Interesting time travel graphic novel about two high school seniors who have become stuck in a time loop focused on their graduation day. Part sci fi adventure, part coming of age novel, and part rom-com, this graphic novel should enjoy broad readership and popularity. I wouldn't be surprised to see it show up on some short lists for awards during the coming year.

There was so much good tea in this book which I think the teens will especially relate to and appreciate especially with the LGBTQ representation.

One of my favorite debuts ever. Shyne has such a unique voice and a gifted ear for dialogue, and the illustrations just make the whole story visually interesting and compelling. Love the story, the time travel elements are brilliantly executed, and the romance is grounded beautifully.

Summary:

Chris O’Brien had this whole grand plan for graduation day. Of course, nothing went to plan - not even the hundredth time around. That’s not an exaggeration, as Chris willingly stepped into a time loop to get that perfect day.

Now, Chris can’t get out of the loop, and Alicia is the only person who knows what is going on. She’s a nerd and better understands how to get out of the loop - and she knows this grand kiss Chris is planning on won’t cut it.

Review:

If you’re looking for a good novel with time loop shenanigans (think Groundhog Day), I have good news! You and Me on Repeat is a fantastic read that fits the bill. In addition to having all the chaos of a time loop, it has a romantic focus and a coming-of-age element.

You can tell that You and Me on Repeat was made for young adults and maybe even a touch younger. This is because it addresses many familiar coming-of-age concerns, from what to do with one’s life to how to find your person. The best part is that it’s all bundled in one nice package!

Don’t let the cute art style fool you; You and Me on Repeat has a deep center. Each character is fully fleshed out, from Chris and Alicia to the secondary characters they interact with. Some of the secondary plots get shockingly heavy and human, but that makes the story so much more powerful.

I am so happy that I took the time to read You and Me on Repeat. I hope other readers enjoyed it as much as I did!

Highlights:
Young Adult Graphic Novel
Time Loop
Coming of Age
Young Romance
Groundhog Day Vibes

Trigger Warnings:
Death of a Friend/Classmate

Very cute young adult graphic novel about growing up, learning from mistakes, and becoming an adult.

Chris has decided to repeat his graduation day so he can have his perfect kiss with Andy. What he doesn’t expect is to continually repeat the same day again and again with his former friend Alicia. As Chris continues through the time loop he must come to terms with events from the past, things he’s overlooked, first love, and ties to his home. This was a surprisingly heartwarming read. Young adults making the transition to adulthood will definitely enjoy and relate to this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing for this advanced copy.

I liked this, but it hasn't stuck with me after finishing it, so I wouldn't identify it as a must read. I like the Groundhog Day plot so that was fun to read.

I was not planning on reading this five months before its release date, but I was just really in the mood for a graphic novel today, and it totally hit the spot.

Chris and Alicia are stuck in a time loop on the day of their high school graduation. Turns out, Alicia has been in the loop longer than Chris so she shows him the ropes, which provides the perfect opportunity for them to repair their long-dormant friendship. Chris' mission for the day to have the perfect first kiss with his girlfriend quickly morphs once he's looping, and naturally he gravitates towards the only other person he knows who is stuck in the same day. A connection to a tragically deceased teacher leads to the answer they need, but will they be ready to get back to reality?

This was really cute. I think it's perfect for young adults (the intended audience) but also was a great read for me (a person in her mid-30s dealing with what feels like secondary teenager syndrome). Shyne gives so many of the characters here surprising complexity considering they're repeating the same 24 hours over and over again. And there are big questions here that, again, feel incredibly relevant as you enter adulthood but are still relevant as you journey through it: is it better to dwell in the familiar past, or try to move forward into the unknown future? How do you grieve? How do you repair a friendship? How do you learn to understand others in all of their facets? Should you stay near home or venture away? Is it okay to change what you want? How do you move through the world?

The art style is absolutely stunning. With alternating-color duochrome panels (a ROYGBIV color and then grey/black), occasionally Shyne throws in all the colors at once, to indicate something magical/scientific/loop related. Beautiful and effective.

Also, I would die for Mr. Chunkums.

A time loop romance that's fun and somehow heavy and lighthearted at the same time. It took me a little bit to like Chris, but I adored Alicia's journey. She's nerdy and a little fearful but mischievous and fun. This story dives into how well do we really know the people around us, whether it's a childhood friend or a coach. Sweet romance and great character development.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

I really liked the concept of this book, a version of Groundhog's day involving a teenage boy and his high school graduation/quest for the perfect kiss. It has some fun characters and really cool plot - but it's a bit convoluted. Some of the pages are so crowded that following the text was a task. Overall it's a cool book but I didn't enjoy the act of reading it .

This was such an AMAZING book! I have never seen such a tightly woven graphic novel like this. I can be rather picky about time travel stories since there are so many that are overdone, but this is perfect. It's absolutely beautiful. The use of color and line work was gorgeous. The complicated characters and their development. Definitely don't regret reading this. I kind of wish I had this in high school when I graduated. Will be buying the book for myself in when it comes out.

This was such a complex and refreshing graphic novel! I was honestly a little disappointed at first because from the blurb I had thought Andy was a boy's name (it's not) and had been looking forward to a bisexual story. Rest assured, this *does* have great bisexual rep, just not what I expected! I also loved how this explored Alicia's complex identity and insecurities and layered in Chris's personal growth. This graphic novel takes the typical time loop love story and layers in so many complex and wonderful layers with every repeating loop, including identity, family, grief, and friendship. I enjoyed this story immensely.

Ahh, I LOVED this graphic novel! Congratulations to Mary Shyne for taking the "do-over" plot and transforming it into this funny, emotional, heartwarming masterpiece. The day-on-repeat arc can be very difficult to execute well. First of all, it's been done so many times, but mostly it often (understandably) feels super repetitive after a while. In You and Me on Repeat, the graphic novel format was perfect to tell this kind of story. Shyne was able to cover multiple repetitions of days within single panels.

But my favorite part of all was the character development. I liked Chris, and I LOVED Alicia, but mostly I loved seeing the way they went through their do-over day together, over and over again. At the heart of this book is a message about moving on and moving forward, graduating and having the courage to take the next steps. I highly recommend this book for teens and soon-to-be graduates, but also just anyone who loves an emotionally uplifting coming-of-age graphic novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.