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A Little Step Vol. 1
Inspired by the author's own high school years, A Little Step follows two teenagers from different backgrounds inspire each other to take their first steps in committing to a creative life.
Yu-kiu Lau is a quiet fifth-year student who dreams of studying overseas and becoming an artist. As she prepares for college applications, though, she can't bring herself to produce new work, paralyzed by perfectionism and the fear of judgment. Everything changes the day she hears music drifting through the school halls and meets the boy behind it, Ho-yuet Lee. Ho-yuet's bad reputation clashes with his gentle presence, and Yu-kiu's fascination with his music leads to an unexpected friendship that begins to build their confidence in their own artistic aspirations.
Inspired by Mimi Szeto’s own life, A Little Step is a tender, slow-burn coming-of-age story about connection, courage, and chasing your dreams. With soft, expressive artwork and emotionally grounded storytelling, this book is perfect for fans of Blue Period, Whisper Me a Love Song, and A Silent Voice.
Yu-kiu Lau is a quiet fifth-year student who dreams of studying overseas and becoming an artist. As she prepares for college applications, though, she can't bring herself to produce new work, paralyzed by perfectionism and the fear of judgment. Everything changes the day she hears music drifting through the school halls and meets the boy behind it, Ho-yuet Lee. Ho-yuet's bad reputation clashes with his gentle presence, and Yu-kiu's fascination with his music leads to an unexpected friendship that begins to build their confidence in their own artistic aspirations.
Inspired by Mimi Szeto’s own life, A Little Step is a tender, slow-burn coming-of-age story about connection, courage, and chasing your dreams. With soft, expressive artwork and emotionally grounded storytelling, this book is perfect for fans of Blue Period, Whisper Me a Love Song, and A Silent Voice.
176 pages, Paperback
Published November 4, 2025
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 11, 2025
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 2 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
it wasn't too bad, but i felt like the whole manga was underdeveloped. it was too fast paced, no clear plot, and no character development. the art style is nice, but the color palette was very dull and the same throughout the whole thing. overall, this story was just not for me.
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Mad Cave Studios | Nakama Press, and Mimi Szeto for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
it wasn't too bad, but i felt like the whole manga was underdeveloped. it was too fast paced, no clear plot, and no character development. the art style is nice, but the color palette was very dull and the same throughout the whole thing. overall, this story was just not for me.
˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Mad Cave Studios | Nakama Press, and Mimi Szeto for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
August 13, 2025
a little step is a coming of age graphic novel centered on two high-school students struggling to put their creative pursuits in motion because of outside influence.
in its own way, the story instills in us the courage to pursue our dreams and not to let what other people think hinder us from doing what we love to do. it's a friendly reminder that we should always find inspiration, hold on to them to help us keep going and ofc it wouldn't hurt if you had a support system to give bouts of motivation along the way.
i appreciate that this was in full-colored panels, and i love how the art style and characters were drawn so relaxed! personally, i thought it enhanced the story's quality and gave off a more relatable atmosphere.
thank you netgalley for sending over a copy of this eARC!
in its own way, the story instills in us the courage to pursue our dreams and not to let what other people think hinder us from doing what we love to do. it's a friendly reminder that we should always find inspiration, hold on to them to help us keep going and ofc it wouldn't hurt if you had a support system to give bouts of motivation along the way.
i appreciate that this was in full-colored panels, and i love how the art style and characters were drawn so relaxed! personally, i thought it enhanced the story's quality and gave off a more relatable atmosphere.
thank you netgalley for sending over a copy of this eARC!
August 14, 2025
Set in Hong Kong Yu Kiu is pressured to enter a competition so that she can study at the British University of Fine Arts. She is an excellent drawing artist. She encounters Hou Yuet in the school staircase who is known to be a loner. His peers find him rather standoffish and his mother has huge expectations of him. Yu Kiu is fascinated by his talent as a rock guitarist which goes against the stereotype.
This is the making of a continuing coming of age series. I didn’t get much out of the story and it seemed a bit repetitive and lacking any strong plot. The illustrations are manga style which I am not a huge fan of but what I truly appreciate is that this graphic novel is in color rather than simply in black and white.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
This is the making of a continuing coming of age series. I didn’t get much out of the story and it seemed a bit repetitive and lacking any strong plot. The illustrations are manga style which I am not a huge fan of but what I truly appreciate is that this graphic novel is in color rather than simply in black and white.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
August 12, 2025
Book name : A Little Step (Vol. 1)
Author : Mimi Szeto
Rating: 3.25/5 stars
Review :
A Little Step is a tender and inspiring start to a series about art, music, and the courage to take that first step forward when you feel hopeless or you are losing motivation.
Lau Yu Kiu ( Female lead) suffered from a relatable struggle, which is the fear of taking the first step toward creating something, especially when weighed down by other people’s opinions. It was interesting to see how artists feel during the process of making art. Through her perspective, we’re pulled into the inner monologue of an artist grappling with pressure, self-doubt, and the longing for freedom in her art.
Her path unexpectedly crosses with Lee Hou Yuet (male lead) , a talented but misunderstood musician whose quiet demeanour hides a depth she doesn’t expect.
It was sweet reading about how male and female leads inspire each other when either one of them goes through self-doubt.
What stands out :
Relatable Struggles- Yu Kiu’s inner monologue captures the agony of artistic insecurity when she thinks that "Shouldn’t creation be free? Why do others’ opinions matter?" . This made her character highly relatable to me.
Quiet Chemistry- The leads’ dynamic is subtle but sweet, with Hou Yuet’s quiet encouragement catalysing Yu Kiu’s growth (and vice versa). Their bond asks: Can inspiration come from someone else’s "little step"?
Art & Atmosphere- The soft blue palette and delicate art style reminded me of "Your Name" Anime
Final Thoughts:
I think I have some problems with the pacing of this, but I am invested enough to pick up Volume 2 to see how Yu Kiu and Hou Yuet’s relationship evolves.
Recommended for fans of: Slice-of-life manga about art/music and character-driven growth.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mad Cave Studios | Nakama Press, and Mimi Szeto for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review!
Author : Mimi Szeto
Rating: 3.25/5 stars
"She always says that music helps her, but she actually drew the picture all by herself. I only helped her a little..
Review :
A Little Step is a tender and inspiring start to a series about art, music, and the courage to take that first step forward when you feel hopeless or you are losing motivation.
Lau Yu Kiu ( Female lead) suffered from a relatable struggle, which is the fear of taking the first step toward creating something, especially when weighed down by other people’s opinions. It was interesting to see how artists feel during the process of making art. Through her perspective, we’re pulled into the inner monologue of an artist grappling with pressure, self-doubt, and the longing for freedom in her art.
Her path unexpectedly crosses with Lee Hou Yuet (male lead) , a talented but misunderstood musician whose quiet demeanour hides a depth she doesn’t expect.
It was sweet reading about how male and female leads inspire each other when either one of them goes through self-doubt.
What stands out :
Relatable Struggles- Yu Kiu’s inner monologue captures the agony of artistic insecurity when she thinks that "Shouldn’t creation be free? Why do others’ opinions matter?" . This made her character highly relatable to me.
Quiet Chemistry- The leads’ dynamic is subtle but sweet, with Hou Yuet’s quiet encouragement catalysing Yu Kiu’s growth (and vice versa). Their bond asks: Can inspiration come from someone else’s "little step"?
Art & Atmosphere- The soft blue palette and delicate art style reminded me of "Your Name" Anime
Final Thoughts:
I think I have some problems with the pacing of this, but I am invested enough to pick up Volume 2 to see how Yu Kiu and Hou Yuet’s relationship evolves.
Recommended for fans of: Slice-of-life manga about art/music and character-driven growth.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mad Cave Studios | Nakama Press, and Mimi Szeto for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review!
October 1, 2025
A Little Step is a slow, soft little book about shy school children sort of finding their way in the world of their own art as well as their places competing for a scholarship and getting to know each other in the meanwhile.
This volume ends on a very stark cliffhanger, and while the art is lovely in shades of melancholy cool blues and greys and greens, there's not a ton of character development. We learn a lot more about the secondary character Ho-yuet Lee and his uncomfortable family situation than we do our main character, Yu-kiu Lau, but maybe these things will be expanded upon in further volumes.
The translation however is stilted, and unfortunately as someone who's been reading Asian translated comics for... like... 20+ years now (yeesh) it's something that sticks out far too easily to me. Also, the translator is only credited as a company (BookBuddy Media) with no credit to a human name so in this age of very questionable use for genAI (never should be used to translate art, human translators are incomparable) one can't help but wonder if that's what was used.... Mad Cave Studios/Nakama Press outsourced their translations here, so it's a little less on them than it is BookBuddy Media for lack of transparency. Hopefully for future volumes this can be either given to another company, or a different translator (assuming in best case it IS a human translation) to make the dialogue and internal monologues much more natural, because this has the foundation to be a lovely story as time goes on.
Thank you to Mad Cave Studios/Nakama Press for the eARC in exchange for review.
This volume ends on a very stark cliffhanger, and while the art is lovely in shades of melancholy cool blues and greys and greens, there's not a ton of character development. We learn a lot more about the secondary character Ho-yuet Lee and his uncomfortable family situation than we do our main character, Yu-kiu Lau, but maybe these things will be expanded upon in further volumes.
The translation however is stilted, and unfortunately as someone who's been reading Asian translated comics for... like... 20+ years now (yeesh) it's something that sticks out far too easily to me. Also, the translator is only credited as a company (BookBuddy Media) with no credit to a human name so in this age of very questionable use for genAI (never should be used to translate art, human translators are incomparable) one can't help but wonder if that's what was used.... Mad Cave Studios/Nakama Press outsourced their translations here, so it's a little less on them than it is BookBuddy Media for lack of transparency. Hopefully for future volumes this can be either given to another company, or a different translator (assuming in best case it IS a human translation) to make the dialogue and internal monologues much more natural, because this has the foundation to be a lovely story as time goes on.
Thank you to Mad Cave Studios/Nakama Press for the eARC in exchange for review.
September 6, 2025
This was a sweet, quick read telling the blooming story of two high schoolers struggling to find their path between pursuing their passion for art and conforming to the eyes and expectations of those around them.
It honestly took me a moment to get into the story but after it slowly started picking up, I read through it pretty quickly and actually quite enjoyed it! I love themes of rekindling and bonding over your passions, and it was sweet seeing the characters get closer over a shared goal and develop feelings for each other.
The author did a great job expressing the rush felt when drawing/making music through their art and especially the very limited colour palette of blues and whites. While the character art style is a hit or miss for me personally, some panels are really beautiful and serve the themes well.
Overall, the story feels a little underdeveloped in the sense that you are only given just enough information to follow the plot but you don’t learn anything further about the characters and their lives - it almost feels like a one shot except it is not, but I hope this leaves room for more in the next volume(s). The cliffhanger really leaves you hanging though.
Thank you to Nakama Press and Netgalley for providing me a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
It honestly took me a moment to get into the story but after it slowly started picking up, I read through it pretty quickly and actually quite enjoyed it! I love themes of rekindling and bonding over your passions, and it was sweet seeing the characters get closer over a shared goal and develop feelings for each other.
The author did a great job expressing the rush felt when drawing/making music through their art and especially the very limited colour palette of blues and whites. While the character art style is a hit or miss for me personally, some panels are really beautiful and serve the themes well.
Overall, the story feels a little underdeveloped in the sense that you are only given just enough information to follow the plot but you don’t learn anything further about the characters and their lives - it almost feels like a one shot except it is not, but I hope this leaves room for more in the next volume(s). The cliffhanger really leaves you hanging though.
Thank you to Nakama Press and Netgalley for providing me a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 24, 2025
A Little Step Vol. 1 tells a sweet, slow-burn story about two creative teens in 2000s Hong Kong. You've got Yu-kiu, an artist stuck in her own head because she's a total perfectionist, and Ho-yuet, a musician who's got a bad reputation but is really just a gentle soul. They meet because Yu-kiu is drawn to his guitar music, and they end up forming a real bond over their shared artistic struggles. It's a cool idea for a story, watching two people inspire each other to finally take that "first step" toward their dreams. Both characters are easy to like and feel pretty real, which makes their little victories and struggles hit home.
But, you know, it's got a few problems. The art is the big one. It's a real hit or miss. One minute it looks great, and the next, something just feels off with the characters' proportions. It's distracting and pulls you out of the story, which is a bummer when you're getting into an emotional scene. Plus, the whole thing feels a lot like every other rom-com manga out there. The plot beats are just too similar, and even though the characters are good, the story itself doesn't do much to stand out from the crowd. It's a promising start with some great ideas, but it sticks a little too close to the usual formula.
But, you know, it's got a few problems. The art is the big one. It's a real hit or miss. One minute it looks great, and the next, something just feels off with the characters' proportions. It's distracting and pulls you out of the story, which is a bummer when you're getting into an emotional scene. Plus, the whole thing feels a lot like every other rom-com manga out there. The plot beats are just too similar, and even though the characters are good, the story itself doesn't do much to stand out from the crowd. It's a promising start with some great ideas, but it sticks a little too close to the usual formula.
August 10, 2025
Bin ohne Erwartungen an den Titel rangegangen und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Zwar ist der Artstyle vielleicht nicht für jeden etwas, da er teils etwas sketchy wirkt und unsauber, aber nach einer Weile hab ich das alles gar nicht mehr so wahrgenommen, denn die Story und Emotionen kamen wunderbar rüber, tolle Szenen wurden gut eingefangen und bildlich schön ausgedrückt. Finde es gerade schwer die richtigen Worte dafür zu finden, haha 😄
An sich ist es ein seichter Slice of Life Titel, der eine emotionale Ebene ansteuert und zum Nachdenken anregt - denn ein jeder hat Träume, die er gerne verwirklichen würde, aber oft nicht den nötigen Mut dafür aufbringen kann. So geht es auch unseren beiden Protagonisten und sie geben sich gegenseitig genug Ansporn dann doch einen Schritt vorwärts zu machen. Die Message kommt sehr schön rüber und so kann man sich auch gut in beide hineinversetzen 😊
Zwar ist das Ende etwas fies, denn man möchte doch wissen, wie's nun weitergeht 😂 aber es sei euch verziehen - Hauptsache es kommt Band zwei 😉
An sich ist es ein seichter Slice of Life Titel, der eine emotionale Ebene ansteuert und zum Nachdenken anregt - denn ein jeder hat Träume, die er gerne verwirklichen würde, aber oft nicht den nötigen Mut dafür aufbringen kann. So geht es auch unseren beiden Protagonisten und sie geben sich gegenseitig genug Ansporn dann doch einen Schritt vorwärts zu machen. Die Message kommt sehr schön rüber und so kann man sich auch gut in beide hineinversetzen 😊
Zwar ist das Ende etwas fies, denn man möchte doch wissen, wie's nun weitergeht 😂 aber es sei euch verziehen - Hauptsache es kommt Band zwei 😉
August 30, 2025
A Little Step is based on Szeto's own high school years and it's very slow-paced. The main character is Yu-kiu Lau, who dreams of studying abroad and being an artist. She's stuck with her art though until she hears Ho-yuet Lee doing music, playing the guitar to be precise. Eventually these two get to know each other and spark each other's imagination. I enjoyed that this is slow-paced - it's rare these days. Perhaps the problem is that it's set in just school, which dulls the story. Schools aren't that interesting as they only reflect one side of life and tend to be stuck in time or so. We don't get to understand the characters enough, their personas are a bit bland. This is only the first part, so there's possibility Szeto corrects these faults, I do hope so.
The art is OK, nothing spectacular, but it works. It's good this is in color. For me the story felt somewhat overused though, which is a bummer. It doesn't offer anything new, but does what it does well enough at the same time. So, A Little Step needs more depth, but it's not that bad now either.
The art is OK, nothing spectacular, but it works. It's good this is in color. For me the story felt somewhat overused though, which is a bummer. It doesn't offer anything new, but does what it does well enough at the same time. So, A Little Step needs more depth, but it's not that bad now either.
July 24, 2025
"A Little Step" follows 2 creative teens who team up in order to try and win a competition that's offing a large scholarship. They inspire each other to be the best that they can be at their craft.
I enjoyed the art style immensely. The color palette is blues, beiges and white and is quite pretty, and the character art style is really attractive! I was really engaged in the story and definitely would pick up volume 2.
The only thing I think needs a bit more work is the translation. I felt the dialogue between characters was stilted and sounded dumbed down.
This series is perfect for teens, artists, and anyone who's ever felt blocked from their creative side. 4/5 stars
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the art style immensely. The color palette is blues, beiges and white and is quite pretty, and the character art style is really attractive! I was really engaged in the story and definitely would pick up volume 2.
The only thing I think needs a bit more work is the translation. I felt the dialogue between characters was stilted and sounded dumbed down.
This series is perfect for teens, artists, and anyone who's ever felt blocked from their creative side. 4/5 stars
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced e-copy.
This was sweet. Plain and simple. Sweet. Very little action. Very little plot.
It is artist girl meets musical boy and they pair up for a school competition. Both have trouble presenting their talents in front of crowds, but in order to achieve their dreams (studying abroad for her, making a name for himself for him) they need to win the school's competition. Their combined efforts prove successful in one way, but further volumes will need to cover if they succeed in their dreams. And succeed in breaking through each other's walls and into the other's hearts.
This was sweet. Plain and simple. Sweet. Very little action. Very little plot.
It is artist girl meets musical boy and they pair up for a school competition. Both have trouble presenting their talents in front of crowds, but in order to achieve their dreams (studying abroad for her, making a name for himself for him) they need to win the school's competition. Their combined efforts prove successful in one way, but further volumes will need to cover if they succeed in their dreams. And succeed in breaking through each other's walls and into the other's hearts.
September 11, 2025
*Thanks to NetGalley and mad cave studios for early copy for review*
This had a good start, but I am unsure if it captivated me enough to continue on. This was in full color, which is a plus, a d a cool tone to it. The art style was very cute almost chibi like for most of it except when Yu-kiu would hear Ho-yuet play his music. Then the art became more vibrant in a style I preferred. The overall comin-of-age and embracing unique talents storyline is something I like, but the overall impact of this volume felt incomplete as a volume one. I need more from a story for me to pick up a second volume usually.
This had a good start, but I am unsure if it captivated me enough to continue on. This was in full color, which is a plus, a d a cool tone to it. The art style was very cute almost chibi like for most of it except when Yu-kiu would hear Ho-yuet play his music. Then the art became more vibrant in a style I preferred. The overall comin-of-age and embracing unique talents storyline is something I like, but the overall impact of this volume felt incomplete as a volume one. I need more from a story for me to pick up a second volume usually.
October 12, 2025
This is a cosy and gentle manga story about two high schoolers who hide aspects of their lives and talents, but together they team up to explore and express their creativity.
Yu-kiu Lau is a quiet fifth-year student who wants to become an artist but she struggles to produce new work. Ho-yuet Lee is not popular at school but he is a talented musician. Together the two young students find a way to work together and unleash their talents. It is a gentle story about overcoming challenges to pursue your dreams.
The artwork is good and the story is gently enjoyable.
Copy provided via Netgalley
Yu-kiu Lau is a quiet fifth-year student who wants to become an artist but she struggles to produce new work. Ho-yuet Lee is not popular at school but he is a talented musician. Together the two young students find a way to work together and unleash their talents. It is a gentle story about overcoming challenges to pursue your dreams.
The artwork is good and the story is gently enjoyable.
Copy provided via Netgalley
August 11, 2025
This was such a nice surprise!
Usually I am cautious about school-aged manga but this was so sweet and emotional without being romantic aspect.
I love the aspect that the chemistry between the two was not instant or based on any pre conceived notion but felt more natural and hence endearing and believable. The back story was also very in-depth and I cannot wait for the next volume.
Thankyou #netgalley and #MadCaveStudios for providing a review copy. Out of all the mangas I received this one was my favorite.
Usually I am cautious about school-aged manga but this was so sweet and emotional without being romantic aspect.
I love the aspect that the chemistry between the two was not instant or based on any pre conceived notion but felt more natural and hence endearing and believable. The back story was also very in-depth and I cannot wait for the next volume.
Thankyou #netgalley and #MadCaveStudios for providing a review copy. Out of all the mangas I received this one was my favorite.
August 5, 2025
The first volume of Mimi Szeto's A Little Step is full of color, with each page bathed in a soft blue palette that immediately catches the eye and sets a special mood. The simple story follows a pair of young characters whom we want to support in their artistic dreams.
This first volume hints at potential for further development, particularly in terms of the protagonists' personalities.
A lovely start that makes you want to continue the journey with volume 2.
This first volume hints at potential for further development, particularly in terms of the protagonists' personalities.
A lovely start that makes you want to continue the journey with volume 2.
September 1, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Mad Cave Studios, and Nakama Press for this arc
3.5/5 stars rounded up
This was a sweet story, but it was a little slow paced and tropey for me. The art was lovely, I wasn't expecting full colour through the whole book so that was nice! That cliffhanger ending is diabolical though lol and I will definitely be reading the next, even if just to find out the rest of that sentence!!
3.5/5 stars rounded up
This was a sweet story, but it was a little slow paced and tropey for me. The art was lovely, I wasn't expecting full colour through the whole book so that was nice! That cliffhanger ending is diabolical though lol and I will definitely be reading the next, even if just to find out the rest of that sentence!!
September 3, 2025
This is such a sweet story about two kids, each talented in their own way—one with a passion for art and the other gifted in music. They meet when she hears him playing at the top of the stairs, and from there, their friendship begins to grow. When an opportunity comes up for them to work together on a competition, their bond deepens as they learn from and support each other. The story is both emotional and heartwarming, paired with beautiful artwork that captures the feeling perfectly.
October 11, 2025
Lo que me pasa con los mangas que no me atrapa la ilustración es que tardo mucho mas en leerlos que uno donde la ilustración me llame la atención o sean de mi agrado.
La historia es interesante, presenta ciertos temas muy copados para debatir y charlar y tambien muestran otro lado de la sociedad japonesa que a veces no logramos ver.
Entretenido, interesante.
Muchas gracias Mad Cave Studios por el arc que leí en Netgalley a cambio de una reseña honesta.
La historia es interesante, presenta ciertos temas muy copados para debatir y charlar y tambien muestran otro lado de la sociedad japonesa que a veces no logramos ver.
Entretenido, interesante.
Muchas gracias Mad Cave Studios por el arc que leí en Netgalley a cambio de una reseña honesta.
November 17, 2025
Lau Yu Kiu, wants to study art abroad, but when it comes to turning in her portfolio, she keeps procrastinating. The idea of putting her work out there for others to critique is debilitating for her. But then she hears someone playing music, quietly on their own-and she is so inspired by their courage that it inspires her in turn. Can these two artists inspire each other to reach for their dreams?
August 7, 2025
The art is lovely and the characters have promise, in a sweet, low stakes high school manga sort of way.
I do think the translation needs a bit of work, as the text and dialogue were overly stilted and lacked a good flow that would have made the story feel smoother and the characters more lifelike.
I do think the translation needs a bit of work, as the text and dialogue were overly stilted and lacked a good flow that would have made the story feel smoother and the characters more lifelike.
August 19, 2025
A cute and cozy read about a high school artist and musician. The artwork is pretty, but there's not enough hook to pull me into reading volume 2 when it is released (despite volume 1 ending on a cliffhanger; just ~10 pages could have wrapped this up to be a oneshot manga).
Thank you for the eARC!
Thank you for the eARC!
August 4, 2025
Not too bad of a read, although I did feel the lack of character development in this as it was way too fast paced. I also felt the art was dull enough….
**I managed to read this manga in courtesy of Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios**
**I managed to read this manga in courtesy of Netgalley and Mad Cave Studios**
September 21, 2025
I enjoyed reading it. An artist and a guitarist inspire each other to create their own form of art. The scholarship competition, the transfer, the friendship and the family drama, I am eager to know what happens next.
November 27, 2025
I always expect a cliffhanger when it's a volume 1, but that was still rude.
November 11, 2025
I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
WOW, I am just blown-away by this gorgeous manhua. I thought I would enjoy it, and though it had a rocky start, I really enjoyed it. I definitely would love to continue reading this series.
In this one we meet two teens Yu-kiu Lau who is a quiet and shy girl who loves to draw and paint and has dreams of going overseas. She just has one problem. When a competition or a deadline appears she cannot draw/paint for life and we see she struggles. She wants to go places, but this is just stopping her. Then there is Ho-yuet Lee, a boy who loves making music and has a bad reputation (though he is really a sweetheart) and a not so fine home situation (a mom who has again divorced and other family stuff). At first I wasn’t sure what to think of either characters but as the story continued and we saw them help the other, she by motivating him to make music and follow his path, and he helping her with her art block/worries as his music helps her. I loved seeing them get closer with each page, see them get better themselves thanks to the help of the other, see them lift each other up and figure out how to make the path they want to walk on a reality. I loved seeing Yu-kiu gain more confident and see her think of fun things and be able to draw/paint. I love seeing Ho-yuet speak up against his mom and get her to understand his dreams.
While the whole school booth/anniversary thing was something I am not familiar with (I have read about it in other manga/manwha/manhua though) I still liked the thought, though haha, I would rather be an onlooker/visitor rather than one actually doing something. But I loved seeing our duo figure things out, make plans, get information and ideas and help about technical stuff, and then rock it. I would have loved to buy some stuff from their booth.
I did think it was weird that the guy was all meh about our duo doing a performance on stage to get more people, but I guess that guy is the stepfather and he is just like that against his stepson. I mean, everyone else had to promote like mad, so why is this different. We had people using cheerleaders, mascots, do a show, and more.
The art was really nice. It gave me Makoto Shinkai vibes with the colours and style and I love that. I also very much enjoyed the fact that the whole volume was in colour. I hadn’t expected that, so this was a delight.
Though that ending? It should be illegal. I want to know. You mean I have to wait? Nooo, at least tell me the results of the booth competition.
All in all, I am very happy about this first volume, it was a bit rocky at the start but I can say I am invested now and I would love more. I would recommend this one to everyone looking for a sweet, motivational, soft manhua.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
WOW, I am just blown-away by this gorgeous manhua. I thought I would enjoy it, and though it had a rocky start, I really enjoyed it. I definitely would love to continue reading this series.
In this one we meet two teens Yu-kiu Lau who is a quiet and shy girl who loves to draw and paint and has dreams of going overseas. She just has one problem. When a competition or a deadline appears she cannot draw/paint for life and we see she struggles. She wants to go places, but this is just stopping her. Then there is Ho-yuet Lee, a boy who loves making music and has a bad reputation (though he is really a sweetheart) and a not so fine home situation (a mom who has again divorced and other family stuff). At first I wasn’t sure what to think of either characters but as the story continued and we saw them help the other, she by motivating him to make music and follow his path, and he helping her with her art block/worries as his music helps her. I loved seeing them get closer with each page, see them get better themselves thanks to the help of the other, see them lift each other up and figure out how to make the path they want to walk on a reality. I loved seeing Yu-kiu gain more confident and see her think of fun things and be able to draw/paint. I love seeing Ho-yuet speak up against his mom and get her to understand his dreams.
While the whole school booth/anniversary thing was something I am not familiar with (I have read about it in other manga/manwha/manhua though) I still liked the thought, though haha, I would rather be an onlooker/visitor rather than one actually doing something. But I loved seeing our duo figure things out, make plans, get information and ideas and help about technical stuff, and then rock it. I would have loved to buy some stuff from their booth.
I did think it was weird that the guy was all meh about our duo doing a performance on stage to get more people, but I guess that guy is the stepfather and he is just like that against his stepson. I mean, everyone else had to promote like mad, so why is this different. We had people using cheerleaders, mascots, do a show, and more.
The art was really nice. It gave me Makoto Shinkai vibes with the colours and style and I love that. I also very much enjoyed the fact that the whole volume was in colour. I hadn’t expected that, so this was a delight.
Though that ending? It should be illegal. I want to know. You mean I have to wait? Nooo, at least tell me the results of the booth competition.
All in all, I am very happy about this first volume, it was a bit rocky at the start but I can say I am invested now and I would love more. I would recommend this one to everyone looking for a sweet, motivational, soft manhua.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
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