I See Your Face, Turned Away 1 by Remi Ichinohe
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: 7 May 2024

Hikari and her painfully shy best friend, Mari, navigate the complexities of love, with Hikari taking it upon herself to meddle in Mari's romantic affairs, particularly with Ohtani, a classmate who harbours feelings for her. However, emotions seldom adhere to the expected script.

While the series kicks off strongly, there are occasional instances of awkward dialogue and humour that miss the mark. Additionally, while the art demonstrates improvement, occasional panels exhibit oddly proportioned clothing.

Hikari perceives herself as entirely average, a notion humorously reinforced by her unremarkable stature. Despite her talents, like her prowess with the French horn, she struggles to break free from her self-imposed constraints. Cultural nuances, such as her monolid, are addressed in the translation notes, though some aspects may not resonate universally.

In contrast, Mari embodies the archetype of a high school beauty, yet grapples with crippling shyness. While she blossoms once she opens up, coaxing her out of her shell requires concerted effort from those around her.

Hikari's comically earnest efforts to navigate Mari's romantic prospects mirror the creation of her imagined shojo series. However, orchestrating romance proves more challenging in reality, especially as Ohtani's genuine chemistry with Mari becomes apparent.

It's hard to predict whether this will have a happy ending or not. What I enjoyed was the shift in narration from Hikari to Ohtani towards the end of the volume. It's fascinating to witness the story unfold from various perspectives!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Kodansha Comics, and the author, RemiIchinohe, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

This has potential, but I am not fully committed yet. The art is nice, and I like the main character, but I am not really on board with the ship yet. Also, the gratuitous bathtub and naked coming out of the tub scenes don't add to the story or go with the tone. Oh, and thank goodness for the translation notes at the back. I hadn't come across this eyelid obsession/quirk before.

Cautiously recommended, because I do want to read more.