Such a cute, wholesome read. I loved the flashbacks to their childhood. They are such great friends. I cannot wait to see their relationship develop to more.

Great start to a series. I cannot wait to pick up the next volume.

I didn’t I didn’t expect much from this since I don’t really like childhood friends to lovers, but this was really cute and I can wait for the rest. The art was also really good.

Gorgeous art, but this just didn't work for me.
I just found everything/everyone really flat, and I just didn't care about what was going on at all.

Gazing at the Star Next Door is a charming addition to the genre, offering an endearing story that will resonate with fans of heartfelt romance. The character design is very cute and I'm excited for the next volume.

Gazing at the Star Next Door offers an engaging and emotionally charged narrative about love, friendship, and the complexities of navigating unspoken feelings when life’s circumstances change drastically. Perfect for fans of *In the Clear Moonlit Dusk* and *Kimi ni Todoke*, this novel beautifully captures the bittersweet nature of unrequited love and the personal growth that comes with facing one's true feelings.

Chiaki, the protagonist, is a relatable and endearing character whose life has been closely intertwined with that of her best friend, Subaru. Since childhood, Chiaki has harbored a secret crush on Subaru, but as he catapults into stardom as Japan's hottest young actor, their once-simple friendship becomes increasingly strained. The juxtaposition of Chiaki’s quiet, introspective life with Subaru’s dazzling public persona creates a compelling backdrop for the story.

The novel excels in portraying the emotional depth of Chiaki’s unspoken love and her internal struggle. As Subaru’s career takes off, Chiaki is faced with a poignant dilemma: should she finally reveal her feelings, risking their friendship and potentially shattering the delicate balance they’ve maintained, or should she let Subaru go and allow him to continue captivating the public without her interference?

Subaru’s character, while largely seen through Chiaki’s perspective, is skillfully depicted as both charming and distant. His rapid rise to fame creates a palpable distance between him and Chiaki, adding tension and emotional complexity to their relationship. The narrative thoughtfully explores the sacrifices and adjustments Chiaki must consider as she contemplates her future.

*Gazing at the Star Next Door* shines in its exploration of personal growth and the courage required to confront one’s true feelings. The novel balances romance and self-discovery with a sensitivity that resonates deeply. Chiaki’s journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, as she navigates the challenges of her unspoken love and the reality of Subaru’s changing life.

The pacing of the story allows for a gradual buildup of emotional intensity, making Chiaki’s eventual decision all the more impactful. The resolution is both satisfying and true to the characters’ development, providing a thoughtful and reflective conclusion to their journey.

In summary, Gazing at the Star Next Door is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story that explores the themes of love, friendship, and personal growth with nuance and depth. Its relatable characters and heartfelt narrative make it a must-read for anyone who enjoys romantic dramas and coming-of-age stories. Chiaki’s journey from silent admiration to a confrontation with her own desires offers a moving and memorable reading experience.

another cute and sweet shojo romance that will surely make tug your heart strings. love the art for this manga! a promising start with lots of potential regarding the plot.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC in exhange for an honest review.

Ahh this was such a fun read! I usually don't like childhood friends to lovers but i really enjoyed the premise of her crush being a celebrity and what that means for her. Funny and sweet I was smiling through almost the whole thing! I will definitely be seeking out more in this series.
I loved how much Chiaki and Subaru are together. Love the closeness of their relationship with growing up together, but we still saw the uncertainty and shyness Chiaki still feels around him without the premise being cheesy or cliche.

I've seen a lot of talk on this manga too so fingers crossed it does get adapted into an anime. But for now i enjoyed the characters and plot, the pacing was good too. All i ask is this not be put on hiatus or go on for years on end because i don't think my heart could take it.

I love the reliability of a good shojo rom com. This really lifted my heart during a tough time of year. I am excited to see more in the series.

The cover hints at sweetness, and I did enjoy the art. Cute story, and the unrequited love - too relatable! Thanks for the ARC!

I would like to thank NetGalley as well as Kodansha for providing me with an eArc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Subaru Hiiragi and Chiaki Amano have been best friends since they were kids. But while Chiaki went on to school as any normal kid would, Subaru is becoming the hottest young actor in the country. Chiaki has to decide whether or not she'll let the fame overshadow her feelings.

I'm a sucker for unrequited love because... um.. relatable. But I enjoyed the art as that's always a big thing for me when it comes to reading manga. I love the cute and fluffy vibes I got from Chiaki and Subaru in such a short time and I can't wait to see more of them. My only critique of sorts was that I wish there was a little more backstory on Chiaki and Subaru's childhood. While it is just volume one and it's simply setting the scene, it would've been nice to also get some insight into how these feelings came to be what they are now and how Subaru was discovered in detail. I would 100% recommend this series for anyone who likes childhood friends to lovers, the boy next door trope, and unrequited love. Though, I hope as the story continues, it won't be unrequited forever :)!

This was just a cute manga. Childhood friends, the guy is a model and they have lived next to each other since they were babies. There were some plot threads that maybe could be left to explore in next volumes.

I don't think that it's gonna be anything like spectacularly new, unless it goes into a very different direction than I think it will, but I will try the next volume. The characters were quite nice, and the girl was def relatable, especially since I have mothered a few guys in my life.

I do wonder how the transition from kind of stand in mom to girlfriend will work out for them, but yeah I would call this a nice palate cleanser in-between more plot-intense books with many characters.

What a cute read!!! I loved the art and formatting. Would definitely recommend this to any casual shojo lovers.

4/5

What a cute read this was.
I honestly loved its format, every chapter is basically based on a different episode but it still had an overall story to follow, making it interesting everytime and fresh.

It was honestly quite a good first volume, and my expectations started pretty low.
I just love to be wrong in these cases, in fact this turned out into a fun and light read perfect for any time. I will definitely continue it if I will ever find it somewhere considering it only got published in english. Great start!

Gazing At The Star Next Door is about a girl who's best friend also happens to be her neighbour, a rising celebrity, and the guy she has the biggest crush on. It's a romance series and I think it's actually going to be really cute and fun.

I liked this volume. It was a super cute introduction into a new series and there were so many cute moments that made me really enjoy my time reading it. I'm glad I was able to read this volume because it really makes me want to see where things go for the two leads and all of their sweet moments together.

There is a side story that closes the author's previous story which was pretty cute and short. These often leave me feeling mixed because I usually come across these when I'm new to an author and don't have the context of the series it is related to but they can be so cute and, while this one is super short and didn't necessarily grip me, it was still a fun little tidbit.

There are so many super cute moments in this volume that I adored. They left me giddy with excitement and I even wrote two of them down so that I could remember them. The things they did for each other and with each other was just the absolute cutest. The relationship between the leads is so fun to watch bloom. I also really enjoy the leads themselves and the energy that they had.

This volume was a lot of fun, and I'm definitely going to continue checking out this series. It's been a little bit since I read this volume and am already wanting to read it again.

This is one of my first couple of times rating a volume in a manga, but I think if I were to rate this I would give it a 4.5-5 star. I really enjoyed this and am interested in seeing where the rest of this series goes.

This was such a cute start to the series!! Definitely going to get my hands on volume 2 as soon as possible. This is a childhood friends to lovers where one character is a model and actor and becoming more famous. Chiaki has a crush on Subaru but doesn’t think she’s enough for him, but she doesn’t know he has a crush on her too! Their friendship was so cute and I loved the development in this one.

Childhood friend trope anyone? Subaru is a model who made his first foray into acting, and goes to school with his childhood friend Chiaki. Chiaki helps out by making sure he gets up on time as well as feeding him when his mom is not around. Both his mom and her mom tend to be busy, so it seems like she cooks often for him. Chiaki is also in love with him, but does not think he is or that he could fall in love with her. He seems to treat her differently from other girls, but she is insecure about how she looks, so I don’t think she would believe him even if he did say he was in love with her.

The dynamic between the two is great. The bantering is pretty common for childhood friends in manga and anime, but it really is still fun to witness. I think Ammitsu did a great job with how they interact with each other. Chiaki tries to do whatever she can to help him, but will try to cover it up if it even hints at her crush towards him. She has even helped him run lines for his show. Subaru, on the other hand, does his best to protect her when he is able. I really loved this volume, and I know this is one I will be wanting to keep up with. Not to mention that I just love the art style. It is just so pretty! The second volume of this series is available as of today, May 7th.

Thank you Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for a copy of Gazing at the Star Next Door Vol 1.

"Chiaki is a pretty normal teenage girl. Since they were kids, she's had a thing for her best friend Subaru--who's fast becoming the hottest young actor in Japan! With Subaru threatening to slip away, Chiaki has a decision to make: Will she finally take her shot, or give Subaru up to his adoring public?"

This is perfect for Kimi ni Todoke fans!! A great one-shot if you want a short, sweet high school romance. Childhood friends to lovers and great art as well!

This was such a delightful read, but then again I am a sucker for the childhood friends romance trope. I love the tension that is set up between Chiaki and Subaru, even if they themselves don't realize it's there. I love her need to take care of him, while he has his need to protect her from harmful situations. Overall it's a cute read, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

I really enjoyed this manga. While it wasn’t my favorite, I can’t wait to continue this journey and see where and his the characters grown and development. It was such a light fast read after all the long books I’ve read so far this year

The story is cute and the drawing style is appealing. I like the fact that Subaru is a sweet guy rather than the generic arrogant celebrity. Chiaki is fine, but her lack of confidence in herself is quite annoying. I am looking forward to see their romance blossoms.