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4.55 AVERAGE
4.55 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
This volume has pacing issues for sure. Volume four brought up so many things that had to be resolved that the conclusion feels a bit rushed. But it is a good ending. Except for the fact that Sakura's eating disorder is never acknowledged? She seems to be eating normally again in this volume, but it's weird how it's just not addressed at all.
Overall I think this manga series does a good job of showing the importance of community and queer solidarity in a heteronormative and cisnormative world. There are good explorations of internalised homophobia and external queerphobia in this. Mogumo's nonbinary identity is affirmed unambiguously by the narrative and with the current state of LGBT+ rep in manga that is groundbreaking. The fact that there are three trans women/girls in the recurring cast and a nonbinary protagonist and a minor trans man character in this volume is wild (in a good way!). I've never seen this many non-cis characters in one manga before. Trans men and nonbinary characters especially tend to be really rare and what's there in terms of rep of trans women is often really bad. So although this series isn't perfect, I think it's a good step in the direction of better LGBTQIA+ rep in manga. I really liked these characters and I hope to see more like them in the future.
Overall I think this manga series does a good job of showing the importance of community and queer solidarity in a heteronormative and cisnormative world. There are good explorations of internalised homophobia and external queerphobia in this. Mogumo's nonbinary identity is affirmed unambiguously by the narrative and with the current state of LGBT+ rep in manga that is groundbreaking. The fact that there are three trans women/girls in the recurring cast and a nonbinary protagonist and a minor trans man character in this volume is wild (in a good way!). I've never seen this many non-cis characters in one manga before. Trans men and nonbinary characters especially tend to be really rare and what's there in terms of rep of trans women is often really bad. So although this series isn't perfect, I think it's a good step in the direction of better LGBTQIA+ rep in manga. I really liked these characters and I hope to see more like them in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Dysphoria
Attempted self-mutilation, knives, misgendering, dysfunctional family
fast-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
I am incredibly saddened by the fact that this is the last volume of a series. The series will hold a special place in my heart. Because of the series my love for manga bloomed once again! I loved seeing a sort of closure and hopefulness for Mogumo’s future. I give it four stars because this last volume felt rushed and too of a convenient wrap up to the series. I really wish we had gotten more of Mogumo’s relationship with Tetsu. I also wanted more of all our side characters. I would have loved to see their journeys in finding their voice and being more self assured in their identity. Overall I am just great full for this series and look forward to rereading it in the future and any other work from this creator.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
this volume made me sob, it was the perfect ending to the series seeing mogumo's parents (especially their mum) being so supportive restored my faith in humanity
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Transphobia
Minor: Self harm
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
This is a review for the whole series:
Love Me for Who I Am is a manga series following Mogumo, a nonbinary high school student who is invited to join an otokonoko café (a café where boys dress as girls) by a classmate. The series thus follows Mogumo making friends in the café and falling for said classmate. This story was super sweet and I loved all the members of the café. Once Mogumo joins, the café goes from strictly crossdressing to one for full gender diversity as one of the members of the café transitions into living as a girl full time. Mogumo's classmate Tetsu is also a very sweet boyfriend to Mogumo and absolutely loves them as is, and is a very supportive younger brother to his older trans sister. There's also a lovely plotline where Mogumo reconnects with their family. There are moments where I felt that some moments were a bit gratuitous (for instance, a moment where Mogumo is about to very seriously harm themself) but at the same time, given how Mogumo felt, I can't say I'm surprised that Mogumo would do that and I've heard real life accounts from trans people who have thought about or have done similar things. I also think the story did a good job of showing the thought processes of some of the more unaccepting characters of the story without excusing their actions. Overall, I thought this story was very sweet and well done, and would overall give it four stars.
Love Me for Who I Am is a manga series following Mogumo, a nonbinary high school student who is invited to join an otokonoko café (a café where boys dress as girls) by a classmate. The series thus follows Mogumo making friends in the café and falling for said classmate. This story was super sweet and I loved all the members of the café. Once Mogumo joins, the café goes from strictly crossdressing to one for full gender diversity as one of the members of the café transitions into living as a girl full time. Mogumo's classmate Tetsu is also a very sweet boyfriend to Mogumo and absolutely loves them as is, and is a very supportive younger brother to his older trans sister. There's also a lovely plotline where Mogumo reconnects with their family. There are moments where I felt that some moments were a bit gratuitous (for instance, a moment where Mogumo is about to very seriously harm themself) but at the same time, given how Mogumo felt, I can't say I'm surprised that Mogumo would do that and I've heard real life accounts from trans people who have thought about or have done similar things. I also think the story did a good job of showing the thought processes of some of the more unaccepting characters of the story without excusing their actions. Overall, I thought this story was very sweet and well done, and would overall give it four stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Transphobia
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
'Love Me For Who I Am' finishes off with a fraught confrontation with Mogumo's family; after the troubling revelations of the previous volume, they decide to try one more time for a reconciliation. It's rough going, but with the support of Tetsu and their new friends they're able to get through to their parents; it's a good hopeful ending, although I wish then we'd also get a bit more of Tetsu and Mogumo dating afterwards, but overall yes, a nice cute manga about queer people accepting themselves.
emotional
inspiring
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
The final volume of an amazing series! I'm so glad Seven Seas localized it, this translation is way better than the fan-translation I read a while back. Particularly, they do a much better job of gendering and using the right pronouns for Mogu-chan and others.
The art is beautiful and cute! If you like cute, queer stories that don't shy away from sensitive topics, definitely give this a read!
The art is beautiful and cute! If you like cute, queer stories that don't shy away from sensitive topics, definitely give this a read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Transphobia, Dysphoria
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A serious joy to read. It really brought the message and the characters home. It didn't cop out and have everyone understand and accept everything right off the bat, but it still ended in a hopeful way. I fell in love with all these characters over the course of this series, and this is going to have a prominent spot on my shelf for sure.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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