This graphic novel did not go how I expected. The synopsis made it seem like we would have two separate storylines going (Molly and Lou then Yona and Olene), but everyone was completely intertwined in a confusing way. The story essentially followed six main characters. With the main characters all being exes of each other, that made it really difficult to keep them straight. I had trouble differentiating Lou and Molly at the beginning, too, because they look so similar and were in the same panels together. All the characters fell flat, too, with no real depth to them. I really struggled to care about them.

A main focus of the novel should have been self discovery, but I felt there was very little of that going on. It was clear that all the main characters were queer, but they didn't seem to really be discovering anything about their identities. There was one part where one character learned something about herself, but that didn't feel like a very powerful moment. I couldn't even keep track of what everyone's gender and sexuality were in order to watch their growth throughout the story, likely because of how many characters we were switching between; we didn't stay with one character long enough to fully learn about them before hopping to another.

Overall, I struggled to figure out the point of the story.

The art was very cute, though, and the artist did very creative things with color. The end showed author's notes explaining this in more detail, which was interesting to read.

A lighthearted graphic novel debut about 5 queer college students and their messy relationships with one another. While I really enjoyed the bubbly art style and compelling storyline, I didn't find all of the characters very likeable (except for Lou who can do no wrong). Any terrible actions done by some characters were not sufficiently challenged by the narrative by the end, at least in my opinion. With that said, this made for a nice summer read, so I wouldn't be opposed to checking out the author's future works!

I feel there Is a lot of characters and a lot going on, where I couldn't remember who's ex is who's and what drama is going on. I read it a second time and things were bit more clear. I wouldn't pick this book as a go to book but would read again

A coming of age story that is fun and interesting. With the visualization and the way the writer and illustrator play with the colours is really nice. Although the story makes for a fascinating read, I honestly didn't end up enjoying it as much. It was overall just an okay book and one I would not recommend.

If you like unresolved mess then this is a great graphic novel to check out. It's queer and makes a big point of showing how insular dating is in areas where the queer community is relatively small and how this makes getting over exes and navigating new relationships (that never seem truly new since everyone is interconnected) infinitely harder. While it's far from a happy story, I don't think that's a bad thing, it's very realistic to life in that people make bad decisions, have conflicting emotions, and often don't get closure. I will say, I personally found the art quality to be inconsistent and that did detract from my rating, but I think this book is worth checking out. I also appreciate that the author wasn't afraid to depict flawed queer people and did so in a way where I still found them sympathetic in a way that did not excuse their behaviors.

Oof, the characters in this book are messy messy messy. If you enjoy reading Am I the Asshole subreddit you'll probably really like this.

I didn't love the colours in this - the characters are completely flat with no shading, and their colours are just SUPER bright and disjointed from the backgrounds, which were often in monochromes. There were some scenes that looked nicer (like the Paris stuff and the parts set in night clubs/parties had fun lighting), but the day time stuff colours just didn't mesh for me. And the artist at the end talks about having used a colour board when making the story, but it was not evident to me while reading it I'm afraid.

The panelling was also confusing. If two panels are in line with each other, then that usually means you read those panels after each other - so if the two panels in the left of the page are in line, and the three on the right are in line, you would read it left-down and then right-right. But with this comic they threw those panelling rules out the window, and the rule was always read left to right. There are multiple pages that do this.

That said, I did find the story pretty compelling.

I loved the artwork in this. Ren strapp definitely has a talent for drawing. I also think there is promise in the storyline. However, i did feel this was a bit messy/confusing. I think every character made terrible mistakes, and every character was kind of an ass sometimes, which makes it hard to connect. But then i also get the point that that's reality, everyone is messy, everyone makes mistakes, and there is no good or bad. I also noticed that this wasn't just a love triangle but more like a love star? Everyone was in love with multiple people at the same time, and others also were in love with those people etc etc. While i do get that there is no one love interest and i also get that two people often like the same person, this love star was a bit too much. Now i am not gonna lie, if there is more content coming? I will read it <3 the art is definitely worth it and i think the story is good for a first time. I bet the second one will be even better. Keep going!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed the art style of this book but found the overall storyline just ok. While this book definitely encapsulates college life and the dumb decisions people make in their late teens/early 20’s, I found it hard to like some of the characters and root for them. Overall this was a good read, just not my cup of tea!

I usually love messy gay college dramas, but those need good and strong character growth to be pulled off (and, you know, actually solve the drama). Sadly, How Could You did not have that character growth.
The book introduced the four to five main characters well enough and set up the drama excellently, but when it all blew up, all of the characters got stuck in their petty ways instead of learning something out of it and actually growing. Also, almost all of their friendships ended over said drama and there was zero communication throughout the book. Because of this, I was very unsatisfied by the end of the boo and also need to admit that I didn’t like a single character by the end of it. Maybe that was the point, I don’t know, but it was not enjoyable.
Also, some of the things that were said by the characters really rubbed me the wrong way.
The art style was pretty though.

hi hello i loved this:)

the way the characters discover their own identities and also learn to navigate heartbreak and break ups (both friend and romantic) is so raw and real. i felt seen in these pages.

i also cried so take that into account.

it was confusing at first in following whose ex was who, but somehow i got it after a reread. the art is really cute and the color choices for the scenes and characters are done well. it's nice reading about queer people in college though!

3.5 stars (rounded up)
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Thank you, NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
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I picked this one up because I liked the art style, and it's a queer graphic novel. Usually, I love any queer graphic novels, but this one just isn’t for me. This story follows a group of queer woman in college as they navigate their relationships. I think just about everyone in this group has either dated or hooked up with one another. At times it's confusing who likes who, who ex is who, etc. However, they all seem to have this underlying dislike for each other. It a very strange situation. To me none of the characters were likable and their actions just didn't make sense to me. Maybe someone who likes messy queer characters in college may like this better than me? I just don’t think this was the book for me. However, the illustrations were beautiful!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an advanced copy of this.

3.5*

How Could You was a really well structured view of a very messy friendship, I hesitate to write group as the better description would be a tangled web. I was stressed out as Molly kept making choices that only pushed her friends away, I loved see Jackie stand up for herself more and more as the semester came to a close, loved the inclusion of a mobility aid and knee pain from walking too long. It did take me longer than I'd like to admit to realize that Yona and Olene were the exes that Molly and Lou were talking about despite it being so clear.

the 'chapter' breaks or just section breaks felt a little distracting from the story which made the ending seem short compared to the main portion of the plot but overall I still enjoyed reading this!!

3.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley !

I loved the story. It was too quick and not enough time, it's like jumping to one relation to another for me. But I loved the characters !

Thank you NetGalley for this graphic novel ARC!

A super cute graphic novel about the lines that blur between friendship and love, gay and straight, happiness and heartbreak. Follows a group of queer college girls as they navigate growing up, breaking up, and studying abroad.

A shining example of a graphic novel for adults with complex relationship storylines and topics. Strapp uses color and layout to convey the deep, yet changing feelings of the characters as their stories evolve. The backmatter at the end regarding Strapp's process is insightful. Well worth the read.

i adoreee this so much!! it shows the complexity of friendships and relationships especially when youre a lesbian.

I have been a follower of Ren Strapp's work for quite some time and I am happy to have seen them publish a full-length graphic novel. This one is the messiest dyke college drama, in which (almost) all characters are relatable and making mistakes and being in the wrong and yet you're on their side. And the reality check.

I appreciated having different perspectives and representation with Lou being nonbinary and using a cane, two butch lesbians in Molly and Lou, several queer women of color in Yona, Anjali and Jackie. It's also representative of the lesbian exchange of girlfriends in college, where everyone at some point has feeling for everyone.

Thank you author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!!

I have mixed feelings about the characters in general and it’s character driven so let’s just say I didn’t love this. I definitely ate it up cause I felt like there had to be some turning point or light at the end of the tunnel but I never felt like there was.

Super plus side! This book is so pretty! It’s like vibrant in a whole new way and I loved it.

I was compelled by the messy drama throughout this as a group of lesbian friends navigate the tricky world of romance on the verge of adulthood. The characters and situations were all relatable, which made me even more invested when they made mistakes.