"Perfect World" follows Tsugumi Kawana as she reconnects with her old high school crush, Itsuki Ayukawa. He suffered an accident where he sustained a spinal chord injury, leaving him in a wheelchair.
This manga follows them as they rekindle their friendship and Kawana learns the problems Ayukawa faces daily in his life. As the story unfolds, you get to know the characters and watch them develop through their troubles.
I loved every single thing about this manga and its characters, I couldn't help feeling a bit emotional for them and I am anxious to see how it all unfolds in the future. I highly recommend this for everyone to read.

*This arc was provided by Kodansha Comics, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.*

Finally an interesting josei manga! I'm so happy we have got Perfect World in English, since there aren't that many manga for women and especially ones with a disabled lead. Tsugumi Kawana meets her former school crush Itsuki Ayukawa due to work, but soon learns that he is bound to a wheelchair because of an accident that left him with SCI (spinal cord injury). She feels like perhaps she couldn't ever date anyone in a wheelchair, but soon she notices that old feelings rise again and they both land on an unknown territory. I'm glad the manga takes the topic seriously and doesn't romanticize its topic - Perfect World is very realistic and grownup too. Some of the things annoy me, such as the fact that being in a wheelchair surely is something to whisper about when it's not and that hardly happens. Except we are talking about Japan where this actually exists. So, the need to look at this with cultural differences in mind is very much needed.

The art is slightly fragile and looks a bit crude at times, but otherwise it's good. Perhaps the manga looks slightly too much like shoujo, but the roughness eases that one oddly (which is good). There's a bit too much "learn about SCI" in the manga though. It bothers a little as Itsuki needs to explain everything to Tsugumi and it kind of eats out the pleasure, when you feel like it's not solely about the story, but the need to somehow educate grown people. Yet, Perfect World is wonderful and I'd say very important too. I wish we'd get more of these "different" series translated, since there's magic to them surely.

There was this one time I was at university and this blind student was tapping his cane listlessly and looked really lost. He turned to ask people for directions to a building but they mostly walked away, hoping he wouldn't realise they were there. (I understand this - in our world we're not told how to deal with situations like this; I blame no one). I asked him if he needed help. He said he needed to get to the law building. I didn't know where the building was, so he explained to me and I guided him. You could say it was a case of the blind leading the blind. We had a really nice conversation about the subjects we shared and he talked about his dogs, and I talked about mine.

I think what people need to realise is to stop treating disabled people like they're fragile and to be avoided. That being said, I think Perfect World does a really good job at portraying this, even if it's lacking a little in other areas and just a tad bit preachy. Address the person before you address their disability.

Also, this manga is just too cute. I exploded inside. My boyfriend had to mop me up because I was a soppy mess. I know I don't sound like I really enjoyed this, but I did. I don't often read cute things or romance (I'm all dark, gritty and noir-like). So when I do my innards go mush and my reviews don't make any sense and my boyfriend just doesn't know what to do with me. He appeals to my nihilism but I still just gush

Relationships: They're complicated.
There's an important thing about relationships - it's that once you look past the beauty, the fun and the good times, there are difficulties. Your partner could have depression, alcoholism, have been sexuality assaulted or be in a wheelchair. It's how you deal with these difficulties that makes your connection all the more great and your time together so much more meaningful.

Ayukawa is wheelchair-bound. But that's not all. He's a really cool guy. He gets way too excited about his architecture job and he's really friendly all round.

A girl who had a big crush in him in high-school, Kawana, joins his team as a designer. She's pretty shocked to find out about his accident and subsequent spinal cord injury, and very reluctant at first. But she falls for him. Hard. Obviously she does.

Kawana is pretty shocked by what happens to Ayukawa and all of his pain, but Ayukawa does not throw a pity party. He is not self-absorbed. He is strong and has overcome most of the sense of loss he felt in his youth after losing his ability to walk. But he's still hurting.

How Romance Should be Done
"When I saw the hole in his body I realised I knew nothing about him"
This manga does not romanticise spinal cord injuries although it is a romantic manga. Kawana doesn't get hit by a bout of "ooh guy in a wheelchair, it's so cool". She sits down and thinks to herself "Oh shit, can I do this? Am I strong enough?" Ya know, realism and all that. Ugh. I love this

Further on in the story, Kawana helps him with (view spoiler) I like Kawana's determination to be a part of Ayukawa's life. It makes me happy. It gives me hope in this world

This book is a little preachy though. However, there are beautiful moments peppered throughout. There is also a moment of realisation which Ayukawa and Kawana share, and it is so sweet.

4.5stars
This was such a different manga! I really enjoyed it. It was definitely not the easiest to relate to for me, but it's impossible not to fall for the characters and to not care about them.

This story is about two young adult characters that used to know each other back in high school. Tsugumi Kawana is now an interior designer, and Itsuki Ayukawa - aka her high school crush - is an architect. They see each other again and get to work together but a lot has changed since then. But one thing didn't - her feelings for him seem to never have gone away - until she realizes Ayukawa is now in a wheelchair. Can her feelings surpass the difficulties?

I really liked how realistic the story felt, and how it was brave and blunt enough to put what a lot of us thinks into words. It's not a nice thought to say "I would never date a person in a wheelchair" but we do think it. And the main reason is the number of difficulties. Although it's even more difficult for the person living with the disabilities, it's for sure not easy for the other half of the couple. Any type of disabilities also takes a mental toll on that person. God, I can't even think of how I would feel if it happened to me, and I can't really say I know anyone disabled deeply enough to know how they feel like but I believe it would be something like what the book shows.

Kawana has a lot to learn before she takes the step to a relationship with Ayukawa. And he has a lot to change and accept too. He has to accept that a person being in love with him is not a bad thing, that their life will not stop because of that. This book has a lot of deep thoughts and it's truly both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

I loved how caring and sweet Kawana was. She is a very strong hearted person and although initially, she was not sure if she would manage to date a person in a wheelchair, I loved how she still wanted to try and to learn.

Ayukawa was a very strong male protagonist, who always tried to show the bright side of things, even in the most difficult of days. He never gives up and I truly admire his strength. But he is also a person that has a barrier to his heart. And that's not only about love but for his family too. He doesn't want to be a burden for anyone, not to his parents and definitely not to a girlfriend. He doesn't want to date anyone and believes it's best to end up alone and he is resigned to it.

They have a long journey in front of them and I can't wait to see more about it! It's such a unique story! It's the first time I read about an MC in a wheelchair and it truly made me think. The art was also really nice and detailed. It was easy to read and very enjoyable. It transmitted the emotions clearly and all the thoughts put into this book are just so important!

This made me cry and think a LOT and I think it's a manga everyone should try and read. I would definitely recommend it and I can't wait to read more about their story.

As a Manga lover, I enjoy a variety of genres and I'd gladly sit down and read as many as I can but, even if I came across lots of different stories and complex personalities over the years, I still had to read one treating a delicate subject such as this. And, let me tell you, I'm happy I took the chance with "Perfect World"!

With a lovely and clean illustration, and characters who feel real, it's difficult for the reader to put this volume down. Of course, one thing that got me particularly invested in the story is that it doesn't lessen the issues caused by SCI, in fact, it makes you face the bitter truth for what it is. It shows you what someone with a spinal cord injury has to face on a daily basis—and for the rest of their lives—the struggle, the perils, and the mental strength required to go on with life, because life must go on. Itsuki Ayukawa successfully made a career no one would have thought possible after he got so severely injured, but his passion and determination didn't let the disability stand in his way and deprive him of his dream. That is truly admirable but make no mistake, just because he doesn't share it with the rest of the group—so to speak—it doesn't mean Ayukawa's positive attitude is all there is to see... After making better acquaintance with him and his condition, Kawana's scepticism soon changes, leaving her open-minded and making everything more heartwarming.

This first volume well presented a realistic series with quite the potential. I personally think that with a better pace it would have worked even better, but it still was a pleasure to read and I can honestly say I loved it! Enthralling, moving, and refreshing, I'd definitely recommend it.

A very entertaining old favorite of mine. This is a josei manga dealing with romance and disability.

What a wonderfully heartwarming and endearing comic. The comic follows 2 friends after high school that meet each other again. However, one of the friends has suffered a life-changing accident that now leaves them disabled. This comic follows the love story of those 2 friends and how they grow together. I loved how the storyline was realistic as well as entertaining. I was not disappointed by this comic and I think anyone that likes to read comics and likes a good love story will definitely enjoy this comic.

Something about this rubbed me the wrong way for the first half of the manga, I didn't like how her first instinct was to say she couldn't be with someone who is disabled. I didn't like that they were refusing to put in ramps. The people seemed really close minded about that, which seems awfully cruel when one of their employers was in a wheelchair.

As the volume went on, I am glad that she started to grow as a person, and be more understanding of disabled people I enjoyed that the romance was slow burning. I hope that later volumes show more of the teenager in a wheelchair and his girlfriend, so we can see how they are doing.

'Perfect World, Vol. 1' by Rie Aruga is a dramatic story about two people who knew each other in high school and about how their lives have changed since then.

Tsugumi Kawana runs into her old high school crush, Itsuki Ayukawa. He is now an architect and Kawana is glad to see him. Then she sees that he is in a wheelchair because of a spinal injury he got shortly after high school. His life is different, and the longtime girlfriend he had left him. Kawana doesn't know if she wants to be in love with someone living in a wheelchair, but she feels herself drawn more and more to Ayukawa.

The story is sweet. At first, the isues Kawana brings up seem shallow, but this helps to develop an understanding for her and the reader as the story progresses. The art is good, and I enjoyed the chance to read this story.

I received a review copy of this manga from Kodansha Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.

This is definitely a heartwarming and relatable story. Very realistic and kind of makes you think about all the other people you may encounter in life and their everyday struggles. Beware of the impending tear or 2!

What a lovely and heartfelt story!

"Perfect World" deals with some very difficult topics, like learning how to cope and live with a disability, and manages to narrate the story with a lot of dignity. I liked the pure emotion of the characters that just their facial expressions spoke more than the dialogue itself sometimes.

Kawana and Ayukawa are very genuine characters and I can't wait to see where their story goes!!

This is a romance manga, but if you paid close attention to the cover, the guy is on a wheelchair, so that is your first sign that this isn't your typical story. It's really nice to read a story not based on cliché plots with rich guys, damsels in distress and teenage love triangles. This manga offers more than just romantic enjoyment; the story lets you see the physical and emotional struggles of someone with spinal cord injury. From the girl's perspective, you can see her frustration for not knowing how to help the guy she loves and her reactions as she discovers more and more about his condition. From his perspective, you can see his frustrations and life expectations.

This type of story is better suited for those who like more serious dialogues and thought provoking situations. His condition is not sugar coated: bed sores, excretory disorder, phantom pain and UTI are mentioned in this volume as well as how society treats him. Having said that, it still has your typical romance tropes, light fluffy moments and emotional punches to your heart that will keep you hoping nothing bad happens to him in the next 100 years because they are both so sweet and deserve all the happiness in the world. Now I really need to know how this story will end.

I requested a review copy from Kodansha comics. Thank you!

I hope this title sells well, because I would love to purchase a print copy for both myself and my library's collection! While it's clearly romanticized (in multiple meanings of the word), I appreciate that Aruga makes no qualms about the fact that often able-bodied people aren't good at dealing with people who have disabilities. I think much of this comes from the fact that this is a josei title, but it truly is one of the more realistic romance manga titles I have read. I really just can't say enough good things about this title and am ecstatic to see that it is only the first in a series.

This romantic drama is amazing! It's so emotional and shows the real life struggles of being in a relationship with someone who is handicapped. I love the art style and feel like the writer really conveyed the emotions behind each character really well. I got so sucked into this manga and can't wait for volume 2!

Kawana is 26 years old and works for an interior design company called Cranberries. She shows up for a collaborative meeting with an architecture company called Sakuragaoka and unexpectedly sees her childhood friend and secret school crush Ayukawa. She fumbles awkwardly through the meeting, focusing more on how handsome her old crush is and doesn't realize until it's over that Ayukawa is in a wheelchair. She doesn't know what to think except that she doesn't understand disability and doesn't think she could ever date someone in that circumstance. They go out to eat to catch up and she has so much fun talking to him that their friendship renews. Now what will she do about these old feeling that have reignited?

I recieved this manga from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Perfect World is a gentle romantic manga story about a young woman who falls in love with a young man who attended the same high school as her when they were teenagers. Back then Tsugumi (the young woman) had a big crush on Itsuki, but nothing ever came of it because he had a girl friend and so that was that.

Now, many years later Tsugumi meets Itsuki at a work party. She is quite shocked to meet her unrequited love once more, but she is even more shocked when she realises that he is in a wheelchair.

Tsugumi realises her feelings for Itsuki haven't changed but this is a new Itsuki with a serious disability and she isn't sure she can love someone with such a serious condition. She has doubts but as they work together Tsugumi gets to learn what it is to love and slowly her feelings for Itsuki come to life.

Unfortunately for her Itsuki isn't looking for love. His one serious girlfriend left him after his accident and so he now puts all his energy into his job and that's it, but can Tsugumi overcome Itsuki's fears with her love? Is there a chance for their love despite the challenges he faces?

I thought this was a lovely manga story. Tsugumi has both doubts and disappointments about Itsuki. It hurts her to see her former high school crush in a wheelchair. She then starts to see life through his eyes and it isn't an easy experience but does she really want to give up her second opportunity to love someone she once felt so strongly about? As she considers these issues she grows closer to Itsuki but she doesn't know if her feelings for him are real, or if they are enough to sustain a relationship. Gradually she is able to answer some of her questions herself but Itsuki also has questions and she might not be the only one who is hesitant about getting involved.

I enjoyed this. The artwork is lovely and the story is gentle, but also emotional. The mangaka has done a brilliant job with the art and conveys the story through her drawing and prose. This is the first book in the series and if you like manga it will be well worth following this series.

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

The artwork in this manga was beautiful. It really popped with lots of detail to keep you interested
but not enough to take away from the story. The thing that I did like the most about this book was
even though it was about a young man who gets hurt and has to live in a wheelchair for the rest
of his life. It shows the struggles and how he was still having a hard time with it even
though people were trying their best to help him. Quick read that had you really rooting
for the couple all the way through. If you like mangas then this is one that you need
to read.

A twenty-something interior designer meets her high school crush when they work on the same architecture project together. He was in an accident in college and uses a wheelchair to get around. This is a touching drama with plenty of emotion. Recommended for fans of romance manga.

* ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I love manga and when I read the premise of this I knew I had to try it. I haven’t read many manga stories that include disability, so I was interested to see how this potential love story would unfold. I enjoyed this one a lot. I liked seeing how realistically the characters were portrayed. Having a disability isn’t easy and often times not so pretty emotions and thoughts pop up and I was glad the mangaka didn’t sugar coat any of it. While serious and sometimes frustrating, there were some really cute moments too. I also liked learning a little bit about SCI and all the complications it can have relating to it. Will be picking up vol 2 when it’s releases

Bonus is the art is pretty too 💕

I loved this manga and can't wait to read the rest of the series! The art style is wonderful and I really liked both Kawana and Ayukawa. The story gives a realistic view of what life is like for someone living in a wheel chair due to a spinal injury and the complications that come with it.

Kawana is initially put off by Ayukawa's disability but steadily sees past his wheelchair and sees him for the determined young man that she's always known. I appreciated the way that things are handled between the main two characters; Kawana cares for Ayukawa and feels sympathy and compassion for him, but she also acknowledges that she doesn't know a thing about his world and can barely even begin to understand what he goes through.

I think that this manga can be really great and tells an important story. There are not enough disabled main characters in literature and so it's refreshing to see it discussed with honesty.

This is a touching story about a girl who reconnects as an adult with the boy she had a crush on in high school, and finds he’s suffered an accident that’s left him wheelchair bound. Her eyes are opened to privileges she enjoys as an abled person, and the struggles he (and by extension his loved ones) face. It’s sweet and the illustrations are beautiful, and both characters have some soul searching and personal growth.