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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tl;dr
A thoughtful and well-illustrated exploration of asexuality and the ace spectrum.
Thoughts
Chika feels out place in a way that she can't describe. The version of love that everyone assures her will show up someday seems unattainable - even undesirable. It's a struggle many ace people have been through - how do you define something by its lack? Especially in a world where sexual attraction and romance are considered as universal and as "normal" as breathing. But as Chika discovers, not all love is expressed sexually or romantically. Not everyone is wired to be that way, and that is, in fact, entirely normal. This isn't a story as much as it is a really well-illustrated exploration of asexuality and the ace gradient, with a cast of really fun characters. I appreciate that the story also covers the fact that there's no one way to be asexual, and that terms and words are only useful until they aren't. It's a very sweet coming-of-age one shot, that works as a great introduction to what it means to be ace.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
A thoughtful and well-illustrated exploration of asexuality and the ace spectrum.
Thoughts
Chika feels out place in a way that she can't describe. The version of love that everyone assures her will show up someday seems unattainable - even undesirable. It's a struggle many ace people have been through - how do you define something by its lack? Especially in a world where sexual attraction and romance are considered as universal and as "normal" as breathing. But as Chika discovers, not all love is expressed sexually or romantically. Not everyone is wired to be that way, and that is, in fact, entirely normal. This isn't a story as much as it is a really well-illustrated exploration of asexuality and the ace gradient, with a cast of really fun characters. I appreciate that the story also covers the fact that there's no one way to be asexual, and that terms and words are only useful until they aren't. It's a very sweet coming-of-age one shot, that works as a great introduction to what it means to be ace.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content
Is Love the Answer? is an educational manga exploring aromantic asexuality through the eyes of a freshman college student grappling with her lack of desire for romance or sex. While initially she finds herself isolated from and misunderstood by her peers, she finds community with several other asexuals and a handful of friends who embrace her identity and help her understand herself.
The manga focuses more on the educational aspects and is lighter on the story side of things. As an aromantic asexual person myself, I think the manga captured well the sense of alienation from one’s peers and the frustration of having an experience of love and attraction that others so readily dismiss or refuse to believe. I also appreciate that it touched on some of the more material issues that can come from being aro/ace in a society that does support that, including the risk of sexual assault or other sexual trauma and the difficulties of being unattached in a society built with the expectation of having a partner or nuclear family.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was part intro to Asexuality- I really liked how the author introduced this and other aspects of the LGBTQIA+ community. Part Coming-of age and a sprinkle of found family. All things that I love.
Some of this felt a bit awkward to read, not sure if it was lost in translation or what but it felt a bit clunky the way some of the conversations and information was presented. It felt like the author sort of jammed in every Ace trope they could and it felt a bit disingenuous- though I think so many readers will find some or all of it relatable. That aside I really did enjoy this so much I think it covers so much in terms of learning about your sexual identity and finding yourself. I saw a lot of my own experiences in Chika's story.
I think one of my very favorite lines of dialogue was "You don't have to conform to some generic idea of what asexuality is. If you think you're asexual that's enough." Such an important message one that I know I and a lot of other Aces struggle to accept.
I hope there's another volume coming out!
Some of this felt a bit awkward to read, not sure if it was lost in translation or what but it felt a bit clunky the way some of the conversations and information was presented. It felt like the author sort of jammed in every Ace trope they could and it felt a bit disingenuous- though I think so many readers will find some or all of it relatable. That aside I really did enjoy this so much I think it covers so much in terms of learning about your sexual identity and finding yourself. I saw a lot of my own experiences in Chika's story.
I think one of my very favorite lines of dialogue was "You don't have to conform to some generic idea of what asexuality is. If you think you're asexual that's enough." Such an important message one that I know I and a lot of other Aces struggle to accept.
I hope there's another volume coming out!
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book. It is my second one shot manga, and I read this in one setting because it was so interesting and informative. I loved all the characters, because they are not perfect by any means but they all have flaws that they are also to realize sooner or later. I have not read many books about aseuality, but the way it was explored here was wonderful. It showed that sexuality is fluid and it does not have to be defined by any word and can change over time. It is totally normal to question one's sexuality, but there are a lot of misconceptions in the society. Especially, younger people are influenced by their peers, which might pressure them to behave to fit in this societal view.
I definitely recommend this book for young and old people, so to everyone!! It is an important topic, that anyone at any age or life stage can experience, which is totally normal.
I definitely recommend this book for young and old people, so to everyone!! It is an important topic, that anyone at any age or life stage can experience, which is totally normal.
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Graphic novels and manga aren't usually what I reach for. I really enjoyed the story. I wanted to follow along the main protagonists journey to find out more about themselves, asexuality and romance as a whole.
I thought that the story was perfect for being told in this method.
I thought that the story was perfect for being told in this method.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
‘Is Love the Answer?’ is an enjoyable coming-of-age manga that explores Chika’s journey as she questions her sexuality identity and how she comes to identify as asexual.
The story begins with Chika in high school where she notices that unlike her peers she doesn’t feel sexual or romantic attraction towards others. She struggles to come to terms with the fact that she isn’t what society considers “normal”. When Chika attends university, there she finds people who help her explore and better understand who she is.
A continuous encouragement in the story is that sexual identity and gender can be fluid; they can change and evolve over the span of our life, meaning just because we identify as one thing now doesn’t mean we could always identify as the same thing later in life.
Another thing i really thought was important was the challenging of the concept of what is truly considered to be “normal”. What one could understand to be normal does not necessarily mean another could think the same. Society’s perception of “normal” has a lot to do with ‘societal norms’, though that is something that constantly changes as society itself evolves.
The character development was lovely, I enjoyed reading Chika’s journey. A complete story that is worth the read, especially if you want to learn more information on asexual and the ace spectrum.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content warnings:
-sexual assault (within the first chapter)
The story begins with Chika in high school where she notices that unlike her peers she doesn’t feel sexual or romantic attraction towards others. She struggles to come to terms with the fact that she isn’t what society considers “normal”. When Chika attends university, there she finds people who help her explore and better understand who she is.
A continuous encouragement in the story is that sexual identity and gender can be fluid; they can change and evolve over the span of our life, meaning just because we identify as one thing now doesn’t mean we could always identify as the same thing later in life.
Another thing i really thought was important was the challenging of the concept of what is truly considered to be “normal”. What one could understand to be normal does not necessarily mean another could think the same. Society’s perception of “normal” has a lot to do with ‘societal norms’, though that is something that constantly changes as society itself evolves.
The character development was lovely, I enjoyed reading Chika’s journey. A complete story that is worth the read, especially if you want to learn more information on asexual and the ace spectrum.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content warnings:
-sexual assault (within the first chapter)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Acephobia/Arophobia, Sexual harassment