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A review by lastblossom
Gazing at the Star Next Door, Volume 1 by Ammitsu
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Competently hits most of the expected beats, with a nice twist about characters who might be growing further apart instead of closer together.
Thoughts
If you're an avid reader of shoujo manga, you know what to expect. Beautiful artwork with soft lines, and a plot packed with longing looks and light flirtation. We've got all the hits: Childhood friendship, the hottest guy in school, and even the ill-advised mixer with college boys. All of it is very competently done, with nothing to complain about, and plenty of very pleasing illustrations and sweet moments. The author's notes talk about the story being one of drifting further away from friends with the passage of time. It's an interesting twist on the usual: Most shoujo romance features our main characters slowly growing closer. In this case, they might actually be growing further instead. There's a bit of a bittersweet tone that comes through because of it, but nothing too sad. In the end, it's still a sweet and light romance with a very pretty boy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Competently hits most of the expected beats, with a nice twist about characters who might be growing further apart instead of closer together.
Thoughts
If you're an avid reader of shoujo manga, you know what to expect. Beautiful artwork with soft lines, and a plot packed with longing looks and light flirtation. We've got all the hits: Childhood friendship, the hottest guy in school, and even the ill-advised mixer with college boys. All of it is very competently done, with nothing to complain about, and plenty of very pleasing illustrations and sweet moments. The author's notes talk about the story being one of drifting further away from friends with the passage of time. It's an interesting twist on the usual: Most shoujo romance features our main characters slowly growing closer. In this case, they might actually be growing further instead. There's a bit of a bittersweet tone that comes through because of it, but nothing too sad. In the end, it's still a sweet and light romance with a very pretty boy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment