Seconds

In Seconds, a talented chef seeks a second chance after her life spirals out of control. Magical mushrooms offer her an unexpected way to reset her mistakes.

In Seconds, the latest standalone graphic novel from Bryan Lee O'Malley, readers are introduced to Katie, a talented young chef with aspirations of culinary greatness. She runs a successful restaurant, but as life often does, things take a turn for the worse. Progress on her new restaurant location stalls, her charming ex-boyfriend reappears, and her romantic entanglement with another chef goes awry. To top it off, her best waitress suffers a serious injury, leaving Katie feeling overwhelmed and disheartened.

As Katie grapples with her spiraling life, she longs for a second chance to correct her mistakes. Just when hope seems lost, a mysterious girl appears at her doorstep with a peculiar solution: a do-it-yourself method for a do-over. The instructions are simple yet strange, involving writing down her mistakes, ingesting a mushroom, and going to sleep. With this unconventional approach, Katie wakes up to find that her past troubles have vanished, granting her the opportunity to start anew.

However, as Katie dives into her quest for perfection, she learns that the journey to a flawless life is fraught with unexpected consequences. Seconds explores themes of existential angst, young love, and the complexities of everyday life, all wrapped in O'Malley's signature whimsical and wise storytelling style. This graphic novel is a delightful blend of humor and heart, perfect for fans of his previous works and new readers alike.