*Early access copy provided by NetGalley*
Mangaka Nagisa Furuya has maintained notable popularity amongst fans of the slice-of-life and BL genres. Their next original work, Futari no Lions is set to be released this December, and rounds off a successful year which has seen both volumes of their My Summer of You series published in English over the course of the last two months.
The first of these short and sweet summer treats, The Summer of You, compiles the early days of duel leads Wataru and Saeki's friendship-turned-romance. Both film fanatics, the boys bond fast over their love for the big screen, despite seeing little of one another inside of school. Their dynamic is turned on its head one evening at the beginning of summer however, when Saeki admits that his true feelings for Wataru run a lot deeper than friendship. It's an immediate diversion from most romantic shorts, which save their confessional scenes for the most climactic of moments.
With his reveal, Saeki invites Wataru on a pseudo-pilgrimage cross-country to the set locations of one of his favourite films. This refreshing change of pace invites with it some truly investing narrative beats, which sees Wataru able to compartmentalise his own feelings for Saeki while also being supportive of his friend's coming out. As their journey unfolds, Wataru worryingly comes to the realisation that this entire venture is Saeki's form of a farewell, secretly planning on transferring school to begin afresh and put behind him what he believes to be unrequited love.
The Summer of You successfully drip-feeds its readers with hints of Wataru and Saeki's shared past, foreshadowing that aids in enriching the pair's developing feelings for one another in the narrative's present. By the volume's climax, Wataru and Saeki's reunion and tender first kiss feels entirely earned, their feelings for one another timid, unsure, and all-the-more natural.
Furuya's assortment of supporting characters are not nearly as developed as Wataru and Saeki, though fulfil their purpose well enough to relay information and add some dimension to the world. There is potential for their own stories to be explored in future volumes, though should focus remain solely on the journey of Wataru and Saeki, this does not necessarily warrant criticism, given Furuya's leads are strong enough in their own right.
Overall, The Summer of You is a tender and well-realised young romance. Its mature approach to queerness and gender performance were a pleasant surprise, with both Wataru and Saeki's personal views of sexuality refreshing in their openness. Unlike many initially one-sided BL romances, Wataru is never "freaked out" by Saeki's romantic confession, rather he is more concerned with supporting his friend and affirming that his view of Saeki has not changed. Wataru's immediate acceptance is what allows for their romance to blossom so naturally. There is never any concerns regarding a same sex-relationship, nor the potential of negative reactions from other characters. Wataru and Saeki simply fall for one another, like a scene out of a movie, and it is wonderful.
Review also available on NetGalley.
My Summer of You Volume 1: The Summer of You is available now from all major book sellers.
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