merlin_reads's review
4.0
I believe this is the final installment of this series and while I'm sad to see it go, I really enjoyed going on this ride with Ryo and Jin.
In Volume 4, Ryo has a chance encounter with Joe, someone who has been running his own fashion line for years. Joe sees something in these boys and gives them the chance of a lifetime when he invites them to showcase their fashion line at one of his shows. This brings on a new slew of questions - what should they show? what should their brand be? and should Jin & Ryo invite their parents who have no idea what their kids have been up to?
Not gonna lie, I didn't trust Joe. I thought he was going to scam the boys out of their ideas. The entire time my stomach was in knots at all of their interactions. I just wanted the boys to succeed and I wanted them to be happy. Ugh emotions.
This series was so good. I'm so glad my friend picked it up and then threw it at me to read.
In Volume 4, Ryo has a chance encounter with Joe, someone who has been running his own fashion line for years. Joe sees something in these boys and gives them the chance of a lifetime when he invites them to showcase their fashion line at one of his shows. This brings on a new slew of questions - what should they show? what should their brand be? and should Jin & Ryo invite their parents who have no idea what their kids have been up to?
Not gonna lie, I didn't trust Joe. I thought he was going to scam the boys out of their ideas. The entire time my stomach was in knots at all of their interactions. I just wanted the boys to succeed and I wanted them to be happy. Ugh emotions.
This series was so good. I'm so glad my friend picked it up and then threw it at me to read.
formidableiguana's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kelalexander's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
aesselya's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
irlchaosdemon's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
rosewelsh's review
4.0
I hadn’t realized this was the final volume of the series until I had finished reading and I’m so sad it’s over! This whole series was heavy and emotional, but a compelling read.
In our final volume, we reach a culmination point as the group meets up with a man named Joe who has been running his own brand for around 20 years. He is a fan of their work as it reminds him of himself at their age, full of passion and drive. Because of this, he invites Boys Run the Riot to debut a collection during Joe’s exhibition show in a small corner. They work hard trying to figure out what their motif or theme is and how to combine their passion for design and social change with fashion. They finally stumble into an idea and build up enough confidence to debut it during the exhibition. Though their day starts off slow, their love of their product comes across and more and more people start to take an interest in their work.
There is also a side story going through this volume regarding their interactions with their families and how the guys navigate them. Ryo finally tells his family he’s ready to dress as a man all the time and they can accept him or not, either way, he’s not going to change. In the same vein, the relationship between Jin and his father is clearly strained, and Jin struggles to figure out how to balance what his father expects of him with his passion for design and selling clothing. It feels very realistic, and although Jin is kinder to his father than I would be, I love his character the most.
Overall, this series is a joy. I will admit the ending is a little disappointing for me, only because it felt a bit rushed, but overall, I’m a huge fan of this series and what it managed to express.
Blog / Twitter / Instagram
In our final volume, we reach a culmination point as the group meets up with a man named Joe who has been running his own brand for around 20 years. He is a fan of their work as it reminds him of himself at their age, full of passion and drive. Because of this, he invites Boys Run the Riot to debut a collection during Joe’s exhibition show in a small corner. They work hard trying to figure out what their motif or theme is and how to combine their passion for design and social change with fashion. They finally stumble into an idea and build up enough confidence to debut it during the exhibition. Though their day starts off slow, their love of their product comes across and more and more people start to take an interest in their work.
There is also a side story going through this volume regarding their interactions with their families and how the guys navigate them. Ryo finally tells his family he’s ready to dress as a man all the time and they can accept him or not, either way, he’s not going to change. In the same vein, the relationship between Jin and his father is clearly strained, and Jin struggles to figure out how to balance what his father expects of him with his passion for design and selling clothing. It feels very realistic, and although Jin is kinder to his father than I would be, I love his character the most.
Overall, this series is a joy. I will admit the ending is a little disappointing for me, only because it felt a bit rushed, but overall, I’m a huge fan of this series and what it managed to express.
Blog / Twitter / Instagram
oddree13's review
4.0
Boys Run the Riot is all done and I'm really pleased with the series overall. The Kodansha English release is worked on by an all-transgender localisation team and the effort really comes through.
The series follows a trans high school boy, Ryo, and his struggles in a world that doesn't accept his gender. Expressing his emotions through graffiti and streetwear, his interests eventually lead him to befriend Jin, and a few others characters who are each outcast in their own way.
Throughout the series the narrative of learning to feel comfortable in your own skin and not necessarily playing the role people need you to follow is ever present. And it goes beyond the cis vs trans dynamic. A major point in the series is how there isn't a right way to be trans and that catering to a cis audience doesn't always play out right.
General content warnings - misgendering, forced outing, and different terminology as this book isn't set in America (duh).
The last volume has the short manga that inspired the series. I think Boys Run the Riot isnt just worth picking up because it's a good story, but the more attention series like this gets, the more narratives like this we'll get to read.
The series follows a trans high school boy, Ryo, and his struggles in a world that doesn't accept his gender. Expressing his emotions through graffiti and streetwear, his interests eventually lead him to befriend Jin, and a few others characters who are each outcast in their own way.
Throughout the series the narrative of learning to feel comfortable in your own skin and not necessarily playing the role people need you to follow is ever present. And it goes beyond the cis vs trans dynamic. A major point in the series is how there isn't a right way to be trans and that catering to a cis audience doesn't always play out right.
General content warnings - misgendering, forced outing, and different terminology as this book isn't set in America (duh).
The last volume has the short manga that inspired the series. I think Boys Run the Riot isnt just worth picking up because it's a good story, but the more attention series like this gets, the more narratives like this we'll get to read.
lamp_luvrrr's review against another edition
5.0
LOVE LOVE LOVE<3
the story is so creative and characters are amazinggg!!
i liked seeing parts of myself in each character.
+ the conflicts and relations made like the more realistic and familiar.
ALSO THE FASHION BRAND WAS SO SMART LIKE I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
the messages woven into the story will forever be in my mind.
+ the extra story, Light, was so cool and i loved the ending.
this series has become one of my favs.
thankfully, didn't cry after reading the last book... yet!
the story is so creative and characters are amazinggg!!
i liked seeing parts of myself in each character.
+ the conflicts and relations made like the more realistic and familiar.
ALSO THE FASHION BRAND WAS SO SMART LIKE I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
the messages woven into the story will forever be in my mind.
+ the extra story, Light, was so cool and i loved the ending.
this series has become one of my favs.
thankfully, didn't cry after reading the last book... yet!
readmeup's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-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
tibcanread's review
4.0
This was such a wholesome ending to the series! I'm so sad it's over in just four volumes. I hope this author comes out with more stories in the future!