A review by reila
Seaside Stranger Vol. 1: Umibe No Étranger by Kanna Kii

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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;;;).
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