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.

I really enjoyed this book at first, especially since the art style reminded me a lot of the Heartstopper comics. At some point nearly every character seemed to start making dumb decisions - causing tons of drama - and I grew a little tired of it.
So overall I did have a good time reading How Could You, but I could've done without most of the character's antics.

The story follows queer college students through one semester. We read about their journey towards self-discovery and the different relationships they encounter. I absolutely loved the art, but I did not vibe with the characters. They were so unlikable (except for Lou maybe) and they all made a mess of their lives. This could’ve worked but instead none of them really experienced character growth and learned something. I feel like this story had potential but it didn’t fully deliver.

I really loved the art in this and I do think this will be really enjoyable for some people, but it didn’t completely work for me.

I think the main issue I had was the characters. The majority of them were extremely unlikable and infuriated me a lot of the time. It really hindered my enjoyment of this.

That being said, I enjoyed parts of this and as I stated above, the art is beautiful! I think it’s definitely worth giving a go if it sounds like something you’d enjoy!

Thank you to Netgalley, Ren Strapp & Oni Press for this ARC. This graphic novel is about a bunch of queer young people navigating college life and growing up. The main criticisms from others of this book seems to be that the characters are all evil. I strongly disagree, I thought it was an excellent depiction of how your late teens/early twenties challenges your ability to make and maintain relationships.

I found the storyline gripping, it was a quick read and I read it in one sitting. I would 100% read any follow ups to this story or any other novels the author releases. I also thought the illustrations were stunning, Ren really brought the characters to life.

I would recommend this book to fans of queer graphic novels with complicated characters and relationships. I think it would be best appreciated by late teens and up, it's not inappropriate for younger readers but I think they may miss the nuance.

I simultaneously loved this graphic novel and hated it. How Could You, Ren Strapp, make me feel so many different emotions over the course of an hour or so? If you are looking for a book that features almost every emotion us gays can feel about being gay, read this, but only if you don't want an HEA.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For college student Molly Song, it’s all about the friendships and love at school. However, drama creeps in when Molly least expects it, with breakups, fights, and losing friends along the way.
I got lost several times, because of all the DRAMA! So much was going on (regarding the drama) for Molly and her close friend Lou. The exes who are in France, and roommates who are graduating soon and the hookups that came out of nowhere. A mix of college parties and dating thrown in together creates a little bit of a chaotic mess.

I don't think this story was bad, but the outcome didn't make me feel satisfied. I think there was a lot of good that happened throughout but I wouldn't pick this up again.

Firstly, I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for sending me a copy. I really liked the art style, it reminds me of Heartstopper. I also liked the LBTQIAP+ represantation. But I found that I didn't connect with the characters and that the story didn't really grab me. The characters are a bit unlikable and the ending was very vague, but I guess young adults can sometimes be selfish and confusing and that friendships can just fade, without having a clear resolution. Overall, it was an okay read. Maybe it was not for me, but I can see people enjoying it.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this graphic novel

This was a interesting read about relationships (romantic and friendship), showing the effects it can have on one's actions that can lead to situations that where reversed to their original nature but also the feeling of loneliness one feels after a break up.

This book in places was emotional and also their was a part that hit me when talking about trying to control situations