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Would It Be Okay to Love You? #1
Would it be Okay to Love You?
A robot fanboy. An erotic voice actor. When love comes calling, will they shed their armor?
Sato’s only long-term relationship is the one he shares with his Gundam collectibles. He dreams about the kind of unconditional love his parents enjoy. If only he could break out of his shell, he might find his special someone…
Outgoing playboy Aoi has sworn off relationships. He knows they only distract him from his budding voice acting career. He’s earned a few loyal fans, and if he keeps at it, he may even earn enough to never worry about being evicted again…
When Sato meets Aoi at the local anime store, there’s definitely a spark. But even as they tread carefully, their commitment issues and Aoi’s troubled past soon muck things up before they can start. In order for Sato and Aoi to have their happily-ever-after, they’ll both have to take a leap of faith… and hope to be caught.
Would It Be Okay to Love You? is the first book in a gay romance series set in Japan. If you like original characters, nerd culture, and simmering chemistry, then you’ll love Amy Tasukada’s charming multicultural love story.
Sato’s only long-term relationship is the one he shares with his Gundam collectibles. He dreams about the kind of unconditional love his parents enjoy. If only he could break out of his shell, he might find his special someone…
Outgoing playboy Aoi has sworn off relationships. He knows they only distract him from his budding voice acting career. He’s earned a few loyal fans, and if he keeps at it, he may even earn enough to never worry about being evicted again…
When Sato meets Aoi at the local anime store, there’s definitely a spark. But even as they tread carefully, their commitment issues and Aoi’s troubled past soon muck things up before they can start. In order for Sato and Aoi to have their happily-ever-after, they’ll both have to take a leap of faith… and hope to be caught.
Would It Be Okay to Love You? is the first book in a gay romance series set in Japan. If you like original characters, nerd culture, and simmering chemistry, then you’ll love Amy Tasukada’s charming multicultural love story.
194 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2017
96 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
Amy Tasukada
17 books82 followersInternational best-selling author Amy Tasukada writes thrilling times of crime, love, and gore. Readers who crave diverse characters, unique settings, and edge-of-your-seat action will devour her Yakuza Path series. Readers who seek less blood and more love will swoon over the Yakuza Path Romance and Would it Be Okay to Love You? Series. Amy is an atheist, queer author who enjoys drinking tea, Japanese street fashion and visual kei music. Her calico cat, O’Hara, is never far from her side. Amy lives in North Texas, but is always planning her next trip to Japan. Amy is also sought-after speaker for her lectures on author newsletters, writing LGBT+ characters, and cultural proficiency, diversity, and inclusion.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 71 reviews
September 18, 2024
3.5 Stars
So unknowingly, I read book #2 first, which just to let you know, I rarely purposely read out of order if I can avoid it. I obviously enjoyed it so much that I was curious enough to find out how Aoi and Sato first met. I wasn’t disappointed.
I’m going to repeat what I said before as well. This too, was really cuuuuute.
Aoi is a major flirt, a struggling voice artist who’s carefree with his sexuality and is not opposed to a casual hookup. He’s slowly gaining momentum voicing “boy love” manga, and feels he’s in a place to maybe just take a step back, concentrate on his career, and avoid shallow hookups for awhile. Well, sticking to that plan proves to be difficult, especially when he keeps running into attractive nerdy accountant, Sato.
Sato is the complete opposite of Aoi - awkward, shy, inexperienced in dating and flirting. Though Sato would like more with the outgoing Aoi, he’s more than content to settle on the friendship that Aoi insists upon. Of course, as these two get to know each other, that's easier said than done.
Aoi and Sato have so much to give, and it was wonderful watching them find that special someone in the other. Throw in some nice UST and build up, with a dash of sexy (tho disappointingly dropping the ball on exploring all of Sato’s virgin inexperience). This was seriously sweet and endearing, with a little twisty thrown in.
So again, nothing crazy dramatic. If you want easy and grounded in reality, this is a great simple love story about two guys that are just darn likeable and adorable.
So unknowingly, I read book #2 first, which just to let you know, I rarely purposely read out of order if I can avoid it. I obviously enjoyed it so much that I was curious enough to find out how Aoi and Sato first met. I wasn’t disappointed.
I’m going to repeat what I said before as well. This too, was really cuuuuute.
Aoi is a major flirt, a struggling voice artist who’s carefree with his sexuality and is not opposed to a casual hookup. He’s slowly gaining momentum voicing “boy love” manga, and feels he’s in a place to maybe just take a step back, concentrate on his career, and avoid shallow hookups for awhile. Well, sticking to that plan proves to be difficult, especially when he keeps running into attractive nerdy accountant, Sato.
Sato is the complete opposite of Aoi - awkward, shy, inexperienced in dating and flirting. Though Sato would like more with the outgoing Aoi, he’s more than content to settle on the friendship that Aoi insists upon. Of course, as these two get to know each other, that's easier said than done.
Aoi and Sato have so much to give, and it was wonderful watching them find that special someone in the other. Throw in some nice UST and build up, with a dash of sexy (tho disappointingly dropping the ball on exploring all of Sato’s virgin inexperience). This was seriously sweet and endearing, with a little twisty thrown in.
So again, nothing crazy dramatic. If you want easy and grounded in reality, this is a great simple love story about two guys that are just darn likeable and adorable.
May 28, 2018
3,5
Como fujoshi este libro me ha encantado, pero no puedo pasar por alto algún que otro fallo de edición por lo que redondear a 4 se me está resistiendo.
Deseando leer la continuación, eso sí, que esta pareja de otaku + seiyuu de BL, es genial, genial.
Como fujoshi este libro me ha encantado, pero no puedo pasar por alto algún que otro fallo de edición por lo que redondear a 4 se me está resistiendo.
Deseando leer la continuación, eso sí, que esta pareja de otaku + seiyuu de BL, es genial, genial.
Want to read
January 10, 2019Kindle freebie 1/10/19
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August 30, 2020This is a hard one to evaluate. I have mostly good things to say about it, but there's a giant BUT coming...
First of all, setting: This is set in contemporary Japan. One character is an accountant whose only hobby is watching Gundam and making Gundam figurines. The other is a voice "actor" (for what's basically audio porn) with connections to the visual rock scene. If you know absolutely nothing about Japan and never watch any movies set there or read manga, you may be a bit confused, but this definitely doesn't demand a high degree of familiarity, and you can ignore the details and focus on the characters. As someone who is familiar with the elements Tasukada describes, I found it easy to visualize.
I liked both characters and their awkward, opposites-attract flirtation. Well, one does all the flirting, but anyway, I thought the author did a good job showing what they liked about one another and the UST was strong. The pacing was decent and things seemed to be proceeding nicely and then it just... stopped. Like, I literally went back to check that I had actually read the whole book and not somehow missed a chapter or two. So at the end I was pretty disappointed after all that build-up not to see them get together.
First of all, setting: This is set in contemporary Japan. One character is an accountant whose only hobby is watching Gundam and making Gundam figurines. The other is a voice "actor" (for what's basically audio porn) with connections to the visual rock scene. If you know absolutely nothing about Japan and never watch any movies set there or read manga, you may be a bit confused, but this definitely doesn't demand a high degree of familiarity, and you can ignore the details and focus on the characters. As someone who is familiar with the elements Tasukada describes, I found it easy to visualize.
I liked both characters and their awkward, opposites-attract flirtation. Well, one does all the flirting, but anyway, I thought the author did a good job showing what they liked about one another and the UST was strong. The pacing was decent and things seemed to be proceeding nicely and then it just... stopped. Like, I literally went back to check that I had actually read the whole book and not somehow missed a chapter or two. So at the end I was pretty disappointed after all that build-up not to see them get together.
August 9, 2020
Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2018/01/23/...
Rating: 3.5 Stars - that place between like and love
Rating: 3.5 Stars - that place between like and love
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October 6, 2017A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
You guys, full disclaimer: there could not possibly be a book that better captures the aesthetic of what I experienced when I lived in Japan. Sato loves Gundam, I loved Gundam. Aoi goes to visual kei lives, I went to visual kei lives. Sato goes back to his family’s house for New Year’s, I went to my host family’s house for New Year’s. Aoi angsts over who to send New Year’s greeting cards to, I angsted over who to send greeting cards to. I mean, except for actually snagging the cool guy, I feel like this book embodies the life I used to live. For nostalgia purposes, I rate this book an 11.
I loved how nerdy but relatable Sato is as a character. He’s an adult working full time as an accountant. There’s a great balance of seeing him interact with that one annoying guy at work, but also interacting with his family. I liked seeing him in situations where he was not strictly in “hot-guy-talking-to-me-time-to-freak-out” mode. And as much as the narrative would have one believe Sato is the nerdiest nerd who ever nerded, he doesn’t actually come across as completely hopeless. For all that he loves Gundam, there was precious little mention of any specific series. I liked how the series cropped up organically in the book. Sato and Aoi both have reason to want to shop at stores specializing in anime-related goods and the Gundam section is a great place for Aoi to hide from overzealous fans of the boy’s love genre.
For me, it was interesting that the author only referenced “boy’s love.” While I cannot speak from an industry-insider perspective, my nerd-shopping experiences have given me the impression the M/M market is divvied up and what’s considered boy’s love is the tamest category. The kinds of acting Aoi does would probably fall under either the yaoi or june categories (yaoi being the term I used most often when interacting with fellow American fans and while I was an active fanfic writer…and later, I found that june was the really hot, explicit stuff). So as someone who pumped a lot of time and creative energy into this genre, I was a bit taken aback that this was not touched at all in the book. It may have been an intentional choice by the author to keep the reader from being overwhelmed…and there are parts of the story where I just automatically understood what was what or got a clear mental picture, but I wonder if someone who’s never lived in Japan would understand.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
You guys, full disclaimer: there could not possibly be a book that better captures the aesthetic of what I experienced when I lived in Japan. Sato loves Gundam, I loved Gundam. Aoi goes to visual kei lives, I went to visual kei lives. Sato goes back to his family’s house for New Year’s, I went to my host family’s house for New Year’s. Aoi angsts over who to send New Year’s greeting cards to, I angsted over who to send greeting cards to. I mean, except for actually snagging the cool guy, I feel like this book embodies the life I used to live. For nostalgia purposes, I rate this book an 11.
I loved how nerdy but relatable Sato is as a character. He’s an adult working full time as an accountant. There’s a great balance of seeing him interact with that one annoying guy at work, but also interacting with his family. I liked seeing him in situations where he was not strictly in “hot-guy-talking-to-me-time-to-freak-out” mode. And as much as the narrative would have one believe Sato is the nerdiest nerd who ever nerded, he doesn’t actually come across as completely hopeless. For all that he loves Gundam, there was precious little mention of any specific series. I liked how the series cropped up organically in the book. Sato and Aoi both have reason to want to shop at stores specializing in anime-related goods and the Gundam section is a great place for Aoi to hide from overzealous fans of the boy’s love genre.
For me, it was interesting that the author only referenced “boy’s love.” While I cannot speak from an industry-insider perspective, my nerd-shopping experiences have given me the impression the M/M market is divvied up and what’s considered boy’s love is the tamest category. The kinds of acting Aoi does would probably fall under either the yaoi or june categories (yaoi being the term I used most often when interacting with fellow American fans and while I was an active fanfic writer…and later, I found that june was the really hot, explicit stuff). So as someone who pumped a lot of time and creative energy into this genre, I was a bit taken aback that this was not touched at all in the book. It may have been an intentional choice by the author to keep the reader from being overwhelmed…and there are parts of the story where I just automatically understood what was what or got a clear mental picture, but I wonder if someone who’s never lived in Japan would understand.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
October 5, 2017
This book legit had everything I like in a romance book: slow burn, nerdy things and characters who seemed to be endearing (and very little sex, amen). A plus, obviously, was also the fact that it is set in Japan and I love reading romance books (or just books in general) set outside of the U.S.
But the connection just didn’t happen.
I’m still trying to figure out why, so maybe writing this review will help. Would it be okay to love you? has an interesting premise and good writing, but I could never connect with the characters. With the idea of them, yes – it’s impossible not to sympathize with Aoi’s money struggle or with his complicated non-relationship with his parents, or understand Sato’s desire for a relationship. On the surface, everything is perfect – but book never quite manages to make both characters seem real.
To make matters worse, the relationship between Aoi and Sato just isn’t interesting. There is no chemistry (and here I’m not talking in the sexual attraction sense – just chemistry) and its central conflict is too weak and solved too easily. It was basically just Aoi realizing he likes Sato and that’s it. Relationship problems solved!
The ending also came out of nowhere. Things weren’t tied up nicely. At one moment Aoi is isolating himself from everyone because he isn’t getting any jobs & blames himself for a certain accident for no reason and the next moment everything is fine, he has jobs and the urge to isolate himself is gone. I wanted to see this process, to understand his development, but the story doesn’t give me the chance to do so.
And that’s the problem with it. Too much happens too fast with very little development and because of that the ending feels unsatisfying. Still, I enjoyed some of the book: its setting and the idea of both characters’ personalities, mainly.
In conclusion, Would it be okay to love you? had a good premise and could have had good characters, but the execution was too weak to make that happen. 2.0 stars.
But the connection just didn’t happen.
I’m still trying to figure out why, so maybe writing this review will help. Would it be okay to love you? has an interesting premise and good writing, but I could never connect with the characters. With the idea of them, yes – it’s impossible not to sympathize with Aoi’s money struggle or with his complicated non-relationship with his parents, or understand Sato’s desire for a relationship. On the surface, everything is perfect – but book never quite manages to make both characters seem real.
To make matters worse, the relationship between Aoi and Sato just isn’t interesting. There is no chemistry (and here I’m not talking in the sexual attraction sense – just chemistry) and its central conflict is too weak and solved too easily. It was basically just Aoi realizing he likes Sato and that’s it. Relationship problems solved!
The ending also came out of nowhere. Things weren’t tied up nicely. At one moment Aoi is isolating himself from everyone because he isn’t getting any jobs & blames himself for a certain accident for no reason and the next moment everything is fine, he has jobs and the urge to isolate himself is gone. I wanted to see this process, to understand his development, but the story doesn’t give me the chance to do so.
And that’s the problem with it. Too much happens too fast with very little development and because of that the ending feels unsatisfying. Still, I enjoyed some of the book: its setting and the idea of both characters’ personalities, mainly.
In conclusion, Would it be okay to love you? had a good premise and could have had good characters, but the execution was too weak to make that happen. 2.0 stars.
September 29, 2017
Mostly sweet with a bit of cheekiness thanks to Aoi and his not so subtle innuendos, I found this story to be an enjoyable read of opposites attract. Sato is adorably nerdy and inexperienced, while Aoi is more hip and worldly. But something between them just clicks, and no matter how much Aoi tries to say they can’t date or become more so he can concentrate on his career, the relationship between them is inevitable.
It was easy for me to identify with Sato with the quiet, unsure way he had about him. Aoi was a bit naughty at times with what he would say to Sato, even if what he said might have gone right over Sato’s head at the time. Aoi is not the type of person you’d expect to settle for one guy given his past track record, but I think Sato’s stability is one of the things that appealed to Aoi since Aoi’s never really had that himself since he’s been on his own.
This story was a fun, quick read and I really liked both Aoi and Sato’s characters. Would It Be Okay To Love You? gets a very solid 4 stars from me, and I would definitely recommend it to any M/M romance fan. If you’re a fan of Japanese culture, then that will be another plus with this book for you. This story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
It was easy for me to identify with Sato with the quiet, unsure way he had about him. Aoi was a bit naughty at times with what he would say to Sato, even if what he said might have gone right over Sato’s head at the time. Aoi is not the type of person you’d expect to settle for one guy given his past track record, but I think Sato’s stability is one of the things that appealed to Aoi since Aoi’s never really had that himself since he’s been on his own.
This story was a fun, quick read and I really liked both Aoi and Sato’s characters. Would It Be Okay To Love You? gets a very solid 4 stars from me, and I would definitely recommend it to any M/M romance fan. If you’re a fan of Japanese culture, then that will be another plus with this book for you. This story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
September 19, 2017
I loved Would it Be Okay to Love You? by Amy Tasukada. I loved getting to read how Sato and Aoi met for the first time and how they progressed from friends to boyfriends. This was a cute and sweet story with lots of innuendoes from Aoi that usually went right over Sato's head. I loved how much Sato blushed. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
September 11, 2020
I honestly have to say that this was a quick book. I read it in a day. I did find the story a bit boring for me. I needed to see more chemistry between the two guys and I didn’t see it.
September 24, 2017
I received this as an arc from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
So this was partially a case of missed expectations by a long shot. I went into this misguidedly thinking I had found a partially own voices gay asian romance novel by an asian author. I was wrong on that count which isnt the books fault more fault of my not researching properly before requesting. It only dampened my desire to continue slightly.
That aside I did not enjoy this book. I did not enjoy how Sato and Aoi's relationship developed at all. And found at times Aoi to be gaslighting Sato especially with that "friendship kiss". This book mainly felt as though it was just one weird happenstance after another and just culturally did not feel like Japan to me.
Sato's sister agreeing to go on a fake date and everything from the broken leg in the shower just felt off. Like there was a disconnect in the story itself. Also as a gundam fan I have to say Sunrise would never give up the rights to another smaller company for even a couple seasons. So while Sato working for his favorite animes studio made sense if you are already using Gundam you might as well just use Sunrise as the studio.
Even from the perspective of light fluff this didnt work for me. The issue with Aoi's parents felt terribly flat and wasnt developed well at all. Maybe if it had been longer but overall this book and I did not jive which is unfortunate
So this was partially a case of missed expectations by a long shot. I went into this misguidedly thinking I had found a partially own voices gay asian romance novel by an asian author. I was wrong on that count which isnt the books fault more fault of my not researching properly before requesting. It only dampened my desire to continue slightly.
That aside I did not enjoy this book. I did not enjoy how Sato and Aoi's relationship developed at all. And found at times Aoi to be gaslighting Sato especially with that "friendship kiss". This book mainly felt as though it was just one weird happenstance after another and just culturally did not feel like Japan to me.
Sato's sister agreeing to go on a fake date and everything from the broken leg in the shower just felt off. Like there was a disconnect in the story itself. Also as a gundam fan I have to say Sunrise would never give up the rights to another smaller company for even a couple seasons. So while Sato working for his favorite animes studio made sense if you are already using Gundam you might as well just use Sunrise as the studio.
Even from the perspective of light fluff this didnt work for me. The issue with Aoi's parents felt terribly flat and wasnt developed well at all. Maybe if it had been longer but overall this book and I did not jive which is unfortunate
September 25, 2017
(actual rating: 3.5)
I love this book's title!
It really represents both characters. Both Aoi and Sato are insecure in their own way and both think they do not deserve the other.
This sounds like a sweet love story, doesn't it? And it is one, but the specialness I expected at the beginning wasn't delivered. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice read and it does not fetishize japanese men or culture (I'm totally sub-reviewing a different book here, but I couldn't help myself).
We get a good look at living in poverty (or at the edge of it) without it being aggressively in your face. Instead it's simply there, being shown in the way Aoi lives and thinks which makes is even more heartbreaking in my eyes. And then there is Sato who is just so awkwardly nerdy and cute. They make a great couple.
But the ending kinda ruined it for me. "Aoi's troubled past soon muck things up" (quote taken from the description) isn't as big of a plot point as I thought. It is there, but there isn't enough detail... or feeling... in it. It's just solved too easily and too fast. Because of this the ending feels really rushed and not finished somehow.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy through Signal Boost Promotions in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
I love this book's title!
It really represents both characters. Both Aoi and Sato are insecure in their own way and both think they do not deserve the other.
This sounds like a sweet love story, doesn't it? And it is one, but the specialness I expected at the beginning wasn't delivered. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice read and it does not fetishize japanese men or culture (I'm totally sub-reviewing a different book here, but I couldn't help myself).
We get a good look at living in poverty (or at the edge of it) without it being aggressively in your face. Instead it's simply there, being shown in the way Aoi lives and thinks which makes is even more heartbreaking in my eyes. And then there is Sato who is just so awkwardly nerdy and cute. They make a great couple.
But the ending kinda ruined it for me. "Aoi's troubled past soon muck things up" (quote taken from the description) isn't as big of a plot point as I thought. It is there, but there isn't enough detail... or feeling... in it. It's just solved too easily and too fast. Because of this the ending feels really rushed and not finished somehow.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy through Signal Boost Promotions in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
September 19, 2017
A book to warm your heart and make you smile. A lot. ^^
It's no secret I enjoy Amy's writing no matter if it's a cute fluff story or a thriller filled with twists and passion.
Would it be Okay to Love You? is from the cute side and oh my! can it get much cuter? In this novel we finally learn how Aoi and Sato met and couldn't resist what pulled them together despite their attempts at "this is not a date" and "we're just friends".
Everyone who enjoys sweet romance and blooming love will enjoy this book. However, if you are anime fan it will fascinate you twice as much because you'll glimpse some words, gestures and occurrences the style of which in unmistakable.
Would it be Okay to Love You? is about those little meaningful moments that show love in its best light.
It's no secret I enjoy Amy's writing no matter if it's a cute fluff story or a thriller filled with twists and passion.
Would it be Okay to Love You? is from the cute side and oh my! can it get much cuter? In this novel we finally learn how Aoi and Sato met and couldn't resist what pulled them together despite their attempts at "this is not a date" and "we're just friends".
Everyone who enjoys sweet romance and blooming love will enjoy this book. However, if you are anime fan it will fascinate you twice as much because you'll glimpse some words, gestures and occurrences the style of which in unmistakable.
Would it be Okay to Love You? is about those little meaningful moments that show love in its best light.
September 30, 2017
Sato is a businessman with a love for manga and robots. Aoi is a voice actor in manga drama. The two meet on New Years, and while both feel a spark, Aoi is not looking for a relationship, so the two strike up a friendship that proves difficult to maintain when both want more.
If you're looking for sweet romance without a lot of drama, then you will like this. The storyline bordered on boring, but the characters and their lives and cultures were so different from what I usually read that it kept me interested. Aoi's job seems really interesting and I would have like to hear more about that. Sato is just a sweet character through and through.
Review copy provided in exchange for my honest review
If you're looking for sweet romance without a lot of drama, then you will like this. The storyline bordered on boring, but the characters and their lives and cultures were so different from what I usually read that it kept me interested. Aoi's job seems really interesting and I would have like to hear more about that. Sato is just a sweet character through and through.
Review copy provided in exchange for my honest review
Want to read
May 16, 20185/16/18 Currently FREE via Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Would-Be-Okay-...
April 16, 2022
I'm going to be nice and go with a 3 on this one. It was basically okay. Just sort of boring. I didn't see any spark between Aoi and Sato. They were total opposites and Aoi seemed sort of stuck up to me. Everything just felt flat and one dimensional. I don't know what it was really, I just couldn't connect to the story or the characters. The story didn't go anywhere. it was just there and plodding. I'd heard good things about the author so i picked up this book. I'll give her another go with a different series and see if it was just these two characters or if it's the writing style. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't very engaging.
May 18, 2018
Cute romance
This immerses you into part of Japanese culture, with references to specific types of anime, manga, and pop culture. Though the two leads are older than teens, the interplay between them feels younger than it should. Sato is inexperienced at flirting - and beyond. Aoi is too comfortable with it, using sex as currency to survive, from voice acting to meals.
They meet and are intrigued by each other; a slow, awkwardly building romance stifled by their own doubts, for different reasons. I was cheering for them to find a happily ever after, as well as personal peace, throughout.
There's a happy at the moment ending, with some lingering plot points to lead into the sequels.
This immerses you into part of Japanese culture, with references to specific types of anime, manga, and pop culture. Though the two leads are older than teens, the interplay between them feels younger than it should. Sato is inexperienced at flirting - and beyond. Aoi is too comfortable with it, using sex as currency to survive, from voice acting to meals.
They meet and are intrigued by each other; a slow, awkwardly building romance stifled by their own doubts, for different reasons. I was cheering for them to find a happily ever after, as well as personal peace, throughout.
There's a happy at the moment ending, with some lingering plot points to lead into the sequels.
September 23, 2017
Would it be Okay to Love You? is a sweet and touching story that I really enjoyed. This is my first time reading this author, and the blurb really caught my attention. I understand this is kind of a backstory or origin story for Aoi and Sato, characters she's written before. And I'm so glad to know there's more material about these guys out there because I really liked their story.
This is the first M/M story I've read that's been set in Japan, so I didn't know exactly what to expect going in. But I do sometimes pick up yaoi manga, and if you do, too, then this book is going to feel very familiar... in a good way. There were scenes that I could just see as if they were panels in a manga... I could see exactly what Aoi's face would look like here, could picture exactly how a mangaka would illustrate that movement, could almost picture the thought and speech bubbles, and so on. In that respect, the writing was so very well done. It helped build the visual imagery without being overpoweringly manga-like.
The characters themselves were completely adorable yet realistic. They both had such internal struggles to work through, and I could relate to both of them. Sato's insecurity and lack of confidence was palpable, and I just wanted to give Aoi a big hug but also shake him until he realized just how much he's loved by his friends - particularly Jin, ohmygosh how I loved Jin - and Sato. Their story did frustrate me a bit during the second quarter or so; Aoi is very reluctant to admit to Sato that he wants a relationship, though it's so obvious that they both want the same thing. And Sato's just pleased to have Aoi in his life any way he can have him - it made my heart hurt. I couldn't help but cheer these guys on.
This doesn't end in an HEA - rather it's an HFN - but their story doesn't end at the conclusion of this book. The next book in the series, Year One, is out now and gives small glimpses into their lives each month for a year. I'm looking forward to picking it up and continuing Aoi and Sato's story!
A copy of this book was received for review on OMGReads.
This is the first M/M story I've read that's been set in Japan, so I didn't know exactly what to expect going in. But I do sometimes pick up yaoi manga, and if you do, too, then this book is going to feel very familiar... in a good way. There were scenes that I could just see as if they were panels in a manga... I could see exactly what Aoi's face would look like here, could picture exactly how a mangaka would illustrate that movement, could almost picture the thought and speech bubbles, and so on. In that respect, the writing was so very well done. It helped build the visual imagery without being overpoweringly manga-like.
The characters themselves were completely adorable yet realistic. They both had such internal struggles to work through, and I could relate to both of them. Sato's insecurity and lack of confidence was palpable, and I just wanted to give Aoi a big hug but also shake him until he realized just how much he's loved by his friends - particularly Jin, ohmygosh how I loved Jin - and Sato. Their story did frustrate me a bit during the second quarter or so; Aoi is very reluctant to admit to Sato that he wants a relationship, though it's so obvious that they both want the same thing. And Sato's just pleased to have Aoi in his life any way he can have him - it made my heart hurt. I couldn't help but cheer these guys on.
This doesn't end in an HEA - rather it's an HFN - but their story doesn't end at the conclusion of this book. The next book in the series, Year One, is out now and gives small glimpses into their lives each month for a year. I'm looking forward to picking it up and continuing Aoi and Sato's story!
A copy of this book was received for review on OMGReads.
September 22, 2020
2.5
Sato is a virginal, shy accountant who loves Gundam and collects figurines, while Aoi is a bold, struggling voice actor with a tendency to use sex partners for a place to sleep and/or a meal. With such disparate personalities, approaches to sex/relationships and lifestyles, I was looking forward to seeing the evolution of their relationship, but there was just something tonally off about the book that made almost all the scenes and character interactions a bit flat. Even the few scenes between Aoi and Sato that were cute enough just didn’t really have that spark of character connection to make the story really engaging.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author.
Sato is a virginal, shy accountant who loves Gundam and collects figurines, while Aoi is a bold, struggling voice actor with a tendency to use sex partners for a place to sleep and/or a meal. With such disparate personalities, approaches to sex/relationships and lifestyles, I was looking forward to seeing the evolution of their relationship, but there was just something tonally off about the book that made almost all the scenes and character interactions a bit flat. Even the few scenes between Aoi and Sato that were cute enough just didn’t really have that spark of character connection to make the story really engaging.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author.
April 20, 2023
I’m not convinced the author has been to Japan; some of the underlying social expectations don’t seem to line up with my experiences there. The prose is pretty pedestrian, the characterization is consistent, and the relationship buildup is - well, it's very clear. More like a staircase than a smooth path up the side of the mountain, as it were. Sato never gets a given name (wtf? do his parents call him by his last name??) which is a bit odd, but it was basically pretty cute. Cute and bland. If you have a couple hours to kill, you won't regret it. If you're looking for depth, you will not find it here.
June 1, 2020
Super cute opposites attract love story
True rating 3.5 stars.
Thus book is a super quick and super cute read. The characters are both very likable but also have the adorable opposites attract troupe that I just can't get enough of.
True rating 3.5 stars.
Thus book is a super quick and super cute read. The characters are both very likable but also have the adorable opposites attract troupe that I just can't get enough of.
June 15, 2018
A really sweet story. Although I have to wonder how Aoi's parents can live with how they treated him. And what would Jiro think when he realized Sato's "date" was really a guy?
May 7, 2018
Awww this was so cute!! And it was very much what I expected to see in a BL sort of novel.
And even though I was unable to win this from the giveaway...I'm glad it was free on the Kindle.
I like how this novel focuses on the romance and keeps things light-hearted before ever heading to some of that smut territory. The relationship between Aoi and Sato was adorable too as you see them slowly wanting to get close to each other.
Sato was adorable and innocent so much that I just wanted to hug him. He was so sweet and caring towards Aoi too which I loved about his character. And he's a bit of an otaku like myself which was easy to relate to. He even has a crazy sister who fangirls about BL characters which is kind of funny imo. He may have been an accountant character who does spreadsheets for almost everything, but he was very interesting as well. And he gets excited about Gundam merch in an anime store....like I would if I was looking at the manga section of B&N or at the anime clothes section in Hot Topic. So in conclusion I really liked his character it was very interesting.
Aoi is a voice actor and a bit of a troubled soul who seems like a flirtatious jerk on the surface,but as you read find that he has some personal problems not only with work but with other relationships in his life outside of Sato. He is also a great cook and learned his skills of cooking from his parents whom own a restaurant. But I guess his parents weren't the most accepting of him being gay which is obvious by how the phone call went down between him and his mom and it was obvious by the fact that they chose to kick him out as a teen.
Though I thought with as accepting as Japan is with most BL or GL stuff that being gay wouldn't be too much of a problem. But it apparently is a bit of an issue so much that it sometimes causes jobs to discriminate when hiring, discriminate with housing, with education,with health care,etc. But I hear that some groups are working with trying to help these issues.
But back to Aoi he has some relationship issues but it's clear that he really cares about Sato and wants to make things work between them. He doesn't want his trouble with work and past relationships get in the way of how he feels about Sato.
This book is very light-hearted BL romance novel as I stated before and often doesn't constantly make you worry too much about any major conflicts. The story is nice and simple which makes it easy to read and enjoy. The side characters while not often present were fun to read about even if most of the POV was focused on Aoi and Sato. And this author is just as good at writing BL stuff as the BL mangaka authors of Japan. And I think I might give more of her works a look.
In conclusion I loved this book. I finished it in less than a day and it was a great read which only makes me want to read more of the series. And I will probably re-read this book a few more times until I can buy the other books in the series.
Hope you enjoyed my review!! Thanks for Reading!!
And even though I was unable to win this from the giveaway...I'm glad it was free on the Kindle.
I like how this novel focuses on the romance and keeps things light-hearted before ever heading to some of that smut territory. The relationship between Aoi and Sato was adorable too as you see them slowly wanting to get close to each other.
Sato was adorable and innocent so much that I just wanted to hug him. He was so sweet and caring towards Aoi too which I loved about his character. And he's a bit of an otaku like myself which was easy to relate to. He even has a crazy sister who fangirls about BL characters which is kind of funny imo. He may have been an accountant character who does spreadsheets for almost everything, but he was very interesting as well. And he gets excited about Gundam merch in an anime store....like I would if I was looking at the manga section of B&N or at the anime clothes section in Hot Topic. So in conclusion I really liked his character it was very interesting.
Aoi is a voice actor and a bit of a troubled soul who seems like a flirtatious jerk on the surface,but as you read find that he has some personal problems not only with work but with other relationships in his life outside of Sato. He is also a great cook and learned his skills of cooking from his parents whom own a restaurant. But I guess his parents weren't the most accepting of him being gay which is obvious by how the phone call went down between him and his mom and it was obvious by the fact that they chose to kick him out as a teen.
Though I thought with as accepting as Japan is with most BL or GL stuff that being gay wouldn't be too much of a problem. But it apparently is a bit of an issue so much that it sometimes causes jobs to discriminate when hiring, discriminate with housing, with education,with health care,etc. But I hear that some groups are working with trying to help these issues.
But back to Aoi he has some relationship issues but it's clear that he really cares about Sato and wants to make things work between them. He doesn't want his trouble with work and past relationships get in the way of how he feels about Sato.
This book is very light-hearted BL romance novel as I stated before and often doesn't constantly make you worry too much about any major conflicts. The story is nice and simple which makes it easy to read and enjoy. The side characters while not often present were fun to read about even if most of the POV was focused on Aoi and Sato. And this author is just as good at writing BL stuff as the BL mangaka authors of Japan. And I think I might give more of her works a look.
In conclusion I loved this book. I finished it in less than a day and it was a great read which only makes me want to read more of the series. And I will probably re-read this book a few more times until I can buy the other books in the series.
Hope you enjoyed my review!! Thanks for Reading!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2021
A Love Story set in Japan
Two outwardly different persons come together, one worldly wise and employed in the sex industry; the other a ‘dorkish’ person with a salaried job and scant knowledge of the world.
The Japanese setting was interesting because of its unfamiliarity, at times confusing through insufficient explanation, at other times exasperating through the constant repetition of peculiarly Japanese idioms and expressions. Perhaps this setting requires such recurring additions?
I am afraid I did not take much away from this story and was pleased to reach the last page. I commend the author for an otherwise well-written and presented story.
Two outwardly different persons come together, one worldly wise and employed in the sex industry; the other a ‘dorkish’ person with a salaried job and scant knowledge of the world.
The Japanese setting was interesting because of its unfamiliarity, at times confusing through insufficient explanation, at other times exasperating through the constant repetition of peculiarly Japanese idioms and expressions. Perhaps this setting requires such recurring additions?
I am afraid I did not take much away from this story and was pleased to reach the last page. I commend the author for an otherwise well-written and presented story.
June 15, 2018
I really liked this. I knew I was going to like it from the first few pages because the writing was so crisp and concise. It's the kind of writing I wish I could produce to be honest. It was also the right length, not too short that you didn't connect with the characters and not too long that you felt the author was just trying to fill pages. I liked the story and I enjoyed reading it. I want to read more stories by this author.
June 12, 2018
Fun story
This story was fun to read. The writing wasn't particularly strong, but it was a cute read. I didn't always believe the dialogue or characters, and I couldn't always figure out who was doing what in the narration.
(Haha also, I don't think any Gundam fan would call them robots instead of mechs).
This story was fun to read. The writing wasn't particularly strong, but it was a cute read. I didn't always believe the dialogue or characters, and I couldn't always figure out who was doing what in the narration.
(Haha also, I don't think any Gundam fan would call them robots instead of mechs).
February 8, 2019
Tokyo blossoming romance
Nerd accountant meets stud boy voice actor. Two extreme opposites, the story reveals the courtship. Characters are well developed, and the switching voice fills in the thoughts of the protagonists. The ending is a little weak and rushed, but overall the tale is entertaining.
Nerd accountant meets stud boy voice actor. Two extreme opposites, the story reveals the courtship. Characters are well developed, and the switching voice fills in the thoughts of the protagonists. The ending is a little weak and rushed, but overall the tale is entertaining.
May 4, 2020
That was... cute.
Kind of read like a yaoi manga, but I suppose that's pretty much what it was. Perhaps slightly less dramatic than the typical yaoi. A bit trite at times, but not so terrible that it was unreadable. I liked it. Sato and Aoi were both likeable characters, and very sweet together. They'll be good for each other. I might consider reading more about those two.
Kind of read like a yaoi manga, but I suppose that's pretty much what it was. Perhaps slightly less dramatic than the typical yaoi. A bit trite at times, but not so terrible that it was unreadable. I liked it. Sato and Aoi were both likeable characters, and very sweet together. They'll be good for each other. I might consider reading more about those two.
April 7, 2022
So sweet and hot!
There were some commas missing throughout the book, but I highlighted and corrected the other errors.
This book was super romantic, but also deliciously hot and I loved that the relationship between them was a first for both Sato and Aoi, in their own respective way. I'm rooting for these crazy kids!
There were some commas missing throughout the book, but I highlighted and corrected the other errors.
This book was super romantic, but also deliciously hot and I loved that the relationship between them was a first for both Sato and Aoi, in their own respective way. I'm rooting for these crazy kids!
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