Sue me, but I really like cute simple love stories. There's pining, there's doubts and angst, there's that first love tingling feeling. And that's about it. It's a sweet love story with little to no drama and sometimes that's exactly what I need.

All fluff!

This manga is sweeter than I thought it was going to be. I really enjoyed the storyline thus far and I plan on continuing it. If you like bl manga which endearing characters, consider checking this one out.

Thank you to Kodansha for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

In a brilliantly accomplished debut author Machi Yamashita introduces us to college Students Yu Yamasaki and Nagi kitagawa and their friends. Yo Yamasaki and Nagi kitagawa attend the same college and are neighbours living in the same apartment block. They become friends almost by accident as sober Nagi is left to look after and take home the heavy drinking Yamasaki on numerous occasions. Nagi is instantly attracted to the handsome, popular Yamasaki. The story follows the two friends as they address their feelings for each other, providing a beautiful, heartwarming experience of first love, and of finding your true self.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Goodreads.

This is a gentle love story without too much drama. Nagi Kitagawa is a university student who falls in love with another student called Yu Yamasaki, who also happens to be his next door neighbour.

Nagi looks up to Yu and keeps his growing feelings to himself, meanwhile he gets to know Yu better, rescues him from drinking binges and sometimes stays the night sleeping beside the drunken Yu. What Nagi doesn’t realise is that Yu has the same feelings towards him and gradually as their friendship develops so does their love for each other.

Sometimes you need a story where two people gently and gradually fall in love and this is it.

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

i've learned recently that i tend to enjoy reading the romance genre more if it's a manga. "love on the horizon" is no exception—it's a short, cute, feel-good story about two college students falling each other and being absolute fools about it. it's got some tasty yearning, which i always appreciate, and keeps up a fun cast of background characters that give more life to the main couple. the art style was quite pleasing. it's lively without being overwhelming for the eyes.

my one big gripe with this story is the pacing. i'd be more forgiving of how fast things move if this were a one-shot. however, knowing there's a volumte 2 to look forward to, i expected the build-up to the relationship to take its time. it felt like nagi and yuu got together a bit too fast, and some more fleshing out for their bond between friendship and love would've been nice.

nevertheless, this is a perfectly pleasant read, and i am looking forward to volume 2.

This was absolutely puddle-inducing in the best way.

It’s short—honestly over too fast—but that’s also what I was craving when I picked it up: something sweet, swoony, and low-commitment. Still, it was so lovely I found myself wishing it lingered a little longer.

Even in such a short span, it hits all the right emotional notes—those fluttery moments of anticipation, a tiny tear I will definitely blame on allergies if anyone asks, and that wholesome kind of joy that feels like a warm blanket on a rough day.

It’s a great pick if you’re in the mood for a quick MM college romance with the kind of gentle, giggly charm that manga often does so well. 🥰

There are some spicy moments, but nothing too explicit—it’s framed thoughtfully and would still feel safe for younger readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this arc!

5/5 stars

This was a really sweet and light manga! I really love how Nagi and Yuu progress from being friends to more, and how respectful they are towards each other. We stan healthy relationships 💜

Love on the Horizon by Machi Yamashita is a slice of life university BL series that follows Nagi Kitagawa and his senpai Yuu Yamasaki ("and they were neighbors"). Nagi and Yuu are in the same music club, but Nagi fears his feelings will be forever unrequited....

This is a very sweet story, perfect for fans of pining and "taking care of each other" tropes. There is some spice, but it's not over the top; as a one-shot, I would call it a slow burn, but as the first volume of a series, it may be a bit faster-paced. Honestly, this is so self-contained, it could do perfectly well as a one-shot, but I'm curious what will happen next. This is a very "feels-heavy" story, almost in between shounen-ai and yaoi in terms of genre; the sleek minimalist art style mimics that poignant balance. Personally, I love the art style all on its own, but it also really fits the tone of the story. In addition, Yamashita throws in a bit of humor with the "experienced by naïve Yuu" and the shy but stalwart Nagi. I do also wonder if there is a new shift in BL stories, in which there is no longer a need for a "gay crisis": Yuu simply requests open-mindedness when discussing his feelings for Nagi and a specific label is not needed, nor a particular discussion about the gender of his love interest--it just doesn't seem to matter. I hope this indicates a general societal shift as well, but that may remain to be seen.

Readers who enjoy this series may also like: 2gether (2020), Restart After Come Back Home by Cocomi, Sasaki and Miyano by Shō Harusono, To the Stars and Back by Peglo, My Ultramarine Sky by Furuya Nagisa, Given by Natsuki Kizu, Twilight Out of Focus by Jyanome, and Semantic Error by Angy and J. Soori, among others.

This was so cute! I enjoyed the pacing between the two main characters, and the whole mix up between dream/not dream was cute!

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this manga

This was a cute read about a love forming between to male friends, I found it wasn't too fast or too slow and was nicely paced

I would be interested in continuing with this series as it gets released

It was really cute ! Everything happened a bit fastly and nothing really happens apart from them drinking, sleeping, avoiding and repeat the pattern, but it was just so soft and I really liked it.
I loved how they came to the point where they knew they loved each other but they just couldn't bring themselves to tell the others. Can't wait to read what's next !

DNF. I couldn't connect with the characters or with the story, and I'm inclined to think it was because of the script and how it started. I thought it would be a good option for me, but the way it was worked didn't feel right for me.

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the digital review copy!

before i talk about the story, i feel the need to mention that the art in this is stunning! i loved the half-tones and the style of everything, it definitely kept my attention.

while very very sweet and definitely enjoyable, this manga fell a little flat for me. i would have loved more time spent on the development of feelings between the two characters, but it all happens very quickly. there is very little conflict or time to sit with our characters, we are placed directly in the middle of the story with little background. i would have loved to slow down a little.

other than this, if you want a simple, sweet story to read and put a smile on your face, i would definitely pick it up! but i wouldn’t expect anything deeper than that.

This MM college romance is an absolute gem for a quick and heartwarming read. The artwork is beautifully drawn, capturing the delightful, wholesome charm that manga fans adore. With its sweet, closed-door moments and an overall enjoyable storyline, it's a perfect pick-me-up for anyone seeking a feel-good escape. Highly recommended for those who love lighthearted, feel-good romance!

I typically don't read manga, but I saw good reviews for this and was intrigued. I thought it was very sweet, charming, and the artwork was great. This is good if you like friends to lovers and queer awakenings.

I didn't think anything too deep was happening, but it was sweet and a light read.

A cute mutual pining (with some mildly concerning clingy overtones on the part of Nagi) that is resolved about half way through, with the rest of the book them navigating cute coupledom. Not really much of a plot to this but if you want to see university students being oblivious and obvious its a fine enough read.

Tone/Vibes: emotional, hopeful, lighthearted, relaxing, and fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

Rating: 4.25/5.0

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC! :)

This was a very cute BL college romance! 🥰 I loved the art and the cute little romance tropes, but it was also realistic. I look forward to reading more of the series! I would love to see how Yu & Nagi navigate their new relationship! I wished some parts were explained more so we could see more of the characters personalities bloom. But it was definitely an enjoyable read! :)

A cute romance to read if you are looking for a wholesome pick-me-up that is light and fluffy. I found myself grinning while reading and can't wait for Volume 2!

Super cute and wholesome romance between two cute college students. It reminded me of all the old school romance coming of age movies. I really enjoyed it !