Rating: 3.83 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 3/5
-Cover: 3/5
-Story: 3/5
-Writing: 4/5
Genre: Asexual, SOL
-Asexual: 5/5
-SOL: 5/5
Type: Manga
Worth?: I suppose

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

Picked this manga up because I haven't seen too many dealing with the asexual scope. Humans are so complicated and as such they make things so complicated. What I liked about the whole story is the simple fact that people outside of asexuality don't seem to understand that people just aren't into the things labeled as "normal". It was a bit over complicating some things here and there which is why I rated it a bit lower.

This is a must read for any members of the ace community. It's one of those books that I needed to take breaks from because of emotions, lol. This captures so thoroughly the sheer /confusion/ of discovering your identity as being ace. This is not an identity I heard about from anyone other than my one ace friend growing up, and even then I didn't hear the term until I was 16. It's less talked about, in part because many people find it so hard to understand, and media sure does love its romances. But this explores love and romance and challenges what life long relationships "should" look like, all the while asking: why don't we just make our own way in the world, living as we want, and loving as we choose? While there is a lot of intro-to-asexualty stuff in this book, I do recommend reading another more lighthearted ace book as well if you've never read any books with ace representation, like Rick by Alex Gino or The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen. But overall, this book had a lot of important messages threaded through a fun main character and intriguing side characters.

Do make sure to check out the content warnings.

Getting a manga about asexuality is truly amazing! I'm asexual myself and seeing asexuality being discussed and explored was really lovely. I think because I already knew so much about asexuality this manga fell a little flat for me. There is a lot of explanation and info-dumps about asexuality and other lgbtqia+ terms, great for someone who is unaware but a little boring for me.
I really enjoyed the art style and the diversity of asexuality. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with any of the characters which is why this is only a 3 star.
I think this is a truly great exploration of asexuality and all the many facets that it entails. If this manga could be widespread it would be an amazing feat for the asexuality community as this manga is great at explaining the different terms and the struggles of being asexual in a hypersexual society.

Before reading this, I thought I knew enough about asexuality, and about my own sexuality. I thought I was probably normal — or, at least, that my problems had less to do with being LGBT+ and more to do with something wrong with <i>me</i>.

I guess it just goes to show that representation is important, because after reading this quick, sweet little manga, my heart felt lighter. Seeing characters struggle with what their desires (or lack thereof) meant about them, and come to realize that 'normal' is different for everyone, as cheesy as it sounds, gave me room to accept that whatever I am is okay, too. Though it may come across as saccharine or simplistic at times, this book manages to avoid being obnoxious by depicting a really honest journey of self-exploration, as well as the complications and differences that can make people feel alienated from mainstream society. This manga isn't just about people overcoming external stigma, but about them overcoming internal barriers to self-acceptance that have been built up over a lifetime of trying to 'fit in'.

It isn't entirely about asexuality, either, but depicts LGBT+ solidarity, friendships, relationship drama, found family tropes, etc. — the works, that you might expect from any mostly light-hearted anime or manga. I especially appreciate that it acknowledges the spectrum of LGBT experiences, how even people who use labels like 'gay' or 'straight' can experience attractions outside of those strict boxes, and it doesn't mean their identities are false or put-on in any way. It also makes the important differentiation between libido and romantic attraction, and depicts characters who experience one but not the other, or who simply have very confusing experiences, in a way that doesn't gloss over the complexity but gives it space to breathe. Interestingly, this manga also differentiates attraction to (or fixation on) fictional characters as kind of a third aspect of sexuality, one that can be both separate from or intertwined with sexual and romantic attraction — perhaps a symptom of the prevalence of otaku culture in Japan.

I also find it interesting that this manga mentions a couple of labels even I'd never heard of — for instance, 'zucchini', which is basically a term for platonic life partners (a.k.a. 'queerplatonic'), and a Japanese term called Kaeruka syndrome, or turned-into-a-frog syndrome, where a person's crush fades once they know the person likes them back (as if the crush was turned into a frog), because they have such low self-esteem that they think if a person likes them something must be terribly wrong. Couldn't possibly be me [it me].

I am a little concerned that by going into so many terminological specifics — this sort of encyclopedic knowledge of every obscure term someone on the internet thought up five years ago, which is only used by about 1000 people total on this earth — this book recalls that very trap of over-categorization, the fixation on labelling every identity and every possible permutation of human relationships. People are complicated, relationships are complicated, sometimes enough is enough and we just have to accept it, not shove it into a box. In fact, that is part of the message of this story, which is why I found it odd and a little jarring for there to nonetheless be such a focus on these labels. Labels can be a double-edged sword; if you box away a specific group of experiences under one term, you may be able to study and understand their similarities better, but inherently in that separation, whether you want to or not, you start to lose some of the greater context and the shades of grey along the borders you've defined, the flexibility to come and go as you please, to filter in and out as you need. But I suppose since part of this manga's purpose is specifically LGBT education, it makes sense for these things people know less about to be included, and especially in this case I would choose to opt for over-inclusion rather than under-inclusion.

Overall — very educational, heartfelt, and accessible to any reader, making for a great tool to learn about or explore asexual or LGBT+ identity. Would recommend to anyone curious.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

--

pre-review:

wholesome; educational; extremely comforting to read, for someone who has struggled their whole life to understand their gender and sexuality. genuinely would recommend for anyone who has wondered if they might be asexual, or otherwise might not fit neatly into a boxed-up identity, whatever that may be. my heart feels lighter <33

I loved how the book explained the aspects of asexuality and how it is a spectrum. The only reason why I rated it 4 stars was because I felt that it could have been more intriguing.

I want to thank NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with a copy of this manga. At first, I thought it would be a silly and goofy read about love, but it turned out to be so much more than that.

The story follows a girl's coming-of-age journey, who has not yet fallen in love, does not experience sexual urges, and could possibly identify as asexual. It's fascinating to see her perspective on life and love. I appreciate how Uta Isaki explored asexuality and helped me understand it better. I also loved that the protagonist had friends who supported her and belonged to the same umbrella.

I particularly enjoyed the professor and the guy she called Senpai, as they were great mentors who helped the protagonist realize that it's okay not to be okay and that it's fine to be just the way she is, without conforming to society's so-called "normal."

The only thing that bothered me was that some frames had too many words, and I had to zoom in to read them properly.

Overall, I found this manga to be educational and enjoyable, and I would love to explore the topic more.

This single-volume manga follows university first-year Chika as she realises her identity as asexual, challenges perceptions of 'normal' and forges relationships and friendships her way. I loved this manga!

It is definitely more educational than story-based, but it works- especially since asexual representation is still so limited in the young adult genre- there's such a lack of asexual main characters especially! I loved that they showed different types of asexuality through the side characters as well, and the characters felt whole and not limited or defined by their asexuality.

Chika learning to reclaim her love of things that fall outside the narrow boundaries of normal and accepted that were imposed on her through childhood was one of my favourite parts and I loved that they did this through a magical girl anime watchathon with her buddies.

Overall a super wholesome and informative read! I think this would be. a super valuable and positive read especially for any young teens that are questioning their identity, or anyone that wants to learn more about asexuality in general.

Thank you for giving me this eARC to review.

Sadly this manga had sexual assault in it which was mentioned in the synopsis/notes of the ARC, however it does have the content warning within the book.

I wasn't able to read it due to this but I did have a quick glance to look at the art which is very nice and I am happy that the content warning is at the beginning of the book so it can warn readers. I am giving this a 3 stars as I cannot fully review it but the art was nice and the premise sounded good,

Eye opening book to the Lgbta+ world we live in. Chika feels uncomfortable in the thought of love, not finding attraction or the want for making love, it takes time to come to terms with certain thoughts and feelings for her towards others.

I'd heard of asexual but didn't know what it meant, I now have more of an understanding. I feel this book shows a good understanding of each orientation and wish people well finding love and relationships - if they want them.

Bit of a hard one for me to review as I'm straight and can't imagine the potential upset of coming out/feeling not in the right body/not feeling attractions to others. It's something I will look into more to make my understanding better.

I absolutely adored 'Is Love the Answer' by Uta Isaki. This manga was a beautiful 5 star read for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. One of the aspects I loved most about it is how the main female character explores her sexual orientation in such a raw manner, it captured me emotionally. The portrayal of her fear and uncertainty about her identity and whether she was right in how she identifies, how she struggles to find what she identifies as without the knowledge was incredibly poignant. The questions she grapples with are so real and relatable, beautifully expressed throughout the manga.

There were moments that truly tugged at my heartstrings, making me tear up for the female main character. This manga provides a heartfelt voice to the questions many individuals in the LGBTQ community face. It also offers those who may not share the same orientation a chance to empathize and understand the emotions and struggles involved. The representation in this manga is crucial, allowing people to feel seen and heard – a rarity that resonated deeply with me. I love seeing this representation, and that it can change too. To discover one self is beautiful.

I'm grateful to the author for creating such a beautiful and impactful piece. I recommended it to a friend who identifies as Asexual, and they called me crying after reading it. They had never encountered such representation before and they felt very seen and heard.

'Is Love the Answer' is a true slice of life that touches the heart and soul. It's a masterpiece that fosters connection and understanding. Beautiful, Stunning, and very real.

4.5 rounded up to a 5

I love how Uta Isaki has presented asexuality in this work. It shows the euphoria of finding yourself and also the doubt that comes next, especially when one doesn't feel like they fit fully under the standard definition of the label.

The story also explores other themes such as friendship and the definition of romance. I liked how it also mentioned fanfics and the pressure to like the things that one's peers like.

I don't normally read manga or comics, but this made me want to venture out and try more. I just need to remember to read the text bubbles from right to left.

Thank you Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for a copy of Is Love the Answer?

"A poignant coming-of-age story about a young woman coming into her own as she discovers her identity as aromantic asexual."

I'm so happy this exists -- and in a manga format!! A great representation for those who are exploring or wanting to learn more about ace. I love how the author included a discussion about fluidity and how people explore and change as we grow and get older.

Great resource for teachers, parents, caregivers, healthcare professionals, etc. out there!

I am so excited this exists in the world! The art is beautiful and the story is very thorough with great explanations of aspec.

I would recommend this for anyone curious about ace/aro or looking for good representation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Describes a variety of people who identify as LGBTQA+ in an open-minded and sensitive way. Emphasises the fluidity of sexuality and gender along with what is considered normal. Eloquent and heartwarming art. Creates discussions that reveal new perspectives on life. Complex characters that resemble real people. Enlightening themes that reveal parts of the self. Emotionally engaging that can be relatable for many. Fast-paced plot that has surface-level character interactions. Presents feelings of wonder and bewilderment. Recommended for those looking to learn something about themselves and others. Overall, a very good read.

A different kind of manga that is also informative for a lot of people. There are some good descriptions of various orientations found in the LGBTQA+ categories. This particularly focuses on asexual and the difficulties the mc is having feeling so different from her peers and what is the expected "normal". This manga is a coming of age and a type of coming out story. There's a focus on how sexual and gender identities are often fluid and how one identifies one day doesn't necessarily mean they will always identify that way. People change and their sexual and/or gender identities can too. People are on a spectrum and that shifts throughout life. I think this is a great reminder for all. Labels can be helpful to remind someone they arent alone but no label is going to fit completely as we are all different and all constantly changing.
I recommend this for anyone wanting good representation in a manga. Also the artwork is lovely and does a good job of portraying the characters.

Was accepted to read this through Netgalley. What I didn't know was that this book is already published! And I may be adding it to my shelf sometime in the future!

Manga follows our MC who doesn't understand romance. Only that "normal" people feel it. When she arrives to college her world is open to all the possibilities of sexuality. One of them being Asexual.

As someone who, somewhat, recently figured out they were Demiromantic I wish I had this manga when I was in school. Never knew why I didn't have crushes on people. Why I, when I did date someone, break up with them only weeks into dating. Reading about someone else going through something similar was wonderful. I would highly recomend this manga for people to read even if they aren't a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The only 'complaint' is I wished the author delved deeper into the story. Not just briefly going over what was explained.

This manga is amazing. I'd encourage everyone to read it, regardless of how they feel about love and attraction themselves. It will expand your vision.
It was lovely seeing so many varied characters. The representation in this story is so well written, they feel like complex and real people. And if you're on the ace spectrum (or curious about it), it's a must-read. Also for people who like reading stories where friendship is the main focus, or queer-platonic relationships.

My only complaint would be that I thought it was a series! But it's only a stand-alone manga. I am praying that at some point it will be continued, because it's so worth it.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this comic in exchange for an honest review. #IsLovetheAnswer #NetGalley

This comic is about Chika, a young woman at the end of her high school years, getting her first romantic experiences, feeling doubt about the importance of romance, desire and physical intimacy in her life. When she enters college and meets new people, she figures out she might be asexual and then goes on a journey of self discovery.

I liked the comic, I think it's a realistic coming-of-age story and informative as well. I would recommend reading it a chapter or two at a time, I felt overloaded with information reading it in one go. Also please be advised, there is an attempted sexual assault in chapter one.

I would recommend it to anyone being curious about asexuality!

I really love this book. The portrayal of asexual and aromantic coming-of-age experiences is incredibly accurate.

It strikes a good balance between being informative and emotionally engaging. However, I felt it was a bit overloaded with information at times. Perhaps this is because I read it sporadically over a long period, which is my own fault.

The artwork is exceptional, and the characters are wonderfully unique and heartwarming.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the ace/aro spectrum or seeking authentic representation.

First of all a big thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this to read and review.

This was my first foray into manga and all though I got confused at first at actually reading it, I really enjoyed this. It was a cute and fun manga and one that’s needed in my opinion. There’s not much out there about ace that I’ve seen. I definitely think I’ll try manga again in the future.