This was an interesting and cozy story as we followed the main character's relationship and quest to learn more about the other male lead. It overall suffers a bit from being a one shot, as the characters could've been explored more than they were. Overall worth a read if the premise catches your eye!

23:45 is a beautifully drawn manga with an incredible concept. I loved the idea of a ghost who can interact and potentially fall in love with a living man. The relationship between Iku and Mimori was sweet and I liked how it helped Iku grow and understand his mother more. What didn't work from me was the formatting and pacing. I found the story confusing sometimes and I didn't always understand what was happening. It felt a bit disjointed in some areas. Overall I enjoyed the story but wished it had a smoother flow.

4 stars, rounded up from a 3.5

This story was cute and I appreciate that it was a single volume, as it kept the story from being too dragged out. That said, it could have done with a little more dragging. A lot of the romantic scenes felt a little vague and like they could have been more developed. When they kissed(?) and slept together (?) I was mostly wondering if it was real, and a little lost on what had actually been done, which isn’t really want I want out of the climax of a relationship lol.

The ending was cute, I liked that’s Mimori was still willing to hear Iku out even tho he couldn’t remember him anymore.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the e-ARC!

Me? Reading cozy manga in the year 2025? I don't know how I got here, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

23:45 is a quietly poignant M/M manga with the lonely, nerdy Iku moves to Tokyo and finds himself sharing his space with a ghost, the charming yet melancholic Mimori. Their dynamic is endearing, full of small, intimate moments that blur the line between friendship and something deeper. While the romance is subtle, the emotional weight of Iku’s trauma and Mimori’s presence is beautifully handled. The storytelling shines in its "show, don't tell" approach, though occasional scene jumps can be a bit jarring. Still, the plot twist and full-circle ending made it a satisfying read that I would definitely recommend for those who love a short and sweet story.

23:45 is a heartwarming and poignant BL manga that presents an intriguing premise. The story follows a socially awkward, introverted protagonist who relocates to Tokyo, where he discovers that he has the unusual ability to see a ghost—specifically, a charming and somewhat mischievous spirit. This ghost, Mimori, gradually becomes a constant presence in his life, even going so far as to essentially "move in" with him.

The contrast between the two characters—our reserved and solitary MC, Iku, and the spirited, ethereal Mimori—is one of the story's most delightful aspects. Their interactions, filled with subtle warmth and humor, create a genuine sense of growth and connection between them. However, despite the emotional depth of their evolving relationship, I couldn’t help but feel that their dynamic leaned more toward friendship than romance. This is a minor disappointment, as I believe that a more substantial narrative could have addressed this imbalance, perhaps with a longer format to fully explore their potential as a romantic couple.

Nevertheless, 23:45 remains a thoroughly enjoyable and fulfilling read, with a surprising and well-executed plot twist surrounding Mimori's tragic demise. The full-circle conclusion adds a layer of

The entire premise behind 23:45 had me intrigued from the start, but unfortunately for me the story felt a bit disjointed and rushed at the start.

Despite having trouble getting into the story, I did really enjoy the last half a lot. It was somewhat sad, but the hopeful ending made the journey worth it.

A cheerful ghost moves into a lonely otaku's apartment!

EMOTIONAL APPEAL (6/10)
The relationship between Iku and Mimori is sweet and domestic. They had many fun, daily life moments together, and I could tell they were getting close. However, there were almost no hints of romance for the first half, and then suddenly they had sex and were in love. The development of the romantic relatioship was clunky, and it took away some of the appeal. The mystery of Mimori's past also had great potential and suspenseful build-up, but it didn't pay off--the reveals should've been given way more "screen time."

ART (7/10)
There were some beautifully poignant panels, and the book design of the table of contents and chapter titles was lovely. However, most of the art was about average: no incorrect anatomy but nothing that stood out either except for those particular panels.

FLOW (4/10)
The first half was slow but didn't drag because it was nice to see their relationship and the mystery slowly build. However, the second half jumped past important, dramatic moments and lingered on parts that didn't feel as significant.

LOGIC & CLARITY (6/10)
One or two of the speech bubbles were indicated to be spoken by the wrong person, and a few of the panels didn't make sense to me--they didn't transition to the next panel well or left me confused about what was happening. Some of the artsy life lesson moments also left me confused, while others left me feeling moved. The mystery of Mimori's past was plot-hole-free and interesting. The romantic relationship seemed somewhat baseless.

REPRESENTATION (5/10)
Iku and Mimori's relationship was fine, just a typical BL where neither of the characters actually seemed to be attracted to men or anything. Luckily there was none of the "gay sex is disgusting but I'm drawn to the taboo" trope.

ENJOYMENT (7/10)
The slow build of Iku and Mimori's connection was sweet and nostalgic, and the initial building of Mimori's mystery was strikingly well done. I somewhat sped through the second half when I realized the pacing was becoming odd, so what sticks in my mind is still the first half that I enjoyed. There's a sequel (not yet translated to English), but I probably won't be reading it because I was satisfied by the particular flavor provided in the first half of this book. Plus, their romantic relationship doesn't make much sense so I'm not very interested in their dating phase.

3.5 stars rounded up to 3. I actually liked this more than I expected! I loved many elements from it, although I found it lacking a bit in one of them, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

The story is about Iku, a closed-off guy who has recently moved to Tokyo and is an anime fan. He has a secret though - he is able to see ghosts. There is one in particular that he sees frequently on the bridge that he crosses in his daily walk. One night, the ghost speaks to him. Iku discovers he's able to touch him after the ghost appears at his apartment door. Soon, the ghost moves in, and Iku will try to discover the reason of his wandering state.

The title grabbed my attention right away along with the detail of this manga being a ghost story. I really enjoyed the melancholic atmosphere and I thought the simple artstyle was perfect for such plot, it makes the reader get immerse into the actual substance of the story.

While I thought the romance was a bit underdeveloped, I really liked the interactions between the MCs. Some of their conversations and thoughts were very interesting. I thought the ending was fitting after the "reveal" - which I also enjoyed and wasn't expecting.

Overall, this was a sweet and comforting BL manga with some sad undertones due to the subject matter (death) that also touches some interesting themes such as escapism, the human desire of feeling important for others and the effect that words can have on people.

A mystery for fans of BL. College Freshman Iku keeps to his nerdy self, but has his life disrupted when he encounters the ghost of Mimori haunting a local bridge. Friendly and kind, Mimori seems normal enough, except that when the clock strikes 23:45, he must reenact his fall off that very bridge. Now, Iku won't rest until he knows how to bring Mimori peace. A simple, but enjoyable, story for fans of BL. Caution to school librarians: some scenes of suggestive intimacy may not meet selection criteria.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the opportunity to read and review this manga. This is a story that is paranormally intriguing but also softly toned at the same time. But then, the end has a confusing mysterious tone shift like an anime movie (which means this story can become one if it's presented). This is also one that if you are not a person who enjoys explicit stories, you can pick this up no problem. Because of these points, I have to give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the e-ARC!

I really like this book. Mimori being a ghost and repeatedly going to where he passed at 23:45 (11:45pm) is a very cool concept and i love that only Iku can see him. The depth of trauma from Iku's pov is really nicely written. Ohana does a great job of showing and not telling. That twist ending was super nice and the way they interact at the end is amazing, I love the little hints of their time spent together sprinkled throughout.

The only downsides about this book is that sometimes jumping scenes made me have to recalibrate myself in the story.
3.75 rounded up

For me, “23:45” accomplished what it set out to do even within the short duration of the manga. This was a heartwarming story of a shut-in college boy who faced being “haunted” by the ghost of another college boy. I think the parallels between what happened in Iku’s family life and the situation with Mimori give the story another layer and drive home why Iku cares so much, given he didn’t know Mimori prior to seeing his ghost on the bridge. I loved the ending and its hopeful tone, although I do wish the story were a bit longer.

This was stinking cute lol. I will be trying to find more from this creator in the future. Thank you for the early copy!

This was so heartwarmingly adorable! I need more! It’s very cute story with a little bit of trauma sprinkled in. Quick side note be forewarned if you have riggers of topics that including self harm or death in general. It made me feel hopefully for the main character’s story that he could overcome the things that have lingered in his memories while potential finding love. I was so worried about the love interest disappearing that I just had to keep going and it was worth the read.

I really loved this manga! I adored Iku and Mimori and how Iku could see Mimori when no one else could, and how Mimori started living in his apartment, and how they could touch, and how they slowly fell for each other. They were so sweet and adorable, and I really loved them. I loved the way things turned out for them, and the fact that this was a closed door bl manga (I really need more of those). I loved the focus on their friendship and relationship throughout <3

*2.5 stars
This manga's biggest crime is really that it didn't make me feel much of anything. It's tackling a lot of things in a short time, which didn't provide me the space to deeply care about any of them. If you need a BL manga with a paranormal spin, this one does fine, but I will likely never recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest rating.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics and Ohana for providing me with an ARC of 23:45 in exchange for my honest review.

23:45 is an utterly charming manga about a passionate anime and manga fan who encounters a mysterious figure on a bridge—only to discover that this person is a ghost. What follows is a touching exploration of their evolving relationship, full of surprises and emotional depth.

The story is a delightful blend of heartwarming moments and unexpected twists, all beautifully complemented by stunning illustrations that perfectly reflect the tone and themes of the narrative.

Fans of queer manga will especially appreciate this story, as it offers both romance and a unique supernatural twist that feels fresh and engaging.

I want screammmm, so in love with this manga, it’s very cozy and fascinating. It’s a fresh story I never read anything like it before. I just kept on wanting more💗

Not a spoiler, the way he found out the truth was so wholesome. I don’t see it coming honestly.
I am definitely going to be a customer and a fan >v<

Will definitely recommend to the people who want to read something new and exciting.

This a cute one. If you want to read a BL because it's BL, then pick up this guy. The paranormal twist is delightful and well executed.

I just wished there was more development. I want to see more of Mimori's ghost life. I know Iku doesn't have a social life, but focusing on his personality would have given the story more life.