Blue

I started to read this because I wanted to read a Shoujo-ai manga and I saw this one and thought: "why not give it a try?" So that's what I did.
It's true that the art is very different of the normal manga I would read, but it's not that I didn't like it because of that. Because in some way I kind of liked the different art in this manga after a while( I admit that I thought it was just really crappy at first).
The problem with this manga is only that the two main characters look the same. Really it took a while for me to figure out who was who... Just because one of them cut her hair it was easier to see and I still don't really know there full names.
It took me a few hours to read it and I actually still don't understand much of the story. I mean: it all happened really fast, without explaining what was really happening. I don't really get it and if you would ask me what the story was about, all I could say would be " yea, a girl who falls in love with another girl from her school... that was kicked out the year before... and ehm", and there I would already have a hard time explaining the rest of the story.
Of course there happened a few things, but I got the feeling like they explained only one thing in the whole manga... and you still don't know the rest of what you want to know if you're done reading.
It's just a really weird and short story that's hard to understand... and I have to say that I really don't get the end... at all... I mean, I just don't know what they meant...
I don't really know how to explain it well, but I tried my best.. anyway: it's a really vague story with main characters that almost look the same...

I really loved this manga because it changes from the stereotyped manga styles that you usually get in other works, which is refreshing. It's entertainning ,it's only one book ( so you don't need to collect an entire series to get the story) ,it has a deep and original love story, nice characters and it's the manga that made kiriko Nananan one of my new favorite mangaka. Some people might be bothered by the art or find it to simplistic, but I find that it goes really well with the style. I am not a big Yuri fan but I really enjoyed it and recommend it. If you like something entertaining, deep, down to earth story that you can relate to ( specially if you are between the age of 16-25 and you are a women) give it a chance.

*Amateurish autobiographical apology to a girl the author kissed in high school - masquerading as a manga. Typical flaws like irrelevant events that neither entertain nor add any sort of dimension to story, or readability-contradictory events like multiple people changing hair cuts/styles at the same time (just because it actually happened that way). Or sudden bursts of extreme detail in a manga utterly devoid of it. About people who never appear in-panel... at all, ever.
*Ridiculously short on content. All 10 chapters of ~20 pages take altogether maybe as long as a really short chapter of "NHK" or half a chapter of "Kimi wa Petto" to read
*70% of the time is spent trying to figure out who's who CAUSE EVERYONE LOOKS THE SAME (violates drawing conventions of granting all chars, especially recurring secondaries, easily identifiable traits like hairstyles, accessories, mannerisms, anything unique). Not like I'm-bigoted-Asian-people-are-all-identical, but like grainy porn's "ooohhh nice boobs girl.. ahhh wait brainbleach me, that was the guy's butt crack", and not in an intentional or humorous way.
*As one far better yuri product noticed in a major plot point, inability to differentiatiate between people and inability to relate to them feed each other in a vicious cycle of indifference. After a readthrough in one sitting, I recall just the last name (but not the first) and the second haircut of just ONE of the two girls...

Worst of all, NOT enough detail for ANY suspension of disbelief. What do they love about each other, why? Who knows... Plot's supposedly about a girl falling for a troubled, ostracized loner - but we never see it. And it's supposed to be kinda angsty-sad-tragic, but it's all a fraction of a cigarette long. Literally. I've related more to and known more about random strangers after 2-minute bus stop or designated smoking area conversations.

This earlyish manga from Nananan Kiriko is concise and staid, but there is so much emotion buried just beneath the surface that flashes into the forefront at key moments, through the gestures, tears and words the characters can no longer hide. There is a bit less going on compared to a story like Pumpkin and Mayonnaise, but it's notable for focusing on two young queer girls and the circumstances which ultimately keep them from each other. It is a painful, sad, realistic story, but not, I think, without hope for the main characters. As for the art, the clean linework and lack of much variation in tonal value give the story the feel of a washed out memory, to me.

Endo revealing that she asked Kayako to cut her hair so that she would remember her when she's forced to confront her feelings toward the married man is a striking moment. A beautiful demonstration of her commitment and love, and a moment that reveals her maturity and understanding despite being so young. Endo is a girl who has already made and learned from some terrible mistakes in her short life, and wants to make good going forward. Really it's so sad and beautiful, and her actions and characterization make her unique and make this manga stand out, though it may seem to just be a rather straight forward story about average teenage girls on the surface. In a way, it is, but I suppose it shows how extraordinary average people can be at times. Maybe you think I'm exaggerating, it's not like she's a lowkey super hero or something. I don't think a person needs to be. To me, there's not that much separating the ordinary from the extraordinary, but it's extremely challenging to push forward those few extra centimeters to get there.

The characters:

Endo Masami: has bangs. later gets a haircut, leaving her hair pretty short, but you can still tell it's her because her hair is not neatly cut (compared to Nakano's). likes Kayako, previously had an affair with a married man.

Kayako Kirishima: hair parted in the middle. Likes Endo, sleeps with random guy from another school to test her sexuality/understand Endo better.

Nakano: Hair very short. Endo's best friend.

Watanabe: Jealous of Kayako because she likes Endo AND she likes the guy Kayako slept with.

There's also a class role call at the start of the manga where they show who is who. If you forget, check back there (I did a couple times, then never had a problem again). It's really not that confusing. Is this how pathetic people are on this website? You hold the fact that you can't figure out who's who against the manga?..

Another romance but only different this time. Now, the forbidden factor of loving one's own cousin is involved.

As unrealistic as most manga/anime are at tackling subjects that are considered "wrong", "disgusting" or "unnatural" in society, they manage to give the readers a more opened mind and unbiased view towards the subjects.

This manga is an example. Not only does it get on the subject on loving one's own family member, but it also touches upon loving a person of the same gender. As mentioned, the ending is probably not that realistic and involves more complications than portrayed but it gets readers to have a more open mind towards the subjects at

7/10

Forbidden love has got to be one of the most interesting stories ever. You know, wanting to feel and express love but you know you can’t because people give those piercing looks. This has to be a difficult love for our couple, who are actually cousins, as they eventually realize their nurtured feelings for each other which have rooted since their childhood years. But as they face the world of prejudice, love prevails after all.

seriously. this is another heart breaking romance manga from io-sensei.
ive been a fan of her manga Strobe Edge. and i loved it very much, so i decided to find for more of her works. and this is how i found BLUE.

STORY:
at the first part, i thought that it would be cliche type of romance. but somehow, its not possible for io-sensei to write a cliche type of romance where the girl meets boy, the girl confessing her one sided love then fall inlove with each other.
i got stucked up with this story too because its too heart wrenching. io-sensei always wins in getting the soft side of a girl like me.
imagine, you've been liking your cousin for a very long time and even tried your best just to be with the same school as him, but then your going to be a witness in his own progress in love. and the worst part is that he is in love with your bestfriend. She is going to be stucked up between the two of them. While im reading the first chapter, i feel sorry for the female lead. she doesn't expect that things would turn out this way and she need to witness all of this heart wrenching events while watching behind their backs.

ART:
im really inlove with the art of io-sensei.:)
cute and fluffy drawings and hot bishies like Ren in stobe edge!:)

CHARACTER:
the female is sure strong. she have the courage to look and still observe even though she knew that her love will never be given to her. the male lead is good too. he doesnt make anything that will annoy you, but its just that i hate him for being too insensitive. but i love his part of being protective.
the bestfriend of the female lead is not annoying too. even if she is her main rival you cant even recognize her as a rival in love. she is so kind and caring.

ENJOYMENT:
i really enjoyed this series. every part makes you want to read more and more. and of course it will always make you fell hanged in every end of the chapter. io-sensei really makes you think what will gonna happen next. and you cant even predict the turns of event!

OVERALL
i really recommend this manga. because it only doesnt show the good side of love. it really shows in how people try to struggle and overcame all the difficulties and anxieties they feel because of love. it shows that love isnt just about happiness. it also have its own sadness. :)

The story is about a girl returning to her home island where she grew up on with her 4 friends. In Tokyo she had a experience with a guy and returned to the island after a breakdown where she begins to find happiness with her 4 old friends.

The story so far is great, a few twists and turns, and heart wrenches. I do feel at times some things are rushed and leaves me a little confused. But that's the only problem I have, it can be frustrating at times but its overridden by the characters and the art.

One really interesting thing I find about the main characters experience really interesting. You see the later effects of what could happen after the supposed happy ending we see in some Shoujo mangas. (im attempting to phrase this in a way that doesn't give anything away). I liked that back story, was very interesting. As well as some of the other back stories you get with the other 3 supporting characters. Its not all about the main girl.