Crushing is a story of loneliness. She is a young woman searching for connection. He is a young man, afraid to reach out. These two dream to find a place where they belong. Their story develops in front of our eyes, wordless.

Sophie Burrows created a sweet and beautiful book where words and colors are rare. A touch of red here and there connects the two protagonists and is the driver’s thread of their unique story. Both are alone. Both feel different and lost. Both dream of a better life. Both have a pointless job and have nobody waiting for them at home, except a lovely pet.

Sophie Burrows’s art is simple, but extremely poetic and nostalgic. She describes with accuracy feelings and emotions, leaving the reader to imagine the thoughts and words of the two characters. ( )

This graphic novel is a sweet and funny portrayal of dating life today. A man and a woman both try different ways of meeting other people. Most do not work out well. Throughout the book, these two loved starved people cross paths while searching for their new loves. Will they find each other? ( )

Two lonely hearts wander around a big city in Great Britain looking for a romantic connection. Might they find one another eventually?

A thin and simple story that isn't particularly original or memorable, but it reads quickly as it is told almost wordlessly in nicely done pictures. ( )

graphic fiction - mostly wordless comic that explores themes of isolation and loneliness despite being surrounded by people.

See also: Seek You by Kristen Radke, which delves deeper into these feelings, and which provides a nice summary for Crushing: "Loneliness is often exacerbated by a perception that one is lonely while everyone else is connected. It's exaggerated by a sensation of being outside something that others seem to be in on: a family, a couple, a friendship, a joke." ( )