Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me follows Frederica "Freddy" Riley, a 17-year-old in Berkeley, California, as she navigates a turbulent relationship with the popular and charismatic Laura Dean. The story tracks Freddy's experiences through distinctive black, white, and pink illustrations by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell. Freddy seeks advice from friends, family, and even a local mystic as she tries to make sense of her relationship patterns and emotional turmoil. Her journey involves questioning her own choices, examining her friendships, and confronting difficult truths about love and self-worth. The graphic novel brings teen relationships and modern LGBTQ+ experiences to life through its authentic dialogue and expressive artwork. It explores universal themes of toxic relationships, personal growth, and the challenge of breaking destructive cycles.

Readers highlight the book's realistic portrayal of toxic relationships and the ways people stay in unhealthy patterns. Many note that it resonates with their own experiences of being stuck in on-again-off-again relationships. Readers appreciate: - The black and white art with pink accents - LGBTQ+ representation without making it the central conflict - The supporting characters' storylines - How it shows friends becoming frustrated with someone who won't leave a bad relationship Common criticisms: - Story pacing feels uneven - Some find the main character unsympathetic - Resolution comes too quickly - Side plots could be more developed Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (44,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,000+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.6/5 (200+ ratings) "The art perfectly captures the emotions of each scene" - Goodreads reviewer "Wish the ending didn't wrap up so neatly" - Amazon reviewer "Finally a graphic novel that shows what toxic relationships really feel like" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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★ The graphic novel won both the 2020 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature and the 2020 Harvey Award for Book of the Year ★ Author Mariko Tamaki is also a playwright and performer who has written for both Marvel and DC Comics, including works featuring She-Hulk and Supergirl ★ The book's distinctive pink-tinted artwork was inspired by traditional Japanese manga aesthetics while incorporating modern American comic styles ★ Berkeley, where the story is set, has one of the highest LGBTQ+ populations per capita in the United States, with approximately 15% of adults identifying as LGBTQ+ ★ The narrative structure was partially influenced by the author's own experiences as a queer teen in the 1990s and her work as a youth counselor in Toronto