Reviews - Is Love the Answer?

571 reviews for:

Is Love the Answer?

Uta Isaki

4.21 AVERAGE

pagesbyolivia's review against another edition

4.0

emotional inspiring reflective 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: N/A

This was an adorable stand-alone coming-of-age manga with aro/ace representation and pretty artwork.

The story follows Chika as she struggles to understand why, unlike her peers, she doesn’t feel sexual or romantic attraction. While her friends keep telling her that she probably just hasn’t found the right guy yet, Chika still doesn’t share the feelings others describe. But as she enters college, she learns that there are many more sexualities than she previously thought and is starting to come to terms with who she is.

If you already know about the topic of asexuality/aromanticism there probably won’t be anything new but if you’re looking to read this as sort of an introduction into aro/ace stories then this is a good place to start, as it is pretty informative about the subject.

As someone who is on the aro/ace spectrum, I am always looking for more representation and I especially loved how this manga pointed out that both sexuality and gender identity are fluid and that there specifically isn’t one set way of being asexual or aromatic.

Overall, this was a really sweet story and I’d recommend it to anyone who is looking for a short read in between.

simonlorden's review

5.0

emotional informative inspiring

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I received an ARC through NetGalley and here is my voluntary and honest review.

This book is about a young woman (?) realizing she is asexual and aromantic, but it also about a lot more than that. During her journey to figure out her own identity, Chika meets friends and classmates with various identities and relationship types.

I liked how this book explored a lot of issues, including getting married for convenience because living alone without a partner in adulthood can be difficult (not only emotionally, but practically - e.g. only family being allowed to visit you in a hospital). It also has a sideplot about fandom, and how you shouldn't be ashamed of your interests, and how anime isn't just for small children. I especially liked the mention that what you enjoy in fiction doesn't determine what kind of person you are in real life.

Overall, I think this is a great introduction to asexuality and identity, and it also raises some questions about romance, expectations and pressure even to those who aren't asexual and do want to participate in romantic relationships.

It also has some really cool returning space and planet motifs.

alexutzu's review

3.5

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was a wholesome manga about asexuality and relationships, encouraging quite healthy mindsets until the end.

😍 The good:
Nice graphics, blending reality with fantasy. This approaches a topic with which some people can relate with, and the conversations surrounding it are great to learn from. The book is also quite inclusive, not being limited to talks about asexuality, but broadening on the LGBTQ+ experience.

😅 The not-so-good:
The characters and their interactions were not that nicely built, it was all so brief that it lacked some background to me. I somehow expected more of a story, but it felt like it leaned towards nonfiction due to the many details that weren't related to a plot.

Content Warnings

lostcupofstars's review

3.0

Firstly it’s nice that this exists and there are tons of people who will love this and benefit from it.

I personally found it a bit too info dumpy for my liking, the characters felt flat and there was no real plot outside of asexuality 101.

A lot of good convos around fluidity, expectations etc I just feel like the way it was delivered made it come across entirely educational as oppose to fiction with ace rep.

litematcha's review

5.0

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense 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

As a lover of all things queer, I'm always on the lookout for anything LGBTQ+ hitting the shelves. I was so excited to see Is Love the Answer?, a manga centered around asexuality and aromanticism, available to read through NetGalley, as I have been eager to read it for a while now. This book was fantastic in so many ways: the character arcs felt realistic, the extended metaphor was touching, and of course the art was beautiful! But what I liked most about the book was the depth of its nuance about identity, labels, and systematic discrimination. While I do love a fluffy, almost fantastically progressive setting for LGBTQ+ couples in manga, I also enjoy that grey space that's more realistic, gritty, and uncomfortable; a space that asks the community and allies, how do we find confidence in ourselves and respect for one another when we don't understand ourselves? Once again, thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing a free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Content Warnings

theythemsam's review

3.75

I thought this was cute and informative of the nuances and fluidity of people on the aroace spectrum

fiendfull's review against another edition

4.0

Is Love the Answer? is a manga about a new college student who realises that she's asexual and aromantic whilst finding friends who understand her. Chika has felt like an alien, and in high school felt the pressure to be in a romantic relationship. When she goes to college, she finally meets people who can understand her differences, and she's introduced to ideas of asexuality and aromanticism, whilst learning to understand that she doesn't have to fit the definitions perfectly as there's many versions of any sexuality.

This is a cute coming of age story set at a Japanese college that explores not only Chika's confusion and desire to understand herself, but also supporting characters and their different experiences of sexuality, desire, and romance. It could delve further into different experiences, but it does work well being short and easy to read in one sitting. The manga offers a range of models for sexuality, whilst also emphasising, particularly in the notes at the end, that there's a plethora of experiences. It's relatable for people who've had similar experiences, especially during life changes like going to university, and ideal for manga fans exploring ideas of sexuality.