Find It Mildly Uplifting

Instagrammer Worry Lines debuts with a charming illustrated take on the complexities of the creative process. The setup follows an unnamed narrator detailing the highs and lows of writing a book, along with sidekicks Worry and Hope. When Hope disappears, the narrator sets out to find it—all the while engaging in a verbal sparring match with Worry, who specializes in “destructive criticism.” The story is interspersed with comics that cover a range of topics, such as “drawings about feelings,” worry, empathy, and love: “I used to wear my heart on a sleeve/ Where everyone could see it/ But then I chose to move it/ After someone tried to steal it.” The author’s wry humor keeps things light, even when the discussion turns to weighty topics like mental health and depression—such as when the author portrays anxiety as a breakup conversation with Worry: “Look! I’m not obsessed with you, I’m obsessed with getting rid of you.” Worry Lines also breaks the fourth wall, giving the story an intimate feel: “I hope that me talking about my worry might make it easier for you to talk about yours.” This sincere, cheerful work of self-help will appeal to any creative struggling through a rut. (Oct.)