Olive: Lost in Inner Space was a really interesting and enjoyable graphic novel overall. The artwork is beautiful and expressive, and Olive’s inner world is one of the most creative and visually engaging parts of the story. It was fascinating to experience how she sees and processes the world, especially as a neurodivergent character navigating both her internal and external realities. 

The story does a great job blending magical realism with emotional growth. Watching Olive slowly open up, form connections, and ultimately meet Lenny in the real world was satisfying and meaningful. I also appreciated how the book doesn’t treat her inner world as something she needs to “fix,” but rather something that is part of who she is.

That said, there were definitely moments where the story didn’t fully make sense, especially when you start thinking more deeply about the mechanics of the connection between Olive and Lenny.

(Spoiler alert)

If Olive and Lenny were connected because of the incident at the beginning, then why weren’t they in contact the entire time? Why does Lenny only appear later in her inner world? And if this space is truly Olive’s mind, how does Lenny have his own “home” within it? That raises a lot of questions about whether the space is fully hers, shared, or something else entirely.

It also felt a little strange how quickly Olive accepted Lenny being there. At first, she wants him gone, but then she adapts fairly quickly—even going as far as asking him to build his home across the lake. That moment is interesting, but it also highlights how unclear the rules of this world really are.

Some of this confusion may be intentional, since the story leans heavily into surrealism and the blending of inner and outer realities. Still, there were times where a bit more explanation or structure would have made the story feel more grounded and easier to follow. 

Overall, though, I really liked this book. It’s unique, thoughtful, and visually stunning. Even if parts of the plot feel unclear, the emotional core and themes about identity, connection, and understanding yourself make it worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams Comicarts for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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