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The Summer You Were There Manga #2
The Summer You Were There Vol. 2
A TWIST IN THE TALE
After Kaori read her classmate Shizuku's novel, Kaori suggested that the two of them date to give Shizuku inspiration for her next book. Shizuku decides to go along with it, but as they spend time together, she grows worried that she'll hurt Kaori. When Shizuku opens up about her past as a school bully, Kaori has a revelation of her she already knew. Will this bring the girls closer together, or will it end their summer romance?
After Kaori read her classmate Shizuku's novel, Kaori suggested that the two of them date to give Shizuku inspiration for her next book. Shizuku decides to go along with it, but as they spend time together, she grows worried that she'll hurt Kaori. When Shizuku opens up about her past as a school bully, Kaori has a revelation of her she already knew. Will this bring the girls closer together, or will it end their summer romance?
172 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2021
11 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 6, 2023
The art is better in this volume, but MY GOD, THE MELODRAMA! It's just a bit ridiculous.
January 18, 2023
I’m honestly surprised by the nuance this sapphic manga managed to portray both bullying, depression/suicidal thoughts, the effect on the victim of the bullying, the psychology of bullies (like how the mc thought she was being “honest” and only saying what everyone wants to say bc no one stood up to her when in truth she’s picking on another girl).
All the while allowing natural character growth for both girls and flashes their individual interest and dynamic out more than the first impression we got from them in v1. It’s rare to see sapphic manga that manage to both be wish fulfillment but also provide you with nuanced and multi-dimensional characters. This is definitely my favorite sapphic manga out of everything I read so far.
All the while allowing natural character growth for both girls and flashes their individual interest and dynamic out more than the first impression we got from them in v1. It’s rare to see sapphic manga that manage to both be wish fulfillment but also provide you with nuanced and multi-dimensional characters. This is definitely my favorite sapphic manga out of everything I read so far.
August 12, 2023
[Content warning: suicidal ideation, bullying, PTSD, panic attacks]
Kaori knows. She knows who Shizuku is and she knows what she did when she was younger. But the problems all lie in Shizuku’s inability to forgive herself. And even if they get past that point, it’s clear that the series’ title has a very obvious inverse which might leave things even worse than they already are.
This volume is basically minimal movement or passage of time focused and all talk, all the time. And it’s brilliant. Oh, there are absolutely no punches pulled here whatsoever. I thought they’d soften Shizuku’s actions, but other than having a child’s view towards justifying her actions, she was absolutely wrong to act the way she did and the flashbacks are harrowing (not as bad as A Silent Voice, but bad enough).
In the present, however, she has dwelled on that one moment and been eaten alive by it for five years to the point where it has absolutely destroyed her life. Other than her writing, Shizuku has nothing left, and even that comes with a price. Sometimes there is no worse retribution than what you deliver onto yourself.
Shizuku’s natural tendency to believe she has no worth any more explodes out of her so hard that she can’t even see past it to notice that something is obviously off with Kaori. By the time the cliffhanger from last volume is wrapped up, she’s already had a full-on panic attack and lashed out at both Kaori and her sister.
Except this isn’t the old Shizuku; she at least knows she’s done wrong and apologizes to her sister. Kaori takes a little more effort, however, because Shizuku thinks the former’s attention is a way of getting back at Shizuku for how she acted. The twisted way she has of thinking about herself fully resonates if you’ve ever had guilt so strong you couldn’t let it go.
Unless, of course, Kaori sees Shizuku’s story for what it truly is and is there for a whole other reason than anything so petty as vengeance. Shizuku is writing from the heart and that heart is in very, very rough shape. Which leads to some very real talk about suicide and that whole ‘not being able to let go’ thing and, depending on your view of bullying, some real sympathy for the devil vibes.
It’s complicated in a way that I really like - Shizuku has ruined her own life as a twisted form of penance, but she can’t seem to offer up an actual apology after all this time. And we see her victim in one side chapter and that section has one ‘flinch’ that is one of the most effective suggestions of long-term effects from bullying I’ve seen.
As a treatise on the danger of being unable to move on, it’s sublime. As a piece of rumination on whether you deserve forgiveness and, even beyond that, happiness, after hurting somebody so deeply, it’s brilliant.
This is a yuri story that has practically no romance in it, but it has so much love, just of a very different type than I expect from this space. There’s a heart to this and it is in both the worst state possible and dire need of healing.
What we do get is a festival date that ends on the sweetest promise that lands in the worst way. If Shizuku might feel a little better about herself, that does leave us to focus on Kaori and, while I dearly hope this series pulls a fast one, I am prepared to have my own emotions crushed into paste next time out by her story.
4.5 stars - this won’t be for everyone; it is a bleak and unflinching portrait of bullying and trauma and how badly you can hurt yourself through pure loathing of who you are. It weaves in the hope and the possibility of redemption, but also so much loss. It is not a piece of fluff at all and, honestly, absolutely fantastic at what it’s doing.
Kaori knows. She knows who Shizuku is and she knows what she did when she was younger. But the problems all lie in Shizuku’s inability to forgive herself. And even if they get past that point, it’s clear that the series’ title has a very obvious inverse which might leave things even worse than they already are.
This volume is basically minimal movement or passage of time focused and all talk, all the time. And it’s brilliant. Oh, there are absolutely no punches pulled here whatsoever. I thought they’d soften Shizuku’s actions, but other than having a child’s view towards justifying her actions, she was absolutely wrong to act the way she did and the flashbacks are harrowing (not as bad as A Silent Voice, but bad enough).
In the present, however, she has dwelled on that one moment and been eaten alive by it for five years to the point where it has absolutely destroyed her life. Other than her writing, Shizuku has nothing left, and even that comes with a price. Sometimes there is no worse retribution than what you deliver onto yourself.
Shizuku’s natural tendency to believe she has no worth any more explodes out of her so hard that she can’t even see past it to notice that something is obviously off with Kaori. By the time the cliffhanger from last volume is wrapped up, she’s already had a full-on panic attack and lashed out at both Kaori and her sister.
Except this isn’t the old Shizuku; she at least knows she’s done wrong and apologizes to her sister. Kaori takes a little more effort, however, because Shizuku thinks the former’s attention is a way of getting back at Shizuku for how she acted. The twisted way she has of thinking about herself fully resonates if you’ve ever had guilt so strong you couldn’t let it go.
Unless, of course, Kaori sees Shizuku’s story for what it truly is and is there for a whole other reason than anything so petty as vengeance. Shizuku is writing from the heart and that heart is in very, very rough shape. Which leads to some very real talk about suicide and that whole ‘not being able to let go’ thing and, depending on your view of bullying, some real sympathy for the devil vibes.
It’s complicated in a way that I really like - Shizuku has ruined her own life as a twisted form of penance, but she can’t seem to offer up an actual apology after all this time. And we see her victim in one side chapter and that section has one ‘flinch’ that is one of the most effective suggestions of long-term effects from bullying I’ve seen.
As a treatise on the danger of being unable to move on, it’s sublime. As a piece of rumination on whether you deserve forgiveness and, even beyond that, happiness, after hurting somebody so deeply, it’s brilliant.
This is a yuri story that has practically no romance in it, but it has so much love, just of a very different type than I expect from this space. There’s a heart to this and it is in both the worst state possible and dire need of healing.
What we do get is a festival date that ends on the sweetest promise that lands in the worst way. If Shizuku might feel a little better about herself, that does leave us to focus on Kaori and, while I dearly hope this series pulls a fast one, I am prepared to have my own emotions crushed into paste next time out by her story.
4.5 stars - this won’t be for everyone; it is a bleak and unflinching portrait of bullying and trauma and how badly you can hurt yourself through pure loathing of who you are. It weaves in the hope and the possibility of redemption, but also so much loss. It is not a piece of fluff at all and, honestly, absolutely fantastic at what it’s doing.
August 12, 2023
i wasn’t expecting this yuri to include suicidal thoughts but oh well. it kinda amazes me the bully’s psychology where they actually have no idea of what they’re doing. i hope shizuku is able to forgive herself but the girl she bullied should never know if she’s doing well. i’m lowk worried about how everything’s gonna turn out.
May 28, 2025
Vol. 1 ★★★☆☆
This volumes tackles bullying from the perspective of a bully. To be honest, it paints Shizuku in a super unflattering light. On one hand, people can definitely learn from their mistakes and shouldn't be judged for something they've done a long time ago. However, seeing the way Shizuku isolates herself, it seems that she's taken the wrong lessons from what happened.
This volumes tackles bullying from the perspective of a bully. To be honest, it paints Shizuku in a super unflattering light. On one hand, people can definitely learn from their mistakes and shouldn't be judged for something they've done a long time ago. However, seeing the way Shizuku isolates herself, it seems that she's taken the wrong lessons from what happened.
December 20, 2022
this was a great second volume, but damn I just know this series is going to rip my heart out by the end. shizuku and kaori have a rather explosive and cathartic confession period where it’s clear how much shizuku still carries all the guilt and intense self-loathing from her childhood days of being a bully…there is a segment that shows the bullied girl in present day flinching over a friend inviting her to a curry restaurant, directly reminding her of the trauma inflicted by shizuku and also making it clear how that has stuck with her. the discussion covers suicidal thoughts as well, making this a rather heavy but very realistic couple of chapters that I really appreciated. I’m unsure how the apology bit will play out, but I liked that shizuku acknowledges it could be selfish to reach out to someone you traumatized, even if it’s for forgiveness.
aside from the heavy bits, we get an adorable manga cliché scene at a festival with yukata…then back to seriousness as kaori reacts to shizuku mentioning she’d like to do it again next year. the volume ends with kaori’s health continuing to decline. I am terrified for what’s coming next…also when is she going to tell shizuku what’s going on?!? augh!!!! give me the next volume asap!!!
aside from the heavy bits, we get an adorable manga cliché scene at a festival with yukata…then back to seriousness as kaori reacts to shizuku mentioning she’d like to do it again next year. the volume ends with kaori’s health continuing to decline. I am terrified for what’s coming next…also when is she going to tell shizuku what’s going on?!? augh!!!! give me the next volume asap!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2025
"I think it's impossible to go through life without hurting someone. You just have to apologize when you do. Forgive and be forgiven. [...] If an apology isn't enough, give them the space they need. It's okay to leave it alone if it's too much to handle. You don't need to hold onto it all by yourself. Turn to someone when you can't deal with it anymore. Just please... don't choose to die."
I'm just leaving this here, I love where the story is going and both of the characters are well written, making their story flow so seamlessly
I'm just leaving this here, I love where the story is going and both of the characters are well written, making their story flow so seamlessly
May 10, 2023
This is to sympathetic to someone who relentlessly bullied a sick(possibly dying) child. She says she’s full of remorse but did she ever apologize to her victim or try to make amends? She just pitied herself and tries to take the easy way out. It keeps ending on a cliffhanger! The illustrations are really nice, my favorite were the old school uniforms.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2025
After confessing to her bulling in elementary school, Shizuku is surprised when Kaori tells her that she already knew.
We get a flashback to how younger Shizuku thought she was doing a good thing by stating what others wouldn’t say not knowing that she was making her classmate Ruri feel bad. Ruri does state that she was in the hospital before getting cut off by Shizuku who probably didn’t hear her this not knowing there was more to just her perceiving her classmate to be slow purposely being absently so she can use her notes.
Shizuku has blamed herself all these years and while a part of feels for her, I also feel for her victim because we do see her in present time and how the bullying has affected her. Shizuku may not have been intentionally bullying or trying to harm her but it doesn’t change the damage that was done from her actions.
Kaori suggests she wrote a letter of apology to Ruri and we do see a notification on her phone and I want to know what it says and how she reacts to it after all these years.
Shizuku and Kaori go a fireworks festival and have a nice time. During the fireworks, Kaori apologizes and it makes me nervous as to why she is and the ending alone makes me curious what she is hiding. Is she sick? Does she have the same sickness as Ruri?
Now that all the volumes are released I can binge read the series
We get a flashback to how younger Shizuku thought she was doing a good thing by stating what others wouldn’t say not knowing that she was making her classmate Ruri feel bad. Ruri does state that she was in the hospital before getting cut off by Shizuku who probably didn’t hear her this not knowing there was more to just her perceiving her classmate to be slow purposely being absently so she can use her notes.
Shizuku has blamed herself all these years and while a part of feels for her, I also feel for her victim because we do see her in present time and how the bullying has affected her. Shizuku may not have been intentionally bullying or trying to harm her but it doesn’t change the damage that was done from her actions.
Kaori suggests she wrote a letter of apology to Ruri and we do see a notification on her phone and I want to know what it says and how she reacts to it after all these years.
Shizuku and Kaori go a fireworks festival and have a nice time. During the fireworks, Kaori apologizes and it makes me nervous as to why she is and the ending alone makes me curious what she is hiding. Is she sick? Does she have the same sickness as Ruri?
Now that all the volumes are released I can binge read the series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2025
4.5 stars
Oh Gott, was ein Band. Wir erfahren mehr über Shizukus Vergangenheit und auch, wie Asaka damit zusammenhängt. Auch wenn Shizukus Verhalten damals nicht richtig war, spricht es trotzdem für sie, dass sie es so viele Jahre später immer noch mit sich herumschleppt und deswegen sogar schlechte Gedanken hat. Man kann Asaka echt dankbar sein, dass sie es erkannt hat und nun an Shizukus Seite ist. Ihre Idee mit dem Brief finde ich richtig gut, und ich hoffe, Shizuku wird ihn schreiben. Ich finde es auch mal ‘erfrischend’, dass nicht die gemobbte Person, sonder die, die (unbewusst) gemobbt hat, thematisiert wird. Jedoch bricht vor allem zum Ende des Bandes echt so eine richtig unheilvolle Stimmung aus, dass man einfach schon weiß, wie emotional und wahrscheinlich traurig es noch werden wird. Weiß nicht, ob ich dafür gewappnet bin. Die Reihe könnte mir echt mein Herz brechen.
Oh Gott, was ein Band. Wir erfahren mehr über Shizukus Vergangenheit und auch, wie Asaka damit zusammenhängt. Auch wenn Shizukus Verhalten damals nicht richtig war, spricht es trotzdem für sie, dass sie es so viele Jahre später immer noch mit sich herumschleppt und deswegen sogar schlechte Gedanken hat. Man kann Asaka echt dankbar sein, dass sie es erkannt hat und nun an Shizukus Seite ist. Ihre Idee mit dem Brief finde ich richtig gut, und ich hoffe, Shizuku wird ihn schreiben. Ich finde es auch mal ‘erfrischend’, dass nicht die gemobbte Person, sonder die, die (unbewusst) gemobbt hat, thematisiert wird. Jedoch bricht vor allem zum Ende des Bandes echt so eine richtig unheilvolle Stimmung aus, dass man einfach schon weiß, wie emotional und wahrscheinlich traurig es noch werden wird. Weiß nicht, ob ich dafür gewappnet bin. Die Reihe könnte mir echt mein Herz brechen.
June 19, 2023
June 2023. Pretty unremarkable first two volumes of a GL manga. The MC has withdrawn completely into herself and wrote a GL manga that ends with a couple of teen girls unaliving themselves. MC is contemplating ending her own life.
LI who is popular finds it and loves the story and essentially announces she will be MC’s girlfriend for the summer to give her more material for her next story. LI seems weirdly enamored with MC who is withdrawn and unpleasant.
MC it turns out has spent the last half decade with no friends or social interactions because she feels guilty over being a bully in 5th grade toward one girl. LI tries to convince her to stay alive and that she can move on from perseveration on what she did years ago. It’s made clear that LI is not that girl from years ago but that she knows about MC being awful to the other girl.
Tons of repetitive moments of MC looking vaguely upset, blaming herself, lots of wordless panels that didn’t come off as poignant or artistic or anything, just tons of dead space in the story.
Didn’t work for me. Glad I borrowed them from the library. If it gets more volumes I might borrow it to see if the plot develops at all, but wouldn’t pay for the series.
“The Summer You We’re There” by Yuama.
LI who is popular finds it and loves the story and essentially announces she will be MC’s girlfriend for the summer to give her more material for her next story. LI seems weirdly enamored with MC who is withdrawn and unpleasant.
MC it turns out has spent the last half decade with no friends or social interactions because she feels guilty over being a bully in 5th grade toward one girl. LI tries to convince her to stay alive and that she can move on from perseveration on what she did years ago. It’s made clear that LI is not that girl from years ago but that she knows about MC being awful to the other girl.
Tons of repetitive moments of MC looking vaguely upset, blaming herself, lots of wordless panels that didn’t come off as poignant or artistic or anything, just tons of dead space in the story.
Didn’t work for me. Glad I borrowed them from the library. If it gets more volumes I might borrow it to see if the plot develops at all, but wouldn’t pay for the series.
“The Summer You We’re There” by Yuama.
September 22, 2023
We get see a gist of Shizuku’s backstory as a kid when bullied a former friend as opening up to Kaori. As readers, we do see she’s full of regret and at that time she didn’t see it as bullying, but rather “speaking her mind.” Kinda like those people who claim to be “brutally honest.”
And the guilt she holds causes her to be closed off.
On the other hand, I did find their dates yo be adorable and hope to see more cuteness and more from Shizuku’s past.
The ending has me worried 😦
Onto reading volume 3
And the guilt she holds causes her to be closed off.
On the other hand, I did find their dates yo be adorable and hope to see more cuteness and more from Shizuku’s past.
The ending has me worried 😦
Onto reading volume 3
July 8, 2024
Todo lo del bullying sjsjsj maybe I'm just mean or maybe no entiendo a los japoneses pero me pareció un MONTÓN tipo dale amigo la flaca dijo un par de cosas porque es insensible, claramente se puede ver la diferencia entre eso y alguien que conscientemente le hace bullying a otra persona... but maybe that's just me.
El final fue lo más destacable de este volumen por el simple hecho de que promete heartbreak jeje pero bueno veremos~
2.5 de 5 estrellas.
El final fue lo más destacable de este volumen por el simple hecho de que promete heartbreak jeje pero bueno veremos~
2.5 de 5 estrellas.
November 4, 2025
I was actually surprised at how "tame" the bullying was. Yes, she was being an insensitive jerk, but we're explicitly told she didn't mean any harm. If anything, it reads to me she might be autistic and unable to pick up on proper social cues.
To me it's a bit unconvincing to have the MC, who is probably around 15, be suicidal about something she did when she was 10 and seemingly never again since.
To me it's a bit unconvincing to have the MC, who is probably around 15, be suicidal about something she did when she was 10 and seemingly never again since.
Read
February 1, 2023This was cute and did what I hoped it would: Deepened the backstory, answered some questions, and made me feel more invested in the characters. I'm partially frustrated with the cliffhanger ending and partially excited to get my new questions answered, which I guess is probably the best way for a cliffhanger to make you feel. Will read Vol.3 when I get a chance.
December 13, 2022
omg ok, i rlly liked this volume and the concepts it explored. ive taken a liking to these characs now and i like the writing more than the last volume!! also that ending was not good for my heart 😞😞 the festival scenes were cute
February 23, 2023
Haha, knowing how this is going with her not wanting her to commit suicide for… other… reasons, while saying it’s okay to do selfish things to make yourself feel better… OW
Warnings for suicidal ideation, bullying, trauma responses, health problems (potentially terminal)
Warnings for suicidal ideation, bullying, trauma responses, health problems (potentially terminal)
January 6, 2024
Really loving this series. It's not the cute sweet yuri I mostly read (not that it doesn't have those moments) but I'm really enjoying it. I already know it's going to hurt to continue and finish this story but I'm ready for it.
January 19, 2024
Good and sad. I'm kind of scared how this will end. Feels like it might end with the black haired girl dying of a disease. Which I don't want to happen, but the title does imply it might be tragedy. 😭
December 22, 2024
A painful but good volume. We get a greater understanding of the bullying that took place. And I like the briefest glimpse of Ruri-chan now. The girls going to the fireworks festival is really sweet. And yep, Kaori is not a well girl, proud that she made it through the festival.
January 3, 2023
High school dramatic romance; very devoted to having a new shocking revelation, but I hope they get to be happy together.
January 7, 2023
I just know the ending is going to tear my heart out.
March 14, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m really enjoying this series so far. The illustration style is gorgeous and the story has so much meaning.
Read
March 19, 2023They spent half the book sitting in a room and communicating. This is the content I crave.
May 10, 2023
THIS VOLUME TOOK A TURN THAT I WASN'T EXPECTING!!! I'M NOW EXCITEDLY NERVOUS TO CONTINUE!!!
June 14, 2023
CW: Suicidal ideation, bullying
November 1, 2023
3.5 stars.
January 1, 2024
ell oh ell im crying
May 28, 2024
J'aime beaucoup les dessins et l'histoire
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews