Pages

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Manga Review: That Blue Sky Feeling, Volume 1, by Okura and Coma Hashii


Rating (Out of 5): ~4
Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: August 2018
Volumes: 3.
Spoilers?: No.
Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A butterflies-in-your-stomach high school romance about two very different high school boys who find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other.

Outgoing high school student Noshiro finds himself drawn to Sanada, the school outcast, who is rumored to be gay. Rather than deter Noshiro, the rumor makes him even more determined to get close to Sanada, setting in motion a bittersweet tale of first love.

The first volume of this heartwarming high school story about how your first love isn’t always exactly what you expect begins with the popular Noshiro transferring to a new school and becoming intrigued by Sanada, a loner who doesn’t seem to have any friends—or even want any. Some of the other kids tell Noshiro that Sanada keeps to himself because he’s secretly gay, which only makes Noshiro more interested. He sets out on a campaign to win over the shy Sanada, embarking on a friendship that starts to feel like something much more intense.

Review:

I just love when we get realistic stories that feature LGBT characters. It happens so little, where it's not just yaoi, but a slice of life story, or even just a story that includes gay characters, in manga.
Noshiro transfers to a new school, where he discovers that Sanada is treated differently. Everyone else is being so nice to him, and yet no one really talks to Sanada, and that bothers him. When he finds out it's because there are rumors that Sanada is gay, it bothers him even more. He doesn't think he's homophobic, and yet it makes him think of Sanada differently, at first.
There's also Yamada, Sanada's only friend at the beginning. She seems sweet, and that could go in a few different directions. We also meet Hidemitsu, Sanada's older ex-boyfriend. This is an interesting development, and I appreciate the input he gives, how he tries to help guide them both.
I liked the realistic discussions in this book, how Noshiro was conflicted about the rumors, and how Sanada confronted him about it. And how Noshiro went to Hidemitsu a few times for advice, when he was struggling with his feelings.
This volume was so good, and just what I wanted. I'm so glad it's being released, and I really can't wait to read more.


 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

No comments:

Post a Comment