49 pages • 1 hour read
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me
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Pages 1-71Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Pages 1-71 Summary
Content Warning: The source text and this guide describe psychological manipulation and a sexual relationship between an adult man and a minor.
The book opens with a scene of a school auditorium decorated with balloons and heart decorations for a Valentine’s Day dance. The protagonist, Freddy, is getting ready in the school bathroom alongside her three friends, Doodle, Buddy, and Eric. As she applies her makeup, captions—displayed as if in a browser window—narrate an email that Freddy has composed to an advice columnist named Anna Vice. These captions reveal that Freddy is 17 years old and that she lives in Berkeley, California. Freddy also shares that she has been in love with a girl named Laura Dean for the past year, but the relationship has been challenging, as Laura repeatedly breaks up with Freddy.
When Laura finally arrives at the school dance, she quickly leaves Freddy to talk to another girl. Freddy, concerned about Laura’s whereabouts, goes searching for her and discovers Laura in an empty classroom, making out with the other girl. Devastated, Freddy seeks solace on the school steps, where her friends gather to hold and comfort her. Doodle, one of Freddy’s friends, takes Freddy to a donut shop called Doris’s Donuts to help her cope with the heartbreak. Freddy has drunk a bottle of orange schnapps and is intoxicated, and while ordering, she throws up on the counter. Vi, the girl working at the counter, asks Doodle to ensure Freddy gets home safely.
The following morning, Freddy wakes up to a note from Doodle, inviting her to breakfast. During their meal, Freddy shows Doodle a text from Laura that simply reads, “Don’t be mad xoxo” (20). Freddy interprets this as yet another breakup text. In an email to Anna Vice, Freddy reveals that this marks the third time Laura has broken up with her. At school, Freddy comments on the lack of secrets in her high school and assumes that everyone is aware of Laura’s latest breakup with her. During lunch, Freddy’s friends rally around her, offering comfort and support. Doodle walks with Freddy to math class, but they are intercepted by Laura in the hallway. Laura acts as if nothing has happened, smiling at Freddy, but Doodle firmly reminds Laura that they need to get to class, and the two friends walk away.
In an effort to take her mind off the breakup, Freddy goes bowling with her family—her mom, dad, and brother. When Freddy goes to get snacks at the bowling alley counter, the girl working there recognizes her: It turns out to be Vi, the same girl from Doris’s Donuts. Vi cheerfully greets Freddy as “Barfing Girl,” referencing their previous encounter. The two of them begin to chat and strike up a friendly rapport, but their conversation is interrupted by Freddy’s brother. As Freddy’s family wraps up their bowling outing and prepares to leave, Freddy notices a text from Laura, saying, “It’s weird not talking to you” (52). Once again, Freddy seeks advice from Anna Vice through email, searching for guidance on how to navigate her complicated relationship with Laura.
Freddy heads to her job at a restaurant. Doodle visits her at work, and the two friends sit outside on a bench, discussing Freddy’s situation. Doodle suggests that Freddy seek the guidance of someone known as “the Seek-Her.” Freddy agrees, and Doodle takes Freddy to a gaming shop called The Door, explaining that the Seek-Her plays Dungeons and Dragons and is the best dungeon master in Berkeley. She is also known for giving out insightful advice and making accurate predictions. Initially hesitant, Freddy is eventually convinced to talk to the Seek-Her in hopes of finding a way to move on from Laura.
Freddy enters the mysterious back room where the Seek-Her sits in an armchair, and the woman immediately demonstrates her perceptiveness by acknowledging that she knows Freddy’s girlfriend has dumped her. The Seek-Her casts some runes and asks Freddy to recount how she and Laura fell in love. Freddy explains that their romance blossomed during a square dancing session in gym class, where they were partnered together. The moment that Laura touched her, Freddy felt an instant connection and was completely enamored. After the gym class, Laura asked Freddy out—or rather, Laura confidently declared that Freddy would go out with her, because Laura believed she was irresistible. After listening to Freddy’s story, the Seek-Her delivers her assessment, telling Freddy that she appears to be trapped in a “non-monogamous swing-your-partner wormhole” (70). She advises Freddy that to escape this cycle, she must end the metaphorical square dance, emphasizing that Freddy needs to break up with Laura.
Pages 1-71 Analysis
The theme of Breaking Toxic Relationship Cycles is central to the first part of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me. Freddy’s on-again, off-again relationship with Laura Dean is characterized by a pattern of breakups, reconciliations, and emotional turmoil. The cyclical nature of their relationship is symbolized through the motif of square dancing, as highlighted by the Seek-Her’s observation that Freddy is stuck in a metaphorical dance with her partner Laura. Freddy’s struggle to break free from this toxic cycle is evident in her inner monologue, revealed through the narrative boxes styled as computer windows, where she grapples with the pain of being repeatedly dumped by Laura while still feeling drawn to her. The Seek-Her’s explicit guidance to Freddy, telling her that she must “leave the circle” and “break up with [Laura]” (70), underscores the importance of recognizing and actively working to break free from unhealthy relationship patterns. As Freddy begins to seek support from friends like Doodle and gain insight from the Seek-Her, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, learning to prioritize her own well-being and break the toxic cycle that has held her captive.
The motif of dancing, particularly square dancing, serves as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of Freddy and Laura’s relationship. Just as square dancing involves partners moving in predetermined patterns and returning to their original positions, Freddy finds herself caught in a repetitive cycle of breakups and reconciliations with Laura. The Seek-Her’s advice to Freddy about leaving the “square” and breaking free from the “non-monogamous swing-your-partner wormhole” directly ties the dancing motif to Freddy’s need to break out of the unhealthy relationship pattern and assert her independence (70).
Freddy’s infatuation with Laura Dean and her struggle to break free from the cycle of their on-again, off-again relationship illustrates the theme of Seeing Past Superficial Charm and External Validation. Laura’s confident and charming demeanor, exemplified by her assertion that Freddy will go out with her because she is irresistible, initially captivates Freddy. However, as the story progresses, it becomes evident that Laura’s actions, such as repeatedly breaking up with Freddy and making out with other girls, do not align with genuine affection or commitment. The Seek-Her’s advice to Freddy about breaking free from the “non-monogamous swing-your-partner wormhole” emphasizes the importance of recognizing and moving beyond superficial charm and external validation in relationships (70).
Throughout the book, surreal imagery depicts Freddy’s infatuation with Laura, highlighting its all-consuming but superficial nature. One notable example is on Page 7, where Freddy and Laura are shown as larger than, and elevated above, the crowd of other dancers at the school dance, against a vibrant pink backdrop. This imagery serves to illustrate the intensity of Freddy’s feelings for Laura and the way in which their relationship overshadows other aspects of Freddy’s life. The surreal elements communicate the all-consuming nature of teenage love and the challenges Freddy faces in maintaining a balanced perspective; while the relationship seems larger-than-life to Freddy, it is not real.
The theme of Discovering Agency and Self-Responsibility emerges as Freddy begins to seek guidance and support from others, such as the advice columnist Anna Vice and the Seek-Her. By actively reaching out for help and perspective, Freddy demonstrates a growing sense of agency in her life and relationships. The Seek-Her’s counsel to break up with Laura highlights the importance of taking responsibility for one’s own happiness and well-being, rather than remaining trapped in a cycle of unfulfilling relationships. As Freddy navigates this challenging period, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, learning to prioritize her own needs and make decisions that align with her personal growth and happiness.
Freddy’s voiceover, presented in caption boxes shaped like browser windows, juxtapose her inner thoughts and emotions with the events of the story. By framing the voiceover as an email to an advice columnist, the graphic novel creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, allowing readers to connect with Freddy’s struggles on a deeper level. The caption boxes also serve as a storytelling device, providing context and insight into Freddy’s state of mind as she navigates the challenges of her relationship with Laura.
The visuals in Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me evoke the innocence and vulnerability of teenage love. The panels have a limited color palette, consisting primarily of black ink and the selective use of a peachy pink color. The light pink hue suggests a nascent and delicate form of love, one that is particularly susceptible to the emotional ups and downs of adolescence. This specific color palette visually reinforces the tender and impressionable nature of Freddy’s feelings for Laura, highlighting the significance of their relationship in Freddy’s life.
Additionally, the graphics alternate between detailed backgrounds and simplistic panels during key emotional moments, which serves to emphasize the impact of specific dialogues or events. For example, when Freddy asks Doodle if she has seen Laura, Doodle is depicted against a plain pink background in a silent panel, looking around. In the next panel, also against a simple pink rectangle, Doodle replies with a simple “Nope.” This technique allows the reader to focus on the characters’ expressions and words, heightening the emotional weight of the moment.
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