(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through NetGalley. Content warning for depictions of mental illness, self-harm, suicide, and homophobia.)

-- 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 where necessary --

When she was just thirteen, Carson Flynn's long-suffering mother died by suicide. Or maybe she didn't; after all, the coroner ruled it an accident, though this hardly prevented small-town tongues from wagging. At the time, Carson sought solace in her best friend, Ash, whose home life was/is also a hot mess, and who loved Sylvia like a mother. But Ash's companionship has become more and more like an anchor: not just because Carson is not-so-secretly in love with a (presumably) straight girl, but because Ash is aimless and self-destructive, and expects/demands the same from Carson.

As the end of senior year comes barreling down on them, Carson must decide whether first love is something worth sacrificing everything for - including your own sense of self and self-worth.

EVERYONE SUX BUT YOU is a really interesting and arresting young adult debut from K. Wroten. Carson's situation resonated with me, perhaps more than I'd like to admit, but the art style is a little chaotic and thus hard to follow. Several times I felt like I was jerked out of the narrative by having to backtrack and clarify a point or two. Even so, it's a solid story with some very strong FEELINGS that will reverberate after the final panel.

I also enjoyed the "historical" (2008!) fiction setting, and having lived in a small town in the Midwest called Stilwell, I'm dying to know which state this takes place in!

DNF at 18%

The art style was pretty hard for me to read, but the kicker was that one of the characters had my name and was not treated very well.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Set in 2006, this coming-of-age graphic novel explores multiple topics relevant to teens (and some that will also resonate with adults): grief, growing up queer, accepting yourself, not knowing what to do with your life, the troubles of high school, love, heartbreak, mental health struggles, etc.⁣⁣
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I enjoyed how the narrative flows between the main character writing in her journal to her deceased mom to her everyday life as a student. I found the characters and their interactions realistic.⁣⁣
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The novel has a great ending showing the fmc’s growth & I appreciated the overall message.⁣⁣
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I also really liked the black and purple art style, as well as the track list the author provided for Carson’s emo mix cd!

DNF @ 37%

First, thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this title for review!

I wanted to really like this book. As someone in their late 20's, the ideas of using nostalgia and social media like MySpace was a super fun premise. However, the story and characters fell very flat. I found it hard to follow the story, difficult to tell the characters apart, and overall, a bit boring. While this is all a shame, that doesn't mean the book is a total write off! Just because I didn't like the story, doesn't mean others wouldn't! I hope this title can find their target audience because I do believe it has potential, it just hasn't reached it yet.

Everyone Sux But You is a solid coming-of-age story that explores the complexities of growing up. However, I have to admit that I’m not the target audience for this book, and I had difficulty relating to the main characters. The teenagers in the story make some questionable decisions, which, while realistic, made it hard for me to connect with their experiences.

Additionally, the artwork could be challenging to follow at times, as I struggled to distinguish the characters from one another. This made it harder to engage with the visual aspect of the story.

While I can see how this book might resonate with its intended audience, I personally couldn’t recommend it based on my experience. But, again, I acknowledge that I’m not the target demographic for this book.

This book broke my heart.
It was relatable and a good, fast read. I finished it within an hour.
The story was great, I'm glad I got to read this book and enjoyed it more then I actually thought I would.

2009. two teenaged life-long friends struggle with the imminent divergence of their paths in life. this struck such a realistic chord, and i loved every choice the author made with this story. one thing in particular i loved was how all the side characters were so three-dimensional and had their own complete worlds. it was very similar to the movie the edge of seventeen which i also highly recommend. the art was also unique and paired perfectly with the story and characters.

i think a lot of people could connect to this story. being young is hard, and good things and people are often indistinguishably knitted together with their harmful counterparts.

I struggled to comprehend a lot of parts of this. Once I pieced together it kept me going, but I feld a disconnection and some characters came out of nowhere. I did like the end and the development of Carson and the end. But it needs a bit more of feeling and some more details to make it clearer

DNF @ 30% - I wasn’t really vibing with the art style on this one. I think I just prefer a cleaner look, but that’s totally a personal thing. The storyline also felt kinda all over the place and hard to follow, so I ended up tapping out. 😕

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel, it reminded me of when I was in high school. I really liked seeing songs from bands I really enjoyed in high school and now. I felt for the main character a lot. I definitely want to get a physical copy to add to my library.

The story centers on Carson Flynn, a high school senior with a rebellious streak, whose primary passion lies in attending punk concerts and immersing herself in mosh pits alongside her best friend, Ash. Their deep-rooted friendship takes a transformative turn, evolving into a romantic relationship that brings forth a myriad of emotions and challenges. Both characters grapple with the lingering grief of Carson's mother's passing and confront the realities of growing up queer in a small-town setting. As Carson navigates these tumultuous experiences, she begins to question her detached demeanor and contemplates the potential of a brighter future—provided she can persuade Ash to envision it as well.


In summary, "Everyone Sux But You" is a poignant exploration of youth, identity, and the journey toward self-discovery. Its candid storytelling and evocative illustrations are poised to resonate with readers, particularly those who have navigated the trials of adolescence and the quest for belonging.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review!!

This is a very insightful graphic novel about a young woman learning to change and leave behind what hurts her. I loved the look at codependency and understanding that you can be a better person and leave behind those who want to keep you where you are forever. Carson and Ash’s friendship was so toxic and unhealthy and I’m glad Carson was able to see that. She pushed everyone away who was trying to help her for Ash. Carson also struggles with the sudden death of her Mother when she was younger and that bled into her dependency on Ash. The ending actually had me wanting to tear up a little bit because I know we’ve all had friendships that were awful we hung onto for too long at that age. The art in here was weird but in a good way. I really enjoyed this and look forward to more like this!

I wanted to like this one but tried twice and finally dnf at 34%. Was hard to follow and I couldn't keep the characters straight which is probably my own fault. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc.

I really was not a fan of this art style and the CONSTANT tongues sticking out. I also got pretty annoyed with the dialogue that did not come across as genuine.

Very choppy/ little flow. Had a hard time following along and had to keep rereading pages. Story is good, but execution was off. Art style was dope though.

Everyone Sux But You is a graphic novel that follows high school senior Carson Flynn as she navigates her life as a queer teen in a small town. The other character is Ash, Caron's longtime friend, and the two have complicated feelings for each other. Throughout the book you follow the two as they go to school, work their jobs, date and break up, listen to music, and makes plans for the future--ultimately deciding whether their friendship is worth it and if there is more there. The story is also layered with flashbacks to the death of Carson's mother. The story is difficult to follow at times with the flashbacks, and some of the characters look alike due to the shading in the book. Teens today may not get the references to 2009 era music and shows, but it's enjoyable enough without it. That being said, the story comes together very well in the end, so for the students who will appreciate this storyline, tell them to stick it out: it's worth it. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC.

I really enjoyed "Everyone Sux But You" especially the music playlist form and set up and the format of flash backs.

Everyone Sux But You is a powerful graphic novel that tackles how toxic young love can be. Carson is suffering the loss of her mother and is in love with her best friend Ash, who is battling her own demons. Ash frequently uses Carson who in turn uses those around her in a clear cycle of abusive behavior. We eventually see Carson break this cycle despite the pain that causes herself and others. I liked the stylized art as it contributed to the mood of the characters.
Thank you to Macmillan and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

it seems like it will be a great book... i just wish that this ARC had more of the art in it. like, it's a graphic novel, i would like the art to go with the words. so i can't give it a real rating at the moment. will definitely be giving it another shot when it's a fully-finished GN.

I have such a soft spot for the punk scene and this perfectly captured the nuances of nihilism mixed with caring too much about everything and the emotional messiness of it all so well. Plus the art style was spot on. Very Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me meets Scott Pilgrim, it was great with a lot of really great lines as well