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Sketchy 1
As her twenties slip by, Ako feels like she's falling behind. But a group of skateboarding girls will bring a newfound passion into her life in this reflective, relatable josei manga from the creator of Is Kichijoji the Only Place to Live?
Ako finds herself coasting along, watching her twenties pass her by. Work at the video rental store, see her boyfriend, repeat... Her days are becoming an indistinguishable, listless blur. Until she encounters a skateboarder practicing a trick--and she's a girl! For some reason, Ako feels a pull toward the sport. Slowly, all the dreams and ambitions she gave up on and the futures she imagined for herself come flooding back, and Ako resolves to change herself now, before it's too late. But is it ever really too late to discover something new?
From the creator of the digital fan favorite Is Kichijoji the Only Place to Live? comes a portrait of young adulthood that will attract fans of Inio Asano, Akiko Higashimura, and Taiyo Matsumoto.
Ako finds herself coasting along, watching her twenties pass her by. Work at the video rental store, see her boyfriend, repeat... Her days are becoming an indistinguishable, listless blur. Until she encounters a skateboarder practicing a trick--and she's a girl! For some reason, Ako feels a pull toward the sport. Slowly, all the dreams and ambitions she gave up on and the futures she imagined for herself come flooding back, and Ako resolves to change herself now, before it's too late. But is it ever really too late to discover something new?
From the creator of the digital fan favorite Is Kichijoji the Only Place to Live? comes a portrait of young adulthood that will attract fans of Inio Asano, Akiko Higashimura, and Taiyo Matsumoto.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
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229 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
April 17, 2024
I've been excited to read this for months and it didn't disappoint. I can relate to so many things here. Being a woman in your mid to late 30s, looking for a direction in life, not meeting societies expectations, finding something new that's terrifying but also giving you the best feeling, a rush of happiness but this new thing comes with hurdles in its own.
This is perfect (for me).
This is perfect (for me).
April 11, 2024
Drifting into her thirties, Kawasumi works a dead-end job and maintains a go-nowhere relationship while her contemporaries pass her by. But a random encounter sends her thoughts in a whole other direction, one that couldn’t be more different from traditional.
How? How, I ask, do you release a manga this interesting with a cover this ungodly bad? It offers absolutely no clue that there is anything worthwhile contained within, but I assure you that there’s almost an inverse ratio between the two.
Kawasumi’s life hasn’t so much stalled out as it’s reached a point of zero molecular motion. The universe is mostly content to punch down, as she works at a DVD rental store in the modern day (vinyl it’s not, much as I love physical media) and appears to have no real drive. She is reactive, not proactive, in the extreme.
During her down time, she gets to spend time with her “friends”. That’s quotation mark code for a bunch of incredibly successful and very, very traditional people who would give themselves a tracheotomy if they looked down their noses any more at her.
And let’s not even get started on her boyfriend, who likes to say he’s a writer, but is mostly an opinionated ass who thinks he knows better than other creatives (which I realize just described what I do, but at least I have recognizance) and has grand plans that he’ll get around to any day now. He’s incredibly punchable.
Into this maelstrom of nothing comes skate culture, manifested as a young woman who just lands a jump in front of a flailing Kawasumi and sends her down the rabbit half-pipe into the skating world. This isn’t quite the skateboarding version of Wandance, but it’s nicely grounded and I loved how real-world it is, plus the bonus pages lauding real-life female skaters.
The way this story all comes together is pretty solid. We get three separate women who are at loose ends for a variety of reasons - Kawasumi has no passion, her co-worker who used to work in fashion lost her passion, and a third woman (whose story seems completely incongruous until it very cleverly connects to the others) had too much passion and lost herself in the process.
It’s a great opening salvo for a story of finding yourself, albeit away from the expectations of society, and I really think it has some legs. So much of this first volume is spent in said set-up, but it’s good at conveying just how awful everything seems for these three and how something new looks to change their entire lives.
Bonus points for having a thirty-something protagonist, too. It definitely strikes a note with me, as I experienced something very similar in terms of finding one of my great passions when I was that age. The story also mines some solid comedy from putting Kawasumi in the beginner skate class.
The way things trudge along until the grand moment of destiny are very competently done; you can definitely feel the cracks starting to let the light in as the story progresses. Said moment could hit a little harder, it serves its purpose but isn’t a full-on stunner like I’ve seen elsewhere (Bless and the first volume of Boys Run the Riot both come to mind as having done this better).
This is a strong start and I look forward to more of this. Good leads, strong art, and the kind of hook that definitely makes me think it has something interesting in store. This type of story is usually right up my alley and I think there’s definitely something special here. I’m keen to see where it’s heading next.
4 stars - when they say don’t judge a book by its cover, they might well have been talking about this very manga. Much, much better than it appears.
How? How, I ask, do you release a manga this interesting with a cover this ungodly bad? It offers absolutely no clue that there is anything worthwhile contained within, but I assure you that there’s almost an inverse ratio between the two.
Kawasumi’s life hasn’t so much stalled out as it’s reached a point of zero molecular motion. The universe is mostly content to punch down, as she works at a DVD rental store in the modern day (vinyl it’s not, much as I love physical media) and appears to have no real drive. She is reactive, not proactive, in the extreme.
During her down time, she gets to spend time with her “friends”. That’s quotation mark code for a bunch of incredibly successful and very, very traditional people who would give themselves a tracheotomy if they looked down their noses any more at her.
And let’s not even get started on her boyfriend, who likes to say he’s a writer, but is mostly an opinionated ass who thinks he knows better than other creatives (which I realize just described what I do, but at least I have recognizance) and has grand plans that he’ll get around to any day now. He’s incredibly punchable.
Into this maelstrom of nothing comes skate culture, manifested as a young woman who just lands a jump in front of a flailing Kawasumi and sends her down the rabbit half-pipe into the skating world. This isn’t quite the skateboarding version of Wandance, but it’s nicely grounded and I loved how real-world it is, plus the bonus pages lauding real-life female skaters.
The way this story all comes together is pretty solid. We get three separate women who are at loose ends for a variety of reasons - Kawasumi has no passion, her co-worker who used to work in fashion lost her passion, and a third woman (whose story seems completely incongruous until it very cleverly connects to the others) had too much passion and lost herself in the process.
It’s a great opening salvo for a story of finding yourself, albeit away from the expectations of society, and I really think it has some legs. So much of this first volume is spent in said set-up, but it’s good at conveying just how awful everything seems for these three and how something new looks to change their entire lives.
Bonus points for having a thirty-something protagonist, too. It definitely strikes a note with me, as I experienced something very similar in terms of finding one of my great passions when I was that age. The story also mines some solid comedy from putting Kawasumi in the beginner skate class.
The way things trudge along until the grand moment of destiny are very competently done; you can definitely feel the cracks starting to let the light in as the story progresses. Said moment could hit a little harder, it serves its purpose but isn’t a full-on stunner like I’ve seen elsewhere (Bless and the first volume of Boys Run the Riot both come to mind as having done this better).
This is a strong start and I look forward to more of this. Good leads, strong art, and the kind of hook that definitely makes me think it has something interesting in store. This type of story is usually right up my alley and I think there’s definitely something special here. I’m keen to see where it’s heading next.
4 stars - when they say don’t judge a book by its cover, they might well have been talking about this very manga. Much, much better than it appears.
April 30, 2024
Loved it! I already love the characters and I can’t wait to see where the story goes! I really enjoyed the pages with the skaters’ stats and bios!
January 28, 2025
Women supporting women / newfound passion / 30s awakening / self-discovery / new beginnings / chasing dreams
Sketchy has officially made it to my favorites list! This manga brought such a refreshing perspective. It follows Ako, a woman in her 30s who finds herself caught in the monotony of daily life until she stumbles upon a group of girls skating. Inspired by their confidence and energy, Ako wonders if it’s ever too late to pick up a new passion. Ako’s journey feels incredibly relatable to me, especially being in my 30s. It can be such an in-between stage where you feel both young and old, like you should have things figured out by now—but often don’t. It’s easy to let routines take over and let hobbies and dreams slip away. Reading Sketchy was a great reminder to slow down and reconnect with what brings joy, whether it’s something new or an old favorite. I’m excited to continue with the series. The artwork is amazing and I LOVE the covers of all the volumes!
Sketchy has officially made it to my favorites list! This manga brought such a refreshing perspective. It follows Ako, a woman in her 30s who finds herself caught in the monotony of daily life until she stumbles upon a group of girls skating. Inspired by their confidence and energy, Ako wonders if it’s ever too late to pick up a new passion. Ako’s journey feels incredibly relatable to me, especially being in my 30s. It can be such an in-between stage where you feel both young and old, like you should have things figured out by now—but often don’t. It’s easy to let routines take over and let hobbies and dreams slip away. Reading Sketchy was a great reminder to slow down and reconnect with what brings joy, whether it’s something new or an old favorite. I’m excited to continue with the series. The artwork is amazing and I LOVE the covers of all the volumes!
July 8, 2024
review to come
June 13, 2024
I picked up Sketchy on a whim while browsing the manga section at Barnes & Noble, and I am so glad that I did. As someone who used to skate, I am always interested in stories around skateboarding. That is what initially grabbed my attention, but after reading it, there is so much to love about this first volume. The art is excellent. It was also cool to see bios of real life skaters between chapters. The way the author captures those moments of adulthood where you feel stuck or lost or in need of a change that you don't know how to make is spot on. The book and the characters feel so genuine. That includes the actual skating parts as well. I was initially a little thrown by some of the gender related stuff around skating. It felt dated, but giving it more thought, I think the culture and the knowledge of the general public makes those conversations and observations realistic. I enjoyed this one so much, and look forward to the release of the next couple volumes later this year in the US.
April 12, 2024
This didn't come close to filling the hole Sk∞ left, but it's certainly creating another skateboard shaped hole I didn't know I needed.
Read
July 1, 2024!!!Skater girl manga!!!!! About grown ass women!!! Good find in the graphic novel section at the library. This manga is about a woman, Ako, who feels her life slipping by once she hits thirty. She works at a video rental store (I don’t know how this is possible; instagram has plot relevance so it definitely isn’t a period piece or anything?) and goes on dates with her longterm boyfriend, an underemployed writer who’s been waiting for his big break for decades. On a walk, she encounters a group of young women skating and recording their tricks for Instagram. Ako hadn’t really considered before that girls skateboard. She becomes curious enough about skateboarding to enroll in classes at her local skate park! Volume 1 also introduces a couple of other women interested in learning to skateboard. I checked volume 2 out of the library so soon I’ll find out what happens when they meet. Thumbs up.
July 9, 2024
Thank you Kodansha Comics!
"Ako finds herself coasting along, watching her twenties pass her by. Work at the video rental store, see her boyfriend, repeat... Her days are becoming an indistinguishable, listless blur. Until she encounters a skateboarder practicing a trick--and she's a girl! For some reason, Ako feels a pull toward the sport. Slowly, all the dreams and ambitions she gave up on and the futures she imagined for herself come flooding back, and Ako resolves to change herself now, before it's too late. But is it ever really too late to discover something new?"
A graphic novel for readers who enjoy stories about women in their late 20s and 30s still figuring out life and finding new hobbies! I'm excited to see where the story goes in the next volume. The art style is also cute!!
This is a perfect read for those who enjoyed Princess Jellyfish.
"Ako finds herself coasting along, watching her twenties pass her by. Work at the video rental store, see her boyfriend, repeat... Her days are becoming an indistinguishable, listless blur. Until she encounters a skateboarder practicing a trick--and she's a girl! For some reason, Ako feels a pull toward the sport. Slowly, all the dreams and ambitions she gave up on and the futures she imagined for herself come flooding back, and Ako resolves to change herself now, before it's too late. But is it ever really too late to discover something new?"
A graphic novel for readers who enjoy stories about women in their late 20s and 30s still figuring out life and finding new hobbies! I'm excited to see where the story goes in the next volume. The art style is also cute!!
This is a perfect read for those who enjoyed Princess Jellyfish.
April 22, 2025
Ako needs more skating lessons, a therapist, and a new job.
November 10, 2024
4.5 - very fun! i want to buy a skateboard
December 16, 2024
i don’t think i’ve connected and related to a manga like this since reading solanin.
August 24, 2024
a wholesome, cute manga about women who hate their lives but find happiness in skateboarding
April 28, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and MAKIHIROCHI for the opportunity to read this manga in exchange for an honest review.
Artwork: 3.5/5
Story: 4/5
Message: 4.5/5
Ako works at a video rental store. When a girl with a skateboard comes in, looking for a movie about skateboarding (that hasn't been returned in months), Ako finds interest in the fact that it is a female skater. Ako later encounters the skater and her friends doing tricks on city structures, and she finds the skater awe-inspiring. Ako signs up for skating lessons, ready to roll!
This manga also follows some other characters, deviating from Ako's story, but showing how they will all come together at some point. I have a feeling...maybe they'll make skating skits, a movie, or become a female skate influencing team! The only way to find out is to keep reading on!
I love the message being delivered with this manga. It emphasizes that women can be just as sporty as men (in this case, skateboarding), and it doesn't stop there. It also highlights that age doesn't matter. Anyone can find a new passion, even if they are in their 30's (or older). I also appreciate the real women skater articles offered as interludes. It gives a larger sense of purpose to the writing in its text-to-world connection.
Overall a really great first volume for readers who love skating and older readers looking for something with a fresh, inspiring feel.
Artwork: 3.5/5
Story: 4/5
Message: 4.5/5
Ako works at a video rental store. When a girl with a skateboard comes in, looking for a movie about skateboarding (that hasn't been returned in months), Ako finds interest in the fact that it is a female skater. Ako later encounters the skater and her friends doing tricks on city structures, and she finds the skater awe-inspiring. Ako signs up for skating lessons, ready to roll!
This manga also follows some other characters, deviating from Ako's story, but showing how they will all come together at some point. I have a feeling...maybe they'll make skating skits, a movie, or become a female skate influencing team! The only way to find out is to keep reading on!
I love the message being delivered with this manga. It emphasizes that women can be just as sporty as men (in this case, skateboarding), and it doesn't stop there. It also highlights that age doesn't matter. Anyone can find a new passion, even if they are in their 30's (or older). I also appreciate the real women skater articles offered as interludes. It gives a larger sense of purpose to the writing in its text-to-world connection.
Overall a really great first volume for readers who love skating and older readers looking for something with a fresh, inspiring feel.
May 19, 2024
Full review for Booklist Magazine
This book might be more for adult audiences as the protagonist is an adult who is looking for a purpose in life outside of her mundane job at a video store. She decides to pick up skateboarding as a way to find some fulfillment after seeing some female skateboarders filming tricks and longing for that kind of excitement in her own life. Teen readers may still find enjoyment but most might not connect with the protagonist's struggle, having not reached that stage in their life just yet.
Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
This book might be more for adult audiences as the protagonist is an adult who is looking for a purpose in life outside of her mundane job at a video store. She decides to pick up skateboarding as a way to find some fulfillment after seeing some female skateboarders filming tricks and longing for that kind of excitement in her own life. Teen readers may still find enjoyment but most might not connect with the protagonist's struggle, having not reached that stage in their life just yet.
Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
August 15, 2025
A nice little slice of life read about the joy and allure of curiosity, do you have the courage to try to learning something new even at an older age?
We follow 3 women; Ako, Kohinata, and Takehana each of which have given the “adult life” a try and though they are hanging in there they find their lives lack a bit of color.
Ako herself is in her thirties and finds she doesn’t really have any hobbies or good friends. Working a dead end job at a video rental store and navigating a relationship where her boyfriend has no desire to take things to a new phase Ako yearns for something more to life than just working and feeling alone.
Kohinata works with Ako but was once on her way to becoming an established fashion designer. However obstacles persisted and she’s fled from her dream much to her family’s disapproval.
Meanwhile Takehana finds herself at a new job due to a scandal and overworking herself to exhaustion. Having lost her friendships, relationships, and herself due to her work habits she seeks to find some measure of comfort in her newfound free time.
After chance encounters all 3 women each find themselves drawn to an unlikely sport…. Skateboarding. Fascinated and excited by a new hobby for the first time in a long time, all 3 become interested in the world of skaters.
Overall I think this is a good first volume. The art is fitting for the story, it feels mellow and realistic but charming. I liked our 3 main leads as well, Ako gets the most page time but you get a good sense of where each is coming from. I will say this is a slower paced volume, we do get some skateboarding here but the drama takes center stage as our leads come across the sport and introspect.
I’m curious where things go from here and Im rooting for the other volumes to be good as well. I think it had the potential to be wholesome and cathartic.
We follow 3 women; Ako, Kohinata, and Takehana each of which have given the “adult life” a try and though they are hanging in there they find their lives lack a bit of color.
Ako herself is in her thirties and finds she doesn’t really have any hobbies or good friends. Working a dead end job at a video rental store and navigating a relationship where her boyfriend has no desire to take things to a new phase Ako yearns for something more to life than just working and feeling alone.
Kohinata works with Ako but was once on her way to becoming an established fashion designer. However obstacles persisted and she’s fled from her dream much to her family’s disapproval.
Meanwhile Takehana finds herself at a new job due to a scandal and overworking herself to exhaustion. Having lost her friendships, relationships, and herself due to her work habits she seeks to find some measure of comfort in her newfound free time.
After chance encounters all 3 women each find themselves drawn to an unlikely sport…. Skateboarding. Fascinated and excited by a new hobby for the first time in a long time, all 3 become interested in the world of skaters.
Overall I think this is a good first volume. The art is fitting for the story, it feels mellow and realistic but charming. I liked our 3 main leads as well, Ako gets the most page time but you get a good sense of where each is coming from. I will say this is a slower paced volume, we do get some skateboarding here but the drama takes center stage as our leads come across the sport and introspect.
I’m curious where things go from here and Im rooting for the other volumes to be good as well. I think it had the potential to be wholesome and cathartic.
May 10, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
The book as a meal: I went out with my friends today and got some street food, it was crispy, salty, and delicious
The book left me: Feeling very much called out, this hit a little too close to home :--(
Why did this call out to me?
I want to get back into reading mangas, s I used to be an avid lurker on the free manga sites. So why not pick up the one manga that is very much a photocopy of my life?
Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Pick-up-able, binged it in one go. Already looking very much forward to reading the next volume.
Issues:
Formatting of the first few pages seems broken, but it is probably intended for a physical copy
Good things:
Shows different variants of the same type of story
Rep for girls with a different kind of hobby :--)
How did it feel to read?
It felt like a hug. I was right at home in this story. Empowering, freeing, very much what I needed in this moment
What mood would I read this in?
I would read this either before or after my psychiatrist appointment. As the theme is usually "how come you didn't have many friends in school", because I didn't fit in :--(
Where does this fall in my tier list ranking?
This is a good ole' A tier. Great and comforting read, will recommend to my other girlies
The book as a meal: I went out with my friends today and got some street food, it was crispy, salty, and delicious
The book left me: Feeling very much called out, this hit a little too close to home :--(
Why did this call out to me?
I want to get back into reading mangas, s I used to be an avid lurker on the free manga sites. So why not pick up the one manga that is very much a photocopy of my life?
Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Pick-up-able, binged it in one go. Already looking very much forward to reading the next volume.
Issues:
Formatting of the first few pages seems broken, but it is probably intended for a physical copy
Good things:
Shows different variants of the same type of story
Rep for girls with a different kind of hobby :--)
How did it feel to read?
It felt like a hug. I was right at home in this story. Empowering, freeing, very much what I needed in this moment
What mood would I read this in?
I would read this either before or after my psychiatrist appointment. As the theme is usually "how come you didn't have many friends in school", because I didn't fit in :--(
Where does this fall in my tier list ranking?
This is a good ole' A tier. Great and comforting read, will recommend to my other girlies
Read
May 2, 2024I quite liked Makihirochi's other work, Is Kichijoji The Only Place To Live? so when I saw Sketchy pop up on NetGalley I went and requested it quickly! Hirochi has a great understanding and ease of communicating just, humans, humans living and working in the city and the little longings we all have.
In this work in particular, we meet several characters with chapters based around them and the inspiration of a surprisingly (to them) girls view on a new hobby, skateboarding: Kawasumi, a thirty-something who works in a dead-end job in a video rental store and dates her dead-end, no commitment boyfriend while everyone around her is getting married and hitting those life goalposts, her younger coworker Shiho who's not so satisfied in her own life after leaving behind a former career, and Takehana, a woman starting in a new department after a scandal. These three look as if they're going to be brought together at these skateboarding lessons, and between each chapter we get some deets on real life girl skateboarders!
It's a neat work that definitely makes me feel some human emotions adjacent to loneliness and the desire to do something, anything, to feel inspired.
Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review! I already have volume 2 on my watchlist.
In this work in particular, we meet several characters with chapters based around them and the inspiration of a surprisingly (to them) girls view on a new hobby, skateboarding: Kawasumi, a thirty-something who works in a dead-end job in a video rental store and dates her dead-end, no commitment boyfriend while everyone around her is getting married and hitting those life goalposts, her younger coworker Shiho who's not so satisfied in her own life after leaving behind a former career, and Takehana, a woman starting in a new department after a scandal. These three look as if they're going to be brought together at these skateboarding lessons, and between each chapter we get some deets on real life girl skateboarders!
It's a neat work that definitely makes me feel some human emotions adjacent to loneliness and the desire to do something, anything, to feel inspired.
Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review! I already have volume 2 on my watchlist.
June 24, 2024
A woman in her early-to-mid thirties seeks purpose in life after having aimlessly spent much of her youth working at a video rental store and getting little to no satisfaction from her relationship with her pompous boyfriend. Her own friends seem to have more ambitious goals in life, and Ako feels a little left behind though she shows little of this outwardly due to her relatively stoic demeanor. It's only when Ako is exposed to skater culture, particularly from the angle of other women who ride skateboards, does some change begin to precipitate in her life. Sketchy begins Ako's journey into exploring a new hobby - skateboarding - and all the culture that arises from it.
The story is simple enough and executed just as simply with Makihirochi's elegant and naturalistic designs. There is no fluff here, just a dissection of what it means to achieve your goals at a later stage in life. Ako is easy to root for since we all have a little of her inside us all - a desperate adventurer who feels trapped in the confines of a regular life. Sketchy is about escapism in a sense, but achieved in a fully down to earth kind of way.
The story is simple enough and executed just as simply with Makihirochi's elegant and naturalistic designs. There is no fluff here, just a dissection of what it means to achieve your goals at a later stage in life. Ako is easy to root for since we all have a little of her inside us all - a desperate adventurer who feels trapped in the confines of a regular life. Sketchy is about escapism in a sense, but achieved in a fully down to earth kind of way.
May 2, 2024
I picked up Sketchy because it gave me Betty vibes (which is a show unfortunately cancelled by HBO that I really enjoyed).
Sketchy is a manga that follows a few girls in their late 20s/early 30s. Each girl is not completely happy with their lives, their jobs, their families, their friends, their boyfriends...and eventually turn to skating as their new outlet. Each girl's journey to skateboarding is told in this first volume. I will say that my Betty comparison only goes so far as girls skateboarding. This manga can really be read by most age groups, even though I really like that it depicts women of an age that I don't always see represented in books.
Despite a few panels where the translation seemed a little strange, I really enjoyed Sketchy and would like to continue the series. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is intrigued by a story about women who skateboard, or anyone just looking for a new manga series!
e-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sketchy is a manga that follows a few girls in their late 20s/early 30s. Each girl is not completely happy with their lives, their jobs, their families, their friends, their boyfriends...and eventually turn to skating as their new outlet. Each girl's journey to skateboarding is told in this first volume. I will say that my Betty comparison only goes so far as girls skateboarding. This manga can really be read by most age groups, even though I really like that it depicts women of an age that I don't always see represented in books.
Despite a few panels where the translation seemed a little strange, I really enjoyed Sketchy and would like to continue the series. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is intrigued by a story about women who skateboard, or anyone just looking for a new manga series!
e-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2024
Ako leads an aimless life. She works a dead-end job at a video rental store, she's dating a man who seemingly doesn't care about her beyond getting him the title of "boyfriend" and just feels aimless. Then she sees a female skateboarder practicing tricks and immediately becomes enamored. This story is pretty slow-paced, with it mostly being about Ako slowly learning about skateboarding. The story completely stops its story momentum by suddenly showing us these two other women who learn about skateboarding. I get that they're introducing these other two women, likely to make both of them and Ako become friends later on. But the sudden stop of Ako's point of view and pivot to these other two characters really throws off the story flow. It feels like Ako's story was temporarily cut off, to suddenly start two other plotlines. The art is pretty good. It's not my favorite style, but it's easy to read, and nicely done.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
June 13, 2024
I don't personally buy manga very often, since I can usually just get it from the library. I was about halfway through this one when I realized it was obviously written for me and I had to stop reading to go order the first 2 volumes for myself.
I loved seeing this 3o-something year old woman discovering skateboarding, realizing it's something she could try for herself, and just going for it. And then when the other women start finding it on their own, it's even more exciting. It feels exactly how it was for me discovering roller derby for the first time, and making all of these new friends who all do this really cool thing together. (And then again learning how to park skate!)
The scene after Kawasumi's first lesson, when she's just sitting thinking "Skateboarding is so fun!" is probably my favorite moment. So relatable and real. :)
Go read this even if you don't have a particular interest in skating! It's just a great story of finding a new hobby and new people that inspire you.
I loved seeing this 3o-something year old woman discovering skateboarding, realizing it's something she could try for herself, and just going for it. And then when the other women start finding it on their own, it's even more exciting. It feels exactly how it was for me discovering roller derby for the first time, and making all of these new friends who all do this really cool thing together. (And then again learning how to park skate!)
The scene after Kawasumi's first lesson, when she's just sitting thinking "Skateboarding is so fun!" is probably my favorite moment. So relatable and real. :)
Go read this even if you don't have a particular interest in skating! It's just a great story of finding a new hobby and new people that inspire you.
May 5, 2024
I got this on a kind of whim from Netgalley and I'm so glad I did!
As an older person whose still enjoying getting into new things, it's so refreshing to read a story where people aren't telling you 'you're too old to be doing that' and people supporting you in what you want to do with your life and hobbies.
The strength of these characters and the way this book through pictures makes you completely invested in them is incredible (I've read hundred page novels that can't do that!) and I just really loved reading it - there's little dialogue, but what there is really makes you root for everyone and makes you wanna be on their team.
I really loved it - girls supporting girls, skateboarding and learning new things? Loved it, totally my thing. Definitely need that second volume asap!
(Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!)
As an older person whose still enjoying getting into new things, it's so refreshing to read a story where people aren't telling you 'you're too old to be doing that' and people supporting you in what you want to do with your life and hobbies.
The strength of these characters and the way this book through pictures makes you completely invested in them is incredible (I've read hundred page novels that can't do that!) and I just really loved reading it - there's little dialogue, but what there is really makes you root for everyone and makes you wanna be on their team.
I really loved it - girls supporting girls, skateboarding and learning new things? Loved it, totally my thing. Definitely need that second volume asap!
(Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!)
May 28, 2024
I went into this completely blind and had absolutely no idea what to expect when I requested it on Netgalley.
But it’s great!
It’s about women in their 30s starting skateboarding for the first time and I could completely understand everything they felt before, during, and after, because adults are so often discouraged from trying new things because “they’re for kids”, or “you should’ve started when you were younger”, but adults deserve to have hobbies and to /start/ new hobbies at any age, and this manga fully captures this!
I will 100% be continuing reading this series!
My main criticism is the cover to be honest. It just doesn’t work for me, and as I say, I knew hardly anything about this prior to reading, and that can partially be attributed to a cover that doesn’t tell you anything.
But it’s great!
It’s about women in their 30s starting skateboarding for the first time and I could completely understand everything they felt before, during, and after, because adults are so often discouraged from trying new things because “they’re for kids”, or “you should’ve started when you were younger”, but adults deserve to have hobbies and to /start/ new hobbies at any age, and this manga fully captures this!
I will 100% be continuing reading this series!
My main criticism is the cover to be honest. It just doesn’t work for me, and as I say, I knew hardly anything about this prior to reading, and that can partially be attributed to a cover that doesn’t tell you anything.
September 20, 2025
3.5/5
It mostly follows Ako who's 30 and listlessly working retail and her failed to launch writer boyfriend lives with her parents. It also involves her part-time friend(?)/coworker who was once trying to be a stylist and an editor that faces a career change after getting caught cheating with one of her author's husband. The three women start trying out skateboarding.
It's very much a "hobby manga" but it is fairly subdued in that there aren't bubbles, flowers, or ecstatic naked explosions involving the hobby. Interspersed between chapters are interviews with female skaters. I thought it was generally okay, though I did roll my eyes a bit in that it seemed like the majority of comments about the women skating were how they looked.
All in all, I liked it, and it's nice seeing adult women taking up a new hobby/passion and it doesn't involve or revolve around romance.
It mostly follows Ako who's 30 and listlessly working retail and her failed to launch writer boyfriend lives with her parents. It also involves her part-time friend(?)/coworker who was once trying to be a stylist and an editor that faces a career change after getting caught cheating with one of her author's husband. The three women start trying out skateboarding.
It's very much a "hobby manga" but it is fairly subdued in that there aren't bubbles, flowers, or ecstatic naked explosions involving the hobby. Interspersed between chapters are interviews with female skaters. I thought it was generally okay, though I did roll my eyes a bit in that it seemed like the majority of comments about the women skating were how they looked.
All in all, I liked it, and it's nice seeing adult women taking up a new hobby/passion and it doesn't involve or revolve around romance.
September 23, 2024
To be honest, I wasn't that crazy about this manga's pacing, even though the plot and themes of it were really appealing to me. The first couple chapters we stuck with one protagonist, but the last two chapters both explored different side characters from their limited perspective, which made this feel more like a disjointed compilation manga about people discovering the love of skateboarding, rather than one woman's journey with other characters on the side. In fact, this first volume almost felt to me more like a one-shot collection of short stories, so I'm pretty satisfied with the way this left off, and I'm not really interested in continuing the series. Still, it was decent though, and at least worth a read!
April 27, 2024
I loved the pace and feel of this story laid out in word and picture. Ako is in her twenties, life is on repeat, she seems a little awkward and almost hidden. By chance her life starts to change when she glimpses a female skate-board artist being filmed tricking on a street. The girl intrigues her. And she finds herself trying to learn a new skill, amongst youngsters, as she starts taking skateboard lessons. Will girl and skateboarding bring new vitality to her life. I want to read the next volume to find out! Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the comic ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
May 8, 2024
The cover art really undersells Sketchy by Makihirochi, but that's not a bad thing. Most of the time "for mature readers" means it has smut but in this case it's grown women who are neither students, wives, nor mothers trying to live their lives. Skateboarding is set up as the common thing that might get our characters to connect more in the future. I'm looking forward to the second volume. The art is well done, and while I personally do not relate to the characters, I found myself rooting for their happiness or at least for them to give skateboarding a try by the end of the volume. (I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)
May 23, 2024
I was having so much fun reading this that I started frantically swiping when I realised it was over to try and find more. My only complaint is that it’s not long enough!
As someone who picked up skateboarding later in life, this reignited that passion and made me miss my board. To see someone go to those beginners lessons
- something I was too scared to do- was very comforting.
I loved the addition of real woman skaters and their @‘s being incorporated into the art, so that the readers can go support those amazing skaters. Its just so uplifting.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this.
As someone who picked up skateboarding later in life, this reignited that passion and made me miss my board. To see someone go to those beginners lessons
- something I was too scared to do- was very comforting.
I loved the addition of real woman skaters and their @‘s being incorporated into the art, so that the readers can go support those amazing skaters. Its just so uplifting.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this.
June 10, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC! Sketchy is certainly a very interesting start to the story that will come over time: a thirty-year-old girl discovering herself, who still hasn't understood who she is and what she likes, is one of my personal favorite themes. The drawings are really beautiful, this first volume flows slower than I would have imagined, but Ako as a character is really interesting and how things will evolve for her.
Grazie a NetGalley e Kodansha Comics per l'ARC! Sketchy è sicuramente un inizio molto interessante per la storia che arriverà nel corso del tempo: una ragazza di trent'anni alla scoperta di se stessa, che ancora non ha capito chi è e cosa le piace, è uno dei temi che personalmente preferisco. I disegni sono veramente belli, questo primo volume scorre più lento di quanto avrei immaginato, ma Ako come personaggio è davvero interessante e come le cose per lei si evolveranno.
Grazie a NetGalley e Kodansha Comics per l'ARC! Sketchy è sicuramente un inizio molto interessante per la storia che arriverà nel corso del tempo: una ragazza di trent'anni alla scoperta di se stessa, che ancora non ha capito chi è e cosa le piace, è uno dei temi che personalmente preferisco. I disegni sono veramente belli, questo primo volume scorre più lento di quanto avrei immaginato, ma Ako come personaggio è davvero interessante e come le cose per lei si evolveranno.
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