A review by foldingthepage_kayleigh
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki

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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