Manga Review: Ao Haru Ride, Volume 4, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2019

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The popular shojo manga series that was adapted into the Blue Spring Ride anime!

Futaba Yoshioka thought all boys were loud and obnoxious until she met Kou Tanaka in junior high. But as soon as she realized she really liked him, he had already moved away because of family issues. Now, in high school, Kou has reappeared, but is he still the same boy she fell in love with?

Futaba Yoshioka has encountered her first love again in high school, but he seems different from the boy she once knew. Futaba wonders what happened between Kou and Yuri, but she’s still determined to find out more about Kou’s past and why he won’t allow others to get close to him.

Review:

The group continues trying to study together, as exams are coming up. In the first half of this volume, we discover some of Kou's hidden past. As Futaba confronts him about it, it also forces him to deal with some of his feelings regarding it and attempt to move forward with his family now. There are several sweet scenes with him, with Futaba and with his brother. His brother really is a sweetheart, though we also got to see a potential new side to him later that interests me.

After exams, it's summer vacation, and the group makes plans to meet up at a festival. It's nice to see them all growing closer and deciding to meet up; it's a big moment for a few of them in particular. We meet a potentially new character in this volume, and there's a confession of sorts. Lots of exciting moments.

I love the sweet and touching moments in this series, and the humor is done just as well and easy. 

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