Reviews - Seaside Stranger Vol. 1: Umibe No Étranger

365 reviews for:

Seaside Stranger Vol. 1: Umibe No Étranger

Kanna Kii

3.69 AVERAGE

brookeisbusyreading's review

3.5

emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I don’t know. I think this got a little too hyped up for me. The art style’s really pretty and I love the setting, but I just feel like too much was crammed into the first volume. The introduction of Mio and Shun was beautiful though! So much emotion!

But with manga, time skips can easily get confusing or disrupt the story’s flow (again, at least for me). I would’ve liked to see more of the two of them before Mio left. Also, the reasons why they liked each other could’ve been more specific.

Mio’s personality is a big difference pre- and post-time skip, which I’m fine with! I just hoped we could’ve seen more of how he went from sad, loney, grieving boy to childish ‘adult’. Shun’s reaction was nice, but it didn’t feel like he changed too much over several years.

This one I just wanted more from I think? Might still continue the series though.

Content Warnings

causallyreading's review against another edition

2.0

emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

msalikay's review

3.0

fast-paced

bibbitybobbityboop's review

3.0

It helps explain the relationship better than the movie and gives it a bit more development in the early stage before they separate but it lacks in giving reason as to why they like each other. The over done trope of miscommunication is there which is meh. Mio somewhat forcing the next step in the relationship when Shun isn’t ready feels wrong and is hard to read. Even when it happens it doesn’t completely feel like it happens at a good time for the both of them. It doesn’t completely explain the reasoning for liking each other they just do. Mio just says that because Shun likes him he likes him back which is the only explanation given. Shun also seemingly only likes Mio for his looks as they are mentioned several times. The only characteristics given for Sakurako for liking Shun is that he is kind and gentle but not much is shown of their relationship where he was like this with her. It’s an okay story but not very different from others out there it’s pretty basic in this genre without much helping it stand out.

hannalliem's review

3.0

lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

mhcg's review

1.75

fast-paced

o1eander's review

5.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Possibly one of my favorite BL stories thus far. The first volume feels fast, relative to how Mio's straightforwardness changes the trajectory of Shun's life. There's plenty of angst amid the cute moments and plenty of reflective moments brought out by the paneling and beautiful art. Mio is spontaneous, whereas Shun is indifferent—a zest for life versus a life paralyzed by self-doubt. The seven-year age gap really emphasizes the questions of emotional maturity and stagnation whenever the two conflict, making for realistic situations that (personally) gut me like a fish. Having caught up with the series, it only gets better. We jump through time quite a bit, and the two, along with the company they keep, grow on you, with you, both. I'm invested!

They do get together in this volume, and I wasn't ready (silly, naive me;;;).

Content Warnings