WRITER.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

289 pages

Graphic novel, Romance

Spoiler-Free section

This romance hit hard for me since I was in a bad relationship a few years ago, and I can see some parallels.

Freddy has a problem. She’s been head over heals in love with Laura Dean for a year, and she is ecstatic to get another chance to make things work.

Laura has broken up with Freddy three times. Once on the Fourth of July when they were temporarily long distance. Once when she thought she must be interested in guys and wanted to experiment. Once on Valentine’s Day.

From the very beginning, readers can see that Laura is not good for Freddy, having the advantage of an outside perspective. I mean who breaks up with their partner on Valentine’s Day? That seems like the absolute worst timing.

Laura is not a good influence. Freddy starts to spend more time with her and neglects relationships, even with her best friend Doodle, who has some news to share that requires being deeply vulnerable.

This book is ideal for people who enjoy queer YA romance and a pretty art style.

Spoiler time!

One of the most telling moments in the novel is when Freddy goes to see the Seek-Her, who seems like a kind of fortune teller, and she tells Freddy she must break up with Laura. This is before they are back together, which I think actually made sense. She has to find peace with the fact and admit that Laura and she don’t really work as a couple, even though they were technically separate already. It’s a symbolic move, a mental and emotional acceptance.

Freddy seeks other advice from another source – an answers column written by Ms. Vice, who encourages her by saying: “Have faith in yourself to know what’s right for you.” She also says to make sure Freddy herself is getting something out of the relationship.

And she definitely does take these words to heart, but it takes time. In the meantime, Doodle has something she really needs to tell Freddy, but Freddy is so caught up her relationship that she keeps blowing her off. Eventually, Doodle is able to tell her that she is pregnant, and Freddy commits to going to the abortion clinic with Doodle. Freddy tells her Laura she can’t go to her birthday party because of it.

That’s when the last straw is placed. Laura texts Freddy to say it is an emergency, and she races there only to find out that Laura is fine and just wanted to see her. Because of this, she is late to Doodle’s appointment and can only comfort her after.

It was such a relief when Freddy finally broke up with Laura. Laura doesn’t take it well, but Freddy says Laura is a terrible girlfriend and Freddy herself is a bad friend to others because of this romantic relationship. It was the growth I was hoping to see from her the whole time. Laura curses at her, but what’s done is done, and for the reader, it feels like victory.

I also feel like I should mention that Freddy’s habit of making monstrous mismatched toys by swapping their parts reminded me of the bully’s toys from Toy Story. I couldn’t help but make the connection.

Have you read this book? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!