What happens when you get stuck in a timeloop on Graduation Day?

For these two students, just about every imaginable choice was made, but does it really matter when the day resets?

Thank you to #NetGalley and MacMillan Childrens for this copy of #YouAndMeOnRepeat in exchange for my honest review.

You and Me on Repeat was a cute read that left me in tears - much to my chagrin on public transit. This wholesome story is reminiscent of both Ground Hog Day and Again, but Better, which gives a fun amount of magical realism while keeping the story grounded in the reality of one notable day. If you like unexpected love stories, a little bit of technology and magical realism, and some cute coming of age content give this a shot. If not, I have no idea what to recommend you, this is just my type of read.

I love a time loop story, and this is a fun addition to the genre. Two former childhood friends find themselves stuck in a time loop reliving their high school graduation. They have to try to break free of the time loop, and learn to mend their friendship at the same time. A fun, ya graphic novel about growing up and feeling stuck in your small town.

I am pretty much a slut for Groundhog Day-plots. Tell me this story is about a character stuck reliving the same day or whatever over and over again, and I am there. Yeah, there’s usually the repetition of certain tropes in these stories, but these tropes become standards for a reason. Tropes are not cliches, but they’re simply the building blocks of which narratives are constructed. Tropes can become cliches if used badly, but telling a story without any tropes would be the equivalent of trying to write something in the English language without utilizing the twenty-six character alphabet or flying without ever getting off the ground.

This book is an interesting spin on the Groundhog Day plot. The art is well-done and charming. The story provides an interesting wrinkle on the traditional plot where it’s not enough to get yourself out of the loop. Turns out your existence/possibility of exiting the loop is tied to another person, so not only do you have to get yourself out, you have to get them out with you, and what do you do when while you’re ready for it to end, they’re quite happy to stay?

A peculiar twist on a time loop and what we’re willing to do to feel seen and to care for someone. I enjoyed the hijinks but stuck around for the heart.

thank you netgalley and macmillan for the arc !!!

this graphic novel was soooo cute !! chris and alicia are so so high school hehe

but other than that this book tackles the question of if you could turn back time what would u do differently

as someone who is skeptical of groundhog day type books i actually really enjoyed this !! it had character development and deep conversations regarding culture and being the older first generation sibling to an immigrant family

additionally it also covers grief and how people process differently

while i think chris was moving a little too fast at times, i try to remind myself they are high schoolers and the overarching message of having your whole life ahead of you and moving forward instead of constantly dwelling on the what ifs

anyway soooo cute they’re adorable and honestly such a fun quick read !!!

This was such an unexpected romance and twist on the time loop trope. I related to Alicia a lot. Her brief discussion on how she will always have to live life supporting her siblings (and then this being the reason that she actually wants to continue moving forward) hit close to home. I thought the illustrations were lovely, and more than comedic.

"In this 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 mean, obviously they need to repair their friendship, but the romantic in me knows that a kiss can totally break a time loop.

I had high hopes going Into this graphic novel, because there aren't a whole lot of romance graphic novels especially not teen that don't have additional fantasy layers. While there was certainly time travel or time looping à la Groundhog Day, it still felt more like a story about teens living their regular lives. Just on repeat. There were no real surprises either as to how the book would end up. For me, the start was choppy and had me doubting my high hopes because there was something very uncomfortable about Chris's interactions with his girlfriend. He seemed to push through all the signs and actually gave me creepy vibes with how he kept almost forcing himself into her life like a bully. And the first dozen loops did nothing to move me away from this opinion. Thankfully, though, the book does eventually get to the point where Chris is a more sympathetic character. Maybe he isn't perfect, but he is no longer crazy obsessed guy and that worked better for the rest of the story.

While the plot isn't all the novel, and the science around the portal was a bit suss - beyond the suss of someone creating a time loop in the first place - it was an enjoyable read about two characters coming to terms with their own flaws and working through them in order to be more present in their lives going forward. And ultimately, that's what the story is about: growing and moving on. Also of note, I am not good with any books that involve time travel or time looping because paradoxes drive me bonkers. This didn't hurt my head too much.

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!

Time loop plots can be tricky these days. Seems like they're just repeated stories :p
Mary Shyne, does a great job taking this plot and making it fun. I really enjoyed the characters and discovering how they changed each day. It was very relatable and sweet. I really loved the art work and all the colors used as well. Can't wait to see what Mary Shyne has in store for us next.

**Thank you NetGalley and MacMillian Children's Publishing Group for an early copy of You and Me on Repeat in exchange for an honest review.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for advanced copy for a review*

3.5 rounded up

So I love a good time loop story. Seeing characters evolve as everyone around them is stuck is so fascinating. There was a lot I liked about this story I just wished the narrative could have been framed from Alicia perspective as well. Seeing it through Chris's lens was okay, but having to explain racism and queer prejudices to a person with privilege can be tiring. That being said it was nice when Chris started to understand their differences.

The art style in this was really good. I loved how the different loops were colored. I would love to read something else from this author for the art alone.

I did not feel strongly about this story. Chris and Alicia were good characters, at least they felt fleshed out enough that I cared for them. The two of them are stuck together in a time loop, which happens to be on their high school graduation ceremony.

Although, sweet and moving, it wasn't anything new. It is hard to really make the 'time loop' repetitive but that's okay! I enjoyed the story for what it was, but not a graphic novel I would recommend or reread.

I will say, if you like coming of age with tragedy, I think this will be enjoyable for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great graphic novel! I’m a sucker for a good time loop, and I loved the way this one was handled. I was pleasantly surprised by how serious the book got at points. The overall mood is pretty lighthearted, but it explores themes like grief and feeling trapped in life in a way that felt really genuine.

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.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

You and Me on Repeat is a fantastic graphic novel about 2 kiddos who are about to graduate high school when they get stuck reliving graduation day over and over. I think this one did a great job tackling some hard issues like the different responsibilities that each kid carried and tough subjects like grief while also staying lighthearted. I loved that it pointed out some of the problematic areas of its predecessors like Groundhogs Day, and felt like I really got to know the characters. The illustrations are fantastic, and I would definitely recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley, Mary Shyne, and Macmillan for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

"You and Me on Repeat" by Mary Shyne is a YA graphic novel about two teens in a time loop on their graduation day. Chris initially begins his day with a goal of finally kissing his crush, but through a series of events, his day plunges into something much more poignant and bigger than himself when he finds out that his childhood friend is experiencing the same day on a loop and invites him to join her in the experience. This is a bit of a twist on the classic time loop trope, as two characters are involved in the time loop, and their actions affect one another and have staying power as the looping continues. I was so impressed with the amount of character development and depth the author managed to pack into just over 200 pages.

As someone who grew up in an Illinois suburban setting, I found Chris and Alicia to be very relatable, despite having graduated from high school over twenty years ago in a time before smartphones and social media. Many of the adolescent fears and emotions explored in the story are universal, including the excitement of leaving home and starting a big, exciting life, or the decision to stay closer to home and make responsible choices about your future, sacrificing your ambitious dreams for the sake of duty or sensibility.

The story also poses questions about the nature of love- whether it happens out of a sense of proximity, convenience, or shared circumstances, or comes from selflessly wanting to know and see another person and appreciate them for who they are as a whole person.

Of course, Chris and Alicia explore many of the classic time loop plot devices- recklessly testing the limits of the "no consequences" benefit to their shared situation, living out different choices to determine which ones yield the best outcomes, visiting people in their respective lives to see different sides of people they thought they knew, etc. And no time looping story would be complete without the characters eventually seeking a way out of their situation.

This story stayed with me long after I finished reading. It was thought-provoking and layered, exploring themes of grief, privilege, love, and leaving home. It also explores the transition from adolescence to adulthood and the discovery that the people we once placed on a pedestal are, in fact, fallible human beings, just like us. Chris discovers that parents and teachers are learning as they go in life just like he is, and he sees that some of his life has been experienced through the lenses of rose-colored glasses or privilege.

This would make a great graduation gift for a high school senior, and fans of coming-of-age graphic novels or time loop stories will really enjoy this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced read.

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 thought it was really cute. It'd be a really good read for teens who are about to graduate high school, because it tackles a lot of the uncertain feelings associated with that. I enjoyed seeing the character growth that Chris had from the beginning to the end, and him realizing the mistakes he made in middle school, but also that those mistakes do not have to define you. Also, that as someone who is white and has more privilege, he didn't realize the struggles that Alicia was going through, or that she was getting different treatment for being Mexican. His worldview was opened up and he became a better person by truly getting to know Alicia. I found the romance cute as well. And I enjoyed the diversity in regards to race and LGBTQ. I also thought the art had a nice charm to it. I'd give it 4.5 if half stars were an option.

Chris and Alicia used to be friends, until he ditched her in middle school for more popular friends. Now, they are both stuck in a time loop where they relive their graduation day over and over again. Personally, I love a time loop story when it is done well, so I really loved this graphic novel, that explores themes of friendship, grief, and growing up. I found the monochromatic coloring for each loop very well done and a clever way to denote the different loops. The humor of Alicia's various hijinks give the book needed levity, while the tragedy of Chris's swim coaches death right before graduation also give the story added depth and emotion.
All in all, I really enjoyed everything about this book and will be happy to add it to my teen graphic novel collection.

to repeat a day that didn't work is always what teens are hoping for, and even some adults. i enjoyed reading about how the characters tried different things to see if they could return to their "regular" life. all the while learning about themselves and what they really want.