Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me

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Author:Tamaki, Mariko

Illustrator:Valero-O'Connell, Rosemary

Publisher: New York: First Second 2019

Freddy has nabbed the most popular girl in high-school as her girlfriend. However, she finds herself addicted to a head-spinning on-again, off-again relationship that leaves her hurting and isolated.

An angst-filled graphic novel that uses teenage romance and friendship themes to delve into the grittier subject of a toxic and emotionally abusive relationship. The detailed illustrations are predominantly black-and-white illustrations complemented by splashes of pink. The realistic illustrative style combined with unconventional panelling emphasise the dissonance and confusion of a toxic relationship.
The character-driven storyline depicts authentic LGBTQIA characters that struggle with relatable themes of love and toxic relationships. The story is set in Berkeley, California and features a diverse caste of characters of varying gender expressions, cultural backgrounds and body shapes. Freddy's girlfriend, Laura Dean embodies cool nonchalance that although thrilling turns out to be selfish and damaging to those close to her. Freddy is a relatable character that struggles with her friends' disbelief that she doesn't leave her girlfriend with whom she feels an intoxicating pull towards. She finds herself repeatedly hurt by Dean's cheating, gaslighting and manipulation but continues to return to the relationship. The story educates young readers about the red flags of abusive relationships and the social justice movement that aims to raise awareness, recognition and services for victims of emotional abuse. Eventually, Freddy manages to find must-needed objective voices of reason from a mysterious medium and an advice columnist and learns an important lesson about self-love, boundaries and healthy relationships.



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