Author: Mariko Tamaki
Illustrator: Rosemary Valero-O’Connell
Okay, this is definitely one of my favorite graphic novels! I decided to read it after hearing an abundance of love for this gorgeous book. Our main character Freddy finds herself in the cycle of a toxic relationship. Over and over again her girlfriend, Laura Dean, keeps breaking up with her only to eventually get back together. Freddy and her friends are growing tired of Laura Dean’s antics. So, Freddy turns to an advice column for help. These emails to an advice column guide the narrative as Freddy tackles issues such as what it means to be a good friend, toxic relationships, and love and heartbreak. I especially appreciated the recurring theme of friendship highlighted between Freddy and her friends. The artwork was absolutely beautiful, the dialogue flowed smoothly, and it was a quick, but captivating read. However, as I usually feel with most graphic novels, the characters were not as well-rounded as they could’ve been. And due to the fact that they weren’t fully fleshed out it was harder to connect to them. We don’t get to see them as whole people beyond the problems they’re having - although I was happy with the character progression of Freddy. Overall, the ending delivered an important message. I would definitely recommend this to older teens.
Kaitlin S.