Review by Frank Plowright
The simple synopsis for You and Me on Repeat is Groundhog Day for young adults. We pick up with Chris O’Brien waking up on the morning of his graduation for the twentieth time. Just like revisiting a video game, he knows to avoid the embarrassing selfie, the corned beef hash will upset his stomach and that kiss with his girlfriend will be awkward. No matter, as he believes in time he’ll hit the right combination.
Chris’s narrative drives the whole story, but he’s not the first to be trapped in graduation day. There’s also Alicia Ochoa, a childhood friend from whom Chris drifted apart in later years. She was the first to discover the means of reliving the single day, and until she or Chris can figure it out, their situation is going to loop.
Mary Shyne tips the hat to her inspiration, but the same source can spawn many variations, so once the premise is established there’s little inclination to follow the same route. However, because even young adult readers are likely to be at least familiar with Groundhog Day it’s safe to make some presumptions about their capacity to understand the concept, and to wonder about what will free Chris from his situation. Shyne puts considerable effort into both story and art, throwing out red herrings in detail-packed pages and ensuring there’s enough in the way of activity and supporting characters to prevent repetition. Additionally, as Chris progresses through different states of mind according to what he learns, some of those variations are very funny. Variety is also provided by Shyne’s individual use of colour. There seems no particular reason to it other than it appeals.
All the good stuff would be for nothing if there was no reasoning behind the situation, and Shyne hits the jackpot with that, sneaking the clues past readers while they’re absorbed in what’s going on with Chris and Alicia. From the revelation Shyne builds uncertainty about whether people should leave the time loop or whether reliving the same day over and over is a form of escape, to which there’s not a definitive answer. The character arcs absolutely shine, not just Alicia and Chris, but others who become important later. Occasions where Shyne could just reinforce a comforting reality are instead shredded, and there’s a real poignancy to an important speech toward the end.
Giving a classy young adult novel an adult rating is down to the swearing. It’s what kids hear every day, but remains a wider trigger warning.
Shyne presumably knew she had to work extra hard with her starting point being such a cultural touchstone and the thought and effort put into You and Me on Repeat results in a graphic novel just as readable as its inspiration is watchable.
