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elsarochelle's review
5.0
**I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC via NetGalley and will now share my honest thoughts.**
To be honest, I'm struggling to find words to describe how much I adored this story. ♡
I found Chika to be very endearing. At times I found her journey of self-discovery heartwarming and at times, especially in the beginning of the story, heart wrenching. Through it all, she was able to also channel her quest to discover who she is to help others who were also struggling with sexual identity and relationship issues which is truly beautiful.
I won't spoil the ending for those who have yet to read this beautiful manga, but I cried happy tears for Chika, Ume and everyone else who came to grow together.
I would like to also thank Uta Isaki for, through this manga, sharing a part of their own journey in such a loving way. I feel that I was able to learn a lot through both the story and the informative pages at the end of the book. For that, I am truly grateful.
Thank you again to NetGalley and Uta Isaki for allowing me to read the ARC! I will absolutely be reading more of Isaki's work in the future!
To be honest, I'm struggling to find words to describe how much I adored this story. ♡
I found Chika to be very endearing. At times I found her journey of self-discovery heartwarming and at times, especially in the beginning of the story, heart wrenching. Through it all, she was able to also channel her quest to discover who she is to help others who were also struggling with sexual identity and relationship issues which is truly beautiful.
I won't spoil the ending for those who have yet to read this beautiful manga, but I cried happy tears for Chika, Ume and everyone else who came to grow together.
I would like to also thank Uta Isaki for, through this manga, sharing a part of their own journey in such a loving way. I feel that I was able to learn a lot through both the story and the informative pages at the end of the book. For that, I am truly grateful.
Thank you again to NetGalley and Uta Isaki for allowing me to read the ARC! I will absolutely be reading more of Isaki's work in the future!
kamisamabratz's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Kodansha Comics, NETGALLEY and author Uta Isaki for letting me read this.
Can I just say WOW this was amazing from beginning to end and I do this is a one shot for those who don't know. Our main character is chika we first met her in high-school in her last year and she hasn't figure out her sexuality quite yet. We see her friends trying to tell her that going put with boy and other relationship thing people would do when going but something end up happen to chika that shouldn't have happen at all because he didn't talk to her about it before hand. Her frist relationship end bad and she doesn't tell anymore what actually happens and the girl just thinks it bad break up. The group of girl try make it up her by going out and having fun but they talk about her bad when she leaves to get something. After all of that chika leave from hometown and moves to Tokyo for college and want to know more about things that shouldn't couldn't talk to her high-school friends about. She end up meeting a professor and start to ask question to trying get some answer but ends up leaving do someone else saying something wrong. Throughout we see chika meet knew people and make new friends. Chika start to learn about her self more and more by getting books from book store and from the professor to learn more and more on where she stands on the LGBTqai community. I love how author shares more and more other communities in the lgbtqai+. It not just one we are learning from out make character. Everyone even the side characters get talk about themselves and how they felt when talking about it. They didn't know how there friends and family would take it so they didn't want to be judge by them. Getting back stories on people who are in the main character life are very important to the story if story want to process more if they are introduced. As the story process we learn more and more about chicka how certain things as kids she was told to be more mature at her age because they weren't in elementary store anymore, how chika only care about boys. But she finds people in college who loves the same anime she grow up on and have a Marathon on it. I am really happy that I got to really this story because I have someone who close to me who is asexual and I learned alot more about as I went.
Thank you again for letting me read this.
Can I just say WOW this was amazing from beginning to end and I do this is a one shot for those who don't know. Our main character is chika we first met her in high-school in her last year and she hasn't figure out her sexuality quite yet. We see her friends trying to tell her that going put with boy and other relationship thing people would do when going but something end up happen to chika that shouldn't have happen at all because he didn't talk to her about it before hand. Her frist relationship end bad and she doesn't tell anymore what actually happens and the girl just thinks it bad break up. The group of girl try make it up her by going out and having fun but they talk about her bad when she leaves to get something. After all of that chika leave from hometown and moves to Tokyo for college and want to know more about things that shouldn't couldn't talk to her high-school friends about. She end up meeting a professor and start to ask question to trying get some answer but ends up leaving do someone else saying something wrong. Throughout we see chika meet knew people and make new friends. Chika start to learn about her self more and more by getting books from book store and from the professor to learn more and more on where she stands on the LGBTqai community. I love how author shares more and more other communities in the lgbtqai+. It not just one we are learning from out make character. Everyone even the side characters get talk about themselves and how they felt when talking about it. They didn't know how there friends and family would take it so they didn't want to be judge by them. Getting back stories on people who are in the main character life are very important to the story if story want to process more if they are introduced. As the story process we learn more and more about chicka how certain things as kids she was told to be more mature at her age because they weren't in elementary store anymore, how chika only care about boys. But she finds people in college who loves the same anime she grow up on and have a Marathon on it. I am really happy that I got to really this story because I have someone who close to me who is asexual and I learned alot more about as I went.
Thank you again for letting me read this.
algaemarina's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
abbie_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC!
Previous to 2024 I had read zero manga, but this year I’ve branched out and now read a grand total of 2, both of which focus on queer young people exploring their sexualities - love to see it! Unlike My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness, Is Love the Answer? is a fictional manga, although the author does mention afterwards that she’s going through something similar to Chika herself.
I liked the art a lot more than MLEWL - beautifully detailed, and then very occasional lapses into simpler drawings where an amusing expression was more noticeable. I particularly loved Chika’s asexual professor’s character - just the way she was drawn made her seem like such a wise, comforting, older queer presence. Plus, her queer platonic marriage?? Incredible, I wanted more of that.
My reaction to this book is similar to seemingly a lot of other reviewers - it’s sweet, but a little basic. It’d be a lovely intro to asexuality for someone getting to grips with the identity, or parents or teachers looking to learn more, but it doesn’t really delve into the nitty gritty and I didn’t feel like we trulyyyy got to know Chika or any of the other characters intimately. Like Ume - I literally couldn’t tell you if he’s a student or professor, and the bond that forms between him and Chika feels rushed.
Despite those criticisms, it is still a lovely piece of work, and I’m always happy to see more asexual stories being told in a world that’s so virulently sexualised.
rnfortier's review
informative
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
I think anyone inclined to learn about asexuality should read this book.
The author really nailed the confusion and tentativeness about exploring sexuality and in various characters too.
As an asexual person, I found Chika’s journey similar to my own.
Her approach to the couple fight was too real 😂
It always nice to see your experiences reflected in the books you read, so kudos to the author.
The author really nailed the confusion and tentativeness about exploring sexuality and in various characters too.
As an asexual person, I found Chika’s journey similar to my own.
Her approach to the couple fight was too real 😂
It always nice to see your experiences reflected in the books you read, so kudos to the author.
eliza_m_ecrire's review against another edition
4.0
Un manga qui parle d’asexualité ? Say no more, comme on dit ! Et vraiment, il ne m’en a pas fallu plus que ça pour me lancer dans ce manga très chouette.
Critique complète ici : https://lesmotsdezaza.wordpress.com/2023/09/24/critique-61-is-love-the-answer-2023-par-uta-isaki/
Critique complète ici : https://lesmotsdezaza.wordpress.com/2023/09/24/critique-61-is-love-the-answer-2023-par-uta-isaki/
jules11jem's review against another edition
4.25
I really enjoyed this story. The characters are likable and I loved seeing all the different types of platonic relationships throughout the book.
The Ace/Queer representation was really well done. The author did a great job representing asexuality (and queerness in general) as a fluctuating spectrum. Queer labels are never one size fits all but so often in media they are represented that way. The characters talk about using labels for yourself and not for others. They also talk about adopting a label that feels most comfortable for you, even if you don’t fit into that box 100%. Labels aren’t meant to be boxes but instead are tools that promote self-discovery.
I also really enjoyed the author notes at the end. It was cool to see the connections between the authors own journey and the journey represented in the book.
Be sure to check trigger warnings.
Thank you to NetGalley and KODANSHA publishing for the digital ARC.
The Ace/Queer representation was really well done. The author did a great job representing asexuality (and queerness in general) as a fluctuating spectrum. Queer labels are never one size fits all but so often in media they are represented that way. The characters talk about using labels for yourself and not for others. They also talk about adopting a label that feels most comfortable for you, even if you don’t fit into that box 100%. Labels aren’t meant to be boxes but instead are tools that promote self-discovery.
I also really enjoyed the author notes at the end. It was cool to see the connections between the authors own journey and the journey represented in the book.
Be sure to check trigger warnings.
Thank you to NetGalley and KODANSHA publishing for the digital ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault
readsforlove's review against another edition
4.0
This is a must read for any members of the ace community. It's one of those books that I needed to take breaks from because of emotions, lol. This captures so thoroughly the sheer /confusion/ of discovering your identity as being ace. This is not an identity I heard about from anyone other than my one ace friend growing up, and even then I didn't hear the term until I was 16. It's less talked about, in part because many people find it so hard to understand, and media sure does love its romances. But this explores love and romance and challenges what life long relationships "should" look like, all the while asking: why don't we just make our own way in the world, living as we want, and loving as we choose? While there is a lot of intro-to-asexualty stuff in this book, I do recommend reading another more lighthearted ace book as well if you've never read any books with ace representation, like Rick by Alex Gino or The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen. But overall, this book had a lot of important messages threaded through a fun main character and intriguing side characters.
Do make sure to check content warnings.
Do make sure to check content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault
thereadingwren's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Getting a manga about asexuality is truly amazing! I'm asexual myself and seeing asexuality being discussed and explored was really lovely. I think because I already knew so much about asexuality this manga fell a little flat for me. There is a lot of explanation and info-dumps about asexuality and other lgbtqia+ terms, great for someone who is unaware but a little boring for me.
I really enjoyed the art style and the diversity of asexuality. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with any of the characters which is why this is only a 3 star.
I think this is a truly great exploration of asexuality and all the many facets that it entails. If this manga could be widespread it would be an amazing feat for the asexuality community as this manga is great at explaining the different terms and the struggles of being asexual in a hypersexual society.
I really enjoyed the art style and the diversity of asexuality. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with any of the characters which is why this is only a 3 star.
I think this is a truly great exploration of asexuality and all the many facets that it entails. If this manga could be widespread it would be an amazing feat for the asexuality community as this manga is great at explaining the different terms and the struggles of being asexual in a hypersexual society.
baldwinme40's review
4.0
cute and sweet! a little directionless, but engaging enough. at first I was like "wow these guys sure talk about their sexual orientation with people they've just met a lot" but then i remembered what freshman year of college was like and yeah checks out. i also liked the part where they discuss how asexuals may hide parts of their identity that they think don't fit with the "ideal" ace to fit into the right box. and how some of the characters grow up a little and realize that the things they said in the past weren't really their beliefs, just spouting what they had heard to fit in. actually you know what this is the most nuanced ace book I've read yet, way to go!