GO FOR IT, NAKAMURA! (Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!), by Syundei. First published in 2014 and first published in North America in 2018.
PLOT:
Nakamura fell for his classmate Hirose at first sight, but he can't even muster up the courage to say hello, much less make his feelings known. Life throws all sorts of complications between Nakamura and his crush, but the biggest one of all might be his own feelings and clumsiness. Will Nakamura ever find a way to make friends with the boy of his dreams?
Go For It, Nakamura! might just be the feel-good manga of the year. It mines both humor and heart from a a common scenario: being in love with someone to the point where normal conversation is nerve-racking. It's an experience that's just as true for gay kids like Nakamura as it is for straight ones, so from the start it's incredibly relatable. It's a simple, even well-worn premise, but it works because Syundei writes such an endearingly dorky lead and Hirose feels like a sweetheart of a boy without seeming like pure fantasy. It's also incredibly chaste, but that fits with the light, innocent tone of the story.
The comedy is beautifully timed, largely self-contained and builds on the characters' personalities and the changing state of their relationships. If it feels like I'm being vague, it's partially because I don't want to spoil the jokes but also because it's the kind of book where all the parts work together so well that's it's hard to break down the particulars of why it's so good. It simply works, be it as BL or as comedy.
ART:
Syundei has a wonderfully retro style. Her character designs evoke the glory days of Rumiko Takahashi and the cover drips with 80s style from the fonts down to the color choices. Syundei's panels are compact, but they make the most of it thanks to their knack for wild takes and Nakamura's active imagination. It's just as charming to look at as it is to read.
RATING:
Go For It, Nakamura! is easily the best BL book I read all year. It's impossible to read this and not step away from it with a big smile on your face. I cannot recommend this book hard enough, even if you're not normally a BL reader.
This book is published by Seven Seas. It is currently in print.
Want a chance to win a $25 RightStuf gift certificate? Then check out our Holiday Review Giveaway to learn how to enter!
The comedy is beautifully timed, largely self-contained and builds on the characters' personalities and the changing state of their relationships. If it feels like I'm being vague, it's partially because I don't want to spoil the jokes but also because it's the kind of book where all the parts work together so well that's it's hard to break down the particulars of why it's so good. It simply works, be it as BL or as comedy.
ART:
Syundei has a wonderfully retro style. Her character designs evoke the glory days of Rumiko Takahashi and the cover drips with 80s style from the fonts down to the color choices. Syundei's panels are compact, but they make the most of it thanks to their knack for wild takes and Nakamura's active imagination. It's just as charming to look at as it is to read.
RATING:
Go For It, Nakamura! is easily the best BL book I read all year. It's impossible to read this and not step away from it with a big smile on your face. I cannot recommend this book hard enough, even if you're not normally a BL reader.
This book is published by Seven Seas. It is currently in print.
Want a chance to win a $25 RightStuf gift certificate? Then check out our Holiday Review Giveaway to learn how to enter!
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