EVERYONE SUX BUT YOU

A queer teen reflects on an all-consuming relationship.

Carson, a member of the class of 2009 in conservative Midwestern America, finds herself falling in love with her best friend, Ash, during their senior year. Their relationship begins to shift into something more than friendship, but they’re also navigating feelings for other people, exploring different plans for the future, and grieving the loss of Carson’s mom. This graphic novel, illustrated in a minimal palette, is narrated through Carson’s diary entries written to her mom toward the end of the school year as she looks back at the rise and fall of her life-altering—and ultimately toxic—relationship with Ash. Interspersed flashbacks stretching further back in time slowly reveal exactly what happened to Carson’s mom, which gives deeper insight into Carson’s emotional state. This narrative structure requires patience from readers as the pieces come together, but it adds intrigue and pays off emotionally in an ending filled with heartbreak and hope. Pop-culture references throughout add texture to the setting and will satisfy nostalgia-craving readers, particularly those who went through an emo phase, while the overall story of complicated relationships will resonate with many. The main characters are the white of the page in the appealing art that’s rendered in bold, black lines with light purplish-gray shading.

A complex and emotionally raw story of young love and learning to prioritize oneself.