My Girl

I really enjoyed this manga. Even though the story isn't awesomely new or original.
I won't go into detail, but if you like the whole, "pretty model in hiding" then you might like this one. OR if you like strong female characters.

What I enjoyed most:
1. The characters all have their strong points. They know who they are and stay that way.
2. The romance. Although you don't get too too many lovey dovey scenes, the development is definitely there.

Honestly the ending had me like "Mannnnnn..." I wasn't satisfied because I wanted to see just a little bit more.

Not a very helpful review, haha but definitely give it a try.

My Girl is about a man and his daughter. The man in question is 23 years old at the beginning of our story. He works at a novelties company, designing product. He specializes in lady bugs, which remind him of his ex-girlfriend, who went over seas to study and never came back. He still doesn't know why she left him and has never been able to really stop loving her.
One day he gets a call from the girls mother, telling him that she's been in an accident and has died. He rushes to the funeral and finds out the girl had a daughter who had to be his. He refuses to believe it until he meets the girl and finds that he wants to take care of her.

First I'd like to say the art is AMAZING! The watercolor is vivid and full of the mangaka's style and her art is gentle and soft, with no necessarily sharp edges on any of the characters' faces or hair (something I find quite annoying in other similar series). It also succeeds in being expressive of whats happening in the story. There are full pages with out text that work to continue the story and build on characters. Something difficult to accomplish unless the artist and/or editor is very skilled.

The young characters are deep, accurately portraying the complexities of understanding children, who have very strong emotions, but are not always skilled enough to express them comprehensibly. The older characters are constantly maturing and growing up just as much as the children. A refreshing cast that sometimes frustrates you, but is never all bad.

The only thing that can be wrong with this series is that some people complain it is to mopey and angsty. I personally think that, like all well written stories, there are certain parts that are sad and a little agnsty, but in the end those moments of depression are overcome and dealt with. Even if they weren't, the rest of this series is well worth the few passages of angst, just because it's that good.

Before, you guys start reading my review. I need to say 2 things!

1. My review contains minor spoilers, I tried my best to keep it low as possible to not to ruin the experience for you.

2. I have compared it Usagi drop (if you are not familiar with it) it's somewhat same story, settings and atmosphere.

Plot: Single 23-year-old Kazama Masamune realized, he has a kid. During the season of cherry blossoms, his beloved passes away. He happens to meet a little girl outside work and realizes she is his daughter who was raised in secrecy by his lover.

-This manga is a hidden gem, it really gave me that complete satisfy feeling which I couldn't get from Usagi drop manga's ending. It's a really beautiful mid short story about a single father. All, I have to say about the story "My Girl" is that, it hits again and again with the feels train, never relenting until the end.

Genres- Drama, Slice of Life, Seinen, Tragedy, Psychological

Story- 10/10 (If I compare it with Usagi drop, I felt like reading a superior version of it. I really didn't like Usagi drop's 2nd half. It was utterly disappointing and Story is done by Sumomo Sensei who did many other notable works too like Kokoro Kikai, Chou ni Naru Hi, Nanairo Sekai)

Art-10/10 ( It is done by the author herself, if you don't know about Sumomo. She did the artwork of Hoshi no Koe and Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan (Our happy hours) too, but unlike these "My girl" is her original story)

Characters-9.5/10 ( I felt like, Kazama's late lover needs more flashbacks and character development, not everything was explained properly. Hence, -0.5 for this, aside from that everything is perfect. All other characters fits into the story naturally)

Overall-9.5/10 ( I loved it, I will replace Usagi drop with "My girl" in my top 10 list. My apologies, I keep comparing it with Usagi drop again and again, but I can't just stop it. "My girl" is everything that Usagi drop failed to deliver in the 2nd half.)

Sometimes you find your story writing itself, but you’re not a part of it. Why? Because you’ve hit a full stop you couldn’t go past. Instead of moving onto the next chapter to see where life takes you, you linger, struggle, and wrestle against the odds of one part of your life coming to an end. Kazama Masamune has been hovering over that full stop for a while now, and it’s only till he meets his daughter for the first time that he is able to entertain the thought of finally turning the page.

Death is hard to swallow, but the death of a loved one? There’s no swallowing it really, there’s attempting to distract yourself, to shoo it the back of your mind so you can get through your days. But that’s not really an answer, that’s a slow death of your own, lingering on the lost. Finding new things to focus on in your life, new motivations, new people and places, they’re all key to accepting what has happened, that you need to be a part of what will happen next. You don’t forget, you just forgive yourself for moving on without them. So you think, will this be a story of daughter helping her father move along with life? Not really, because the daughter is old enough to face her own troubles too. My Girl is about how both old and young can feel exactly the same, but also about how people can help each other turn the page, because that’s okay. Because we are not alone in how feel.

I’ve read near enough everything Yumeka Sumomo has to offer by now, and this is by far her strongest work. A story like this could be compared to what most of you may have guessed, Usagi Drop. Yumeka does something rather odd with her stories, although they are based in realistic settings with characters who suffer from real problems, she often challenges them with a certain surreal flair. My Girl tends to venture off the beaten path with regards to this, but still establishes it as very much her crown jewel. Whereas a story like Usagi Drop focuses on day to day life, honing in on the trials and tribulations of parenthood, My Girl is more of a moral adventure. Yumeka puts her character in a difficult situation and asks them, how do you respond? How do people react in a moment like this? It’s through this story telling method that she imparts volumes of simple wisdom upon her readers.

“Before I knew it, I had stopped growing, and the face I saw reflected in the mirror stopped changing.”

This is not something you tell yourself every day, but My Girl allows you some answers to some of the most obvious yet rarely acknowledged perks of growing up. Can you come to terms with who you are? What you look like? Because if you can’t, you need to do something about it. Kazama Masamune does, and so does his lovely daughter, Koharu. Where father provides the unfocused lens of adulthood, the confusion and uncertainty of what his role in life should be, Koharu is the youthful innocence that brings light to the otherwise sombre tone of My Girl. When your days start to unravel, sometimes the perspective of one who has not been influenced by those speeding you to grow up and accept things helps you find the right pace. Likewise, with little understanding of the world, an adult can help you find your place and put your earnest worries at ease.

One of the things that I’ve seemingly picked up as I’ve slowly made my way through Yumeka’s works is that she has a fondness for expression. She is not reliant on background, on atmosphere nor generating mood through the use of surreal occurrences within this story. She focuses on facial features, on letting the character generate words through a sad smile, through a hopeful gaze. When she is not ironing out your emotional wrinkles through her characters dialogue, she is letting your mind relax with some of the simplest moments in life. From a cheerful laugh to sharing a meal with another person. She tells you, these are things you can do. Everyone can, these characters have shown a side of sadness, but through hope and acceptance, they can find happiness in the ordinary events, making them extraordinary.

Koharu and Masamune are like two peas in a pod, and throughout My Girl, they grow together. I hope you enjoy the heartache, the romantic connection lost and found, and the simple joys that having a family can bring.

I began reading this series because I was looking something similar to Yotsuba, but it turned into to be the opposite. Yet, it was not a bad series, and I would have rated the series higher if it was not for the male lead. The mc met his lover as a freshman in high school, while his lover was a senior. Later, his lover leaves him to study abroad and does not hear from her for five years. Next time he hears her name, she passed away and was secretly raising their child. No DNA test, and takes the child as it was his. Also, the mc does not have any romantic relationships with other women because he is unable to forget his lover during all those years. A year or more passes with him and his daughter, and he is unable to move on from a lover that left him in high school. The best character, Koharu, his daughter also suffers and misunderstand situations blaming herself because the mc is unable to move on.
The rest of the characters are not bad, from the mc's parents, to his mother-in-law, and Koharu's friend's and their families, including his deceased lover. The less likable character I found was the mc.

My Girl looks like a simple tale of parenthood, but it turned out to be so much more. It’s about responsibility, about the will to let go and confront one's sorrows, about how one adjusts to change, and about what gives fulfillment and happiness in life. It's about how to deal with insecurity, how to believe in oneself, and how to consult others instead of bottling up ones' emotions. It's not only about how to help others, but also how to impose on others when one is in need. It's about the difference between being kind, and being considerate of others' feelings. It’s about being both a responsible father and a respectable son. The story begins when a distraught guy accepts his daughter, who he never knew he had, after being devastated by the passing of his wife. From that point onwards, complementing the theme of parenthood, My Girl enriches the reading experience with tons of poignant drama and meaningful lessons.

What's a brilliant story without an endearing cast? Thankfully, My Girl delivers, and delivers big time. The main character, Masamune, is an insecure, lovesick, but charming and responsible father. His little angel, Koharu, always looks out for Masamune in the sweetest of ways. Beyond that, there’s Masamune's wise father, Masamune's foul-tempered but earnestly compassionate mother, Masamune's kind landlord, Koharu's rowdy and tsundere playmate Shuu, friends, and more. All serve their roles very well and get their fair share of characterization, often used in a way that brings out the best of their character.

From the characters, it is obvious that My Girl has a powerful vision of humanity: that even in tough situations, in times of unrest and dissatisfaction, or when people are incapable of expressing their true feelings, they are truly beautiful inside.

My Girl hits again and again with the feels train, never relenting until the end. It’ll likely make you tear up multiple times, since My Girl is just so potent at dramatic execution, playing around with emotions like it’s nothing. There's no doubt that My Girl is a drama; one that is filled with moments of sadness and pain. However, it is also the ultimate feel-good. The sad moments are always, without fail, beautiful and heart-warming, and the general portrayal of humanity is one of hope and of earnest optimism. Unlike "Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan" (Our Happy Time), which Sumomo Yumeka simply adapted into manga form, My Girl is her magnum opus. Her original story. Her heart and soul, poured into this work. Thank you, and congratulations. You touched yet another heart from halfway across the world.

Masamune reminisces over his late girlfriend. He feels a lot of emotions. Regret. Resent. Hopelessness. These feelings flood his mind, causing him to reconsider everything he’s wanted in his life. He lives on, but he can’t move forward. That is until he meets his daughter, Koharu. Masamune decides to roll the dice with this encounter and together, he and Koharu form a precious bond as they navigate through the world of families. My Girl tells the heartwarming tale of a man trying to become a father and a daughter trying to understand the world of parenthood.

The biggest strength of this manga lies in its benevolent view of parenting. Masamune struggles to give the best for his daughter as a single parent while simultaneously wrestling with his own inner conflicts. He’s not a perfect parent. He’s also not a perfect person. He makes mistakes, and he learns from them. That’s what makes him human and very relatable. Even if you have no experience being a parent, it’s still easy to relate to a lot of Masamune’s struggles. We’ve had our own fair share of regrets in life, and it’s something that will stay with us for a long time. We’ve all juggled with loneliness, aimlessness, and the fear of uncertainty. These things are what make Masamune such an endearing character and it also makes his development all the more fulfilling.

Little by little, with the help of the people around him, Masamune learns to become a true father for Koharu. Koharu, on the other hand, attempts to understand her own complicated emotions. She holds a surprising amount of maturity for a girl her age, and she strives to help Masamune in any way she can. Both Masamune and Koharu have lost someone precious to them. In a way, they’re not just family but also kindred spirits. It’s through this similarity that they’re able to support each other on an equal level.

Masamune, while being the grown-up of the two, still has a lot to learn about the complexity of a child’s mind, and he finds himself relying a lot on Koharu in order to find meaning in his own life. Koharu, while striving to move forward, realizes throughout the course of the manga her own desires and ambitions and what she wants for both herself and her father. These conflicts play out naturally, and the way they maneuver through other sides of the parenting spectrum highlights the grounded nature of the manga. The father-and-daughter duo go through loss, regret, and finding the courage to move on. They do so in the most tender way possible, which makes their journey incredibly endearing to read through.

My Girl explores different forms of parenting, through various perspectives and circumstances. The manga addresses divorce, the anxiety of pregnancy, the fear of not being a good enough parent, and it explores these ideas in a responsible way. The manga never strays away from the cold hard truths, creating a sense of melancholy and desolation. But while the manga does have its depressing moments, it also adopts a positive and optimistic outlook on the themes of parenthood. While the bleak reality is there, there is also a sense of hope and happiness that sprout alongside it. The author perfectly conveys the fact that, while challenging, parenting can also be deeply rewarding and satisfying for all parties involved. Having an overtly depressing manga may appeal to the realism, but having a complimentary amount of joy and wonder is also just as realistic.

The manga’s art style greatly compliments the themes and tones of the story. The illustrations give a sense of comfort that emphasizes the story’s fleeting sense of time, creating a unique sense of atmosphere that elicits the feeling of solace. Characters are drawn beautifully, and their facial expressions perfectly convey their own emotions in a delicate manner. The shading and linework are meticulously outlined and illustrated. Things such as a gentle smile or a straight face may seem like simple things, but they elicit deep emotions; pictures are worth a thousand words after all. The author knows exactly how to evoke certain feelings at just the right time with their understanding of these subtle gestures. There are also specific panels and scenes that are just stunning to look at, the scenery evoking a warmth that matches the manga’s tonal direction. The author’s illustrations breathe life into the manga, strengthening its emotional weight and depth.

My Girl presents a profound portrayal of parenting and what it truly means to develop a relationship with your children. It doesn’t shy away from the bleak and fleeting moments of life, but it also accompanies it with positive and optimistic messages that are sincere and genuine. With its endearing cast of characters, its heartfelt style of art, and its mature story, My Girl provides an experience that will leave a touching and long-lasting impression on your soul.

I am writing this review wishing that more people would take interest in reading this manga. The story is very beautiful, realistic, and full of emotions.

The story is episodic and each arc has its story to tell which always conclude perfectly.

The art is very different to your typical manga (in a very likable way) and I think that its very suitable with the flow of the story. I would say the art and the story compliment each other perfectly that I wouldn't know how it would be made better.

The characters were perfect, although you wouldn't see that much growth on the other characters I am very impressed by the character development of Koharu and Masamune. Koharu's character is mature and compassionate to the feelings of other people. She always try to not give burden to Masamune, afraid that he would also loose him, that is why she isn't able to express her emotions more freely. While Masamune give's his best to to give the emotional support to Koharu while trying to move on with his love to Youko, Koharu's mother.

Enjoyment, I find this very enjoyable to the extent that I would write a review so that other people would also read this and be able to feel this unexplainable happiness and content from reading a My Girl.

At the very least I wish I have the right words to describe how gorgeously made this manga is (maybe i'll leave that to the expert). I definitely recommend this manga especially to those who love the Natsume Yuujinchou feeling. To Ms Sahara Mizu, thank you for creating My Girl and if a manga would be able to understand I hope you know it was " A pleasure to read you".

A serious RELIEF from the other mangas.

What you'll love about this manga is the amazing character development and its not all about romantic love or proving yourself. The main characters had normal problems that were not EXAGERATED at all. There's a definite flow to the story that will make your heart clench. You'll be clinging to the plot because it's beyond beautiful.

My Girl is all about family and making mistakes. There's so much to learn from this manga. The characters were lovable in all angles. They felt real. They just float off the pages without trying. And the art was soft and gentle. There were no harsh lines. I absolutely admit that I'm a sucker for handsome main characters but this manga makes you think that the author purposely drew these characters to make us focus on the plot.

IT'S A TEN OUT OF TEN!