A fantastic start to a new series! I adored the art, characters and plot and I loved how the main characters were so supportive of each other.

This is a really cute sports manga with a good balance between sports and teen life and love. Taiki, a third year middle school student who plays badminton, has a crush on Chinatsu, a first year high school student who plays basketball. Both are very dedicated to their sport, and see each other in the gym before school every day. When Chinatsu tells him about her family moving overseas, Taiki encourages her not to give up on her dreams of going to Nationals no matter what, which leads to her not only staying in Japan when her family leaves, but also moving into his house - it turns out their parents are old friends. Will this give Taiki the opportunity to win Chinatsu over, or will he keep quiet about his crush to keep them both from being distracted from their dreams?
In this first volume, we get the setup for later high jinks, though we get a taste of that here. At this point, their friendship is still developing, and we can see them starting to get to know each other. Though they don't play the same sport, they share the drive to be the best they can be at their respective sport, and this is clearly leading to a camaraderie between them. There's just something relly sweet about this story, and I look forward to the next volume.

#BlueBoxVol1 #NetGalley

I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I thought this was a cute read. It definitely follows Shojo tropes when someone's crush moves in with their family for an extended period of time unexpectedly. But it seems like the main characters are focused more on becoming better in their sport rather than trying to flirt with each other.

I like the plot. The idea that it involves Badminton was interesting. It was not something I would consider a competitive sport, but they make it sound competitive so maybe this is a cultural sport that is not as big in America. It is interesting how the characters talk about the sports and why they like either Basketball or Badminton.

I would probably read the second one to see how the story progresses. I always feel like it's hard to get hooked on a manga in the first volume.

I could see this manga appealing to a lot of middle grade and YA readers as it develops. It's pacing was a little slow for me, but I did enjoy that the main character was so keen to support his love interest.

Taiki and Chinatsu both go to the same school and play separate sports. Taiki develops a one sided crush on Chinatsu that he tries to hide but his friends see it. Chinatsu is nice to Taiki and even invites him to play basketball with her when he sees him waiting around in the gym. Taiki hears that Chinatsu's family is moving and is sad to hear that she will be leaving. He comes home to his mom telling him that a friend of hers from high school asked if her daughter could stay with them to finish school and it turns out it's Chinatsu! Taiki is both glad and horrified.

I don't really like sports but found this title incredibly adorable. The characters were sweet but naive of their feelings for eachother so we may be in for a slow burn romance.

I liked the first volume of this series and it looks like it could be an interesting one. I'm looking forward to reading more of this manga series.

Thank you SO MUCH NetGalley and Viz Media for this arc!!

I was so pleasantly surprised by this cute little manga!!! I don't normally go for any manga that has a sports theme, but I loved the cover art so I thought I'd give it a go and I'm so glad I did. This story follows Taiki Inomata during his badminton practice, and his mooning over Chinatsu Kano, star basketball player a grade older than him. His inner monologue of his thoughts concerning Chinatsu are honestly so wholesome and cute, it made me feel all the warm fuzzies. The art style in this is so pretty and engaging as well. which is what I was hoping for from the cover art :D

I can't wait to delve in to the second volume!!

With sport manga being mostly directed at young men, I believe that this manga has the opportunity to reach a wider range of audience. The main two characters, are both relatable to young men and young women that I would recommend to any teenager of any gender. The story is about two teens who want to try their best to get to the finals in their respected sports; one being basketball and the other badminton. While dealing with growing feeling that are rising between them. I enjoy the first volume and looking forward to how their story will proceed.

This was so adorable and I'm especially in love with the art style. I'll definitely keep reading this series as I already care a lot about the protagonists. This seems perfect for those who enjoy young adult/romance, but it's also that kind of story that everyone could enjoy.

A really nice read! Captures both the zeitgeist of the sports manga renaissance that has occurred in the past few years as well as a wholesome budding romance between two individuals who push each other to be better at their craft. Great crossover between shonen sport and shoujo romance and can easily be recommended to a multitude of demographics! Looking forward to reading the second volume!

This was a really great start to this series. We follow two kids, Taiki, who is a middle school senior, and Chinatsu who is a high schooler. Taiki is a badminton player and Chinatsu plays basketball. In this first volume, we see both of them trying to excel at their respective sport and cheering each other on. Things get a little complicated when Chinatsu's parents go overseas for work and she ends up living with Taiki and his family.

Overall, this was a great first volume and I can't wait to see where the series goes!

This manga is so cute and wonderful! It has something for everyone: sports, love, and friendship. Great start!

She's the captain of the basketball team and a sporty legend. He's the underdog on the badminton team pining after her (even though he thinks she's way out of his league). Fate throws them together at practice each and every day, but when Chii's parents have to move for work.... Taiki finds himself in super close proximity of Chii each and every day... because she moved in with his family!

This is a super sporty and cute manga. Totally appropriate for middles (there's only some random mentions of how great a wife Chii would make that are a little off putting, but by no means inappropriate.) I love how dedicated all the characters are to sports and... a story about badminton? Never read one before and I loved learning about the sport!

The art style captures the movement, competitiveness and passion of sports.

I will be added this to my middle school manga collection!

This is a SLOOOOOOOW burn romance. It focuses more on the lives of the protagonists and their journey to become better in their respective sports than the crush the MC H has for the MC h and does she like him back? GASP!

Honestly, the manga doesn't seem very interested in getting to that answer all that quickly, though the ending of this volume DOES seem to realize that the burn can be SLOW, but it can't be DEAD, so enter shojo trope of co-habitation.

I don't mind the trope, it gave a tad bit of a flare-up to the burn, which I look forward to seeing if it starts to burn hotter and how in the next volume. I'm hoping for a pick up, but not TOO much. It's a delicate balance, which I hope the next volume does well. The MCs and side characters are all likable and the artwork is pleasant. Nothing to complain about here. A good solid start.

3, I want to see the fire burn a little hotter and brighter in the next one, stars.

My thanks to VIZ Media LLC and NetGalley for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

Taiki Inomata likes badminton. He is an ok player and has begun practicing with the team at his new high school. The school has a girl's basketball team holding practice in the same gym. Taiki becomes enamored of Chinatsu who is one year older. She practices so hard. She is the first one at the gym and the last to leave. Her passion inspires Taiki. He wants to tell her how he feels but is afraid she wont acknowledge him.

Fate steps in...Chinatsu's mom and Taiki's mom used to play basketball on the same high school team and they have kept in touch. In fact Chinatsu has met Taiki's mom before, so she does know who he is. When Taiki gets up the courage to talk to Chinatsu, he finds out how nice she is. Her passion for basketball and drive to make it to the finals means she isn't interested in a boyfriend though. Taiki gets fired up and hopes if can make it to Nationals in badminton she will go out with him.

That dream is in danger do to a family situation of Chinatsu's. Will this romance even begin?
An adorable heart warming story. Fans of Slam Dunk and Ahiru no Sora will love Blue Box.

Blue Box Vol. 1 is a good set-up for this hybrid sports/romance manga. Rather than give a synopsis of the plot, I'd like to focus on the art.

Sports manga, and especially basketball manga, at least a bit in the shadow of Takehiko Inoue's Slam Dunk. And certainly Blue Box pays its dues; particularly in the highly detailed backgrounds of the gym environments, and the visual representation of speed-in-tableau. However, Miura's character work is a bit more gestural, with a more organic line, and variable hatching for deep shadows (whereas even in Inoue's dynamic action shots, even the speedlines at the edges of dashing limbs, the linework is always precise). This brings to mind something similar to Hiroaki Samura's detailed backgrounds and gestural line in contemporary works like Wave, Listen to Me! (to which it shares some similar comic timing).

This title is effectively drawn, the characters are fairly well defined, and it sets up further romantic developments (possibly a love quadrangle?) over the course of this first volume. A good hook for fans of both sports and romance manga.

Blue Box is a cute and funny story between two High School students dealing with basketball and love. Even within a few chapters, I connected with the characters and believed in their emotions toward each other. I am looking forward to reading more about their story.

The art is nice but nothing amazing yet but the story by far overshadows any small flaws. 4/5

Taiki is head over heels for Chinatsu, but does she even know he exists? A mediocre member of his badminton team, Taiki is determined to work hard enough to get Chinatsu, the star of the girl's basketball team, to notice him. He puts his all into improving and soon finds himself having conversations with her. Then he suddenly gets the news that her family is moving away. Where does this leave poor Taiki, who has barely begun his attempt to woo her?
Luckily, Chinatsu is staying behind with a family friend while her parents take off for another country. Maybe not so lucky, as it turns out Taiki's family is the one she is staying with. Hijinks and high emotions are about to run wild when Taiji finds his crush living in his own house.

A bit of a slow moving story and a slow burning friendship turned romance, this is a great mix of the popular sport and romance genres. I think this will be a favorite for those who love gentle romance stories with plenty of sports action sequences. I think we can expect to get to know our main characters as they continue to flesh out and delve into their emotions.

I'm not the biggest fan of sports-related manga since I'm not well-versed in sports or play it. However, I do know how it feels to have a crush. That first real crush that's all-encompassing and makes you want to do all the great things in life. I find Taiki an adorable, precious character, and I deemed him a walking green flag in that awkward young boy phase. He is determined to achieve his goal not just because of his crush but for himself. Since he genuinely loves badminton. That is one thing that we, *cough*, I need to remember when I find myself being smitten toward someone… I shouldn't forget myself. I may not be 100% invested, but I wouldn't mind reading more of this series.

This series is going to be an interesting one to follow. I find the tropes within it to be enjoyable for me personally. Both characters have lots of room to grow, which will be great for the longevity of the series. I also can understand why someone may not enjoy the hero yet. I plan to give him some time, and see how he grows!