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maiakobabe 's review for:
Luisa: Now and Then
by Carole Maurel, Mariko Tamaki
Set in Paris in 2013, this graphic novel focuses on a woman named Luisa who at 33 has to deal with the queer identity she has been suppressing for decades when her own teenage-self travels forward in time and lands on her doorstep. Her teen self is outraged that she has compromised her desire to be a fine-art photographer by doing primarily food-photography for advertising; confused as to why she barely communicates to her mother; but most of all sad and angry that she lost touch with the one out lesbian friend she had in 8th grade, with whom she shared one fateful kiss. Things become even more complicated when the two Luisas begin to blend into each other- the older one breaking out in acne, the younger one shocked to discover gray hairs. The older Luisa's inhibitions are loosened and she invites her attractive female neighbor out for a wild night on the town which includes a make-out session. Meanwhile the younger Luisa is getting both more mature and more frightened- how will she ever make it home to her own time? Considering the fancifulness of the narrative, the art is very simple and beautiful, and does an excellent job of distinguishing between the two Luisas. Though the time travel is never fully explained, it's still overall a satisfying narrative. The only reason I didn't rate it a bit higher is that I'm not super interested in reading stories of queer characters dealing with so much internalized homophobia these days. I think this book would have hit the spot when I was in high school or younger though!