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恋じゃねえから [That's Not Love] #1
That's Not Love 1
192 pages, Paperback
Published May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 30, 2026
5 stars 🌟
*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. This doesn't affect my opinion, rating or review. Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha and the author for the ARC.
"What should be allowed for the sake of 'art'?" is the lingering question the manga That's Not Love Vol 1 poses in this riveting story about two women in their 40s "reconnecting" after discovering that their childhood art teacher has used one of their nude photos as inspiration for his "art".
Beautifully written, and a book that will make you think, That's Not Love Vol 1 follows Akane, an alcoholic mother who quit her job after her pregnancy and now freelances as a translater, and Yukari, who was once Akane's close childhood friend. We see the story unravel as Akane goes to an art-exibition of their former art teacher and finds a sculpture almost alike Yukari's nude photography from back when she was in a (abusive) "relationship" with him at 14.
I absolutely loved how this book was written, and how slowly it poses the uncomfortable questions. We as readers can clearly see the abuse Yukari went through, but the characters slowly reach the realisation of the advantage their art teacher took. I also quite liked the art style.
Truly, a masterpiece in social commentary and characterisation, That's Not Love Vol 1 is a book definitely worth the read, and one that will stay with me a long time.
Publication Date : 26th May, 2026.
#Book 89 of 2026.
Review written on 12th June, 2026.
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. This doesn't affect my opinion, rating or review. Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha and the author for the ARC.
"What should be allowed for the sake of 'art'?" is the lingering question the manga That's Not Love Vol 1 poses in this riveting story about two women in their 40s "reconnecting" after discovering that their childhood art teacher has used one of their nude photos as inspiration for his "art".
Beautifully written, and a book that will make you think, That's Not Love Vol 1 follows Akane, an alcoholic mother who quit her job after her pregnancy and now freelances as a translater, and Yukari, who was once Akane's close childhood friend. We see the story unravel as Akane goes to an art-exibition of their former art teacher and finds a sculpture almost alike Yukari's nude photography from back when she was in a (abusive) "relationship" with him at 14.
I absolutely loved how this book was written, and how slowly it poses the uncomfortable questions. We as readers can clearly see the abuse Yukari went through, but the characters slowly reach the realisation of the advantage their art teacher took. I also quite liked the art style.
Truly, a masterpiece in social commentary and characterisation, That's Not Love Vol 1 is a book definitely worth the read, and one that will stay with me a long time.
Publication Date : 26th May, 2026.
#Book 89 of 2026.
Review written on 12th June, 2026.
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
May 26, 2026
An oddly engrossing drama about two childhood friends coming together again in their forties after decades apart when a former teacher who had an inappropriate relationship with one of them when she was fourteen uses her nude image for a piece of art he is displaying in a gallery show.
Sad and damaged people slowly realize how sad and damaged they are and wonder if it is time to do something about that. The way the characters interact seem unreal at times, not the way I'd imagine people should react in such circumstances, but there is also a compelling authenticity in the alienness.
I'll be watching for the next volume.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 1. A Second Chance -- Chapter 2. I Miss You -- Chapter 3. Good News? Or Bad? -- Chapter 4. Like I'm in Love -- Chapter 5. When You're Actually Sober -- Chapter 6. 'Course I Hated It!
Sad and damaged people slowly realize how sad and damaged they are and wonder if it is time to do something about that. The way the characters interact seem unreal at times, not the way I'd imagine people should react in such circumstances, but there is also a compelling authenticity in the alienness.
I'll be watching for the next volume.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 1. A Second Chance -- Chapter 2. I Miss You -- Chapter 3. Good News? Or Bad? -- Chapter 4. Like I'm in Love -- Chapter 5. When You're Actually Sober -- Chapter 6. 'Course I Hated It!
April 20, 2026
(Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for an ARC of this manga in exchange for an unbiased review.)
[CW: sexual assault, eating disorder]
This is something different - a story about grownups and for grownups that lacks in blistering action but instead has a mature and melancholic narrative about regret from the past along with a lot to say about art and consent.
Akane has turned forty and reflects wistfully on her earlier school life. I found her an immediately fascinating character; Akane doesn’t feel like life has gotten better as she’s aged and that sends her on a real journey.
It’s not hard to see why. Akane has a somewhat controlled, not exactly, drinking problem and a vicious-looking dental appliance that’s a leftover from an unfortunate problem in her school days. Coupled with giving up her career to be a mother, rather than finding a healthy middle, Akane is not living her best life.
Yet her reminiscing carries a certain amount of baggage itself - she had a good friend who she let down in middle school, plus her slightly chubby nature caused Akane to develop a serious eating disorder. This is what she’s looking back on.
If you want a feel good book, this isn’t it, but it is a feel real book that offers a believable drama. I say that now because Akane isn’t the person who has endured the worst in this story, so you know it’s going to get bleak.
The catalyst for the story is an art exhibit by a former teacher that Akane knew. The focal point of the exhibit is a statue of a young girl that bears distressing similarities to Yukari, who was Akane’s friend at one point.
Oh, and Yukari and the teacher were intimately involved.
Yes, this has lots of interesting things to say and it goes right for the jugular in examining a very common trope that sometimes gets played off as okay. And it’s looking dead-on at how it can impact somebody’s future.
Except Yukari, when Akane reaches out, seems to be fine. She’s not, of course, and watching that wound she’s been nursing deep inside bubble up and come back to the fore is really sad.
It doesn’t help that Akane means well, but apologizing for something you messed up in the past - she blatantly ignored Yukari’s silent pleas - is often partly because you want to make yourself feel better and the story knows it.
It’s still better than nothing, of course, and there’s the definite possibility that Akane was jealous of Yukari back then and her relationship with this handsome older guy who also did very uncomfortable things to her.
Emotional is one way to put it. There is a confrontation later in the book that nearly made me grind my teeth to the nub it was so frustrating. Sometimes the offer to listen doesn’t actually involve anybody really listening or being willing to engage with the issue.
This is very, very well done. It’s one of the best dramas I’ve read in a bit and the characters are all incredibly complicated. Even our leads have their flaws, regardless of how easy it is to side with them.
5 stars - compelling drama and a harsh look at the long term consequences of something that can occasionally be glamourized in the medium. A real gem.
[CW: sexual assault, eating disorder]
This is something different - a story about grownups and for grownups that lacks in blistering action but instead has a mature and melancholic narrative about regret from the past along with a lot to say about art and consent.
Akane has turned forty and reflects wistfully on her earlier school life. I found her an immediately fascinating character; Akane doesn’t feel like life has gotten better as she’s aged and that sends her on a real journey.
It’s not hard to see why. Akane has a somewhat controlled, not exactly, drinking problem and a vicious-looking dental appliance that’s a leftover from an unfortunate problem in her school days. Coupled with giving up her career to be a mother, rather than finding a healthy middle, Akane is not living her best life.
Yet her reminiscing carries a certain amount of baggage itself - she had a good friend who she let down in middle school, plus her slightly chubby nature caused Akane to develop a serious eating disorder. This is what she’s looking back on.
If you want a feel good book, this isn’t it, but it is a feel real book that offers a believable drama. I say that now because Akane isn’t the person who has endured the worst in this story, so you know it’s going to get bleak.
The catalyst for the story is an art exhibit by a former teacher that Akane knew. The focal point of the exhibit is a statue of a young girl that bears distressing similarities to Yukari, who was Akane’s friend at one point.
Oh, and Yukari and the teacher were intimately involved.
Yes, this has lots of interesting things to say and it goes right for the jugular in examining a very common trope that sometimes gets played off as okay. And it’s looking dead-on at how it can impact somebody’s future.
Except Yukari, when Akane reaches out, seems to be fine. She’s not, of course, and watching that wound she’s been nursing deep inside bubble up and come back to the fore is really sad.
It doesn’t help that Akane means well, but apologizing for something you messed up in the past - she blatantly ignored Yukari’s silent pleas - is often partly because you want to make yourself feel better and the story knows it.
It’s still better than nothing, of course, and there’s the definite possibility that Akane was jealous of Yukari back then and her relationship with this handsome older guy who also did very uncomfortable things to her.
Emotional is one way to put it. There is a confrontation later in the book that nearly made me grind my teeth to the nub it was so frustrating. Sometimes the offer to listen doesn’t actually involve anybody really listening or being willing to engage with the issue.
This is very, very well done. It’s one of the best dramas I’ve read in a bit and the characters are all incredibly complicated. Even our leads have their flaws, regardless of how easy it is to side with them.
5 stars - compelling drama and a harsh look at the long term consequences of something that can occasionally be glamourized in the medium. A real gem.
June 5, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for an ARC of this manga in exchange for an Honest review.
أول ما استوقفني في هذه المانغا هو العنوان. That's Not Love — جملة بسيطة، لكنها تحمل ثقل عمر كامل على الصفحات.
القصة تبدأ من أكاني، امرأة في الأربعين تستعيد ذكريات المدرسة، لكن الماضي لا يبقى ماضياً — تمثال في معرض فني يُعيد كل شيء إلى السطح. التمثال يحمل صورة يوكاري، صديقتها القديمة، فتاة كانت في الرابعة عشرة حين كانت على علاقة غير لائقة بمعلمها.
أكاني التي كانت تشعر بالغيرة أو الاحباط من صديقتها يوكاري، تشعر أنها ارتكبت خطأ قبل عقود وهي تريد أن تَردم الهوة السحيقة بينها وبين يوكاري.
ما أعجبني أن المانغا لا تُجمّل ولا تُجامل. تجلس مع الشخصيات في اللحظات الأصعب وتتركك تشعر بالانزعاج — وهذا مقصود تماماً. يوكاري التي "تبدو بخير" ليست بخير، وهذا الجرح المخفي حين يبدأ بالخروج كان من أكثر اللحظات تأثيراً في القراءة. يوكاري تبدو لنا امرأة تخطت كل شيء من ماضيها، لكن عودة أكاني لحياتها تُعيد إليها ذكريات وآلام لم تكن تعرف أنها مازالت موجودة.
الرمزية كانت ذكية جداً — اضطراب الأكل، الأسنان المفقودة، الكلمات التي تُبتلع بدل أن تُقال. كل هذا يُقال بصمت لكنه يصرخ.
نقطة ضعف وحيدة: بعض تصرفات الشخصيات جاءت غير منطقية، وكأنها تخدم الدراما أكثر من أن تخدم الواقع. لكن في المقابل، هذا الغرابة في ردود الفعل أحياناً تبدو صادقة بطريقتها الخاصة — لأن الناس الجرحى لا يتصرفون دائماً كما نتوقع. ليس ما نتوقعه هو الواقع فعلاً.
خلاصة: ليست قراءة مريحة، لكنها قراءة ضرورية. تتناول موضوعاً يُستخف به كثيراً في الأدب المصوّر وتنظر إليه بعين حادة وصادقة. أنتظر الجزء الثاني.
The first thing that struck me about this manga was the title. *That's Not Love* — a simple phrase, yet it carries the weight of a lifetime across every page.
The story begins with Akane, a woman in her forties revisiting memories of her school days — but the past refuses to stay past. A sculpture at an art exhibition brings everything back to the surface. The statue bears the unmistakable likeness of Yukari, her old friend: a girl who was fourteen when she became involved in an inappropriate relationship with her teacher.
Akane, who once felt jealous of — or perhaps frustrated by — Yukari, carries the guilt of a mistake made decades ago. Now she wants to bridge the vast distance that has grown between them.
What I appreciated most is that this manga neither romanticizes nor softens. It sits with its characters in their hardest moments and leaves you unsettled — and that's entirely intentional. Yukari, who appears to be fine, is anything but. Watching that hidden wound slowly resurface was one of the most affecting parts of the read. She presents herself as a woman who has moved past everything, but Akane's return stirs memories and pain she didn't know were still there.
The symbolism is quietly brilliant — the eating disorder, the lost teeth, the words swallowed instead of spoken. Everything is said in silence, yet it screams.
My one reservation: some character reactions feel more dramatic than realistic, as though they serve the story's tension rather than its truth. And yet, there's something honest in that strangeness — because wounded people don't always behave the way we'd expect. What we expect and what's real are rarely the same thing.
In short: this isn't a comfortable read, but it's a necessary one. It takes a subject often glossed over in manga and examines it with an unflinching, honest eye. I'm waiting for volume two.
أول ما استوقفني في هذه المانغا هو العنوان. That's Not Love — جملة بسيطة، لكنها تحمل ثقل عمر كامل على الصفحات.
القصة تبدأ من أكاني، امرأة في الأربعين تستعيد ذكريات المدرسة، لكن الماضي لا يبقى ماضياً — تمثال في معرض فني يُعيد كل شيء إلى السطح. التمثال يحمل صورة يوكاري، صديقتها القديمة، فتاة كانت في الرابعة عشرة حين كانت على علاقة غير لائقة بمعلمها.
أكاني التي كانت تشعر بالغيرة أو الاحباط من صديقتها يوكاري، تشعر أنها ارتكبت خطأ قبل عقود وهي تريد أن تَردم الهوة السحيقة بينها وبين يوكاري.
ما أعجبني أن المانغا لا تُجمّل ولا تُجامل. تجلس مع الشخصيات في اللحظات الأصعب وتتركك تشعر بالانزعاج — وهذا مقصود تماماً. يوكاري التي "تبدو بخير" ليست بخير، وهذا الجرح المخفي حين يبدأ بالخروج كان من أكثر اللحظات تأثيراً في القراءة. يوكاري تبدو لنا امرأة تخطت كل شيء من ماضيها، لكن عودة أكاني لحياتها تُعيد إليها ذكريات وآلام لم تكن تعرف أنها مازالت موجودة.
الرمزية كانت ذكية جداً — اضطراب الأكل، الأسنان المفقودة، الكلمات التي تُبتلع بدل أن تُقال. كل هذا يُقال بصمت لكنه يصرخ.
نقطة ضعف وحيدة: بعض تصرفات الشخصيات جاءت غير منطقية، وكأنها تخدم الدراما أكثر من أن تخدم الواقع. لكن في المقابل، هذا الغرابة في ردود الفعل أحياناً تبدو صادقة بطريقتها الخاصة — لأن الناس الجرحى لا يتصرفون دائماً كما نتوقع. ليس ما نتوقعه هو الواقع فعلاً.
خلاصة: ليست قراءة مريحة، لكنها قراءة ضرورية. تتناول موضوعاً يُستخف به كثيراً في الأدب المصوّر وتنظر إليه بعين حادة وصادقة. أنتظر الجزء الثاني.
The first thing that struck me about this manga was the title. *That's Not Love* — a simple phrase, yet it carries the weight of a lifetime across every page.
The story begins with Akane, a woman in her forties revisiting memories of her school days — but the past refuses to stay past. A sculpture at an art exhibition brings everything back to the surface. The statue bears the unmistakable likeness of Yukari, her old friend: a girl who was fourteen when she became involved in an inappropriate relationship with her teacher.
Akane, who once felt jealous of — or perhaps frustrated by — Yukari, carries the guilt of a mistake made decades ago. Now she wants to bridge the vast distance that has grown between them.
What I appreciated most is that this manga neither romanticizes nor softens. It sits with its characters in their hardest moments and leaves you unsettled — and that's entirely intentional. Yukari, who appears to be fine, is anything but. Watching that hidden wound slowly resurface was one of the most affecting parts of the read. She presents herself as a woman who has moved past everything, but Akane's return stirs memories and pain she didn't know were still there.
The symbolism is quietly brilliant — the eating disorder, the lost teeth, the words swallowed instead of spoken. Everything is said in silence, yet it screams.
My one reservation: some character reactions feel more dramatic than realistic, as though they serve the story's tension rather than its truth. And yet, there's something honest in that strangeness — because wounded people don't always behave the way we'd expect. What we expect and what's real are rarely the same thing.
In short: this isn't a comfortable read, but it's a necessary one. It takes a subject often glossed over in manga and examines it with an unflinching, honest eye. I'm waiting for volume two.
July 31, 2026
This Vol. 1 in the series simply wasn't my cup of tea. While it explores relationships and emotions in a slow, character-driven manner, I found the pacing unnecessarily stretched. Many scenes felt drawn out without adding much to the overall narrative, making it difficult to stay invested in the story. So many conversations and scenes seemed to go in circles without moving the plot or the characters forward. By the end, I felt like very little had actually happened.
The artwork was another major drawback for me. The character designs are so plain and similar that I frequently struggled to tell people apart. At times, it was genuinely difficult to distinguish between male and female characters, especially those with short hair. This constant confusion made following conversations and emotional moments more frustrating than engaging. When you're constantly trying to figure out who's speaking instead of focusing on the story, it's hard to stay immersed.
I can understand why readers who enjoy understated, slice-of-life dramas might appreciate its quiet storytelling. Unfortunately, between the sluggish pacing and the indistinct artwork, this volume never really clicked with me. I don't regret giving it a try, but I was left wishing for tighter storytelling and more distinctive character designs. Not terrible by any means—just very much not my taste.
My NetGalley review
The artwork was another major drawback for me. The character designs are so plain and similar that I frequently struggled to tell people apart. At times, it was genuinely difficult to distinguish between male and female characters, especially those with short hair. This constant confusion made following conversations and emotional moments more frustrating than engaging. When you're constantly trying to figure out who's speaking instead of focusing on the story, it's hard to stay immersed.
I can understand why readers who enjoy understated, slice-of-life dramas might appreciate its quiet storytelling. Unfortunately, between the sluggish pacing and the indistinct artwork, this volume never really clicked with me. I don't regret giving it a try, but I was left wishing for tighter storytelling and more distinctive character designs. Not terrible by any means—just very much not my taste.
My NetGalley review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Akane has recently turned forty and as a middle-aged alcoholic stay at home mother, she has started looking at her life, everything that led to her being where she is right now. When she discovers that her old cram school art teacher Imai has an art showing near her she decides to go and check it out, Imai had been a favorite teacher of her and it's another step down the path of hopefully straightening out her life. She is surprised to see that the main piece of his showing a sculpture of a young naked woman, one that looks surprisingly like her best friend Yukari from that time. Although when she thinks about it maybe it's not so surprising Yukari and Imai were in love after all, weren't they?
Must read. Absolutely positively a must read. This is a wonderfully done look at consent, PTSD, and in Akane's case guilt. Reading as both women figure out that Yukari has not been victimized once but twice is absolutely heart breaking and yet a conversation that many women will have themselves either as Yukari the victim or Akane the friend who was too young at first to recognize that. Akane absolutely catches on much faster but that absolutely makes sense to me. As the person looking at Yukari and Imai's relationship from the outside but also she's a mom who is having these conversations with her own child. That being said, I think Yukari knows she just doesn't want to admit it, the very first thing she says from her POV is that she "Blamed herself". She doesn't say what for but she also doesn't have to she was a 14 yr old child abused by a trusted adult.
The other portion of this I really want to address and that is a bit of a spoiler is Imai's reaction when the Yukari and Akane confront him because unfortunately this is pretty freaking common. Not only does she not see anything wrong with the statue, she denies it's Akane and then she doesn't even acknowledge how wrong it is that her husband had not only taken nude photos of a child he had a relationship with that child. Women are absolutely just as much a part of the problem as men are. Many of us are conditioned to victim blame or flat out deny that a male family member or friend would participate in such acts, protecting them from prosecution and even lying for them. This is a really important point in this story and I hope we will get to hear more from her perspective later on. And to be fair I'm not even sure I'd want a change of heart type of thing to happen, I've already written her off as a horrible person so.
Finally, the other portion of this asks what is or is not art. People get pretty upset about this question and yet it is a valid question. For really centuries art depicting young children naked has been a common theme. The cover of a Nirvana CD shows a baby naked, Brooke Shields in Blue Lagoon is still hotly debated, singers clearly admit to having sex with minors in lyrics, young girls in anime, manga, and western novels/comics alike are shown in sexually compromising situations, are referred to using sexually graphic terms, are actually depicted as having sex, and/or all of the above. I mean honestly there's more than that, a crap ton more, but honestly when does this stop being just art and when does it start being sexual assault against a minor? But moreover, what do we do about it? Most characters in books (manga and comics alike) aren't actually real people being depicted so is that still morally wrong? In most cases I would say yes, but one of my favorite series ever is My Dress-Up Darling, which has a teenage girl who cosplays some seriously high sex characters. Do some of them cross my line? Absolutely, but I mean I was cosplaying high sex characters when I was her age too. So in this specific case where sex is not involved than is it still art? I suppose I would have to say it was. But let's say 20 years down the line I decided it wasn't that I didn't know what I was doing should I have the right to ask people to remove those photos? Yes absolutely. It's genuinely a difficult question to answer I know the kid who is depicted on the Nirvana cover has done interviews and he did eventually sue the band to which a judge permanently blocked him from ever suing the band again because in the judges opinion there was nothing sexual about it. But then we go back to that whole consent thing don't we? He wasn't old enough to give his consent, so sexual or not how can a judge decide that he can request his image removed and his receive monetary compensation for what I certainly wouldn't be comfortable for being known for.
I'm not sure if this series is going to be able to answer any of these questions and at the end of the day, I'm not sure it matters as much as getting people to at least have the conversations surrounding consent and art. So on that level alone I would recommend this, however, this was also truly a really well done look at these topics. It's not shock and awe or invasive it's quiet and yet still impresses upon the reader how important these subjects are.
As always thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eArc!
Must read. Absolutely positively a must read. This is a wonderfully done look at consent, PTSD, and in Akane's case guilt. Reading as both women figure out that Yukari has not been victimized once but twice is absolutely heart breaking and yet a conversation that many women will have themselves either as Yukari the victim or Akane the friend who was too young at first to recognize that. Akane absolutely catches on much faster but that absolutely makes sense to me. As the person looking at Yukari and Imai's relationship from the outside but also she's a mom who is having these conversations with her own child. That being said, I think Yukari knows she just doesn't want to admit it, the very first thing she says from her POV is that she "Blamed herself". She doesn't say what for but she also doesn't have to she was a 14 yr old child abused by a trusted adult.
The other portion of this I really want to address and that is a bit of a spoiler is Imai's reaction when the Yukari and Akane confront him because unfortunately this is pretty freaking common. Not only does she not see anything wrong with the statue, she denies it's Akane and then she doesn't even acknowledge how wrong it is that her husband had not only taken nude photos of a child he had a relationship with that child. Women are absolutely just as much a part of the problem as men are. Many of us are conditioned to victim blame or flat out deny that a male family member or friend would participate in such acts, protecting them from prosecution and even lying for them. This is a really important point in this story and I hope we will get to hear more from her perspective later on. And to be fair I'm not even sure I'd want a change of heart type of thing to happen, I've already written her off as a horrible person so.
Finally, the other portion of this asks what is or is not art. People get pretty upset about this question and yet it is a valid question. For really centuries art depicting young children naked has been a common theme. The cover of a Nirvana CD shows a baby naked, Brooke Shields in Blue Lagoon is still hotly debated, singers clearly admit to having sex with minors in lyrics, young girls in anime, manga, and western novels/comics alike are shown in sexually compromising situations, are referred to using sexually graphic terms, are actually depicted as having sex, and/or all of the above. I mean honestly there's more than that, a crap ton more, but honestly when does this stop being just art and when does it start being sexual assault against a minor? But moreover, what do we do about it? Most characters in books (manga and comics alike) aren't actually real people being depicted so is that still morally wrong? In most cases I would say yes, but one of my favorite series ever is My Dress-Up Darling, which has a teenage girl who cosplays some seriously high sex characters. Do some of them cross my line? Absolutely, but I mean I was cosplaying high sex characters when I was her age too. So in this specific case where sex is not involved than is it still art? I suppose I would have to say it was. But let's say 20 years down the line I decided it wasn't that I didn't know what I was doing should I have the right to ask people to remove those photos? Yes absolutely. It's genuinely a difficult question to answer I know the kid who is depicted on the Nirvana cover has done interviews and he did eventually sue the band to which a judge permanently blocked him from ever suing the band again because in the judges opinion there was nothing sexual about it. But then we go back to that whole consent thing don't we? He wasn't old enough to give his consent, so sexual or not how can a judge decide that he can request his image removed and his receive monetary compensation for what I certainly wouldn't be comfortable for being known for.
I'm not sure if this series is going to be able to answer any of these questions and at the end of the day, I'm not sure it matters as much as getting people to at least have the conversations surrounding consent and art. So on that level alone I would recommend this, however, this was also truly a really well done look at these topics. It's not shock and awe or invasive it's quiet and yet still impresses upon the reader how important these subjects are.
As always thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eArc!
August 5, 2026
En français, une seule série de Watanabe Peco a été traduite: Entre-deux (cinq tomes) qui abordait l'adultère dans un couple, avec toutes ses conséquences. Cette mangaka est davantage traduite en anglais, où on trouve plusieurs de ses séries, dont sa plus récente publiée de 2021 à 2025 avec le titre "That's Not Love", une traduction proche du "Koi ja nee kara" japonais. Mais il y a une nuance importante en japonais: le titre est dans le registre de l'oral (ja nee) et le "kara" signifie "parce que".
Le titre littéral serait donc plutôt "Parce que c'est pas de l'amour". Et c'est ainsi que l'histoire démarre: avec les conséquences de cet "amour" entre l'adolescente de 14 ans Yukari et son professeur de 21 ans M. Imai. Jusqu'en 2023, soit avant la publication des premiers tomes, le Japon plaçait l'âge du consentement à 13 ans (même si plusieurs villes avaient un âge beaucoup plus élevé), soit l'un des plus bas au monde. Le changement dans la loi introduit aussi le consentement dans la définition de l'agression, car auparavant, si l'acte était non forcé, il n'y avait pas de crime, même sur une enfant de 14 ans!
La série de Watanabe se penche donc sur ce sujet. Mais le thème est beaucoup plus large: il montre l'onde de choc d'une sculpture réalisée grâce à une photographie de cette époque, où le professeur entretenait la liaison avec son étudiante. Ce qui préoccupe les amies, c'est que le corps de la jeune fille est exposée au public, sans que l'adulte qu'elle est maintenant n'ait jamais consentie à cela (elle a 40 ans).
Le processus de réflexion qui s'entame chez l'une et l'autre est tellement bien expliquée. D'abord Yukari s'interroge sur l'art qui justifie l'usage de sa photographie, de son corps, comme une deuxième humiliation à vivre.
Ensuite, Akané se dit que c'était de l'amour entre eux, n'est-ce pas? Elle se souvient même d'en avoir été jalouse à l'époque! Puis qui réalise que ce n'est peut-être pas ainsi que les choses se passent quand on a 14 ans et qu'un jeune professeur nous approche... Akané a aussi ses propres problèmes, sa famille où ça va plus ou moins bien, et son propre parcours difficile.
C'est un récit seinen, avec des thèmes pour adultes. Le dessin est dépouillé et élégant, très efficace. Le propos est coup de poing, et les réactions que les deux amies rencontrent font aussi réfléchir. Ça m'a fait pensé à l'excellent Quand la nuit tombe (Rie Aruga), mais en plus développé car on a le temps de voir l'évolution et la recherche de dignité à travers les six tomes de cette série.
Le titre littéral serait donc plutôt "Parce que c'est pas de l'amour". Et c'est ainsi que l'histoire démarre: avec les conséquences de cet "amour" entre l'adolescente de 14 ans Yukari et son professeur de 21 ans M. Imai. Jusqu'en 2023, soit avant la publication des premiers tomes, le Japon plaçait l'âge du consentement à 13 ans (même si plusieurs villes avaient un âge beaucoup plus élevé), soit l'un des plus bas au monde. Le changement dans la loi introduit aussi le consentement dans la définition de l'agression, car auparavant, si l'acte était non forcé, il n'y avait pas de crime, même sur une enfant de 14 ans!
La série de Watanabe se penche donc sur ce sujet. Mais le thème est beaucoup plus large: il montre l'onde de choc d'une sculpture réalisée grâce à une photographie de cette époque, où le professeur entretenait la liaison avec son étudiante. Ce qui préoccupe les amies, c'est que le corps de la jeune fille est exposée au public, sans que l'adulte qu'elle est maintenant n'ait jamais consentie à cela (elle a 40 ans).
Le processus de réflexion qui s'entame chez l'une et l'autre est tellement bien expliquée. D'abord Yukari s'interroge sur l'art qui justifie l'usage de sa photographie, de son corps, comme une deuxième humiliation à vivre.
Ensuite, Akané se dit que c'était de l'amour entre eux, n'est-ce pas? Elle se souvient même d'en avoir été jalouse à l'époque! Puis qui réalise que ce n'est peut-être pas ainsi que les choses se passent quand on a 14 ans et qu'un jeune professeur nous approche... Akané a aussi ses propres problèmes, sa famille où ça va plus ou moins bien, et son propre parcours difficile.
C'est un récit seinen, avec des thèmes pour adultes. Le dessin est dépouillé et élégant, très efficace. Le propos est coup de poing, et les réactions que les deux amies rencontrent font aussi réfléchir. Ça m'a fait pensé à l'excellent Quand la nuit tombe (Rie Aruga), mais en plus développé car on a le temps de voir l'évolution et la recherche de dignité à travers les six tomes de cette série.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
That’s Not Love is a harrowing and reflective story about grooming, trauma, and the lasting damage of complicity and silence.
The story follows Akane, a middle-aged wife and mother who seems trapped in a cycle of depression and alcoholism, drifting through life. After discovering an art exhibition showcasing sculptures created by her former middle school teacher, she realises that one of the pieces bears an eerie resemblance to her childhood best friend, Yukari, who abruptly disappeared from her life decades earlier. When she notices the sculpture shares the same scar as Yukari, Akane becomes determined to track her down and reconnect, haunted by the way their friendship ended.
What makes this story so realistic is the way it contrasts childhood perception with adult understanding. As children, Akane and Yukari lacked the language and experience to fully understand the predatory relationship between Yukari and Mr. Imai, but as an adult, Akane is forced to confront the reality that her friend was groomed, as well as her own complicity in ignoring it. Her reactions towards Yukari can be frustrating to read at times, but it reflects the trauma inflicted on both women and the ways people rationalise abuse in order to survive it.
The Japanese setting also adds another layer of nuance, particularly given how recently laws surrounding underage consent were changed. It reinforces how vulnerable girls like Yukari were to exploitation, and how difficult it was, and still is, to receive justice, which is explored more towards the end of the story.
Overall, this was a poignant and disturbing read, touching on themes of sexual abuse, grooming, depression, alcoholism, eating disorders, and the lasting impact of the #MeToo movement. Above all, it felt relatable, and I think most women who pick this up will connect to this in the way we are taught to minimise harm, doubt ourselves, and carry shame that never belonged to us in the first place.
I’m looking forward to reading the next volume and seeing where the story goes, and if healing or justice is ever found for these characters.
*Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an ARC*
The story follows Akane, a middle-aged wife and mother who seems trapped in a cycle of depression and alcoholism, drifting through life. After discovering an art exhibition showcasing sculptures created by her former middle school teacher, she realises that one of the pieces bears an eerie resemblance to her childhood best friend, Yukari, who abruptly disappeared from her life decades earlier. When she notices the sculpture shares the same scar as Yukari, Akane becomes determined to track her down and reconnect, haunted by the way their friendship ended.
What makes this story so realistic is the way it contrasts childhood perception with adult understanding. As children, Akane and Yukari lacked the language and experience to fully understand the predatory relationship between Yukari and Mr. Imai, but as an adult, Akane is forced to confront the reality that her friend was groomed, as well as her own complicity in ignoring it. Her reactions towards Yukari can be frustrating to read at times, but it reflects the trauma inflicted on both women and the ways people rationalise abuse in order to survive it.
The Japanese setting also adds another layer of nuance, particularly given how recently laws surrounding underage consent were changed. It reinforces how vulnerable girls like Yukari were to exploitation, and how difficult it was, and still is, to receive justice, which is explored more towards the end of the story.
Overall, this was a poignant and disturbing read, touching on themes of sexual abuse, grooming, depression, alcoholism, eating disorders, and the lasting impact of the #MeToo movement. Above all, it felt relatable, and I think most women who pick this up will connect to this in the way we are taught to minimise harm, doubt ourselves, and carry shame that never belonged to us in the first place.
I’m looking forward to reading the next volume and seeing where the story goes, and if healing or justice is ever found for these characters.
*Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an ARC*
June 9, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for an ARC of this manga in exchange for an honest review.
That's Not Love, Volume 1 is a powerful drama that follows two former middle school friends, Akane and Yukari, as they reconnect as adults and confront painful truths from their past. After attending an art exhibit by their former cram school teacher, Akane discovers a sculpture that bears an uncanny resemblance to Yukari, prompting her to reach out and uncover memories she never fully understood. I rate this volume 4 out of 5 stars for its thoughtful storytelling, emotional depth, and willingness to tackle difficult subject matter.
One of the things I appreciated most about this volume is how well it handles such a heavy and uncomfortable topic. The characters feel fully realized and nuanced rather than existing as simple heroes or villains. Even when they make frustrating choices, their actions and emotions feel authentic. The only character who felt somewhat underdeveloped to me was Imai's wife, although I suspect future volumes will explore her perspective in greater depth. My heart broke for Yukari throughout the story. The mangaka captures the confusion and self-doubt that victims of grooming often experience in a way that feels painfully human and realistic. I also found Akane's perspective compelling as she begins to question her memories and whether what happened in the past was truly consensual. The depiction of Imai-sensei as a popular, respected, and well-liked figure made the situation even more disturbing. Combined with his wife's attempts to justify his behavior as being about art, the flashbacks left me with a profound sense of discomfort and outrage. More than once, I wanted to reach through the pages and tell Yukari and Akane that they were only children. Just as the title says, what Imai did was not love.
This first volume left a strong impression on me and raised important questions that I am eager to see explored further. I will definitely be picking up the succeeding volumes as they are released because I want to see where Akane and Yukari's journey leads next.
That's Not Love, Volume 1 is a powerful drama that follows two former middle school friends, Akane and Yukari, as they reconnect as adults and confront painful truths from their past. After attending an art exhibit by their former cram school teacher, Akane discovers a sculpture that bears an uncanny resemblance to Yukari, prompting her to reach out and uncover memories she never fully understood. I rate this volume 4 out of 5 stars for its thoughtful storytelling, emotional depth, and willingness to tackle difficult subject matter.
One of the things I appreciated most about this volume is how well it handles such a heavy and uncomfortable topic. The characters feel fully realized and nuanced rather than existing as simple heroes or villains. Even when they make frustrating choices, their actions and emotions feel authentic. The only character who felt somewhat underdeveloped to me was Imai's wife, although I suspect future volumes will explore her perspective in greater depth. My heart broke for Yukari throughout the story. The mangaka captures the confusion and self-doubt that victims of grooming often experience in a way that feels painfully human and realistic. I also found Akane's perspective compelling as she begins to question her memories and whether what happened in the past was truly consensual. The depiction of Imai-sensei as a popular, respected, and well-liked figure made the situation even more disturbing. Combined with his wife's attempts to justify his behavior as being about art, the flashbacks left me with a profound sense of discomfort and outrage. More than once, I wanted to reach through the pages and tell Yukari and Akane that they were only children. Just as the title says, what Imai did was not love.
This first volume left a strong impression on me and raised important questions that I am eager to see explored further. I will definitely be picking up the succeeding volumes as they are released because I want to see where Akane and Yukari's journey leads next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
40 year old Akane attends an art exhibition by her former school teacher, Mr. Imai, who is now a sculptor. While there, she notices that the main piece has a striking resemblance to her former best friend, Yukari, who attended school with her, especially the scar that Yukari once shared with her in private. The two reunite, and Akane begins to understand that things may not have been as she believed when she was 14 years old.
I don’t recall the last time I read a graphic novel, but it was one of my reading goals for this year.
And what a start. The art is simple, yet it brilliantly captures the characters’ emotions, and the story tackles a wide range of heavy themes. From alcoholism and grooming to revenge porn and eating disorders. It’s a short read, just 192 pages, something you can easily finish in one sitting.
I’m really interested to see where the next volumes take us, especially after that ending, which leaves you wondering what the next steps will be for the two main characters.
It also really opens your eyes to what we might have considered “normal” when we were younger: our brains still developing, still learning, interpreting things as thrilling or exciting. But as you mature, learn more about the world, and reflect, you start to understand that those things were, in fact, serious issues.
Short, impactful, and impossible to ignore. I'll be keeping an eye out for the next volume.
40 year old Akane attends an art exhibition by her former school teacher, Mr. Imai, who is now a sculptor. While there, she notices that the main piece has a striking resemblance to her former best friend, Yukari, who attended school with her, especially the scar that Yukari once shared with her in private. The two reunite, and Akane begins to understand that things may not have been as she believed when she was 14 years old.
I don’t recall the last time I read a graphic novel, but it was one of my reading goals for this year.
And what a start. The art is simple, yet it brilliantly captures the characters’ emotions, and the story tackles a wide range of heavy themes. From alcoholism and grooming to revenge porn and eating disorders. It’s a short read, just 192 pages, something you can easily finish in one sitting.
I’m really interested to see where the next volumes take us, especially after that ending, which leaves you wondering what the next steps will be for the two main characters.
It also really opens your eyes to what we might have considered “normal” when we were younger: our brains still developing, still learning, interpreting things as thrilling or exciting. But as you mature, learn more about the world, and reflect, you start to understand that those things were, in fact, serious issues.
Short, impactful, and impossible to ignore. I'll be keeping an eye out for the next volume.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tw: grooming, alcoholism, ED, CP
"That's Not Love" touches on a myriad of unfortunately very timely and tough themes, with care and nuance, and I'm so thankful I got to read it.
One of the aspects that makes this story so unique is that it follows two middle-aged women, a group that is not often represented and even more rarely get to be the protagonists, reconnecting after decades.
At the same time, they start to realise that what had happened when they were young during their brief friendship shouldn't have been brushed under the rug, they confront their own choices then and question how they influenced their lives in the present as they try to get some form of justice.
The contrast of the beautiful art and ugly themes, and how it connected to one of the characters being an artist, was a great choice. I knew this book was going to be great from the very beginning, but I was still surprised by how much nuance and depth it had. For example, I loved that one of the characters, having been fat and struggling with EDs in the past and alcoholism in the present, informed a lot of her storyline, and that silence and pretending there isn't a problem is not the same as being well. Watching these two women start to deconstruct the way they were socialised not to address certain subjects was great, and I would love to continue reading this series.
Thank you to NetGalley Kodansha Comics for this DRC.
"That's Not Love" touches on a myriad of unfortunately very timely and tough themes, with care and nuance, and I'm so thankful I got to read it.
One of the aspects that makes this story so unique is that it follows two middle-aged women, a group that is not often represented and even more rarely get to be the protagonists, reconnecting after decades.
At the same time, they start to realise that what had happened when they were young during their brief friendship shouldn't have been brushed under the rug, they confront their own choices then and question how they influenced their lives in the present as they try to get some form of justice.
The contrast of the beautiful art and ugly themes, and how it connected to one of the characters being an artist, was a great choice. I knew this book was going to be great from the very beginning, but I was still surprised by how much nuance and depth it had. For example, I loved that one of the characters, having been fat and struggling with EDs in the past and alcoholism in the present, informed a lot of her storyline, and that silence and pretending there isn't a problem is not the same as being well. Watching these two women start to deconstruct the way they were socialised not to address certain subjects was great, and I would love to continue reading this series.
Thank you to NetGalley Kodansha Comics for this DRC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was right up my alley; I eat up anything about the #MeToo movement and feminism.
That's Not Love follows forty-year old Akane, who is unhappy with her current state in life, having quit her job after getting married and having a baby (who is now a middle schooler) and only freelancing on the side. After attending the opening of a new art gallery by her former teacher turned sculptor Toru Imai, Akane is shocked to see an intimate sculpture that resembles Akane's middle school friend Yukari, who was "in love" with Mr. Imai.
The art style is pretty and more minimal, and I thought the themes of this volume were really interesting: nostalgia and regrets as you age; woman's place in society; reflecting and reevaluating the past; consent and age gaps in relationships. But the big ones are authorial intent and what should be allowed to be depicted in art. This question of can art be exploitative and, if so, what should we do about it?
I really enjoyed this manga, and I'm so eager to see where the story goes. (I looked it up and found out it's supposed to be six volumes.) Akane's dissatisfaction reminds me of books I've read by Sayaka Murata, one of my favourite authors who writes a ton about the expectations of women in Japanese society; whereas Yukari's story is more inline with narratives like My Dark Vanessa, as she reevaluates her relationship with Mr. Imai from middle school. I'm quite curious to see more about Beniko Imai, Mr. Imai's wife and mother of their daughter, and what her depiction says about the loved ones of predatory men.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
That's Not Love follows forty-year old Akane, who is unhappy with her current state in life, having quit her job after getting married and having a baby (who is now a middle schooler) and only freelancing on the side. After attending the opening of a new art gallery by her former teacher turned sculptor Toru Imai, Akane is shocked to see an intimate sculpture that resembles Akane's middle school friend Yukari, who was "in love" with Mr. Imai.
The art style is pretty and more minimal, and I thought the themes of this volume were really interesting: nostalgia and regrets as you age; woman's place in society; reflecting and reevaluating the past; consent and age gaps in relationships. But the big ones are authorial intent and what should be allowed to be depicted in art. This question of can art be exploitative and, if so, what should we do about it?
I really enjoyed this manga, and I'm so eager to see where the story goes. (I looked it up and found out it's supposed to be six volumes.) Akane's dissatisfaction reminds me of books I've read by Sayaka Murata, one of my favourite authors who writes a ton about the expectations of women in Japanese society; whereas Yukari's story is more inline with narratives like My Dark Vanessa, as she reevaluates her relationship with Mr. Imai from middle school. I'm quite curious to see more about Beniko Imai, Mr. Imai's wife and mother of their daughter, and what her depiction says about the loved ones of predatory men.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"I began thinking about situations where violence might not be recognized as violence, where it might be permitted for the sake of art or because of someone’s talent, and about the hierarchies that exist between people in small, tightly-bound businesses." –Peko Watanabe
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for letting me read the advanced copy of this manga volume.
All I can say is WOW. 😮
That was an excellent start to a series.
It wasn’t fast paced, nothing adrenaline inducing, however I found myself unable to stop reading. I gobbled up each chapter and finished it in less than an hour.
While I’m not quite at the age of Akane, who is forty, I am old enough to relate to her AND her struggle to understand past relationships while reflecting back on situations with mature lenses. She was too young to fully process the inappropriate relationship between Yukari and their teacher but now she can do something—even if it’s just support.
I was baffled by Imai’s wife and how she could excuse her husband without batting an eye. To protect him and his image and ignore the evidence presented that he was involved with a minor. Gross behavior, honestly. I think the mangaka did an excellent job with showing the reality of how artists are protected—especially if they’re men.
I will definitely continue this series and look forward to the next volume. I need to see justice! Or at least see Imani sweat. 😤
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for letting me read the advanced copy of this manga volume.
All I can say is WOW. 😮
That was an excellent start to a series.
It wasn’t fast paced, nothing adrenaline inducing, however I found myself unable to stop reading. I gobbled up each chapter and finished it in less than an hour.
While I’m not quite at the age of Akane, who is forty, I am old enough to relate to her AND her struggle to understand past relationships while reflecting back on situations with mature lenses. She was too young to fully process the inappropriate relationship between Yukari and their teacher but now she can do something—even if it’s just support.
I was baffled by Imai’s wife and how she could excuse her husband without batting an eye. To protect him and his image and ignore the evidence presented that he was involved with a minor. Gross behavior, honestly. I think the mangaka did an excellent job with showing the reality of how artists are protected—especially if they’re men.
I will definitely continue this series and look forward to the next volume. I need to see justice! Or at least see Imani sweat. 😤
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!
This book contains descriptions of ED, SA, grooming, alcoholism, and other dark topics. Please be aware of your triggers and take care of yourself!
That's Not Love Volume 1 took me by surprise, because I really didn't know what I was getting into with this manga. We follow Akane, a 40-year-old alcoholic mother and stay-at-home mother (with freelance work), and Yukari, a 40-year-old chiropractor. These two women met in middle school, and the story takes place back and forth between their middle school days and their current days as they face Yukari's past, taken form at an art gallery in a statue created by their former instructor, Imai.
The topics touched in the manga hit a bit closer to home than I expected and I felt so sympathetic toward all of our characters. While I didn't appreciate Akane's attitude toward certain things, I can see it could be a cultural difference, and she does come around in the end to become Yukari's biggest supporter, and I appreciate that immensely.
The art in this book was simple yet powerful, and I do think that was intentional. This story isn't meant to wow you with it's artwork, it's meant to grip you with it's meaning and intention behind it.
I'm curious to see where the rest of this story goes and the path of our characters in the future.
This book contains descriptions of ED, SA, grooming, alcoholism, and other dark topics. Please be aware of your triggers and take care of yourself!
That's Not Love Volume 1 took me by surprise, because I really didn't know what I was getting into with this manga. We follow Akane, a 40-year-old alcoholic mother and stay-at-home mother (with freelance work), and Yukari, a 40-year-old chiropractor. These two women met in middle school, and the story takes place back and forth between their middle school days and their current days as they face Yukari's past, taken form at an art gallery in a statue created by their former instructor, Imai.
The topics touched in the manga hit a bit closer to home than I expected and I felt so sympathetic toward all of our characters. While I didn't appreciate Akane's attitude toward certain things, I can see it could be a cultural difference, and she does come around in the end to become Yukari's biggest supporter, and I appreciate that immensely.
The art in this book was simple yet powerful, and I do think that was intentional. This story isn't meant to wow you with it's artwork, it's meant to grip you with it's meaning and intention behind it.
I'm curious to see where the rest of this story goes and the path of our characters in the future.
June 25, 2026
That is such a strong start to a series that threads upon such heavy and easily confusing matters! And by strong I don't mean dynamic and action-filled: it has a slow pace, unfurling one layer at a time, letting its characters come to better understandings one step at a time. But it does so thoughtfully and thoroughly, without making excuses for its characters, giving space to readers and characters to draw connections and reach conclusions and letting them have an impact. It's an incredibly valuable and relevant story about the rights to privacy regarding images of your own body, it's an adult story about reevaluating past experiences as a teen from experience, it's a teen story of being carried away by the idea of a "romance" with an adult man - both as a victim and an observer, both clueless at the time and confused - and standing by one another. I've only read this first volume so far (with many thanks to Kodansha and Netgally for the digital ARC) but it promises a strong story about female friendships, examination of interplay of artistic license with human dignity, and hopefully a lot more nuanced depictions of relationships among both younger and more middle aged women. I echo what some of the early readers said, too: I hope more libraries carry these volumes, too, to give teen girls everywhere a chance to recognize grooming and steer away from it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
• ARC Review •
[That's Not Love Vol 1]
🔥 Release Date: [May 26 2026] 🔥
Thank you to Kodansha Comics, Peko Watanabe and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
★★★★☆
This comic hit me harder than I expected. It’s quiet, heavy, and painfully honest in a way that sneaks up on you. Peko Watanabe takes something as universal as wanting to be loved and turns it into something raw and a little too real about what we’ll accept, what we mistake for affection, and how easily we can lose ourselves in the process.
The art style is deceptively simple, but every panel feels intentional. There’s so much emotion in the smallest details. The hesitation in a glance, the weight in a silence, the way someone folds in on themselves when they think no one is looking. It’s restrained in a way that lets the discomfort settle without ever feeling exaggerated.
The emotional honesty cuts the deepest. Nothing is sensationalized. It’s all laid bare. The confusion, the longing, the self doubt, and that slow, creeping realization that what feels like affection isn’t always love. It’s uncomfortable in the way truth tends to be, but also strangely grounding.
This isn’t loud or dramatic. It lingers. It makes you sit with it. And it’s not easy to shake.
[That's Not Love Vol 1]
🔥 Release Date: [May 26 2026] 🔥
Thank you to Kodansha Comics, Peko Watanabe and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
★★★★☆
This comic hit me harder than I expected. It’s quiet, heavy, and painfully honest in a way that sneaks up on you. Peko Watanabe takes something as universal as wanting to be loved and turns it into something raw and a little too real about what we’ll accept, what we mistake for affection, and how easily we can lose ourselves in the process.
The art style is deceptively simple, but every panel feels intentional. There’s so much emotion in the smallest details. The hesitation in a glance, the weight in a silence, the way someone folds in on themselves when they think no one is looking. It’s restrained in a way that lets the discomfort settle without ever feeling exaggerated.
The emotional honesty cuts the deepest. Nothing is sensationalized. It’s all laid bare. The confusion, the longing, the self doubt, and that slow, creeping realization that what feels like affection isn’t always love. It’s uncomfortable in the way truth tends to be, but also strangely grounding.
This isn’t loud or dramatic. It lingers. It makes you sit with it. And it’s not easy to shake.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"We are just two insignificant, middle-aged women. What can we do? Can we protect anything? Salvage anything? I don't know but I've decided that I'm done turning my back on things"
It's a story about the victim of a child grooming, a 14 year old middle school student who had a relationship with the art teacher. Now 26 years after, inspired by the nude picture he took of her in the past, he made an entire sculpture of hers and it's all open as part of his art exhibition where everyone can see it.
In the world where the revenge porn is rampant and not taken seriously, what of art? What if the act of spreading the nudes without consent was labeled as art where the creator can claimed that's only inspired him a little thus couldn't be said as revenge porn. The only one who knows about it is the victim herself as she was there and knew fully well the shape of her body etc
It is disheartening when not many people aware of child grooming that even if they did love each other in the past, a child couldn't give a full consent.
This manga is about two middle aged Japanese women trying to find justice, it sounds hopeless but they are trying 😭
Thanks Kodansha and NetGalley for the ARC
It's a story about the victim of a child grooming, a 14 year old middle school student who had a relationship with the art teacher. Now 26 years after, inspired by the nude picture he took of her in the past, he made an entire sculpture of hers and it's all open as part of his art exhibition where everyone can see it.
In the world where the revenge porn is rampant and not taken seriously, what of art? What if the act of spreading the nudes without consent was labeled as art where the creator can claimed that's only inspired him a little thus couldn't be said as revenge porn. The only one who knows about it is the victim herself as she was there and knew fully well the shape of her body etc
It is disheartening when not many people aware of child grooming that even if they did love each other in the past, a child couldn't give a full consent.
This manga is about two middle aged Japanese women trying to find justice, it sounds hopeless but they are trying 😭
Thanks Kodansha and NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
That's Not Love is josei and it's depressing, but in a good way. Akane is forty years old and her life isn't basically going anywhere. She goes to see an art exhibition by her former art teacher, Mr. Imai. The guy is a sculptor and the main piece of the exhibition looks familiar. It's a sculpture of a naked girl and Akane recognizes it to be her former friend Yukari. Yukari changed schools and now Akane feels the need to do something about the situation, since it wasn't love, right? The relationship between Mr. Imai and Yukari. The setting is hollow and sad as we get into the situation little by little. Watanabe is good at giving info slowly and making the whole thing still understandable. It's a hard thing to do well so that the story doesn't feel like trying to make the situation normal. Still, perhaps I wanted more, more things from the past, feelings and the personas of these girls to understand.
The art looks very realistic and normal, I enjoyed the crinkles around the eyes and all that. Still, this felt slightly distant, which is a shame. You don't really see topics like this in manga and perhaps trying to find the best way to do it isn't easy. I hope we get more manga like this. We need more manga like this.
The art looks very realistic and normal, I enjoyed the crinkles around the eyes and all that. Still, this felt slightly distant, which is a shame. You don't really see topics like this in manga and perhaps trying to find the best way to do it isn't easy. I hope we get more manga like this. We need more manga like this.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
CW: grooming, sexual abuse of a minor, alcoholism, disordered eating
What seems normal when you're fourteen can seem downright terrifying when you're forty. Akane was jealous of her friend Yukari's "relationship" with their cram school teacher back then, but when she sees a sculpture in a show of his that looks like fourteen-year-old Yukari's naked torso, her perspective suddenly changes. A child and an adult can't be in a mutual romantic relationship. And it isn't okay for him to display art based on someone's body without her consent.
The most remarkable aspect of this book is the pacing. There's no "aha!" moment; it's a slow climb to both Akane and Yukari coming to terms with the past and moving to take charge of the future. It also doesn't villainize all men or paint all women as allies; it's about specific people rather than entire genders...and it's also about societies that would sweep crimes under the rug or excuse them as "art."
It's a lot. It's hard to handle, and there's no guarantee Yukari will get justice. But recognizing the problem, even two people at a time, is important. This book is a first step.
What seems normal when you're fourteen can seem downright terrifying when you're forty. Akane was jealous of her friend Yukari's "relationship" with their cram school teacher back then, but when she sees a sculpture in a show of his that looks like fourteen-year-old Yukari's naked torso, her perspective suddenly changes. A child and an adult can't be in a mutual romantic relationship. And it isn't okay for him to display art based on someone's body without her consent.
The most remarkable aspect of this book is the pacing. There's no "aha!" moment; it's a slow climb to both Akane and Yukari coming to terms with the past and moving to take charge of the future. It also doesn't villainize all men or paint all women as allies; it's about specific people rather than entire genders...and it's also about societies that would sweep crimes under the rug or excuse them as "art."
It's a lot. It's hard to handle, and there's no guarantee Yukari will get justice. But recognizing the problem, even two people at a time, is important. This book is a first step.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would first like to thank NetGalley, Kodansha, and the author for providing me with a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t think I have too much to say about this volume – only because it’s only the first in the series, and I really want to read more of it. I do think, so far in this story, it has done very well of doing the exposition without losing my interest as the reader. I also think it does a good job of describing not only childhood trauma but also how you can see the things you went through as an adult through a new lense that can help you process it more clearly. I appreciate the way that it is only now that Akane is realizing that something bad might have happened to Yukari.
I want to see what happens next before I judge the story too much. I mostly just hope that Yukari can get the justice she deserves and Akane can overcome the guilt of not helping her when they were younger by helping her now.
Overall, I would rate this first volume with a 5 out of 5 star rating. I can’t wait to read the next volumes when they are released.
I don’t think I have too much to say about this volume – only because it’s only the first in the series, and I really want to read more of it. I do think, so far in this story, it has done very well of doing the exposition without losing my interest as the reader. I also think it does a good job of describing not only childhood trauma but also how you can see the things you went through as an adult through a new lense that can help you process it more clearly. I appreciate the way that it is only now that Akane is realizing that something bad might have happened to Yukari.
I want to see what happens next before I judge the story too much. I mostly just hope that Yukari can get the justice she deserves and Akane can overcome the guilt of not helping her when they were younger by helping her now.
Overall, I would rate this first volume with a 5 out of 5 star rating. I can’t wait to read the next volumes when they are released.
Read
June 1, 2026Some stories are very loud, this is not one. It is a quiet telling of the listlessness middle aged life can bring with choices that we made or maybe didn't. We are introduced to our housewife who gave up her career when she had her daughter. She now works freelance but feel lonely and lost. She is self medicating and we see some of the repercussions of this. She had a friend in middle school who she cared about but also didn't treat right because of jealousy. The guilt of this brought back and she wonders what she should have done. She is putting a lot on her young self, it is a bit sad honestly. Her friend, is dealing with the memories in a different way. She wonders how much of a role she played in her past.
6/6 stars
6/6 stars
June 18, 2026
This is a heavy read but worth it. I knew based on the description that this book was dealing with very sensitive subjects and I think Watanabe handles them deftly.
However, I wasn't expecting to get as emotional as I did while reading. I am 40, just like Akane and Yukari. While I don't necessarily have the exact kind of past trauma they are dealing with, I really identify with them slowly coming to terms with what happened and the ways they are coping. The way Watanabe writes and illustrates these characters feels so real. I found myself crying as one character asked another, "...it's about basic human rights, isn't it?" Because that's really what it comes down to in power imbalance situations; especially when children are involved.
I also liked the growth of Akane throughout this volume. She's flawed, but is trying to make up for past wrongs. I'm looking forward to seeing how she and Yukari navigate their traumas and fight back in the next volume of this Manga.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
However, I wasn't expecting to get as emotional as I did while reading. I am 40, just like Akane and Yukari. While I don't necessarily have the exact kind of past trauma they are dealing with, I really identify with them slowly coming to terms with what happened and the ways they are coping. The way Watanabe writes and illustrates these characters feels so real. I found myself crying as one character asked another, "...it's about basic human rights, isn't it?" Because that's really what it comes down to in power imbalance situations; especially when children are involved.
I also liked the growth of Akane throughout this volume. She's flawed, but is trying to make up for past wrongs. I'm looking forward to seeing how she and Yukari navigate their traumas and fight back in the next volume of this Manga.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 11, 2026
That's Not Love features two adults, Akane and Yukari, who were middle school friends until their cram school teacher starts a relationship with Yukari, driving a wedge between them until Yukari moves away. Many years later, said teacher is now an artist, and the centrepiece of his newest exhibition has an uncanny resemblance to a nude photo he took of 14 year old Yukari, and upon seeing this, Akane decides to reach out to Yukari, and see if she can help her in a way she failed to do so many years before.
Naturally, this is not a lighthearted manga, and focuses around themes of consent, and coming to terms with the actions of your younger self. There wasn't as much discussion around abuse as I anticipated, given the whole teacher x 14 year old relationship, but I suspect that this might be built on in volume 2 (which, I'm itching to read, because I need justice for Yukari!). There is also a brief mention of an ED, just as a warning for anyone who finds that sensitive, but it is only a one-off mention.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!
Naturally, this is not a lighthearted manga, and focuses around themes of consent, and coming to terms with the actions of your younger self. There wasn't as much discussion around abuse as I anticipated, given the whole teacher x 14 year old relationship, but I suspect that this might be built on in volume 2 (which, I'm itching to read, because I need justice for Yukari!). There is also a brief mention of an ED, just as a warning for anyone who finds that sensitive, but it is only a one-off mention.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The artwork gives the correct feel to this comic with heart and a dark ‘me too’ side. Akane and Yukara were school friends. Brought together by loneliness. But friends don’t necessarily last.
Akane, now forty, not happy with her mundane life has a reason to look Yukara up. She seen a statue. that has a scar like Yukara showed her, and she’s feeling bad that all those years ago she didn’t help her when she needed it. A statue created by their school art teacher. What did happen all those years ago.
As I mentioned the story delves into a relationship that was more than inappropriate and the idea that artists and their work are beyond consequences.
This is vol 1, and leaves the reader at an important point in Akane’s and Yukara’s story.
Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the comic ARC.
Akane, now forty, not happy with her mundane life has a reason to look Yukara up. She seen a statue. that has a scar like Yukara showed her, and she’s feeling bad that all those years ago she didn’t help her when she needed it. A statue created by their school art teacher. What did happen all those years ago.
As I mentioned the story delves into a relationship that was more than inappropriate and the idea that artists and their work are beyond consequences.
This is vol 1, and leaves the reader at an important point in Akane’s and Yukara’s story.
Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the comic ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A unique, engaging story with a clear and pretty art style. I love that this is focused on two women in their forties, and all the life and history that comes with time. This felt like an engaging beginning to the series, with hints about Yukari's past and Akane's own troubles. I read this quickly, but went through a range of emotions in relation to these characters, anger, surprise, and worry among them. Akane clearly wants to make things right and support Yukari as she navigates the feelings around discovering their former teacher has made a sculpture of her. I found Mr. Imai and his manager/wife infuriating when confronted by these two women. It would be incredibly gratifying to see Yukari find closure, and I am very curious to see how this will play out.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the digital ARC!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the digital ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
[ARC provided by NetGalley]
This was a very intriguing start.
The story tackles heavy themes such as sexual assault and bulimia, and what truly makes your blood boil is the way these events are recounted by the protagonists.
The idea that full-grown adults –parents, even – define a relationship between a 14-year-old girl and a professor as acceptable is deeply disturbing. The way it is clamide as “love,” and later as an “artistic pursuit,” made my blood boil and it also highlights how easily abuse against young girls can be normalized, especially when the man involved is charismatic or powerful.
By the end of this first volume, it seems that the protagonists are beginning to grasp the gravity of the situation, so I hope the author will go on to clearly condemn the professor’s actions in future volumes. I’m looking forward to it!
This was a very intriguing start.
The story tackles heavy themes such as sexual assault and bulimia, and what truly makes your blood boil is the way these events are recounted by the protagonists.
The idea that full-grown adults –parents, even – define a relationship between a 14-year-old girl and a professor as acceptable is deeply disturbing. The way it is clamide as “love,” and later as an “artistic pursuit,” made my blood boil and it also highlights how easily abuse against young girls can be normalized, especially when the man involved is charismatic or powerful.
By the end of this first volume, it seems that the protagonists are beginning to grasp the gravity of the situation, so I hope the author will go on to clearly condemn the professor’s actions in future volumes. I’m looking forward to it!
May 29, 2026
That's Not Love is about two women, who were once high school friends, find a sculpture at an art gallery which was created by their cram school teacher.
Both Yukari and Akane were 14 years old at the time.
Yukari was smitten or "in love" with their cram teacher Imai-sensei, who took advantage of Yukari and took pictures of her (with consent at the time).
At one point Yukari signals to Akane for help, but Akane said goodbye and left without doing anything.
Many years later, after seeing the sculpture, Yukari feels violated and seeks Imai-sensei to remove the sculpture...
Akane and Yukari try to seek answers from the past and present. How will this all end?
This manga is based on the Me Too Movement in Japan, and I'm happy that there is a manga to address these issues.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for this ARC!
Both Yukari and Akane were 14 years old at the time.
Yukari was smitten or "in love" with their cram teacher Imai-sensei, who took advantage of Yukari and took pictures of her (with consent at the time).
At one point Yukari signals to Akane for help, but Akane said goodbye and left without doing anything.
Many years later, after seeing the sculpture, Yukari feels violated and seeks Imai-sensei to remove the sculpture...
Akane and Yukari try to seek answers from the past and present. How will this all end?
This manga is based on the Me Too Movement in Japan, and I'm happy that there is a manga to address these issues.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a good one.
When we meet Akane (and later Yukari), it's the women at age 40 - but this whole volume is about how things in their past (bullying, an eating disorder, and mostly overall Yukari having been groomed by her cram school teacher) affect them in this part of their life too. I'll definitely be interested to read the story as it develops, although of course I worry that just like in real life there won't be any real consequences for this man.
I don't want to say too much here, but I think it's something a lot of people can read and relate to in some way or another (even if it's just, we sure do live in a society!).
Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC for review.
When we meet Akane (and later Yukari), it's the women at age 40 - but this whole volume is about how things in their past (bullying, an eating disorder, and mostly overall Yukari having been groomed by her cram school teacher) affect them in this part of their life too. I'll definitely be interested to read the story as it develops, although of course I worry that just like in real life there won't be any real consequences for this man.
I don't want to say too much here, but I think it's something a lot of people can read and relate to in some way or another (even if it's just, we sure do live in a society!).
Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC for review.
June 7, 2026
The art is okay. A main character in her forties is new to me, and I'm grateful for it. It depicts a forty-year-old woman who is stuck and tries to reconnect with an old high school friend.
While the story handles the emotional weight of revenge p*rn with some sensitivity, I'm concerned that the core issue with the predator is treated as just being about the statue itself. Him being a teacher preying on his student is not even mentioned as a literal crime, instead, it is framed as true love by the protagonist. Maybe it will be brought up in later volumes, but I'm not sure. I don't think I will pick up the next one.
Thank you Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for this ARC.
While the story handles the emotional weight of revenge p*rn with some sensitivity, I'm concerned that the core issue with the predator is treated as just being about the statue itself. Him being a teacher preying on his student is not even mentioned as a literal crime, instead, it is framed as true love by the protagonist. Maybe it will be brought up in later volumes, but I'm not sure. I don't think I will pick up the next one.
Thank you Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for this ARC.
July 24, 2026
What happens when something from your past affects your whole future and your ability to cope?
Akane is a mother in her forties who stumbles on an art exhibit featuring an old cram school teacher of hers. One of the pieces resembles her old friend Yukari so much that Akane reaches out to her.
I wasn't expecting such heavy topics and was really impressed with how the author depicted all the emotional trauma we as people bury just to survive our pasts. The art was incredible and the real raw feeling of the dialogue came through very strong.
I want to know how they overcome this and find justice for their younger selves.
Akane is a mother in her forties who stumbles on an art exhibit featuring an old cram school teacher of hers. One of the pieces resembles her old friend Yukari so much that Akane reaches out to her.
I wasn't expecting such heavy topics and was really impressed with how the author depicted all the emotional trauma we as people bury just to survive our pasts. The art was incredible and the real raw feeling of the dialogue came through very strong.
I want to know how they overcome this and find justice for their younger selves.
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