I enjoyed this, it was fun and cute. Sahoko got a little annoying because of how obsessed she was with how she was perceived by others and social media. But I’m guessing she will grow out of that as the story goes on and hopefully she will become less self-centered.

I really liked the development of the friendship between Sahoko and Aoi and I’m excited to see how it continues to grow in future volumes!

Chasing After Aoi Koshiba is a sweet manga packed full of romance and incredible illustrations.

The cover photo and internal coloured pictures alone make this book stand out. It's so pretty and elegant for being a manga. I like seeing these kinds of books around! Then throw in some LGTBQ+ representation, a sweet and romantic storyline with those illustrations? This book just screams awesome. On top of all of that, I just really enjoyed it. I wish I had the opportunity to sit down and slowly read through a print copy, it's that sort of good. You'll soak yourself up on this fantastic story and not want to leave.

Side note: I like the dresses in this book. It's a weird, quirky thing that stood out to me. Pretty manga dresses = my thing.

This book is going to be hit or miss for some people. It's definitely a more artsy book with a "will they? won't they?" story line. Overall, I think it's just a fun manga read to slip away from reality into.

Three out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

So cute, funny and heartwarming.
The art style is so gorgeous.
I just want more of it please.

If you’re looking for a sapphic manga, this is it!
Go read it!



Disclaimer: I received a copy of Chasing After Aoi Koshiba, volume 1 in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.



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Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Chasing After Aoi Koshiba volume 1 is a pretty good start to the series. Sahoko is your standard ditzy main character that's very concerned with staying popular, even though she feels like she's hiding her true self. When she notices Aoi, she immediately begins to admire her for her honesty and tries to befriend her.
The overall mood of the story seems like it'll be a bit angsty or bittersweet, which has really piqued my interest. However, some plot points that bring Sahoko and Aoi together seem a little forced. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to reading more about them.

It's really difficult to like Sahoko because of her self-centeredness and hunger for popularity. However, these negative traits leave a lot of room for character development.

I really like Aoi's character but I don't see any chemistry right now between her and Sahoko. I might read the following volumes just to see if there's something going on with Anna.

I hope we can see Sahoko's growth in the following volumes.

2.5\5 Personally I did not enjoy the plot of Chasing After Aoi Koshiba, and I can’t see myself continuing with the series. Sahoko is insufferable, and I don’t find myself rooting for her whatsoever. However, at her age, I understand her struggling and being more judgemental of others because she does that to herself, but her attitude really takes away from the story to me. I think it is more realistic (along with the conversations characters have) but that isn’t enough to keep me going.

I think(?) this is a yuri series, but we start it with a weird accidental kiss following an awkward conversation. I like the potential romantic interest, she is really sweet but this first volume doesn’t really give us a feel of the characters outside of surface level assumptions. Even though Sahoko is thinking some more complicated things, I can’t help feeling detached from the characters. I think others may enjoy this more than me, especially if the plot and character development improve!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the Arc!

Sahoko is your average pretty teen who is focused on popularity and her looks until she finds herself drawn to another female classmate, Aoi. At first she thinks it is just admiration and a longing to be her friend but after accidentally kissing her she struggles with her feelings might be more than friendship. The manga is interesting since it starts with Sahoko as an adult remembering her time in high school as she anxiously awaits Aoi to show up at their high school reunion after being estranged for several years. A realistic look at young love drifting a part and I'm curious to see how their lives will merge once again.

This isn't the most original plot I've ever heard of but it was executed very decently that it managed to keep me interested through the entire volume. The art was definitely stunning and Anna's words at the end definitely made me want to learn more about what happened between Sahoko and Aoi. Perhaps Sahoko will learn to be less mean to people she deems "unpopular"?

Overall, so far it's a sapphic manga that has lots of potential. I definitely look forward to the second installment!

Un agradable, fresca y cómica historia de amor que va surgiendo poco a poco entre dos chicas de secundaria que, desde la primera página, nos damos cuenta que sucedió algo que las hizo distanciarse años después de la graduación. Esto hace que me quede con la intriga por saber qué ocurrió con ellas, porque se las ve tan bonitas y pareciera que todo marcha bien.

Este es un manga muy fácil de leer, ligero y con mucha comedia. Me resultó agradable y me aseguraré de recomendarlo cuando salga a la venta.

¡Espero leer la segunda parte!

DNF

This one sounded so good! A sapphic love story that went back and forth between the past and the present but unfortunately, I just didn’t enjoy my time with it and decided to stop reading it about halfway through.

I just got tired of all of the fatphobic comments, all the “loser” comments and the insults our main character kept saying to herself about everyone and just overall, I didn’t like the vibes of her and the story.

I still implore you to check this out if you’re interested! This wasn’t the manga for me but it might be the one for you!

"Chasing After Aoi Koshiba" Volume 1 by Hazuki Takeoka & Fly is the first Yuri title I have picked up in about a decade. I always shyed away from Yuri titles due to the predominance of the male gaze, which is not to my taste. This is not in any way like that but certainly has a 'gaze' in the characterisation, panelling, composition of shots, etc

The story follows Sahoko Narita, a third year at university, attending her high school reunion and feeling disappointed to learn that Aoi Koshiba will not be attending. We then travel back to second year in high school to see how the two first met. This first volume is set mostly within high school and only starting and ending with present day.

High school Sahoko wants to be popular, pretty and fawned over. She wants to be with the cool kids and takes great effort to make everything appear effortless. She is drawn to Aoi who lives life like a free spirit. But do opposites attract?

I have to say that as a predominantly BL reader I could see this being done as a BL and I would eat it up with a spoon! The side characters are the main strength of this title, though! The friends have personality and interest and there has to be a side story spin-off in the works for the female teachers that help guide the teen versions of the characters. If not, we should start a campaign or something!

The set-up, side characters, and promise of character growth and relationship progression has me itching to read more. That hasn't ever happened before for a Yuri title. Well done, Aoi Koshiba! Well done!

Rainbows and Sunshine Book Blog
May 7, 2021
This manga was incredibly cute and I just want to gush about the characters! The art is so gorgeous and I really liked the writing and it was also unexpectedly funny.

The story is set it two timelines, the current college one with the highschool reunion and a flashback to the highschool years. Sahoko is very relatable, especially the clumsiness and awkwardness around Aoi. I loved seeing both Aoi and Sahoko get to know each other. The ending leaves us with a lot questions and I atleast some of them are answered in the sequel.

I had a lot of fun reading this volume and I really can't wait for the next one! Highly recommended!

*ARC provided by Kodansha Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

Okay, WOW. I adored this. I will admit that this was my first yuri-manga, and I was so excited to be chosen to read it.

First - The art style is absolutely beautiful. I have this horrible tendency to not read any manga where I am not already interested in the art style. It adds so much to a story, therefore it can take so much away. But never fear, Chasing After Aoi Koshiba #1 did not disappoint.

Second - I really love the trope of Sahoko being this ditzy, pretty girl who cares about her popularity. Because, she genuinely does, but there is clearly some sort of driving factor behind it, she's not an "airhead" type character, which I appreciate.
Koshiba is a character I see myself relating to right from the get-go. Perhaps not from her popularity or exact home life situation, but from the way she feels pressure to continually conform to her "tomboy" image, and how doing more "feminine" things means everyone will make fun of her. As someone who is queer and strays towards a more masc appearance, I can totally relate to this feeling, especially in Highschool where this takes place.

Third - It's honestly been such a long time since I've read a manga that I genuinely want to continue and am invested in from book one. It's cute, it obviously has some hidden layers to it (that I cant wait to discover!) and there's almost 100% chance of heartbreak in some form or another, and my romance-loving heart knows it's going to hurt, and I'm here for it.

Thank you once again to the publishers and to netgalley for making this read possible!

This was such a cute first instalment!
I'm hoping as the volumes go Sahoko learns to be less judgemental, because at the moment her inner dialogue is hella mean -,-" and bugging me big time.

I really enjoy the time skip/flashback aspect of this story, it has me really curious about what happened between Sahoko and Aoi in the past and how it's affected them in the present (also super curious about how certain side characters were involved (keeping it spoiler free haha, but if you know you know).

Overall, a super cute first volume with plenty of potential for the rest of the series.
Can't wait to read on and find some answers (and possibly shed a tear or two because I can totally see the potential for that too).

This series is starting off strong with this charming first novel. I adored both characters and their dynamics. The artwork is also stunning. I'm intrigued by the story and I will definitely be picking up the next book.

Thank you, NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Hazuki Takeoka for the arc!

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974


Great story about wanting to be popular and falling for a popular jock. In case the one seeking popularity is very awkward. To the point of feeling like a stalker. Aoi is the jock that is helping take care of her four siblings. This story has more potential and I look forward to part two.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this!

I have been meaning to get into more cute manga lately and this one takes the cake.

I like this story and I'm keen to see how Sahoko grows as a person because at the moment she is quite selfish in her youth but I'm hoping with the influence of others she sees that you don't have to care so much about what everyone else thinks. This manga is a wave of emotions, I can't wait to see where this goes!

Will be purchasing the rest of the series :)

It's Gay. . .potentially?

I honestly didn't enjoy this manga, not due to it not being super in my face about it being gay. (The gayness portrayed feels like the standard comedic relief we'd see in any romance manga)

I'm interested in Koshiba, she seems sweet and I can see so much there. But I found myself hating Sahoko, and even more so her friends (Anna in particular).

Every bit of this manga felt forced, or much like Sahoko fake on the surface.

It wasn't for me that's for sure and if you're looking for sweet gay fluff, it's not for you either.

Chasing After Aoi Koshiba: 5 Stars

Don't mind me - I am just over here GUSHING 🤗♥
First things first: the art is gorgeous! Now onto the story:

This was so much better than I expected it to be, which is saying a lot because I had high hopes to start off with. We follow our main character Sahoko in a dual timeline - one where she is in college and one where she is in highschool (the highschool storyline takes up 90% of the story though).

Sahoko is such a complex main character and from other Reviews I have read on goodreads I feel like a lot of people simply don't understand her. She used to be a "nobody" and worked her way into popularity by acting and losing herself on the way. She keeps referring to people as main characters - people who are worthy - and side characters. This is how she sees people and most importantly herself. She used to be a side character or how she phrased it even "a rock in the background" and she turned that around by pretending to be someone she is not. Her image is the most important thing to her and that is such a true way of life for a lot of girls in highschool. Be pretty. Be popular. Don't be seen with the losers. It is such a true story at heart and it lays out so much groundwork that I am dying for the Sequels.
This story is so compelling already and it's only the first volume - I am so very impressed.

If people are going into this "just" wanting a yuri romance this might not appeal too much to them because the first volume is so much more about Sahoko herself, her friendgroup (who are so very interesting to me. Especially Anna) and her mental state (which - shocker - is not great) than her "romance". As a matter of fact highschool Sahoko does not even realize that what she feels for Aoi is romantic at all - she is simply in awe of her because Aoi is unapologetically herself and liked by people all the same. The romantic feelings are alluded to but only college Sahoko starts delving into those.

I feel like it is also worthy to mention that I am intrigued by every single side character that was introduced. (as in. EVERY single one.)

The fact that I ordered myself a physical copy the minute I finished reading the digital copy speaks volumes!
✨ This could potentially turn into a favourite series of all time ✨

A very cute story so far, but not a ton of substance. Would like to see where the rest of this goes, as I’m always looking for more sapphic/yuri stories to read! Characters all seemed a bit flat, but Aoi and Narita have some good potential!