Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me
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Average rating3.7
One of FORBES Best Graphic Novels of 2019 On BCCB 2019 Blue Ribbons List One of NPR's Best Books of 2019 Booklist 2019 Editors' Choice One of Bitch Media’s Best Queer YA Novels of 2019 Author Mariko Tamaki and illustrator Rosemary Valero-O’Connell bring to life a sweet and spirited tale of young love in Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, a graphic novel that asks us to consider what happens when we ditch the toxic relationships we crave to embrace the healthy ones we need. Laura Dean, the most popular girl in high school, was Frederica Riley's dream girl: charming, confident, and SO cute. There's just one problem: Laura Dean is maybe not the greatest girlfriend. Reeling from her latest break up, Freddy's best friend, Doodle, introduces her to the Seek-Her, a mysterious medium, who leaves Freddy some cryptic parting words: break up with her. But Laura Dean keeps coming back, and as their relationship spirals further out of her control, Freddy has to wonder if it's really Laura Dean that's the problem. Maybe it's Freddy, who is rapidly losing her friends, including Doodle, who needs her now more than ever. Fortunately for Freddy, there are new friends, and the insight of advice columnists like Anna Vice to help her through being a teenager in love.
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Oh my goodness, you could not pay me enough to go back to high school. Freddy was a frustrating character in an extremely realistic way for a high schooler. The ending was a little ambiguous to me, but since Laura and Freddy got together because of dancing, I interpreted this as a parallel to that and an HFN for Freddy and Doodle, which I loved. The art here is gorgeous, sort of dreamy and candy-colored while being realistic as well. This was a very fast read and one I liked a lot.
(2021 Summer Romance Bingo: graphic novel; would also work for friends to lovers or non-Christmas holiday)
See why it's winning awards and will definitely be book talking it. Very much liked how casually queer it was (no centering a coming out story, the characters are just normalized queer) and that the parent characters were all written as supportive, especially around such tough teen-life-choice topics. Also liked that the color palette was limited to back, grey, white, and light pink as the art really added nuance to the story. A thoughtful and compelling graphic that gives insight into self-worth and moving beyond toxic relationships. Strong recommend.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me is a beautiful graphic novel. The stunning art and use of color really drew me in and sucker-punched me with the story. Highly recommend this title to anyone interested in graphic novels and the quality content they can offer.
