This was an enjoyable read with a main trans character who together with two of his classmates decides to take control of his life. A lot of this manga is based on the author’s personal experiences of growing up trans in Japan. The art was beautiful too. I’d love to pick up next volume when it comes out in English!

Aw. .. Well, well! What a pleasant surprise it was! I never thought of end up loving it so Much. It's about a highschool trio who bond over very peculiar circUmstances and all of them are totally different, struggling with their own problems got closer by a new brand they opened, Boys Run The Riot, It's. It's rebellious, It's heartwarming and gut wrenching at a SOME time. It perfectly shows the problems deeply rooted in our educational system, biasness of teachers privileged cool students bullying other. It unMasked a toxic nature of our society. All in a form of comic. How cool is that?

Meet our odd trio. First Ryo chan, a trans boy (and yes respecting that I'll use He/Him as pronouns) who is fed up hiding his true identify and being misjudged by the society. Wearing cool dress is the only way for him to find solace. Our second mc is Jin (he's my fav of all three btw 😅) who is our typical backbencher whom we very often refer as the TROUBLED KID. And he is very aware of his lacking of academic skills, so he's trying to do something on his own. And our last mber of this trio is Itsuka, normal cool kid, golden boy , well behaved child. But too much normalcy is suffocating him. Inheriting a passion for photography from his dad he's fond of capturing emotions through camera lense. Now how all three bonded and got closer, well that's a pleasant read I'll leave upto you to find yourself.

I really liked the way concept of entrepreneurship and start up and the hassles comes with it was submerged into the story along with many small big social issues. It's unique and thought provoking in It's own way. There are so many layer to the story and cool art style and dialogue designing supported It's flow brilliantly. It's age appropriate and cool. It's been a while, I reduced reading ya books drastically, this COMIC is kinda taunting me now.

Gosh! I badly need volume 2 asap!

This was amazing! I actually have a student who reminds me so much of Ryo. I liked the characters, the art, and the story. We need more books like this.

I got an ARC of this book.

I sadly don’t really have any strong opinions on this manga. I normally have very strong opinions on trans content. So this might be better as a pro and cons list.

Pro:

-written by a trans person

-when the MC comes out to someone, he is respected.

-There are hints of more queerness to come with the last few panels.

Cons:

-relies on transphobia for a major plot

-not all the engaging

-the MC cries a LOT, like a lot a lot. I don’t think I have ever seen a character cry this much before. It felt like it was too one dimensional.

-There is just a lot of bullying in general and it did nothing for me.

So overall the book is eh. I am really glad to see trans writers writing trans stories, even when that story is not for me. This story clearly was not for me. It didn’t have anything that made me want to keep reading. I don’t see the appeal or the excitement outside of an ownvoices manga. I just wish I liked the story. It seems like manga that deals with fashion is not the manga for me.

I heard about this manga a few days ago and I was so excited for it. So when I saw it was available for request on NetGalley I had to get it!

Boys Run The Riot follows Ryo, a closeted trans guy in high school who decides to start a clothing brand with the new transfer guy, Jin. At first wary of this new guy who looks just like any other bully, he slowly discovers a friend he can be completely open and honest with. Together they decide to create a clothing brand to express themselves and show who they really are.

I loved the friendship between Ryo and Jin, how they can be honest with each other and don't have to hide who they are and can really be themselves when they're together.
I'm also excited to see their little band grow as new people join in on their adventure.

It was a great first volume and I'm excited for the next ones!

I loved this manga which had so many sweet and wholesome moments between our two main characters . The friendship between Ryo and Jin was well developed and very true to life in how they behaved around one another as newly aquatinted best friends. As a queer person I found this manga truly tastefully done in the way it handled Ryo's coming to terms with himself and accepting himself .This manga also very accurately showed how friends handle a friends coming out.This showed how Jin accepted Ryo as he was. I loved that our main charter Ryo was trans but his being trans wasn't the entire story but the story was rather around friends accepting each other as they are and helping one another because of their bond and commitment to one another as friends.

•A R C•B O O K•R E V I E W•
2021 Book #45 out of 80
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BOYS RUN THE RIOT #1 by KEITO GAKU
Publication date May 25, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars
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TW: Homophobia, bullying
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QUICK SYNOPSIS: Ryo and Jin are high schoolers who break from the status quo of their school and peers. They bond together to build their own fashion brand. As they begin their brand, they learn about their self-identity, the hardship that comes with starting a brand, and the creating of beautiful artwork!

STORYLINE & THOUGHTS:
~ This manga breaks societal expectations and encourages people's freedom of expression.
~ This manga includes trans representation and the breaking of the societal status quo.
~ The artwork does well in capturing the challenges, emotion, and self-discovery that the characters encounter throughout the manga.
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Thank you to @netgalley and @KodanshaComics for this ARC Ebook. All reviews are fair and honest reviews. All opinions are my own.
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#ARC #AdvanceReaderCopy #Netgalley #Bookstagramfeature #Bookstagram #Goodreads #TBR #ToBeRead #InstaBook #readersofinstagram #readersofinsta #bookreview #bookishfeatures

This manga IS PERFECT. Thank you Netgalley for approving me. I get so ridiculously happy when I see LGBT representation in Japanese medias, especially something less represented like trans people. The artwork was great, the characters were great, and it seems like we will get even more representation in the next volume. The author of the series is also trans, so this book doesn't only normalize LGBT+ people, reading/buying/sharing it also supports an LGBT creator, and that always makes me happy too. Less stigmatization, more normalization and respect and love!!

This is a fairly sweet story about a group of young people who feel like outcasts coming together to work on a project they're passionate about. I liked how it focuses on the experiences and feelings of a trans male character who isn't out yet (and inspiration is drawn from the author's, who is also trans, experiences). However, there was something about the plot and the writing that didn't quite click with me. Perhaps I'd need to read future volumes to really get into the story. Overall, I'd recommend if you're looking for a graphic novel with trans representation but with the warning that there's a lot of misgendering and transphobia.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 I feel in love with this manga from the first chapter. Boys Run the Riot is written by and featuring a transgender main character. The story is so well done and all of the characters feel real and relatable. The struggle of each of our main characters to find their identity while being forced to conform rang true as they start to feel comfortable with themselves and build their brand. The interview with the mangaka was a great bonus and helped to shed additional insight on the story. I cannot wait for volume two. I am ready to continue to grow with Ryo and Jin.

Thank you to #NetGalley Kodansha for the gifted e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. #BoysRunTheRiot1

I really enjoyed this manga as a dressmaker (as a hobby) and as a reader who likes LGBT stories. Not only is the story about two young students taking control of their futures and becoming entrepreneurs, but also about a young girl who is coming to terms with the fact she is transgender and that is ok. It is a very heartwelming story about friendship, findings one self and believing in yourself. Unfortuantly it does also cover bullying and transphobia, however is necessary to the plot. I would love to follow the two main characters in their stories.

I received a free e-ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Boys Run the Riot was a delightful coming-of-age manga about a transgender boy named Ryo. He feels like he needs to conform at school, but cannot stand that he's expected to wear the girl's uniform, so he always wears gym clothes. Out of school hours he acts out by wearing whatever he likes, and spray painting art on random walls. When he meets a new student, Jin, who is into the same kind of clothes, the two boys bond over their shared love of fashion and decide to start their own brand. Jin is the complete opposite of Ryo in many ways. He seems like a thug, but he's comfortable in his own skin, and knows what he's passionate about.

I really loved the art style, and I especially enjoyed the inclusion of Ryo's graffiti art (some of which was drawn by another artist.) I loved the close and supportive friendship that developed between Ryo and Jin. It wasn't a super complicated storyline, but was more focused on the characters and had a slice-of-life kind of feel to it. I was also really excited to see a transgender MC in a manga!

At its core, it's a story about being true to yourself, and following your dreams.

I may be too early for this but “Boys Run the Riot” has the potential to be one of the best reads of 2021 for me. I relate to the Ryo character so much in terms of wearing a skirt in school because man, while being in a “all girls” school myself, I effin hated wearing it through primary to secondary omfg! I really liked how this isn’t your typical manga because it shows Ryo wanting to just be himself like any of us and create his own fashion business with the boys he hangs with! It’s so rare to find manga that is trans-based and I’m glad Gaku-san decided to do this because us manga readers desperately need more variety in the manga world!

Huge huge thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for giving me volume 1 of this brilliant manga!

Oh I loved this!! A heartwarming story focusing on a trans teen who finds an escape from their anxieties in street fashion. A joyous slice of life.

Thanks Netgalley and Kondansha Comics for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I just love this precious manga. Boys Run the Riot by Keito Gaku is an own voices, coming-of-age story about a young transgender boy. This novel succeeded in positively representing LGBTQ+ people.

The story followed Ryuu. Not fitting in, always being misunderstood, and having confusing feelings, Ryuu was already familiar with these things. The only comfort he had was when he was wearing his favorite clothes. In a way, he felt he could express himself through them. One day while out shopping, he happened to pick up a shirt at the same time with Jin, the new transfer who looked nothing but a bully. Jin offered Ryuu to develop a clothing brand that helped people express themselves. Ryuu was hesitant at first, but slowly, he found a partner, a friend while also embracing his identity and dreams.

The plot was absolutely well-written. Not only it explored and took a close look to what LGBTQ+ people struggles with, but it also tackled family relationship, friends, and school life in a very authentic way. The emotions represented were raw and powerful that I couldn't help but shed tears while reading this. The characters were all fleshed out, and I knew readers could find pieces of themselves with the characters.

The interview with the author at the end provided such a helpful insight. I really appreciated it. The message that this book wanted to conveyed was loud and clear.

Overall, Boys Run the Riot was an absolute read. I was very grateful to have an early access of this empowering manga. I am very looking forward to the next volume.

5/5 stars!

CW: transphobia/LGBTQ+ hate and bullying

Boys Run the Riot is the story of a young transgender boy, who's living in secret, not able to let anyone around him know that he's different, as he's scared of what people might think and do. An unexpected confession of this deepest secrets lets him feel like he can be a little bit more free. And that's how the fun begins.
The story tackles the difficulties of being "not normal" and the stigma that many LGBTQ+ people struggle with. The author himself is FTM and the story really shows an in-depth look at the inner life of the struggles of young LGBTQ+ person.
I recommend this not only for people who have the same of similar struggles themselves, but also everyone else, as this story can help you be much more empathetic.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*

First of all, I really really enjoyed this! I think ‘own voices’ works are so important for authentic storytelling and that the world needs a lot lot more positive trans representation. Positive rep achieved!

Ryo was a very likeable and relatable protagonist. His identity as trans boy is a large part of the character and is explored in quite a complex way, moving beyond just the physical to show how being closeted impacts almost every aspect of daily life (even the bits some cisgender perhaps don’t even consider). But there is more to the character than this. He has ambitions unrelated to being transgender and we get to take the journey with him as he finds his place in the world. For this kind of story I am very grateful. I don’t see nearly enough trans rep where the character is a fully realised person.

Some of the supporting characters are also very fun, especially Jin. His dynamic with Ryo is very interesting and I can’t wait to see more of it.

The story also has lots of potential, while the art itself is very clear and so nice to look at.

For me though the highlight is definitely the characters and the way that this centres a story about being transgender in a way that so many works before have failed. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of this series as it comes!

If you love manga and LGBTQ+ stories then this is a definite recommend.

The only the first installment and I'm hooked. Having a transgender main character discover himself and banding together with other kids who are unfairly judged to create an awesome project designing and selling clothes was heartwarming to see. The only thing I didn't enjoy was how short it was because I'm excited to read more of their story.

This was so much fun!
I adore how the cast of characters worked together, how they’re able to be who they are with each other and without judgments, to do what they truly love.
It’s only the beginning of their business/friendships and I’m sure they have a lot to learn from one another and that their determination will allow them to achieve big things.
I don’t know what to expect from the ending and I’m definitely intrigued.
So excited to read the following instalments!

A new favourite for me!

This book will touch the heart of any reader. I cried and felt like I needed the words that were written here. Seeing Ryo and Jin chase their dreams with such conviction (and while having fun!) was like a breath of fresh air. They really motivated me to keep pursuing the things that I love. I am looking forward to finding out more about them and about other characters like Chika and Tsubasa.

Also, the art style is amazing, you really get the vibe and personality of the characters looking at them. The author put a lot of care not just in the plot but also in the way he depicted the characters, and it shows. There are no stereotypical images here, and it feels authentic and cool.

I also really appreciated having the interview with the author (although I did feel some of the questions were rather invasive of his privacy)! I'd love for every manga to have an interview with the author. I really hope they release this series in ebook format, I want to keep reading!!