Everyone Sux But You
The new hefty graphic novel by K. Wroten (co-author of My Ex-Girlfriend’s Ex-Girlfriend is My Girlfriend) is a pretty relatable exploration 
of grief, toxic relationships/friendships, and depression that is likely to find its fanbase in readers nostalgic for early 2000s emo music.
The book follows Carson and her best friend, Ash, while they float between high school and local concerts with the kind of apathetic attitude only the coolest teens can muster. Chapters are laid out like the tracks on a mix tape called, of course, Everyone Sux But You, that Ash creates for Carson. All the songs (and a lot of music references in the book) are from bands like Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, etc. and they are included in their entirety at the end of the book (some creative Spotify users have already created accompanying playlists).
When we meet them, Carson is starting to realize she has romantic feelings for her friend just as Ash is beginning a flirtation with a guitar-playing exchange student. She is also trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life moving forward—something she has been indifferent about—and still processing the death of her mother alongside her witchy aunt and guardian, Deb.
While Ash has an unusual relationship with her own mom, Carson’s mom is someone we see only in flashbacks that are heart wrenching and slowly unveil how she died. Both characters had a connection to Carson’s mom, and each has a different perspective of her life and who she was. Compounding their shared grief is their complicated relationship with each other. Both Carson and Ash drag other people—crushes and friends—into the messiness of their dynamic, although everyone else around them sees the toxicity of their bond and the path to destruction they are both on with much more clarity. When it comes down to it, the message of the book is that sometimes we have to break free of the narratives we tell ourselves in order to find out who we are.
It’s not a perfect story. Much of it is confusing and messy—both in terms of the art and also the story itself. The font is a bit hard to read at times. Sometimes, the illustrations are rendered in such a way that it makes it hard to distinguish who is who and when something is taking place. The palette is very minimal—mostly black, white and a light indigo- that lends a bit of gloominess to the story but also might have contributed to some of my confusion while reading.
I do think, although imperfect, this book shows potential in Wroten’s storytelling capabilities and will most likely satisfy fans of the Young Adult graphic novel Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me. Despite its messiness in presentation, it is going to stick with me —and I feel like it’s going to stick with a lot of other readers, too.
Everyone Sux But You
By K. Wroten
Henry Holt, 2025
ISBN: 9781250821669
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
Character Representation: Queer, Depression
