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8月31日のロングサマー [8-gatsu 31-nichi no Long Summer] #1
The Long Summer of August 31 Vol. 1
From the creator of I’m Not Meat–also published by Seven Seas! Two teens discover they’re stuck in a never-ending time-loop right at the end of summer vacation–can a new love reset them?
Caught in an endlessly repeating August 31st, high schoolers Suzuki Takaya and Takagi Kana are the only ones who remember each loop. The likely cause? Suzuki’s unfinished summer mission to secure a girlfriend and lose his virginity—the ultimate teenage goal. A hilarious yet heartfelt time-loop comedy!
Caught in an endlessly repeating August 31st, high schoolers Suzuki Takaya and Takagi Kana are the only ones who remember each loop. The likely cause? Suzuki’s unfinished summer mission to secure a girlfriend and lose his virginity—the ultimate teenage goal. A hilarious yet heartfelt time-loop comedy!
182 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2025
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37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 23, 2025
*More like 3.5 stars than 3.*
It’s hard to gauge exactly how I feel about this manga. Even with a solid 8 chapters, it’s difficult to discern my thoughts.
The protagonist really straddled the line between being so weird it’s creepy and being so weird you can only laugh and can’t take it seriously. Because of the former I wasn’t sure whether I really liked him, and that makes him an acquired taste. Potentially, with time he could develop more into the latter and pull away from the former in later volumes.
The plot didn’t really go far and the time loop was no excuse because things did happen, there just wasn’t a lot going on.
But there were some fun moments and some funny moments. I loved how they explored the time loop and how every chapter started with the characters in the same two panels and stances with similar dialogue every time. In that sense, this volume was quite creative with its novel concept.
It’s hard to gauge exactly how I feel about this manga. Even with a solid 8 chapters, it’s difficult to discern my thoughts.
The protagonist really straddled the line between being so weird it’s creepy and being so weird you can only laugh and can’t take it seriously. Because of the former I wasn’t sure whether I really liked him, and that makes him an acquired taste. Potentially, with time he could develop more into the latter and pull away from the former in later volumes.
The plot didn’t really go far and the time loop was no excuse because things did happen, there just wasn’t a lot going on.
But there were some fun moments and some funny moments. I loved how they explored the time loop and how every chapter started with the characters in the same two panels and stances with similar dialogue every time. In that sense, this volume was quite creative with its novel concept.
April 7, 2025
Time loop stories seem to be more in vogue lately, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They can be fun in the right hands and this one makes for a pretty good time as Suzuki and Takagi try to escape an endless August day.
Starting this after a month of the loop has already passed by is smart because it lets the story jam in a few rules and just get on with it, rather than going through the laborious process of discovery.
Without knowing why this is happening, Suzuki makes the assumption that, like most stories of this nature, they have lingering regrets that have yet to be fulfilled. Except Takagi says she doesn’t and Suzuki only wants to get a girlfriend and get laid.
This doesn’t always nail awkward just right, Suzuki can be a little creepy with his cringe, but he’s also well aware of it and that does mean he’s trying his hardest to not seem like he comes from an all-guys school. Which he does. But, acknowledging you’re a problem and trying to be less of one is good character growth!
The mating dance between them is fun because there’s a clear attraction, yet they can’t quite make it work. Suzuki can be off-putting and is a little impulsive. Takagi, to use a term I’m not especially fond of, but is appropriate in this situation, gives off incredibly mixed signals at times.
But they just keep on going, drawn back to one another and, for all she’s shooting down the idea of sex, Takagi and Suzuki get pretty chummy over this volume. They move forward in fits and starts.
Like teenagers, basically. Suzuki is at least decent underneath it all, he’s just really damn awkward. When he manages to turn on the charm, however, he is clearly leaving an impression. Takagi shows more and more frequently in little ways that she’s trying to be a bit more than friends with him.
It’s a very cute story and by keeping that focus on the leads it manages to develop them fast enough to get past the rougher parts. They’re an attractive pair and watching them come together is breezy fun.
The art is really nice, again, attractive leads, and the dialogue is a cut above the usual. There are some good moments of banter and decent laughs. Plus, it’s clever in general. Suzuki’s way of broadcasting that he’s in a time loop to anybody else is super smart and pays off later on.
There’s a diner scene which basically encapsulates everything this story does well in a microcosm. Suzuki does something dumb, Tamaki is clearly trying to impress him yet not admitting it, they learn a funny lesson about cause and effect, and Suzuki also manages to be a decent guy who’s surprisingly thoughtful.
If you like rom-coms, this is a fun example that takes its premise and, if/once you adjust to Suzuki, turns out to be a surprisingly pleasant time. It would be one thing if Suzuki was just being awkward for laughs over and over, but with a partner willing to help him be the best version of himself it works much better by having a point.
4 stars - definite recommend. It might be as light as its setting, and you may have to take Suzuki with some salt, but when it works it works well. And it does so impressively often.
Starting this after a month of the loop has already passed by is smart because it lets the story jam in a few rules and just get on with it, rather than going through the laborious process of discovery.
Without knowing why this is happening, Suzuki makes the assumption that, like most stories of this nature, they have lingering regrets that have yet to be fulfilled. Except Takagi says she doesn’t and Suzuki only wants to get a girlfriend and get laid.
This doesn’t always nail awkward just right, Suzuki can be a little creepy with his cringe, but he’s also well aware of it and that does mean he’s trying his hardest to not seem like he comes from an all-guys school. Which he does. But, acknowledging you’re a problem and trying to be less of one is good character growth!
The mating dance between them is fun because there’s a clear attraction, yet they can’t quite make it work. Suzuki can be off-putting and is a little impulsive. Takagi, to use a term I’m not especially fond of, but is appropriate in this situation, gives off incredibly mixed signals at times.
But they just keep on going, drawn back to one another and, for all she’s shooting down the idea of sex, Takagi and Suzuki get pretty chummy over this volume. They move forward in fits and starts.
Like teenagers, basically. Suzuki is at least decent underneath it all, he’s just really damn awkward. When he manages to turn on the charm, however, he is clearly leaving an impression. Takagi shows more and more frequently in little ways that she’s trying to be a bit more than friends with him.
It’s a very cute story and by keeping that focus on the leads it manages to develop them fast enough to get past the rougher parts. They’re an attractive pair and watching them come together is breezy fun.
The art is really nice, again, attractive leads, and the dialogue is a cut above the usual. There are some good moments of banter and decent laughs. Plus, it’s clever in general. Suzuki’s way of broadcasting that he’s in a time loop to anybody else is super smart and pays off later on.
There’s a diner scene which basically encapsulates everything this story does well in a microcosm. Suzuki does something dumb, Tamaki is clearly trying to impress him yet not admitting it, they learn a funny lesson about cause and effect, and Suzuki also manages to be a decent guy who’s surprisingly thoughtful.
If you like rom-coms, this is a fun example that takes its premise and, if/once you adjust to Suzuki, turns out to be a surprisingly pleasant time. It would be one thing if Suzuki was just being awkward for laughs over and over, but with a partner willing to help him be the best version of himself it works much better by having a point.
4 stars - definite recommend. It might be as light as its setting, and you may have to take Suzuki with some salt, but when it works it works well. And it does so impressively often.
June 30, 2025
The end of summer is stuck on repeat. The beach is busy. Ice cream is on sale. The parents are away. And a fastidiously dorky guy and a not-quite-insecure girl meet at the park around midday. THE LONG SUMMER OF AUGUST 31 begins.
The young Mr. Suzuki is wonderfully droll. He thinks pragmatically, looks things up online if he isn't sure what it is (or what it means), and when he's asked an honest question, he always provides an honest answer.
The young Ms. Takagi is cute, amenable, and on the verge of precocious. She speaks her mind, acts on whims but isn't averse to thinking things through, and when asked an honest question, she laughs, dithers, and shrugs her shoulders, before ultimately providing an honest answer.
In THE LONG SUMMER OF AUGUST 31, these two teenagers are stuck in a time loop at the farthest edge of summertime. This manga is a low-key romantic comedy whose characters trust one another with the blithe opportunism that comes with the post-adolescent realization that life only matters if you want it to. Ice cream? Movies? Date nights?
Does it matter that Suzuki is worried about losing his virginity? Not really, but Suzuki cannot bear the burden of learning that physical attraction and physical intimacy matter so much to one's youth while he's yet to experience any of it with any grain of sincerity. Does it matter that Takagi harbors an eminent and enduring fear of loneliness? Not as much as it does that Takagi's initial dismissal of her new friend speaks less to gendered arrogance than to a beckoning void of individuality on display every time she cooks, every time she watches a movie, every time she dresses up nice.
Readers keen on the humor of two awkward teenagers learning to get along, and learning to fall in love, one time-loop day at a time, will enjoy this comic. Other readers, keen on the flickering synapses of young love and the gaps they fill, will likewise enjoy this manga. THE LONG SUMMER OF AUGUST 31 successfully wields deadpan humor, abrupt comedic timing, physical comedy, and strong character presence to knit these two together.
The book's art style also carries a delightfully modest aesthetic. For example, the character design for Takagi (Kana) is strikingly similar to many protagonists from the works of the late Satoshi Kon: round eyes, short-bob hair style, and a kind, smooth, and feminine jawline. Meanwhile, Suzuki (Takaya) is hilariously upright (stiff), his glasses lend him an air of accidental sophistication, and his occasional impulsiveness makes him even more gauche than he already was (e.g., holding his breath when visiting someone else's house).
Time-loop stories rarely deliver a mote of originality or cleverness beyond their premise, but on occasion, a brand of humor or a memorable character can force a new title into the fray. THE LONG SUMMER OF AUGUST 31 isn't a spectacular find, but it's reliably funny and genuinely well-written. In the long run, the author might possibly angle to query what happens when all conversation, between Kana and Takaya, has run its course. If their relationship becomes real, in this realm of time-space where nothing else is real, what happens then?
The young Mr. Suzuki is wonderfully droll. He thinks pragmatically, looks things up online if he isn't sure what it is (or what it means), and when he's asked an honest question, he always provides an honest answer.
The young Ms. Takagi is cute, amenable, and on the verge of precocious. She speaks her mind, acts on whims but isn't averse to thinking things through, and when asked an honest question, she laughs, dithers, and shrugs her shoulders, before ultimately providing an honest answer.
In THE LONG SUMMER OF AUGUST 31, these two teenagers are stuck in a time loop at the farthest edge of summertime. This manga is a low-key romantic comedy whose characters trust one another with the blithe opportunism that comes with the post-adolescent realization that life only matters if you want it to. Ice cream? Movies? Date nights?
Does it matter that Suzuki is worried about losing his virginity? Not really, but Suzuki cannot bear the burden of learning that physical attraction and physical intimacy matter so much to one's youth while he's yet to experience any of it with any grain of sincerity. Does it matter that Takagi harbors an eminent and enduring fear of loneliness? Not as much as it does that Takagi's initial dismissal of her new friend speaks less to gendered arrogance than to a beckoning void of individuality on display every time she cooks, every time she watches a movie, every time she dresses up nice.
Readers keen on the humor of two awkward teenagers learning to get along, and learning to fall in love, one time-loop day at a time, will enjoy this comic. Other readers, keen on the flickering synapses of young love and the gaps they fill, will likewise enjoy this manga. THE LONG SUMMER OF AUGUST 31 successfully wields deadpan humor, abrupt comedic timing, physical comedy, and strong character presence to knit these two together.
The book's art style also carries a delightfully modest aesthetic. For example, the character design for Takagi (Kana) is strikingly similar to many protagonists from the works of the late Satoshi Kon: round eyes, short-bob hair style, and a kind, smooth, and feminine jawline. Meanwhile, Suzuki (Takaya) is hilariously upright (stiff), his glasses lend him an air of accidental sophistication, and his occasional impulsiveness makes him even more gauche than he already was (e.g., holding his breath when visiting someone else's house).
Time-loop stories rarely deliver a mote of originality or cleverness beyond their premise, but on occasion, a brand of humor or a memorable character can force a new title into the fray. THE LONG SUMMER OF AUGUST 31 isn't a spectacular find, but it's reliably funny and genuinely well-written. In the long run, the author might possibly angle to query what happens when all conversation, between Kana and Takaya, has run its course. If their relationship becomes real, in this realm of time-space where nothing else is real, what happens then?
May 29, 2025
Given the somewhat smarmy-sounding synopsis, I was pleasantly surprised to find this was actually quite a charming little love story so far. Suzuki can be a little cringey and awkward in his overtures, but he's far from the opportunistic horndog the synopsis makes him out to be. Likewise, Takagi is extremely likeable, and watching her slowly fall for Suzuki had me grinning ear to ear. Looking forward to the next volume.
August 15, 2025
I rate this 3.5 stars.
While I did enjoy this volume, I do wonder how long this series can go on for. I know it's one of those slice of life style series that are supposed to be very relaxing and to read before bed and stuff like that, but I still wonder how long it could go on for before it gets boring (I've read series in that genre that had overstayed their welcome after around 7 or 8 volumes depending on the series). There are already8 volumes in Japanese so far. However, since I did enjoy this, I will for sure keep buying and reading this series. Also, I want to see how it will end.
Blog: nazreads.ca
Twitter: Naz_readsanime
Instagram: nazreads01, nazcosplay, nradesigns, charmedanimegirl01
While I did enjoy this volume, I do wonder how long this series can go on for. I know it's one of those slice of life style series that are supposed to be very relaxing and to read before bed and stuff like that, but I still wonder how long it could go on for before it gets boring (I've read series in that genre that had overstayed their welcome after around 7 or 8 volumes depending on the series). There are already8 volumes in Japanese so far. However, since I did enjoy this, I will for sure keep buying and reading this series. Also, I want to see how it will end.
Blog: nazreads.ca
Twitter: Naz_readsanime
Instagram: nazreads01, nazcosplay, nradesigns, charmedanimegirl01
November 4, 2025
I kind of loved & hated this manga at the same time, it was really weird.
The male main character is extremely awkward and creepy at times, but I caught myself laughing out loud because his creepiness and “no game with women vibe” was borderline hilarious.
I’m a bit picky on manga art so if the manga art was more lined up with my preferences, I think this would be a 5/5. They made the dude look a bit too creepy IMO, which kind of turns me off from reading the next volumes.
Overall, I do love the storyline and where the book is headed, but the book is a bit too cringey for me to continue reading this series.
The male main character is extremely awkward and creepy at times, but I caught myself laughing out loud because his creepiness and “no game with women vibe” was borderline hilarious.
I’m a bit picky on manga art so if the manga art was more lined up with my preferences, I think this would be a 5/5. They made the dude look a bit too creepy IMO, which kind of turns me off from reading the next volumes.
Overall, I do love the storyline and where the book is headed, but the book is a bit too cringey for me to continue reading this series.
April 2, 2025
A little bit predictable altough enjoyable
May 8, 2025
I won’t lie, I’m only reading this because August 31st is my birthday and because of that I have gone in completely and tbh at first I was a bit weirded out with the main male lead but as it kept going I saw him become less socially awkward and I can say it has potential. I do wish they stopped at the chapter where she didn’t show up in the morning or at least given us the beginning of this situation at the very beginning instead of giving us flashbacks sprinkled throughout the volume but so far it’s cool. The art feels really digital in the sense that the art is not hand drawn and sometimes it feels like I’m looking at a still of an anime but it black and white. Looking forward to reading this more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews