Oh, how I loved this manga. I love a good grumpy x sunshine, second chance romance, and this had it in abundance. We had plenty of current day moments as well as flashbacks that aided in explaining the recent events between our main characters. The pacing and plot were perfect for a one shot although I wouldn't mind getting more from this couple.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this wonderful ARC.

I think that this was a pretty standard BL manga in terms of character tropes and plot. However, this one did not land for me at all. In my original notes that I jotted down when I originally finished this, I said that I didn't hate, but that it just wasn't for me. Upon thinking about it more, I think I've come to the consensus that I actually did hate it.

Ishizaki was generally a pretty unlikable character with not a single interesting or redeeming quality to his name. Mishima was more interesting as a character, aside from the fact that he doesn't appear to have an ounce of backbone (which does not change as the story progresses). The manga covers a span of 8 years, with a majority taking place in the "present," 7 years after Ishizaki has returned to his hometown after college. The main characters feelings towards each other feel stagnant throughout and I left the manga thinking that they'd actually be better off separate.

I would like to thank NetGallery and Kodansha Comics for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is a LGBT+ story. It is full of angst and drama. Not really for me but I could see how others would like it.

I feel like this skipped so much relationship development and history which meant I did not care about the main characters. Cute art but story was disappointing.

Im a simple girl give me boys in love and I'm hooked . I did enjoy the art style and the story just flowed beautifully. The perfect one shot.

I really wanted to like this book due to the premise, as I am usually a fan of manga titles that are just one volume and are not very high-stakes in terms of plot. However, what fell flat for me was there didn't seem to be a realistic spark of re-connection between the two main characters, and communication issues also led to scenes that disregarded consent in a way that made me uncomfortable as a reader. Additionally, the story itself had an inconsistent pacing that made it feel disjointed. Overall, a story that I wish delivered more than it actually does.

A cute gay romance that follows a couple high schoolers whose friendship falls apart as the result of a little white lie
A beautiful story, perfect for fans of most other slice of life queer manga

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

It's not an uncommon tale and yet the way it's woven and told and the characters themselves are vivid and draw you in. It was one I couldn't put down once I began until I had finished it!

I enjoyed the art style but not the story. I felt it was a bit convoluted and just eh. I read a lot of manga but this wasn’t for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for my e-ARC!!

4 Lighthouse stars!! This book squeezed me in the feels. Estranged childhood friends with the other coming back and keeping his distance?? Gooooood, the heartache!!!! I loved the plotline, but I felt like the art was just a bit lackluster? Like it’s hard to tell when they’re sad if you just stare at the panels and I feel like if the art was softer in some ways, it’d be easier to tell.

Anyway, I’d definitely read this again and even buy a physical copy to be on my bookshelf!

The drawings are beautiful ans I love lighthouses so I was happy. However, the story felt flat, nothing really happens and the explanation about why Hozumi saif what he said was a bit rushed and uncertain... Their relationship felt a bit weird, also with Mishima who NEVER smile it was a bit hard to get attached to him... I wanted to like it, but it was way to quick for me. I arrived in the end like "what ? already done ? But nothing happened ?!".

Many thanks to Netgalley, Kodansha Comics and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows the story of Hozumi and Mishima who were close friends and each other's first love. They haven't been in contact since Hozumi left the island after graduation and breaking Mishima's heart. It’s a story of loneliness, grief, heartbreak, forgiveness and sexual boundaries. Having said that all these attributes were barely touched in the story.

The art style was beautiful and very fitting to the setting and characters. However, the story felt so rushed that it felt like nothing happened. The reason for their breakup was very teenagerly but having said that there was not real forgiveness asked or given. With the kind of loneliness that Mishima experienced, I wouldn't expect him to just forgive and forget. Not to mention the smut felt forced and boundaries of consent was blurred and was very uncomfortable.

Overall, was a bit of a miss for me.

First; Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and Publisher for the ARC

It was very lovely and I was sad that it ended so quickly.
I felt that there could have been more, or that the story could have gone on a bit longer.
On one side everything with the granddad, the lighthouse, the resentment and the doubts on the other side the lying, the highschool reunion, the brother, the family business and the coming out to his parents.

I loved it, felt a bit sad and would have enjoyed more of it.

I enjoyed this angst riddle tale of love and redemption. The book skirts around issues of consent and sexual morals but ultimately stays on the right side. The emotions and trauma are well detailed.

Thanks NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this arc

2/5 stars

This could have been sweet, about forgiving past mistakes and the hurtful and dumb things we say and do as teenagers, but instead this felt pretty lifeless and rushed. I didn't really like either main character, they both felt pretty boring and I wasn't invested in either their (very small amount of) personal growth or their honestly problematic relationship. I think they should have talked things out a lot more, that Mishima shouldn't have forgiven Hozumi so quickly and completely, and that there should have been a lot more build up of their relationship other than what transpired.

i think this has some problems that make my review sound harsh, everything is so fast without a reason, and some scenes should have come first like their backstory more importantly to make an impact on the we are gonna be together again, that should be the end or at least the previous part before the conclusion with their romance ending. I think this order of events doesn't make much sense and does not help the story.
Then like I said everything is super fast-moving when it could have been a great story about hurt and second chances and reasons and feelings. I agree with the other reviews when the first sex scene is unnecessary because why? to show they still have feelings? and in that style? it could have been something else and more impactful.
Overal I have read better than this and it was a bit disappointing.

I really liked this! The storyline between these boys was so relatable and the art style was so easy to look at. and I am so glad I read it.

First reading this genre but oh boy, It’s a typical break-up scene then few years after they have a reunion and one must have a closure. It was cute but then it ends abruptly like why? I want more. I need more. I like how loveable the characters are and they look gorgeous!

A one-shot BL manga is a perfect way to dive into something. It was so nice diving into something that I knew was going to be wrapped up in the end. Yet, by the end, it felt as if there was something missing.

In so few pages, Mishima and Hozumi’s history is condensed down. Not only did this leave me feeling like I was missing key information that would help explain their past and the connection that they have. Without that, the whole manga I felt like I was playing catch up and trying to read in between the lines and then it was over.

Feeling like I was missing out on their history and connection wasn’t the only thing I felt like I was missing out on, I feel like the characters suffered as well. I never felt like I really got the chance to get to know them. They did in fact feel like flat characters, rather than ones that could pop off the page at any moment and tell me their story themselves.

While I did struggle with all of that, I do think the story was nice at the core. Two people who have a deep history, reconnecting. It was nice, but needed some fleshing out to really bring it to life and make it a story that would stay with the readers.