3/5

I had enjoyed this book, I hadnt suspected to be able to have access to it right away, but it was a fun read especially during ace visability day

4,5
I really enjoyed this book. It is my second one shot manga, and I read this in one setting because it was so interesting and informative. I loved all the characters, because they are not perfect by any means but they all have flaws that they are also to realize sooner or later. I have not read many books about aseuality, but the way it was explored here was wonderful. It showed that sexuality is fluid and it does not have to be defined by any word and can change over time. It is totally normal to question one's sexuality, but there are a lot of misconceptions in the society. Especially, younger people are influenced by their peers, which might pressure them to behave to fit in this societal view.

I definitely recommend this book for young and old people, so to everyone!! It is an important topic, that anyone at any age or life stage can experience, which is totally normal.

Have you ever wondered what it means to like or to love someone? What does it mean to be normal? Chika Hanai delves into these questions and more in Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki. From childhood to adulthood, Chika has wondered what it means to be normal and then later what it means to fall in love. She has struggled with “normal” as what she likes does not tend to follow the rest of her friends or classmates. She struggles more as soon as she realizes that she cannot understand love or like in the same way as her friends.

I picked up this book through NetGalley(for free) for a couple of reasons. I read Mine-kun is Asexual last year, which was another work by Uta Isaki, and I was interested to see how this book was in comparison to it. I liked Mine-kun is Asexual, but I also found it disappointing, probably because I was expecting more from it than what I got. It was a short story manga, which I’m sure lent to the fast pace it needed to go to tell its story. The other reason I picked it up is because I have been questioning a lot of the same things as Chika. I have wondered what it means to fall in love and to know what it feels like.

There is a scene of attempted sexual assault near the beginning of the book. I understand that this can be triggering for people, and I did find it a bit difficult to read myself, even though it is a couple of pages. The whole relationship that Chika has with this person is just toxic. He persuades her to enter a relationship with him, even though Chika is unsure whether she wants to or not. She, at that time, only sees him as a friend and nothing more. She does agree because she does like talking to him and finds him fun to hang out with. He ends up being demanding in what he expects from her as well as expecting her to understand what some events mean, such as the one leading to the attempted sexual assault. The relationship ends up being short lived, but it does teach Chika at least one thing. She may not be interested in sex.

I do appreciate that Uta Isaki gave Chika a chance at a more positive relationship, but also that Chika was able to decide on her own that she may not be able to have what is considered a “normal” relationship. I am glad that she was able to enjoy the dates she had with this guy, as well as him accepting easily enough that she could not give him what he would eventually expect from the relationship.

Once Chika finishes high school, she decides to move to Tokyo for college. Part of the reason is that a professor she admires teaches there, but also so she can get away from the expectations that people have from her. It is essentially a way for her to reset, and to figure out who she is.

Chika, throughout the book, tries to understand what romance means to her compared to others. As she questions her friends and classmates, she learns that everyone views love and romance differently. She finds acceptance through new friends, Ito and Enomoto. She even finds understanding through Ume-chan senpai. Ito and Enomoto have their own struggles with romance as neither are accepted as the typical heterosexual relationship type. The three of them form a friendship that is about being different, but being understanding about it. And they even find an anime to bond over.

Two of the other people in her program(Nakagawa and Sawai) started going out, but ran into their first argument. Nakagawa accuses Sawai of cheating, but Sawai claims that he wasn’t. Sawai asks Chika to help by mediating between the two. Chika, who has become more confident in who she is, agrees to this. Her plan to help is to figure out what people think of as cheating. She feels this is the best way to help resolve the argument. This, like romance, leads to many different answers. Everyone she talks to has a slightly different idea of what cheating is to them. It leads to her finding out that people need to communicate about what is acceptable in a relationship and what is not.

I like that there are a lot of discussions on what things mean to different people. It really showcases that nothing is black and white, and is instead based on what people think. For some,cheating may just be kissing. Some may think that even holding hands or hugging can be considered cheating. Everyone has a different outlook on this. The same is with romance. Some may think you have to kiss someone to know if you like them. Others may think that sexual compatibility is a deciding factor in romance. No one has the exact same thoughts, but it is important for people to communicate in order to have a good relationship whether it is a friendship or a romantic relationship.

I really like the art for this manga. The art is just so beautiful and I think that it complements the story. The art, the plot, and the characters all made a sensitive and important story. Chika may have learned that she is asexual(and I believe aromantic as well), but she also learned that there are other relationships that matter and it is not necessary to be “normal.” It is more about learning who you are, and being confident in yourself. The ending may have been a bit abrupt, but I still think that it is an important book to read, especially for those that may want to learn more about asexuality or even to just find a bit of themselves in the characters presented in the book. It’s a book I know I will keep recommending to others, and a book I will want to read over and over.

Shows how ace people are treat and how their sexuality isn’t seen as valid. Loved see the main character grow into herself and not care what others think of her. Brief depiction of attempted SA but otherwise a good read.

4⭐️

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC

"Is Love the Answer" by Uta Isaki is a coming-of-age manga about Chika and the discovery of her identity.

I loved how the asexuality and aromanticism were portrayed, and I also appreciated all the explanations regarding asexuality and the ace spectrum.

I furthermore enjoyed the various relationships between the characters, particularly how supportive they were of Chika.

Graphic novels and manga aren't usually what I reach for. I really enjoyed the story. I wanted to follow along the main protagonists journey to find out more about themselves, asexuality and romance as a whole.

I thought that the story was perfect for being told in this method.

This manga was a wonderful story about a very personal, internal journey. As someone who also discovered my ace identity in university a lot of this resonated with me; I especially liked the conversations the main character has with characters around her that help her better understand and articulate her identity both to herself and others.

A great read for anyone on their own queer journey!

This book is a wonderful stepping stone to assist others in self discovery and acceptance. The main character struggles, and at some points the story makes it seem like Chika almost has no feelings. But once we move a few chapters into the book, watching Chika awaken and start forming an identity they can put into words is touching and healing to readers. The inclusion of sources, and cultural translations is a great addition to the story!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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This is not the first time I'm reading this manga, nor it is the last time. If I had to sum all of my thoughts in one word it would be Important. This story is important, the message in it is important. You'll learn so much while reading Is Love the Answer? and still it doesn't distract you from the story itself. And what a story it is! One of the best books about finding oneself I've read... Finding out who you are is hard, trying to figure out what is going on when you're part of gender and/or sexual minority can be difficult, devastating even. And these feelings are so well portrayed in this manga!
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Just read it, please. It might open your eyes, you might even learn something about yourself or about asexuality a even if you know it all... you'll get to enjoy incredible story with lovely characters ❤️. And it's worth it.

When it comes to love, high schooler Chika wonders if she might be an alien. She’s never fallen for or even had a crush on anyone, and she has no desire for physical intimacy. Her friends tell her that she just "hasn't met the one yet," but Chika has doubts.

I was surprised at how well this subject was handled. Sometimes manga can be...sexist I guess is the word.
But the subject was handled with sensitivity, understanding, and tact.
I learned a lot about asexual people and feelings as well as the mental hardship it can cause.
I always assumed this part of the LGBTQA family got the least amount of grief but I was wrong. They are just as misunderstood as the rest of us.

This was as well drawn as it was well written
If you have questions about being asexual or have a friend who may be then this bookay actually give you some valuable insight.
Recommended

Published by Kodansha Comics

Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Review:

This one is a coming-of-age manga following Chika, a high schooler who is trying to figure out what is different about her from her peers and going on a discovery surrounding her sexuality.

The premise of this one is really interesting and also different from some of your more typical manga. It was educational and informative, explain what asexuality is including the subtypes within this and showing other characters and how their lives are whilst being asexual. I did feel for Chika, she's confused and trying to learn who she is and is feeling isolated due to people around her not being able to relate or take the time to understand who she is. The main focus is really on Chika and the character development that takes place within her and the understanding that what she thinks she is right now (asexual) might not stay the same or doesn't have to stay the same, reinforcing the concept of gender and sexuality being fluid and personal. 

Overall, I think it was an excellent portrayal of growing up and feeling different and is one that I can imagine a lot of people would gain relief from or be able to relate to. Unfortunately, I didn't love it but it doesn't take away from the fact that I understand what is great about it and how other people can and have loved this one.



Rate - 3/5

As a lover of all things queer, I'm always on the lookout for anything LGBTQ+ hitting the shelves. I was so excited to see Is Love the Answer?, a manga centered around asexuality and aromanticism, available to read through NetGalley, as I have been eager to read it for a while now. This book was fantastic in so many ways: the character arcs felt realistic, the extended metaphor was touching, and of course the art was beautiful! But what I liked most about the book was the depth of its nuance about identity, labels, and systematic discrimination. While I do love a fluffy, almost fantastically progressive setting for LGBTQ+ couples in manga, I also enjoy that grey space that's more realistic, gritty, and uncomfortable; a space that asks the community and allies, how do we find confidence in ourselves and respect for one another when we don't understand ourselves? Once again, thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing a free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is the first time I have read a manga with aro/ace representation, and it was a pleasant surprise to find this story. There is a good balance between Chika and her classmates who are also shown to have varied identities and relationships. I do wish it was longer, as the character interactions felt a bit short and underdeveloped. This is amplified by the heavy focus on being educational, so that at times the information overwhelms the story. Where the narrative shines is the focus on finding and building community. The art style was an additional treat.

This is a great read, particularly for anyone looking for more aro/ace representation in their books. I really appreciated that the book showed that asexuality isn't a single, inflexible definition, but that it's perfectly valid for someone to identify that way even if they're not completely certain that's who they are. The citations of ace-related nonfiction throughout the book and the addendum at the back discussing some of the finer points of asexuality were also lovely to see, and I will most likely be checking out some of the books mentioned sometime soon.

This was a great read with amazing representation. Definitly somthing I wish I had when I was younger but exciting to see it made now. I know it will be great for anyone still figuring themselves out as the will likely relate to the characters and hopefully learn from them too!

This was an adorable stand-alone coming-of-age manga with aro/ace representation and pretty artwork.

The story follows Chika as she struggles to understand why, unlike her peers, she doesn’t feel sexual or romantic attraction. While her friends keep telling her that she probably just hasn’t found the right guy yet, Chika still doesn’t share the feelings others describe. But as she enters college, she learns that there are many more sexualities than she previously thought and is starting to come to terms with who she is.

If you already know about the topic of asexuality/aromanticism there probably won’t be anything new but if you’re looking to read this as sort of an introduction into aro/ace stories then this is a good place to start, as it is pretty informative about the subject.

As someone who is on the aro/ace spectrum, I am always looking for more representation and I especially loved how this manga pointed out that both sexuality and gender identity are fluid and that there specifically isn’t one set way of being asexual or aromatic.

Overall, this was a really sweet story and I’d recommend it to anyone who is looking for a short read in between.

‘Is Love the Answer?’ is an enjoyable coming-of-age manga that explores Chika’s journey as she questions her sexuality identity and how she comes to identify as asexual.

The story begins with Chika in high school where she notices that unlike her peers she doesn’t feel sexual or romantic attraction towards others. She struggles to come to terms with the fact that she isn’t what society considers “normal”. When Chika attends university, there she finds people who help her explore and better understand who she is.

A continuous encouragement in the story is that sexual identity and gender can be fluid; they can change and evolve over the span of our life, meaning just because we identify as one thing now doesn’t mean we could always identify as the same thing later in life.

Another thing i really thought was important was the challenging of the concept of what is truly considered to be “normal”. What one could understand to be normal does not necessarily mean another could think the same. Society’s perception of “normal” has a lot to do with ‘societal norms’, though that is something that constantly changes as society itself evolves.

The character development was lovely, I enjoyed reading Chika’s journey. A complete story that is worth the read, especially if you want to learn more information on asexual and the ace spectrum.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Content warning:
- sexual assault (within the first chapter)

A beautiful look into the life of someone discovering their identity as an asexual person and finding a community that can support them, regardless of understanding. A must read for anyone who feels other than “normal” in the world.

It’s really nice to see aro/ace representation in books or manga and this was a great read.

I liked the main character and her diverse group of friends.

This was such a lovely read .
It does come with trigger warnings though.
I loved the main character.
As an asexual person myself I really connected to the character.
I really liked the gay character too .

Uta really captured what it’s like to be lgbtqia+ and what’s known in Japan as x gender .
I love manga and this was right up there with my favourite.