I loved this! There’s some highschool drama, love triangle, and a mystery. The mystery is killing me. I want to know everything. I really loved all the characters and I am excited to see where it goes.. and what she decides about her feelings on love.

Huge thanks to Kodansha Comics, NetGalley and the author for providing an e-ARC of this manga in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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This was a fun read!

Full review to come

Yuko Inari is a newer mangaka and this is their first publication in the US and I must that I really enjoyed this first volume.

Volume 1 of Falling Drowning introduces the main protagonist, Honastu, her childhood friend Toma and the new student Shun. After losing her memories when she was younger, Honatsu has been trying to put together the pieces by moving forward with the help of Toma and her other friend Akine. Just when she returns to school after recovering from a cold, there is a rumor amongst the student body that she is dating Toma. Not one to be bothered by rumors, Honatsu begins to wonder if she does have romantic feelings for Toma. But she feels a mysterious pull to the Shun, the mysterious newcomer.

Inari does a good job setting up a love triangle from the beginning. Typically I don't care for the amnesia plotline, but it actually makes the story more interesting. I look forward to the next volume.


Thank you to Kodansha & NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC copy in exchange for a review)

This is my first manga from Yuko Inari and I have to say what an interesting story. I got into this manga blindly without knowing the plot. However I am glad I did that, it makes me feel curious until the end.

Our main character, Honatsu want to know what is love feels like and she too like everyone else want to feel that. She somehow claimed her feelings for her guy friend, Toma as Love until the transfer student comes, Shun make her heart waver.

Its sound really simple, however this manga especially the volumes 1 hinted a possible connection between Shun, Toma and Honatsu. As Honatsu lose chunk of her memories at 11 years old, there is a big possibility that Shun might be the cause and that Toma knew about them. It is very interesting. However I do not fancy love triangle tropes, usually I would drop story like that. But this series make me curious on their past, hence, I try to tolerate the love triangle that will happen soon.

Overall, intriguing concept, cute artstyle, beautiful character design and definitely a good shoujo mystery manga.

There were moments in this that I really liked. Mostly the “falling”-scenes between Honatsu and Tachibana. Honatsu history, the way both main male characters compliment and contrast each other and how this is feed into the “falling” vs “drowning” when it comes to love. One is a rush, the other can be overwhelming but also creeps up on you.

I think I’d like to see how this develops in the next volume.

OH MAN THIS WAS SO CUTE I LOVED IT

I have been looking for a manga that gives me the same feelings things like Hirunaka no Ryuusei or Say I Love You - Two of my all time favourite Mangas.

This definitely hit in all the right places, so much that I want to read Volume 2 right away!

The art in this was a style I love, and the ratio of text to action was spot on. I loved the cliff hangers at the end of each chapter, especially the one at the end of the entire volume! I also really enjoyed the characters, the main three got a good introduction - although I think it would have done even better with more indepth introductions. I guess we will get more as time goes on.

Although this has a trope I don't like amnesia it actually adds to the story to grip you even more.

Falling Drowning (vol. 1) is about a 2nd year highschool student Honatsu and her childhood friend Toma. Everyone thinks they're dating but I'm reality they're just friends despite there being some chemistry. Honatsu begins to think she likes Toma but when transfer student Shun everything is mixed up, especially since she lost her memory at age 11.

This was a well done manga. The artstyle is cute and the plot is interesting. I like all three of the characters and am interested in how their story progresses. Would recommend will be continuing.

I'm not familiar with Yuko Inari's work and went into this read blind. This volume was mostly setup, we don't know too much about the characters, or where the story is going. That said, it's hard for me to decide how invested I feel in the story and its players at this point, but volume one did leave me thirsting for more information!

The main character lost a good chunk of her memory at 11, we aren't really sure what happened. She has a couple of close friends who look out for her. One is a boy who clearly has a crush on her and feels responsible for her. Her female friend is also very protective, in her own blunt and matter of fact way, which I appreciate in a character. A day before the main character returns to school after being sick (we don't get many details) a boy transfers to their school. He is really standoffish with the female MC (foreshadowing anyone?).

It seemed like the story was moving forward quickly in a way that left me wanting. I did not like how disjointed the transitions from one scene to the next felt at times, I think that was my biggest complaint. But it's very possible that was the intent since the main character has amnesia?

Aside from that, this seems like the setup to a decent teen romantic drama! If that's your vibe I recommend Falling Drowning! There are a lot of elements to this story that I think will scratch the itch for folks who like: a possessive ML, mysterious circumstances, love triangles....

Honatsu has just started her second year of high school; she's supported by her two good friends Akina and Toma, who everyone things she's dating. She, along with a transfer student, have started the year later than the other students, which doesnt' make it easy to blend in, but there's also the fact that this transfer student, Shun, doesn't seem to like her and, more importantly, Honatsu had an accident when she was a kid that made her lose her memories.

What's interesting about this manga is that we're on the same page as Honatsu. Oftentimes, it either feels like everyone is a stranger or you get lost with so much information, but in this case, it was a very nice middle ground, we were thrown right into the lives of our characters, but it felt like we knew who they were already, like we were familiar with them. We feel like Honatsu, who knows these people but does not remember the past, so you're not lost at all.

Similarly, there is a love triangle, nothing too strange in the genre, but it was there from the start so it doesn't feel forced or annoying. I am intrigued to know what happened between the characters, not only with Honatsu, but the three (four counting Honatsu's friend) of them. And like I said with the characters, I like how the mystery is approached, it is dealt with slowly, so we will be finding out things when they're due, not being super annoying but also not dumping everything at once. I believe that will make readers more invested in the story.

Honatsu is a very interesting character, I like her approach to things and how she deals with them. She's strong and hard-working. I admit I am curious to see what happens and happened with her, and like she says, it is not common for a kid to have amnesia, so I wonder if that will affect her more than it has (there were some scenes where she heard people talking about her and her situation, which felt read and like something that would actually happen). Toma is very nice, but I do hope we see more of him, because for now he's just the nice guy. Nothing bad with it, but I wonder what will happen with him. And what's his relationship with Shun. I actually like that they're friends.

Even if we do not know what happened with Shun, it's clear he's not mean with her for the sake of being mean, which is sometimes common in these type of stories, but there's a reason behind that, which I'm curious to find out. However, I truly hope nothing romantic happened between them in the past, before she lost her memories, that complicated things, becuase they were both kids at the time.

Nice first volume, good shoujo with a bit of drama and mystery thrown in. I will continue reading.

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Falling Drowning 1 by Yuko Inari was a pleasant surprise. Unlike many shoujo manga these days, it follows a high school girl struggling with amnesia after an accident causing the death of her father. She has great friends and what seems to be a love triangle forming, but I enjoyed the air of mystery surrounding the story and hope to continue the series sometime. The art was fabulous as with most manga!

Love triangles are common in shoujo mana romances. They bring tension and drama and can keep the story going. That said, a lot of the time, a love triangle injected into a story can detract from the emotional elements that the mangaka is aiming for. That said, when it’s built into the premise from the beginning, a love triangle can be used to explore agency, independence, and learning how to choose yourself first. That’s where Falling Drowning comes in.

Falling Drowning Volume 1 is written and illustrated by mangaka Yuko Inari. The manga is published and localized in English by Kodansha, featuring translation by Jessica Latherow (Local Manga) and lettering by Barri Shrager (Local Manga). In the manga, Honatsu just started her second year of high school, and there are already rumors floating around that she’s dating her childhood friend, Toma. While Honatsu isn’t totally opposed to the idea, she’s not sure what she feels for Toma can really be called love. But when aloof transfer student Shun Tachibana appears, the waters get even muddier and her heart begins to split in two. To make matters more confusing, Honatsu has blind spots in her past and it appears that Shun connects to them.

The beauty of Falling Drowning is that Inari clearly knows how to use a love triangle to explore inner conflict as much as external. Honatsu is put into a position to decide what she truly wants, but she has to decide what to follow, her head or her heart. For the love interests’ parts, each of the boys is calling to a different piece of Honatsu. Toma has always been there for her, helping her after she lost her memories when she was 11. He watches over her, carries her bags, and treats her like something to be protected. On the other hand, Tachibana lets Honastu do things for herself and doesn’t see her as someone who is fragile despite her tragic past.

For Honatsu, Toma is safe. He’s like home to her, and the comfort she feels is instinctive. While she doesn’t know if she loves him, she can feel her emotions accumulating as they spend time together. But for Honatsu, Tachibana seems like an adventure. He’s new and different, and the electricity she feels around him, even when he’s standoffish is something she can’t stop thinking about. This dynamic is what the narrative hinges on and one that Inari explores. Going where you’re safe and taken care of is a natural pull and a special kind of love. But at the same time, having someone see you as competent and strong, trusting you to take care of yourself, changes things. When you’re used to being cared for, someone believing in your independence can shake your foundation in a way that feels liberating.

Falling Drowning Volume 1 sets up our characters wonderfully and keeps just enough mystery to make the angle of amnesia interesting. While it does take some suspension of disbelief for the premise, the heart of the story is one that is relatable. Love what’s comfortable or love what pushes you. While I’m interested to explore Tachibana and Honatsu’s past and seeing the romantic rivalry between Tachibana and Toma, I just want more introspection.

While Inari’s dialogue is great between characters, it’s the moments where Honatsu is alone with herself, working through her emotions that really shine. She is exploring love for the first time in such a way that she has to analyze what it all means. Does she want a small building love over time or a fall? This exploration is just the start.

Overall, Falling Drowning Volume 1 may have a gimmick (amnesia and all) but it also has a story about a love triangle that is all about our lead finding herself, and not necessarily the right guy. This alone makes it one to read.

Arc was given by Kodansha & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is being published after the release date (February 2nd, 2022)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Depictions and talk of a car accident, talk of loss/death of a parent



I love a good manga that gets me eagerly invested, craving for the next volume to descend into my grabby, little hands. This was such a great manga and it had everything. It has a love triangle, protective friends, a dark horse love interest, a main character with a tragic backstory, just everything you want and need in a manga to keep you invested in the series. I think I can say, with my whole chest, there are going to be many manga readers who don’t want to miss this series.

We follow Honatsu Tenma, a high school student who’s starting a new year at school with her childhood best friends, Toma and Akine. Only Tenma has missed a good chunk of school due to being sick and upon starting her new year, her friends become even more protective of her especially Toma. Toma is so protective that the other students start to notice and soon start a rumor of the two of them dating. With the past of a tragic accident from six years ago claiming her memories, Honatsu tries her best to do things her own way, at her own pace, despite her two friends constantly interfering. While Tenma is trying to get her bearings among all of this, she learns about a new transfer student, Shun Tachibana, who’s Toma’s friend from childhood, but also has rumors going around about him too. This is the start of Honatsu’s journey of discovery her divided feelings between Toma and Shun, and the secrets that are being kept away from her and her tragic past.

“Rather than a single moment it’s more like your feelings of “liking someone” gradually accumulate.”


Let me start by saying there’s something about a childhood friend to lovers trope that hits differently in literature especially in manga. Sprinkle in a love triangle and you’ve got a spicy story just waiting to unfold. There’s also a whole mystery that surrounds to two love interests of our main character that just adds a nice little touch to this story as a whole. What I’m trying to say, I’m invested. I’m in deep and I don’t want anyone to take me out of this rabbit hole.

Starting off with the characters, we have a lot of groundwork being established in a steady pace in this first volume. We see bits and pieces of their history, pieces of childhood, and little details that have you wondering, eager to know more about those characters. While the brief details of Honatsu’s memory loss is sprinkled throughout this volume, the approach to build up the characters first was nicely executed and the best method to approach this first volume in the series. It leaves the readers invested in the characters, but leaving us with a fiery desire to seek out the truth by reading volumes as they release. Which I’m going to be honest, I really want to know more about Shun due to there being so much mystery surrounding his character.

“I think people who can take care of themselves are far more precious.”


Speaking of characters, Honatsu’s character is probably one of my favorite main characters in a while. The way the mangaka established her character was really refreshing to read about. Despite having lost her memories, she has a strong desire to learn things on her own and discover what she likes and dislikes. Her approach to love felt very realistic as well. Falling in love, crushes are both feelings that can cause such internal stress for anyone, at any age. So seeing her character have all these thoughts and feelings about falling in love while she’s under going her own journey of self-growth was really refreshing, and felt realistic for someone of her age.

Of course, I say this with every manga, but the art style was superb. It gives me similar vibes to Ouran High School Host Club and it’s just an art style that’s like catnip to me. There were little details in the illustrations that were really eye pleasing. The way some of the scenes are illustrated fit perfectly to the emotions being set or expressed during that scene. It’s beautifully done, absolutely beautiful.

Overall, I really adore this manga and I really wish we had details for volume two! For a first volume in a series, the story has me fully captured and I’m obsessed with what the next volume is going to give us. Not to mention, I have so much intrigue and questions about so many things, and I just really need the rest of this series. Of course, if you’re a lover of contemporary, romance, and slice of life kind of books/manga then I highly recommend picking this manga up. Plus, I think the way story itself will capture you, making this a fast read.


The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

WOW! Honestly, I'm not sure what I expected going in... just a standard love triangle shojo manga. But WOW am I obsessed. There is romance, there is high school life, and there is drama... and even mystery. And the art style is STUNNING.

Our female lead is Honatsu. I think I love her because she reminds me a bit of myself... I lost my mom at a young age and I was determined to do everything for myself from that point forward. I did not have amnesia like Honatsu but I deeply related to her. I love her positive and hard-working attitude.

Then we have our two male leads. Toma is a cinnamon roll. He is one of Honatsu's best friends who has always stayed by her side since the accident... and he is adorabely in love with her.

But, enter the dark and broody Tachibana from stage left. Clearly there is more to him than meets the eye. He must be connected to Honatsu's past and possibly the accident that killer her father...

This is one I hope is printed as well because I need it for my collection. I literally cannot wait for volume two.

Honatsu is arriving to school after two weeks out with the flu. She meets up with a long time friend that is a boy and they seem to have some flirty banter. Afterwards she meets up with a childhood friend that is a girl and tries to help her catch up on what she's missed. Honatsu learns that there is a new transfer student and since he's missed just as much class as she has she's interested in being his friend. She introduces himself and he's pretty cold to her for some reason. At the end of the first chapter Honatsu's guy friend, Toma, and the new transfer student, Shun, seem to know each other and one asks the other if Honatsu still hasn't gotten her memories back. Whoa. What do they mean?! Turns out Honatsu was in an accident when she was 10 and lost all of her memories. She's in a weird position of trying to start over and move forward with her life while her two closest friends are overprotective of her. She's exploring what love feels like and can't decide is she loves Toma or is starting to like Shun. This had me very intrigued and I'm interested in more.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy to review.

I was looking forward to reading a sweet coming of age romantic manga. Unfortunently, this manga didn't read as I expected. The text was repetative for 200 pages and didnt really reach any progress over those panels. I was not drawn in at any point by the characters or story.

The only thing I did enjoy was the art style. Unfortunently, this title just didnt meet my expectations and didnt leave me with a good impression to continue the series.

Beautiful illustrations. A classic sunshine versus grumpy trope that is sure to keep you on your toes until the end of the series! Ready for volume two now!!

Thank you, Kodansha and NetGalley for the chance to review this ARC.
For me at least with Shojo manga I’m first drawn in with the art style. That’s just me and that is y what drew me to this one.
I didn’t expect the twist in the story, and that was great.
I’m emotionally invested in the story now.
I’m getting second lead syndrome here although you can say that Shun is the main lead.
But I will say this story is very well crafted. The art is lovely, and the comedic moments are on point!
I can’t wait for more volumes!

I've been trying to make a point of taking more risks and picking up new manga series as they come across my searching. Sometimes those risks don't pay off. Other times I find a new favorite series to follow. Falling Drowning is the latter, as this is clearly going to be a series I follow from here on out. Written and illustrated by Yuko Inari, Falling Drowning Vol. 1 is an endearing start to this series.

Honatsu is a girl who has been through more than she lets on. She's starting her second year of high school, and the rumors are already spreading. At least this time, the rumors are positive, as people believe she is dating her best friend, Toma.

Honatsu isn't opposed to the idea of dating Toma, to be clear. She's just not sure if what she feels for him is love. The appearance of Shun Tachibana further amplifies this concern. There's something about him, but again, she's not quick to call these feelings love.

When I say that Falling Drowning is a new favorite series of mine, I am not overstating. I keep checking to see if the shop has updated, so I can just subscribe to the series and get each volume the day they release. That's how swept up I am with Falling Drowning Vol. 1.

Right away, it's pretty clear that something is going on with Honatsu's character. She's sweet and determined, but the overprotective nature of her friends hints at something else happening behind the scenes. This mystery pulls readers in while setting the scene for a potential romantic plot. It's all wonderfully done.

No matter how you look at it, Falling Drowning Vol. 1 offers several potential romantic tropes for fans to fall head over heels for. Either it is friend-to-lover, or it is a mild version of enemies-to-lovers. Either way, the fans are going to win. Not to mention the whole love triangle aspect, mixed in with the mystery of Honatsu's past.

On the note of romantic triangles, we have Toma and Shun. Toma is a sweet guy with strong 'boy next door' vibes. He adores Honatsu, and will clearly do anything for her. Shun overall offers the opposite vibes. He's dark and moody. Yet all of his gruffness gives the impression he's working too hard to avoid caring.

Overall, I really enjoyed Falling Drowning Vol. 1. I legit cannot wait for the second volume to release, especially since this volume concluded with a tease of a hint towards Honatsu's past. More, please!

(Thank you Kodansha and Netgalley for an eARC copy in exchange for a review)

Honatsu and Toma childhood best friends start their second year of high school.
While she tries to catch up to this feeling, she has in herself of lacking something we met Shun Tachibana a new transfer student. Her head and heart pull in opposite directions, what is in her past that she can feel within these two boys.

There's more to this story than i'd thought a shojo manga to be, the suspense of an accident and lost memories involving love is a melancholic vibe i enjoy. I question moments from each character, 'do they know more' 'should i suspect you'.
I'm always up for a childhood friends to lovers, someone that already knows you inside and out, add some 'i've always been in love with you' type moments and sold. Then add a love triangle where you get the feeling somethings not adding up, I love the moments where 'i shouldn't be in love with you but i am' type feeling!!!

This story pulls between what you think love is to how it is felt by Honatsu. Like the title I expect to be fully submerged in whatever memories come to light in volume 2!! <3

This title has potential to be more than its parts. It starts out as a fairly basic romance, with three players. (Oh boy,
a love-triangle maybe! My favorite,) but then, the first chapter's twist end brings a whole other layer to the story. This new aspect that could be very engaging if handled well. I'm keeping my eye on this one.