Title: Not Your Idol
Author: Aoi Makino
Rating: ⭐

Review:

This wasn't for me, honestly, and I don't recommend it.

When I read this years ago I enjoyed it. But looking back, and rereading it, I couldn't get through it. The constant male bullying, female and victim bashing, and the over and over trope of "she asked for it" when a character gets sa'ed is too much. When an author uses that as one of the only tropes it makes you start to think that that's how they feel. And then there was the "romance" that NEEDED to happen with the main character and one of the male leads which felt contrived and unnecessary. Like the main NEEDED the man and the romance to "become a proper girl again". The whole thing made me feel icky. So I'm going to say no to this one and to the second one as well.

I was really interested to see how this story would unfold; the idea was there but I personally didn't like how it was executed. I found the story didn't progress smoothly, it felt quite disjointed like it was jumping to different scenes too quickly and I was getting easily confused about what the point of the story was at times. I also really didn't like all the female bashing "asking for it" trope. There was too much of that, obviously to highlight the issue the book it targeting but it was overdone for me. This could have been approached better in my opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Viz Media for this read Not Your Idol. This was so good. The art work was very nice and the book was easy to read. I want to read volume 2.

When I first read this I didn’t love it, but I also think I wasn’t in the mood for any manga. I’ve since re-read it when I could appreciate the art more and definitely liked it more. Probably will not continue the series though.

I’m not gonna lie, this was a tough (but necessary) read. Not Your Idol discussed being in the public eye and how terrifying it can be to give yourself to so many people. It’s quite heavy so be aware! I did tear up a few times too. Overall, without giving away spoilers, Not Your Idol was a wonderful way to kick off a new series.

Quick review for a quick read. It was really hard for me not to get emotional while reading Aoi Makino's first volume of "Not Your Idol." It hit home on a number of levels with me and does such a good job of showcasing both the issues it presents but also the characters' emotions and experiences.

Nina Kamiyama is not the person that everyone thinks she is, at least as far as she and those closest to her know. She used to be a major idol star, starting at a very young age. But after a horrible attack, Nina cut her hair, dressed in boys clothes, and completely changed her identity in order to hide from her attempted attacker (who is still very much on the loose).

While Nina keeps a low profile, she tries to put on a brave face in the jests and jeers of her peers who critique her appearance and mannerisms, all while trying to keep the traumatizing memories of her attack at bay within herself. I felt for her in a number of the frames where she's triggered by her memories and PTSD.

Hikaru Horuichi, a boy in her class that practices Judo, recognizes who she really is after a time...and more revelations make things even more complicated for Nina as she slowly starts to recover her reasons for becoming an idol in the first place, and recognizing Hikaru's interest in her.

I learned more about Nina's experiences as well as came to know the collective cast of characters here as I eagerly read through it. It's a strong story on its own, familiar in some senses to idol stories that take a horrifying turn, albeit in a different genre to note (The film "Perfect Blue" showcases a much darker story in comparison, more overtly on the side of horror.). It depicts realities close to the very misogynistic and threatening encounters that many women face, and in particular showcases things about both Japanese idol life (from stalkers to physical attacks) and women living their lives in Japan that are terrifying (i.e. train groping).

I had an idea of the twist that was coming closer in to the final chapter, and admittedly I do want to see where the story chooses to take the relationship between Nina and Hikaru, while also seeing who the true culprit is and whether Nina returns to becoming an idol overall. I'll definitely pick up more of the manga from this point and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it.

Overall score: 4/5 stars.

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley from the publisher.

Maverick List 2021 title! I loved this manga! The main character was the star in a girls pop band until she is assaulted by a fan. She decides to hide her identity and start dressing less feminine so as not to attract men to hurt her again. She makes a friend in class and slowly starts to take back who she was so that she can stand up for other girls that have taken abuse. There is also an interesting mystery as they try to figure out who her attacker was since she was never caught.

I honestly started the read not fully understanding what story was about to be told but I knew I was intrigued by the premise of a former idol going into hiding and dealing with a traumatic past. What I got was 100 times better then what I expected.

It was extremely uncomfortable reading through this volume, seeing how objectifying and victim-blaming some of the characters were. But the way, the very human way, everyone else around them was dealing with those very same issues, kept me glued to the story. It was nice to see that it wasn't one-sided and people were being called out. Sexual assault is a hard issue to cover but this first volume is handling it in a way that starts a conversation that really needs to be had.

The artwork is amazing as well. Which helps with the storytelling. Most of the time that is what makes or breaks a good manga for me.

Then that ending. I started out on the fence about whether or not this would be something I would invest myself in, but now, I need to know what will happen next. Maybe I can hold out of the next part, impatiently. This is for sure a story I need sitting in my personal library to recommend out to others.

The seriousness of the topic covered in "Not Your Idol" took me by surprise given how. . . cute. . . the art style is. Shame on me for pre-judging. This series is a thoughtful look into how a pop music idol deals with the trauma of stalking, assault, and nearly being killed by a fan. Not only does Nina drop her idol persona "Karen" and withdraw from the limelight, she reinvents herself as a boy in a new school. It's the only was she has found to feel safe. The plot is also a serious look at the permissiveness some societies have toward objectifying woman rather than treating them as people with thoughts and feelings. With public unwarranted touching, justifying actions saying the victim was "asking for it", as well as thinking of them as personal objects to be owned being seen as acceptable behavior toward women, is it any wonder that Nina feels unsafe when dressed as a female? Hikaru acts as a superb foil to the dark actions taken by other males in this series. He is the goodness that Nina is afraid to believe in.

While the writing was a bit choppy at the start, it improved with every panel. There were no filler characters and no unneeded crudeness. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

* I received a free eARC from the publisher through NetGalley*

I was surprised at how suspenseful this was. We were left on such a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to pick up the next volume.

Interesting story that flows really well. I particulary liked the graphic designer's style with the illustrations. Definitely one I'd keep reading.

I'm completely blown away by this manga. Makino Aoi truly has to be one of my new favorite mangaka.

Not Your Idol brings up something a lot of women fear when they leave their house every day: assault by men. In an article by Mother Jones, it was reported that 41% of women would be physically harassed and 23% of women would be touched sexually. Not Your Idol, while not banking on statistics, brings up this important topic. The main character in this manga was physically assaulted by a fan at a handshake event. This led her to take on the "boy" look and distrust all men around her. I have to say, while I can't relate on this level, this manga makes sure that it grabs your attention and forces you to understand the fear that all girls can face while being in public.

Along with that, I personally love the art style presented to us readers. I felt my eyes locking onto each page to take all of the details in, and I really loved how clear and evident it is that Makino put a lot of effort and love into making this story.

The plot of this manga was fantastic, and I loved how the pacing was not too fast and not too slow. I also really appreciated how each character had a bit of development.

Honestly, if I could rate this manga higher than 5/5 stars, I would without hesitation. I highly suggest you pick up this one if you haven't yet already,

Couldn't read due to format not being compatible with my device so cannot give a review on this title

A unique story about a serious matter--sexual harassment and assault of the "pure" girl idols in Japan. The story is well told with well written dialogue and the art is neatly drawn and appealing.

Nina is a former idol who was assulted during a sort of meet and greet. Now she goes by Karen and dresses like a boy preferring to stick by herself. With the attacker still on the loose and guys harassing girls just confirms her belief that men are not to be trusted. But she seems to be getting close to a student Hikaru who knows her past as an idol and her attacker seems to be closer then she thinks.

So while I enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next, it really should come with a trigger warning. There was characters I liked and hated but can't really tell you who it is now because I'll save my judgements for later on because things can change. This was pretty good for the start of this, peaked my interest enough to see what in store for Karen, Hikaru and the stalker. Can't wait to see what's next.

This is not a genre I usually read but I am glad that I gave it try. I was on the edge of my seat while reading the last two chapters, anxiously waiting for the sequel.

While an idol for the group, Pure Club, Nina Kamiyama quits the idol and show business industry after being assaulted by a fan. She cuts her hair and changes her look more into a boy to hide away from the public.

She attends high school under a different name and keeps herself. Soon, she makes a friend but her attacker is still out there looking for her. The attacker has found her and he could be closer to her than she thinks.

Nina starts to open up slowly, finding some positivity with her being a former idol when a classmate recognizes her and understands why she dresses and acts the same she does, knowing about the attack that was all on the news.

This was a really thought provoking manga. It touches on gender identity, the effects of how females dress, with girls being told that because of their mini skirt, it's likely that men will want to touch or grope them. I remember reading something similar in another anime, where girls were being groped in a packed train on their way to school, causing the girls to be uncomfortable and blaming themselves.

I can’t find how many volumes this series will have, but I hope it is more than two.

This is a very different manga from what is currently on the market and really makes an impact on the real world in terms of stalkers, harassment, and fear that women have, just living their normal lives. Overall this is a great manga and having the main characters tormentor find her again after so long will leave readers on the edge of their seats searching for his identity.

It isn't often I fall upon a psychological thriller in manga form, even more so when it is shoujo. Add in that this one deals with fan and idol culture and I knew I had to check it out. There are some great characters here, great build up of suspense, and cute artwork. I did think the attack on her would be... more considering the trauma she is going through, but I think I get it. The artwork is also... it is cute, but sometimes it doesn't feel right for what we are reading. Perhaps that is the point... 

Anyhow a great first volume!

I'm looking to improve our manga collection at my branch, and requested a few volumes to get some good ideas for titles. While I would recommend all of the titles I got through Viz for teens and for my collection, this was the one I will personally keep reading. I'm so interested in the exploration of gender identity, as well as the assault and its aftermath. Send in a request to add this to our collection!

I really loved this volume, I thought it was a very interesting concept and I was immediately attached to the main character. I really look forward to continuing the story in volume 2.