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そらに陽だまり [Sora ni Hidamari] #3
Sunbeams in the Sky, Vol. 3
Asaka and Tsukiyono reveal to Himari and Mio that they know about their switcheroos―but Tsukiyono may have an even bigger secret to tell! When the truth finally comes to light, will it mean a happy ending for the sisters?
162 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2022
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26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 19, 2024
At the end of this series I’m curious to know how the title relates to the story. Is it hope, a light in the darkness or something else entirely? Overall, this was a fitting end for a short series that closes up all loose ends.
This volume can be summarized simply as ‘the secrets out’! Asaka and Tsukiyono reveal to Himari and Mio that they know about the switching, which was given away by the subtle changes in their personalities. As the series tries to close out everything in one volume, secrets and feelings are revealed quickly. Although it was sweet, I felt the series could have benefited by fleshing it out a little more. It would have been encouraging to see Himari slowly and realistically overcome her trauma with the support of her friends while attending school.
This is a shoujo, so there are the cliche or classic scenes. Like the return of the villain when the misunderstandings have been cleared, or the bittersweet heartbreak during Christmas season. Personally I liked it because sometimes I just want to read a simple and expected romance where I’ll know what’s going to happen.
Similar to the previous volume, Aki and Shizuka were overshadowed. They had short moments and their own somewhat satisfying ending. I felt a bit conflicted because although it wasn’t “happy”, it was understandable and they didn’t seem sad. I wish they were more involved in the main story, but I guess that would’ve made the story complex and potentially lead to more volumes.
The artwork is beautiful, reminiscent of the previous two volumes and the cover. There are some very stunning backgrounds in this volume of varying panel sizes. However, unlike the first two volumes, I couldn’t tell Himari and Mio apart. Primarily their dialogues were the only giveaway, otherwise it was confusing.
Overall, I did enjoy this volume and the series. It’s a short, sweet, simple shoujo story about trust, friendship and growth. Nothing is too intense or unexpected, so a great read when you’re looking for something simple.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
This volume can be summarized simply as ‘the secrets out’! Asaka and Tsukiyono reveal to Himari and Mio that they know about the switching, which was given away by the subtle changes in their personalities. As the series tries to close out everything in one volume, secrets and feelings are revealed quickly. Although it was sweet, I felt the series could have benefited by fleshing it out a little more. It would have been encouraging to see Himari slowly and realistically overcome her trauma with the support of her friends while attending school.
This is a shoujo, so there are the cliche or classic scenes. Like the return of the villain when the misunderstandings have been cleared, or the bittersweet heartbreak during Christmas season. Personally I liked it because sometimes I just want to read a simple and expected romance where I’ll know what’s going to happen.
Similar to the previous volume, Aki and Shizuka were overshadowed. They had short moments and their own somewhat satisfying ending. I felt a bit conflicted because although it wasn’t “happy”, it was understandable and they didn’t seem sad. I wish they were more involved in the main story, but I guess that would’ve made the story complex and potentially lead to more volumes.
The artwork is beautiful, reminiscent of the previous two volumes and the cover. There are some very stunning backgrounds in this volume of varying panel sizes. However, unlike the first two volumes, I couldn’t tell Himari and Mio apart. Primarily their dialogues were the only giveaway, otherwise it was confusing.
Overall, I did enjoy this volume and the series. It’s a short, sweet, simple shoujo story about trust, friendship and growth. Nothing is too intense or unexpected, so a great read when you’re looking for something simple.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
November 22, 2023
This is one of those cases where I think three volumes was enough. I don't entirely agree with everything done here - I'd have rathered ; although I understand why the author made that choice, it would have been a more faithful way to deal with her trauma. But the story ends on a nice note, Mio starts to get a little more mature, and I'd call it satisfying overall.
November 24, 2023
The jig is up for Himari and Mio’s place swapping and it means… very little in the grand scheme of things. But don’t worry, this thing will firmly stay on the rails for the rest of the ride.
A preposterous story has a preposterous ending. I read a friend’s review that noted this had exactly enough chapters to get the job done and I definitely echo that sentiment. It’s rare to see a three volume series land so neatly, even if the second volume did push itself pretty hard.
And it’s not the worst thing ever - I like some of the romance between Mio and the guy who doesn’t know anything about romance, for example. I also appreciate that the guys have known all this for some time (and only in shojo does this not instantly create feelings of betrayal).
Oh, but there’s neat and there’s too neat by half, which is where this squarely lands. It tries to wrap up every possible thing it can, and it does, but it seemingly doesn’t stop and consider if it should.
This is particularly notable in regards to Himari’s big past trauma, which can’t be a thing she learns to overcome, no no, but instead has to see karmic justice meted out in the most ham-fisted way possible as well.
I’ll probably be spoiling the pants out of this from this point forward.
It’s not like this is the first manga to do this, but boy is it ever hokey when the exact same guy shows up to harass the twins. Like, seriously? It was already bad enough that Tsukiyono’s big secret was wrapped up in that event too.
(There’s an amazing doujinshi to be made about this nefarious guy just stalking them for three volumes in the background of the series)
Really the whole thing’s an excuse for closure. And this antagonist is not nuanced in the least; to say that he’s hilariously underwritten is putting it mildly. Honestly, the entire section is just cringey as hell with its overly earnest speechifying and such.
The big finale after this is also really strange to me. It seems to imply that Himari’s making the right choice by going back to school at a grade below everybody rather than finishing her equivalency at home instead, which she’s already working on.
Mio thinks this idea is brilliant because they can all be at school together. It’s brilliant, all right. Brilliantly dumb. Why not hang out after school and not lose a year of your life? Why not think for five seconds about the fact that all of the others are going to graduate and leave you in the dust for a year? Sigh.
The romance part does okay. The two pairings are pretty solid and the little moments in here are fine. I don’t think that aspect is terrible at all. Heck, even parts of the ridiculous premise were used to okay effect.
It just goes to pieces at the end, trying to be way more clever than it is capable of being and large chunks of the denouement are very, very silly. And it’s not like the rest of it had been that great. It certainly did okay for itself, but it’s not anything special.
3 stars - I mean, yeah, it deserves a nod for not feeling like it left anything unsaid as it finished in three volumes; that’s so dang rare it’s worth celebrating. The irony is that it should have left some of that stuff behind and would have been better for it.
A preposterous story has a preposterous ending. I read a friend’s review that noted this had exactly enough chapters to get the job done and I definitely echo that sentiment. It’s rare to see a three volume series land so neatly, even if the second volume did push itself pretty hard.
And it’s not the worst thing ever - I like some of the romance between Mio and the guy who doesn’t know anything about romance, for example. I also appreciate that the guys have known all this for some time (and only in shojo does this not instantly create feelings of betrayal).
Oh, but there’s neat and there’s too neat by half, which is where this squarely lands. It tries to wrap up every possible thing it can, and it does, but it seemingly doesn’t stop and consider if it should.
This is particularly notable in regards to Himari’s big past trauma, which can’t be a thing she learns to overcome, no no, but instead has to see karmic justice meted out in the most ham-fisted way possible as well.
I’ll probably be spoiling the pants out of this from this point forward.
It’s not like this is the first manga to do this, but boy is it ever hokey when the exact same guy shows up to harass the twins. Like, seriously? It was already bad enough that Tsukiyono’s big secret was wrapped up in that event too.
(There’s an amazing doujinshi to be made about this nefarious guy just stalking them for three volumes in the background of the series)
Really the whole thing’s an excuse for closure. And this antagonist is not nuanced in the least; to say that he’s hilariously underwritten is putting it mildly. Honestly, the entire section is just cringey as hell with its overly earnest speechifying and such.
The big finale after this is also really strange to me. It seems to imply that Himari’s making the right choice by going back to school at a grade below everybody rather than finishing her equivalency at home instead, which she’s already working on.
Mio thinks this idea is brilliant because they can all be at school together. It’s brilliant, all right. Brilliantly dumb. Why not hang out after school and not lose a year of your life? Why not think for five seconds about the fact that all of the others are going to graduate and leave you in the dust for a year? Sigh.
The romance part does okay. The two pairings are pretty solid and the little moments in here are fine. I don’t think that aspect is terrible at all. Heck, even parts of the ridiculous premise were used to okay effect.
It just goes to pieces at the end, trying to be way more clever than it is capable of being and large chunks of the denouement are very, very silly. And it’s not like the rest of it had been that great. It certainly did okay for itself, but it’s not anything special.
3 stars - I mean, yeah, it deserves a nod for not feeling like it left anything unsaid as it finished in three volumes; that’s so dang rare it’s worth celebrating. The irony is that it should have left some of that stuff behind and would have been better for it.
March 27, 2024
A good ending. Still couldn't tell the twins apart though. 💀💀
May 5, 2025
Woof. How did things go so wrong so fast??? At first I was just upset that she changed Tsukiyono's hair for some reason - the bobby pins are what made him cool, and while they appeared on title pages, he didn't have them in until the meeting at school in the last few pages. Why mess with my favorite male character over something so easily drawn?
The more I read, though, the more I started disliking everything about this volume. Taukiyono went from this considerate, gentle protection kind of guy to one that was uncomfortably forward with someone he just learned the name of, and who has major trauma in her recent past. I just don't believe she would have been ok with all the physical affection and big declarations of feelings. He seemed almost possessive which is a huge turn off.
As for Mio, I can feel a little happy for her, but only if you make yourself forget the whole, "I don't know if I like you but I don't want you to look at other guys" statement. While they seem happy at the end, I think she deserves someone better.
In any case, the first two volumes made it seem like this would be a butterflies in your stomach, will they won't they, typical manga, albeit with a little grit, but the end was a let down. Even if there weren't only 3 volumes, I would have quit after this one, and that's really saying something.
The more I read, though, the more I started disliking everything about this volume. Taukiyono went from this considerate, gentle protection kind of guy to one that was uncomfortably forward with someone he just learned the name of, and who has major trauma in her recent past. I just don't believe she would have been ok with all the physical affection and big declarations of feelings. He seemed almost possessive which is a huge turn off.
As for Mio, I can feel a little happy for her, but only if you make yourself forget the whole, "I don't know if I like you but I don't want you to look at other guys" statement. While they seem happy at the end, I think she deserves someone better.
In any case, the first two volumes made it seem like this would be a butterflies in your stomach, will they won't they, typical manga, albeit with a little grit, but the end was a let down. Even if there weren't only 3 volumes, I would have quit after this one, and that's really saying something.
May 18, 2024
My hopes for this series built up as the story continued; no, I didn't like the first book; yes, I loved the rest of the series. The love twins Himari and Mio have for each other is as clear as their identical-ness, and I can't stop myself from cheering for them and their love stories with Asaka and Tsukiyono! I love the perfect balance of their romances; Tsukiyono is the rock Himari can lean on in times of trouble (and vice-versa), and the bubbly Mio balances the rather stoic Asaka quite well. I didn't think I'd be a return reader to Monika Kaname's work before, but I'll consider it now. Even though the characters all look a lot alike, and though you might need to make a chart of all the characters and their relations, this series, overall, is worth the read... at least to me. Thank you for surprising me with how much I've come to love this series, Monika! You're pretty cool in my book!
January 8, 2024
I think overall this volume was cute, but as the reader even I got confused which twin was which sometimes and the guys don't look that different either IMO. I like that everything wraps up in a cute way, but I think the ending is left very open ended and I don't really like that in stories even though it's common.
This series is really short (only 3 volumes) so I would suggest just bingeing it and I think you'd have a much more enjoyable experience.
This series is really short (only 3 volumes) so I would suggest just bingeing it and I think you'd have a much more enjoyable experience.
December 15, 2023
What a sweet ending! I'm very glad this story didn't drag on for volumes and volumes. I think this wrapped everything up pretty well.
Side note, the Christmas lights and snow were SO PRETTY! 10/10 on that art.
Side note, the Christmas lights and snow were SO PRETTY! 10/10 on that art.
January 15, 2025
Chapters 12 - 16: This is the last volume in the series and I enjoyed how everything worked out for the different characters and came together. It was also fun to see the New Years and Valentines Chapters. This was a really interesting series and I am glad I came across it.
February 6, 2025
What about Aki and Shizuki? Sure shizuki stepped away, but Aki holding mio and walking away while she calls back to him... it seemed like it was an opportunity to know more of what that was about. She was suddenly noticing Aki and it seemed like she may get a torn heart. I wanna know more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2023
On the one hand, I am sad that it is over. On the other hand, once in a while it’s nice to read something that does end. (So many ongoing manga)
Little bittersweet in some regards, but mostly HEA.
Little bittersweet in some regards, but mostly HEA.
December 12, 2023
I fucking looooove this manga! I love the story!!!!
April 28, 2024
This one...... Basically took every stereotypical thing about 1st time couples...and put them together...
It was pretty meh.
It was pretty meh.
January 30, 2024
It was average at best - the story lacked smooth transitions, instead chopping leaping from one situation to another. Is it remotely believable that the asshole shows up and is blatantly asking them to handover one of the girls? How did he even like Mil if she’s never met him? And then his friends immediately abandon him because he uses his dad as a shield? It’s just poor writing 🤦🏻♀️
I felt very sorry for Aki and Shizuku in the end. Both were nice friends and genuinely happy for the twins, but they didn’t get a happy ending.
I felt very sorry for Aki and Shizuku in the end. Both were nice friends and genuinely happy for the twins, but they didn’t get a happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews