A review by ambenicole418
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki

dark hopeful inspiring reflective 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

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It was a sweet and realistic story about friendship, the people we become and neglect while in a toxic relationship, and having the courage to leave the people that are bad for us. However, the thing I didn’t like about this story is there was just so many interesting plot threads with the side characters that were started, but never really explored. Like the relationship between Buddy and his boyfriend who wasn’t out to his family yet, and Doodle’s entire storyline. Those were not only such great plot points, but also important topics to discuss, and I really wish we got to see more of it and go in depth (or even touched the surface of it tbh) with those issues. 

A MAJOR issue I had with the novel was that
Doodle suffers major abuse and manipulation at the hands of an adult and no one seems to care. In fact, no one even condemns the adult’s actions, not even her own father. No one brings up the abuse at all. They all seem more concerned about the unwanted pregnancy. And considering that the whole storyline starts with Doodle questioning the age of consent laws and how it maybe should be lower or not exist at all, to have Doodle go through this but never walk that statement back or even condemn the abuser feels really irresponsible and borderline insensitive to people who actually experience this.
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