Ride Your Wave

by Machi Kiachi, Masaaki Yuasa, Reiko Yoshida

True Love Never Dies!

Surfer girl Hinako is full of confidence when she's out on the ocean, but when it come to everything else in her life, she second-guesses herself. After a fire breaks out, she meets a firefighter named Minato and the two fall quickly in love. When tragedy strikes and separates the young couple, Hinako feels lost and directionless. But soon, Hinako discovers that Minato is determined to overcome any obstacle to stay by her side. The heart-tugging manga adaptation that goes beyond the hit anime film!

Genres: Manga, Romance, Comics, Graphic Novels Manga, Fiction, Contemporary, Fantasy

180 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 2019

About the author

キアチマチ

Reviews

[dovesnook · Rating 3 out of 5]

How can something be so cute AND so sad all at once, huh? This would’ve been 5 ⭐️ if the bonus scenes were intermixed into the main story tbh, they gave a lot of context I would’ve loved to see the from the initial story. Regardless, these characters pulled at my heartstrings and I think the little twist with Minato, his sister, and Hinako was really clever and beautiful!

[Chloe Pope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute, can definitely tell the film is gonna hurt me.

Would probably give 3.5 to the movie story as I feel like there could have been more to it but I think it’ll be better in the film.

The bonus stories bumped my rating up to 4 stars, they were so cute and it definitely should have been added into the main story

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate the way this was told, but I have an aversion to tragedies.

[MargReadsManga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this manga. I just wish they incorporated the bonus stories into the main story. I think it would have made it a bit better and wouldn’t seem so rushed. The art is gorgeous!

[Jinghay (these.blank.pages) · Rating 2 out of 5]

*trigger warnings down below👇*

If you haven't watched the movie yet, then I'd urge you to do that before picking up this manga spin-off! I myself had wrongly assumed that the film was an adaption of the manga, whereas it's the other way around - and you can really tell after a while..

The manga is incredibly fast-paced and jumps from the MCs being acquaintances to a long-time couple within just a few pages. One second they're meeting and the next they're talking about true love and being together forever. Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for a romance story - but insta love just ain't it for me. (Or atleast give me some kind of reason!)

Honestly, the main issues could have been fixed with a few extra chapters, or by including the 2 "bonus stories" into the main story itself. I've yet to watch the movie (still planning to), but I'm hoping that the pacing will be a little better..

In general, I think the manga is a nice addition to have if you'd previously enjoyed the film.

- - -

Rating: 1.5/5
TW: death of a loved one, mild depression depicted

[Zian B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished watching the movie and am definitely buying the manga version. I’m willing to emotionally hurt myself all over again to relive Hinako and Minato’s story.

[Jessica ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bro, why did you put the bonus scenes out of sequence! The story felt so fast paced and nonsensical and 0 connection for the characters because you put “bonus scenes” at the end of the book when they should have been in the actual story. It would have been so perfect had it not have been for the scenes being out of order. So I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either. It just exists in my mind. I will probably just watch the movie now as I heard that is so much better. Bye 🫠

[Jemaimacorricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devastating

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't seen the original movie, so my review is for this version of the story. I think the thing that makes a tragic romance heartfelt is the character/relationship development before or after the tragedy. Without that, there's no tear-jerking, and there's no swan song. This story only has the barest of bones, and in my opinion it was completely lacking in depth, as were the main characters. It reads like a story outline pitch, like they forgot to actually develop the story between the key moments.

The premise, setting, and magical surrealism were all enticing, but the writer really didn't deliver, and neither did the illustrator. Since this was an adaptation, the author can't really be blamed, but even the bonus stories added next to nothing to the main plot, simply rehashing the same scenes with equally superficial internal monologue, or adding superfluous scenes that did nothing to build character (which leads me to wonder whether the writer had much at all to build on).

The illustrations were plain, one-note, and mostly empty, without having an original enough style or range to add weight or interest. All in all it was really disappointing. We're never given a background or reason for why the main character lacks confidence, in what ways she lacks confidence, what she's pursuing in college, why she needs his support, or any relationship building scenes beyond "we ate some food together." The tragic love interest totally lacks a personality outside of a wholesome obsession and blind devotion to the main character, and the main character is immediately besotted and dependent on him without showing us any reason for either behavior.

From this manga I would expect the movie to attempt to distract the viewer from the total lack of development and detail by including copious amounts of showy ocean animation, replacing emotional depth with a good music score, and adding a healthy dose of bikini-clad anime cutie. But I've never been one for style over substance, and I think if a tragedy is only going to have one of those things, it should be the latter.

[darcey ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid 2.5.
i went to the trouble of preording this book after loving the movie, just to be thoroughly disappointed.
the story seemed rushed and also seemed to not cover everything that happened in the movie and the art style had changed too. one of the things that drew me to the movie originally was the art style so i was sad to see it changed. there was 2 bonus stories at the end which was nice i guess but i just wish they’d used that space to finish the main story and cover everything that happened in the movie because the movie was nicely written and ended better than the manga.
100% recommend the movie but in my opinion, i wouldn’t waste your time or money on this book if you’re looking for a read that will stick with you and make you really sad at the end (like the movie does)

[Arikana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute and happy and a breath of fresh air from other books I have been reading. When I first got this book I randomly picked it up not knowing this book would leave me lonely and depressed 😭. This was so cute and happy and green flags were everywhere but Then the sad part came I knew after multiple chapters it was just too good I was thinking maybe a little miscommunication and or the person thinking they're cheating but no he dies. I literally started crying why did we have to do this why was this so short why was the side story not in the first part of the book I would have been more happy with that why did the author choose violence today and kill this beautiful and wonderful man?

[kaitlphere · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main story was only the first half of the book and it felt way too fast. The story was heart-wrenching but I didn't have time to get very invested in the characters. Also, a few details were lost in translation to the point that leaving some background text in Japanese would have made more sense to the dialogue.

The last half of the book was two short stories. The first short story was cute but the second one seemed to change one of the main character's personalities quite a bit from a fairly confident character to a very self-conscious one. I would have enjoyed the entire volume more without that story.

[Moriah Venable · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to watch the movie years ago but knew it was going to break my heart. I saw there was a manga and wanted to read it but kept hesitating cause I knew it would break my heart.

I made the mistake of reading this at work and my eyes got watery especially at the end when Hinako started crying when she hurt Minato’s message that he had made a year before for Christmas. I almost cried at work and I had to wipe my eyes before anyone noticed.

I still want to watch the movie but I don’t know when it will be. I feel this could have been a five starts if it was longer and had more depth with the characters. Despite how short it was, you felt the pain.

[Bee (BacchusVines) · Rating 2 out of 5]

CW for death of a love one, gentle expression of depression.

**I have not watch the movie before reading the manga**

I found Ride Your Wave to be an *okay* manga. I enjoyed the story and the bonus stories in the back were awesome.

However, I found the story rushed and at some points it made no sense. This is definitely a manga that would better translate to film or novel. It could be better with at least one or two more volumes to spread out the story.

The art is really cute and lends to the soft and bubbliness of the story.

[Kags · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this book up as a little refresh before I get back into novels. I’m not a fan of mangas because they tend to breeze so quickly over moments that one would savour in a novel. This one was the same—the characters fell in love instantly, without any sense of time passing or many domestic scenes. I didn’t get enough time within 100 pages to grow attached to the characters. I’m sure the movie does that way better, and if you’re a fan, you should definitely use this as a companion novel, especially with the bonus scenes that have some more romantic fluff that the story couldn’t offer.

[Gladis · Rating 3 out of 5]

זאת הייתה מנגה חמודה מאוד אבל לא הרבה מעבר, הסיפור היה מהיר והייתה חסרה בו עלילה למרות שהייתה עלילה, מניחה שזה לא נשמע כל כך הגיוני אבל זה מה שקרה פה

הדמויות היו ממש חמודות וגם הסיפור למר��ת שבכיתי בגלל מה שקרה שם הרגשתי שזה פשוט היה רק בינוני בסה״כ במיוחד הסוף שהיה מהיר מדי

ואז היה פרק בונוס וציפיתי לקבל קצת יותר מידע על העתיד של הדמויות אבל זה בכלל התרחש בעבר והיה ממש לא קשור לרצף העלילה

היה פוטנציאל והסגנון ציור ממש חמוד אבל זה פשוט לא באמת התרומם, הבנתי שיש גם סרט אז אולי אנסה לראות אותו ולהשלים את התמונה

[Yanet]

All I can say is that, yes, this was a cute Manga, heartfelt and emotional, BUT, it was very fast and there was not much to it! I wish there was more to the book, more details!!!! I did not see the movie so I don't know what else there was that I missed. And I wish there was more to the ending, like, did she stop seeing Minato? Does she end up with Wasabi? Ugh, cute but frustrating. Perhaps there will be a book two to close those questionable gaps.

[Tessi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars :(

I absolutely LOVED the ride you wave movie which is why I was so excited to pick this up! But I agree with a lot of people that the story was extremely rushed and honestly the bonus stories were the only silver lining. To everyone that read this before watching the movie: don’t let this discourage you from watching it! The movie is SO good with great animation and much more detailed and heartfelt than the manga <3

[Jaune Monroe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never watched the movie. I had wanted to read the book first but I was extremely disappointed. It literally felt like there was like 4 massive chapters I missed because one second they're on the first date and two pages later they're talking about being together forever and then two pages later he's apparently dead? I don't know if this wa only meant to be read after seeing the movie but the story telling on this was terrible.

[Krystyna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like I should have probably watched the anime prior to reading this. The story was really short and brief. I think that if the bonus stories at the end were incorporated into the actual story that it would have been a bit more developed. It felt like the story jumped very abruptly from one moment to the next. Maybe I'll watch the anime to see how I like it.

[Destiny · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Story was very sweet. However You could tell that it was a manga based on a movie. The plot was very fast paced and some moments were out of the blue without extra context. The bonus stories should have been in the main story as they would have fleshed out the bare plot. I really liked the ending tho and I plan on watching the movie soon (the film has a great art style and color pallet)!

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only give 4 stars be because for once I am saying the movie is better than the book and or manga. I bawled my eyes out to this movie. It moved me in so many ways. 😭 The manga was good as well but definitely more abrupt of an ending. Do your sappy self a favor and go watch the movie. And ride your own wave 🌊

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

good but I definitely feel like I need to watch the anime before reading this. a lot of the story seemed skimmed over? and the “bonus” stories could have easily been integrated into the main story to make it one full, continuous read.

[Sarah Salisbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the art style and the story was cute but it felt a bit rushed - I have a feeling the movie on which it was based (which I have not seen) probably fleshed out the story a great deal more. But, for a tragedy, this was a surprisingly cute, light read.

[Belle C. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Does not hold a candle at ALL to the movie, because the whole plot was condensed into one very short manga adaptation. I beg you to watch the movie to fully understand her grief and pain rather than this excuse for an adaptation :(

[Deyanie Davila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Manga was AMAZING!! It was a really fast read though… but I still love the story. The writing is beautiful and the characters were fun loving. When I saw the movie after reading the book. It easily became my all time favorite movie so far.

[Yyll · Rating 5 out of 5]

at first i wanted to watch the anime but only managed to find the novel version. nevertheless, this is good. the tragedy is unexpected i LOVE it. same goes for the romance too! every little detail is ^chefs kiss^

[Mia Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art was amazing and The book was good it spoke about love and death and how it’s not easy losing a love one but also speaks about the theory of revival after death so it’s pretty interesting and using water and surfing to flow along was nice.

[T.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't understand this manga. Like others have said in their reviews, the story is very unsatisfying because it is told out of sequence. Like they put the ending right in the middle. But I enjoyed that it was about surfing. Maybe I'll watch the movie.

[shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried during the movie and I cried reading this. Its so beautiful and painful