Very happy to see this well done representation of a-spec identity in a manga! Is Love the Answer follows a young person entering college discovering and exploring their aroace identity. The experiences Chika has throughout this manga as she enters college and comes into her asexual identity are things that will likely hit home for many a-spec and queer people. From forming a queer friend group, to meeting an older role model who shares her identity, to the endless self-doubt of whether you are labelling yourself correctly, to finding an identity that fits and then having to figure out what that means for your future. Though this manga didn't necessarily impact me that much, as most of the discussions around asexuality it includes are rather rudimentary, I can definitely see someone questioning or newly coming into their a-spec identity really benefiting from reading this.

My Thoughts:

This manga follows high schooler Chika who feels that she must be an alien. When her friends keep talking about romance and dating, she realizes that she must be from another planet because she has no desire for dating and even touching. She is sort of sure that she is not gay, but she just does not understand why she feels zero desire for anyone. Although her friends tell her she just has not met the "right one" yet, it is not until she goes to college and meets a professor who seems to understand her does she start researching ideas about why for her, love is not the answer.

What makes this manga valuable in the classroom for the right reader to find is that even if this is a coming of age experience from a teen who realizes that she may be ace (part of the asexuality umbrella), through her research, readers also see that there is a whole spectrum, and that even within this definition, there is no "normal."

April 20-26, 2024 is National Ace Week for awareness and celebration. If you would like more information, there are resources on the PFLAG website linked above.

From the Publisher:
When it comes to love, high schooler Chika wonders if she might be an alien. She’s never fallen for or even had a crush on anyone, and she has no desire for physical intimacy. Her friends tell her that she just "hasn't met the one yet," but Chika has doubts... It's only when Chika enters college and meets peers like herself that she realizes there’s a word for what she feels inside--asexual--and she’s not the only one. After years of wondering if love was the answer, Chika realizes that the answer she long sought may not exist at all--and that that's perfectly normal.

Publication Information:
Author/Illustrator: Uta Isak (they/them)
Publisher: Kodansha Comics (January 17, 2023)
Papberback: 256 pages

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

Good read will be picking up volume 2

Rating 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Is the Love the Answer? This cute manga explored that very question. Chika is in high school and has no interest in a relationship, but to all of her friends that is what is considered normal. Chika tries it out, but just finds that she has no interest in a romantic relationship. She feels alienated from her classmates and conatantly thinks ghrre is something wrong with her. When she gets to college she meets more people who are like her and she begins to understand that there is a term for what she feels, aromantic asexual. However, one term doesn't fit all of her. This story is an exploration of gender, sexual identity, and different relationships.

This coming of age story of self exploration was eye opening. I gave it 4.5 stars. As Chika explored her identity and learned more about herself, the reader got an in depth look at what it means to explore identity and gender. Chika makes friends and forms other relationships as she continues to understand herself better. She also realizes that the term aromantic asexual doesn't fully encompass everything that she is. The story was very well done and has the reader understanding the struggles that Chika is facing. The art was nicely done as well. Tgis is a beautiful atory that I would highly recommend!

I’m not the target audience for this - I am not ace but I am part of the LGBTQAI+ community - and I really enjoyed learning more about this.
The art work was great and the story was good. I enjoyed the explanations.

More Accurate Rating: 4.5

A fantastic introduction to the label of asexuality which is often not acknowledged as a part of the queer or LGBTQ+ community. To me the definition of queer is as so: anyone who doesn't fit into the cis-hetero-alloromantic or allosexual norm that society views as "normal". And it's this word "normal" that is challenged in this beautifully drawn manga with delightful pacing. Asexual and aromatic people are part of the queer community 100% and this manga is a wonderful introduction to those who may be unfamiliar with the concept of asexuality because of how sex-focused society is. Personally, I am a part of the aro-ace community because I identify as demiromantic and demisexual, and while my specific label isn't one that is discussed much in this manga, it is mentioned which is delightful in and of itself. I enjoyed the multi-faced approach that Isaki took toward discussing asexuality and how vast and complex an identity it is.

My only criticism is that the characters feel a bit flat outside of their sexual identities, which is not to say sexuality isn't a big part of who we are but more that outside of her asexuality, I don't know anything about Chika or her interests outside of the one anime/manga that is used to comment on the affection asexual people can have toward fictional characters and Chika changing herself to fit into other's perceptions of what is "normal".

But overall, I had a lovely time and learned a lot! I highly recommend this manga to anyone who might be questioning if they are aro or ace, but also to those who aren't aro or ace at all. It's never bad to learn about others who you cannot directly relate to. Reading about the experiences of others is how you build empathy, after all.

2.5/5 rounded up!
This took me quite a while to read through. Oftentimes, I will breeze my way through a manga however this manga felt less like a story but rather a 101 guide to asexuality. The book started off strong but there was lots of info dumping afterwards which made it unbearable for me to continue reading it in one sitting.
The characters also felt flat as their personality seemed to merely revolve around their sexualities only. I would appreciate it if the author also explored other aspects of LGBTQ like the prejudice or discrimination faced by members from this community. It was mentioned but it was mostly glazed over. In my opinion, Our dreams at dusk did a better job at exploring the mental struggles of the characters and it was more nuanced.
The art had so much potential and I was really rooting for the space theme. However, the art ended up more telling than showing. It lacked it's initial charm rapidly. Honestly, this manga had so much potential but I think the main problem was how the story struggled to show more instead of telling.

I don't usually read manga, but I made an exception for this one because it tackles a topic that hits close to home for me: asexuality and aromanticism.

The story follows our main character, Chica, in her daily struggles with her life, her feelings and her interpersonal relationships.
The narrative focuses on the girl exploring her sexuality and romantic orientation through her own research, talking to other characters and her own thoughts and opinions.
The main topic is touched gently and in a positive way, without infodumping too much.

In my opinion, this manga is clearly written to introduce readers to the topic, but it made me feel very seen nonetheless.

The drawings, as always with most mangas, are top notch and I personally enjoyed the author's drawing style.

Overall, I very much enjoyed it and I would highly recommend this comic to anyone who might be wondering about their sexuality or wants to know more about this topic in particular.

I thought this was a beautifully told coming of age story about a young woman finding her identity! I haven’t read about a character who identifies as an asexual before and I thought the story was really well done and the art was gorgeous too. I like that you’re learning along with Chika during your read I feel like it gave me some new perspective and the characters were all so lovable! The author also touched on the discrimination and pressure that can happen within the groups you identify as. I really enjoyed reading about the author and the inspiration behind the manga in the afterword!

A coming of age story following Chika, a girl who doesn't understand herself or why she's different from her peers and aims to find herself. This is an amazing dive into the topics of asexuality and the general sexual/romantic non-conformity, and I would have loved to read this in my youth. Growing up, I felt like I had to do certain things to "fit in" - even if I didn't entirely understand or want it for myself. I struggled with similar questions and doubts as Chika, and I loved watching Chika become more self assured and finding a place where she belongs

After hearing a lot of positive opinions on this manga, I was delighted to have been granted an eARC - thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley!

Chika is a school student who feels like an alien. Whenever anyone surrounding her starts talking about love and relationships, she feels entirely disconnected from the topic. And after she revealed how she cannot relate at all, she is being pressured into relationships she doesn’t want. It isn’t until she attends university where she meet a lot of different people that she discovers she might not be abnormal after all. There, she finds many more perspectives on the question that’s been haunting her: Is Love the Answer?

The manga uses its limited space as a stand-alone very well. Starting with Chika’s school life, the narration progresses steadily forward and we can witness her journey step by step, without it getting boring or rushing anything. There are never any clear answers and Chika is always questioning her experience. This is how the suspense of whether or not she can find a satisfactory answer for herself is maintained without the story losing its calm touch.

The way the manga deals with the topics around LBGTQ+ issues is quite impressive. Both Chika and the reader are encouraged to research for themselves and the manga even adds little quotes with reference material. It also stresses that no two people of the same label feel or act exactly the same. This creates many nuances, especially when it comes to asexuality, which is of course the focus. Chika and her surrounding characters show just how diverse those identities can become, without anyone falling into a mere stereotype.

This manga is a wonderful introduction to the topic of asexuality, but it is also excellent for anyone who wants to see more points of view regarding this specific orientation. It is filled with vibrant characters, a cute drawing style and carries a beautiful message. I can only recommend it!

This is a coming of age story about Chika. Chika doesn't feel she belongs anywhere. She feels as if she's a alien among "normal" people. Chika tries her best do fit in but isn't true to herself. She decides to study psychology in university. In university Chika gets to know and learn more about her identity and herself.

This manga is very informative because we learn alongside Chika about Ace identity's. I absolutely loved how much I got to learn.

i liked this a lot as i connected with her character. Funny and i love the artstyle.
I also think that this is important for girls or boys who are exploring themselves. know that you are not obligated to do anything.

This manga is one of the best I have read so far this year. Isaki manages to get us to love the main characters from the first page and from then forward our relationship with them just keeps on growing. The story is beautiful and shines a light on a sexuality that isn't talked about much in the media in a way that everyone can understand. The metaphor of the main character being an "alien" helps us relate to the character even if we are not asexual and have not experienced these doubts. Finaly, the art is exeptional as well, it is the usual manga black and white style with some funny drawings here and there which works perfectly in this narrative.

A poignant coming-of-age contemporary drama that is a celebration and affirmation of asexual and aromantic identities.

Is Love the Answer? is a coming-of-age contemporary drama about a young woman named Chika who after some disastrous experiences dating in high school - including sexual assault - decides to go to university in Tokyo to study psychology to understand "normal" humans. As an Autistic Ace Chika very much gives off Autistic Ace vibes - the author only confirms that Chika is Ace and X-Gender - because it is not just that Chika doesn't experience sexual and romantic attraction it is that she does not fundamentally understand the "normative" human experience even in comparison to other Asexuals depicted in the work. Social "rules" like "if a guy invites you over to his house of course he wants sex" - it goes without saying that this is wrong - which her peers seem to intrinsically understand Chika doesn't understand. Which leads to her feeling alienated from her peers.


In her desperation to understand what "Everyone says is 'Normal'" Chika decides to study psychology in Tokyo where she meets Professor Shinobu Ishii the author of her favourite book "The Dawn of Modern Psychology." Eventually moving in with her and her roommate Mitsuru Umezaki (Ume-chan) as she begins to explore and learn about her own Ace identity in a safe and affirming environment.

The work depicts multiple Aspec characters who are confirmed, questioning or ambiguous in the text. Professor Ishii is ace married to another Aspec professor Miya - this queerplatonic relationship is mutually beneficial even though they hold no romantic or sexual feelings for each other because of the legal protection it provides them to make decisions on each other’s behalf in case of emergencies. There is a die-hard Fujoshi who wants romance someday but not now who could be read as Fictosexual. And finally, Ume-chan whose ace identity isn't revealed later in the book gives Chika guidance as navigates her difficult emotions surrounding all this new information she is learning. Through Chika's interactions with aspec/arospec and allonormative characters, Chika begins to grow and understand her own Aspec identity better. Including a wonderful exploration of the fluidity of sexuality when Chika begins to feel confined by the label of Asexual feeling as though she doesn't meet all the checkboxes.


However, I will note that while I overall found the book a wonderful exploration of the Asexual and Aromantic spectrum it does at times feel like a book that is very much Ace/Aro Identities 101 for both Allosexual/Alloromantic people and those just discovering their own Ace or Aro identities. It is a perfect distils that information in a way that doesn't detract from the fictional story it is telling and is greatly affirming to new Aspec/Arospec people. However, if you are an Aspec/Arospec person with a very mature sense of their identity you might find this work a bit lacking.

Is Love the Answer? is a work that celebrates, explores, and affirms Aspec and Arospec identities with a heavy focus on discovering and understanding one's own identity. Beautifully written it is a work perfect for those wanting to learn about these identities. I highly recommend you pick up this work if you haven't already.

Is Love The Answer? by Uta Isaki is the first manga that I have read and while I liked the story I did find the format to be quite difficult to get into but that isn't a fault on the author's part.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys manga and would difintely like to try another manga in the future.

ARC provided by NetGalley.
This was a sweet book that gave an introduction about asexuality but I found that it was just a great commentary on letting people just be who they are. Our MC is possibly asexual, she states that the term fits for now but maybe in a year she might not want to use that term anymore. You also have characters who are all for romance and sex but are also defining those two things as completely different from each other. The mangaka did a great job in creating dynamic characters and I love the silliness of it as well. Super sweet manga that I think many of our questioning students would enjoy!

This was such a wonderful and heart-warming asexual/aromatic coming of age story. The characters and relationships were really well done and interesting. There was exploration of what being in a relationship meant, what love meant, and that platonic relationships can be just as valid as romantic and sexual ones.

The art style was great and I really enjoyed reading it.

This was really great representation and explanation of asexuality. I hope it does well in the States, because I think it will resonate with a lot of people, or at least remind them of someone in their lives.

Although the subject of this visually gorgeous manga is important and relevant, the execution lost me a little. It was very informative, but almost too much so.