Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki

28 reviews

ender24's review

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emotional 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

4.5

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parasolcrafter's review

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emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

this book just feels underdeveloped and bare. i gained almost nothing from it, because everything is just so shallow :/ we know almost nothing abt the characters aside from their names and faces, so they end up feeling very two-dimensional. theyre also just...nor likable? idk, maybe its bc their characterizations are so lacking but the only character i really care abt is doodle. the other two characters are fine, but we know so little about them

also why did the characters act like being 18 is so old??? the characters themselves are 17 and the 18 year olds were like 'im too old for you omg im ancient </3' like. was that supposed to be a joke or something bc it was so weird. 17 and 18 year olds can literally be born a day apart. what on earth
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theonewheresamreads's review

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dark lighthearted sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Sarah. Bestie…. I hate this ngl
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brokenbodybitch's review

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medium-paced

3.75

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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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

2.25

finally got around to reading this, and laura dean keeps breaking up with me imo is a graphic novel w/ great art meandered by an important though frustrating story.

this book is effortlessly queer and it's great to see how everyone's so comfortable w/ their queerness, though some realistic homophobia exists as well. however, my fav thing abt this book is the art, how valero-o'connell is able to strike the perfect balance of simplicity and detail in her lineart, in addition to a distinct sense of place and great composition + transition. The usage of pink - either for emphasis or separation - in certain panels and scenes also injects a refreshing and effective pop of color that not only complements but also elevates the story. 

speaking of story, it's certainly an effective one as it makes me wanna tear my hair out. the toxicity and emotional manipulation in freddy and laura's relationship is very realistically depicted, and thus frustrates me to no end. the book's subject matter and themes are certainly important, esp considering its demographic, however the main characters and their dynamic exasperate me too much to glance at this book and not have some sense of irritation bubble up. i also wish the ending was a lil longer to see freddy and her friends beyond the toxicity imposed by laura's presence, just to balance things out a bit.

overall, this graphic novel is one that sheds some crucial awareness on emotional abuse in relationships - all the more rare bc it's a queer one between girls - and the art's certainly lovely, but i personally dislike some of the characters and their dynamic to be able to say w/ my whole chest that i like this book, thus the 2.75 rating.
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shushkeepitdown's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.0

I was finding it difficult to read stories so I picked up this comic. It made me sad but also showed the importance of how you should avoid getting into relationship which feel one sided and the problems caused by having shitty people around you causing you to be like them. Talk to your friends and make sure they are ok too. 
Easy read, the art style and colours chosen for this monochromatic comic is absolutely beautiful. Its very short sadly but still would recommend it.
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lolajh's review against another edition

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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

3.75

Okay. So far too much Laura Dean and not enough of Freddy being a developed character and treating her friends well. Freddy’s naïvety to LD’s toxic behaviour, manipulation and fetishisation of Freddy’s race was quite drawn out and I feel like if Freddy cut ties with her somewhere in the middle of the book and the rest was her becoming a better person the pacing would be much better. Still a happy ending, just not paced as well as it could have. Would’ve also loved more of Doodle, Eric, Buddy, Vi and Mo. they were great characters. 

Also!!!!! Not all masc lesbians are like this I promise! — coming from a very submissive and breedable masc
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spooderman's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.0

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wisteriaearl's review

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hopeful reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

This story had a lot of potential and ive heard great things. The art drew me in and it's the highlight of the graphic novel. However, the actual characters were one-dimensional and bland. The flaws of the characters didn't intrigue me nor did it make me care. There were questionable plot points that didn't really get resolve or like the characters reacted to things in such a baffling way that made me find them so unlikable or unrealistic.

Laura Dean is unlikable which is the point because she is the antagonist. She also a villain level of toxicity which I suppose people like her exist irl but it would be more interesting if we explored why Laura Dean acted the way she did. Or why Freddy acted the way she did in a more in depth way. The problem is that every other character is unlikable. I don't care if Freddy escapes her toxic relationship with Laura Dean because shes a 1 dimensional 'bad friend'. Her best friend is also revealed to have been in a toxic relationship with her teacher(shes a minor) and has a pregnancy plot. I felt like Freddy reacted to this news in such a unbelievable way that it took me out of the story.


overall its such a plain read and the ending was so 'happily ever after sort of'' considering how the book wants to be realistic.

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b_robinson's review

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emotional tense 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

1.25

✨Toxicity✨
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