This is another of those semi-autobiographical graphic novel memoirs.

Highly acclaimed, Swiss comic artist Fredrik Peters delivers a (mostly) intimate, poetic and accessible memoir. Following the story or Peeters’ relationship with his girlfriend Cati and her three-year-old son, what sets this appart, is that both Cati and her son are HIV positive.

The story, follows their relationship to a brief meeting at a teenage party, though to them meeting again at a New Years Eve party in 1999 and starting to fall in love, at this point a nervous Cati has to come clean and tell Fred her secret.

The bulk of the novel traces the development of their emotional and sexual intimacy.

Blue Pills, approaches this daunting subject in a open and honest manner, it is both challenging and nuanced, but for me at times somewhat cold and lacking the warmth a love story should have. Not sure what it is really, as it is obvious that Fred and Cati do love each other and their family, perhaps it’s the intellectual musings, perhaps it’s in the translation, but something is just ‘missing’.

Shame really, as this is the type of story that would otherwise move even the hardest of souls.

[rating:70/100]

Buy, Blue Pills from Amazon.