Shout Loud, My Heart is easy to binge in one sitting. I loved the main characters and wish it were an actual series instead of a one-shot! Not much happening in the story but the characters and their interactions were so cute, you can’t help but want to read more. Be sure to check out the little short stories at the end for some additional content of Mika and Gen!

Gen, guitarist to the popular band 'Eve', is a quiet and reserved college student who spends little time associating with anyone outwith his own band-mates. This all changes the day he meets the outgoing Mike, lead singer to the equally popular band, 'Adam', after the singer praises his talent at a shared performance. Sticking around to hear Mike sing, Gen is unusually captivated by his unique voice, and soon after realizes that they are both in the same classes at school too. This one-shot manga follows the duos blossoming- if not slightly unexpected- friendship, performances, and ever evolving feelings that they just can't quite seem to place.

From start to finish, Gen and Mike were a refreshing pair whose admiration for not only each other, but their passion, was so genuine that I could not contain my glee while reading. Although at the start they appear to have contrasting personalities, the pair click so quickly that it's obvious from the start (even outwith the fact it's a romantic story) that they are going to impact each others lives greatly.

Additional to the main characters, the fun cast of side characters that make up the boys' band mates are very likable and have their own use in moving the story along. Paired with clever little details like the band names ('Adam'/'Eve'), fun situations (jam sessions and concerts) and a beautiful art style, there was very little to not love. And for extra added fun, a bonus chapter is included at the end for those who just can't get enough of Gen and Mikes relationship!

The only real criticism I could have for this story is its pacing. As it is a one-shot manga, you see the start to finish of the relationship in a very short time, so elements in the characters lives' like their longing and angst were resolved pretty quickly in order to keep the story progressing, and hence maybe didn't hit so hard as they would if this was a multi-part series, or even a written novel. Nevertheless, I still thoroughly enjoyed this read, and although this didn't dampen my enjoyment at all, it may be a factor worth considering if fast paced and easily digestible stories aren't your cup of tea and you're thinking about picking this one up.

Thank you so much to both NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In a nutshell for this manga: “I am not great at expressing my feelings, so I’ll do it through music 🎶”

Where to even start with this cute love story about two rockstars meeting 😭. Words can not express how much I adore these two and even though this one shot was short, I enjoyed every moment of it.

Gen and Mika are just so adorably cute together 🥰. Gen’s quiet persona vs how forward Mika is to the point where Gen gets to be out of his shell for once. You really get to see their friendship blossom into something more and the pacing between the two was just right. Loved every moment of it.

The spice in this book, it was steamy 🥵. I didn’t expect that until I got to that part. It didn’t help how even after that they still got to be so cute after being a couple 🥺.

Overall, as much I know this is a short book since it is a one shot. I feel like through the 6 episodes you will see along with some bonus chapters, you do take the time to know both the MMCs so well. How their taste in music can be combined together, and how one jam session can mean so much more on how you express your feelings.

3.25 ⭐️ is my accurate rating.

Thank you to NetGalley, Youga Rayri, and Kodansha Comics for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

"Shout Loud, My Heart" by Youga Rayri is a BL manga about a guitarist named Gen and a vocalist named Mika. They are from different bands, but that doesn't stop them from falling in love.

This manga is heartwarming, cute, and sexy. The artwork is also beautifully drawn. It is the perfect slice of life manga with adorable characters.

I highly recommend "Shout Loud, My Heart"! Thank you, Kodansha and NetGalley, for sending me an ARC of this wonderful manga!

It is available on 6/17/2025

Oh my. This BL was everything. It was wholesome, wholesome, wholesome, wholesome, and then BAM…. Spicy. 2 rockstars falling for eachother? Yes. I loved how they really took the time to build up the story and characters before diving into the spicy bits. I need to read more about Gen & Mika immediately. Thank you NetGalley for this digital arc.

College student Gen plays guitar in a rock band called Eve. At a gig one night, he meets a man named Mike. Mike’s the kind of person who has no trouble saying what’s on his mind, and Gen soon finds himself captivated by this smooth, handsome voice. The next day, the two meet again when they realize they go to the same college. Be it on stage or in casual conversation, Gen finds himself more and more captivated by Mike’s voice. The more time the two spend together, the more Gen realizes it’s more than just Mike’s voice he’s attracted to…
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My review:
5/5 stars ⭐️
WOW WOW WOW!!! I loved reading this so much!!!
The artstyle is lovely, and the story was too.
I love how Gen is in awe of Mikes voice, I love their height difference so!! much!! They do give a fair warning that this is 18+ which yes it is! Very spicy 🌶️
Thank you Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this lovely story.
Here is my GoodReads review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7569814514

Thank you to NetGalley and Youga Rayri for an Advanced Reader's Copy of "Shout Loud, My Heart."

All I can say is WOW. I love me a good BL manga, and the fact this was a one-shot too? Between the on stage tension, the off-stage tension, and the relationship between Gen and Mika, this left me wanting more. These two are ELECTRIC on every page together, and their chemistry is undeniable. And the band names, Adam & Eve, really tied this all together.

I miss them already!

What a beautiful art style, pacing, and climax of the story. I would adore seeing these two in other projects!!

The art, story, characters, and dialogue are all perfect!

Absolutely love the music theme along with the character designs of the MCs, so throw some romantic tension between them, made stronger by music, and I AM IN LOVE.

I wish we got to see more of them (but that’s the folly of one shots I suppose) but I’m so glad we get to see them later on in the bonus chapters ☺️☺️

A short sweet slice of life BL manga that while fast paced, was very sweet and the art was gorgeous.

When Nana was first being serialized in translation, I was hooked on the story and have been drawn to the odd band story ever since. When I read the synopsis for Shout Loud, My Heart I was immediately curious and the idea of a self contained story sold me. This story follows Gen, a guitarist for the band Eve, and Mike, vocalist for the band Adam, as their relationship grow from acquaintances to friends to something more; I hesitate to call them rival bandmates when the bands are more so competitive in spirit than having any kind of animosity towards each other. Following their relationship as it develops throughout the story was clichéd but not in an unenjoyable way - I was rooting for them and enjoyed particularly the ending and bonus shorts. The art style is consistent throughout and lends itself well to their sweet romance; Gen's little moods are captured in such a cute way and Mike of course is great to look at but even beyond the main characters the supporting cast are all drawn well. Even though I originally was interested because this was a one-shot, I wish the story were longer so we could see more of Gen and Mike's relationship fleshed out rather than hurried at the end.

3.5* stars, rounded up to 4/5
Thank you to Kodansha and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you, Net Galley, Kodansha Comics, and Youga Rayri, for an advanced copy of this comic in exchange for an honest review!

Final Verdict!

3.5 rounded to 4.0 stars!

I have to say that I wasn’t sure what to think about this one at first. For the first few pages, I found myself rather bored. I thought the characters were on the bland side, and/or that they were the stereotypical sort of main leads seen in BL romance.

However, as I continued reading, they ended up growing on me a lot! There was a chemistry between the characters that made you want to say: “Just kiss already!” and I was indeed happy when they kissed, haha! The supporting cast was surprisingly funny as well, and they added a lot to the story that made their actions feel so real! It was the sort of bringing you back to reality that pokes fun at how manga can sometimes have these scenarios, making you wonder: “How did anyone not see that?” I found it amusing, and it always caught me off guard when those moments came about.

I liked how the love scenes were drawn. Very tasteful, which made it seem like it was for the characters as opposed to the audience. I think love scenes work out much better when they’re presented this way, so I appreciate this a lot!

As far as the story goes for this one, I’m not sure there was much to it. It mainly focused on the characters and their emotions and budding romance. This isn’t a bad thing, but sometimes it felt like we were going nowhere in the story, and things were just happening for the sake of happening. I think I wanted a bit more build-up and emotional depth compared to what we got. While the romance wasn’t necessarily forced, it was a little hard to sell me on why these two liked each other so deeply by the end.

But otherwise, I still enjoyed this read, and I will be sure to look for more of their work in the future!

Thank you again, Net Galley, Kodansha Comics, and Youga Rayri, for an advanced copy of this comic!

I think this was super cute and fun, it was rather fast paced and I liked the characters. Super fun short story.

I was blushing the whole time reading this manga! Shout Loud, My Heart follows two college guys, Gen and Mike, who are in two separate bands and meet at a show. They quickly become friends and later it turns into something much more. I really loved both characters and found myself rooting for their relationship from the very start. I loved the black cat and golden retriever energy from Gen and Mike. The artwork was beautiful and charming. The story was sweet and satisfying. The bonus stories at the end were a great too!

3.5 stars

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Youga Rayri for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Shout Loud, My Heart stands out with its beautiful, expressive artwork—especially during the singing and concert scenes, which truly shine. The ambiance in those musical moments was incredibly well-executed and added a lot of emotional depth to the story.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Mike and Gen. Mike’s lively, charismatic nature plays nicely off Gen’s more quiet, reserved demeanor. Right from the beginning, the manga delivers on its summary's promise, and it presents the BL romance as a slow burn, which I appreciated. The progression didn’t feel rushed—something that’s sometimes hard to achieve in shorter manga—and the relationship developed at a natural pace.

However, when the romantic aspect did emerge, I found myself struggling to feel the chemistry between Gen and Mike. By chapter 4, they felt more like close friends than potential romantic partners. As the story progressed, the romance didn't feel sudden or out of place, but I personally didn’t feel a strong spark between them. It could be that the emphasis on the music and performance aspects limited the time available to fully explore their emotional connection.

That said, the 18+ scene was well done—visually appealing and tastefully drawn, with no complaints there. Also, the way the title ties back into the story was a lovely touch.

Interestingly, I felt more of a romantic connection between the characters in the final pages than earlier in the manga. It’s possible that with more focus on their relationship outside of the musical context, their chemistry would have had more room to grow.

4.25/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an arc. All opinions are my own.

I LOVE the art in this! Youga Rayri uses a ton of hatching and different textures without losing legibility. I’m also obsessed with how sparkly everything is, and the chibi versions of the characters are all so cute!!

The romance is a little insta-lovey (which makes total sense for a one-shot manga) but I thought it was super sweet.

I really enjoyed this Manga. The story was so cute and the artwork gorgeous, I couldn't put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Koda Sha for letting me read this early!

This manga follows Gen, a college student who plays guitar in a rock band called Eve, and Mika (aka Mike), the super confident, smooth-talking lead vocalist of another band called Adam. And when I say lead vocalist—I mean magnetic voice that makes you stop in your tracks kind of deal. From the moment Gen hears Mike’s voice, something clicks—there’s an instant spark. The next day, fate brings them together again on campus. Casual conversations slowly bloom into a deeper connection, and Gen finds himself falling—not just for Mika’s voice, but for the person behind it.

Their relationship develops into something romantic, and honestly, they are already so cute together from the start. The chemistry between them is palpable, even if the story moves a bit quickly. I found myself wishing for more build-up and emotional depth—something a longer format might have allowed—but that’s often the nature of manga. Still, what’s here is enough to make you feel for them and root for their happiness.

The art is absolutely gorgeous—expressive, tender, and full of little moments that make their relationship feel real. Despite its brevity, the story captured something sweet and heartfelt. A very enjoyable and quick read that left me wanting just a bit more time with these two.

If you’re into sweet, slightly rock 'n roll college romance with great vibes and pretty art, definitely give this one a shot.

Thank you Kodansha for the ARC!

Shout Loud, My Heart is a fast paced BL story with great character design but falls a bit short by feeling rushed. I wish we would've gotten to know the characters a bit more rather than just jumping from scene to scene and show to show. The scenes in which Gen and Mika sat and truly interacted were my favourite but they often got cut short or interrupted by other characters. I did like that Gen and Mika both had big personalities that differed from each other quite a bit. Very much a black cat x golden retriever vibe.

I think if we would've taken a bit less time jumping around and more time for their relationship to really foster it would've delivered better when they finally do get together. While I did find the music and performance parts entertaining I just don't think we needed as much of it as we got.

Overall not the best one shot BL I've read but if you're looking for something quick and easy maybe give it a read. Sadly relatively forgettable though.

Thanks Netgalley and Kodansa for giving me the whole one shot manga.

It was rather fast paced like I wish it was more slow burn for the guys to get together. Art is gorgeous tho….

I don't really know what to say about this. Nothing really happened. It was kind of boring. There were some gigs played, some text messages exchanged, a scary movie was watched, and there was a single sex scene. I couldn't really get a grasp of the characters, so I didn't connect with any of them.

When they were in their little fight? (not really a fight, but after that first kiss when Mike ran away, I think the author was trying to go for angst but it fell flat). I'm pretty sure I was supposed to feel something about it, but I was just really disinterested. I didn't care whether they ended up together or not, and that's not really how I should be feeling when I'm reading a romance