Clicking on the cover will take you to the Goodreads page of the book.
Synopsis:
Tessa hasn’t spoken to Olive in ten years and she’s not about to start now…readers will delight in this enemies-to-lovers graphic novel with a queer twist: I Hated You in High School.
Struggling 20-something Tessa has a dead-end job as a barista and the dream of a creative career that never quite seems to take off. When the coffee shop where she works goes out of business, she’s able to visit her parents for the first time in years. Arriving at her family home, she discovers that her parents have rented out the basement apartment to her high school nemesis, Olive Virtue. Old wounds resurface during Tessa’s stay, but an accident that traps them in the attic forces them to face their past and think about their future.
I Hated You in High School is an enemies-to-lovers story inspired by classic romantic movies—with a queer twist. Author and illustrator Kathleen Gros has expanded her short story webcomic into a beautiful tale of love and learning.
- Pages: 264
- Genre: LGBT, Graphic novel, Queer, Romance
- Publication date: expected to be published on the 15th of April 2025 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
- Format: Paperback
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
THE REVIEW:
This book was provided to me for free by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is exactly what I needed! Something that felt realistic and just wholesome.
The characters I found were very well-shaped. With their imperfections, they felt even more real, which worked perfectly for me since I love characters I can relate to one way or another.
I loved how the relationship between Tessa and her family and her friends was presented to us. They are just the cool neighbours that everyone would love to have!
Although it is an uplifting, cute story, it also carries a deeper message: that of self-acceptance, self-discovery, not to just assume but talk things out, make amends, and simply be who you are.
Overall, I gave it a solid 4 stars.
The art was quite nice, and I like the monochrome green style the author has adapted, but it did not quite sit well with me. I wished it had more colour. The writing was approachable, realistic and easy to follow.
I do recommend this graphic novel if you are having a gloomy day or just are in the mood for something that will make you all warm and fuzzy inside!
Lin's Perspective 
Leave a comment