Ao Haru Ride

So this is a very updated review that I'm making since this manga is now complete. Story: 7/10 - I really loved how the started off the manga. The plot was slightly cliche but was pretty decent. Like how they built up Kou's character to finally reveal his sad backstory. But in the later arcs, I feel as if the whole "love triangle" ordeal was a bit too much. It had pointless drama and the drastic character change in Kou towards the later chapters of the manga felt forced. So forced & drastic I didn't even think that was actually his character. I felt like theauthor was just throwing random details to try and wrap up the end. Which is a shame because I felt like it could have been something significantly better. Art: 8/10 - I really love the art style of the characters and how everyone had distinct features. Overall very eye pleasing. Character: 7/10 - I'd say all the main characters and main supporting characters had some decency. The personalities weren't too bland. Kou obviously being the asshole of the manga (in the beginning) has very nice development. He was probably the character with the most depth and had the most development. But his drastic change throw me off. It was nice to see a sweeter side to him, but there was literally no gradual transition. Just a "oh, yea, he's such a sappy sweetheart now" It looked like the author was running out of ideas. Futaba was annoying at times with her almost winy personality. Her character hardly changes except after her fake friends ditch her after the first couple chapters. But the bond between her and Kou is quite pleasant minus all the stupid love triangle jazz. Now to the friends AKA the supporting Characters. Yuuri was the sweet innocent type, and her overall character never changes and her personality is pretty typical in a shoujo. Not saying it's necessary a bad thing, but she has no depth. Murao was the quiet, caring type. She's very straightforward and had good head on her shoulders. [the next part is a spoiler--skip if you don't want to know] It's revealed later on that she really likes Kou's older brother, who is a teacher at the school, and they go in a backstory of her and him. It was nice to see how her feelings for him grew and intensified throughout the story. But it was also sad to see her confess and then get rejected. I appreciated her character. [end of spoiler] Kominato is that blunt yet very caring guy who you could just have a great time with. He has slight development later in the series, but he's the typical "go to man" for Kou. Not really a spoiler since it states it in his description, but he's in love with Murao, which adds for future tension in the manga. And now for Kou's brother, Tanaka Sensei. He's a big ball of joy who really cares for his little brother. There really isn't much to say without really spoiling too much (I mean the last chapter of the manga). Pretty average character overall. Enjoyment: 8/10 - Regardless of my opinion on the plot and characters, I did really enjoy this series. As soon as I saw the first episode of the anime in July, I had to know the secrets that Kou was hiding! So I picked up the manga and fell in love. I wish my enjoyment level was higher, but due to the obvious things I pointed out, I don't think it's possible. But on a side note, I really loved the last chapter, even though it was obvious, I felt like the very last pages of the chapters were symbolic to the entire manga. Overall: 7/10 - I know this is probably an unpopular rating, but I really did enjoy this manga. I do suggest that if you do like shoujo, to read this one! It's definitely a good manga to pick up if you're new to the genre :)

Ok first of all, I've seen the anime before reading the manga and I liked it. I enjoyed the anime a lot. I wanted more so curiosity lead me into reading it. At first it was alright but the more the story progressed the more it made me wish I didn't read it in the first place. Story 4/10: The story was basically predictable. I feel like it was lacking. I've lost count of the number of misunderstandings that happened in this story because it was A LOT. Not to mention that the cliche in this manga does not help the story at all. I evenliked the side couples better. Art 7/10: Alright, I have nothing to complain about it. Characters 3/10: Ok lets talk about the main character and her love interests. Female lead: I swear, she is sooooooo ANNOYING. SHE DOESN'T HAVE A DISTINCT PERSONALITY. I also don't like how she is plastic and indecisive. She for real dated the second male lead because she forced herself to. Later on, SHE GOES LIKE SIKE I ACTUALLY DONT LIKE YOU to the second male lead. SHE DATED HIM FOR LIKE A DAY AND LEFT HIM BECAUSE "she's in love with the male lead" Like girl did you not consider how he would feel???? He was hurt because of this bishy, fishy, plastic female lead's indecisiveness. Male lead: Ok he's so down bad I don't even want to talk about him. Anyways, This dude is a red flag. He was for real annoying and indecisive. This dude is bipolar :DD Sometimes he's nice, sometimes he's so mean I want to kill him. I almost forgot to mention,he is fr manipulative like he literally rejected futaba and when he saw her dating touma he decided to want to date her wtf. Dude only thinks of himself. Nice qualities right? But in the ending he completely changed?? we don't even get why he changed. and r u saying u can only change if ur in a relationship? wtf. He doesn't even have any redeeming qualities theres nothing to like about him periodt. I really don't get why people love him. Second-Male Lead: He is a pure cinnamon roll. This guy is what you call a green flag a complete opposite of the male-lead. This guy does not deserve the female lead at all. He deserves better. He is very genuine, kind, handsome as well. Overall 4/10: It felt lacking and rushed. Its kind of overrated at this point. The author could've added more plot twists to make it at least interesting. There are a lot more better shoujo mangas out there. This is just a waste of time my friend. I may be the only person who dislikes this but that's alright.

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 andrealistic. 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.

I just finished Ao Haru Ride (Blue Sky Ride) and it was... ok. I expected more from an 8.3 and found it very bland. Characters: 6.5/10 -Protagonist: Protagonist is fairly interesting and acts for the most part logically. Doesn't fit into any of the "dere" molds which is nice. She has clearly defined goals and motivations and the story is mostly about her trying to move on from one thing or another. However she doesn't really have a backbone and just takes LIA's bullshit for most of the series. Because love. (8/10 Protag.) -Love Interest A (LIA): An absolute ponce. A bipolar twat of truly epic proportionsand the reason for almost every gripe I have with this manga. This manga would be a 9/10 if he weren't Love Interest A, for LIA always gets the girl in these and this is no different. Would have been a great story if it focused on LIA learning a painful lesson about self doubt and being too late. Letting people slip away. Jeeze. (3/10 LIA) -Love Interest B (LIB): Classic LIB, perfect guy in every way, loves unconditionally, but doomed to fail. Interactions with protag. are genuinely touching and its nice to read with a character that doesn't beat around the bush and just blatantly says the shit that needs to be said. A bit boring though, not really much else to the character. (7/10 LIB) Plot: 7/10 Classic highschool setting. Nothing too fancy. No notable subplots and the entirety of the focus is on character interactions. No new ground tread, but its decently written. Art: 6/10 Unassuming, uninspired. Nothing to write home about. Final thoughts: Just, ok. Had potential but marred by LIA. Seriously thought, "This would get so much better if LIA was brutally killed right now" about 5 chapters from the end. 6.5/10 Better things out there.