Breaks: Volume Two

Breaks #2

by Emma Vieceli, Malin Rydén

Ian and Cortland are all too aware that the bubble they've made for themselves can't last. Shifting relationships and tested friendships may be the least of their worries, though, as they learn more about each other and the pasts they'd rather leave behind. Familial legacy, fragile ambition and potentially devastating secrets; their budding relationship is going to need a stronger foundation than secrecy if they want to face what life has in store for them together. Bringing the world of LGBT young adult fiction into the realm of comic books, and collecting the second arc of the acclaimed weekly web series (2017-2019), Breaks is the story of two young men discovering who they were, who they are, and who they will become. It's a love story...but a little broken.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Romance, LGBT, Comics, Young Adult, Contemporary, Graphic Novels Comics

152 pages, Paperback

First published June 18, 2020

About the author

Emma Vieceli (born June 13, 1979, in Essex) is a professional British comics artist of Italian-English heritage. She is currently a resident of a small village in Cambridgeshire, England.

From self-publishing to some of the biggest book publishers in the world, Emma loves telling stories with pictures and believes that comics should be 'For everyone, About anything, By anyone' (<--FAB!).

The writer for Life is Strange (Titan comics), she is happy to cross the streams and works as both writer and artist depending on the project. Her recent work as an artist includes: The Modern Frankenstein (Magma Comix), Olivia Twist (Dark Horse), Alex Rider (Walker books), The Adventures of Supergirl (DC comics), Doctor Who (Titan comics), Jem & the holograms (IDW) the New York Times-bestselling Vampire Academy graphic novel series (PenguinRandomHouse), Back to the Future (IDW) and Avalon Chronicles (Oni Press)
She co-creates the critically acclaimed independent web series, BREAKS with Malin Ryden (collected editions published through SoaringPenguin), with Vieceli co-writing and 'comicking' (art/tone/letters).
Alongside comics, she worked on the A&E television series, Bates Motel, providing the sketchbook found by Norman Bates, as an artist with tinyrebel on their Doctor Who Infinity games, and recently joined the writing team for Vile Monarch's life sim video game, Growing Up.

Reviews

[Ilse · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a lot better than the first book. I really liked how Cortland and Ian's relationship blossomed. As well as more backstory about the two of them.

[tyler]

ну тут я ваще уже вчиталась, влюбилась, кайф жоский

[Mariivdk · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* i just HAD to read this immediately, as it came in earlier today. i very much enjoyed volume 1, and this one i enjoyed even more. more backstory, relationship blossomed beautifully and ended with such an intriguing cliffhanger. i just know there's gonna be some sick ass lore in the next one. i cannot wait to read the third, and last, one !!!!

[Anu-vinkkari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keveällä kynällä piirrettyä seepian sävyistä poikarakkautta. Draamaa ja synkkiä salaisuuksia riittää, mutta onneksi myös ystävyyttä ja ymmärrystä. Aikuisuuden rajamailla harhaillaan.

Vinkkaukseen englantia auttavasti osaaville yläluokista ylöspäin.

[jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

on tapas, part #71-203

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to meet Emma Vieceli at MCM Comic-Con this Sunday, and grab a copy of the special edition.
This volume is so beautiful. Good character development here, and Ian is... he’s too precious. I love love love him. And Milly, she’s the boss.
I’m so looking forward to reading more about Ian and Cort. Life is just beginning for these two, and I can’t wait to know what happens next.

[suvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me paint the scene for you; it's midnight. I have to be in school at 8am. I still have my makeup on and I am running around my apartment in a panic trying to pack my things for the next day. Then my eyes land on the pile of library books. The huge pile of library books. I think to myself, yes, I will return a few of those tomorrow. Then I realise I have read very few of them, so I can't return that many. So, I sit down on the floor and pick this up because it was the shortest and thus most definitely the fastest read - right? Right?

It wasn't. I had to lie down after every page to kick my feet in the air and giggle happily. I love these boys and I am so happy with how their relationship is going. There is one more volume, so I am also acutely aware of the fact that I must be lulled in to the false sense of security. I know this. And then, like the smart person I am, ignore it. That's a future me problem. I am having the time of my life right now.

Then, in the middle of reading, I look at the clock; 1am. That's not why I stopped reading, though, no. That's because I realised what song I am listening to - on a loop. Hi High by LOONA. The most perfect girly-pop bubblegum pink sparkly dream written with glitter gel pen. Not exactly the song for this book. But the more I listen, the more it somehow makes sense? I let it keep playing on loop as me and Cortland and Ian keep facing the horrors.

Then I face the horror as I realise my library doesn't have the 3rd volume.

5/5 exactly what I needed

[Sophie Edina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think it's fair to call this a grimmer version of Heartstopper, as it kinda robs both storys of their originality, but it gives you a general idea about what to expect.
There is a lot of emotional depth to these characters, serious challenges and issues in their lives around the age of 18 and while the first one was a cute enemies-to-lovers-romance, this is a far more complex story about where you come from and where you can go, about how to come to terms with your past, your present and your future. I need more emotionally (and physical) scared characters falling in love with each other, respecting and supporting the hell out of each other while still being sarcastic and/or unstable.
It is an uplifting story in the end, it gives representation to troubled youth and how to support loved ones while they're going through stuff, but not in an exploiting way. To some it might seem unrelatable or worse depressing, but I really, really enjoyed it.

[Lillian Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glorious. I devoured this all in one sitting.

I see bad things for the boys ahead. I need volume 3 asap.

It's still dark in places but the lads have some moments of pure joy.

Mine is the Kickstarter hardback with a beautiful dust cover.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Court and Ian open up to each other about their pasts and move forward together in a healthy place. There was a lot of growing in this one, and while still dealing with some darker topics, this was a sweet read.
I loved seeing Court and Ian be honest and open with each other.

[Sooz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Vol. 2 is even better than Vol. 1. I love Ian and Cort. Can’t wait for Vol. 3.

[Christoph Segers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ook het tweede deel in dit drieluik ontgoocheld niet: sterke verhaallijnen waarin meer uitleg wordt gegeven over de achtergrond van de personages, verklaren hun acties. Misschien wat veel ellende/geschiedenis voor twee gezinnen, maar dat maakt het natuurlijk ook meeslepend...

[Rosa Revoluzza · Rating 3 out of 5]

another gay mlm romance novel written by not one But two women (its still kinda good but also kinda trash)

the characters are not at all fleshed out and they always laugh at stuff which I dont get why its supposed to be funny

[Kalli · Rating 3 out of 5]

plot: ★★☆☆☆
TBH, I am starting to think this series just isn’t for me. the storyline just isn’t pulling me in the way I want it to. which is a bummer, because I do LOVE the sweet moments between Ian and Cort. part of me wants to keep reading just for those moments, but trying to read this book put me into such a slump (which is wild for a graphic novel to be capable of doing) so I’m not sure what to do going forward.
writing: ★★★☆☆
similar to how I felt about the first volume, the writing is just fine. it’s not bad, but it’s not exactly engaging either.
prose: ★☆☆☆☆
keeping my comment from volume one: this isn’t a prose-filled type of story. don’t get me wrong, it is cute, but it’s not flowery or anything.
pacing: ★☆☆☆☆
the pacing STRUGGLES. I think that’s my issue here. it just feels so slow and like the big reveals don’t feel as shocking as I think they’re meant to. like the build up feels clunky, so then what’s supposed to be a big moment just feels like “oh okay”.
humor: ★★★★☆
similar to how I feel about loving the sweet moments between Ian and Cort, I love when they get to be funny with each other too. this volume definitely made me laugh more. for example, there is a vibrator named Mr. Tequila.
characters: ★★★☆☆
I’m curious to see what happens with Milly now that her and Ian broke up!! I hope she still gets to be central to the story. I was really loving her friendship with Cort and would love to see more of that.
spice level: 🖤🖤🖤🤍🤍 (2.5 rounded up)
there are sexual scenes in this volume!! they are not explicitly drawn, but they’re 100% explicitly talked about, so it’s not like you have to use your imagination much.
illustrations and/or art style: ★★★☆☆ (2.5 rounded up)
I didn’t love it originally, but it is starting to grow on me. I think it fits well with the story.
audiobook narration: ☒
I read the hard copy of this book.
over-all enjoyment: ★★★☆☆
I want to love this series so bad, but I’m having a really hard time. it has its moments, but I don’t think I’m in a big rush to read the next volume.

[taylahslibrary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked that this one had a more comprehensive story and finally revealed a fair chunk of backstory that explains why the characters are the way that they are, it still felt incomplete and like the characters weren’t fully fleshed out.

The story was confusing to read as there were time jumps without any obvious way to tell that there was a time jump or a scene break.

I did however like the recap at the beginning as it filled me in on a lot of context that was lacking from the first volume, although it’s disappointing that the second volume needed that to begin with.

i felt that there was really no reason for anything they did to end up together.. there’s no explination as to why they hate each other and have been ricals for three years, there’s no explination as to why they suddenly have feelings for one another. And neither of them stop to have a conversation about it either. They just completely think it’s fine to go from hating each other one day to kissing each other the next. I would have liked this a lot more if they actually stopped to think about their relationship and discuss it instead of just barrelling ahead. It felt so unrealistic and almost like the writers were just playing the sims and forcing two sims together in a romantic relationship against their sims wills.

[Oliver Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copied from my Amazon Review:

Book 2 in My Favourite 'Romance' series.

Typically I'm not one for romance, not at all; the reason I put 'romance' in inverted commas in my title was to highlight that, even in Volume 2, with the main characters moving closer together, the drama and mystery in their larger lives (particularly where parents and siblings are concerned) are as much a selling point of the book to me as their relationship.

I've already complemented the art and story in my review of the first volume, so I wont repeat myself, but hopefully you enjoyed the first book as much as I did and are here to see if the story and characters develop and at least some of the mysteries are solved. Suffice it to say that if you liked the first book and want to see how Cort, Ian, their families and the wider cast (even Spence I guess) are progressing then you will not be disappointed.

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Thank you Orbit Books for my advanced reading copy!

In my review of Breaks Volume 1, I wrote:
“They said that before Heartstopper there was Breaks and I can easily believe it!
Breaks is edgier, somber than Heartstopper yet none the less heartbreaking, authentic and wonderful!
Be aware that this book has several triggers though. »

Well this remains absolutely true in this sequel.

Yet it felt softer or maybe a bit more settled, just like Ian and Cortland who are both growing up and discovering who they really are.
We find more answers about Cortland’s past and discover that Ian has secrets of his own! These two are a delight to follow and witness their relationship unfurl.
What you will find in this sequel is:
-romance;
-friendship;
-grief;
-secrets;
-bullying;
And a lot of character growth!

Give me the third book already!

[Miss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, thank God! I had no idea what to expect from this and I am delighted by everything. I worried that there would be angst and drama and there were moments, but Ian and Cortland stayed strong and I love that.

The art continues to wow me. How Cortland's gaze can be so piercing in shadow and shade is just breathtaking. His growth as a character and the expansion of his story were very well done in this volume. We get flashes of Ian's layers, too, but this mostly showcases his dorky, goofy, lovableness to balance out what Cort is going through. That kind of softening of the edges and acceptance of scars will win me over every time. It's beautiful and beautifully done in this volume.

[Lucsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so glad I got approved for this because I loved the first volume.
The best way I have of summarizing this graphic novel is to think of Heartstopper but much grittier, with characters with a more working-class background whose mindsets and lives reflect the lack of the emotional and financial support of a privileged middle-class upbringing.
I really loved this second volume, the plot twists were fun but what I truly loved was the importance put on communication and a support system of friends as well as family.
The art of course is beautiful and I can't wait to see the final coloured version.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit at Little Brown Book for this DRC.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me this struggled with some pacing issues and I feel like there’s too much crammed in to do each story line justice.

Also, I can’t get on with the idea that Cortland’s older brother could allow him to think that he killed a person for two years, watch him go through all that trauma, so that he would be clean and be his guardian.

Quite enjoyed book 1 but I think this is where I leave the series.

[Emmie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read the first volume earlier this year and jumped at the chance to read and review volume 2. I really enjoy this graphic novel series and love the artwork so much. As I mentioned in my review for volume 1, I'm so happy we're getting more LGBTQ+ graphic novels as it opens up these stories to a wider audience.

While this story is dark at times this is such a important story of finding yourself and coming to terms with your sexuality. I really enjoyed watching Cortland and Ian's relationship progress while they deal with external factors in their life. I love these two so much and honestly just want the best for them. I cannot wait to read the next volume, especially with the reveals from this one!

[Logs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve realised I’m not that invested in the relationship between these characters, it feels kind of rushed (but Yknow, graphic novel) but it really doesn’t matter because I love the art style and I’m invested enough in the characters themselves that I’m actually REALLY enjoying this. Already ordered the next one, very excited.

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay so bit better than the first one but still some really rushed situations, like a breakup was only one page…
And even though I feel as though the whole relationship was rushed in the first book, their progression in this one felt good and natural. Although the topics is much crazier than I was expecting.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really enjoyed this second arc and how we got to know the characters further. I'm tempted to continue reading on Tapas with the 3rd arc but I'm probably gonna wait for it to be completed to be able to binge it all at once. Knowing myself it's better than to wait for every update 😅

[Ellen Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

I'm glad I read this one, the ending has me wanting to read Vol 3 as well but I won't rush to grab it this time. This Vol 2 deals with some sensitive topics and this is a postive however this vol just didn't turn the pages like the first vol for me.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

You get far more into the story in this volume, there's a bit of backstory for both of them and their relationship is more developed in this second instalment. I'll enjoy seeing where they both end up in volume three.

[NoSaints · Rating 4 out of 5]

I preferred this one to the first volume - much more cohesive which worked in its favour because it allowed me to become invested in the plot and the two main characters. Really enjoyed it and I want to find out how it ends!

(Don’t remember the exact date I’ve read it)

[Vikki Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughing out loud at times. Love these guys.

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this angtsy-sweet romance.

[Abi Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

love this series can't wait for more