Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me

I feel if I read this in high school it would have made a major impact on me. It was still a great read as an adult. All the characters were so great and I loved our main character Freddy, and seeing her struggling with her toxic on and off again ex Laura Dean. I absolutely relate to some of her struggles with a toxic relationship and having other people in my life see what I can’t and then being able to take a step back and realize that person is no good for me.

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crdjrose's review

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“What is it like to love this person who keeps breaking up with you, and then presumably coming back to you? What does your love with this person offer you? Does it make you happy? Does it give you what you need to be a better person?”

This is a YA novel that follows Freddy as she tries to navigate a toxic relationship while still trying to be there for her friends.

This was an emotionally resonant, at times hard, read as Freddy struggles to assert herself as she gets down trodden and toiled with by Laura Dean. I definitely felt myself feeling adrift and lost in the story each time Freddy gets rejected and in trying to chase love, lets down her friends and ends up feeling even worse. The ending made me cry happy tears as a culmination of Freddy’s coming of age arc and showed the power of friendship!

The art was so stunning in this graphic novel, in black and white but with splashes of pink, sometimes just as enhancements, other times as large swaths. I also loved Freddy’s besties, who were all so charming, and that made you wish they were your friends too.

This is the second book I’ve read by Mariko Tamaki and I definitely plan to read more by this author. She’s excellent at getting into the darker, heart wrenching elements of queer YA and I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for graphic novels that explore these themes.

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garfield_furby's review

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5.0

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aliceayork's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is so cute! Watch Freddie grow and realize how horribly LD was treating her is fun to read, and with a beautiful art style it keeps you engaged. All the characters are loveable and its such an easy read.
I wish Doddles story had more foreshadowing but other than that I loved it.

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emminkirjakasa's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Absolutely loved this and read it in almost one sitting. Toxic relationships are always hard, but this one handles the topic so well. The characters were fun and the illustrations so beautiful.
I recommend this a lot, many good topics and lgbtq+ representation.

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kriee's review

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emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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