Bokura no Chikyuu no Arukikata
Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide

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The fact that this wonderful series doesn't have any reviews is a crime, so I'm here to fix that. You know the plot, so without further ado, let's get reviewing.

This series is so sweet in every way and I am wholly obsessed. The entire thing reads like a love letter. It’s a love letter to love, to queerness, to food, and humanity as a whole. Every single character is well written and just a delight to be around, from our main protagonists Mitsuki and Asahi to the characters that we meet along the way. There are few recurring characters due to the nature of ... the story and traveling from country to country, but with each new character we meet, we learn more about Mitsuki and Asahi as well. The character art is also unique and beautiful, and so very expressive.

Mitsuki and Asahi’s relationship is very well written, I love their chemistry and the way they interact with each other, both alone and around others. The series is wholesome at heart, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t fights and misunderstandings between the two, which makes their relationship all the more believable to me. I also felt that each little conflict so far has been handled very well; it doesn’t take away from the main plot but instead enhances the characters. There are no long drawn out periods where the story takes on a depressing mood because of a fight between the characters, but it’s also not purely sugar and spice. Overall, the balance of moods is really well done.

The travel aspect is incredibly well done. The art is gorgeous from start to finish and it especially shines in the scenery, which makes it feel like you’re right there with the characters traveling to these places. Additionally, little facts and tidbits are given for each country visited, so you really get a feel for the place being visited. And oh my god the food. I’m a huge foodie so seeing all the dishes that the characters get to eat as they travel around is a massive bonus. And don’t worry, the dishes are also properly explained so you know what they’re eating rather than just being given a name and illustration. I would say this series will satiate your wanderlust, but it really made me want to travel even more!

I was also wholly obsessed with the way that queerness and the LGBT community is treated and portrayed in the series. Over the course of their travels, Mitsuki and Asahi meet many people, including other queer people. In addition to the main gay couple, there’s representation for transgender, wlw, gender nonconforming, and probably more people that I’m missing. There are also discussions of homophobia, both systemic and on the individual level, but overall the representation is so beautiful and positive that you can really tell that the mangaka is writing this from a place of community and love.

*This review is mostly copy-pasted from my instagram

Man, Im pretty sure anyone who reads this manga will certainly be jealous of Suzumura and Sayama travelling the world freely, whereas in real life, any of us can’t go anywhere or see anyone due to COVID restrictions! 😩😩😩😩

I really liked how this manga showed the different kinds of foods the boys eat and my mouth legit was like a waterfall when the chicken stew with garlic sauce heavenly appeared before my eyes. It seriously looked to be a dish that I’d certainly try out if it was on the menu in a restaurant cause let’s just say, I’ll let the professional chefs cook it ... for me other than myself (I’ll probably burn the whole chicken ;) ) Yeah also to note, don’t read this at night like I’ve done right now, your stomach will be rumbling all night after seeing such detailed food that you wish was right in front of you! It’s good to see a BL manga like “Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide” take a different approach than the usual generic stories you’d normally read! Also to end this, I wonder what’s going on with Suzumura? Well that’s for yall to find out!

Much appreciated to the folks at Independent Publishers Group and Netgalley for giving me Volume 1 of this great manga about two pair of fellas travelling the world together!

**This review was during covid when it first came out, forgot to do the review here after 3 years later oops lol**