kajasversion's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A solid read. The main character is on times such a shitty person. But noone beats Laura. Their decisions made me so pissed of. The character writing is definitely written for a more younger audience but then the themes in the book are serious like homophobia and abortion. I’m confused.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Vomit
katinka's review
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, and Alcohol
emminkirjakasa's review against another edition
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.
I recommend this a lot, many good topics and lgbtq+ representation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Emotional abuse
rachbake's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Adult/minor relationship
readingratboy's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
the art was great. i particularly liked the composition of each page and the use of the limited color palette that added to the tone of each scene.
the story itself was a bummer slice of life. the most important character relationships aren’t really shown on the page, so reading it felt like i was just going through the motions until it reached its predictable conclusion. you never see laura dean as charming or charismatic or anything that would help us see why freddy keeps going back to her despite their relationship being toxic, and you don’t see freddy and doodle being best friends in any way that would make the potential loss of their friendship upsetting.
some of the conflicts were just thrown out there without any conclusion, like the ‘perfect’ gay couple arguing over one if them not being invited to the other’s grandmother’s birthday.
then there was
the story itself was a bummer slice of life. the most important character relationships aren’t really shown on the page, so reading it felt like i was just going through the motions until it reached its predictable conclusion. you never see laura dean as charming or charismatic or anything that would help us see why freddy keeps going back to her despite their relationship being toxic, and you don’t see freddy and doodle being best friends in any way that would make the potential loss of their friendship upsetting.
some of the conflicts were just thrown out there without any conclusion, like the ‘perfect’ gay couple arguing over one if them not being invited to the other’s grandmother’s birthday.
then there was
Spoiler
the abortion plot… sheesh. having a high schooler get pregnant by an adult married man felt random and extreme in context of the rest of the story. it was also handled so dismissively that i felt bad for doodle as a character. i appreciate that her father doesn’t hold the situation against her, but he took her to the abortion clinic with the same level of care and concern as if she was getting a mole removed. do you not care that your child was groomed?? are we not gonna talk about that?? the fact that this plot was all wrapped up in like 10 pages (of a nearly 300 page comic) was insulting to its intensity. but then we just move on to a dance party, so i guess it’s fine
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Pedophilia
kriee's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
bookishsapphicshay's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
ferdie's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Homophobia
fruitfem's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
stunning art!! the plot sucked me in at first, but the first 3/4 of this was repetitive enough that it started to get tiresome.
i also don't love that freddy's one act of standing up for herself—breaking up with laura—only came after reading the email from the advice columnist. it would have been nice to see her come to that realization on her own and have a few honest conversations with laura and her family, rather than having a moment of bravery and suddenly everything's fine.
a lotta negativity in this review, but i honestly didn't hate this. the author does a good job depicting teenage emotions in a realistic way and the illustrations are certainly easy on the eyes. just leaves something to be desired.
Spoiler
it kinda became a cycle of "laura acts unpredictably" --> "freddy responds accordingly, treating her friends badly in the process" --> "her friends are understandably angry" --> repeat. the scenes with freddy's parents and those with eric and buddy felt kind of random, since the plotlines with her mom being annoyed, eric being bullied, etc were unresolved. i'm not sure whether those scenes were intended to paint a picture of her life as a whole or to serve as a foil to freddy and laura's relationship, but either way it didn't work for me.i also don't love that freddy's one act of standing up for herself—breaking up with laura—only came after reading the email from the advice columnist. it would have been nice to see her come to that realization on her own and have a few honest conversations with laura and her family, rather than having a moment of bravery and suddenly everything's fine.
a lotta negativity in this review, but i honestly didn't hate this. the author does a good job depicting teenage emotions in a realistic way and the illustrations are certainly easy on the eyes. just leaves something to be desired.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abortion, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia
pmileham's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Adult/minor relationship