PASS HC (MR)

In The Pass, Katriona Chapman delivers a grounded, character-driven slice of life set in London's high-stakes restaurant world. Claudia, in her early thirties, is rapidly making a name for herself with her chic city eatery Alley as she enters the Chef of the Year competition. Yet as pressures of ambition, family legacies, and friendship mount, she must decide what success costs—and what kind of life she wants beyond the kitchen's glare. Through Claudia’s eyes, the graphic novel explores identity, expectation, and the lure of changing course, all while portraying a close-knit circle of colleagues—her best friend and sous-chef Lisa, and the barman Ben—with warmth and honesty. Chapman’s storytelling is complemented by soft digital coloring that gives the culinary world a tactile, intimate feel. The Pass collects a vivid, emotionally resonant first arc from a rising voice in comics.

Who might be interested in reading?

• Readers who crave character-driven drama and slice-of-life storytelling in high-pressure professions.
• Fans of culinary settings and the intimate, behind-the-scenes world of kitchens and restaurants.
• Adults drawn to stories about identity, ambition, and balancing family legacy with personal dreams.
• Readers who appreciate nuanced relationships and warm, expressive art in graphic novels.