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That Blue Sky Feeling, Vol. 1

(That Blue Sky Feeling #1)

Okura,

Coma Hashii (Illustrator)

3.95 · Rating details · 450 ratings · 99 reviews

A butterflies-in-your-stomach high school romance about two very different high school boys who find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other.

Outgoing high school student Noshiro finds himself drawn to Sanada, the school outcast, who is rumored to be gay. Rather than deter Noshiro,the rumor makes him even more determined to get close to Sanada, setting in motion a ...more

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Paperback, 258 pages

Published August 14th 2018 by VIZ Media LLC (first published July 22nd 2017)

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Average rating 3.95 ·

Rating details

· 450 ratings · 99 reviews

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Start your review of That Blue Sky Feeling, Vol. 1

Jul 13, 2018 Ellen rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-popsugar-challenge, edelweiss-for-library, manga

I picked this up from Edelweiss (thanks Viz Media for giving me access) to determine if it was something I should order for the library. It is cute and sweet (not sweet as in "Cool" but sweet as in heart touching) and both main characters are likable. Even if someone does not like reading about gay love, it's pretty innocent, not too preachy and still something relatable. I think I'll be ordering for my library.

2018 challenge: a book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist

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Feb 01, 2020 Fabian rated it really liked it

This was really really cute. I'm pretty happy to see a Boys Love manga written by a gay man. I also really like that Noshiro is a chubby dude, which is a super rare thing in gay stories.
Way too often the only body types that get featured in gay YA stories are slim/skinny bodies. So it was really refreshing to see some actual chub representation.
Apart from that, this manga is a fast paced story about friendship, self discovery and self acceptance.
I am also a little gagged that the author really ...more

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Sep 22, 2019 Flora ❀ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: made-me-cry

reasons why nashiro is a gay:
1. Oblivious to his own gay feelings
2. He’s an idiot

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Dec 20, 2018 Amber rated it it was amazing

Shelves: manga, lgbtq

Super freaking adorable!

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Jan 04, 2019 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it really liked it

Shelves: egalley

Really super cute m/m slow burn romance thing happening here.

Noshiro's an adorable, puppy-like hufflepuff who loves people and tries really hard to make everyone feel welcome and included, because he's changed school's a lot and knows how it feels to be on the outside. His exuberance is charming, but, like a big dog, sometimes he accidentally knocks people and things over. He becomes determined to be friends with the class loner, Sanada, who is rumored to be gay.

Much as I enjoy Noshiro, I really ...more

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Sep 03, 2018 Laura rated it it was ok

Shelves: manga

I..... don't know how I feel about this. I am very conflicted. I need to sit a bit. Art is good.

Update after finishing 3rd vol: this series is not for me.

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Sep 23, 2018 Maria (Big City Bookworm) rated it really liked it

Shelves: graphic-novels-comics, lgbtqia, on-my-shelf, 2018-new-releases, manga, read-2018

This was a super cute introduction to a story about acceptance and self discovery. I really enjoy the message this book is trying to spread and I can't wait to continue on with this series. I'm so gald I decided to pick up the first volume on a whim!

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Aug 03, 2018 Rebecca rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, manga, lbgtq

This is a truly beautiful, thoughtful story about coming to understand yourself. The moment when Hide tells Noshiro that he's not weird, that he's a good person and has nothing to be ashamed of just because he has a crush on another boy is one of the most affirming statements I've read in YA literature, all the more so because it has no frills on it. That's a good descriptor for this whole book, really - it's a no-frills look at someone learning who they are and that whoever that turns out to be ...more

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Sep 18, 2018 Jes Reads rated it liked it

This review is going to be a bit hard for me to figure out because I feel like this could have possibly been a really great coming of age LGBT story. Judging by the other reviews I'm getting around to reading now that I've finished I think a lot of people can agree to that.

That Blue Sky Feeling follows Noshiro and Sanada. Two characters that couldn't be more different. Noshiro is outgoing and well loved by his peers. Sanada is bullied fo being gay. But that doesn't discourage Noshiro from ...more

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May 09, 2019 Rachel rated it liked it

Ehhh. It gets better as the book continues.

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Oct 15, 2018 Isabelle rated it did not like it

Shelves: lgbtq, drama

Anything the volume does well is ruined by the 26-year-old ex-boyfriend who continues to insert himself into the lives of teenage boys. The whole thing made me incredibly uncomfortable. I loved the relationship between the two main characters; but an older gay man is not (or should not be) a threat to young boys, and the mangaka's inclusion of this dangerous, damaging, and quite frankly homophobic trope is deeply unsettling. What makes it worse is that no one seems to care that an older man is ...more

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May 23, 2018 Danielle Chambers rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lgbt, manga-comics

This is so good. I loved it and cannot wait to get the next volume.

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Mar 31, 2019 Schnekk rated it liked it

Both this and "My Brother's Husband" feel almost painfully simplified at times in their approaches, but I really appreciate the messages they both give--that people who are anything other than straight are still people, too, and that the discriminations societies instill need to be picked apart and done away with. It's especially excellent if these stories can reach younger audiences (who I assume are the target). Bravo!

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Oct 03, 2018 Kei rated it liked it

It was cute, I enjoyed the friendship themed dynamic and I liked the art. I was just left wanting so much more.

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Jan 27, 2020 Mere Rain added it

This isn't the smutty kind of BL, it's more about young people trying to understand one another better. Very well done.

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Oct 03, 2018 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it liked it

Shelves: manga-i-have-read, 2018-reads, 2019-reads

First read: October 2018

Second read: June 2019

My only issue is that I don’t understand why it is such a common trope in manga where gay characters have these inappropriate relationships with adult characters (other than here, I’ve seen it in Aoi Hana/Sweet Blue Flowers and Classmates: Doukyusei). It’s just very squicky to me, as if these young characters having feelings for same-sex adults leads to a grooming-esque scenario from the adults in question. I just don’t like it.

But other than that I ...more

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Oct 29, 2018 Similiee rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Age gap

The (albeit past)relationship between he 26 year old and the 16 year old should not be glorified at all. It came off as being creepy and predatory in a book that’d have been fine otherwise

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Oct 13, 2018 Susan rated it liked it

Shelves: shojo_manga

The decade older ex-boyfriend was on the creepy side for me....

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Jun 03, 2018 Online Eccentric Librarian rated it liked it

Shelves: manga, romance, arc, contemporary

More reviews at the Online Eccentric Librarian http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

That Blue Sky Feeling should be fairly popular - it has a sweet, slow burn type of romance that is somewhat rare in a lot of manga in this genre. But at the same time, both main characters are very underdeveloped and there's not a lot of world building. It's hard to root for either when we have to take so much for granted and fill in too many blanks.

Story: Noshiro has moved around a lot and is an easy going guy well prepared for another year in a new high school. But on his first day he notices a classmate who seems left out and ignored by the others. When he asks why, he's told it is because they think that boy may be a 'homo' and they don't want to associate with him. Sanada (the pariah) knows who and what he is and has decided to just withdraw rather than deal with the discomfort/awkwardness his situation arises. But Noshiro hates the ugliness and decides to pursue a friendship with the recalcitrant Sanada. That friendship may turn into something more as an otherwise straight Noshiro discovers that he has more than friendship thoughts about Sanada.

The story really hinges on Noshiro - a sweet, nice, every-boy that isn't too handsome or smart or overidealized. Sanada is quiet, reserved, and somewhat standoffish but never really mean or obnoxious, as can sometimes be the case in manga. In that, this is a really refreshing manga where we don't have to deal with boys who are too good looking or obvious seme or uke roles. Instead, it is two average boys and a very slow burn but sweet romance.

There are things I really disliked about the manga. For one, Sanada has a 26 year old ex boyfriend who takes pains to befriend Noshiro and offer 'friendly' advice. I found it far too creepy and disturbing, especially when Noshiro blithely accepts an invite to 'dinner' at the ex boyfriend's house. Honestly, if the ex likes one young boy I couldn't help but feel creeped out that Noshiro was next. It's not that kind of manga but it was a deal breaker for me.

I also had issues with Sanada. yes, he's reserved and deservedly so after all his friends turned on him when they suspected his orientation. But at the same time, it's hard to understand Noshiro's fixation with him, even beyond that of wanting to 'right an injustice' and pick up a sad puppy like Sanada. Noshiro is a big, kind-hearted lug but Sanada's characterization is paper thin. So Noshiro's preoccupation with helping Sanada just felt off and forced.

Because of the two issues above, I never believed in either character. I didn't have that "butterflies in the stomach' reaction the blurb promised and I really didn't feel compelled to further read this story. Perhaps others will be less creeped out by the ex boyfriend salaryman, though. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher. ...more

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Aug 14, 2018 Tuna rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This introductory volume does an awesome job of separating itself from characterized BL series by focusing on just one gay male 11th grader and his struggles to deal with trying to have a normal high school life even though he has a rumor spread around that has outed him. Unable to deny the true accusations he keeps to himself in school so as to not “weird” people out. However, a classmate has taken interest and wants to get to know him and be his friend and help to break him out of his shell, This introductory volume does an awesome job of separating itself from characterized BL series by focusing on just one gay male 11th grader and his struggles to deal with trying to have a normal high school life even though he has a rumor spread around that has outed him. Unable to deny the true accusations he keeps to himself in school so as to not “weird” people out. However, a classmate has taken interest and wants to get to know him and be his friend and help to break him out of his shell, and thus the manga launches.

The premise paints a picture of Kou as just a guy who has to stay to himself in order to live out his high school life drama free but can be himself outside of it. I found it to be an emotional premise as high school is the time of one’s life and stays with them and it paints the picture that he’d always have memories of how terrible and lonely his high school life was. Perhaps it is great that he could meet Noshiro, who just transferred to the school, and has nothing to lose by befriending this loner. I think it is this aspect that makes this series feel so different than other series. We don’t suddenly have the character just wanting to get in Kou’s pants and fall in love with him at first sight, but rather we have Noshiro taking extreme and genuine interest in trying to get Kou to experience what school life can really be about. From just confronting him about the rumor, taking interest in making sure people dont hurt his feelings, then some time trying to accept him for who he is, and then taking baby steps that make me genuinely smile and feel happy for Kou as he goes from loner to acquaintance with classmates to even legitimately smiling and laughing with Noshiro, it becomes a sweet story. Further, it is awesome seeing how Kou starts to let Noshiro come into his life ever closer, though it isn’t immediate, and it isn’t without taking a few steps back, but rather its calculated and done with concern for protecting Noshiro from some of the rumors and treatment Kou has faced. This ultimately leads to our favorite friend in storytelling, “Miss Understanding,” to rear her head in full form to lead to tears. However, things resolve with some outside help and some realization for Noshiro that he is experiencing the rises and falls of having a best friendship going on.

So overall, this is a great story of acceptance and friendship.

There are a few questionable aspects, like Kou’s 26 yr old ex-boyfriend (when Kou is only in 11th grade), Noshiro going over to that guys house.

I think there are questions as to the life of the series and its end goal. I’m hoping Kou gets with someone who isn’t Noshiro, and Noshiro gets with Kou’s female friend. Kou is seen to have many non- school contacts suggesting he isn’t a total loner, but it is unexplained how he is meeting other gays.

Art is pretty fresh and clear, there is a bonus omake, and author and artist comments. ...more

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Jan 23, 2020 Jack rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. (This is a review for the whole series) (may contain spoilers)(4.5 stars) “That Blue Sky Feeling”by okura. This is a review on the book and my honest opinions. It was fantastic! I’m really sad at how short the series is at only 3 installments but it was beautifully written if not blunt at times with its views of being in the closet. The main character was a boy named noshiro who thought he was straight until he met his friend sanada who was gay but in the closet. Noshiro was the first person in ...more

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Sep 10, 2018 L. Luck rated it it was amazing

This manga tells the story of a transfer student, Noshiro. Noshiro is used to moving to new places and new schools, making new friends, and fitting in, so he notices immediately when one of his new classmates, Sanada, is always by himself. In his attempts to bring Sanada back into the fold, Noshiro learns that there is a rumor that Sanada is gay (and it's true)! What follows is the trials and tribulations of Noshiro trying to be Sanada's friend.

Ok, this was adorable, and--I use this phrase a ...more

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Mar 14, 2019 Emily rated it liked it

Shelves: collection-ya-fiction, collection-comic-manga-gn, theme-lgbtqiap-plus, library-pr, rep-gay, rep-mlm, rating-3-star, rep-lgbtqiap-plus, access-library

That Blue Sky Feeling is a cute story about two high schoolers who become unlikely friends. Noshiro is new to school, and becomes drawn to a quiet, isolated boy named Sanada. Noshiro quickly discovers that rumors of being gay have pushed Sanada to the outskirts of their class, and their classmates avoid being near him. Noshiro, who has transferred schools many times, knows what it's like to feel like an outsider and makes it his mission to become Sanada's friend and help him re-integrate into ...more

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Jul 31, 2018 Thamy rated it really liked it

It's probably because I haven't read many shounen-ai manga lately, but it had been a while for me to find such a cute romance in this boys love genre.

When Noshiro moves to a new school, he takes an interest in the outcast Sanada, who rumors says to be gay. And I just noticed I've paraphrased the actual summary. It's just that it's really accurate. This manga seems to be more than boys love a coming of age story as Noshiro's interest in Sanada develops in unexpected ways we ask, maybe there could ...more

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Oct 31, 2019 Selena rated it really liked it

Shelves: manga-manwha, realistic-fiction, japan-stuff, otaku-usa, first-in-series-manga

That Blue Sky Feeling is a typical high school romance manga, but about two guys instead of a boy and girl. I say typical, but it's fairly laid back compared to some other shoujo titles I've read in the past.

It centers around Dai Noshiro, the new kid in school, who becomes friends with a boy named Sanada despite (accurate) rumors that Sanada is gay. Noshiro's a goofy, kindhearted kid who is determined to become friends with Sanada even after finding out the rumors are true. He tries his best to ...more

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May 03, 2019 Moriah Venable rated it it was amazing

When I first read the synopsis, I mixed up the two boys. Thinking the outcast was the one with the glasses.

When Noshiro transfer to a new school, he becomes intrigued by Sanada who is the outcast because of the rumors of him being gay. But that doesn't deter Noshiro from trying to be his friend and get to know him. He only because more determined to do so even when Sanada later admits that the rumors are true, but he retracks it when Noshiro begans to act like everyone else does. He later ...more

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Jan 05, 2020 Yakult Boy rated it did not like it

Shelves: manga

A generally cute book up until the reveal that Kou (the 11th grader gay boy) used to be in a relationship with a 26 year old man.

What’s worse is that ever since he’s introduced, he meddles into these teenager’s lives, even going so far as to trick the main character into going to his apartment. Nothing bad happened, and he just took him over to talk in private, but he lied to the protagonist to get him that far. That’s creepy?? He even gives his phone number to the boys and talk back and forth ...more

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May 30, 2019 Lissa Valle rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-manga

I had a lot of mixed emotions as I was going through this book; not necessarily because of the storyline, but rather because there are some problematic elements to it. The terminology they use to describe someone who is gay is really... bad. Ultimately, I chalked this up to the fact that these are teenagers that are mostly unaccepting of anyone gay so the use of this terminology is realistic. Another issue I had was that the main character was dating a man far older... like illegally older. I do ...more

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Aug 20, 2018 Khadijah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Not my first choice in art *spoilers* (I think like not really but i do give some of the story away)

While this art leaves a little something to be desired in a mass of hot bodied yoai characters it brings something to the table that can be lost in some stories. This book has a lot of heart it's more shonen AI than yoai. About 2 boys in high school one a not so closeted isolated gay kid and the other a newly relocated (seemingly asexual he is in the 11th grade and has had no real sexual interest ...more

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Feb 23, 2020 Drucilla rated it liked it

Shelves: manga

This review is for the entire series (3 volumes). This was a really sweet story. I love that, ultimately, the series wasn't about labels. It's all about growing up and figuring yourself out and if you don't want to put name to it, you don't have to. I'm glad the story didn't go with the obvious ending either. There are a few cringy parts. Some are just the hard to read kind, with Noshiro being too PC at times (though he's not trying to be PC and Sanada sets him straight so it gets better), but ...more

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