You and Me on Repeat

by Mary Shyne

In this swoony and hilarious debut rom-com graphic novel, two former friends are trapped in a time loop together, repeating their high school graduation day over and over and over—for fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Pumpkinheads, and Groundhog Day.

Chris O’Brien has a genius plan: If he can share the perfect first kiss with his crush, Andy, then of course he’ll break free from the time loop that has him repeating graduation day over and over…and over.

Alicia Ochoa thinks Chris’s plan is doomed. Valedictorian and a total nerd, she knows it’ll take more than a kiss to escape the loop they’re trapped in together. Besides, Chris may be a hopeless romantic, but Alicia doesn’t think he has a real shot with Andy.

Once close friends, Alicia and Chris have history—lots of it. As they got older, the pair fell out after Chris ditched her for the “cool kids” and left her in the dust. But when you’re looping side by side, you never know if friendship might rekindle or what new feelings could spark along the way.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Comics, Science Fiction, Romance, Graphic Novels Comics

224 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 6, 2025

Reviews

[Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time loop fans, rejoice! Mary Shyne has crafted a clever, gorgeous treasure box of a story. Part coming-of-age, part romance, part sci-fi, all heart. I was drawn in from the very first page, hooked with the stylish art and the intriguing premise. I fell so hard for Chris and Alicia and all of the stupidly teenage and deeply human choices that lead them into a pocket dimension of space-time. Who hasn't wanted a redo option on one of the most important days of their life? What would you do if trapped in a time loop of your high school graduation day? I left the book rooting for these two!

I had the pleasure of reading this book early :) It's available for preorder now, or grab it from a bookstore in May 2025!

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this graphic novel!
This book exceeded my expectations! I truly loved everything about this book from the art style, the story, and even the pacing of the story felt natural (which is something I always end up critiquing a book about). If you are a fan of YA graphic novels, you have to read this book, I truly believe that this graphic novel is going to be on everyone’s list of “must read YA graphic novels”. The main characters in this book have such a great dynamic, and their chemistry is very believable. I recommend everyone to read this book!

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

Thanks to Henry Holt. and Co. BYR Paperbacks and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Tumblr | Reedsy

[Taren · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You and Me on Repeat" by Mary Shyne is a YA graphic novel about two teens in a time loop on their graduation day. Chris initially begins his day with a goal of finally kissing his crush, but through a series of events, his day plunges into something much more poignant and bigger than himself when he finds out that his childhood friend is experiencing the same day on a loop and invites him to join her in the experience. This is a bit of a twist on the classic time loop trope, as two characters are involved in the time loop, and their actions affect one another and have staying power as the looping continues. I was so impressed with the amount of character development and depth the author managed to pack into just over 200 pages.

As someone who grew up in an Illinois suburban setting, I found Chris and Alicia to be very relatable, despite having graduated from high school over twenty years ago in a time before smartphones and social media. Many of the adolescent fears and emotions explored in the story are universal, including the excitement of leaving home and starting a big, exciting life, or the decision to stay closer to home and make responsible choices about your future, sacrificing your ambitious dreams for the sake of duty or sensibility.

The story also poses questions about the nature of love- whether it happens out of a sense of proximity, convenience, or shared circumstances, or comes from selflessly wanting to know and see another person and appreciate them for who they are as a whole person.

Of course, Chris and Alicia explore many of the classic time loop plot devices- recklessly testing the limits of the "no consequences" benefit to their shared situation, living out different choices to determine which ones yield the best outcomes, visiting people in their respective lives to see different sides of people they thought they knew, etc. And no time looping story would be complete without the characters eventually seeking a way out of their situation.

This story stayed with me long after I finished reading. It was thought-provoking and layered, exploring themes of grief, privilege, love, and leaving home. It also explores the transition from adolescence to adulthood and the discovery that the people we once placed on a pedestal are, in fact, fallible human beings, just like us. Chris discovers that parents and teachers are learning as they go in life just like he is, and he sees that some of his life has been experienced through the lenses of rose-colored glasses or privilege.

This would make a great graduation gift for a high school senior, and fans of coming-of-age graphic novels or time loop stories will really enjoy this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced read.

[Endrit Nikqi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a DRC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
“In this swoony and hilarious debut rom-com graphic novel, two former friends are trapped in a time loop together, repeating their high school graduation day over and over and over—for fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Pumpkinheads, and Groundhog Day.

Chris O’Brien has a genius plan: If he can share the perfect first kiss with his crush, Andy, then of course he’ll break free from the time loop that has him repeating graduation day over and over…and over.

Alicia Ochoa thinks Chris’s plan is doomed. Valedictorian and a total nerd, she knows it’ll take more than a kiss to escape the loop they’re trapped in together. Besides, Chris may be a hopeless romantic, but Alicia doesn’t think he has a real shot with Andy.

Once close friends, Alicia and Chris have history—lots of it. As they got older, the pair fell out after Chris ditched her for the “cool kids” and left her in the dust. But when you’re looping side by side, you never know if friendship might rekindle or what new feelings could spark along the way.”

I absolutely love this book! Chris and Alicia are great characters, and I loved their relationship. I loved everything about the loop, and I really enjoyed all of the things that Chris and Alicia get into in certain parts of the loop. The twists were great, and I related to Chris a lot. The illustrations were stunning and really beautiful. I love how each loop has a different color for the illustrations. “You and Me on Repeat” is a stunning and beautifully charming book that I would recommend to rom-com enjoyers and graphic novel lovers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Adam Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful portrait of love, friendship, and grief. Perfect for high schoolers anticipating graduation and those of us who might want to give those days of anxiety, possibility, and disappointment another look.

Chris and Alicia are stuck in a time loop—think GROUNDHOG'S DAY but it's graduation day, over and over again. The same morning alarm, the same graduation speeches, and the same kegger. Chris uses his endless second chances to try to land the perfect kiss with his girlfriend, while Alicia uses her infinite do-overs to reinvent herself.

This specific time travel trope is one of my favorites and Shyne gives it a refreshing spin. Most of all, I fell hard for this well-crafted romantic existential comedy for its attention to detail, the stuff lost in the hoopla of momentous occasions as well as everyday life. Where we are as opposed to where we're going; who we are instead of who we want to be.

[deanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you netgalley and macmillan for the arc !!!

this graphic novel was soooo cute !! chris and alicia are so so high school hehe

but other than that this book tackles the question of if you could turn back time what would u do differently

as someone who is skeptical of groundhog day type books i actually really enjoyed this !! it had character development and deep conversations regarding culture and being the older first generation sibling to an immigrant family

additionally it also covers grief and how people process differently

while i think chris was moving a little too fast at times, i try to remind myself they are high schoolers and the overarching message of having your whole life ahead of you and moving forward instead of constantly dwelling on the what ifs

anyway soooo cute they’re adorable and honestly such a fun quick read !!!

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Good (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This is a cute little story about missed chances (as are all groundhog day type of stories) while at college. It's a bit text heavy and the artwork at times can feel a bit unattractive. But it has its own blend of heart without being sappy. Honestly, it was a fine read at the time but I didn't even remember I had read it after a week and had to look at he story again to write this review. It didn't leave much of an impression. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for advanced copy for a review*

3.5 rounded up

So I love a good time loop story. Seeing characters evolve as everyone around them is stuck is so fascinating. There was a lot I liked about this story I just wished the narrative could have been framed from Alicia perspective as well. Seeing it through Chris's lens was okay, but having to explain racism and queer prejudices to a person with privilege can be tiring. That being said it was nice when Chris started to understand their differences.

The art style in this was really good. I loved how the different loops were colored. I would love to read something else from this author for the art alone.

[Maria (marmalade.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ande Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You and Me on Repeat is a fantastic graphic novel about 2 kiddos who are about to graduate high school when they get stuck reliving graduation day over and over. I think this one did a great job tackling some hard issues like the different responsibilities that each kid carried and tough subjects like grief while also staying lighthearted. I loved that it pointed out some of the problematic areas of its predecessors like Groundhogs Day, and felt like I really got to know the characters. The illustrations are fantastic, and I would definitely recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley, Mary Shyne, and Macmillan for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

[nita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not feel strongly about this story. Chris and Alicia were good characters, at least they felt fleshed out enough that I cared for them. The two of them are stuck together in a time loop, which happens to be on their high school graduation ceremony.

Although, sweet and moving, it wasn't anything new. It is hard to really make the 'time loop' repetitive but that's okay! I enjoyed the story for what it was, but not a graphic novel I would recommend or reread.

I will say, if you like coming of age with tragedy, I think this will be enjoyable for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Mandi Kurth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time loop plots can be tricky these days. Seems like they're just repeated stories :p
Mary Shyne, does a great job taking this plot and making it fun. I really enjoyed the characters and discovering how they changed each day. It was very relatable and sweet. I really loved the art work and all the colors used as well. Can't wait to see what Mary Shyne has in store for us next.

**Thank you NetGalley and MacMillian Children's Publishing Group for an early copy of You and Me on Repeat in exchange for an honest review.

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

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.

[Julia Pika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a stunning story! The tight illustrations and story really help make it shine. The characters go on emotional and long journeys that pay off in the end. Shyne did a brilliant job in capturing the feeling of hopelessness in the face of the future. It sounds depressing but it's not, it's a very bittersweet story.

[Renee DeMoranville · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet yet emotional book. There is a perfect balance of funny moments as well as moments that touch your heart. I don’t want to spoil too much but the time loop gives everyone a second, third or infinity chance to change things or relive them. Chris and Alicia relive their graduation day over and with every loop get closer to being the friends they used to be. Like I said I don’t want to spoil things but this is one you need to read.

[Leah Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris and Alicia are stuck in a time loop. Between crash-outs, texting, and family, these two have a lot on their plate as they replay their graduation. The art really solidifies the sci-fi and artsy side of this graphic novel. The shifting of colors with the time loops was gorgeous and signaled seamlessly to the reader about the passage of time.

As a time loop hater, I find this one pretty good. A definite order for our library!

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! It was like Groundhog Day but for high school. I really liked the message and decisions the characters made at the end. It even made me a little emotional, so I definitely recommend it to teens, fans of YA, and librarians considering purchasing it for their teen collection.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Josie Brechner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a treat! Started reading late at night and literally inhaled the whole thing in one sitting. Found myself really drawn to Alicia's story and thought the whole thing was charming and fun and made nostalgic for the queer high school experiences I never had. Would strongly recommend for anyone who is looking for a cozy but deep romantic story!

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good! This is a teen story but I think it will resonate with anyone who’s feeling a little lost. I think my high school and college selves would’ve liked a few repeats of some key days tbh. A chance to breathe before everything got hectic.
I was pleasantly surprised by the plot and some of the character choices, I was expecting something cliche but it was wonderfully refreshing 💛

[kglibrarian (Karin Greenberg) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging coming-of-age graphic novel about a boy who is reliving his high school graduation day. A realistic story with a touch of science fiction. Full review in a future issue of School Library Journal.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun quick read, but nothing particularly groundbreaking especially in the fairly well-done time loop genre. I enjoyed the use of different color ink for different loops/flashbacks.

[Katrina Pine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute love story, very enjoyable read

[Allison Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story about finding our way forward even when we are uncertain what the future may hold.