But You Have Friends

When a dear friend commits suicide, her survivors are left with only memories. This poignant graphic memoir is a moving exploration of friendship despite challenges and love despite grief.

From the moment they met in Grade 9, Emilia and Charlotte were best friends. Built on creative writing, indie music, feminist literature, a love of purple, and much more, their special connection sustained them through high school and the many ups & downs that followed—until Charlotte died in 2018 following a long struggle with depression.

This graphic memoir is Emilia’s tribute to her memory and the bond they shared, woven together from a series of short episodes as they passed in & out of each other’s lives. It includes themes of mental health and suicide, but more than anything But You Have Friends (titled from a Sarah Kane play) is a humorous, honest story about a special friendship and an homage to a hilarious, smart, and irreplaceable friend.

Emilia has been making and publishing comics since 2008. Primarily working in the sci-fi genre as Emix Regulus she has been a regular contributor to the Decadence sci-fi comics anthology and Offlife (the UK’s only street press comic magazine). In 2015, her work was selected for inclusion in Over the Line, a showcase of poetry comics published by Sidekick Books and endorsed by Alan Moore. But You Have Friends is her first book-length autobiographical graphic novel. Emilia grew up in Puerto Rico, New Jersey, Istanbul and the UK; she lives in London and works in the museum sector.