What do you think?
Rate this book
Girl Friends [ガールフレンズ] #2
Girl Friends nº 02/05
At first glance, Mari Kumakura is a rather plain, ordinary looking girl who's grades are at the top of her class. She has very few friends, is normally rather shy, and eats lunch by herself. One day, she is approached by the super cute, super popular Akko Oohashi, who claims she wants to be friends. Mari is at first very suspicious of her true intentions, but eventually comes to realize she's not a bad person. After a hair cut and some fashion tips, Akko quickly transforms Mari into one of the cutest girls in the school. In no time, Mari and Akko are best friends, but unbeknownst to Akko, Mari starts to develop feelings that are more than just "friends."
184 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2008
13 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 19, 2018
3.5 stars
Lovely volume. It’s centered around Mari realizing she has feelings for her best friend Akko, who’s a girl, and Mari being conflicted about what to do next.
I like the focus on interactions between girls, how all of the close relationship and even intimate moments like kissing can be written of as “girls being friends”.
Note: I’m reading it in Russian, I still can hardly believe an f/f romance manga was published here.
Lovely volume. It’s centered around Mari realizing she has feelings for her best friend Akko, who’s a girl, and Mari being conflicted about what to do next.
I like the focus on interactions between girls, how all of the close relationship and even intimate moments like kissing can be written of as “girls being friends”.
Note: I’m reading it in Russian, I still can hardly believe an f/f romance manga was published here.
December 27, 2020
Still don't like it as much as I thought I would.
July 25, 2020
2/5 Este volumen no me ha gustado demasiado, no me ha llegado a enganchar.
July 11, 2012
I read this in one sitting, in a kind of anguish. There is real emotional reality to this, with Mari's growing and increasingly hopeless love for Akko and the huge pressures on her to be straight, and to see things that are desperately meaningful for her - like girls kissing - downplayed as meaningless and "fooling around". Added to her horrible jealousy at the thought of Akko with a boy, and increasing pressure on herself to find a boyfriend, and Mari reaches breaking point. Unlike the majority of shoujo-ai and yuri, this book seems genuinely recognisable as teenage lesbian experience.
The art, too, is lovely.
It's all very emotional, and very realistic, and it makes me care desperately whether Akko ever returns Mari's feelings. I am crossing fingers very hard for a happily ever after ending!
One negative - the product placement in this series is just appalling.
The art, too, is lovely.
It's all very emotional, and very realistic, and it makes me care desperately whether Akko ever returns Mari's feelings. I am crossing fingers very hard for a happily ever after ending!
One negative - the product placement in this series is just appalling.
April 16, 2021
im really liking this so far their friendship slowly developing into something more and then realizing they might like each other is so cute and yeah
December 20, 2015
Even through it's sometimes heavy on the plugs and a bit excessive with its stereotypical girliness, Girl Friends remains one of the best yuri out there.
I actually binged the whole series in one sitting because I missed it. Just as good as when I read it for the first time 3 years ago.
I actually binged the whole series in one sitting because I missed it. Just as good as when I read it for the first time 3 years ago.
September 21, 2019
Mari por fin comprendió sus sentimientos... y el final me ha encantado... me urge el siguiente tomo
July 15, 2022
...that cliffhanger ending... HOLY SHIT
so far, this series has felt like a genuine look into the unfolding confusion and melodrama of what it means to be a high school-aged girl processing what it means to fall in love with her best friend during a time when same-sex attraction was not taken seriously by society (a problem that still persists in Japan, especially between girls)--It's been a solid five minutes and I am still in awe of Volume 2's final page.
this author has done an astounding job telling Mari's story so far and the pacing of this series has been incredible; seriously does NOT waste its readers' time. DAMMMMMMMMMMN.
so far, this series has felt like a genuine look into the unfolding confusion and melodrama of what it means to be a high school-aged girl processing what it means to fall in love with her best friend during a time when same-sex attraction was not taken seriously by society (a problem that still persists in Japan, especially between girls)--It's been a solid five minutes and I am still in awe of Volume 2's final page.
this author has done an astounding job telling Mari's story so far and the pacing of this series has been incredible; seriously does NOT waste its readers' time. DAMMMMMMMMMMN.
June 16, 2020
This is another nice volume that left a good feeling when I finished it. Girl Friends impresses me so far because it feels like a regular romance story, but has the added factor of being an LGBTQ+ couple. I'm always hesitant to read Yuri manga because I feel like a lot of the stories are only created for the opportunity of fan service. While there's a plenty of fan service in this series so far, it doesn't feel cheap or forced. So far this story feels natural and doesn't seem forced. It's a nice slow build of a love between two friends that just so happen to both be girls.
October 17, 2023
4 stars. The gay panic in this. So good. Mariko has really fallen for Akko and she doesn’t know how to handle it so this volume is full of teenage angst and drama and I loved it. I’m really enjoying this series so far and just like the first volume the ending to this one was a great cliffhanger so I can’t wait to get to the next one.
November 6, 2017
Mucho mejor que el anterior porque, si el primero se basa en dar a conocer a los personajes, el segundo está centrado en los celos. Además esas dos alocadas amigas que tienen no sólo me hicieron reír sino que me recordaron a mis propias amigas de la secundaria.
June 22, 2020
Beh, mi piace il modo in cui l'autrice descrive i sentimenti di Akko e Mari ma non mi piace quando diventa troppo femminile e con tutti i patemi d'animo di Mari.
Però la fine è piuttosto ben riuscita. A patto di avere subito il terzo volume a portata di mano. Altrimenti è decisamente frustrante.
Però la fine è piuttosto ben riuscita. A patto di avere subito il terzo volume a portata di mano. Altrimenti è decisamente frustrante.
December 3, 2020
Alla fine non ho resistito e sto leggendo gli altri volumi della serie. Anche questo tankobon è stato adorabile, con l'amicizia tra le due co-protagoniste sempre più travagliata. I disegni sempre stupendi e ho notato più cura nei dettagli degli sfondi.
February 26, 2024
The second side story is actually insane. That poor teacher did not deserve that 😭
The main story was ok, the end tho- guuurl damn this is starting to feel like a proper soap opera, these girls are LIVING IT frfr.
The main story was ok, the end tho- guuurl damn this is starting to feel like a proper soap opera, these girls are LIVING IT frfr.
June 16, 2018
This was really good and so intense. I wonder what will happen next?
May 1, 2020
Sin duda este anime se me está haciendo unos de mis favoritos, son súper monas me tienen enamorada
March 28, 2021
I'm loving the story!! :'D!!
Read
May 17, 2022Bueeeno, pues al parecer nos hemos enganchado a esto xD No regrets
November 2, 2022
3.5 / 5 ⭐
La historia se va poniendo más interesante, el final es un poco previsible aunque realmente no esperas a que pase por estilo de la trama. Sigo recomendándolo.
La historia se va poniendo más interesante, el final es un poco previsible aunque realmente no esperas a que pase por estilo de la trama. Sigo recomendándolo.
December 4, 2022
⭐ 2,5
June 7, 2023
4,3 estrelas
January 8, 2024
Mari got ballsy (maybe not the right word LOL) at the end there!!!
April 9, 2024
Their relationship is developing!
I love how naturally their feelings are portrayed. Mari is very relatable!
I love how naturally their feelings are portrayed. Mari is very relatable!
January 15, 2017
Na végre! Azt hittem, hogy Mari sose fogja rászánni magát erre a döntésre. Ügyes kislány vagy!
December 18, 2011
Volume 2 specific comments: slightly more nudity, with the adult theme of premarital sex
First of all, as evidenced by the lack of any furigana and any content that could or would be misconstrued as adult, I think this book is being mis-marketed as josei when it should be shoujo. If for no better reason than because there's no nudity and damnit, it's annoying that i can read everything but the kanji.
Now that that is out of the way, I liked this volume. Unlike other mangaka I can think of , Morinaga Milk has a keen sense of characterization. Mariko ungoes a transformation throughout the story, and this volume in particular highlights that quite nicely. Sadly... Akko's character is barely sketched out in this book (it's until when the audience gets a chapter or two from her perspective that we start to rationalize who she is).
In addition, the art is quite nice and would have been fabulous if they had printed in B4 size and left the colored pages colorized. As it is, they desaturated them, and if I thought that was annoying when seen in Tokyopop or Viz, it's doubly so as seen in a real tankoubon. But still, there are some panels that are attractive enough to be passable.
The story is... probably its biggest drawback. In addition to the almost outlandish use of product advertising (I know for a fact there are a plethora of Real Simple-wannabe mags in Japan where they'd be more appropriate), and the truly sad way in which Mari is incapable of thinking for herself, the pacing is also quite trying. It seems that for every step forward the protagonist makes toward independence and emotional maturity, there are between 2 and 4 steps back in self-esteem. Also, as it's introduced in this book, the audience is incapable of understanding what Akko sees in Mari, besides being a My-Size Barbie. I do like Sugi and Tamami and I think they bring a much needed comic relief to the story, but of course they don't get their own stories.
First of all, as evidenced by the lack of any furigana and any content that could or would be misconstrued as adult, I think this book is being mis-marketed as josei when it should be shoujo. If for no better reason than because there's no nudity and damnit, it's annoying that i can read everything but the kanji.
Now that that is out of the way, I liked this volume. Unlike other mangaka I can think of , Morinaga Milk has a keen sense of characterization. Mariko ungoes a transformation throughout the story, and this volume in particular highlights that quite nicely. Sadly... Akko's character is barely sketched out in this book (it's until when the audience gets a chapter or two from her perspective that we start to rationalize who she is).
In addition, the art is quite nice and would have been fabulous if they had printed in B4 size and left the colored pages colorized. As it is, they desaturated them, and if I thought that was annoying when seen in Tokyopop or Viz, it's doubly so as seen in a real tankoubon. But still, there are some panels that are attractive enough to be passable.
The story is... probably its biggest drawback. In addition to the almost outlandish use of product advertising (I know for a fact there are a plethora of Real Simple-wannabe mags in Japan where they'd be more appropriate), and the truly sad way in which Mari is incapable of thinking for herself, the pacing is also quite trying. It seems that for every step forward the protagonist makes toward independence and emotional maturity, there are between 2 and 4 steps back in self-esteem. Also, as it's introduced in this book, the audience is incapable of understanding what Akko sees in Mari, besides being a My-Size Barbie. I do like Sugi and Tamami and I think they bring a much needed comic relief to the story, but of course they don't get their own stories.
November 15, 2014
Hmm. Well this is getting more interesting. Manga is just so... lovable. I love the animation and the characters are super cute. Not just physically. Thus far with Mari-Chan is conflicted on I find that the mind set of a teenage girl very accurate. However I pretty sure that is all supposed to make more sense for Japanese culture and teenagers there. Regardless, I enjoy it so much.
Thank the gods I never had to do Cram school, or SATURDAY school. No thanks!
Thank the gods I never had to do Cram school, or SATURDAY school. No thanks!
March 21, 2015
The cuteness continues! This budding romance is actually quite suspenseful because of how the mangaka successfully integrate all the confusion and struggles that come with falling in love with one's best friend of the same gender.
The angst is driven up and the reason is summed up in one quote: Their feelings are overlapping but in different dimensions so they are not reaching each other!
The angst is driven up and the reason is summed up in one quote: Their feelings are overlapping but in different dimensions so they are not reaching each other!
January 17, 2015
From the way Volume 1 ended, I definitely needed to read Volume 2 to know what happened next! This story is very beautiful and the art is gorgeous as well.
It's worth reading to finish the series.
It's worth reading to finish the series.
August 28, 2024
Really really sweet... can't wait to read the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews