Reading: MAMMA MIA! 1. JUST THE GIRLS - Lewis Trondheim (writer), Obion (illustrator)

This short graphic novel, with artwork worthy of an animated series, follows a single French mother named Aurelie and her little girl Emma, both of whom move back in with Aurelie's grandma Marie until Aurelie can find a steady job and get back on her feet. An agreeable temporary situation, as all the ladies get along ... until moving-in day, when Aurelie's "free spirit" of a mom Sophie shows up also needing a place to stay, Marie unable to say little more than okay to her own daughter - and suddenly four generations of women, all very different from each other, must learn to share conversations and meals and even adventures together, if they don't kill each other first! I just loved this characters - the sarcastic, irascible but lovable Marie (think Sophia from "The Golden Girls"), naive and upbeat Aurelie, too-smart-for-her-own-good Emma (along with Kim, Emma's best doll and best friend) .... all of whom clash wonderfully, laughably, with the man-crazy Sophie whose head remains stuck forever in the 1970's. Beautifully drawn - again, in a manner befitting television animation as much as a too-brief graphic novel - I can only hope that the "1" in the book's title means there are more volumes in the series to come, because I could hang out with these ladies forever!  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.