Bless, Vol. 1

ブレス [Bless] #1

by Yukino Sonoyama

They said Aia was destined to be a model, and Jun was bullied for her freckles. Together, they will take back the power to define themselves in an inspirational fashion manga that asks cutting questions about what it really means to be beautiful--and what it takes to overcome an arbitrary system that seems to respect talent over hard work.

At a young age, Aia Utagawa was scouted as a model, but his real ambition is to become a makeup artist. But, even as the end of high school approaches, it's a dream he hides inside, afraid of stepping outside his prescribed role as a pretty face. Then, one day, he meets Jun, a quiet classmate who hunches because she's ashamed of her face, covered in freckles. He convinces her to enter a school runway fashion contest together--with him doing her makeup. They make an incredible team, with Jun discovering a confidence she never knew she could show and Aia finally learning that, while it may be tough to open yourself up to failing at the one thing you care about, the difficulties can be worth facing.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Slice Of Life, Graphic Novels, Coming Of Age, Friendship, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2022

About the author

園山 ゆきの

Reviews

[Lastblossom]

tl;dr
A gorgeously illustrated coming of age story that moves at a breakneck pace.

Thoughts
For a book about an industry based on imagery, the art absolutely nails it. Line work shifts between delicate and sketchy, changing as necessary to portray fluid movement, powerful emotions, and some really attractive character designs. The panels are full of life, and the detailed toning really brings everything together. A few shots in particular took my breath away. The storyline isn't quite as breathtaking as the artwork, but it's competent for what it is: a coming of age tale about teens learning to define themselves in a world full of other peoples' expectations. Pacing is quick, maybe faster than it needs to be. While the narrative was open about the challenges of working in the Industry, it sped along so fast that some of the outcomes felt either sudden or unrealistic. I would love to spend more time on the leads, their inner lives, and their relationship. Thankfully, there's plenty of room in future volumes for that.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

[Uyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just alright.

The characters didn’t have the depth that I would like for them to have.
And while I liked all the challenges that was shown in book 1…it felt like the pacing was too fast.

Thank you netgalley and Kodansha for the arc. My opinions are my own.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading this felt like a lot. The story felt like it was going at a 100 mph. I thought the end of the first volume would be the Aoi Con that was mentioned at the beginning (to be honest they barely explained what it was, or I just didn't get it), but no. That thing was over in like a chapter or 2, and then we quickly rush on to the next thing. The characters were messy and confusing too. Not like real people, but as in their personalities didn't make much sense to me. Jun especially didn't make sense. She went from scared with no confidence, to overly confident and over-the-top/ too much, and then back to no confidence as if the other thing never happened. There was a lot of "telling not showing" going on, with one character telling us that the other is "mysterious" or "full of a shining light" or such things and every time my first thought was "really?" because there was nothing at all to back this up for me as a reader. Jun also has a problem with slouching, but she stops doing it for one minute, never does it again, and then that issue is solved forever I guess. Honestly the story gave me whiplash, and that angry guy with the braces felt like Katsuki Bakugou in a different font.

When I decided to read this I thought it would be something completely different. I thought it would be two friends fighting against the ridiculous beauty standards that exist in the world, but it barely did anything like that at all. I do appreciate them saying that her freckles are not to be covered up because they make her who she is. I do feel that the idea for this manga has potential, but after reading this I honestly don't want to give the story another try, it made me too tired.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I could give you all sorts of tips, but what matters most is that I did your makeup, imagining you just as you are now. So I want you to feel confident I guess."

I LOVE THIS MANGA SO MUCH!! 😭😭😭

I was unsure if I would enjoy this or not when I first heard the physical license announcement, so I originally checked it out on KMANGA, only to quickly binge-read all of the free chapters and then use tickets for several days to read the rest! Because of how much I loved it, I HAD to get this physically, making it one of my most anticipated shonen releases of the year!

Rereading it again, but physically, brought back all the emotions I felt as well as an even stronger desire to cheer for these two leads. I think it's amazing to see how they have different areas of struggle, but have the same root struggle. They both feel they can't chase their dreams due to other people's expectations, but once they open up to one another, they push and lift each other up to race for their dreams. It's beautiful and makes me teary-eyed when reading because as someone who felt they were "bound" to people's expectations, I thrived seeing these two break those chains and go forward with a new blooming confidence. I hope their friendship only grows stronger and they can continue to stand by each other's side and move forward in excitement and strength. <3

I'm pretty sure Aia's archrival was introduced in this volume and even if he is the "bad guy," I really liked him! He's the perfect foil to Aia and excited to see more of him because he forces Aia to question if he really wants to take his dream seriously as well as shows him what it can look like to pursue that dream seriously. Plus, it is the first time I have ever seen a manga character have braces and wear rubber bands! :o How cool!

The fashion and makeup part of this story was definitely everything! I LOVED the opening quote and how it later leads to why this series is called Bless. I honestly felt I read a little too fast during the makeup sessions because I was SO invested and loved seeing what Aia would do!

HIGHLY recommend this manga to those who are looking for a non-romantic(?) makeup and fashion manga that challenges the idea of beauty and the confidence to chase after your dream!

[sus ‧₊˚✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⋆｡°✩ first volume impressions ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗


Estoy completamente dentro amigas!!!! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley fot providing an eARC of this volume.
I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more if the pacing just calmed down and let me enjoy the characters a bit more. I really really loved Jun for a reason that I cannot explain and I truly wish that she was the main character. From a narrative standpoint Aia is surely more interesting due to his past modelling career but the speed at which the book went on did not allow me to get attached to him at all. Regardless, Jun was absolutely wonderful and the author did a great job at showing that she was a future IT girl the moment she did that first walk. If the volume had ended with Aoi con and taken its time to get there this would have been a 5 stars.

[Ami 乁⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠o⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠ㄏ (written by Jane Austen) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a surprisingly good start. I did find the plot a bit fast-paced but other than that, it seems like a really fun coming of age story!

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.


A gorgeous and delightful manga about a guy who used to be model but actually wants to become a make-up artist go for that path fully and a classmate who wants to try out modelling even though she is super shy and at times awkward. I loved that they both supported the other and that they were really eager to make this work out.

My favourite character was definitely Aia, our MC. It was really fun to read on how he got a chance to go for make-up and see him pursue it. I love seeing him gain more confidence as the story continues. See him discover that make-up is really were his passion lies. But also see his worries. See that he wonders if he shouldn’t have done this earlier because competition is fierce and some of them have been at it for years. I just wanted to step in the story and tell him that yes he may be behind, but he has talent and skills and he will get very far as long as he keeps on practicing now. I love how he was able to really bring out someone’s face and make it pop. And I love his stance on freckles. A lot of make-up artists try to hide them, but he didn’t want that. Oh, and his motto to do make-up? LOVED IT!

Oh, I do have to say I thought these guys were in college/uni, not in high school. The way they act, they fact they get job offers and opportunities to go further with their talents.

I did like Jun, and I did like seeing her blossom and try out this new path of modelling, see her embrace her height. Oh, and see her accept her freckles more made me smile, I wasn’t such a fan how she fumbled that important moment with Aia. I get it, she is shy. She is awkward. It is her first time (or well second given the competition/event at the beginning), but it just felt like she didn’t even try. And that they had to accommodate to have her feel happy. I hope she realises that Aia made this happen and that if she wants to pursue modelling this won’t be standard. Especially not for a newbie.

I also liked meeting other people in the industry. Like the rival at the magazine, who wasn’t always likeable but I did like him in overall. Or the guy that Aia knows from when he was a model who is now a superfamous make-up artist.

The school event that started it all? I wish I could have been there for real. It looks like such a fun event full of fashion, make-up and more!

The art was gorgeous and stunning. Some of the panels were just so worthy of being put in frames.

All in all, this was a gorgeous and stunning manga and I will be rooting for these two characters. I am definitely interested in reading more! If you like fashion and make-up this is the one for you.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Laura (crofteereader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to really sell the makeup in a black-and-white manga (fashion is slightly different because there's a lot more texture and patterns - so when we got to see the runway at Aoi Con, it worked really well). This reminded me a lot of Smile Down the Runway with the roles slightly rearranged. It felt like we missed some of the important build-up, though - with the importance of Aoi Con and what kind of school they are to have such heavy-hitting alumni in the arts and fashion industries.

The long, flowing lines in the character designs for Aia and Jun as well as the huge over-the-top facial expressions really lend themselves to making the characters' emotions the center. I'm looking forward to getting to know them both better in future volumes because I feel like we've barely scratched the surface.

{Thank you Kodansha for the complementary copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review}

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stuck in his role as a former model, Aia actually harbours dreams of doing makeup on others. When he’s picked to represent his class during a school fashion contest, the withdrawn Jun is set to do his makeup. But when they swap roles, they might both find what they’ve been looking for all this time…

While not a home run, per se, this certainly manages to at least load the bases with a couple of minor errors and, no, I don’t know why I am using a sports analogy for a fashion manga.

This story has a great hook and a tried and true message of not being afraid to chase your dreams and believing in yourself. That it involves a popular boy who wants to do makeup and an unconventional looking girl who wants to model is the perfect bait for said hook.

Aia’s dreams are nothing more than that, his success leaving his opinions largely ignored in favour of him standing there and looking good. Jun lives hunched over and embarrassed of her many freckles - she is not conventionally ‘manga attractive’ in any way and I love that they give her that little tweak. It makes a difference.

Everybody sees Jun’s freckles as detriment and encourages her to conceal the heck out of them. You can see where this is going, but man, the school show that results is one of the best examples of a Mark Manga Moment (tm) that I have seen in ages. This thing doesn’t kill; it slays.

What’s even more impressive is that the revelation of the class entry and Jun’s outfit is absolutely one of the dumbest images I’ve seen (I have no time for this sort of thing, so your mileage may vary). So seeing it change and explode the way it does into something amazing is absolutely jaw-dropping. I completely recommend the volume just on how fun this whole part is.

Is there romance in the air? Probably, but while these two join themselves at the hip pretty quickly there’s a real issue that’s being floated in the background about an aspiring make-up artist using only one model for his art. That’s a big ask in an industry like this one and I hope it gets more page time going forward.

Despite a bit of chemistry, the writing is a little stiff at times, more on that in a second, but the seeds are certainly being sown. Nobody who disagrees vehemently, in unison, that they are not a couple has ever managed platonic relations in the history of manga.

Now, when I say it isn’t perfect, I mean it is not perfect. Even by manga standards, some of the reactions to events by Aia are really weird. I mean, I get he’s scared of Jun moving beyond his own efforts, but his reaction to it all is a bit exaggerated (this is probably why I am not in fashion school and never will be unless jeans and hoodies become haute couture).

And there is some serious jank to the dialogue that’s either bad writing, awkward translation, or both. There’s an argument Aia has with his new job partner for an assignment and I read it about five times and could not figure out what they were trying to hash out. For as good as parts of this are, there are some real frustrations.

When it’s on, though? Man, this is a fantastic tale. Even the later photo session with Jun had a vibrancy to it and this whole industry has struggle built into it, even if some of it is being used to just show that our leads work better together than apart.

Sure, it’s a romance and competition manga, that partner turns into a non-romantic rival and you can see it all coming a mile away, but it has flare and flourish and a good heart to cover over some of those aspects. It’s not a perfect concealment, but I would always rather something trying and not getting there than just another rote story.

3.5 stars - my score is going to reflect some issues I think need work before we can call this a masterpiece, but despite what I have ultimately given it here I believe it is 100% worth a look if you think it sounds interesting.

[marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good start! The art is gorgeous and dynamic; the paneling is among the best I've ever seen. I can't believe this is Yukino Sonoyama's first published series. Admittedly, the writing needs work. The pacing is at breakneck speed: there are so many scenes stuffed in each chapter that there's no room to breathe. On top of that, since our leads are high school students, it makes the conflict a bit silly. You're so young! It's not too late to start. You're going to be fine. I get that shonen magazines like having teenage protagonists, but the story would've hit harder if the characters are in their 20s or older. Still, I'm excited to see where the series will go.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

como blue period pero en vez de pintar maquilla o sea me hace sentirme igual de miserable pero en vez de clavarme diez puñales me clava nueve porque por lo menos no hablan de pintura al óleo. bien.
dejando mi miseria personal a un lado, es precioso, el dibujo es super bonito y todo está contado de una forma muy suave y delicadita, blue period (los comparo porque es que se parecen vale tienen tropes similares) es como un puñetazo en el estómago sin anestesia, bless es como más te doy un cate pero luego te doy un abracito. en fin 10/10. como blue period vamos, si es que este es un tipo de miseria que a mí me gusta mucho.

[LindSlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alot of different things being crammed into the first book. It was sweet but I got a little lost at some of the decisions made by the characters. Very fast pacing, the first story line in the beginning was (what I thought) going to be what the whole book worked through actually was finished within the first half of the book. Didn't let me sit long enough with the characters so when things changed so rapidly within their growth, it felt a touch shallow.

[Vittoria's Readings · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute but easily forgettable story.
I was expecting something more but practically nothing happens and the characters are not well characterized.
It's a shame because the illustrations are gorgeous.

[Katarzyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it, the characters are all very lovely and the story too! 💕

[shiori no nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

le buone premesse di questo manga ci sono, disegni stupendi. continuerò la lettura senza dubbio (questo è lo shonen che prediligo)

[M! (I think I’m giving up on reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artstyle is so prettyyy

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the art and the story, but it hasn't hooked me yet.

[Sea lamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art style and characters are so cute and endearing it’s so impressive just to look at the paneling and the way the characters interact with one another really makes you care for them that being said the dialogue was a little confusing at times but I’ll chalk that up to a mistranslation error and the pacing was a little too rushed though in hindsight it doesn’t take away from the overall story

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

sky ima catch up to you 1 manga at a time

[Yoshiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

POPKULTUROWY KOCIOŁEK: Zasiadając do lektury Bless poznajemy ucznia szkoły średniej Aia Udagawe, który od swojego dzieciństwa zajmował się modelingiem. Nie jest to jednak spełnienie jego najskrytszych marzeń, od dawna pragnął on bowiem zostać wizażystą. Niestety pragnienie to jest marginalizowane przez ludzi z jego otoczenia, którzy traktują je jako mało poważne.


Wszystko zmienia się jednak pewnego dnia, kiedy jego licealna klasa ma wziąć udział w konkursie artystycznym, a dwójka uczniów będzie działać jako model i wizażysta. Ze względu na głosy większości swojej klasy, Aia został obsadzony w roli modela, makijażem ma zaś zająć się skryta i nieśmiała Jun. Pomiędzy tą dwójką dochodzi do pewnego porozumienia i zamiany ról. Szybko okazuje się, że to doskonała decyzja. Jun ma bowiem naturalny talent do modelingu, a dzięki wiedzy kosmetycznej Aia udaje się wydobyć z niej skrywane piękno i potrzebną jej pewność siebie. Oboje zaczynają też rozumieć, że nie chcą unikać swoich marzeń i powinni oni je realizować niezależnie od oceny otoczenia.

Historie o nastolatkach próbujących spełnić swoje marzenia nie są w świecie mangi niczym nowym. Yukino Sonoyama w swoim dziele sięga więc po pewne sprawdzone rozwiązania, które jednak potrafi odpowiednio dopasować do własnej wizji.

Bardzo udanie splata ona tu narrację dwójki młodych ludzi, tworząc dynamiczną grę pomiędzy ich kontrastującymi osobowościami i doświadczeniami. Duże znaczenie ma tutaj również tematyka pogoni za pięknem. Wątek ten nie jest jednak demonizowany, a przeformułowany przez autorkę w taki sposób, aby podkreślić potencjał makijażu i mody jako jednego z narzędzi do wyrażania siebie i budowania pewności siebie.

Scenariusz skupia się także na temacie presji społecznej, pewnych oczekiwań otoczenia i konieczności podjęcia własnych decyzji odnośnie przyszłości. Historia Aia jako wizażysty została przedstawiona z dbałością o szczegóły. Widzimy jego pasję do tego rzemiosła oraz przekształcanie pewnych wizji w rzeczywistość. Dotyczy to również postaci Jun. Jesteśmy świadkami jej początkowej nerwowości i niepewności, ale także jej rosnącej pewności siebie i determinacji w dążeniu do realizacji marzeń.

Ponadto Bless w subtelny sposób nawiązuje do samej koncepcji „błogosławieństwa”. To nie jest po prostu słowo pojawiające się w tytule. To temat, który przewija się w całej narracji. Nakładanie makijażu w rękach Aia staje się bowiem formą błogosławieństwa, sposobem na docenienie i celebrowanie piękna, które kryje się w każdej osobie....

https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/szkol...

[Mika · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

The only thing I actually liked was the story idea and how Aia's hair looked like, but it wasn't enough for giving it at least 2 stars.

The drawings were good, but sometimes it didn't make sense like on page 58 with the glasses. There were dots all over, not sure if that was supposed to be the shadowing, but that's not how a sunglasses would look like. Also, sometimes 'cause of the eyebrows or other facial feature it made the character look fake or like they are forcefully do it, like when Jun smiled on page 30 and her eyebrows looked worried 'cause of the angle.

The reactions of the characters to certain things were odd or even cringe (page 15, Jun's reaction, why pulling hair?, page 30, why does Jun smile and also not a shy one, she is so shy, but there she wasn't, 48-49, why did she cry and why did Aia scream?, page 99+104 disrespectful and why out of the blue?)

Relationship between Aia and Jun was horrible! At first it seemed cute and stuff, also how he complimented her about the sunflower thing (which I also didn't get, since when is it bad to be called a sunflower? Why is she so insecure about it?). Anyhow, it turns out that Jun makes decisions for them both without talking to Aia about it, they were a team, but she ruined it (page 86) and later on even wondered why he distanced himself from her (page 101). Page 101 is actually about her behaviour after people applauded due to her amazing walk and transformation (page 73). That was disrespectful. I don't think anyone should call this 'cute' as this is actually sexual harassment. She didn't ask beforehand and he clearly reacted to it too, by thinking; What was that?, about a few pages after the incident. And she of course never apologised and was I think in his apartment afterwards as he asked why she is there (page 109). In addition, while she was there she tried to pierce herself earrings. The self-made piercing tool is NOT good and there were already many incidents about it and how it damaged the ear in some way. There is a reason why professionals originally do that.


End note/Final thoughts:

Thank you for the advanced reader copy of Bless Volume 1 by Yukino Sonoyama.

I didn't enjoy it, but I know others did so don't let yourself be discouraged if you read this review. This is only my opinion after all, everyone should make their own about this book.

Started the book: 28. April 2024
Finished the book: 28. April 2024
Wrote the review: 28. April 2024

[Enairolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un manga qui parle de l’univers de la mode, du mannequinat et du maquillage, je dois bien avouer que ça m’a intrigué. Pour être honnête ce genre d’univers ce n��est clairement pas quelque chose qui m’intéresse en temps normal. Mais j’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à me plonger dans ce premier tome. J’ai beaucoup aimé l’histoire ainsi que les personnages. C’est un premier tome très prometteur et je suis impatiente de découvrir ce que la suite nous réserve.

Dans ce premier tome, Aia Udagawa est un ancien mannequin qui garde sa passion pour le maquillage secrète, persuadé qu’il n’a aucun talent. Un jour, il se retrouve contraint de faire équipe avec Jun Sumisaki, la grande fille timide et effacée de sa classe, pour participer à un concours qui prendra la forme d’un défilé. Aia apprend alors à connaître Jun et décide de révéler sa véritable personnalité et son charme sous-estimé, pour la faire briller sur le podium, à l’aide de ses pinceaux !

Comme je viens de le dire, en temps normal le maquillage et tout ce qui s’en suit ne m’intéresse pas le moins du monde. Mais j’ai quand même eu envie de découvrir cette histoire. Ça a été une très belle découverte et j’ai hâte de lire la suite. J’ai beaucoup aimé le personnage de Aia. Cet ancien mannequin est passionné par le maquillage, il voulait être make up artist mais a fini par tout abandonner. Il a clairement laisser tomber sa passion mais cet amour est toujours présent en lui. C’est en se retrouvant a devoir faire équipe avec Jun qu’il va laisser sa passion reprendre le dessus. Son personnage m’a beaucoup plu, je l’ai trouvé très touchant par moment et son amour pour le maquillage était très beau à voir. Surtout que l’on voit qu’il a un grand talent pour ça. J’ai aussi adoré le personnage de Jun! Elle a une sacré évolution car la Jun du début n’a plus rien à voir avec celle d’après. Elle qui était timide et effacée, elle va et ça grâce à Aia, montrer sa véritable personnalité. Je trouve que c’est quelqu’un de très solaire, elle est incroyable. J’ai hâte de voir ce duo de folie par la suite, je suis certaine que ces deux là vont faire de grandes choses.

C’est un premier tome très plaisant à lire et surtout, un premier tome qui nous donne envie de découvrir ce que la suite va nous révéler. J’ai vraiment adoré les personnages de Jun et Aia, le duo qu’ils forment s’annonce prometteur. J’ai vraiment hâte de lire la suite et voir ce qu’il va se passer pour ces deux là. Surtout ce ce premier tome se termine d’une façon très intrigante!

[louminescence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art Style : The art style is beautiful and is one of the two reasons I decided to read this manga. Something about the way the pages flow too is so smooth and pleasing to the eye. However, I must note that as great as the mangaka’s skill in drawing is, there are two panels I remember from Chapter 1 where it looked like Sumisaki’s wrist was broken and Udagawa’s right hand looked like a left hand. In Chapter 3, Udagawa’s finger looked like it had been snapped upward from the joint in one of the panels and in another, his little finger looked a little too long and bent a little too strangely. Returning to the more pleasant side of things, there is a pseudo-art nouveau vibe that the art style gives off which I’m totally here for.
Plot : I love this! This is the other reason I began reading this. I love fashion so anything to do with fashion, I’m immediately intrigued by. Plus, the premise is sweet to me. Although there were some moments where I thought that certain things moved a little too fast. Normally, I’d be put off by that since I think that there isn’t enough to know about the characters to be progressing that fast. However, in this case, I actually thought that the way it progressed was fine. Perhaps it’s because I read a lot of shōnen like My Hero Academia or Bleach that I get a little jarred by how quickly things progress in other genres like shōjo or, in this case, shōnen that is set in contemporary times. Still, it’s enjoyable.
Characters : The characters are also a pleasant element of this manga. I like to think that this sort of subverts tropes too. We know enough of the characters from the start as it had so smoothly woven into the story that we actually root for them, to varying degrees of course. The relationship’s progress between our two leads, Aia Udagawa and Jun Sumisaki, also doesn’t move too fast, aside from that questionable end to the Hollyhock Contest. But it’s forgivable at least.
Verdict : Great start to a manga, that’s for sure! It has a lot of the elements that I like so I’m looking forward to reading this more.

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:

Aia and Jun are two unlikely friends with the same problem - the world keeps trying to push them into roles they don’t want. All Aia wants to do is design clothes and fashionable makeup. Yet he’s made to be the model instead.

Meanwhile, Jun has always been made fun of for her freckles - despite her desire to stand up for herself. Together, they can reach their dreams and change their roles in life - but only if they’re willing to face the world as a pair.

Review:

Slice-of-life meets follow your dreams? Where do I sign up?! Bless Vol. 1 is a sweet introduction to a very human story. We have two characters who have deep desires about what to do with their lives - yet society keeps trying to pigeonhole them in a different direction.

That’s probably a tale that many readers can resonate with, right? So it doesn’t take long to get attached to our two leads, Aia and Jun. Their story is calm in the way of slice-of-life stories but also very compelling.

I wish they didn’t focus on the whole “freckles keep you from being pretty” trope, but maybe that’s just me. We’re talking about a story with models, so a slight focus on looks is to be expected.

Overall, I’d say that Bless Vol. 1 is a great story. Not at all what I expected from the cover or title, but still a fun read!

Highlights:
Slice-of-Life
Shonen
Friendships & Bonds

Will I continue the series? Probably

You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy

[Ángela, Libros y Miscelaneas · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She's... exactly like me...holding herself back to conform to other people's expectations."

Bless by Yukino Sonoyama is a young adult manga centered around the fashion world with an inspirational tone and an amazing art style that could steal anyone's heart!

With a runway fashion show on the horizon, Aia and Jun see themselves with the responsibility of creating a look to represent their class: Jun would be the stylist, 'cause nobody else wants the job and Aia would be the model since he had modeled before. But they may have other ideas…
Aia dream is to be a makeup artist, though he gave up since nobody seemed to see his potential. On the other hand, Jun would like to model and have the spotlight people seem to take from her. Supporting each other and believing in their abilities, they start a journey into the fashion world, reclaiming the space they always yearned for themselves.

I'm totally infatuated by it! This is a fast read and devour it. It may feel a little bit choppy, yes. But I still find it inspiring and fun. Also, Yukino Sonoyama's art is crazy good. The art style is enchanting and with a solid foundation, the composition is well-thought-out, and the backgrounds are well-designed, adding life to the scenes portrayed.

The biggest issues I found were that it could feel rushed, or as I said before choppy, due to the way the plot evolves. Also, some compositions could be improved (just a couple of them).

I would love to see the evolution of this story and author, and I would recommend it because it has a lot of potential.

--------------------

Star rating: 4/5
General Rating: 8.75/10

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Alice Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

An aspiring model held back by self-consciousness over her freckles, and a former model with ambitions to become a make-up artist, team up in this dazzling fashion manga by Yukino Sonoyama.

I’ve always really been fascinated by manga set in the fashion and modelling industry. I adored series like Mame Coordinate and Princess Jellyfish, and having been left perpetually hungry for more I was delighted to stumble across this manga in my local Waterstones.

The overall vibe of the series - taking a seinen sports-manga style approach to exploring the challenges of the fashion industry - is probably best comparable to Smiling Down the Runway. However, I would argue that Bless is what Smiling Down the Runway could have been if it actually had compelling characters. Jun, the aspiring model of our series, is a strikingly tall girl who has always been taught by society that her freckles are something to be concealed, not celebrated. Aia, on the other hand, is a former model who has had his aspirations as a make-up artist dissuaded by colleagues who have encouraged him to simply stick with what’s he’s ‘good’ at: modelling.

There’s an undercurrent of frustration that boils over in to determination in this series, and it is that which makes it such a compelling read. You really feel the characters’ passion and ambition and you immediately find yourself rooting for them.

The art, also, is GORGEOUS. This is one of the most visually impressive manga I have read in a while, and the level of detail of the art really gives impact to a work so heavily revolving around make-up as a subject matter. The composition of the panels is impeccable and even the background scenery feels wonderfully clean cut at times.

In short, this is one of the best fashion manga to join the genre in a long time. If you enjoyed works like Princess Jellyfish or Boys Run the Riot I’d definitely recommend checking out Bless, this really is a series to keep an eye on.

[Kirinna · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ich möchte Make-up kreieren, das Menschen feiert."

Aia Udagawa und Jun Sumisaki gehen beide auf eine Fashion/Make-up/Model-Schule und würden heimlich gern die Jobs miteinander tauschen. Alles ändert sich als sie für die bekannte Aoi-Con ihrer Schule zusammen an einer Modeschau arbeiten sollen...

Ich war überrascht dass es trotz Fashion Thematik ein Shonen ist und kein Shojo, erfrischend!
Der Manga ist sehr hübsch und kommt in der 1. Auflage mit farbigen Anfangsseiten und einem Taschenspiegel mit Mangamotiv.
Das Artwork ist definitiv das Highlight: Es ist souverän ohne dabei generisch zu sein, die Charaktere werden immer gut in Szene gesetzt und es ist spannend den Make-up artists bei der Arbeit zuzuschauen (vergleichbar mit Light Yagami wenn er actionmäßig ins Death Note schreibt)

Trotz Fashion-Thema geht es hier auch um die Schönheit in gesellschaftlich als eher unschön wahrgenommenen Dingen wie Zahnspangen und Sommersprossen und das man sich nicht verstecken muss.

Die beiden Protagonisten sind sympathisch, allerdings ist das Pacing zu schnell.
Wer dachte, dass die Aoi-Con hier den ganzen Band einnimmt ist schief gewickelt - Handlungsstränge flitzen nur so dahin, beinahe nebenbei erfährt man dass das Modemagazin "Bless" der Titel ist.

Auch schade dass die Charaktere nur wenig voneinander wissen, aber auch nicht wirklich etwas dafür tun sich kennen zu lernen. Sie treffen sich praktisch nur wegen ihren Jobs.
Selbst der größte romantische Moment im Manga, bei dem Aoi stark abweisend reagiert sogar vor Zuschauern, wird nicht aufgelöst und macht das ganze ein wenig unangenehm. Wenn ein Moment zündet ist es aber magisch, gerade Jun möchte man einfach immer gern lachen sehen.

Fazit
Es ist zuckersüß, klasse gezeichnet und ich hoffe neben den Startschwierigkeiten findet es seine Spur mit den kommenden Bänden.
4/5

[Agustina Zanelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Español

Un chico que solía ser modelo pero que quiere incursionar en el mundo del maquillaje. Una chica que desea ser modelo a pesar de todas las inseguridades que siente. Una alianza entre ambos con el fin de cumplir todos sus sueños.

Me encantaron las ilustraciones de este manga, son realmente hermosas y están muy desarrolladas en cuanto a detalles. La historia también es entretenida, tiene una temática interesante acerca del mundo del maquillaje y modelaje. Y la conexión entre los protagonistas es muy especial, cómo se va desarrollando a medida que avanza la historia.

Además, tiene un mensaje muy lindo sobre seguir tus sueños y no darte por vencido, no tirarte abajo, y sacar a relucir lo que te hace único en lugar de ocultarlo.

Sin embargo, algunas partes fueron un poco confusas, especialmente los cierres de escena, además de ciertas reacciones exageradas por parte de los personajes. Pero estuvo bien, es un buen comienzo para una historia que promete mucho.



English

A guy who used to be a model but wants to become a make-up artist. A girl who wants to be a model despite all the insecurities she has. An alliance between the two in order to fulfill all of their dreams.

I loved the drawings, they are really beautiful and there’s a lot of work to create each scene with a lot of details. The story is also interesting, showing the world of makeup and modeling. And the connection between the main characters is very special, I loved how it develops as the story progresses.

Also, this manga has a really nice message about following your dreams and not giving up, about not being too hard on yourself, and bringing out what makes you unique instead of hiding it.

However, some things were a bit confusing, especially the closing scenes, as well as some reactions from the characters that seemed a little exaggerated. But it was okay, it's a good start to a story that promises a lot.

[Kryssa Jacynth · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Draw it out of me. A me I don’t even know myself”


Unfortunately, I did not like this book as much as I wanted to. I was looking forward to a really cute story between two people who lacked qualities that the other person had but I didn’t really get that.

The story moves too fast to really flesh out the main characters and their relationship is somewhat confusing. I didn’t get to care much about Sumisaki and Udagawa because I didn’t know anything about them. There’s not much of a backstory so we don’t really understand the characters motives. The characters don’t spend a lot of time getting to know each other or building a relationship. It is unclear if they are just friends or if they are going to date, but I guess that will be solved in the next book?

I just wish the author would have used this first book as a chance to better introduce the characters and develop the relationship/friendship between them. There was too much of a focus on the makeup and modeling part of the plot that even when the author tried to have moments of inner conflict, it didn’t feel like a crucial part of the story or like I should care. Also, although there was character development I would say that it was somewhat unrealistic as it all happened too fast. This is another reason why I wish the author would have used the first book as an opportunity to focus more on the characters themselves and the inner conflicts they faced.

I did begin to become interested at the end when Yoyogi was introduced but the competition between them never gained a sense of tension. I wanted to feel as if the stakes were high, but unfortunately I didn’t get that feeling at all.


*I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.