Love Out on a Limb 1

by Yoko Nogiri

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Young Adult

176 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2026

About the author

野切耀子 (Nogiri Youko)

Reviews

[Bibliothecat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Kodansha Comics for providing me with the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After Yui's parents got a divorce, she went to live with her mother whereas her brother went to live with their father. Eight years later, their parents have reconnected and now decide to live together again as a family. After not seeing her brother for 8 years, Yui doesn't seem to know how to feel about it but she suspects that her feelings for him are not all sisterly.

Falling for a sibling seems to be a fairly common trope in shoujo and more often than not, there's some kind of twist that steers it away for being incestuous. I find this very much a grey zone as I don't like reading about incest and it really comes down to how the plot is handled and how plausible the situation is. While the exact situation around Yui and her family isn't clear yet, I find this one to be more on the ick side of things.

I find it generally a little strange that Yui had virtually no contact to either her father or son during the 8 years apart. She also develops feelings for him instantly and it's just a bit weird. It's one thing having a bit of a brother complex but she's pretty upfront about it - toward herself - that it's romantic love. Her childhood friend finds out about it and offers her a deal: they can fake date so that her brother won't become suspicious and notice her feelings. The thing is, the childhood friend almost entirely normalises that Yui has romantic feelings for her brother. I don't think there's any twist that can take away the awkwardness of her having fallen for her brother.

The art is cute and it's easy to read. There's potential for this to still turn around into a decent series but the set up is just too awkward for my taste so I shall likely not be continuing this series.

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

This is one of a tender, quietly charming start to what feels like a deeply heartfelt romance. Nogiri brings her signature softness to both storytelling and art, creating a world that feels intimate, warm and emotionally sincere without ever becoming overly dramatic.

The characters are immediately endearing—flawed in realistic ways, yet easy to root for. Their interactions feel natural, with a gentle build-up that makes every small moment, every glance, hesitation and unspoken feeling—carry weight. There’s a comforting smooth flow to the story, allowing readers to truly sit with the emotions rather than rushing through them.

The artwork complements the tone beautifully: expressive, delicate and full of subtle details that enhances the mood of each scene. It’s the kind of shojo manga where silence speaks just as loudly as dialogue.

If there’s any slight drawback, it’s that the plot in this first volume leans more toward setup than progression. Initially, I wasn't in favour of such Brother-sister love books but when I realised while reading that Yui and Hayato were not actually Bro-Sis, I started liking it. Whereas, this theme setup helps establish strong emotional groundwork, some readers might wish for a bit more narrative momentum, but I believe, this also will surely be omitted in next part of the series.

Still, as an opening volume, it’s wonderfully immersive and emotionally engaging. A promising and heartfelt beginning that leaves you eager to see where the story—and the characters—go next.

My NetGalley review

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

I’m no great fan of the fake dating trope, in fact I generally despise it, and incest is definitely a big no for me too. However, I have a lot of appreciation for Yoko Nogiri’s earlier works so I took a shot on this.

To be fair, the fake dating isn’t precisely advertised… but the incest part sure is. And incest is one of the worst manga tropes in general for my money. Even when it contorts itself to be less taboo, it still kind of goes without saying you shouldn’t consider somebody you call brother as a romantic partner.

I will give the story this much - it at least recognizes how forbidden the fruit in question is. Yui, our heroine, genuinely wrestles with these feelings she’s having and knows how it would tear her family apart

This doesn’t excuse much of it, but does make a bitter pill easier to swallow. Yui checks Google to see if she’s not alone, tries to distract herself, and even agrees to date Ritsu, her childhood friend.

Having the decency to feel bad about this does put it above the normal tenor of these stories. I’m never going to be pro-incest (only in a manga review do I feel I should make these declarations), but I think this tackles it as good as I’ll ever seen it.

But the real question is - do I want to read more? And that’s trickier. Nobody here is terribly interesting. Yui is defined almost entirely by her desires. Ritsu gets a bit more to do, with his literal encyclopedic knowledge and devil-may-care attitude.

Hayato is just an object of desire and outside of playing volleyball and treating Yui like, well, a sister? He doesn’t really encourage her, although he seems somewhat annoyed with Ritsu dating her. Which also beggars belief a bit.

That suspension of disbelief does kind of reach anti-gravity by the time all is said and done. Eight years apart for these two and then a medical emergency causes a sudden reconciliation between their parents.

Then, it turns out they aren’t even brother and sister. That’s not complicated - it’s a cop-out to excuse something that shouldn’t be happening. It’s muddying the waters of even trying to explain this forbidden desire - trying to have it every way does not work.

It’s hard because I do quite enjoy Nogiri’s other work, but those had somebody to root for. This doesn’t feel like there’s anybody here who’s either innocent in all this or worth following. Genuinely unsure if I’ll be back.

2.5 stars - I mean, I almost gave it three because I appreciate, amidst all its flaws, that it really tries to examine Yui’s predicament. I’d probably have been more impressed had it not undercut its own drama (or at least made it less dubious).

[James DeSantis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think this one is for me. The incest angle is way too heavy, and love triangles aren't my thing to begin with. To be honest, I just found it kind of boring and weird.

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

Basic plot:
Yui's parents got divorced when she was 8, and now 8 years later, her parents are back together and seeing her brother again is making her heart pitter patter.

Give this a try if you want:
- forbidden love / taboo feelings - Yui is getting feelings for her brother after being away from him for 8 years and now living together again (note no blood relation incest! there's a 'twist' partially revealed at the end but of course the fact that she believes he's her brother and they were raised together will be too much of a red flag for many
- some love triangle feelings - Yui has feelings starting for Hayato but Ritsu is paying attention to her too
- the male main characters play volleyball
- fake relationship
- Like many reviewers have said, this has an incest element that will make many uncomfortable - please check in with yourself and read reviews before diving in!
- childhood friends

I really loved the art in this one. Yoko Nogiri can really do some sweet and emotional facial expressions that I appreciated. The details to the eyes and lip movements really helped me know how everyone was feeling and tugged on my heart!

I really enjoyed this story - I can read anything in fiction, even yes a possible 'I'm in love with my brother' trope. And this story had so many cute scenes and so many panels with artwork I was lingering over. I was really invested in this story and immediately wanted more. Definitely coming back to check in to this one for the next in the series!

- Steam - some hand holding, light touches and an almost kiss ;)

[Skirmantė · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art was super cute and the characters are fun as well. One thing I didn’t like was the “incest” part. Like, why?

Of course, the last line changes a lot, and I’m really interested in seeing what happens next.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Ida · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to say what I thought without spoiling too much... Forbidden love between siblings and fake dating. Definitely not for everyone but this being the first volume already got me hooked - especially the ending! I'd be interested to see how this story progresses. The drawing style as well as fashion of all the characters was amazing.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics, Yoko Nogiri and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review! Love Out on a Limb 1 will be out on 7th of April!

Pre-read (03/03/2026): I've read the blurb and what in the Vampire Knight is this... I'm in?

[Ptolemea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Oh no, this is Mortal Instruments all over again!
I wanna read the next volumes so bad now!

[PrettyBookish13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story, I felt like it was really fast paced though, I would love to have it fleshed out a bit more to start with! But the characters are so lovely and I can’t wait to see what comes next

Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy

[Ada Nguyen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a digital copy in exchange for a review!

I did not like this at all. From the weird pseudo-incest plot line to all of a sudden "oh it will be fine because they're not really siblings" not a fan. I have liked the author's pervious works but reading this disappointed me. I don't think I will be continuing this series.

[Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Love Out on a Limb 1 by Yoko Nogiri is an amazing shojo manga for fans of high school romance like Fruits Basket or True Beauty. The story revolves around Yui, whose parents have recently reunited after a few years of divorce. As a result, she's seeing her brother Hayato for the first time in years. Suddenly, her heart seems to be around him. She might be falling in love wiht her brother! In order to stop her feelings, which could end up ruining everything, she decides to offer her brother's friend Ritsu's offer to be his fake girlfriend. Will the fake relationship end up leading to something more?

Overall, Love Out on a Limb 1 is an amazing shojo manga, and I can't wait to read the next volume! One highlight of this book is the major plot twist near the end of the book, which I wasn't expecting at all. I didn't include it in this review because I didn't want to spoil it for anyone, but if you read other reviews, the twist may be spoiled. Another highlight of this book is the cute and beautiful art, which is a top-tier among shojo manga. Every page looks like a work of art. If you're intrigued by the synopsis above, or if you're a fan of shojo manga in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!

[I' · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Love in Focus by the same author so I thought I'd give this one a try.

The style of drawing is fantastic. Very similar to their other works which if a plus because I find it very appealing. If you have read other works by the author you probably know what I mean.

Plot wise, I knew what I was getting into so I did it with caution as it is not one of my favourite tropes. We have brother and sister who, after their parents divorce, got separated for a few good years and, upon reuniting, there seem to be a romantic spark. But in order for our FMC not to fall more in love, she agrees to start fake dating her childhood friend: he gets some breather from the annoying girls at school and she gets to stop thinking about her brother.

For a first volume it was ok. There was enough background that the characters did not feel flat or too stereotyped but it also did not blew my mind. As originality goes, it does not bring anything new to the table. In this sense I am going to trust previous works and keep reading even though I am not entirely convinced by this volume itself.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha for the digital ARC.

Yoko Nogiri's works are some of my fave. Those Not So Sweet Boys was my first introduction to Yoko. So that bonus chapter was really nice.

Ok, I was hesitant about reading this because of that particular complex. It was awkward and did give the ick. But I do like to give stories a try. The story is compelling, and we've seen these types of stories before. But it's well put together in my opinion. I also love the artwork. Yoko's art style is so clean, pretty, and just pleasing to the eyes. I breathed a sign of release and then breathed in a gasped at that cliffhanger! It's still weird for the FMC to be feeling that way, but after the reveal-ish at the end, I will be continuing the read.

[Px4 Manga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Kodansha and NetGalley for the ARC

⭐️3.5
I enjoyed this.

I recently read another title by this mangaka which is what made me want to give this a try.

The art was pretty and i really liked the childhood friend and the fake dating scenario. Trying to ignore the major ick that i am getting from the mc having feelings for her brother…he may not be blood related but she doesn’t know that so it is uncomfortable to read those parts.

That said i am interested in reading more of this and I will be in the corner rooting for the childhood friend despite the fact that i doubt that will be how this story goes once she finds out she and her brother aren’t actually related by blood…

[Kasey Connors-Beron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Love Out on a Limb by Yoko Nogiri thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am obsessed with this manga. I love the characters so much and how their dynamics with each other interconnect. The pacing is fantastic and the voice is to die for. I cannot wait to see what happens next, especially after that last line! O.O Strongly recommended.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am in my "I have a crush on my brother" era in full light on the internet and I am not backing down. When I saw that this was gonna be translated, I was excited cause this is one of my favorite shoujo manga authors. They always have the right mix of love triangle, sweetness, and drama. The lead female characters feel active in their stories and not that they are strong but they are always sure of their feelings and don't shy away from them. So I was even more excited because of the era I mentioned above. This was a good volume, the twist at the end... I foresaw it coming but interested in when it will be discovered.

[hanni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel conflicted with this one - not necessarily due to the trope choice because frankly, I knew what I was getting myself into, but more so because the story didn’t really give me a lot, neither in a good nor in a bad way.

I actually think the premise of the story is interesting. Obviously, I do not condone incestious relationships, but with Yui and Hayato growing up separately and spending their adolescence apart from each other up until now, I do think Yui having confusing feelings about her now-teenage brother is an interesting plot point to build on. The story also focuses a lot on Yui’s shame about her feelings and her attempts at creating distance between herself and Hayato.
And while it is, of course, good to know that they are not actual siblings and this plot twist came with no surprise to me, it does kind of feel like another easy way out for me. If you decide to write a story about incestuous feelings between siblings, I think it would be interesting to actually commit to it and discuss the issue properly - especially as I feel like, compared to other works, Yui's situation has a lot of potential for her to come to terms with her feelings and properly cut them off and move on, but who knows where this story leads to. Just some thoughts I had reading the ending!

However, what fell really flat for me is the characters. The first volume didn't give any insight into any of the characters’ personalities, so I don’t feel very compelled to continue the series. Yui especially pales a lot with her having no additional supporting characters on her side and the romance plotline being the only focus as of right now, while Ritsu is still the most intriguing to me so far.

The fake dating plotline is a classic, but a favourite for a reason and I actually found the scenes with Yui and Ritsu sweet and fun to read, although I wish we would have gotten a few more pages leading up to the deal. Their relationship definitely has potential, and I liked the flashbacks to their childhood, but with this inevitably leading up to a love triangle, I don’t know if I am too excited about it.

The art style is very pretty and suits the story a lot, though!

I do admit that I am a little curious where the story will lead to and I would love for the series to surprise me, but I honestly don’t see myself picking up the next volume anytime soon. I am interested in the author’s other series Those Not So Sweet Boys, though, and see the art style and the overall vibe as a push to finally pick it up soon!

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for providing me a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Mar｡˚○⚘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✒️ᝰ ⋮ advance reader copy ⌞ review ⌝ ; *love out on a limb 1*
⤷ 01.14.03.26
» ✨️ 3.75 / 5

[ thank you netgallery & kondasha comics for a copy for an honest review ]

**僕らの好きはわりきれない**

📖: complex love triangle • fake dating • childhood friend glow-up • complex family dynamics

; plot
after her divorced parents remarry, Yui returns to her hometown after a long time, and reecounters her older brother Hayato. bumping also with her childhood friend ritsu, who has turned into a charming popular guy at school. complicated feelings surge now that yui is living with her brother again…making her date with ritsu so she can get rid of such feelings before they grow bigger. — but this family tree may not actually be as simple as it seems…

; review
i was drawn into this manga due to how pretty the art and cover looked like, and simply thought it would be a cute high school love triangle story. i was so wrong!

this story has a lot of drama due to one thing: the main girl, yui, has feelings for her older brother hayato (*spoilers* : step-brother…but that sure doesn’t make it less weird). i enjoyed how mature the situation was tackled in the story, as yui clearly shows worry and is clearly concious of how wrong her feelings are. i personally think her feelings more than romantic are admiration, after all she stopped seeing her brother 8 years, and they separated as kids. i asume that separation to some people and reseeing them after years as adults makes your brain confuse things.

the scenes between yui and ritsu are super cute, and i am adoring their fake dating dynamic.

the ending of the vol. was quite predictable, ngl…but i definetly hope that the story, although with all the drama that i see it comming miles away, will choose ritsu as endgame and show that yui confused what she was feeling for hayato.

[Kira's NetGalley Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Out On A Limb follows Yui, whose family life is turned upside down when her parents reconcile eight years after a divorce. Moving back in with her brother, Yui finds herself developing unexpected romantic feelings for him. To guard this secret, she enters a "pretend" relationship with her childhood friend and neighbor, though his motives seem far from pretend.

The Standouts
• Visual Clarity: The images are very easy to follow, and the overall stylization makes for a smooth reading experience.
• Clear Typography: The font and text placement are clean and clear, which is always a plus for maintaining the flow of a manga or comic.
• Classic Tropes: For fans who enjoy specific narrative setups like "fake dating," love triangles, or the complicated "long-lost sibling" dynamic, this book hits all those marks.

Narrative Observations
• Predictability: The storyline is very predictable. From the moment the childhood friend suggests the fake relationship, it’s quite clear where his heart lies and how the ending will likely unfold.
• Trope-Heavy: While the "brother" trope is a staple in certain genres, it’s definitely the driving force here. If you're looking for a plot with major twists and turns, this might feel a bit straightforward, but it’s a solid comfort read for fans of the genre.

Final Verdict
If you’re a fan of high-school-style drama and the tension of a "he likes her, but she's looking elsewhere" love triangle, this is a recommendable pick. It’s a light, visually clear read that doesn't demand too much deep thinking to enjoy the journey.

*ARC received via Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

[Galaxy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 stars cuz I think some characters have potential

The roller coaster, the absolute ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTIONS that this book was I can’t even tell you. At first I was like low-key thinking that maybe it’s her stepbrother (not that it’s any better but yk it’s done a lot in the romance genre in a specific site starting with a w and then it spread from there),but I was still skeptical of the way the author would handle it but then I read the first 2 pages.. IT’S HER BIO BROTHER!?(if it is otherwise then, mind you SHE DOESN’T KNOW. Then comes her childhood friend (ml?) I liked him but then I read more and honestly I’m skeptical of him too cuz imo he comes off as pushy and kinda manipulative but like I get that he’s a teenager and he’s in love with her and he saw a chance and took it i understand but I’d like to see some personality development yk and it’s great to have characters who are not perfect but it gotta contribute to something yk but it’s too early to judge. I do like his character as it has a lot of depth already in just the first volume. I REALLY like the fact that the fl acknowledges her feelings and actually tries to stop herself. And some of fl’s choices are questionable. And all that being said I don’t want to judge it too soon so I will read just one more volume and then decide if I should give up the series or not, cuz it’s kinda funny at times lol, and I’m kinda intrigued by the ending like I kinda need to know the reason. That being said it did hold my attention and honestly it’s too early to judge too harshly.


Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha comics for this eARC.

[Janis Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I'm not the greatest fan of love triangles, I know that Nogiri-sensei has me in good hands. If you read That Wolf-Boy is Mine or Those Not-So-Sweet Boys, you know what I'm talking about. The bonus chapter was a short and sweet treat for those like me who really enjoyed that series.

This was a very introductory volume to our 3 main characters and the basic premise: Yui and Hayato's parents divorced 8ish years ago and now they're back together... Not awkward at all; but, like Yui said, let's roll with it. The shocker is that Yui is instantly attracted to her own brother upon setting eyes on him again. Knowing this is a ridiculously big no-no, Yui confides in childhood friend Ritsu -who says they can cover this with a fake relationship. Wish there was a 3rd chapter of the main story, but I think they wanted to leave it on a cliffhanger (the whopper "secret"). Those of us who are seasoned with these shoujo tropes definitely already knew that the siblings are, in fact, not blood-related. The big question is how long will the parents draw this out before serious feelings start getting involved with our 3 cute protagonists? We'll, hopefully, find out in volume 2!

On a critical note, this is a weaker start than I'd like/am used to for a new series -especially from a respected and successful mangaka like Nogiri-sensei. My only guess is that this is not planned to be a long series, similar to ,i.That Wolf-Boy is Mine.

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions expressed are my own.

[Lanie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Yui and Hayato's parent's divorced when they were little Hayato stayed with their dad while Yui went to live with their mom. After being separated for years her mother became ill and, in a panic, she reached out to her dad and her brother not knowing what to do. In a turn of events that no one could have predicted their parents actually end up reconciling and Yui is now moving back into her child home. In another turn of events, Yui has found that she has a crush on her older brother. Determined to keep this secret buried she confides in her childhood friend Ritsu, who offers to pretend to date her so she can keep her secret. With a crush on her brother and now a fake boyfriend Yui's high school years are off to a weird start!

I think I've probably said this a couple of times, but the whole brother/sister love thing is not my jam and to be honest I probably should have looked harder at what this was about before I requested it. But I didn't so here we are and while we do discover that they aren't actually siblings that was a twist I expected almost from the beginning. The fact that it seemed like Yui's "Dad" just wasn't visiting her or anything was a pretty big clue that they probably weren't related by blood. So in the end this ended up being just a pretty common love triangle between high schooler's that didn't really catch my interest. So I probably won't be reading anymore of this one, however, I did give this four stars because like I said it was totally on me for not looking harder at what it was about and because I think others will enjoy this one. So far for a standard high school romance it checks off all of the boxes. Two cute popular guys vying for the new girl's attention. She's completely oblivious, of course, but in an innocent way. So yup if that's your jam I think you will totally love this!

As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eArc!

[BookForAHeart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out On A Limb is such a cute, charming read that surprised me in the best way! From the moment I started it, I was immediately drawn in by the absolutely gorgeous artwork. The illustrations are soft, expressive, and full of emotion, every blush, awkward glance, and quiet moment between the characters is captured so beautifully. It made the story feel even sweeter and more immersive. 🎨💖

The story follows Yui, who returns to her hometown after eight years when her divorced parents remarry. Suddenly she’s back living with her older brother, Hayato, who has grown up into someone very different from the boy she remembers. On top of that, she reunites with her childhood friend Ritsu, who is definitely not the crybaby she once knew. Watching Yui navigate these familiar-but-new relationships is both funny and heart-fluttery, with lots of awkward, adorable moments along the way. 🌸✨

I’ll admit, while reading I did get a little nervous about where the plot might be heading. The story plays with some complicated feelings and situations, and I found myself wondering how everything would unfold in a way that would feel comfortable and satisfying. Thankfully, the twist toward the end completely relieved that concern for me! I was genuinely so glad the story went in that direction, it made everything click into place and let me enjoy the romance without the lingering worry I’d been feeling earlier. 💗

[Lexy Jenai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite art styles! It feels expressive, clean and cute! It made the characters feel so lively on the page that it sucked me in, focus locked in. At first the story gave me the cozy shojo manga vibes. Childhood friend tropes and Boy-next-door trope are always such a fun read and this didn't disappoint. It feels sweet an familiar as you start getting through it and I couldn't put it down. Then the story takes a quick turn and dives into another fun trope, classic manga style....

Spoiler warning:
If you enjoy stories where sibling discover that they aren't actually related, this might be you next read! Although they hint at this in the last chapter panels you know the drama is going to be coming! That twist opens up the door for so much emotional tension and complicated feelings, and I'm all for it.

There's also now room for a possible love triangle developing, "do I love my big brother who I haven't seen since I was a child ?"

Honestly I hope that that's where the story goes because ethe romantic fake dating trope has already been initiated and we're only in the first volume!
I was literally giggling and kicking my feet while reading this. The first love interest is adorable and so devoted, who doesn't love a character that pines for you while pretending they're just helping you because you're a good childhood friend.

I'm completely invested and I need the next volume asap!

[Tiffany Seward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Manga | Young adult | Pretend dating

Thank you to Kodansha Comics for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

•Plot: Love Out On a Limb 1 The MC is a child of divorce and was split up from her brother as she had to live with her mom, and he lived with her dad. Their parents reconciled, so her family gets to be a whole unit again. It’s a little cringe because since she hasn’t seen her brother in so long, she acts like she’s attractive to him, ew. She spends her time dreaming about kissing him and reminding herself she’s just his sister. Meanwhile, there’s another guy, their childhood best friend, who tries to be close to her and serves as a cover to hide her true feelings for her brother. The story unfolds from there.
•What I liked: The cliffhanger/plot twist saved the story; without it, it would’ve been fully gross.
•What didn’t work for me: She’s in love with her “brother”.
•Themes / Ideas: Sibling crush, Pretend dating.
•Who I’d recommend it to: If you don’t cringe when a girl is fond of their onii-chan.

Overall/Thoughts: The pacing is good, and the art is nice. I cringe a bit while reading the majority of the manga until the end, when my worries were somewhat alleviated. The childhood friend is kind of like a buffer between the siblings, not sure if he will be helpful. I’m curious as to where the story will go next!

[Loreleï Loreleï]

Eight years after their divorce, Yui’s parents decide to get back together, so the heroine is reunited with her older brother.
Even though the parents are divorced, I find it frankly hard to believe (and a bit far-fetched…) that there was absolutely NO contact between the siblings for eight years.

The love triangle involving her brother… made me feel very uncomfortable.

Yui’s crush on her brother develops far too quickly; it’s worse than love at first sight (especially as she focuses solely on his looks…). I like the fact that she’s worried about the impact her feelings might have on the balance of her newly reunited family, but it’s all happening far too fast for it to feel natural or for this conflict to seem genuinely credible or touching.

As for the childhood friend, he’s far too laid-back about the girl’s feelings for her brother. He accepts the situation without batting an eyelid. That totally took me out of the manga.

The characters are rather flat and not particularly interesting (though obviously this is only an introductory first volume).

That said, surprisingly, I didn’t see the final revelation coming, and it made me want to read on as a guilty pleasure.

One further minor criticism: I imagine the bonus at the end is linked to another story, which is completely confusing (and not very useful) if you’re not familiar with it.

[Jack Goff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this manga because the description seemed super wild, and I thought it was going to be a lot of fun drama. While there was not a lot of the drama I was expecting in this first volume, by the end, I can tell that it is setting up to be really interesting and messy in a fun way.

I know there is a lot of taboo about part of the plot to this manga, but I do like the idea that a teenager’s first weird crush isn’t vilified. I think everyone in their life has a weird time when they first start noticing that they are attracted to people when you get weird thoughts about people you shouldn’t. I like that her friend doesn’t immediately look down on her, but offers her an actually good solution to the problem. I know that it is a bit of a selfish solution, because I think he might actually have feelings for her, but still. We’ll see how things go!

For those worried about that particular taboo plot line: You find out at the end that the two are not actually siblings. We don’t know the details yet because it is literally at the last page, but just as an FYI

The art is really cute and pretty. I love the delicate lines and the sort of dreamy quality some of the panels have.

I am intrigued. I will definitely be trying out the next volume to see where this goes.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kondosha for the DRC!!

[Astrophel R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and for an arc. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ★ ★ .5
Genre: Romance Manga
Are There Gay People in this?*: ❌

The art is lovely, but this just wasn't for me. When I read the blurb I kind of assumed the protagonist and her brother had just become step siblings. While it didn't really appeal to me, the art was gorgeous so I thought I could get past it. However, for the entire duration of this volume the protagonist repeatedly comments on how she is blood related to him. This IS in the blurb and I missed it, so that is totally on me. However, I didn't really buy into either romance in this book. The attraction to her brother is so heavily hinging on the fact that he's hot now, which has never been enough for me to care about a romance. I can totally see why the other mmc likes her, but he is giving off so many red flags that I couldn't root for them.

* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kodansha Comics!

I forgot what this one was about so it took me a minute to get over the sibling thing.

Yui's parents are back together after 8 years of separation. She's reunited with her older brother Hayato and her childhood friend, Ritsu upon moving back into the old family abode. Thing is, Hayato is hot now, and treats her kindly, and that's a problem for Yui. Childhood friend Ritsu has also grown up to be pretty hot too, but he's friend-zoned until he gives her a proposal, fake date him to get over/ mask the fact that she like Hayato in a un-sisterly manner. It's clear he has some sort of motive for doing this beyond helping her out.

Warning: Okay, so I know the siblings falling in love thing is a trope in Japan and it almost always falls into a non-blood related category, so I held out for that result, thank goodness. But some people may not like the sibling trope and how long it's strung along in this one. I don't like how Ritsu normalizes this for her, because it does seem odd. Yes, feelings are feelings but, *indecisive noise*.

Art is cute and the obvious cliffhanger is enough to set things right that I wouldn't mind reading the net one!

[Siina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Out on a Limb is a new series from Yoko Nogiri and it's good just like all her mangas. For me the premise felt too cliched and overused to get four stars, even though this doesn't differ from her other series basically. Yui's parents divorced, but are now getting back together and she comes back to her home town after eight years. She lived with her mom and her brother Hayato stayed with their dad. She also encounters her former childhood friend, Ritsu. But. Of course she's in love with her brother and has to fake date Ritsu to hide this. Not only this, but of course they're not real siblings, although they don't know that yet. It felt like I've read this a thousand times already and the love doesn't seem to have any basis either. Of course both love interests are super hot too, which makes this annoying in that aspect too.

The art looks nice and Nogiri is good at this. I just wish she'd widen her approach, since she could. This safe, nothing new approach can offer only that much. Then again, it's probably the reason why she's loved. For a new reader this is super nice. Though the setting at first may be too hard to handle for some.