) I hadn’t much clue about the premise of this book when I added it to my want to read list as the cover just spoke to me. I’m so glad that I just picked it up with no clue as i feel this book hit more with not knowing. The accident broke my heart as I didn’t expect it but to then follow his story to trying to achieve a dream that was for them both was heartwarming but also heartbreaking but it was done so well. I definitely want to follow their journey and see the out come of their music as I can tell that this author is writing a beautiful story. I also really loved the visuals within this book it was so pretty and detailed and once I finished reading I just wanted to go back and look at the art. I definitely recommend this book and will be picking up the rest of the series, looking to see if they become published as paperback in English.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the opportunity to read and review this manga. This combines the feels of Midori Days and Your Lie in April with Lacorda'ro tendencies with a magical realism. There's grief and a car accident visual, so keep that in mind if you want to read this.... some of the music is shown, but other times it's not. I did, however, completely understand what was happening with the emotions, so if that's something that worries you with music manga, I wouldn't. I think my main issue that I am apprehensive about for the future of the series is how it will move forward in its plot and character development.. I am curious but at the same time not going to be a top priority. Overall, though, I recommend this as a person who loves music and ghost stories. 4 out of 5 stars

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

I enjoyed this book. The ghostly elements to the story kept me wanting to know more. This book helped me to begin to enjoy manga more now.

Shu has a terrible life and feels he has no future prospects. Everyone already assumes he's a punk and, as a middle schooler who looks like an adult, everyone has already decided he's just a waste of space. He does what he can to get by, but ultimately gets in trouble often. One night, after school, fate brings him together with a piano prodigy and he starts to see a potential glimmer of hope for himself.

Until the accident.

In a freak twist of fate, Shu and Akari are linked and he must find a way to bring her talent back into the world. After a rough start, he finds that he has to try and maybe there is hope for him after all.

I must admit, I had no idea what I was expecting with this one. The title intrigued me and it looked like one of these Shonen-Music-Battle-Royale type mangas. My thing for sure. What I didn't expect was to be so roped in that I was shocked and then invested in the story of Shu that when it ended, I desperately wanted volume 2 to see what happened next.

When reading other reviews on this title, I learned that this title is another in a long line of "misunderstood, adult sized middle school student gets chance of lifetime to turn troubled life around" series. I have not been exposed to this manga trope so this whole thing was new to me, but it needs to be out there. Middle school students exist with very adult bodies. Manga titles like this need to be out there to help them process their many varied emotions. Middle school sucks.

Another review complaint I saw was that this featured very busty (overly-sexualized) women. The maid at Akari's family home did seem over the top, but overall, it was what I expected from this very Shonen manga. The audience technically isn't readers identifying as female/femme (that's generally Shojo), but male identifying readers who like action, adventure, and explosions.

What I particularly like about this Shonen is that it features action, adventure, no explosions, but also music and actual music at that. The titles are referenced later on if you want to go back and give them a listen (if I hadn't run out of time on the review, I totally would have listened to the pieces). There's music education quietly in this work. Shu's determination to learn music and piano for him and Akari is the main plot of this book and it certainly held my interest. There's also a discussion of "my life/your life" that happens which adds an interesting layer to the elite world of piano competitions and this kid just showing up to upend it.

Overall, I found this to be a solid manga. It gets bonus points for being a musically inclined Shonen that makes the world of music competition even more dramatic than it needs to be. Make room on your shelf for this one. (Currently ebook only.)

I need volume 2 like yesterday, Kodansha. That's how much I enjoyed it.

woah this was a true journey, i was not expecting so much intensity in a manga about music!! this is totally worth reading!

This isn’t what I expected and music in action?? This is for you cause I was like woah this is action packed!!!!!!!

Wow. If you're looking for a new manga series that will give you all the feels, please consider checking out Piano Duo for the Left Hand Vol. 1.

Shu hasn't precisely had what most people would call an easy life. He's earned a bad reputation because of it, giving him little reason to care about his future. This all quickly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Akari Yuzuki is everything that Shu is not. She's a talented pianist known for having an "Angelic Left Hand." Despite their different paths in life, Akari wants to give Shu a chance. That's why she pushed so hard for him to show up to her next recital. Unfortunately, tragedy struck before that could happen.

I'm going to say it again, wow. I could say it a hundred more times and still, emphatically mean it. Piano Duo for the Left Hand Vol. 1 is an emotional read that is so beautifully crafted. Don't pick this one up unless you're ready to shed a tear or two (or ten).

It's difficult to dance around this plot without risking significant spoilers. Shu and Akari are connected in ways that most stories would never dare try. It's unique and compelling, even if it originally stemmed from tragedy.

What I loved about this story is that it is essentially a new take on the tale where somebody finally realizes their worth. Shu is cleaning up his act, trying to make a future for himself. It's so heartwarming to see, and I can't wait to see more of it.

As a former music student, I really enjoyed this manga! The music elements and references definitely resonated with me. I loved the art style, and really enjoyed the story itself as well. At first I definitely giggled a bit at the whole Akari becoming Shu’s left hand concept, but by the end of the volume I was completely charmed; found it quite endearing, actually! I’m definitely interested seeing where this story goes and Shu’s journey as a pianist takes me.

I felt that Piano Duo for the Left Hand was different from most manga that I've read in the past. It blends combines tragedy, the supernatural, music competitions, comedy and somehow a bit of romance (at least it seemed like it to me), all in one cohesive manga. Teenager Shu has had a rough life, and is now thought of as a no good delinquent, and he doesn't give any thoughts towards his future. But one day he starts meeting with the beautiful Akari Yuzuki, a classmate of his that is a piano prodigy who is known in particular as the "Angelic Left Hand" Shu starts to think of his future. But then a tragic accident happens to Akari right in front of him, injuring himself in the process. Wallowing in the guilt and blame placed upon him for what happened to Akari, Shu soon realizes that his left hand is possessed by Akari's ghost... What could go wrong with that?

Shu is a delinquent and doesn't really have any hopes for his future. Then he meets a piano prodigy named Akari. Hijinks ensue and the two seem to be hitting it off. That is until something horrible happens and cuts their blossoming relationship short. That's when things start to get weird. Shu dedicates himself to learning the piano to honor Akari's memory. And his left hand seems to be really helpful all of a sudden.

Overall, I really enjoyed this manga and I can't wait to see what happens in the next volume!

I enjoyed this manga. It was a nice surprise. As usual, I did not read the blurb before and hence, did not think the story was going to go that way with a little touch of fantasy.
We follow Shu who is considered a delinquent. One day, his professor makes him go to a piano concert by Akari at their school and even though he doesn’t see how this can help him, fate will bring him closer to Akari, a lot closer. I like the character of Shu, he is very passionate and I think he can become quite a complex character as the volumes go. There is a bit of piano in this manga of course, but I feel like the most important part of the story is the relationship between the different characters. It gives a lot of emotions to the reader.
I recommend to people looking for a passionate main character.
4/5

Many thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was unexpectedly good! I didnt read the synopsis properly because i dont want to be spoiled so from reading the title, i thought it was a music manga witj a guy who had a knack for playing or a hidden genius but nope, i was so wrong. This took an unexpected turn.

This had grief and loss as the themes ti drive the plot forward and add piano as part of the story. Now that I have read it, I wished i could get an anime series from this because I need to hear the music they incorporated in here and watch the epic performances played by the characters. I love the artsyle, it was quite unique, a bit different from what im used to but it accentuated the performance aspect so well.

If you love music and add with finding sense of purpose in life, then read this.

Thank you to netgalley and Kodansha for the e arc!

Shu is a misunderstood bad boy who lets people think he’s bad when he’s not. A classmate that plays the piano spends time to convince him to listen to her play then dies in a tragic car accident that also leaves his left hand paralyzed.

I liked at the beginning and how it build up to the sad really nicely. I like the overall story of the manga but I did have some issues with it. I’m not going to go into specifics because I don’t want to spoil anything. But the manga has a plot twist that I didn’t see coming and it just threw me off. It just kinda disconnected of sorts. And I didn’t love it. I did push past it and read on but I always came back to it. I did enjoy this manga otherwise. I don’t think I’d read on to vol 2 though.

Okay so when I read this it had been a while since I’d read the synopsis so perhaps I should have expected it BUT I was merrily reading this like ooohh this is gonna be good, delinquent becomes a piano prodigy and then there was a shock twist that shook me to my core. I wasn’t expecting it and I wasn’t expecting it to be a little bit dark for a minute there but within the first chapter I was like okay this is gonna be interesting! Kinda gave me venom vibes but without the alien.

The art is pretty, the characters are cute. There’s obviously a focus on music but you can feel Akari’s love for piano as you read and it’s quite inspiring! Though Shu initially appears to be motivated by guilt, it’s nice to see his own love and appreciation start to shine though!

It’s not entirely what I was expecting but it’s certainly intriguing!

This title took me by surprise. I was expecting a story about hidden talents and a more sports-like pace, instead, I got a story about grief and living on for someone else. It was an interesting turn that I liked. The art is nice to look at well. I'm curious where this one is going to go.

This manga was so well fleshed out, I didn’t have any issues with the characters or any plot holes that I saw. The art style was really good and the translations/text was also very fluid. There weren’t any points where I felt taken out of the story or confused. I loved so many of the characters and how they do resented on the page

I enjoyed this manga.
Bad boy meeting a good girl who changes his life.
Events help father rediscover his passion toward piano.
Easy evening read, the only thing I would wish for is for the events with the girl mot escalating so quick.

Huge thanks to Kodansha Comics and the author for providing this manga in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
---
This was an awesome story combining some of my favourite elements: great storytelling, characters and stunning artwork, all with a unique context of the struggles and determination of musicians. A heartwarming and at times sad story that nevertheless gives one hope. I will absolutely be continuing this manga!

Overall rating: 5/5 stars

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
-Characters: 4/5
-Cover: 4.5/5
-Story: 4.5/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Music
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yes

First want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review! This manga was kind of out of my usual zone but wasn't disappointed with it at all. I gave it a 4.5 rating only because I can't hear the music but am rounding to the 5 it deserves. Not many mangas have me gasping in shock.

Shu is a poor kid living in poor conditions with a crappy father. He doesn't have a good rep but ends up meeting a girl who can play piano and it all goes from there. It was sad and heartwarming. I am eager to see where the story goes in volume 2!