Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell is a contemporary young adult (YA) graphic novel that explores LGBTQ+ themes, particularly focusing on the experiences of queer teenage girls navigating love, friendship, and self-discovery. The book’s publication in 2019 coincides with a significant boom in the popularity and diversity of graphic novels in the YA space, as well as increased visibility of LGBTQ+ stories across various media.

The graphic novel medium has a long history of tackling complex and socially relevant themes, dating back to groundbreaking works like Art Spiegelman’s Maus (serialized from 1980-1991) and Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home (published in 2006). The years after 2010 saw a notable surge in the production and mainstream acceptance of graphic novels, particularly in the YA genre. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors, including the growing recognition of the medium’s artistic merit, its ability to engage reluctant readers, and its potential to represent diverse voices and experiences.

In the realm of YA literature, graphic novels have emerged as a powerful tool for exploring the complexities of adolescence, identity, and social issues. The combination of visual storytelling and written narrative allows for a unique and immersive reading experience—one that can be particularly effective in conveying the emotional depth and nuance of teenage experiences. Graphic novels like American Born Chinese (2006) by Gene Luen Yang, This One Summer (2014) by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, and The Prince and the Dressmaker (2018) by Jen Wang have garnered critical acclaim for their sensitive and authentic portrayals of young adult characters grappling with issues of race, gender, sexuality, and self-expression.

The intersection of YA and LGBTQ+ themes in graphic novels has also gained significant attention in recent years. Works like Bloom (2019) by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau, The Times I Knew I Was Gay (2020) by Eleanor Crewes, and Heartstopper (serialized between 2019 and 2023) by Alice Oseman explore the joys and challenges of queer adolescence. These books have played a crucial role in increasing the visibility and representation of LGBTQ+ characters and experiences in YA literature, offering young queer readers the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the stories they consume.

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me fits seamlessly into this contemporary landscape of YA and LGBTQ+ graphic novels, offering a poignant and relatable exploration of queer teenage love, toxic relationships, and the importance of self-discovery and personal growth. Tamaki and Valero-O’Connell’s book stands out for its nuanced portrayal of complex, flawed characters, and its sensitive handling of themes like emotional manipulation, codependency, and the pressure to conform to societal expectations of relationships.

The graphic novel medium proves particularly effective in conveying the emotional depth and interiority of Freddy’s experiences, with Valero-O’Connell’s expressive artwork and creative panel layouts bringing the story to life in vivid detail. The use of visual metaphors—like the motifs of dancing, nature, and toys—adds layers of meaning and symbolism to the narrative, inviting readers to engage with the story on both a literal and figurative level.

Moreover, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me subverts and challenges traditional narratives of queer love and relationships, presenting a story that is both specific to the LGBTQ+ experience and universal in its themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and the importance of healthy, supportive relationships. By focusing on the toxic relationship dynamics between Freddy and Laura, the book offers a critique of the societal pressure to prioritize romantic relationships above all else, and the ways in which this pressure can be particularly damaging for queer youth who may lack access to positive models of LGBTQ+ love and friendship.