1 review for Awkward Silence, Volume 1 by Hinako Takanaga

1. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   midgeyu – May 7, 2020

   A sweet and simple high school romance about two mismatched couples. Hinako Takanaga is one of the first BL mangaka I remember reading, and this remains my favorite title from her. The storylines are pretty cliche, but the storytelling is so sincere and endearing that I don’t mind.

   It’s also pretty funny? I love Satoru’s internal reactions. Also, Satoru’s mother plays a significant supporting role throughout the series, and her scenes always crack me up.

   I recommend checking it out if you like socially awkward but sweet protagonists, or if you’re curious about older BL. (This started serialization in 2004.) At six volumes, it’s a bit longer than most of the other BL that gets licensed here, but it never feels like it’s being dragged out unnecessarily. It helps that the series balance two couples, though inevitably you’ll likely prefer one over the other.

   As a side note, a case could easily be made for Satoru being neuroatypical, so give it a look if you’re interested in those kinds of portrayals. He struggles with expressing himself and often misreads people/social situations and misses social cues. I doubt any sort of neuroatypical representation was intended by Takanaga, but it’s still interesting to read the series through that lens.