Sheltering Eaves, Vol. 1

零れるよるに [Koboreru Yoru ni] #1

by Rie Aruga

From the creator of Perfect World comes a new josei manga about a pure romance that blossoms in the unfair world of the foster care system. Blending a realistic representation of the situation faced by the most vulnerable children in Japanese society with a page-turning love story, Sheltering Eaves is, like the teens who come to life on its pages, one of a kind.

High schooler Yoru was sent to a group home at the age of ten after her mother abused her. Tenjaku, a boy the same age, took her under his wing. Now, as teenagers, Yoru and Tenjaku only have a year left before they are legally required to leave the home, and they must pack a lot of growing up into a short period of time. The foremost decision in Yoru's mind: what to do about the feelings for Tenjaku that she's sheltered in her heart during their years together...

Selected for the hit-making Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (This Manga is Amazing!) list by representatives of the Japanese manga industry.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Graphic Novels, Josei, Shojo

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 13, 2023

About the author

有賀リエ

Reviews

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

” when i’m with him i forget about being alone.”

i was thoroughly captivated by this engaging manga series’ start, devouring it in one sitting. the story of Yoru and Tenjaku, who find solace in each other after being rescued from a life of child abuse and neglect, is truly heartwarming. the narrative seamlessly jumps from Yoru's initial introduction to the foster home to their life together during their 16th summer before they turn 18 and leave the foster care system. I'm left wondering what the future holds for these two inseparable characters, and I'm eager to see how their story unfolds. the possibilities are endless, and I hope they won't be separated as they navigate this new chapter in their lives.

many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*

2.75 Stars!

An interesting start to a new manga series. We follow the main characters Yoru, who has just moved into a new foster home and Tenjaku. They along with the other children have been either neglected, abused or abandoned by their parents. Tenjaku felt the instant urge to protect Yoru and to never leave her side, their friendship and the connection they share is beautiful.
The timeline is between the past, where Yoru just moved in and later on when they are already in high school and have one and a half year more left to graduate and leave their current home.
The art style is a bit average, but the story will keep you interested till it ends.

I'm looking forward to the next instalments, I'm curious what will Tenjaku will decide for himself.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oof, that was a tough read. The two MCs are foster kids in the system, with parents who were abusive due to alcohol abuse and mental health issues. They are in a foster home with other kids with their own issues as well, mostly stemming from parents who can't parent for whatever reason.

This is NOT a walk in the park, la-la-la we are so happy read. Lots of drama, some of which could be triggering to some readers, but might also be cathartic as well. I'm no expert, just be aware going in.

It is thought provoking and informative and you SO BADLY want the MCs to be happy. There is some hope, but very muted. I did not finish this volume feeling uplifted, though I don't think that was the point for this volume. Recommended for those who like dark realism in their manga.

3, not bad but serious and not quite what I was looking for, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC of this book to read and review.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes, just one extra drop seems enough to break what's holding our emotions together. We're constantly struggling to make sure that it never overflows."

How do you rate a manga like this?

I really have no idea.

It's hard because this story IS fiction, but at the heart of it, you can really see it's not. These characters are reflections of other real-life people with real problems, worries, and anxiety. It reminds me of My Girlfriend's Child in that this story is much larger than good or bad storytelling because it's one that grips you and pulls you into someone else's world, and in my case, is very different from my own.

I can say that based on my experience of reading Perfect World, the creator's other work in English, this volume definitely left on a very painful cliffhanger that made me want to get volume two. My only concern is that I would LIKE to read more, but with how deep and triggering this story is at points, I really want to know if it will have a "happy ending." That might come across as incredibly shallow, but seeing the effects of parental abuse on children is not something I would rush to pick up at any given point because that is extremely triggering and upsetting for me personally. (I foresee myself feeling unsettled for the rest of the day so it's something I need to think hard about on what I want to do.)

I can say that even outside of my struggle with what to do, this is a very meaningful read. It's not light-hearted or a "happy" one, but again, going back to My Girlfriend's Child, I think it's powerfully insightful in light of it being a fictional setting. The characters are very compelling and really found my heart went out to each one of them.

I think if you're looking for a story that is eye-opening and heart-wrenching, this is one I would recommend (but please don't forget the trigger warning I mentioned above).

*(I received a digital e-copy via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sad yet sweet story of two children who are given up by their parents to foster homes. We see the emerging protectiveness and sweetness of their relationship as childhood friends.

This story was fine and had some cute moments but it was a bit on the sadder side than what I wanted. I'm not sure if I will continue with the series. Lots of flashbacks in this one (setting up their backgrounds) and I wanted more of them together in present day.

[Kim Scarlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Why was I born into this world? Should I have been born at all? Those questions always lingered in my mind.” - Yoru Tono

✨ Sheltering Eaves tells the story of Yoru, a young girl who arrives at a children's home after being neglected by her mother due to her mental illness. There, Yoru meets Tenjaku.

✨ When Yoru questioned why she was born, it really struck me. I could completely resonate with her words, as I too have questioned my existence, wondering why I was born only to endure suffering due to my frail body and deteriorating health. My parents ended up blaming me for every unlucky thing that happened to them, for every hospital visit, for having a weak body. We didn’t choose to be born. I didn't choose to be born like this.

✨ Yoru reminded me of my past self—the part of me that felt emotionally lonely, always relying on someone else to find happiness, just as Yoru finds happiness when she sees Tenjaku.

✨ I really loved the bond between Tenjaku and Yoru. Although I sense a romantic undertone between them, I’m torn. If this bond turns into romance, it might easily break, especially if they unintentionally hurt each other.

✨ Sheltering Eaves is a story of orphaned kids and their lives before, during, and after their time in the home.

✨ Overall, this has been an emotional and wonderful read for me.

✨ Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for giving me the opportunity to read Tenjaku and Yoru’s tear-jerking story.

✨ WHAT I LIKED:
📌 When Tenjaku saved Yoru multiple times
📌 When Tenjaku and Yoru hugged each other
📌 Tenjaku’s independence and clear goals in life
📌 Yoru’s love for Tenjaku

✨ TROPES:
📌 FOUND FAMILY IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS
📌 CHARACTERS WITH TRAUMATIC PASTS
📌 CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
📌 ORPHANED PROTAGONIST
📌 NO SPICE

💻 FULL REVIEW HERE: https://kimthebookdragon.wordpress.co...

[Ambur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Rie Aruga's previous series, Perfect World, so I was extremely excited to see a new series from her!

I love how she always puts so much research and heart into her stories, so as soon as I saw that this was a josei featuring two teens in the foster care system, I knew we'd be in for a heartwrenching, beautiful story, and based on this first volume, I can tell it's going to be just as amazing as Perfect World was. Even with just this first volume, I can wait to see Yoru and Tenjaku grow, and I'm excited to see how the series progresses.

If you love beautifully drawn and written stories that will pull on your heartstrings, then I highly recommend you check out both Rie Aruga's beloved Perfect World series, and also start this one!

I was able to read an early egalley via NetGalley and I definitely can't wait to get a physical copy for my shelves!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.]

A tale of Japan’s foster and orphan care and two children, Tenjaku and Yoru, who find themselves surviving within it.

It’s hard to review this manga because, while I didn’t really like it, it had a lot of important information that did give me an appreciation of the foster and orphan situation in Japan. Its educational bona fides are without reproach.

Unfortunately, its plotting and characters are overwrought and underdeveloped, respectively. The plot seems like it has to get so much of this information across that the home comes off like the most hard luck place in Japan.

There’s a moment where a disaster befalls the home that is used to illustrate how badly hurt some of these children have been, but it also comes off as total nonsense because no way would the events play out like they did.

It’s manga, it’s going to be wild sometimes, but this simultaneously wants to educate about the real world while also having a foot stuck firmly in melodrama town. A long-lost parent showing up at the end does what the writer wants, drama-wise, but it doesn’t feel organic.

Which is shocking because I read the first volume of Perfect World, the mangaka’s previous title, ages ago and it has a far better balance and I liked both aspects. This is, unquestionably, a step down.

Part of it is the pile-on. There’s so many awful stories here and they’re all coming at the reader so fast that it’s numbing. Tenjaku’s scars are enough, we can infer that something bad happened, but the story decides to go there anyway and it feels like overkill that’s borderline cartoonish.

Yoru is incredibly underwritten - her mother and her mental health issues are given more depth. She clings to Tenjaku while he’s trying to figure out the future and she mostly goes on about her desire to stay together.

I refuse to believe that people are so defined by their trauma that it’s all they can talk about, but this manga appears to believe different. Sure, it looms large and weighs heavy, but the balance here is skewed to misery in a way I don’t believe.

It’s just too much everything and all done with the subtlety of a mugging. There is a lot here that is neatly done - the clear PTSD and subconscious reactions of the kids to it are really portrayed quite well. But it keeps going and then loses me on the points it wants to make.

Manga with sad stories are fine. Manga with heavy subjects are fine. This hasn’t figured out how to educate without the browbeating and, well, it left me underwhelmed with the end product.

Yet I also recognize the skill that went into the research and it doesn’t have nothing to say. A lot of people think this is a good story and it has emotional heft. They are not wrong; I just think it’s weighted all wrong.

3 stars - an important subject, but one that deserves a better story than this. It’s complicated - I wrote this whole review twice and I’m still dissatisfied with my wording here, but I know that this just was not for me.

[IvyInThePages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 5/5
-Story: 5/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: -
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yes

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 was a bit of a heavy manga. The kids that were failed by their parents is just a heavy subject and this seems like a good manga that lets you have a sneak peek into their world. I am hoping the two main characters get a happy ending and it will be on my list to further read.

[Jordan Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Rie Aruga's previous manga series, Perfect World, and thus had high hopes for his newest series, Sheltering Eaves. I'm pleased to say that I absolutely loved the first volume and already feel such a connection between our two main characters, Yoru and Tenjaku. I really enjoyed how we got to see the origins of their friendship in the children's group home and then also a taste of their lives at sixteen years old; seeing the younger versions of the characters really gave me context and allowed me to connect on a deeper level.

The representation of children's home facilities in Japan - as well as what the children go through before, during, and after their stay - was done tastefully and respectfully. I love how Rie Argua creates such diverse stories, and I cannot wait to dig into the rest of this series!

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Sheltering Eaves, Vol. 1 by Rie Aruga in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by any third parties. #shelteringeaves #netgalley #manga

[Ray Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4/5.
I was so excited to hear about Rie Aruga’s new manga! And just like her previous work (Perfect World), we get a mix of angst, cute fluffy scenes and two protagonists who are likeable from the start.

These teenagers meet when they’re little kids because they have been abandoned by their parents one way or another, so the system has them on a temporary home until they are officially grown-ups. All the kids in there have experienced trauma and are recovering from abusive or neglecting relationships with their families, but as you can imagine, Yoru and Tenjaku feel something for each other, and find a true home in each other’s company.

Though you can expect a lot of drama with this manga, I think the author really took the time to do her research on the subject and we’re not just reading something for the sake of drama. Hopefully, as with Perfect World, we’ll get more of their cute moments together without romanticizing these hard in-real-life situations.

Can’t wait for the next volume!

I received an e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

[˗ˏˋ janet ˊˎ˗ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4

cute fun and short! Loved this and will most definitely be continuing the series once I get the chance. My first manga series !!

Recommend: yes !

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminds me a lot of Say I Love You but with a focus on foster children (or the Japanese equivalent with how their government handles it) instead of more “typical” high school challenges. It even has that similar empathetic lens to people that act antagonistically like the privileged shop-lifting kid or the mean “bully” foster care kid acting out because of his own handling of parental abandonment. I really enjoyed this. Tenjaku and Yoru are a sweet pair and sort of foil each other with how they deal with their situation. Tenjaku lashes out or tries to push forward whereas Yoru lingers and ruminates more inwardly. Tenjaku lashing out is an interesting bit since his parent was abusive so it might lead into a larger character development bit about not becoming like our abusers / the negative parts of our birth parents.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking story centered around youth in the care of Japan's child services system... 5 ⭐ read.

[Reading_seas0n · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Kodansha Comics & NetGalley for the access to this manga title and the chance to review honestly. Here is my opinion.

This is a very raw and emotional manga and one with a subject I have never seen in Japanese media before - child group homes, social work & removing abused or neglected children from homes.
I think this hit on a subject that needs more exposure and I think it showed a brief glimpse into life of children in a group home, well.
I am interested to see how the stories and backstories are explored and see a side of Japanese society I knew existed by never witnessed. PLUS I am fully prepared to cry and I know I will, the hints and the drawings are proof already.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Perfect World by Rie Aruga, so I knew I needed to pick this up.

I love that Rie Aruga knows how to address hard topics, and uses research to build the story. We are following kids in the Japanese foster system/group homes, and Rie Aruga helps breathe life into these characters and makes us root for them.

Because this is the first book in a new series, I don't know exactly where we are going, but I can't wait to go along for the ride!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[abby (xoxobookishgirl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐
Rep: Teenagers that grew up in a children's home in Japan, Insomnia due to anxiety
CW: Child Abandonment, Child Abuse

👩🏻‍👩🏻‍👧🏻‍👦🏻Found family
😴Insomnia Rep
❤️‍🩹Teenagers living in a children's home
💛Childhood best friends

What I Liked
1) This book gave a great insight into the care system in Japan and how it affects the children that grow up in it.

2) You can truly see how passionate the author is about the topic and how well researched this book is to give teenagers in the care system a relatable manga and to give other readers a better understanding of what they go through.

3) Yoru hanging onto the one good memory she can find to try and outweigh the bad was so well shown

4) I loved how this manga showed one of the children going to extreme measures to try and get attention from their parents in the hope they can go home. It truly showed how devastating the system is and how even when a child was in a bad situation, they still want to get back to their family.

5) I loved the discussions of how brutal the system can be by saying that they're family but then kicking them out at 18 and I think it brings up an important conversation of how we can support adults that were in the system.

6) I didn't know seasonal foster care existed and I loved learning about it

What I Disliked
1) I didn't really connect with the romance element of this story especially due to Tenjaku's anger issues (I do understand that it is due to his trauma but I hate when the guy in a romance is violent even when it's on the love interest's behalf)

2) If you already know quite a lot about children's homes, some of the explanations can be a bit much but if you don't know much about the topic I think this manga is a great introduction

Favourite Quotes
1) 'The day I arrived they said it was my "new home" and my "new family" but what kind of home and family do you suddenly have to leave once you reach the age of eighteen'

2)'Every day was miserable and soul-crushing. I never want to live like that again. But I still hang onto that one tiny memory.'

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first volume of Sheltering Eaves reaffirmed my admiration for Ria Aruga’s work. This poignant story follows two teenagers, Yoru and Tenjaku, as they navigate life in a home for children with troubled pasts. Abandoned and abused by their parents, they now share their days grappling with the struggles of adolescence, their emotions intensified by their unique and often painful circumstances. From the very beginning, both Yoru and Tenjaku are characters you can’t help but empathize with, and I found myself rooting for them wholeheartedly.

Some reviews criticize the series for leaning into melodrama—such as a parent reappearing in a child’s life after years of absence. However, as someone who has known people with similar experiences, I can say this is far from melodrama. For some children, these challenges are stark realities. Their journeys of balancing self-protection with vulnerability are monumental tasks, even for adults, and I deeply admire those who persevere through such experiences. They are some of the most inspiring and resilient individuals I’ve ever encountered.

This manga sheds light on real-life struggles many might overlook, and it serves as a testament to the unsung heroes among us—those who’ve survived such hardships and those who dedicate their lives to supporting children in similar circumstances. If society looked closer, we would realize that inspiration and everyday heroes are all around us.

I anticipate that Yoru and Tenjaku will face further challenges that will shape the rest of their lives, but I’m eager to see how they confront them. I hope to see them rise above, standing firm for what matters, learning to care for themselves, and finding joy in the many forms it takes, even when it’s difficult to recognize. Their story is bound to resonate with anyone who has ever had to find strength in vulnerability.

If, like me, you enjoy manga that balances familiar tropes with real-life depth, Sheltering Eaves is for you. If you’ve experienced or known someone in a similar situation, this story will feel both poignant and hopeful. And even if you simply need a reminder that hope and resilience are out there, this manga will leave an impression. I can’t wait to read the next volume!

[cc · Rating 4 out of 5]

e-ARC from NetGalley

I want more of this story!

There's something so appealing about soft romance in manga. We get so many toxic and abusive male leads who make our female protagonists' lives harder than they need to be, so this type of story is so refreshing.

This manga follows two individuals - Yoru and Tenjaku - as they grow up in a group home for abused children. From the day 10-year-old Yoru arrives, Tenjaku becomes her best friend and protector. Now, at 16, the pair know their time in the home is coming to a close, and they will soon be forced to make it on their own.

This is a coming of age story just as much as (if not more than) it is a romance. Tenjaku is working himself to the bone in preparation, while Yoru's biggest worry is being separated from the boy she secretly loves. While he is always there for her, he does not seem to feel the same need to stay by her side, and his feelings are ambiguous - is he protecting her like a lover or a brother? Even the reader can't be sure.

Everything about this worked for me. The drawing was gorgeous. The characters were lovable. The story is compelling. The anxiety and fear of the unknown is contagious. I haven't loved a manga this much since My Sweet Girl by Rumi Ichinohe! Can't wait for volume 2!

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Rie Aruga is a well-known manga-ka in the josei space. I have read one volume of Perfect World and I absolutely loved it. It's quite intense, so I haven't worked up the mental courage to continue yet, but I own all of the volumes for when I'm ready to. I saw Sheltering Eaves on Netgalley and I decided to throw in my hat and download it. I'm so happy I did because this was spectacular.

This follows Yoru, who is in a foster home due to the parental abuse and neglect inflicted on her by her mother. She meets Tenjaku when he stands up for her and they become the best of friends. This volume follows the start of their friendship as they find solace in a world without family and grow up to be ready to leave the system. This is a heartbreaking look into the complexities and trauma that young children face in these custodial circumstances when they are in the foster care system in Japan. I was moved to tears multiple times and I found this to be an accurate portrayal of multiple perspectives inside of the Japanese foster care system. I can't recommend this one enough.

Thank you, Netgalley and Kodansha Comics, for providing me with a copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty good! Basically about orphans finding homes with each other, just being near each other, and creating a family. You have Yoru who loses her dad, and her mom becomes mentally unstable and she has to go to a group home. There she meets Tenjaku and they quickly become friends. You can tell they love each other, not sure if in love just yet, but they want to be there and project one another. We get a time skip around half way to them in High School trying to decide what they'll do once they turn 18. It's a nice slice of life look into that type of life. I was surprised it took itself so serious, very little humor, but at the same time it's what kind of makes it, well, it's own thing. So I enjoyed the sweetness to the relationship here between leads, and the growth of character in a different situation than most. I'll check out volume 2 for sure. A 3.5 out of 5.

[Sophy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers what it's like to live in a children's home in Tokyo. Kids whose parents could not take care of them or were abusing them come and live in the children's home. We follow the two main charades as kids, then skip to them being in high school and about to have to go live on their own. We see how the two characters have different outlooks on this, one: how can they call this our new home and then kick us out when we turn 18 while the other one is getting part-time jobs to prepare himself for living out on his own. The story with these two is very interesting and even shows how the wolf views kids in their situation.

[Shruti Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟
(I received an e-arc from netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this review)
This was actually really good. I saw some 3🌟 reviews and thought i might not like it but honestly, i really loved it.
The characters were so honest and good with each other as friends too.
All of the supporting characters were well depicted as well.
The theme it evolved around and the way the characters delt with the criticism was so brave and strong.
I am really looking forward to the next volume.

[ℂ ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sèrie ambientada en un centre d'acollida de menors al Japó feta per la mateixa mangaka de Perfect World, Vol. 1. Narració ben centrada en la psicologia dels personatges, els lligams entre els infants que habiten sota el mateix sostre i com es plantegen un futur incert amb l'etiqueta de ser menors tutelats. Amb ganes de més!!!

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Child abuse and neglect at its worst!

The main characters meet in a children’s home after getting abused and neglected by their respective parents.

Trigger warnings for SA, abuse and abandonment.

The artstyle and the art sequence is everything! Do not expect romance from this volume.

One evil adult character comes back in their lives. Can you just give me the second volume???!!!!


Thank you, Kodansha Comics, for the ARC.

[Vale ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for allowing me to read this manga in preview.

It is a story full of trigger warnings, you have to be ready. This story talks about abuse, depression and violence.

These kids live in a family home because their parents abandoned them, the first volume is really very strong and also very beautiful.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheltering Eaves is about two orphans Yoru and Tenjaku. We mostly focus on Yoru and what’s she’s going through. They have only a year and a half before they are able to leave the orphanage they see as home. I felt like crying as I reading this manga. Yoru was through a lot emotionally. I felt for what she was going through.

I hope that we get more of a background story for Tenjaku. It seemed to me that he is also going through so much emotionally as well. He comes off as someone who doesn’t care but really does. We also got a glimpse of what his childhood was for him when he was still with his father.

[Serianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Received an E-ARC from Netgalley*

I went into this pretty blind aside from the genre and that it was a manga. I have to say it was incredibly thoughtful and an interesting insight to see our characters go through traumatic childhood events and try to navigate through. I will be buying the physicals and continuing on in this series.

Thank you for the ability to read this early

[Erika Sarutobi · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: child abuse.

RTC

[☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

1er tome prometteur, j'aime bien comment sont traités les thématiques mais je ressens pas spécialement d'alchimie. je sais pas trop si j'ai envie de continuer! je verrai 1j!