The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
leonalikesliterature's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A heart-wrenching and beautiful manga that explores how one’s gender identity intersects with their personhood.Â
I felt conflicted about Yuu’s character. I sort of wish Yuu’s story hadn’t been just based on their r@pe and that their gender confusion wasn’t rooted in multiple layers of trauma, because the story does perpetuate the idea that people are trans or nonbinary because they are traumatized. There are also a lot of questionable scenes or words said between the two leads that I think crossed multiple lines, which is a shame because Taiga and Arima were so cute together when they were sweet.
Overall, this story was tragic, and at times also funny and up-lifting, however, it was definitely imperfect.Â
I felt conflicted about Yuu’s character. I sort of wish Yuu’s story hadn’t been just based on their r@pe and that their gender confusion wasn’t rooted in multiple layers of trauma, because the story does perpetuate the idea that people are trans or nonbinary because they are traumatized. There are also a lot of questionable scenes or words said between the two leads that I think crossed multiple lines, which is a shame because Taiga and Arima were so cute together when they were sweet.
Overall, this story was tragic, and at times also funny and up-lifting, however, it was definitely imperfect.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Homophobia
blackwood's review
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Death of parent
shinypurplepants's review
challenging
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
A very contained little story about love and gender and growing. Overall fairly wholesome with the following caveat:
MAJOR content warning needed for on page sexual violence committed against a minor. Some homophobia and transphobia as well.
MAJOR content warning needed for on page sexual violence committed against a minor. Some homophobia and transphobia as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Transphobia and Homophobia
Minor: Death of parent
robinks's review
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This story was so much more intense than I thought it’d be. The extra chapter was very sweet and light, which was nice to read after the main story.While I’m sure folks with Maria’s experience exist, I hope readers understand that trans folks exist who haven’t been so brutally traumatized.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent
peyjturner's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Transphobia
maddognews's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An absolutely beautiful book. I felt so moved by all the characters and their emotions, along with the progressing relationships not only with each other but with themselves as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Rape
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Homophobia
boooooks's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Judith Butlers theory of gender performativity walked so Boy Meets Maria could run. I feel grateful to have read something that allowed itself to be so unapologetically complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Transphobia
irl_bookworms's review
4.5
oof this was rough and tripped over a lot of conversations about gender, which I get for these kids. But the graphic SA of a grade schooler by a teacher was not what i expected to be included here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
avidales's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Reviewer is Trans and Nonbinary
Deeply disappointed and disturbed by this book.Â
I was excited for this book and it's reported Trans/Gender nonconforming representation, however the the GRAPHIC assault of a child and the fact that this story is not about a transgender character made it unreadable to me.
The character Arima/Maria is AMAB (assigned male at birth) and forced to dress and live as a girl by his mother. He clearly from a young age did not want to dress or present as a girl and is obviously distressed by not living as a boy (his assigned gender). This is disturbing child abuse, not a trans or queer story. This "plot device" is utilized in many stories that confuse and misinform the audience about trans/gender nonconforming/nonbinary people, their lives, and why they are who they are.Â
This is famously the same premise as the 1983 slasher horror "Sleep Away Camp" which has a AMAB child forced to live as a girl by his aunt which drives the child "mad" and goes on a killing spree. These type of narratives reinforce the myth that LGBTQ+ people are queer due to child abuse/assault. This is harmful as it implies that LGBTQ+ folks are broken/disturbed and takes away from their actual gender exploration and identity.
Very unfortunate especially because I enjoyed roughly the first 3rd of the book as the characters are likeable and Taiga's (the love interest of Arima) attempts to understand and show affection regardless of Arima's gender sweet despite his fumbling and naivete.Â
Deeply disappointed and disturbed by this book.Â
I was excited for this book and it's reported Trans/Gender nonconforming representation, however the the GRAPHIC assault of a child and the fact that this story is not about a transgender character made it unreadable to me.
The character Arima/Maria is AMAB (assigned male at birth) and forced to dress and live as a girl by his mother. He clearly from a young age did not want to dress or present as a girl and is obviously distressed by not living as a boy (his assigned gender). This is disturbing child abuse, not a trans or queer story. This "plot device" is utilized in many stories that confuse and misinform the audience about trans/gender nonconforming/nonbinary people, their lives, and why they are who they are.Â
This is famously the same premise as the 1983 slasher horror "Sleep Away Camp" which has a AMAB child forced to live as a girl by his aunt which drives the child "mad" and goes on a killing spree. These type of narratives reinforce the myth that LGBTQ+ people are queer due to child abuse/assault. This is harmful as it implies that LGBTQ+ folks are broken/disturbed and takes away from their actual gender exploration and identity.
Very unfortunate especially because I enjoyed roughly the first 3rd of the book as the characters are likeable and Taiga's (the love interest of Arima) attempts to understand and show affection regardless of Arima's gender sweet despite his fumbling and naivete.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Deadnaming, Death of parent, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness
*Graphic* depiction of an elementary school child being sexually assaulted by their adult teacher. The teacher also brandishes a knife and threatens to mutilate the child's genitals. This story is not about a transgender character, the character Maria/Arima is AMAB (assigned male at birth) and forced to dress and live as a girl by his mother. He clearly from a young age did not want to dress or present as a girl and is obviously distressed by not living as a boy (his assigned gender).inky4568's review
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
Reviewer: nonbinary/transmasc Adult
Definitely no kidding on the Mature content. To be honestly I wasn’t expecting it to be very heavy on subject matters like rape or pedophilia because the cover does not specify specific subject matters anywhere on book because it only says Older Teens 17+. This was kinda a hard read to get through some parts that made me feel really uncomfortable that I basically had to skim some parts.
It was kinda hard to switch back between funny moments and tense scenes. But overall I do love the characters and their development, especially with the main characters in how each one tries to tackle their own problems and try to find how to cope with it.
Â
Definitely no kidding on the Mature content. To be honestly I wasn’t expecting it to be very heavy on subject matters like rape or pedophilia because the cover does not specify specific subject matters anywhere on book because it only says Older Teens 17+. This was kinda a hard read to get through some parts that made me feel really uncomfortable that I basically had to skim some parts.
It was kinda hard to switch back between funny moments and tense scenes. But overall I do love the characters and their development, especially with the main characters in how each one tries to tackle their own problems and try to find how to cope with it.
Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Transphobia, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault