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

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 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
Expand filter menu Content Warnings