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The White and Blue Between Us
When a white lie tears apart two high school friends, the two boys will have to confront their past in order to repair their future in this moving, dramatic, BL one-shot, perfect for fans of My Summer of You , Seven Days , or I Hear the Sunspot .
Is it ever too late to make up for a lie? Or can the opportunity be swept away, like white clouds across a blue summer sky?
It's been seven years since Hozumi left the island town he grew up on, leaving behind not only the seaside, but also Mishima--his close friend and first love from high school. The two haven’t spoken since Hozumi turned Mishima down when he rejected him and lied about his own feelings, so when Hozumi returns for his high school reunion, he wants nothing more than to make amends with Mishima--a task easier said than done. In their years apart, Mishima has distanced himself from not only Hozumi, but everyone in the entire town, choosing to live alone in the lighthouse his grandfather used to tend to. Will Hozumi finally be able to break down Mishima's walls, clear the air between them, and finally confess his true feelings, or are the two fated to be separated from one another?
Is it ever too late to make up for a lie? Or can the opportunity be swept away, like white clouds across a blue summer sky?
It's been seven years since Hozumi left the island town he grew up on, leaving behind not only the seaside, but also Mishima--his close friend and first love from high school. The two haven’t spoken since Hozumi turned Mishima down when he rejected him and lied about his own feelings, so when Hozumi returns for his high school reunion, he wants nothing more than to make amends with Mishima--a task easier said than done. In their years apart, Mishima has distanced himself from not only Hozumi, but everyone in the entire town, choosing to live alone in the lighthouse his grandfather used to tend to. Will Hozumi finally be able to break down Mishima's walls, clear the air between them, and finally confess his true feelings, or are the two fated to be separated from one another?
176 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2024
7 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
January 8, 2024
⭐️ 2.5 stars ⭐️
Very cute art style, but the plot was a little too messy.
I was mostly confused reading this.
I have so many questions, and I hate when the story feels incomplete.
The smut, although not too graphic in my opinion, feels out of place. I also hate smut just for the sake of having smut.
For how short this was, it could’ve been constructed a little more thoughtfully.
Or just make it longer, and actually add some depth and personality to the characters.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Very cute art style, but the plot was a little too messy.
I was mostly confused reading this.
I have so many questions, and I hate when the story feels incomplete.
The smut, although not too graphic in my opinion, feels out of place. I also hate smut just for the sake of having smut.
For how short this was, it could’ve been constructed a little more thoughtfully.
Or just make it longer, and actually add some depth and personality to the characters.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
January 11, 2024
What I liked about this book: the artwork.
Everything else was incredibly underwhelming.
There was absolutely no plot apart from "Boy dated boy in high school. Boy broke up with boy in high school. Years later they reunited". The reason for the break up was ridiculous and there was absolutely no groveling. Both MCs also had no personality whatsoever. One of them was a hikikomori, but for some reason it was only randomly mentioned and then completely glossed over. The first smutty scene also felt really wrong and one-sided.
It's a shame because adding more depth to their characters would have immensely benefited the story. But when you publish a story that is both lacking in plot and character work, it ends up being utterly forgettable.
The publisher sent me this book for review consideration but all opinions are my own.
Everything else was incredibly underwhelming.
There was absolutely no plot apart from "Boy dated boy in high school. Boy broke up with boy in high school. Years later they reunited". The reason for the break up was ridiculous and there was absolutely no groveling. Both MCs also had no personality whatsoever. One of them was a hikikomori, but for some reason it was only randomly mentioned and then completely glossed over. The first smutty scene also felt really wrong and one-sided.
It's a shame because adding more depth to their characters would have immensely benefited the story. But when you publish a story that is both lacking in plot and character work, it ends up being utterly forgettable.
The publisher sent me this book for review consideration but all opinions are my own.
August 16, 2024
This manga just wasn't any good. I honestly lost interest halfway through and struggled to finish it. The plot was underwhelming, the characters were bland, and their relationship made no sense. The way Hozumi just waltzed back into town after hurting Mishima all those years ago, assuming he could win him back with a smile and a "how are you?" really irritated me. The fact that it eventually worked irritated me even more. 1 star
February 21, 2024
This manga felt a bit underwhelming. There’s not much of a story beyond two people finding their way back to each other (which in itself can be great but in this book it felt rushed). It also felt like the characters didn’t have much personality and this made me uninvested in the story itself. There were some jumps between past and present that confused me a bit as well.
The two stars are for the absolutely beautiful illustrations. The art in this book is immaculate, so it’s a shame the story didn’t work for me. I’m sure there will be people who will absolutely adore this story though, so do give it a try if you find the premise interesting.
Thanks Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for letting me read an ARC of this book. The White and Blue Between us is available now.
The two stars are for the absolutely beautiful illustrations. The art in this book is immaculate, so it’s a shame the story didn’t work for me. I’m sure there will be people who will absolutely adore this story though, so do give it a try if you find the premise interesting.
Thanks Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for letting me read an ARC of this book. The White and Blue Between us is available now.
February 6, 2024
I don't love BL/Manga although I'm interested in them and finding one I will love, but this isn't at fault for this rating. It would be more of a 3 out of 5 since the story is cute albeit basic, but the author thought wise to include a random sex scene which was non consensual (I think? I was very confused about what was going on there) which is a big red flag.
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC.
January 6, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this advanced copy.
Sweet and enjoyable. The plot seems a bit too fast tho.
Sweet and enjoyable. The plot seems a bit too fast tho.
September 23, 2024
A one-off Manga of Boys Love that doesn't really hit all the right marks.
The tone ranges from cute to annoying to pretty graphic over a sexual act.
The tone ranges from cute to annoying to pretty graphic over a sexual act.
February 22, 2024
I am honestly a little perplexed by the severe low ratings this manga is getting. It is by no means a stellar entry but it's a decently crafted standalone that definitely has more strong than weak points.
The story centres around Hozumi and Mishima - they are high school friends who eventually became a couple and then broke up as Hozumi decided to leave their small island home. The story begins with Hozumi's return to the island seven years after the break up which was also initiated by him. Upon his return, he learns from friends that Mishima has settled into a reclusive lifestyle. Worried for his former friend and boyfriend, he starts visiting the lighthouse where Mishima now lives and works.
While it's certainly not the best of its kind, this manga does have its strong points. It's a lovely little seaside setting with a quiet and nostalgic atmosphere. It has its faults, but I don't think it deserves nearly as harsh a rating as I see here all across GoodReads.
What I enjoyed about this story was the alternating timelines. I always appreciate a story that switches between past and present and gradually gives you a full picture of how events lead to one another. The author does well with switching between the timelines and I think standalones generally work better if the characters already have a history with each other as it requires less time to build the relationship. What I do agree on with other reviews is, despite that I think the alternating timelines is well done, there's still a certain sense of rush. There is just a certain something missing.
The artwork is generally speaking nice. As per the cover, there are nice backgrounds and seaside views. The character art is quite nice but sometimes the faces or proportions look a little lopsided. I quite like how shadow and light were applied such as the outlining of shadows.
Now the main thing I have mixed feelings about is the sexual content. Firstly, it's actually quite little and not very graphic compared to others in this genre. There are two scenes and we get to see quite little of it. I agree with another reviewer that it somehow felt a little out of place in this slow somewhat nostalgic story. On the other hand, there's also something a bit odd about the first scene. Rather than odd, it's a little vague. I see a few a few reviews calling this scene rape which I think is people jumping to the worst conclusion. We see very little of the scene and the scene itself doesn't look like a rape scene to me. The only thing that made it odd is that Hozumi was apologising for what happened and says it was a bad thing to do. The issue here is that it is not clear what exactly he is apologising for - the scene itself doesn't look like it's non consensual and the only thing that really draws attention to this is the apology. It being a rape scene is one way to interpret it, but it's just as plausible but they both got carried away and later thought better of it - after all, they hadn't sorted their differences yet. My point is, there are a lot of reasons why he could have apologised. It's a shame that it was left so vague, but I think it is far too unclear to go as far as to say it was non consensual.
January 9, 2024
I can´t with this. The art was okay, but the story was all over the place.
- We start with Hozumi telling Mishima he was lying about loving him (an awful thing to lie about and, guess what, it was done for no good reason) which was my first issue with the plot. If you´re going to base your plot on a character´s betrayal, then make sure this betrayal does have sense and that the guilty character pays for it / wins back the trust if you´re really going to push for the romantic relationship.
- Speaking about pushing. After 7 years with no contact with Mishima, Hozumi comes back to town and acts like a stalker towards Mishima, going to his home repeatedly "to talk" with him, not accepting that Mishima has told him more than once to go away (red flag)
- By convenience of the plot they are still in love with each other (why? don´t ask me why! I don´t even understand why they´re supposed to have +20 yo and yet still act 15!) and, although Mishima is not ready to admit or do anything with his feelings, there is a rape scene (big red flag)
- We never get to see what are the ambitions or likes of these characters. Apparently Ishizaki gone to college to study something we never know (and we don´t know either if he later worked in the city or what else). And Mishima is taking care of the lighthouse because... that is what his grandpa expected of him. He never thought about leaving the place or do something else (and did I really need to fall for the "I´m so depressed because this person left me and now I got nowhere to go on my own" subplot line? That´s so... ugh).
- Hozumi apologises for "what happened the other time" (meaning the rape) and and Mishima brushes it off saying "don´t talk about it". And that´s it. Rape happened, but we just pretend it didn´t for the rest of the manga (bigges fvcking red flag)
- Hozumi finally addresses that he lied 7 years ago because he wanted Mishima to hate him (???) and then never apologised and said he would have done it again (I swear to god, this character is the most disgusting thing I´ve read in a while. I hoped he died, but we weren´t going to be that lucky).
Overall, the only think I liked about the comic was the fact that Hozumi´s parents weren´t homophobic and accepted pretty quickly their son´s relationship. But then again, their son is a shitty human being, and I´m sorry for anyone (Mishima, that´s you) who has to put up with him. So no, this is not really good either anyway.
- We start with Hozumi telling Mishima he was lying about loving him (an awful thing to lie about and, guess what, it was done for no good reason) which was my first issue with the plot. If you´re going to base your plot on a character´s betrayal, then make sure this betrayal does have sense and that the guilty character pays for it / wins back the trust if you´re really going to push for the romantic relationship.
- Speaking about pushing. After 7 years with no contact with Mishima, Hozumi comes back to town and acts like a stalker towards Mishima, going to his home repeatedly "to talk" with him, not accepting that Mishima has told him more than once to go away (red flag)
- By convenience of the plot they are still in love with each other (why? don´t ask me why! I don´t even understand why they´re supposed to have +20 yo and yet still act 15!) and, although Mishima is not ready to admit or do anything with his feelings, there is a rape scene (big red flag)
- We never get to see what are the ambitions or likes of these characters. Apparently Ishizaki gone to college to study something we never know (and we don´t know either if he later worked in the city or what else). And Mishima is taking care of the lighthouse because... that is what his grandpa expected of him. He never thought about leaving the place or do something else (and did I really need to fall for the "I´m so depressed because this person left me and now I got nowhere to go on my own" subplot line? That´s so... ugh).
- Hozumi apologises for "what happened the other time" (meaning the rape) and and Mishima brushes it off saying "don´t talk about it". And that´s it. Rape happened, but we just pretend it didn´t for the rest of the manga (bigges fvcking red flag)
- Hozumi finally addresses that he lied 7 years ago because he wanted Mishima to hate him (???) and then never apologised and said he would have done it again (I swear to god, this character is the most disgusting thing I´ve read in a while. I hoped he died, but we weren´t going to be that lucky).
Overall, the only think I liked about the comic was the fact that Hozumi´s parents weren´t homophobic and accepted pretty quickly their son´s relationship. But then again, their son is a shitty human being, and I´m sorry for anyone (Mishima, that´s you) who has to put up with him. So no, this is not really good either anyway.
February 22, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.
This follows Hozumi and Mishima, old high school friends who grew apart due to what is deemed a "little white lie". After returning to the island they grew up on, Hozumi wants to make up with Mishima and fix things between them. However, over the years Mishima has shut everyone out and now lives off the grid in a lighthouse. The story follows the two as they try to mend things and hopefully face the feelings they have for one another.
I truly did not get anything out of this story, the plot was very bland and very rushed. The characters were very flat and one-dimensional with no personality, which made the read very boring to me.
Additionally, one of my biggest pet peeves in books is when there is smut for the sake of having smut, and that was the case here. Was not needed at all, felt very awkward and out of place, and did not add anything but a bad taste in my mouth.
The art was really beautiful but unfortunately, the story itself was a miss.
This follows Hozumi and Mishima, old high school friends who grew apart due to what is deemed a "little white lie". After returning to the island they grew up on, Hozumi wants to make up with Mishima and fix things between them. However, over the years Mishima has shut everyone out and now lives off the grid in a lighthouse. The story follows the two as they try to mend things and hopefully face the feelings they have for one another.
I truly did not get anything out of this story, the plot was very bland and very rushed. The characters were very flat and one-dimensional with no personality, which made the read very boring to me.
Additionally, one of my biggest pet peeves in books is when there is smut for the sake of having smut, and that was the case here. Was not needed at all, felt very awkward and out of place, and did not add anything but a bad taste in my mouth.
The art was really beautiful but unfortunately, the story itself was a miss.
February 13, 2024
It's unfortunate because I think given the basic structure of the story, I think that this could have been a really impactful, meaningful and beautiful one-shot story.
One might think it could be challenging to fit so much character into a one-shot, but to name a few top tier ones: This Wonderful Season With You and Our Dining Table are both one-shots filled with tender moments and ones that would touch your heart. Their characters were lovable, had depth, and personality.
And I can see that this book was trying to get there, but it doesn't help that the characters were completely flat and one dimensional. I didn't have a proper reason to really care, which was a shame. This facet, paired with their actions and thoughts were just... I can't even find the words, but were just uneventful. I'm sorry, I just felt bored.
One might think it could be challenging to fit so much character into a one-shot, but to name a few top tier ones: This Wonderful Season With You and Our Dining Table are both one-shots filled with tender moments and ones that would touch your heart. Their characters were lovable, had depth, and personality.
And I can see that this book was trying to get there, but it doesn't help that the characters were completely flat and one dimensional. I didn't have a proper reason to really care, which was a shame. This facet, paired with their actions and thoughts were just... I can't even find the words, but were just uneventful. I'm sorry, I just felt bored.
February 24, 2024
This volume was quite a treat. The art was lovely, and the story very realistic in lots of ways. I really would have loved a longer look at this couple, but I really enjoyed my time with this couple on this small island.
February 4, 2024
I am SO glad I started reading graphic novels/manga last year. I am an empath and even in drawings I can pick up on emotions and to me, reading emotions is much more potent than reading or listening to words. And those emotions is what really saved this one for me.
So 7 years ago, Ishizaki lied to the love of his life, Mishima in high school to make him hate him. Now, after going away to college, he’s back and all he can think about is finding a way to make Mishima forgive him. But when he finds out Mishima has become a shut-in, he does everything he can to get him back.
The premise was so good. The artistry was gorgeous! But I felt like many other reviewers…it was just missing so much. I got the gist of what was going on, but the timeline skipped, things just happened without build up, and then it ended. I needed quite a bit more to make this a favorite.
But again, the premise and artistry was superb…the execution was just a bit lacking. At least the smexy scenes were decent.
**3.5 stars rounded up.**
Breakup: yes, in the very beginning
POV: 1st, Dual
Top/Bottom or Vers: Top/Bottom
𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: February 13, 2024
𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.
So 7 years ago, Ishizaki lied to the love of his life, Mishima in high school to make him hate him. Now, after going away to college, he’s back and all he can think about is finding a way to make Mishima forgive him. But when he finds out Mishima has become a shut-in, he does everything he can to get him back.
The premise was so good. The artistry was gorgeous! But I felt like many other reviewers…it was just missing so much. I got the gist of what was going on, but the timeline skipped, things just happened without build up, and then it ended. I needed quite a bit more to make this a favorite.
But again, the premise and artistry was superb…the execution was just a bit lacking. At least the smexy scenes were decent.
**3.5 stars rounded up.**
Breakup: yes, in the very beginning
POV: 1st, Dual
Top/Bottom or Vers: Top/Bottom
𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: February 13, 2024
𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.
February 24, 2024
2.5 stars out of 5
This story was just very okay. Definitely not the worst story I've ever read and it was still a bit enjoyable in parts. The story was mostly comfy and cute with some angst but there were a few parts that happened out of nowhere that were uncomfortable. I did like that these characters were adults, I am glad that is becoming a more common thing in manga the last few years but there just wasn't here. I wish there was a bit more, especially for a one-shot because it doesn't really seem worth the 13-15 USD that it'd cost and I can't imagine it being too many people's cup of tea because of the lack of much of anything.
Disclaimer: I received an arc copy of this on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This story was just very okay. Definitely not the worst story I've ever read and it was still a bit enjoyable in parts. The story was mostly comfy and cute with some angst but there were a few parts that happened out of nowhere that were uncomfortable. I did like that these characters were adults, I am glad that is becoming a more common thing in manga the last few years but there just wasn't here. I wish there was a bit more, especially for a one-shot because it doesn't really seem worth the 13-15 USD that it'd cost and I can't imagine it being too many people's cup of tea because of the lack of much of anything.
Disclaimer: I received an arc copy of this on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 11, 2024
This was such a nice standalone manga about love, family, reconnection, and trust. I really enjoyed this and the beautiful artwork. A lot of BL manga can sexualize the characters in uncomfortable ways or be so overly pure that you're questioning if it got marketed correctly. This struck that perfect balance and delivered a really nice and simple story of two boys learning to love after time apart.
January 10, 2024
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to review this advanced copy.
What I enjoyed: the cover, the artwork, the dialogue, and the ease of following/reading the story (sometimes manga can be a bit hard to follow).
What was so-so: the story and the rationale behind the characters’ actions
What didn’t hit: the pacing and the spice.
I was enjoying this until the first sex scene. It seemed to come out of literally nowhere, so much so that I was scrolling back up, trying to find where I’d missed the tension and build-up (spoiler: I didn’t miss anything). It completely took me out of the story and made it hard to finish. What was supposed to be an emotional, climactic scene just left me scratching my head asking WHAT?!! I enjoy spice. Truly. The more the merrier. But it has to make sense.
What I enjoyed: the cover, the artwork, the dialogue, and the ease of following/reading the story (sometimes manga can be a bit hard to follow).
What was so-so: the story and the rationale behind the characters’ actions
What didn’t hit: the pacing and the spice.
I was enjoying this until the first sex scene. It seemed to come out of literally nowhere, so much so that I was scrolling back up, trying to find where I’d missed the tension and build-up (spoiler: I didn’t miss anything). It completely took me out of the story and made it hard to finish. What was supposed to be an emotional, climactic scene just left me scratching my head asking WHAT?!! I enjoy spice. Truly. The more the merrier. But it has to make sense.
March 3, 2024
(I have been provided an eARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
The White and Blue Between Us is a messy story with wholesome foundations. It started off pretty cute, but as it went on, it kept on making me second guess my decision as for why I decided to read it in the first place.
The story is about two guys who were dating in high school who broke up and are now reuniting after seven years due to a high school reunion. A classic plot like this felt cosy to read initially, but everything moves at rapid speed, and the characters' emotions just don't feel as strong as they were conveyed to seem. There are no climaxes to the story that would lead to the end while it keeps on building to story points that would warrant a climax and have the couple diverge from each other. Every possible conflict gets immediately resolved, and we get a flash of a sex scene instead of a moment of thought between them.
I think it would have worked much better as a series rather than a single volume because it just ends up feeling like an idea sheet of a slow burn story that is itching to be written.
The White and Blue Between Us is a messy story with wholesome foundations. It started off pretty cute, but as it went on, it kept on making me second guess my decision as for why I decided to read it in the first place.
The story is about two guys who were dating in high school who broke up and are now reuniting after seven years due to a high school reunion. A classic plot like this felt cosy to read initially, but everything moves at rapid speed, and the characters' emotions just don't feel as strong as they were conveyed to seem. There are no climaxes to the story that would lead to the end while it keeps on building to story points that would warrant a climax and have the couple diverge from each other. Every possible conflict gets immediately resolved, and we get a flash of a sex scene instead of a moment of thought between them.
I think it would have worked much better as a series rather than a single volume because it just ends up feeling like an idea sheet of a slow burn story that is itching to be written.
March 13, 2024
You see, this story holds very little substance. The art is pretty, but apart from that there isn’t anything that stands out. The cookie cutter characters don’t evoke emotion or make you feel like they’re into each other.
The plot? There is none. It’s very basic and forgettable. Luckily for me, I want to forget about this story asap.
There’s no reason for the “spice” that’s in this one. It’s such a juvenile story, and it doesn’t add anything to the characters interactions. Both scenes are incredibly out of pocket, but the first one is just out of place and was bleh.
It was not a good manga. I’ve read singular chapters with more interest than the entirety of this one.
The plot? There is none. It’s very basic and forgettable. Luckily for me, I want to forget about this story asap.
There’s no reason for the “spice” that’s in this one. It’s such a juvenile story, and it doesn’t add anything to the characters interactions. Both scenes are incredibly out of pocket, but the first one is just out of place and was bleh.
It was not a good manga. I’ve read singular chapters with more interest than the entirety of this one.
January 10, 2024
Overall rating: 3/5⭐️
Spice rating: 1/5🌶
I would like to thank NetGalley as well as Kodansha Comics for providing me with an eArc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"We lost seven years together... but we can make up for it. Spending time together, just the two of us..."
Hozumi Ishigaki and Koichi Mishima used to be super close. So close that when a white lie tore them apart, they never thought they'd see each other again. Seven years later, Hozumi is back to work for his family's business and is desperate to see Mishima again. But after seven years, is he too late to apologize?
What I loved💙
I grew up with early 2000s anime and manga, so the "traditional" art style was really huge for me. I loved the metaphor between the title and the connection between these two as they were both complicated. No one is perfect, and he was just trying to protect him, to I do appreciate him explaining himself. I also loved that his family was so supportive of the relationship. That part always makes me nervous due to knowing the general attitudes towards it in Japan, but I was ecstatic that Hozumi's brother and parents were so receptive to it and wrapped him in love and support. We need more of it in the world!
What I didn't love❌
I wasn't a fan of the pacing. We got four chapters of beautiful art and multi-faceted characters with little character development. I wished there was a little more of it, especially once Hozumi and Mishima rekindled, I really wanted to see more of their growth as a couple instead of a 6-month time-skip. The spice felt a bit out of place to me, there for the sake of having it. Also, I was honestly really confused for a large majority of the story which wasn't fun.
Tl;dr✨
I enjoyed this! It was a really quick, yet intimate read. I wished there was more character develop and a look into their lives before the present/during the 6 month time skip to give us a little more on the characters themselves. I also adored the art style which is huge for me as a manga reader so definitely check this out.
Spice rating: 1/5🌶
I would like to thank NetGalley as well as Kodansha Comics for providing me with an eArc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"We lost seven years together... but we can make up for it. Spending time together, just the two of us..."
Hozumi Ishigaki and Koichi Mishima used to be super close. So close that when a white lie tore them apart, they never thought they'd see each other again. Seven years later, Hozumi is back to work for his family's business and is desperate to see Mishima again. But after seven years, is he too late to apologize?
What I loved💙
I grew up with early 2000s anime and manga, so the "traditional" art style was really huge for me. I loved the metaphor between the title and the connection between these two as they were both complicated. No one is perfect, and he was just trying to protect him, to I do appreciate him explaining himself. I also loved that his family was so supportive of the relationship. That part always makes me nervous due to knowing the general attitudes towards it in Japan, but I was ecstatic that Hozumi's brother and parents were so receptive to it and wrapped him in love and support. We need more of it in the world!
What I didn't love❌
I wasn't a fan of the pacing. We got four chapters of beautiful art and multi-faceted characters with little character development. I wished there was a little more of it, especially once Hozumi and Mishima rekindled, I really wanted to see more of their growth as a couple instead of a 6-month time-skip. The spice felt a bit out of place to me, there for the sake of having it. Also, I was honestly really confused for a large majority of the story which wasn't fun.
Tl;dr✨
I enjoyed this! It was a really quick, yet intimate read. I wished there was more character develop and a look into their lives before the present/during the 6 month time skip to give us a little more on the characters themselves. I also adored the art style which is huge for me as a manga reader so definitely check this out.
January 15, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!
I rate this 1.5 out of 5 stars; I rounded down to 1 star because of how disappointed I am with how the story unfolded.
The only positive thing I have to say about this manga is I loved the art. The art is beautiful, and the artist did a fantastic job paying attention to small details!
However, the story itself is a mess. The plot jumps back and forth from the past when Hozumi and Mishima first meet, some moments in their relationship, when they break up, and seven years later when they reunite. Although I didn't get confused when jumping between the timelines, I often kept asking myself "why is the story being told like this?" It could've worked as a linear timeline; or better yet not have all these flashback moments. I was expecting the characters to build upon their relationship in the present time and learn to trust and love one another again. There were some moments but could've been more if the story was more focused on the present timeline.
The characters feel flat to me. I especially hate Hozumi. He is pushy, selfish, and aloof; he doesn't take Mishima's feelings into account. I hate their relationship even more and wish Mishima stood his ground and didn't take Hozumi back. Since the manga is short, I feel like I didn't get enough time to know the characters more. Maybe I wouldn't hate Hozumi as much as I do if that was the case.
I also have a huge problem with how Hozumi's older brother practically came out for him to his parents. Like...that isn't something for the brother to do; this was Hozumi's responsibility. Nothing makes me madder when others out others.
The ending also left unanswered questions and I feel there should be a continuation to the story. However, as noted in the description, it is a one-shot piece.
I rate this 1.5 out of 5 stars; I rounded down to 1 star because of how disappointed I am with how the story unfolded.
The only positive thing I have to say about this manga is I loved the art. The art is beautiful, and the artist did a fantastic job paying attention to small details!
However, the story itself is a mess. The plot jumps back and forth from the past when Hozumi and Mishima first meet, some moments in their relationship, when they break up, and seven years later when they reunite. Although I didn't get confused when jumping between the timelines, I often kept asking myself "why is the story being told like this?" It could've worked as a linear timeline; or better yet not have all these flashback moments. I was expecting the characters to build upon their relationship in the present time and learn to trust and love one another again. There were some moments but could've been more if the story was more focused on the present timeline.
The characters feel flat to me. I especially hate Hozumi. He is pushy, selfish, and aloof; he doesn't take Mishima's feelings into account. I hate their relationship even more and wish Mishima stood his ground and didn't take Hozumi back. Since the manga is short, I feel like I didn't get enough time to know the characters more. Maybe I wouldn't hate Hozumi as much as I do if that was the case.
I also have a huge problem with how Hozumi's older brother practically came out for him to his parents. Like...that isn't something for the brother to do; this was Hozumi's responsibility. Nothing makes me madder when others out others.
The ending also left unanswered questions and I feel there should be a continuation to the story. However, as noted in the description, it is a one-shot piece.
January 6, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
The artwork in this story is lovely. The character art is, at times, struggling with continuity in the facial features, and the body proportions are not always perfect, and older characters just look like young characters with lines next to their mouths (but, continuity and proportions are both difficult to draw, and many people aren't very good at drawing older characters). The backgrounds in this manga is definitely were the artist excels, though. It has a beautiful setting and the small costal town feel is apparent in every page. This manga has beautiful ambiance.
The pacing of the story is not ideal for me. There's a sex scene early on that comes out of nowhere, lasts for 1 page, and is over again. This scene is very ambiguous in it's consent, and both characters seem to regret it - implying that Hozumi raped Mishima and regrets it, and Mishima is apathetic to the whole thing. This entire scene through me for a loop and felt completely unnecessary.
Unfortunately, the initial conflict of the story (why they broke up in the first place) also felt completely unnecessary and the explanation for it felt lack-lustre. I never really felt connected to the characters or ever wanted to see them get back together, which is the bare-minimum that I expect to feel for any romance story.
A plot point I did enjoy, though, was Hozumi confiding in his brother that he was dating a man, and his brother taking it well and even warning his parents to expect Hozumi to tell them and to please be supportive. I thought that was quite sweet.
The artwork in this story is lovely. The character art is, at times, struggling with continuity in the facial features, and the body proportions are not always perfect, and older characters just look like young characters with lines next to their mouths (but, continuity and proportions are both difficult to draw, and many people aren't very good at drawing older characters). The backgrounds in this manga is definitely were the artist excels, though. It has a beautiful setting and the small costal town feel is apparent in every page. This manga has beautiful ambiance.
The pacing of the story is not ideal for me. There's a sex scene early on that comes out of nowhere, lasts for 1 page, and is over again. This scene is very ambiguous in it's consent, and both characters seem to regret it - implying that Hozumi raped Mishima and regrets it, and Mishima is apathetic to the whole thing. This entire scene through me for a loop and felt completely unnecessary.
Unfortunately, the initial conflict of the story (why they broke up in the first place) also felt completely unnecessary and the explanation for it felt lack-lustre. I never really felt connected to the characters or ever wanted to see them get back together, which is the bare-minimum that I expect to feel for any romance story.
A plot point I did enjoy, though, was Hozumi confiding in his brother that he was dating a man, and his brother taking it well and even warning his parents to expect Hozumi to tell them and to please be supportive. I thought that was quite sweet.
January 23, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this manga!
The White and Blue Between Us is a story of what happens when you get a second chance with your high school love. When Hozumi moves back to his hometown, he hopes to have an opportunity to reconnect with Mishima, his friend and the one whose heart he broke at the end of high school. This manga takes readers along with Hozumi as he and Mishima try to figure out how to reconcile and sort through their past and present feelings for each other.
I was really interested with the premise of this manga, but sadly, it left me a little disappointed. I loved the set up of the story, but I felt that it was very rushed. There was not a lot of time given for each character to truly sort through their feelings. We didn’t have enough time to spend with each character and their thoughts separately. I also thought it was odd that there was such a huge time jump. I would have like to have seen how the relationship between Hozumi and Mishima evolved once they reconciled.
I was glad to see the addition of the bonus chapter that showed how Hozumi and Mishima’s relationship grew in high school. It was a great addition, and I honestly wish it had been added to the main story.
I would like to mention a trigger warning concerning a scene where Hozumi does not receive consent to have sex with Mishima. This is hinted at but never truly addressed between the characters. If anything, it is brushed aside rather quickly, which left me feeling unsettled because I don’t believe this plot point was appropriately handled at all.
Overall, this was not my favorite BL. The premise was sweet and had potential, but I wish it had been executed differently.
The White and Blue Between Us is a story of what happens when you get a second chance with your high school love. When Hozumi moves back to his hometown, he hopes to have an opportunity to reconnect with Mishima, his friend and the one whose heart he broke at the end of high school. This manga takes readers along with Hozumi as he and Mishima try to figure out how to reconcile and sort through their past and present feelings for each other.
I was really interested with the premise of this manga, but sadly, it left me a little disappointed. I loved the set up of the story, but I felt that it was very rushed. There was not a lot of time given for each character to truly sort through their feelings. We didn’t have enough time to spend with each character and their thoughts separately. I also thought it was odd that there was such a huge time jump. I would have like to have seen how the relationship between Hozumi and Mishima evolved once they reconciled.
I was glad to see the addition of the bonus chapter that showed how Hozumi and Mishima’s relationship grew in high school. It was a great addition, and I honestly wish it had been added to the main story.
I would like to mention a trigger warning concerning a scene where Hozumi does not receive consent to have sex with Mishima. This is hinted at but never truly addressed between the characters. If anything, it is brushed aside rather quickly, which left me feeling unsettled because I don’t believe this plot point was appropriately handled at all.
Overall, this was not my favorite BL. The premise was sweet and had potential, but I wish it had been executed differently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2024
This is a single-volume manga focused on the relationship between two boys who dated in school but broke up suddenly and then didn't see each other for 7 years.
What I liked: The beautiful cover. The supportive family that accepted his relationship without any hesitation. The flashbacks to how they both felt in the past to explain how they got to this point now.
Unfortunately, the dynamic between the two didn't work for me, and I can't reasonably picture them staying together, especially after the non-consensual sex scene that came out of nowhere. I can't imagine the forgiveness needed to reconnect with someone who broke up with you out of nowhere, and for such a stupid reason when they could have talked about the problem between them, but after that scene? I can't.
I know this is a single volume and there's a lot to cover to make the story feel whole, but it didn't work as a single volume. Too much felt unresolved or underdeveloped to make the story feel whole.
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
What I liked: The beautiful cover. The supportive family that accepted his relationship without any hesitation. The flashbacks to how they both felt in the past to explain how they got to this point now.
Unfortunately, the dynamic between the two didn't work for me, and I can't reasonably picture them staying together, especially after the non-consensual sex scene that came out of nowhere. I can't imagine the forgiveness needed to reconnect with someone who broke up with you out of nowhere, and for such a stupid reason when they could have talked about the problem between them, but after that scene? I can't.
I know this is a single volume and there's a lot to cover to make the story feel whole, but it didn't work as a single volume. Too much felt unresolved or underdeveloped to make the story feel whole.
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2024
The White and Blue Between Us is a pretty fast and enjoyable read that stays focused on the single couple described on the back cover (Mishima and Hozumi). I found that it probably resonates well with the crowd who may have had a crush in high school, got together with them during that final year, and then broke it off once they realized they would go there separate ways. Though Hozumi broke it off in an overblown and kind of rude and offensive way, he does bear some regrets about it.
I liked the story of moving on, or trying to, and realizing that is hard to do as such when the "ghost" of the past is back in your presence and overbearing mainly for your well being but also because of lingering feelings brought upon by the love interest still being as easy to fall for as before.
The drama was really nice to see and I loved the supportive and open minded brother as well as the family.
Overall it was a nice comfortable one shot with a little bit of spice added in for the 25 or so year olds in love.
Good read.
I liked the story of moving on, or trying to, and realizing that is hard to do as such when the "ghost" of the past is back in your presence and overbearing mainly for your well being but also because of lingering feelings brought upon by the love interest still being as easy to fall for as before.
The drama was really nice to see and I loved the supportive and open minded brother as well as the family.
Overall it was a nice comfortable one shot with a little bit of spice added in for the 25 or so year olds in love.
Good read.
January 25, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
A white lie tears Hozumi and Mishima apart and seven years later Hozumi returns to the island they grew up on to try and repair things.
This one-shot BL was really exciting to read, the flash back and forwards gave us history, dimension and context to what was happening and created more depth for the characters. I would have loved to get to know them even more and even would have liked their reconciliation to have been longer as it did feel slightly fast. That doesn't take away from the great journey we are taken on though.
Second chance romance is one of my favourite tropes and it was done so well in this book. The characters are sweet, the art is really vivid and after I read this I was just left feeling very happy! What more can you ask of a book? I would really recommend this to anyone that would like a pick me up, a really endearing story and some beautiful scenery.
A white lie tears Hozumi and Mishima apart and seven years later Hozumi returns to the island they grew up on to try and repair things.
This one-shot BL was really exciting to read, the flash back and forwards gave us history, dimension and context to what was happening and created more depth for the characters. I would have loved to get to know them even more and even would have liked their reconciliation to have been longer as it did feel slightly fast. That doesn't take away from the great journey we are taken on though.
Second chance romance is one of my favourite tropes and it was done so well in this book. The characters are sweet, the art is really vivid and after I read this I was just left feeling very happy! What more can you ask of a book? I would really recommend this to anyone that would like a pick me up, a really endearing story and some beautiful scenery.
January 6, 2024
These guys have no chemistry and there’s no real sense of what Hozumi is like in his day-to-day life, to the point where he just feels like a pushy obsessive kid chasing after the person he hurt, hoping to be forgiven without having to apologize. Their conversations are stilted and awkward, and Hozumi is always pushing Mishima (who he doesn’t even call by his first name even when they’re dating?) into situations that seem to be more than what Mishima is ready for.
It could have been significantly better if we understood what Hozumi was giving up by moving home, if they (the together or separately) interacted with anyone else for more than one page at a time, and it was clearer that Mishima is actually not only accepting but genuinely wants the relationship
{Thanks to Kodansha for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review}
It could have been significantly better if we understood what Hozumi was giving up by moving home, if they (the together or separately) interacted with anyone else for more than one page at a time, and it was clearer that Mishima is actually not only accepting but genuinely wants the relationship
{Thanks to Kodansha for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review}
April 6, 2024
i think this has some problems that make my review sound harsh, everything is so fast without a reason, and some scenes should have come first like their backstory more importantly to make an impact on the we are gonna be together again, that should be the end or at least the previous part before the conclusion with their romance ending. I think this order of events doesn't make much sense and does not help the story.
Then like I said everything is super fast-moving when it could have been a great story about hurt and second chances and reasons and feelings. I agree with the other reviews when the first sex scene is unnecessary because why? to show they still have feelings? and in that style? it could have been something else and more impactful.
Overal I have read better than this and it was a bit disappointing.
Then like I said everything is super fast-moving when it could have been a great story about hurt and second chances and reasons and feelings. I agree with the other reviews when the first sex scene is unnecessary because why? to show they still have feelings? and in that style? it could have been something else and more impactful.
Overal I have read better than this and it was a bit disappointing.
January 8, 2024
The cover and the art style are beautiful. And unfortunately that was pretty much all I enjoyed from this volume.
The storyline wasn’t smooth at all, it felt like there was no buildup and things were randomly tossed in. The first sex scene came from out of nowhere and it honestly felt more uncomfortable than anything else. It didn’t add anything to the story.
The dialogue felt stilted and the conversations didn’t have any depth in them. I felt like I learned nothing substantial about any of the characters.
Overall, I really wanted to enjoy this one but in the end I just couldn’t. I hope others can enjoy it but it isn’t for me.
The storyline wasn’t smooth at all, it felt like there was no buildup and things were randomly tossed in. The first sex scene came from out of nowhere and it honestly felt more uncomfortable than anything else. It didn’t add anything to the story.
The dialogue felt stilted and the conversations didn’t have any depth in them. I felt like I learned nothing substantial about any of the characters.
Overall, I really wanted to enjoy this one but in the end I just couldn’t. I hope others can enjoy it but it isn’t for me.
January 11, 2024
Rating: 3.17 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 3/5
-Cover (+art): 4/5
-Story: 2/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Boys Love, Yaoi
-Boys Love: 5/5
-Yaoi: 5/5
Type: Manga
Worth?: I suppose
Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Really Liked|Loved
Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.
This damn manga hits you LEFT and swerves and HITS YOUR RIGHT. No warning, nothing. The story was okay, a bit over dramatic and a bit confusing but that's fine. The art is good and it was very tamed baby spicy level for Yaoi.
-Characters: 3/5
-Cover (+art): 4/5
-Story: 2/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Boys Love, Yaoi
-Boys Love: 5/5
-Yaoi: 5/5
Type: Manga
Worth?: I suppose
Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Really Liked|Loved
Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.
This damn manga hits you LEFT and swerves and HITS YOUR RIGHT. No warning, nothing. The story was okay, a bit over dramatic and a bit confusing but that's fine. The art is good and it was very tamed baby spicy level for Yaoi.
February 14, 2024
3.5 stars
This was mostly cute. I loved seeing how these two initially fell for each other in high school; in fact, the flashbacks were my favorite part. I also loved the seaside setting, and the accepting family.
This did suffer a bit for its brevity, however. For having been separated for seven years, they fell back into a relationship rather quickly, especially considering the amount of hurt one of them was carrying around. There was also an odd sex scene where it was unclear whether one of them was consenting or not.
If you're looking for a yaoi one-shot, there are definitely better options, but I still mostly enjoyed this.
This was mostly cute. I loved seeing how these two initially fell for each other in high school; in fact, the flashbacks were my favorite part. I also loved the seaside setting, and the accepting family.
This did suffer a bit for its brevity, however. For having been separated for seven years, they fell back into a relationship rather quickly, especially considering the amount of hurt one of them was carrying around. There was also an odd sex scene where it was unclear whether one of them was consenting or not.
If you're looking for a yaoi one-shot, there are definitely better options, but I still mostly enjoyed this.
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