The Summer You Were There

nivlex Jun 8, 2023

10

I cried. A lot. Repeatedly. I read 20 chapters in one sitting and cried like 4 times. This manga tells a beautiful story, and all the carefully hidden plot-twist come at you so unexpectedly, but are written in such a way that after the reveal you can clearly see all the foreshadowing clues that have been there all along. What might seem like your typical GL manga about a shy girl and her cheery desk neightbour is actually much deeper and much more innovative than that. The layers of trauma that some characters have, as well as the issues that they face and how they do their best to hide their true feelings - all of this is conveyed beautifully in this manga. I truly do reccomend this read and I'm both scared and can't wait to see how this story ends. --spoiler-- One of the most interesting things about this manga is instead of the more typical GL scenario of one of the love interests being a victim of bullying, in this manga one of the love interests used to be a bully. I found this to be a refreshing point of view and it fits perfectly with the rest of the story.

iwasboredsoimadethis Dec 18, 2023

9

I was a bully before in elementary, racism specifically, but unlike Shizuku I didn't grow any balls and said sorry, and I still can't. I commend this manga for being realistic, while generic, unlike those GL where the storyline usually goes "oh wow! This random cute girl that secretly likes me confessed to me! I don't know who she is but she's cute so I fell in love first sight!" This manga actually makes the MC hesitant and suspicious of Kaori. The only reason Shizuku accepts because Kaori has the popularity and info needed to blackmail her. I also commend it because I relate to Shizuku. I thought it was harmless, Shizuku also thought it was harmless, but no, even if it's all fun and games, it still hurts someone. The guilt you feel after you realize what you did was wrong, those faces looking at you like you just commited a horrible unforgivable crime. That's what this manga makes me relive, and I still commend it. Despite the depressing stuff, it gave me a tonnnnn of second hand embarrassment because I know I've done that before haha.. Overall it's a great manga, wish I could've had my Kaori but I couldn't even bring myself to say sorry, maybe, one day. Don't read if you don't wanna see someone die, well no one died yet but after looking at the plot twist and the title of this manga? someone's probably dying... and I have a hunch on who it is..

dasvvitch Apr 12, 2024

9.8

Do not read this unless you're looking for some catharsis. I can't leave a review so soon after reading without spoiling anything, but it's a fantastic read.