Is Love the Answer?
Ratings9
Average rating4.1
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely adored my time reading this manga! I myself identify as asexual, and Chika's feelings regarding feeling alienated from other people because of her disinterest in relationships and romance really hit home. Since there was no romance, it really gave the author the opportunity to create strong platonic bonds between Chika and her new friends, and they did such an incredible job of it! Chika's bonds with Ishii, Moto, Ito and Ume were developed beautifully, and their encouragement and support of Chika really carried this book.
I also really loved how everyone's identites were never ‘perfect'. Even Chika's relationship with her sexual, romantic and gender identity isnt exactly answered by the end of the book, but it's because it's something so personal to her and something she can explore and find an answer to at any time, and everyone around her will support her along the way. This book is only the beginning of Chika discovering herself, and it's handled beautifully. The manga also did a great job at educating the reader in an organic way that never felt forced into the story, and instead helped along Chika understand different identities as well.
I do think the queer-platonic(?) relationship with Ume felt a little rushed, but it could be due to the fact that the author spent all 256 pages fleshing out everyone that it felt very sudden to me, but I appreciate that it's something the two are still working towards and it's very early days for them.
Overall, i really enjoyed this manga, and strongly recommend it to anyone looking to learn about asexuality, or even other identities, whilst also watching the main character learn and grow with them along the way.
I read this manga to better understand my wife with is asexual. I learned so much and enjoyed the reading experience as well. I highly recommend it!
PS: the characters are kind and genuine and talk openly about deep topics and end up forming a very loving found family
Rating: 3.83 leaves out of 5-Characters: 3/5 -Cover: 3/5-Story: 3/5-Writing: 4/5Genre: Asexual, SOL-Asexual: 5/5-SOL: 5/5Type: MangaWorth?: I supposeTW: Attempted SA Hated Disliked Meh It Was Okay Liked Really Liked LovedWant 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.
don't think i was the intended audience (it was like a PSA episode of a teen show) but it was a neat lil exploration of asexuality and how it looks different for different people. i'm glad it exists.
A wonderful look into the complex identity that is the asexuality and aromantic spectrum. I have struggled for years whether to call myself asexual & aromantic, despite sometimes crushing on fictional characters, and even occasionally thinking I want a relationship till I get into one, and I very much related and felt a connection with the main character, having experienced many of the things she went through. In addition, the art was beautiful, and I very much enjoyed the overall themes of UFOs and aliens, and the way people on the ace and aro spectrum might feel like one. I plan to buy this manga once the physical comes out, as it helped me understand myself a bit better as well, and made very clear that you choose which label you prefer, based on the experiences you have and how they relate to them.