Thank you so much to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this manga. This manga is really adorable if you love childhood best friends and fame. The artstyle is adorable and the story is cute. However, I want more chapters of the story in one volume. Because of these points, I have to give this a 4 out of 5 stars

When I saw that I could read this manga, it didn't catch my attention and the truth is that it surprised me a lot and now I'm wanting to read the second volume.

Gazing at the Star Next Door is a youth romance manga where the ties between the protagonists go back many years but it seems that everything changes when he, Subaru, becomes a star and is admired by everyone. Chiaki here feels that their relationship is no longer the same, but deep down... we readers know that it is.

I loved the pace of the manga, how it tells the story, the little flashbacks, and the way they connect. The truth is I really liked it.

Thanks Kodansha Comics for the ARC I read on NetGalley.

This is a charming story about a high-school girl with her crush on her next-door neighbour, who also happens to be her childhood friend that is slowly making a name for himself in the entertainment industry.

This manga was literally so cute. I kid you not I was blushing and giggling the whole time through. Plus the art is just gorgeous? I can see this becoming a giant of the shoujo manga, because reading it felt like taking a breath of fresh air in a field of flowers.

I need the second one now please and thank you.

Omg how was this this cute??? It was a cute story about childhood friends where one is consistently telling herself and told by others how her bff would never be in to her. I need more now. This is the type of high school romance I’m looking for.

What a fun and entertaining start to the series! In this volume we’re introduced to childhood friends, Chiaki and Subaru, both of whom are navigating the highs and lows of being a teenager. The only difference is that Subaru’s a newly discovered model/actor that’s quickly rising to stardom in Japan, and Chiaki’s simply your average highschooler on a mission to find love. How will things develop from here?

I’ve always been a sucker for the “childhood best friends” trope in manga series, but Ammitsu just does it so well! I love the cheeky yet caring dynamic between Chiaki and Subaru, and it’s so wholesome to see the ways that they look out for each other (whether that be Chiaki making Subaru meals or Subaru standing up for her in turn).

Chiaki’s character in itself is so refreshing to see as a manga heroine because she’s both caring and yet unafraid to speak her mind. She’s not timid nor scared to stand up for her friends, but she’s also innocent in the ways of finding true love. In comparison, we haven’t been given as much insight into Subaru’s thoughts nor feelings yet, however it’s still early days. I’m looking forward to seeing more scenes between them in future volumes, and some potential chapters from Subaru’s pov!

This manga would honestly translate so well into an animated series, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that someday soon. But if you’re a fan of the “In the Clear Moonlit Dusk" series, then I’d definitely recommend checking this out!

Summary:

Chiaki is what you would call a normal teenage girl. She goes to school, watches after her little sister, and loves hanging out with her friends. One thing that makes her a bit different is Subaru, her best friend.

Subaru is a hot model, and he's getting his foot into the acting industry. He's taking the world by storm – and possibly slipping away from Chiaki in the process. Yet he still depends on her to take care of him since he's alone so much.

Review:

Aww. Gazing at the Star Next Door Vol. 1 is such a cute start to this series! If you love friends-to-lovers romances, you've got to check this one out! I think this will be a slow-burn romance, but only time will tell.

The first volume is endearing, with Chiaki slowly realizing her feelings. We can only guess at Subaru's thoughts, but something tells me he's more aware of how he feels – he's unsure what to do about it.

This light read was exactly what my heart needed this week. It was impossible to read it and not root for these friends (to become something more, that is). I originally picked Gazing at the Star Next Door Vol. 1 because it was billed for fans of In the Clear Moonlit Dusk (a favorite), but this one really stands on its own.

Highlights:
Manga
Romance
Potential Friends-to-Lovers

Will I continue the series? Maybe? Probably.

Thanks to Kodansha Comics and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks so much to the publisher for letting me read this!

I really enjoyed the art style and the interactions between the characters. I'm looking forward to seeing where their story goes! ^^

Thank you for letting me read this manga. I liked the artstyle in this manga. the story was fine just a little too young feeling for me. I`m not sure as to why this is. as i very much like middle grade stories. but in this the feeling was just a bit off.

Oh my gosh, I LOVED this story! I just thought it was so adorable. Funny, sweet...love the set up for this one. 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 also having that bit of uncertainty and shyness with Chiaki's unrequited love she's harboring. Lots of sweet scenes that gave me butterflies and made me excited for them to really see each other...

This was such a sweet story, and I fell in love with it and the characters quickly. I can't wait to see what more is in store for this series. Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book.

This was a very cute start to the series! The artwork is beautiful and I really enjoyed this first volume. The main characters are adorable and I love the friendship between Subaru and Chiaki. Can't wait to read the next part of the series!

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Gazing at the Star Next Door by Ammitsu is the first book of a coming-of-age manga series that explores the friendship between two childhood friends, Subaru and Chiaki, when Subaru is about to become a major TV star during their high school years. Chiaki denies ever liking her friend, but his early days of stardom enables both people to be honest about their feelings and their friendship. The story is fast-paced, and the illustrations capture the characters’ emotions well. This is an enjoyable manga for fans of the shojo manga genre.

Childhood best friends and neighbors, attending school and being typical teens except one just happens to be a celebrity. The MMC Subaru is a rising star while the FMC Chiaki is his childhood best friend/neighbor.
Volume 1 introduces us to the characters and gets off to a great start. Although famous, Subaru attends school as a normal teen. Chiaki struggles with having a crush on Subaru, feeling like she’s just “the childhood best friend” and worrying just how long she can remain by her friends side before he becomes so famous that she’s left behind.
I enjoyed the story, the character’s interactions and attempts at normal life while dealing with fans and trying to figure out their feelings for each other was relatable and believable. I can’t wait to see how things progress in the next volume, I look forward to seeing how the characters (and their feelings) continue to develop, I’m hoping Chiaki becomes more confident and we see the friendship grow into something more.
While the plot isn’t anything new, I really like these characters and how the story is going so far. Plus the artwork is amazing, the characters feelings are portrayed beautifully even without words. Some of those looks Subaru gives Chiaki…💜

Big thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was really cute and I liked the art but the story kinda fell flat for me. I feel like there was a lot going on but at the same time nothing. Very quick read but feel there are better high school, my best friend is a celebrity romances out there, sorry!

Such a cute story with pretty illustrations. Chiaki and Subaru are high schoolers and next door neighbours. She’s had a crush on him for quite a while, but it’s one sided. To make matters worse, Subaru has recently become a celebrity and she is losing him to his fans. But at least she’s the only one who gets to hang out with him at home, even if it’s just cooking for him and making sure he wakes up to school in time. And recently, it seems like he might want to spend time with her too. I have to read on to find out what happens.

So this one is pretty cute. Its a childhood friends situation where she was the chubby kid, and he is the hot model, and has always been beautiful. Clearly they both have feelings for each other, so we are navigating them getting to where they can tell each other how they truly feel. I think I will collect this one digitally personally. The other series by this mangaka, Ran the Peerless Beauty, I am itching to get my hands on physical editions of those. I think this one is good, but not better than Ran.

Sweet friendship swirls with hesitation and doubts to stir up all of that shojo goodness.

Chiaki and Subaru have best friends forever, and Chiaki is thrilled to see Subaru quickly becoming a star. But that also means that he's drawing further and further away from her world of normalness. Worse yet, he's surrounded by more and more female fans, and that isn't making her long hidden crush on him any easier to handle. But she doesn't want to ruin anything, either, and does her best to cope with the new reality. Her thoughts of simply steering her feelings toward a different guy are also proving difficult. Everyone knows she's friends with Subaru and are now treating her differently. While she's cheering on Subaru as he jets into fame, she's caught in the wake turbulence with no idea how to steer through it.

This comes from a very talented mangaka. So, I picked this one up with quite a bit of excitement. Of course, I wasn't disappointed. The artwork is very well done, there's a lovely balance between emotions and fun, and it pulls at the sympathy in all the right ways...if you're a shojo-fan. This manga does hold the trope's usual cliches and plot flow, which is also something fans of this direction will adore. It does, however, add enough of an unique twist to give it a slightly new atmosphere.

Chiaki isn't just meeting Subaru, but rather, knows him as well as a brother. This creates a different atmosphere between the two and changes the attitude she has toward him and those around her. It presents slightly different problems and possibilities. Luckily, the characters are interesting and have enough depth to draw sympathy. Plus, there's needed balance added in the character of Chiaki's friend, who brings a dash of spice and banter.

This does slide right into the trope its meant for, and it does this with finesse, while setting the stage for the rest of the series. It's romantic, sweet, and leaves the doors wide open to see where the changing friendship between Chiaki and Subaru will lead because there promises to be so much more to come.

Absolutely adore this first volume of this series!! Most definitely will be waiting for the rest

Follow the life of Chiaki, a high school student who is trying her best to get over her unrequited love, none other than her best friend Subaru

The author has given us a cute story to follow and the illustrator has given us incredible artwork to swoon over!

Thank you NetGallery for providing me a copy of this manga!!!

Finished this in a day and half, super cute manga, reminds me of "Honey lemon soda" in some aspects which I adore. Can't wait for volume 2! Big thanks for the ARC #NetGalley
#GazingattheStarNextDoor

~ thank you, netgalley, and to the publisher for the review copy ~



This is such a cute childhood to lovers manga 🤚🏽 couldn't help myself but felt giddy and at the same envious 😆. I just love the relationship the fl had with ml. You could really see their careers for each other.


Can't wait, but I feel excited about how this will go on ♥️