Grab the Stars

hoshi wo tsukamaeru is a messy story, but that's what makes it real. the story is pretty basic: our two male leads, hoshikawa and leo, are complete opposites—one is a workaholic, the other a writer struggling for inspiration. one thing leads to another, and they find themselves wanting to be in each other’s company as much as possible, both in and out of the bedroom. but when the topic of commitment comes up, are they really on the same page? what i loved most about this manga was the art. it's very reminiscent of retro manga—with swept-back hair and big, expressive eyes—yet it still manages to delivera clean, modern look. the road to the ending isn't a smooth one. it's painful, it leaves us frustrated, but it also reminds us that fiction isn’t far from reality. it takes courage for someone with low self-esteem to pick themselves up and accept the love being given to them, even if they don’t believe they deserve it—and that’s exactly what this manga represents so well. overall, i’d recommend this if you're looking for a quick, no-bullshit, and not-at-all-sugarcoated read.