Manga Review: After Hours, Volume 3, by Yuhta Nishio

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 3.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

There’s always something going on at night. Sooner or later, you’ll find your scene.

Emi Asahina is 24, unemployed and not really sure what she wants to do with her life. When a friend invites her to a dance club, Emi doesn’t expect much. But what she finds will change her world!

Emi, Kei and their friends have successfully planned the rave of their dreams, and the experience has filled Emi with an electric need to keep striving. But will Emi’s newfound focus and determination falter when Kei, her mentor and girlfriend, goes AWOL?

Review:

All of Emi and Kei's hard work is finally coming to a conclusion as the night is nearing. Their rave has some issues and a lot of work to be dealt with before it comes, and then it's finally here. And after their big party, what next?

I was happy with where they went after their big event. Kei had some family issues to deal with, which caused her and Emi to finally decide what to do with their relationship—whether it's real and they want to keep going or not.

I like how it all plays out. The rave is a new experience for Emi, and is a goal for them to work toward again. And they get to see whether they want to face that future together or not; none of it is too dramatic or life-ending, either, which I appreciate. They handle things relatively calmly and with patience, and it works for them that way.

This was a fun little yuri series. I appreciated that it handled the yuri aspect maturely, and had a real plot beside it, a sweeter take on yuri that we've started seeing more of.

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

Manga Review: After Hours, Volume 2, by Yuhta Nishio

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: June 2018

Volumes: 3.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

There’s always something going on at night. Sooner or later, you’ll find your scene.

Emi Ashiana is 24, unemployed and not really sure what she wants to do with her life. When a friend invites her to a dance club, Emi doesn’t expect much. But what she finds will change her world!

Review:

Kei's DJ group have agreed to put on this huge rave-like show, in which they set up everything. Kei and Emi get to figure out how to set up the venue and everything that goes with that.

Amidst all the party planning, there's also some relationship drama. Kei and Emi have been spending all of their time together, but they haven't made it official. And Emi hasn't tied up all of her other loose ends, either. They both have to make some decisions as they realize this, and confront each other about their feelings.

This volume didn't really hit me, I think. I just wasn't feeling it as much, though I'm not sure why. Kei is trying to plan everything and make sure it all goes well. Emi is trying to help, and also realizing that she needs to figure out her living situation for good.

I'm happy with how all of that turns out. Emi and Kei are sweet together, and even though it's rather fast, I think they're a good couple. The next volume is the last, and I look forward to seeing how it all goes.

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

Manga Review: After Hours, Volume 1, by Yuhta Nishio

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: June 2017

Volumes: 3.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

There’s always something going on at night. Sooner or later, you’ll find your scene.

Emi Ashiana is 24, unemployed, and not really sure what she wants do with her life. When a friend invites her to a dance club, Emi doesn’t expect much. But what she finds will change her world!

The club is hopping and Emi isn’t…so she ends up hiding in a corner after her friend ditches her to flirt with a guy! Emi figures the night is a bust, but then someone amazing comes to her rescue. Kei is a DJ, and her effortless self-confidence captivates Emi. Is this just a wonderful night out or the start of the rest of her life?

Review:

Before starting this, I didn't realize that the characters were in their 20's, out of school and trying to figure out their lives. I did know it was yuri, but I didn't expect it to be so mature. That's not very common, I don't think, and I really like that.

Emi meets Kei rather by chance. After being dragged to a club she's not all that interested in, and separated then ditched by her friend, Kei kind of saves her. They end up going home together, and that sets their relationship in motion.

It's a rather fast move, but it's also sweet, and seems to just make sense. Kei is easygoing, and not at all worried about letting Emi stay and get comfortable from the start. Kei is also a DJ, and introduces Emi to that world, and to the job of VJ, which might be just what she's been looking for.

I related to Emi in a way. I understand her feelings about trying to figure out what it is she wants to do with her life, for a passion she doesn't really have yet. I also liked that this had a subtle, slice-of-life kind of feel to it. Their relationship is easy, and we get to see them hanging out and doing couple things, without any pressure.

This was a fun first volume. Easy start, with a few plot points that could lead to more. I'm intrigued to read the next one.