
A parent might reach for this book when their teen is lost in a first love that seems more painful than joyful. This poignant graphic novel follows Freddy, a teen caught in a cycle of breaking up and making up with the charismatic but toxic Laura Dean. As Freddy's world shrinks to revolve around Laura, she neglects the friends who truly support her, especially when they need her most. The book masterfully explores themes of self-worth, codependency, and the critical importance of healthy friendships. With mature topics including emotional manipulation and a significant subplot about abortion, it is best suited for older teens (14-18). It’s an invaluable tool for starting conversations about what healthy love looks like and how to find the strength to choose yourself.
Characters are complex. Laura isn't purely evil, and Freddy makes significant mistakes with her friends.
Story revolves around a teen romance, with kissing and intense emotional themes.
Deals with toxic relationships, heartbreak, and a friend's abortion.
Depicts teen parties where underage drinking is implied but not a focus of the story.
Emotional manipulation and toxic relationship dynamics. A subplot involves an unplanned pregnancy and a character undergoing an abortion.
An older teenager who is currently experiencing their first "unhealthy" love, or a teen who feels they are losing themselves or their friends to a romantic partner’s demands.
Parents should be aware of the abortion subplot, which is handled with maturity and focuses on the importance of friend support during medical procedures. The book can be read cold by older teens, but parents might want to discuss the difference between "passion" and "toxicity" afterward. A parent hears their teen making excuses for a partner's poor behavior, or notices their teen is suddenly distant from long-term friends in favor of a new, intense relationship.
Younger teens (13-14) will focus on the social hierarchy of high school and the "coolness" of Laura Dean. Older teens (17-18) will more likely recognize the subtle red flags of emotional abuse and the heavy weight of the choices Freddy and Doodle face.
Unlike many YA romances that romanticize the "brooding, difficult" partner, this book explicitly deconstructs that trope, identifying it as a form of harm rather than a grand romance.
Seventeen-year-old Freddy Riley is stuck in a toxic, on-again-off-again relationship with the popular and manipulative Laura Dean. As Freddy becomes increasingly obsessed with winning Laura’s affection, she begins to neglect her core friend group. The story follows Freddy as she seeks advice from a medium and an advice columnist to find the courage to break the cycle. A significant subplot involves Freddy’s best friend, Doodle, navigating an unplanned pregnancy and seeking an abortion.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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