3.5 AVERAGE

lighthearted medium-paced

It was just okay, I don't have much complaints but I don't think I liked this book enough to continue the series. 

I don't think you are ready for this love polygon. Where is the relationship map??

But seriously, this covers a lot of the taboos of love, some potentially triggering (e.g., incest). This is a manga all about unhealthy love vs. healthy love. So, be warned! But you might be happy to know that same-sex love (without other taboos and problems) is framed as completely healthy. It's just parts of society that are still uncomfortable with it.

3.5☆

It took me about a third of the book and reading two reviews to get the characters straight. There are differences in the way they're drawn and it's enough to confuse me. Was I this confused when I started reading comics in the 90s and everyone really did look the same?

Anyway. This is a slow story and sweeter than I expected. Akira and Fumi where friends as children and they meet up again after Fumi's family moves back to town. As children, Akira helped out the quiet Fumi and they pick up where they left off. They go to different schools and make new friends but all of them get together to work on a drama festival. There's relationship drama all over. Fumi is still hurting from a relationship ending and angsts over not only that but of her feelings for girls. I wasn't loving the book until she comes out to Akira. Tears.

The relationships are pretty amazing. The girls get along, want to spend time with and help each other, and don't purposely hurt each other. Even with the dating drama. There are no evil characters (well, a secondary character is a little bitchy but it's with her sister and their other sisters call her on it). That was a little weird. And lovely.
emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I picked this up because I wanted to read more yuri written by women and queer folks, and there aren’t too many others. This story has a lot of problematic elements, and Fumi is difficult for me to understand. I am interested in seeing Akira’s growth, so I’ll continue reading the series.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
ckreads28's profile picture

ckreads28's review

4.0
adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A cute fluffy yuri about navigating love as well as childhood friendships. I cant wait to see where the next one goes.
lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Sweet Blue Flowers falls more into the tropes of traditional shojo manga rather than yuri, despite the couples involved are primarily between girls. This made it less enjoyable for me, because I really dislike those tropes. Basically, most of the problems and drama created within the story could be solved by people more clearly communicating. Also love triangles. Love triangles everywhere.

The art is so dreamy though, with lots of lovely empty spaces that make the whole manga feel like a summer daydream. It's an unusual approach for manga, especially relationship-focused manga, so I appreciate the series for that.

Will I keep reading it? Probably not. I'm intrigued by some of the other, more original plot points, but not enough to keep going.
emotional relaxing tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A