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Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki
248 reviews
alex1's review
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Toxic relationship
marissasa's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
This book is so raw and relatable because I know so many queer Asian American girls who had a weird high school relationship with a white person that ended in a break up. I like that this story doesn't shy away from the ugly sides of messy, toxic, teenage relationships both romantic and platonic. We are not always good friends when we get consumed by romance and there are times when we come back to the same person who keeps hurting us again and again. The main characters were a bit annoying and insufferable at times but even that is so realistic, and was very much an intentional choice. I really liked the side characters and the effortless queer diversity that felt true to the Berkeley social life I also experienced, and of course the art is gorgeous, stylish, and really enjoyable to look at too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Infidelity, Homophobia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
bekkysaurus_rex's review
emotional
reflective
medium-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
3.75
This graphic novel had been on my radar for yonks and then I finally got to it this year.
It was an interesting read. The exploration of a toxic relationship and its affects was interesting, however, the main character's choices did frustrate me a little and I struggled to like her, and while I know that it was definitely part of what the artist and author was trying to show, and that characters aren't always going to be loveable, I didn't love it. I also didn't love the ending which didn't fully show the reconciliation between the main character and those she had hurt, which is unusual for me because I am a big fan of open ended endings, but I felt I needed more.
However, I still think the author wrote a good and important story and I love their art style and the colours they used. So great!
It was an interesting read. The exploration of a toxic relationship and its affects was interesting, however, the main character's choices did frustrate me a little and I struggled to like her, and while I know that it was definitely part of what the artist and author was trying to show, and that characters aren't always going to be loveable, I didn't love it. I also didn't love the ending which didn't fully show the reconciliation between the main character and those she had hurt, which is unusual for me because I am a big fan of open ended endings, but I felt I needed more.
However, I still think the author wrote a good and important story and I love their art style and the colours they used. So great!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Addiction, Abortion, and Adult/minor relationship
lostalbatross's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Abortion
yellowrose15's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
dearreader_itsmejenny's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
ok_kiddo's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Emotional abuse
potatodel's review
emotional
medium-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
4.75
📚 Read for December 2023 book club : Queer Comic Books
Almost perfect!
I will comment about the ending at the end (with spoiler tags), which is the main quality of the story in my opinion. Beautiful character development and nice realistic relationships.
After reading a few reviews I do agree that things end a bit quickly, especially for the secondary characters. About Eric and Buddy, for instance,the last we see of them is a fight which never gets resolved. It would have fleshed out these two’s storyline a little…
Favorite character is Doodle : I loved the fact that even if Doodle is often gendered female, it was never by the main characters, making this character’s gender a bit ambiguous if non existent. No pronoun is ever used to refer to Doodle, the main characters using either name or relationship to refer to their friends. Being agender, I related to that.
Loved the art, but the background was a bit crowded at times. Not really a complaint because it`s beautiful, but I had trouble following the dialogues at times. +1 for the nice concept art at the end.
About the ending, one thing : yes to making a break up story a "happy ending"!
Almost perfect!
I will comment about the ending at the end (with spoiler tags), which is the main quality of the story in my opinion. Beautiful character development and nice realistic relationships.
After reading a few reviews I do agree that things end a bit quickly, especially for the secondary characters. About Eric and Buddy, for instance,
Favorite character is Doodle : I loved the fact that even if Doodle is often gendered female, it was never by the main characters, making this character’s gender a bit ambiguous if non existent. No pronoun is ever used to refer to Doodle, the main characters using either name or relationship to refer to their friends. Being agender, I related to that.
Loved the art, but the background was a bit crowded at times. Not really a complaint because it`s beautiful, but I had trouble following the dialogues at times. +1 for the nice concept art at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abortion
dynamogk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Homophobia
helendipietro's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Another 5* YA graphic novel! I’m so grateful to have discovered this genre and know I would have loved them as a young person! The colour scheme and artwork in this one is outstanding and felt really intentional, adding emotion to the story. For me personally, I would have preferred more dialogue to really connect with the characters and story more but I think re reading it will give me a lot more next time!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion and Toxic relationship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship