Frederica "Freddy" Riley is a high school student stuck in a cycle of toxic romance with Laura Dean, a popular girl who alternates between grand gestures of affection and cold, public neglect. After their third breakup, Freddy seeks advice from a local medium and her supportive friend group to break her obsession. The story tracks Freddy’s realization that her preoccupation with an unfaithful partner has caused her to ignore the crises in her friends' lives, including an unplanned pregnancy and social isolation. Mariko Tamaki uses specific instances of emotional manipulation and social displacement to illustrate how an unhealthy relationship can erode a person's sense of self and their community ties.
Teenagers and young adults who have experienced uneven power dynamics in dating will find a practical blueprint for setting boundaries here. The book is intended for readers who want to understand the difference between a loving partnership and one defined by intermittent reinforcement. By following Freddy’s choices, the reader learns to identify the signs of gaslighting and the importance of prioritizing platonic loyalty over romantic chaos. One walks away with a clear perspective on why staying in a bad relationship is a choice that affects everyone in their inner circle.
Inward-looking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2019
- Language
- EN
