Thanks NetGalley for the arc

Im super disappointed with how this turned out. I wasn’t prepared for the non con part and I feel like it’s not really dealt with in a satisfying way. Everything was kind of bland and I really did not root for the couple to go back together… so yeah. Not a great story for me at least !

This is a single-volume manga focused on the relationship between two boys who dated in school but broke up suddenly and then didn't see each other for 7 years.

What I liked: The beautiful cover. The supportive family that accepted his relationship without any hesitation. The flashbacks to how they both felt in the past to explain how they got to this point now.

Unfortunately, the dynamic between the two didn't work for me, and I can't reasonably picture them staying together, especially after the non-consensual sex scene that came out of nowhere.

I know this is a single volume and there's a lot to cover to make the story feel whole, but it didn't work as a single volume. Too much felt unresolved or underdeveloped to make the story feel whole.

Firstly I would like to day thank yiu to netgalley and the publishing company for letting me read this is advance.

* Good Writing
* Nicely Paced
* Cute Story (M&M based relationship)
* Little bit spicy
* Locely Art Style

When a white lie tears apart two high school friends, the two boys will have to confront their past in order to repair their future in this moving, dramatic, BL one-shot, perfect for fans of My Summer of You, Seven Days, or I Hear the Sunspot.

Is it ever too late to make up for a lie? Or can the opportunity be swept away, like white clouds across a blue summer sky?

It’s been seven years since Hozumi left the island town he grew up on, leaving behind not only the seaside, but also Mishima–his close friend and first love from high school. The two haven’t spoken since Hozumi turned Mishima down when he rejected him and lied about his own feelings....

As the story goes on we see these feeling between these two guys and how what happened in high school has been a huge effect to one of them, making him not sure if he can trust anyone but at the same time his filled with duty and responsibility for the lighthouse because he wants to follow in his grandfather's footsteps who he admired so much growing up. You see that Mishima has a semi unhealthy relationship to the lighthouse and you get rhe feeling it comes from all the built up issues he has, even though we don't get to see much of them though we do get flash backs of highsch99l and what happened... helping us to have that insight into some of his pain and maybe why his become the way he has.
Hozumi returning from high school & slowly having a reunion with many is more interested in seeing Mishima because he wants nothing more than to make amends withMishima which is a task easier said than done. Hozumi does finally break down Mishima’s walls but not without seeing the damage he did over time but in the end Hozumi finally realises his true feeling for Mishima & confesses.

Will this love be forever and grow to be magical or will it g0 south 🤔??

We have to wait as the series goes on and I will definitely be tuning in for the rest of the story and volumes being released.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to review this advanced copy.

What I enjoyed: the cover, the artwork, the dialogue, and the ease of following/reading the story (sometimes manga can be a bit hard to follow).

What was so-so: the story and the rationale behind the characters’ actions

What didn’t hit: the pacing and the spice.

I was enjoying this until the first sex scene. It seemed to come out of literally nowhere, so much so that I was scrolling back up, trying to find where I’d missed the tension and build-up (spoiler: I didn’t miss anything). It completely took me out of the story and made it hard to finish. What was supposed to be an emotional, climatic scene just left me scratching my head asking WHAT?!! I enjoy spice. Truly. The more the merrier. But it has to make sense.

The art work on The white and Blue Between Us is primarily what drew me in. The story itself also is entertaining. After years apart and a rough heart break the two MCs run back into each other and their feelings are still present. I think the readers enjoyment could depend on if they feel the apology/reasoning is good enough. Personally, I enjoyed it. Anyone who who liked One-shot BLs with a fleshed out story will likely enjoy this.

I really needed this to be longer. While I appreciated the flashbacks and the bonus chapter about their past, I really need more of their present situation. You never really get a sense of what exactly Hozumi and Mishima are like together, or even why they like each other. But the story was decent enough and I liked the artwork.

Thank you Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Kiyuhiko writes a sweet story of second chance romance. Ishizaki and Mishima were first loves until Ishizaki breaks it off by saying he never loved Mishima. Now seven years later Ishizaki has returned to the island, he learns that Mishima has become a shut in. Determined to find out why he visits him. Mishima is still hurt over how Ishizaki ended things and refuses to see him. Can Ishizaki win back his trust? Can they rekindle what they once had? A quick paced story of first love and heartbreak! Told through the present and flashbacks to when Ishizaki and Mishima where growing up readers will get to see how deeply their love is! The story also hits on the importance of consent even between people who love each other. Highly recommend for queer manga lovers!

3 stars — This was a cute fast-paced story about two boys who meet each other again after 7 years of no contact. The story left me wanting to know more about these boys. Besides that, the art was really pretty. This was my first time reading a manga and this was a perfect one to start with. However, I did miss some depth to their story. This story could've been a little longer!

TW: SA
I also felt uncomfortable by one of the sexual scenes that read as if it was non-consensual but it just passed as if nothing happened.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an eARC for an honest review!

I loved the premise of this, two guys rekindling a highschool romance after seven years apart. This was a nice (mostly) wholesome read and the two main characters, Hozumi and Mishima, felt real and somewhat relatable in their own ways.

This book lost two stars for me because primarily it felt like it moved a little too fast. I really enjoyed the first introduction to the characters and their past leading to their seven year seperation. But the rekindling of their relationship seemed too quick and clean considering what had happened and the time between them. I would have liked more focus on their growth and rebuilding of trust, rather than on their new and comfortable relationship.

Another reason I couldn't give it more than 3 stars, I found the two sex scenes a little out of place. They seemed to come out of nowhere and add nothing to the story. The first felt very uncomfortable and left me feeling confused - the story implies it's non-consensual but both of the characters nonchalant response made me even more confused and a little uncomfortable. The whole thing happens fast and feels like it is never fully addressed. Hozumi's brother casually outting him to his family and being praised for doing so also left me feeling a little uneasy. Without these points I would have been more happy to give the book 4 stars (or maybe 3.5)!

Overall, I enjoyed this story and its characters, I only wish it had been longer and that it had taken its time more to tell the story.

I’m always down for some BL manga and this definitely hit the spot! Despite the fact that I was absolutely SCREAMING at Hozumi for being a disaster, watching him and Mishima find their way back to each other was so sweet. And Hozumi is so adorable when he’s not being an idiot! I also did not pay any attention to what the age rating was tbh, so stumbling upon the semi-explicit scenes was a fun little surprise lol. Loved it.

Ishizaki returns to his small island hometown seven years after telling a lie that broke his high school boyfriend Mishima's heart.

The art in this manga is very beautiful and works effectively to convey both the environment of the island town and the feelings of the two main characters. Unfortunately the dialogue and story lack depth as it does not meaningfully flesh out its promising premise. The inner monologue of the characters often felt redundant -- a lot of telling the plot where it could easily show rather than expanding on what the character's motivations and feelings for the reader.

The conflict felt very forced and the stakes were unclear. I don't think this type of story necessarily needs a strong conflict, slice of life can be very engaging when done well, but the conflict that was attempted felt empty.

There is also an uncomfortable sexual interaction that read as non-consensual between the two love interests in a way that was never properly addressed and soured their relationship beyond repair for me. I was unaware this would be explicit based on the description of the book given, however that would be fine if it weren't so sudden and lacking in good representation of consent.

Title: The White and Blue Between Us
Pub Date: 13 Feb 2024

This was just not it. Sexual assault shouldn't be romanticised. I thought it would be a fluffy boys second-chance romance when I started reading, but this was a disappointment.

#NetGalley #TheWhiteandBlueBetweenUs

Ummm sorry but no. The main guy rapes the love interest and then 10 second later he's over it and they're a couple. Also the main guy's brother totally out him (as gay) to their parents. What the heck?!

1/5 stars

I thought this was a cute and enjoyable story. It wasn't complicated, which I enjoyed. It was simultaneously wholesome and had a more deep, mature connotation. I enjoyed the small moments between the characters and the nuances in their relationship. This was a short, sweet, and easy read. If I had to offer a critique, I always like a little more time spent on the character's relationship. I like to read about those intimate moments we only have with those we love, and I wish there was more of that in this manga.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This manga follows two high school sweehearts who are reconnecting with each other after seven years, when one of them leaves the other heartbroken. The story weaves between the past and the present, and personally, I found the story to be interesting and the chemistry between our protagonists was very cute. Paired with the beautiful artwork and the intimacy which occurred that I was not expecting, I actually found myself really liking this manga! Specifically loved the way the manga portrayed sexuality, although I did feel that there could’ve been a deeper exploration of the characters. Overall, this was an enjoyable and quick read, and makes a great palate cleanser when I’ve been reading a lot of super complicated fantasy books.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The story centers around a decision that one character made seven years ago that they made for what they believe are the right reasons. It’s basically one of the those situations that could’ve been avoided if people had talked to each other honestly

There's a lot to tackle here for a one-shot, and it shows. The story, while nice, moves at a much faster pace than the artwork and setting deserve - the linework and setting of an island and lighthouse give a very quiet, relaxed feeling. The characters, their romance and story has to skip around and cover too much in time, which make the characters feel shallow and their reconciliation feel rushed. It's a shame that the most we really get to see them is toward the end and then the high-school-timeline bonus. I would have loved to have seen the longer version of this, but as it is, it's a nice one-shot volume.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC.

Short wholesome story except that non consensual thing that happened.

I'll preface by saying this is my first foray into manga. Its the story of high school sweehearts Hozumi and Mishima. When Hozumi leaves for college, he breaks Mishima's heart by saying he's never really loved him. Seven years later, Hozumi is back in their small island home and is determined to reconnect with Mishima, who has reclused himself in his grandfather's lighthouse.
I found the artwork beautiful but the story was lacking drama and resolved fairly quickly. I enjoyed how it went back and forth between their high school years and the present. And while the characters lacked significant depth, I still found myself rooting for them to end up together. I also liked that their queerness was accepted and not a plot point in the book.
Overall, it was a fun, quick read to start my year.
*****
I received this eARC from @netgalley and publisher @Kodansha_Comics_usa in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly , it was cute bl romance . Dont regret reading it. Second chance romance after being seperated after seven years. I love it. But , would it was a bit longer so the characters can be more developed .