This manga made an incredibly good first impression on me. As it went on, I ended up finding it ordinary, a pretty good read overall, but nothing that special to it.

The first chapters are about how to fit in. It is a theme that I relate a lot to, so I'm quite biased about it. Truth is, it is a very overdone theme in mangas, and especially in shoujos - Kimi ni todoke or the likes - and has been done in a more in-depth manner - for example OreGairu.
What struck me about Ao Haru Ride is that the viewpoint was subtly different and realistic. The main character doesn't have a major lack of social skills, she's just looking for the right way to make friends. So at first, she adapts her outfit and her behavior to what would please the other girls in her class, but ends up realising that it isn't the best way, creating only superficial relationships that way.

But that only takes the few first chapters of the 49 in total. The rest is a romance, which is after all what you'd expect.

The romance had potential. The male protagonist is quite interesting in himself, mysterious, with a trauma to overcome. But the manga doesn't make the best use of him, in my opinion. The build up around his character is forgotten quickly to focus on the usual tricks to drag on the story. From the first chapter, we know that the two main characters are in love with each other, and they can't stop missing the timing to find each other.

I liked the art. The characters have all these cute moments that made me fond of them, making me carry on even through the parts of the story that didn't appeal to me that much.

Overall I would still recommend the read. It has some very good ideas, and the first chapters are worth it. The story, though, will not surprise the readers familiar with the genre.