A review by readingshadowwolf
Boys Run the Riot, Volume 1 by Keito Gaku

5.0

(I received an arc through netgalley so thank you to them and the publishers)

This book was everything I wanted and more, it focuses on Ryo and his journey as a transgender teen. He struggles with feeling like himself and feels very alone in the world as he doesn’t think people will understand who he is and wants to be. Then he meets Jin and they start a fashion brand together, this way Ryo is able to convey his struggles through fashion. This book truly warmed my heart and seeing Ryo struggles was really educational as someone who identifies as a CIA female. To understand how hard it is and how harmful it is for Ryo not to be able to be his true self was something I have never experienced but I got to understand it more through this manga which is something I’m very grateful for. Jin being there and supporting Ryo as a friend and a business partner was so heartwarming as him being there for Ryo was exactly what Ryo needed, to be seen as himself.

I really liked watching them set up their business together and I can’t wait to be able to how it progresses throughout the next volumes. Thank you so much for writing this book as there needs to be more books/mangas out there that people can see themselves in and the struggles they face so they can see themselves represented and know that they are never alone. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series and I highly recommend it to everyone.