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

dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5

CW: toxic relationships, abortion

"you're a shitty girlfriend. but also when i'm with you i'm a shitty friend. so i'm breaking up with you."


i love rosemary valero-o'connell's art; i've been obsessed with her webcomic if only once, if only for a little while for a couple of years now. when searching for her other works, i stumbled across this graphic novel and thought i'd give it a chance. and i'm so glad i did. i love this story.

our main character freddy is dating popular girl laura dean. the problem? laura dean keeps breaking up with her. and every time, laura dean manages to win freddy back. it gets to the point where freddy is neglecting her friendships in order to spend time with laura dean. and laura dean's no peach, either. she makes fun of freddy's interests, repeatedly neglects freddy, and openly flirts with other girls. at one point, laura dean texts freddy about a fake emergency simply out of spite, all because she didn't like freddy prioritizing her best friend above her girlfriend.

eventually, freddy's friends all get tired of being pushed aside, and they rightly call her on her shit. i'm lucky enough to never have been in a toxic relationship, but i have had moments where i've put my partner above my friends. freddy's friends calling her out on her shitty behaviour is something i think i sorely needed when i was younger.

my favorite part—and this may seem odd—was freddy comforting doodle after the latter's abortion. it's such a tender scene between two friends who have drifted apart, but who are reconnecting. freddy, for the first time, puts someone else above laura dean. and i think this is why, when freddy does finally break up with laura dean for good, it feels so fucking satisfying. we love to see a girlboss winning!

overall i think this is an excellent story. it handles all its issues well, i love the diversity of characters, and i love freddy's emails to anna vice. four and a half stars!

(unfortunately, there is a throwaway joke about elliot page that, for obvious reasons, hasn't aged well.)
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