Thank you Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Kiyuhiko writes a sweet story of second chance romance. Ishizaki and Mishima were first loves until Ishizaki breaks it off by saying he never loved Mishima. Now seven years later Ishizaki has returned to the island, he learns that Mishima has become a shut in. Determined to find out why he visits him. Mishima is still hurt over how Ishizaki ended things and refuses to see him. Can Ishizaki win back his trust? Can they rekindle what they once had? A quick paced story of first love and heartbreak! Told through the present and flashbacks to when Ishizaki and Mishima where growing up readers will get to see how deeply their love is! The story also hits on the importance of consent even between people who love each other. Highly recommend for queer manga lovers!

3 stars — This was a cute fast-paced story about two boys who meet each other again after 7 years of no contact. The story left me wanting to know more about these boys. Besides that, the art was really pretty. This was my first time reading a manga and this was a perfect one to start with. However, I did miss some depth to their story. This story could've been a little longer!

TW: SA
I also felt uncomfortable by one of the sexual scenes that read as if it was non-consensual but it just passed as if nothing happened.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an eARC for an honest review!

I loved the premise of this, two guys rekindling a highschool romance after seven years apart. This was a nice (mostly) wholesome read and the two main characters, Hozumi and Mishima, felt real and somewhat relatable in their own ways.

This book lost two stars for me because primarily it felt like it moved a little too fast. I really enjoyed the first introduction to the characters and their past leading to their seven year seperation. But the rekindling of their relationship seemed too quick and clean considering what had happened and the time between them. I would have liked more focus on their growth and rebuilding of trust, rather than on their new and comfortable relationship.

Another reason I couldn't give it more than 3 stars, I found the two sex scenes a little out of place. They seemed to come out of nowhere and add nothing to the story. The first felt very uncomfortable and left me feeling confused - the story implies it's non-consensual but both of the characters nonchalant response made me even more confused and a little uncomfortable. The whole thing happens fast and feels like it is never fully addressed. Hozumi's brother casually outting him to his family and being praised for doing so also left me feeling a little uneasy. Without these points I would have been more happy to give the book 4 stars (or maybe 3.5)!

Overall, I enjoyed this story and its characters, I only wish it had been longer and that it had taken its time more to tell the story.

I’m always down for some BL manga and this definitely hit the spot! Despite the fact that I was absolutely SCREAMING at Hozumi for being a disaster, watching him and Mishima find their way back to each other was so sweet. And Hozumi is so adorable when he’s not being an idiot! I also did not pay any attention to what the age rating was tbh, so stumbling upon the semi-explicit scenes was a fun little surprise lol. Loved it.

Ishizaki returns to his small island hometown seven years after telling a lie that broke his high school boyfriend Mishima's heart.

The art in this manga is very beautiful and works effectively to convey both the environment of the island town and the feelings of the two main characters. Unfortunately the dialogue and story lack depth as it does not meaningfully flesh out its promising premise. The inner monologue of the characters often felt redundant -- a lot of telling the plot where it could easily show rather than expanding on what the character's motivations and feelings for the reader.

The conflict felt very forced and the stakes were unclear. I don't think this type of story necessarily needs a strong conflict, slice of life can be very engaging when done well, but the conflict that was attempted felt empty.

There is also an uncomfortable sexual interaction that read as non-consensual between the two love interests in a way that was never properly addressed and soured their relationship beyond repair for me. I was unaware this would be explicit based on the description of the book given, however that would be fine if it weren't so sudden and lacking in good representation of consent.

Title: The White and Blue Between Us
Pub Date: 13 Feb 2024

This was just not it. Sexual assault shouldn't be romanticised. I thought it would be a fluffy boys second-chance romance when I started reading, but this was a disappointment.

#NetGalley #TheWhiteandBlueBetweenUs

Ummm sorry but no. The main guy rapes the love interest and then 10 second later he's over it and they're a couple. Also the main guy's brother totally out him (as gay) to their parents. What the heck?!

1/5 stars

I thought this was a cute and enjoyable story. It wasn't complicated, which I enjoyed. It was simultaneously wholesome and had a more deep, mature connotation. I enjoyed the small moments between the characters and the nuances in their relationship. This was a short, sweet, and easy read. If I had to offer a critique, I always like a little more time spent on the character's relationship. I like to read about those intimate moments we only have with those we love, and I wish there was more of that in this manga.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This manga follows two high school sweehearts who are reconnecting with each other after seven years, when one of them leaves the other heartbroken. The story weaves between the past and the present, and personally, I found the story to be interesting and the chemistry between our protagonists was very cute. Paired with the beautiful artwork and the intimacy which occurred that I was not expecting, I actually found myself really liking this manga! Specifically loved the way the manga portrayed sexuality, although I did feel that there could’ve been a deeper exploration of the characters. Overall, this was an enjoyable and quick read, and makes a great palate cleanser when I’ve been reading a lot of super complicated fantasy books.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The story centers around a decision that one character made seven years ago that they made for what they believe are the right reasons. It’s basically one of the those situations that could’ve been avoided if people had talked to each other honestly

There's a lot to tackle here for a one-shot, and it shows. The story, while nice, moves at a much faster pace than the artwork and setting deserve - the linework and setting of an island and lighthouse give a very quiet, relaxed feeling. The characters, their romance and story has to skip around and cover too much in time, which make the characters feel shallow and their reconciliation feel rushed. It's a shame that the most we really get to see them is toward the end and then the high-school-timeline bonus. I would have loved to have seen the longer version of this, but as it is, it's a nice one-shot volume.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC.

Short wholesome story except that non consensual thing that happened.

I'll preface by saying this is my first foray into manga. Its the story of high school sweehearts Hozumi and Mishima. When Hozumi leaves for college, he breaks Mishima's heart by saying he's never really loved him. Seven years later, Hozumi is back in their small island home and is determined to reconnect with Mishima, who has reclused himself in his grandfather's lighthouse.
I found the artwork beautiful but the story was lacking drama and resolved fairly quickly. I enjoyed how it went back and forth between their high school years and the present. And while the characters lacked significant depth, I still found myself rooting for them to end up together. I also liked that their queerness was accepted and not a plot point in the book.
Overall, it was a fun, quick read to start my year.
*****
I received this eARC from @netgalley and publisher @Kodansha_Comics_usa in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly , it was cute bl romance . Dont regret reading it. Second chance romance after being seperated after seven years. I love it. But , would it was a bit longer so the characters can be more developed .

This was a really cute bl manga! It is a second chance romance, set seven years after a lie broke up the two boys in high school. The story was sweet, and it is a standalone, which means you can read the whole story in one sitting, which I did. I would have liked if the story was a little longer, so we could delve more into the two characters and their motivations. But overall, a sweet, charming love story.

Absolutely gorgeous cover!!!! And while I did like this manga, the ending felt a bit too soon for me. I wanted a bit more closure.

Hozumi and Mishima dated in secret in high school. Hozumi broke up with Mishima with a lie, when he returns seven years later he tries to heal their past. It’s only a few chapters and shows them returning to one another, healing from their past, communicating, and I loved that. But as I said above it just ended too abruptly for me. The ending was sweet though. Fans of mangas and second chance romances will undoubtedly like this one!!

Overall this was an okay story! I didn't expect this to be a Yaoi, I thought it was just a BL, so as an Ace that wasn't the best surprise. I enjoyed the parts of the story set when they're in high school, it is pretty wholesome, but the stuff set in the present just wasn't my cup of tea. If you are looking for a Yaoi with a wholesome story, this is for you, but unfortunately the story was not for me. Had the primary focus been on character development and the more emotional parts of the relationship and not the physical, I believe it could have improved the story significantly!