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You and Me on Repeat
In this swoony and hilarious debut rom-com graphic novel, two former friends are trapped in a time loop together, repeating their high school graduation day over and over and over—for fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Pumpkinheads, and Groundhog Day.
Chris O’Brien has a genius plan: If he can share the perfect first kiss with his crush, Andy, then of course he’ll break free from the time loop that has him repeating graduation day over and over…and over.
Alicia Ochoa thinks Chris’s plan is doomed. Valedictorian and a total nerd, she knows it’ll take more than a kiss to escape the loop they’re trapped in together. Besides, Chris may be a hopeless romantic, but Alicia doesn’t think he has a real shot with Andy.
Once close friends, Alicia and Chris have history—lots of it. As they got older, the pair fell out after Chris ditched her for the “cool kids” and left her in the dust. But when you’re looping side by side, you never know if friendship might rekindle or what new feelings could spark along the way.
Chris O’Brien has a genius plan: If he can share the perfect first kiss with his crush, Andy, then of course he’ll break free from the time loop that has him repeating graduation day over and over…and over.
Alicia Ochoa thinks Chris’s plan is doomed. Valedictorian and a total nerd, she knows it’ll take more than a kiss to escape the loop they’re trapped in together. Besides, Chris may be a hopeless romantic, but Alicia doesn’t think he has a real shot with Andy.
Once close friends, Alicia and Chris have history—lots of it. As they got older, the pair fell out after Chris ditched her for the “cool kids” and left her in the dust. But when you’re looping side by side, you never know if friendship might rekindle or what new feelings could spark along the way.
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2025
7 people are currently reading
6148 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
May 25, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up
A YA coming of age story & rom com of sorts with a different take on a time loop where two friends are caught repeating high school graduation over and over. I really liked it!
Chris is certain that finally kissing his crush will break the loop, but his friend Alicia isn't so sure that's the problem. Especially since she has been caught in the time loop even longer than he has! But after awhile, they're both willing to try anything.
Alicia is a fantastic character. She's a bisexual eldest daughter from an immigrant family, always taking care of everyone else and trying to be perfect. But endless do-overs give her the chance to step outside of that and be free. I like the nuanced way this explores the push and pull of her heavy responsibilities, and her genuine desire to be there for her younger siblings and help them succeed. It's really well done.
The time loop wasn't what I expected, but I also liked how that was handled. Both characters really go on a journey of growth and face some hard truths along the way. But it's also very funny! I recommend checking it out. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
A YA coming of age story & rom com of sorts with a different take on a time loop where two friends are caught repeating high school graduation over and over. I really liked it!
Chris is certain that finally kissing his crush will break the loop, but his friend Alicia isn't so sure that's the problem. Especially since she has been caught in the time loop even longer than he has! But after awhile, they're both willing to try anything.
Alicia is a fantastic character. She's a bisexual eldest daughter from an immigrant family, always taking care of everyone else and trying to be perfect. But endless do-overs give her the chance to step outside of that and be free. I like the nuanced way this explores the push and pull of her heavy responsibilities, and her genuine desire to be there for her younger siblings and help them succeed. It's really well done.
The time loop wasn't what I expected, but I also liked how that was handled. Both characters really go on a journey of growth and face some hard truths along the way. But it's also very funny! I recommend checking it out. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
May 8, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
what would you do if you were stuck in a time loop on the day of your high school graduation? what would you change?
you and me on repeat is a fantastic graphic novel about emotions of all kinds: the fear of the unknown after the stability and structure of high school, the inability to make your own choices due to social/economic circumstances, but especially grief. we see grieving the untimely deaths of loved ones, grieving who we once were for who we will become, and also grieving the people we never will be because of our choices, good or bad.
i especially appreciated the speech our mmc chris gave regarding “knowing” your peers — do you really know them, or do you know the idea of them?
the art was beautiful and full of expression, and i really loved that stinkin hamster!!
what would you do if you were stuck in a time loop on the day of your high school graduation? what would you change?
you and me on repeat is a fantastic graphic novel about emotions of all kinds: the fear of the unknown after the stability and structure of high school, the inability to make your own choices due to social/economic circumstances, but especially grief. we see grieving the untimely deaths of loved ones, grieving who we once were for who we will become, and also grieving the people we never will be because of our choices, good or bad.
i especially appreciated the speech our mmc chris gave regarding “knowing” your peers — do you really know them, or do you know the idea of them?
the art was beautiful and full of expression, and i really loved that stinkin hamster!!
May 16, 2025
Ahh!! This book was so good!! I love a time loop story, and You and Me on Repeat does it SO well! Very genuinely, this might be one of my favorite books now. I am beyond amazed at the complexity of this book’s structure. The planning that must have gone into this plot and keeping the continuity! And to not only tell a time loop story, but to use it to tackle themes of grief, race, sexuality, and growing up. That’s not even to mention that it is a story told through the medium of comics! The art is immaculate, most especially the use of color! This is a world that’s been meticulously plotted visually, and not just in terms of story. There’s so much we come to know about the characters through their surroundings. I loved all the little Easter eggs, and how current the setting felt—being set in June of 2025 (a yet to be time as of this review). The color in this! The art style! Ah! The way the planning of these aids in the telling of the story. I am obsessed. This book was an absolute BANGER, and I will be recommending it to many. I love Chris and Alicia
February 13, 2025
Time loop fans, rejoice! Mary Shyne has crafted a clever, gorgeous treasure box of a story. Part coming-of-age, part romance, part sci-fi, all heart. I was drawn in from the very first page, hooked with the stylish art and the intriguing premise. I fell so hard for Chris and Alicia and all of the stupidly teenage and deeply human choices that lead them into a pocket dimension of space-time. Who hasn't wanted a redo option on one of the most important days of their life? What would you do if trapped in a time loop of your high school graduation day? I left the book rooting for these two!
I had the pleasure of reading this book early :) It's available for preorder now, or grab it from a bookstore in May 2025!
I had the pleasure of reading this book early :) It's available for preorder now, or grab it from a bookstore in May 2025!
August 1, 2025
A colorful, well-illustrated variation on a time loop for teen readers.
October 9, 2025
As the author, I’m obviously VERY biased 😅
I really hope y’all enjoy Chris and Alicia’s story, I’m very fond of those two ♥️
I really hope y’all enjoy Chris and Alicia’s story, I’m very fond of those two ♥️
December 9, 2024
I was not planning on reading this five months before its release date, but I was just really in the mood for a graphic novel today, and it totally hit the spot.
Chris and Alicia are stuck in a time loop on the day of their high school graduation. Turns out, Alicia has been in the loop longer than Chris so she shows him the ropes, which provides the perfect opportunity for them to repair their long-dormant friendship. Chris' mission for the day to have the perfect first kiss with his girlfriend quickly morphs once he's looping, and naturally he gravitates towards the only other person he knows who is stuck in the same day. A connection to a tragically deceased teacher leads to the answer they need, but will they be ready to get back to reality?
This was really cute. I think it's perfect for young adults (the intended audience) but also was a great read for me (a person in her mid-30s dealing with what feels like secondary teenager syndrome). Shyne gives so many of the characters here surprising complexity considering they're repeating the same 24 hours over and over again. And there are big questions here that, again, feel incredibly relevant as you enter adulthood but are still relevant as you journey through it: is it better to dwell in the familiar past, or try to move forward into the unknown future? How do you grieve? How do you repair a friendship? How do you learn to understand others in all of their facets? Should you stay near home or venture away? Is it okay to change what you want? How do you move through the world?
The art style is absolutely stunning. With alternating-color duochrome panels (a ROYGBIV color and then grey/black), occasionally Shyne throws in all the colors at once, to indicate something magical/scientific/loop related. Beautiful and effective.
Also, I would die for Mr. Chunkums.
Chris and Alicia are stuck in a time loop on the day of their high school graduation. Turns out, Alicia has been in the loop longer than Chris so she shows him the ropes, which provides the perfect opportunity for them to repair their long-dormant friendship. Chris' mission for the day to have the perfect first kiss with his girlfriend quickly morphs once he's looping, and naturally he gravitates towards the only other person he knows who is stuck in the same day. A connection to a tragically deceased teacher leads to the answer they need, but will they be ready to get back to reality?
This was really cute. I think it's perfect for young adults (the intended audience) but also was a great read for me (a person in her mid-30s dealing with what feels like secondary teenager syndrome). Shyne gives so many of the characters here surprising complexity considering they're repeating the same 24 hours over and over again. And there are big questions here that, again, feel incredibly relevant as you enter adulthood but are still relevant as you journey through it: is it better to dwell in the familiar past, or try to move forward into the unknown future? How do you grieve? How do you repair a friendship? How do you learn to understand others in all of their facets? Should you stay near home or venture away? Is it okay to change what you want? How do you move through the world?
The art style is absolutely stunning. With alternating-color duochrome panels (a ROYGBIV color and then grey/black), occasionally Shyne throws in all the colors at once, to indicate something magical/scientific/loop related. Beautiful and effective.
Also, I would die for Mr. Chunkums.
November 4, 2025
this was almost perfect except it had a bad opinion about fanfiction smh. (perfect is an exaggeration but it was quite good!) i really liked the twist on a time loop, making there be a portal felt very new and the reason why it existed was great. the art style was awesome, beautiful yes but also the use of colors was really spectacular. loved the storylines of the characters, especially alicia. honestly interesting to have the mc be a kinda dickish white man LOL. anyways, super fun and also just a nice and unexpected read before bed!
November 16, 2025
A graphic novel AND a time loop! Two of my favorite things!
A few things that don't make "logical sense" - but we're dealing with time loop rules, so it's probably fine.
Liked the color palette for the story, how it progressed through the rainbow and sometimes used all of the colors as well.
A few things that don't make "logical sense" - but we're dealing with time loop rules, so it's probably fine.
Liked the color palette for the story, how it progressed through the rainbow and sometimes used all of the colors as well.
August 6, 2025
So I cried.
March 20, 2025
Really good! This is a teen story but I think it will resonate with anyone who’s feeling a little lost. I think my high school and college selves would’ve liked a few repeats of some key days tbh. A chance to breathe before everything got hectic.
I was pleasantly surprised by the plot and some of the character choices, I was expecting something cliche but it was wonderfully refreshing 💛
I was pleasantly surprised by the plot and some of the character choices, I was expecting something cliche but it was wonderfully refreshing 💛
November 23, 2025
11/23/25 third reread time. it is still so iconic and peak to me. Chris's character arc really stood out to me this time.
9/7/25 yes i reread it already. sue me! it's a damn good book.
9/4/25 A potential book of the year for me. I highly, *highly* recommend this one. Gorgeous art, very clever use of color. Time loop shennanigans. Very strong main characters. An absolute delight.
9/7/25 yes i reread it already. sue me! it's a damn good book.
9/4/25 A potential book of the year for me. I highly, *highly* recommend this one. Gorgeous art, very clever use of color. Time loop shennanigans. Very strong main characters. An absolute delight.
August 25, 2025
Reading 2025
Book 171: You and Me on Repeat by Mary Shyne
Found this graphic novel on some lists I was perusing to pick some new GNs to read. Was also able to get this at the library.
Synopsis: In this swoony and hilarious debut rom-com graphic novel, two former friends are trapped in a time loop together, repeating their high school graduation day over and over and over—for fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Pumpkinheads, and Groundhog Day.
Review: I almost put this book down about at around 50 pages. Then I leafed through and read a bit from the middle of the book, that made me go back and read the whole thing. A very good debut GN. The story is multilayered, tragic, heartbreaking, and triumphant. Definitely recommend. My rating 4⭐️
Book 171: You and Me on Repeat by Mary Shyne
Found this graphic novel on some lists I was perusing to pick some new GNs to read. Was also able to get this at the library.
Synopsis: In this swoony and hilarious debut rom-com graphic novel, two former friends are trapped in a time loop together, repeating their high school graduation day over and over and over—for fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Pumpkinheads, and Groundhog Day.
Review: I almost put this book down about at around 50 pages. Then I leafed through and read a bit from the middle of the book, that made me go back and read the whole thing. A very good debut GN. The story is multilayered, tragic, heartbreaking, and triumphant. Definitely recommend. My rating 4⭐️
July 7, 2025
Chris and Alicia are stuck on the same graduation day timeloop. Chris hopes to kiss the girl of his dreams, Alicia begrudgingly offers to help. But that's just the first few loops, and the stakes get higher and emotions run hotter the more graduation day repeats itself.
Holy fuck this book was so good, maybe my favorite YA read of 2025. At its core, this book is a love story, but it has so much more grit and depth than most YA stories are willing to offer. You get teachers who are both hero worshipped and problematic, the high school gatekeeping of dungeons and dragons, viral tiktok dances with swimmer hotties, and more. This comic gives teenagers the foresight and agency they could only achieve in a time loop, and it does it extremely well. This is the most beautifully packaged plot I've seen in a minute, and is a must read.
Holy fuck this book was so good, maybe my favorite YA read of 2025. At its core, this book is a love story, but it has so much more grit and depth than most YA stories are willing to offer. You get teachers who are both hero worshipped and problematic, the high school gatekeeping of dungeons and dragons, viral tiktok dances with swimmer hotties, and more. This comic gives teenagers the foresight and agency they could only achieve in a time loop, and it does it extremely well. This is the most beautifully packaged plot I've seen in a minute, and is a must read.
December 30, 2024
Summary:
Chris O’Brien had this whole grand plan for graduation day. Of course, nothing went to plan - not even the hundredth time around. That’s not an exaggeration, as Chris willingly stepped into a time loop to get that perfect day.
Now, Chris can’t get out of the loop, and Alicia is the only person who knows what is going on. She’s a nerd and better understands how to get out of the loop - and she knows this grand kiss Chris is planning on won’t cut it.
Review:
If you’re looking for a good novel with time loop shenanigans (think Groundhog Day), I have good news! You and Me on Repeat is a fantastic read that fits the bill. In addition to having all the chaos of a time loop, it has a romantic focus and a coming-of-age element.
You can tell that You and Me on Repeat was made for young adults and maybe even a touch younger. This is because it addresses many familiar coming-of-age concerns, from what to do with one’s life to how to find your person. The best part is that it’s all bundled in one nice package!
Don’t let the cute art style fool you; You and Me on Repeat has a deep center. Each character is fully fleshed out, from Chris and Alicia to the secondary characters they interact with. Some of the secondary plots get shockingly heavy and human, but that makes the story so much more powerful.
I am so happy that I took the time to read You and Me on Repeat. I hope other readers enjoyed it as much as I did!
Highlights:
Young Adult Graphic Novel
Time Loop
Coming of Age
Young Romance
Groundhog Day Vibes
Trigger Warnings:
Death of a Friend/Classmate
Thanks to Henry Holt. and Co. BYR Paperbacks and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Tumblr | Reedsy
Chris O’Brien had this whole grand plan for graduation day. Of course, nothing went to plan - not even the hundredth time around. That’s not an exaggeration, as Chris willingly stepped into a time loop to get that perfect day.
Now, Chris can’t get out of the loop, and Alicia is the only person who knows what is going on. She’s a nerd and better understands how to get out of the loop - and she knows this grand kiss Chris is planning on won’t cut it.
Review:
If you’re looking for a good novel with time loop shenanigans (think Groundhog Day), I have good news! You and Me on Repeat is a fantastic read that fits the bill. In addition to having all the chaos of a time loop, it has a romantic focus and a coming-of-age element.
You can tell that You and Me on Repeat was made for young adults and maybe even a touch younger. This is because it addresses many familiar coming-of-age concerns, from what to do with one’s life to how to find your person. The best part is that it’s all bundled in one nice package!
Don’t let the cute art style fool you; You and Me on Repeat has a deep center. Each character is fully fleshed out, from Chris and Alicia to the secondary characters they interact with. Some of the secondary plots get shockingly heavy and human, but that makes the story so much more powerful.
I am so happy that I took the time to read You and Me on Repeat. I hope other readers enjoyed it as much as I did!
Highlights:
Young Adult Graphic Novel
Time Loop
Coming of Age
Young Romance
Groundhog Day Vibes
Trigger Warnings:
Death of a Friend/Classmate
Thanks to Henry Holt. and Co. BYR Paperbacks and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Tumblr | Reedsy
October 16, 2025
Such a sweet read! It's hard to get a time loop book storyline well and this book did a great job capturing it. Loved how they used the colors to tell the story and how the author lays out the pages to tell this amazing story. Great read! Go check it out :)
October 27, 2025
3.5 - read this so long ago idek
November 20, 2025
the art and use of color are wonderful, loved the story, I LOVE TIME LOOPS!
November 24, 2025
Beautiful art, so many boards, color tones, so many ways. A good story with depth. YA but you’re never too old to enjoy. Loved it.
July 10, 2025
Ur girllll is back by popular demand 😚
Im getting my reading in and hoping to complete my goal; 20 down, 25 to go 😅
Anywayyy this book was pretty good, it was a fun and quick read for a summer day!
Im getting my reading in and hoping to complete my goal; 20 down, 25 to go 😅
Anywayyy this book was pretty good, it was a fun and quick read for a summer day!
November 8, 2025
Fun time loop stort with great color palettes. Some of the teen speak was a little cringe but overall fun gn!
March 26, 2025
Note: I received a DRC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
“In this swoony and hilarious debut rom-com graphic novel, two former friends are trapped in a time loop together, repeating their high school graduation day over and over and over—for fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Pumpkinheads, and Groundhog Day.
Chris O’Brien has a genius plan: If he can share the perfect first kiss with his crush, Andy, then of course he’ll break free from the time loop that has him repeating graduation day over and over…and over.
Alicia Ochoa thinks Chris’s plan is doomed. Valedictorian and a total nerd, she knows it’ll take more than a kiss to escape the loop they’re trapped in together. Besides, Chris may be a hopeless romantic, but Alicia doesn’t think he has a real shot with Andy.
Once close friends, Alicia and Chris have history—lots of it. As they got older, the pair fell out after Chris ditched her for the “cool kids” and left her in the dust. But when you’re looping side by side, you never know if friendship might rekindle or what new feelings could spark along the way.”
I absolutely love this book! Chris and Alicia are great characters, and I loved their relationship. I loved everything about the loop, and I really enjoyed all of the things that Chris and Alicia get into in certain parts of the loop. The twists were great, and I related to Chris a lot. The illustrations were stunning and really beautiful. I love how each loop has a different color for the illustrations. “You and Me on Repeat” is a stunning and beautifully charming book that I would recommend to rom-com enjoyers and graphic novel lovers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“In this swoony and hilarious debut rom-com graphic novel, two former friends are trapped in a time loop together, repeating their high school graduation day over and over and over—for fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Pumpkinheads, and Groundhog Day.
Chris O’Brien has a genius plan: If he can share the perfect first kiss with his crush, Andy, then of course he’ll break free from the time loop that has him repeating graduation day over and over…and over.
Alicia Ochoa thinks Chris’s plan is doomed. Valedictorian and a total nerd, she knows it’ll take more than a kiss to escape the loop they’re trapped in together. Besides, Chris may be a hopeless romantic, but Alicia doesn’t think he has a real shot with Andy.
Once close friends, Alicia and Chris have history—lots of it. As they got older, the pair fell out after Chris ditched her for the “cool kids” and left her in the dust. But when you’re looping side by side, you never know if friendship might rekindle or what new feelings could spark along the way.”
I absolutely love this book! Chris and Alicia are great characters, and I loved their relationship. I loved everything about the loop, and I really enjoyed all of the things that Chris and Alicia get into in certain parts of the loop. The twists were great, and I related to Chris a lot. The illustrations were stunning and really beautiful. I love how each loop has a different color for the illustrations. “You and Me on Repeat” is a stunning and beautifully charming book that I would recommend to rom-com enjoyers and graphic novel lovers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 16, 2025
I only intended to read the first few pages, to see what I thought. I had been waiting for this book to come out forever, and I figured I would take my time, and read it when it wasn’t late, and I wasn’t tired.
I ended up staying up late to read the whole thing once through, and then going through it briefly again, to see if I picked up anything else in the second reading.
The basic story is that, like Groundhog Day, the day keeps repeating. No matter what you do, it isn’t going to change. It is graduation day and Chris thinks that if he can just repeat the day, he will be able to kiss his crush and that will make his life complete. Alicia, the school valedictorian, thinks he is foolish, but shows him a way to repeat the day until he gets what he wants.
And so begins the story of both of them repeating the day over and over again. Alicia begins to give crazier and crazier valedictorian speeches, and Chris just can’t seem to kiss Andy.
Not wanting to give anything away, because that makes this not as much fun to read, but like in Groundhog Day, Chris begins to learn what he likes and doesnt’ like about graduation day, and seeks to change it. And Alicia, who doesn’t seem to care, does in fact care.
I really love this time loop story. Some of the situations they got into were funny. Some sad. But all made sense.
Highly recommend this book. There is something about teens who think they know everything, and sometimes they do, and sometimes they don’t. Very emotional, and full of feels.
Oh, and all the stars
I ended up staying up late to read the whole thing once through, and then going through it briefly again, to see if I picked up anything else in the second reading.
The basic story is that, like Groundhog Day, the day keeps repeating. No matter what you do, it isn’t going to change. It is graduation day and Chris thinks that if he can just repeat the day, he will be able to kiss his crush and that will make his life complete. Alicia, the school valedictorian, thinks he is foolish, but shows him a way to repeat the day until he gets what he wants.
And so begins the story of both of them repeating the day over and over again. Alicia begins to give crazier and crazier valedictorian speeches, and Chris just can’t seem to kiss Andy.
Not wanting to give anything away, because that makes this not as much fun to read, but like in Groundhog Day, Chris begins to learn what he likes and doesnt’ like about graduation day, and seeks to change it. And Alicia, who doesn’t seem to care, does in fact care.
I really love this time loop story. Some of the situations they got into were funny. Some sad. But all made sense.
Highly recommend this book. There is something about teens who think they know everything, and sometimes they do, and sometimes they don’t. Very emotional, and full of feels.
Oh, and all the stars
September 3, 2025
You and Me on Repeat is tough sledding at first as the author drops you right into the main character's Groundhog's Day scenario with little explanation. Gradually, we come to understand that Chris is stuck in a time loop until he can kiss his girlfriend on graduation day (or so he thinks) and Alicia is also stuck in the loop with him.
The twist, of course, is that Chris is actually meant to be with , which should be obvious to anyone familiar with romantic comedies, but the author unravels this truth in a decently slow and unpredictable fashion. As the book moves further away from science fiction (and Chris's dull narration) and more into romance territory, it becomes better. By the time the characters are trying to figure out how to exit the time loop, we actually care about them and their outcome. It's nice! Good pacing.
That said, the book could be a lot tighter - there are plenty of shaggy elements that give you space to wonder why these characters are so fine with their insane sci-fi scenario (shouldn't they be freaking out more?). But it's a mostly fun ride that hits home in the end.
The twist, of course, is that Chris is actually meant to be with , which should be obvious to anyone familiar with romantic comedies, but the author unravels this truth in a decently slow and unpredictable fashion. As the book moves further away from science fiction (and Chris's dull narration) and more into romance territory, it becomes better. By the time the characters are trying to figure out how to exit the time loop, we actually care about them and their outcome. It's nice! Good pacing.
That said, the book could be a lot tighter - there are plenty of shaggy elements that give you space to wonder why these characters are so fine with their insane sci-fi scenario (shouldn't they be freaking out more?). But it's a mostly fun ride that hits home in the end.
August 7, 2025
Actual rating: 3.5
"This was interesting..." was my first thought after finishing You and Me on Repeat.
I picked up this book at my library after having shelved it from a giveaway a few months ago. In it's most skin-deep level of analysis You and Me on Repeat is the story of Chris O'Brien, a high school senior who begins the story on the 20th time he's repeated his graduation day. We are later introduced to Alicia, a Mexican girl who is also in the time loop. Alicia, however, chooses to keep living in the loop in order to live however she wants rather than live in the life she was in: the valedictorian and perfect caregiver for her siblings. Both of them joined this time loop voluntarily because they assumed it would 'give them another shot'. Chris opting for this option to get a do-over to have the perfect first kiss with his girlfriend and Alicia choosing to do it after regretting a few choices. (Which are revealed later in the book)
My biggest complaints.
To be completely direct, this book began to loose me in the middle, the graphics felt like they were running together and it felt like nothing was changing. The time loop is difficult to understand at first and it feels like it would be easier to understand if Chris/the author took some time at the beginning of the book to slowly explain how the loop functions and how he got there before plunging into the story. It would likely make the intro boring- but necessary.
Additionally, Chris's connection with Andy seems unnecessary to the plot. I find that them dating and more parts acted as a way to make his character seem creepy. Spoilers below.
What it did right.
Even though I just spent an entire paragraph worth of yap talking about things I didn't like about this book. There is a LOT that it did right.
I adore the character arcs, it is difficult to see lots of character growth in graphic novels but this one did it perfectly. I love that Alicia is living in the exact opposite situation of Chris, I love that she is smart, nerdy, and seemingly 'perfect' even though she isn't. I think it's amazing that throughout his time in the loop Chris gets to grow and become more mature and even He begins to resent his hometown less and decides to right his wrongs.
On a deeper level of analysis, You and Me on Repeat is a story about grief.
Finally, the art in this book is really cool. I love that the colors symbolize different number of loops and I think that the changes between the character's expression between the book are really indicative of growth and the overall development. All in all, worth the read.
"This was interesting..." was my first thought after finishing You and Me on Repeat.
I picked up this book at my library after having shelved it from a giveaway a few months ago. In it's most skin-deep level of analysis You and Me on Repeat is the story of Chris O'Brien, a high school senior who begins the story on the 20th time he's repeated his graduation day. We are later introduced to Alicia, a Mexican girl who is also in the time loop. Alicia, however, chooses to keep living in the loop in order to live however she wants rather than live in the life she was in: the valedictorian and perfect caregiver for her siblings. Both of them joined this time loop voluntarily because they assumed it would 'give them another shot'. Chris opting for this option to get a do-over to have the perfect first kiss with his girlfriend and Alicia choosing to do it after regretting a few choices. (Which are revealed later in the book)
My biggest complaints.
To be completely direct, this book began to loose me in the middle, the graphics felt like they were running together and it felt like nothing was changing. The time loop is difficult to understand at first and it feels like it would be easier to understand if Chris/the author took some time at the beginning of the book to slowly explain how the loop functions and how he got there before plunging into the story. It would likely make the intro boring- but necessary.
Additionally, Chris's connection with Andy seems unnecessary to the plot. I find that them dating and more parts acted as a way to make his character seem creepy. Spoilers below.
What it did right.
Even though I just spent an entire paragraph worth of yap talking about things I didn't like about this book. There is a LOT that it did right.
I adore the character arcs, it is difficult to see lots of character growth in graphic novels but this one did it perfectly. I love that Alicia is living in the exact opposite situation of Chris, I love that she is smart, nerdy, and seemingly 'perfect' even though she isn't. I think it's amazing that throughout his time in the loop Chris gets to grow and become more mature and even He begins to resent his hometown less and decides to right his wrongs.
On a deeper level of analysis, You and Me on Repeat is a story about grief.
Finally, the art in this book is really cool. I love that the colors symbolize different number of loops and I think that the changes between the character's expression between the book are really indicative of growth and the overall development. All in all, worth the read.
March 31, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this graphic novel!
This book exceeded my expectations! I truly loved everything about this book from the art style, the story, and even the pacing of the story felt natural (which is something I always end up critiquing a book about). If you are a fan of YA graphic novels, you have to read this book, I truly believe that this graphic novel is going to be on everyone’s list of “must read YA graphic novels”. The main characters in this book have such a great dynamic, and their chemistry is very believable. I recommend everyone to read this book!
This book exceeded my expectations! I truly loved everything about this book from the art style, the story, and even the pacing of the story felt natural (which is something I always end up critiquing a book about). If you are a fan of YA graphic novels, you have to read this book, I truly believe that this graphic novel is going to be on everyone’s list of “must read YA graphic novels”. The main characters in this book have such a great dynamic, and their chemistry is very believable. I recommend everyone to read this book!
January 14, 2025
This was so good! It was like Groundhog Day but for high school. I really liked the message and decisions the characters made at the end. It even made me a little emotional, so I definitely recommend it to teens, fans of YA, and librarians considering purchasing it for their teen collection.
ARC from Netgalley.
ARC from Netgalley.
April 12, 2025
Such a sweet story about finding our way forward even when we are uncertain what the future may hold.
November 23, 2025
wild dice dojo cameo!!!!!!
great plotting and pacing, great control of story AND cartooning in this one. foreshortening so good it made me jealous.
great plotting and pacing, great control of story AND cartooning in this one. foreshortening so good it made me jealous.
November 20, 2025
(Go ahead & read the summary of the story in the book description above...I'll add my opinions here.)
Using black outlines of a uniform thickness puts the focus on facial expressions and body language, while shifting from one to another specific color indicates a shift from one to another “loop”; each color is an alternate reality that lasts about 24 hours, then resets, while blue is the natural timeline before Chris starts time-looping.
I'm not sure it makes sense that the planet has continued moving, so that eventually it lines up with where it was roughly situated in the universe on the first day the time-looping device was set up & turned on. However, it also wouldn't make sense that the entire universe stopped motion. So, without a plausible description of what's happening, readers are left with a nagging sense that the characters and the creators of the graphic novel are not quite as clever as they think they are.
Which isn't terrible to say about the two teenagers at the center of the story, who of course are still developing their prefrontal cortex. Of course they care MUCH more about the "chemistry" of their romantic interests than about understanding the physics of how their bodies are stuck repeating Graduation Day. Which is probably also true of the intended audience, so that’s fine!
I really liked that Alicia finally tells Chris that his nickname for her (“Leesh") is wrong because she pronounces her name Ah-lee-see-ah, not Ah-lee-sha — he gets it right from then onward, AND he subsequently tells his mother that her behavior and judgment about Alicia and her mother were harmful (it happens off-screen, unfortunately), and after some introspection (apparently, off-screen as well) his mother also makes amends.
I am describing that one sequence because of course rapid personal growth is what everyone expects from a “Groundhog Day” scenario - the person stuck in the loop gets as many second chances as they need to deeply understand what action will be effective for all parties involved, even if it means abandoning their own deeply-held beliefs, practices, or goals. And they typically try their worst ideas first, and do everything as wrong as possible in order to get to the cathartic moment, which is what Chris and Alicia do.
It’s not all tidy, but the characters’ motivations and decisions do make sense, and it’s a captivating story.
Using black outlines of a uniform thickness puts the focus on facial expressions and body language, while shifting from one to another specific color indicates a shift from one to another “loop”; each color is an alternate reality that lasts about 24 hours, then resets, while blue is the natural timeline before Chris starts time-looping.
I'm not sure it makes sense that the planet has continued moving, so that eventually it lines up with where it was roughly situated in the universe on the first day the time-looping device was set up & turned on. However, it also wouldn't make sense that the entire universe stopped motion. So, without a plausible description of what's happening, readers are left with a nagging sense that the characters and the creators of the graphic novel are not quite as clever as they think they are.
Which isn't terrible to say about the two teenagers at the center of the story, who of course are still developing their prefrontal cortex. Of course they care MUCH more about the "chemistry" of their romantic interests than about understanding the physics of how their bodies are stuck repeating Graduation Day. Which is probably also true of the intended audience, so that’s fine!
I really liked that Alicia finally tells Chris that his nickname for her (“Leesh") is wrong because she pronounces her name Ah-lee-see-ah, not Ah-lee-sha — he gets it right from then onward, AND he subsequently tells his mother that her behavior and judgment about Alicia and her mother were harmful (it happens off-screen, unfortunately), and after some introspection (apparently, off-screen as well) his mother also makes amends.
I am describing that one sequence because of course rapid personal growth is what everyone expects from a “Groundhog Day” scenario - the person stuck in the loop gets as many second chances as they need to deeply understand what action will be effective for all parties involved, even if it means abandoning their own deeply-held beliefs, practices, or goals. And they typically try their worst ideas first, and do everything as wrong as possible in order to get to the cathartic moment, which is what Chris and Alicia do.
It’s not all tidy, but the characters’ motivations and decisions do make sense, and it’s a captivating story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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