Review by Booklist Review
Chris O'Brien knows that a successful highschool graduation begins with pizza rather than corned beef hash. His goal for the day is to have his first kiss with Andy, but for some reason his lips keep missing hers. Thankfully in Chris' world, the day is on repeat, a never- ending time loop of the same afterparty and the same police who ruin the fun. Enter Alicia Ochoa, high-school valedictorian and ex-friend who is also looping. She knows something about Andy, but is Chris ready to hear it? Shyne's debut is an explosion of emotions about elusive grief, familial obligations, incompatible orientations, and maturity through self-awareness. Transitions across time and space are cleverly color coded in hues reminiscent of pride flags, a fitting motif for a story about acceptance and moving forward. Shyne depicts her characters with authenticity, and the sharp contrasting colors--with deep blacks of graduation gowns against vivid backgrounds--is a great vehicle for Chris and Alicia's explorations of what it means to (not) leave home behind. A cheeky, smart romance with appeal for fans of Heartstopper.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
After entering a strange rainbow portal at a big-box store, estranged childhood friends Chris O'Brien and Alicia Ochoa find themselves stuck in a time loop of their graduation day. At first, Chris assumes that the only way to break the loop is to achieve the perfect first kiss with his girlfriend at their classmates' graduation party--which keeps getting busted. Upon realizing the seeming futility of the situation, he joins dutiful valedictorian Alicia in using the loops to enjoy some well-earned fun, finally free from social and familial expectations. Looping also allows Chris to rectify the mistake that cost him and Alicia their friendship, and, once reconciled, the two shyly flirt toward romance while hypothesizing how to break the loop. Shyne pairs flat linework and monochromatic coloring--each loop has its own hue--with dynamic perspectives and compositions, evoking a playful tone that never undermines the novel's poignant moments. A secondary plot involving Chris's late swim coach and her physicist husband provides just enough deus ex machina and emotional heft for this time-bending rom-com to land both mechanically and sentimentally. It's a cleverly executed graphic novel debut that successfully innovates the time loop meta. Ages 14--up. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up--When Chris wakes up and realizes he's reliving his high school graduation day, he shrugs it off as a dream, but as the cycle repeats again and again, he begins to believe something strange is happening. The alarm, the texts from his friends, eating breakfast--it's all familiar. He starts to change the details to get different outcomes. His main goal is to win a first kiss from his girlfriend Andy, who's been mysteriously postponing intimacy. Enter his old friend Alicia, who reveals that she's traveling in this time loop alongside him. The two had been close friends as children, but once middle school started, Chris left her behind. Now, as Alicia gives her valedictorian speech loop after loop, she helps Chris confront his fears. While trapped in this perpetual graduation day, Chris and Alicia navigate life's uncertainties. Their exploration of time, regrets, and love eventually leads them to a place they never expected to be. Shyne has created a delightful story that highlights both the anxiety of adolescence and the joy of being young. Though the time loop trope is not new, the author pumps fresh life into it with quirky characters, humorous pranks, and realistic drawings. There are also meaningful lessons about grief, gratitude, and identity. The characters include LGBTQIA+ and immigrant representation. The handful of profanities throughout the text may make this inappropriate for younger teens. VERDICT A fast-moving coming-of-age tale that will appeal to teens who enjoy realistic graphic novels with a touch of science fiction.--Karin Greenberg
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two former friends in River Meadows, Illinois, find themselves trapped in a graduation day time loop. Chris O'Brien is stuck: He's forced to relive his high school graduation day over and over again. The varsity swimmer, who reads white, believes that if he can orchestrate the perfect first kiss with the girl he likes, Miranda "Andy" Feldman, then he'll rejoin the normal timeline. The only person who can help him escape the loop is childhood friend Alicia Ochoa, yearbook editor and valedictorian of River West's class of 2025--but Chris hurt her feelings when he ditched her in favor of a new friend group in middle school. Mexican American Alicia has been repeating graduation day for almost a year, creating viral videos, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and caring for her four younger siblings. The teens must face what the future holds for them, along with new feelings that emerge as they navigate life on repeat together. Jane Ido-Cantor, Chris' teacher and swim coach, died in a car accident before graduation day, a tragedy that brings an element of solemnity to the story, balancing the humorous and lighthearted moments. The expressive illustrations use monochromatic color schemes; blue denotes flashbacks, while the time-loop scenes rotate through the colors of the rainbow. Thoughtful character development and the exploration of larger questions of grief and identity take center stage over the technical details of the timeline's mechanics. A science-fiction romance grounded by human emotion and personal triumph.(Graphic science fiction. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
