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apileofcranes 's review for:
Is Love the Answer?
by Uta Isaki
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Let me start out this review with this: if you’re a manga reader and don’t know a lot about asexuality or are questioning if you are ace, this is a great book for you!
Personally, as someone who identifies as aspec and have a good grasp on what it means to be ace, I felt this book really toed the line of being a compelling story on its own and being a psa about asexuality. I would classify it as more of an educational story than a story with good ace rep. What I did appreciate about that was how much it emphasized that an identity can mean something different to everyone, that assumptions can be reductive, and that no one can tell you how to identify, you have to figure it out for yourself. The nuanced lens this book looks at identity with was refreshing and was smartly woven into the conflict and plot. That being said, the plot was so centered on the idea of identity that it feels unrounded if you are already familiar with the ideas discussed in the book.
The characters were all reasonably compelling and nuanced in terms of identity which was very interesting but we don’t get to know them very much outside that aspect, which leaves them feeling deep and one-faceted all at once. The representation of how the world views asexuality is very accurate, and I really liked the way it was confronted and examined within the story. There are even sources cited in the book for if you want to read more about the identity. If there was one complaint I have about the representation in the book it would be that it isn’t made completely clear in the main story the differences between the aromantic and asexual spectrums, but that’s me being nit picky.
Overall, even though the story feels educational, it’s still entertaining and enjoyable, even if some of the conflict feels a little over-dramatized. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more but doesn’t enjoy dense informational reads.
Personally, as someone who identifies as aspec and have a good grasp on what it means to be ace, I felt this book really toed the line of being a compelling story on its own and being a psa about asexuality. I would classify it as more of an educational story than a story with good ace rep. What I did appreciate about that was how much it emphasized that an identity can mean something different to everyone, that assumptions can be reductive, and that no one can tell you how to identify, you have to figure it out for yourself. The nuanced lens this book looks at identity with was refreshing and was smartly woven into the conflict and plot. That being said, the plot was so centered on the idea of identity that it feels unrounded if you are already familiar with the ideas discussed in the book.
The characters were all reasonably compelling and nuanced in terms of identity which was very interesting but we don’t get to know them very much outside that aspect, which leaves them feeling deep and one-faceted all at once. The representation of how the world views asexuality is very accurate, and I really liked the way it was confronted and examined within the story. There are even sources cited in the book for if you want to read more about the identity. If there was one complaint I have about the representation in the book it would be that it isn’t made completely clear in the main story the differences between the aromantic and asexual spectrums, but that’s me being nit picky.
Overall, even though the story feels educational, it’s still entertaining and enjoyable, even if some of the conflict feels a little over-dramatized. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more but doesn’t enjoy dense informational reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Outing