Sekine-kun no Koi
Sekine's Love

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I loved this , it was quirky and a bit confusing at points (I am guessing this is the case due to things getting lost in translation) but it was interesting and so different from other slice-of-life works. I'm writing this review because no one here has mentioned how dark it can get sometimes, so slight spoilers. It's not gorey and stuff but people who are sensitive to content that mentions sexual abuse- this one is not for you. There are descriptions of sexual exploitation which is not extremely graphic as I mentioned but can be upsetting to see, but this does not take a ... huge chunk of the story.
So if you like slice of life works and can handle a bit of edge , go for it. The art work was good , the characters are quirky and lovable and the story is great too. Overall a solid 8/10 from me.

I mean this with all the love and seriousness that goes into a topic such as this, but Sekine is the most autistic main character I have ever read in manga. The way he views the world and how he interacts with the people around him seemed to resonate heavily with a version of the autistic experience of navigating love and relationships (according to my understanding). Not in a silly and quirky way. Not in a tropey and stereotypical way. But in a frustrating and self-destructive way. Sekine would come off as a total creep weirdo if not for his earnestness and honesty at the ... end of the day. He's an interesting person who does not fall into classic male tropes and the entire story feels very different from other josei I have read.

I liked how this manga addressed certain topics. I could feel his social anxiousness. I could feel his overwhelming anxieties and fears. I could feel his defeat. I really empathized for Sekine, even when he made choices I would have never suggested to a male looking to make a love connection, lol.

I liked it. I didn't super love it. But it was unique and I would definitely read it again.

Sekine's love is an absolute hidden gem. If you're looking for a really good Josei you should give this a try. The story follows the life of Sekine, a successful salaryman that seems to have the perfect life, loved by all and surrounded by admirers but soon enough you start to see the cracks in his life. What happens when you're too attractive, too perfect and untouchable?
The story doesn't focus on the positive of having the traits that everyone yearns for but rather the opposite, the bad things that come about when everyone sees you as an object.
The only person that can seem to get ... Sekine out of a slump is Sara, a young girl that works at a knitting shop. She's the complete opposite of Sekine, very rarely composed and very outspoken. The fresh air of contrasts brings Sakine to be drawn to her in no time but the trauma that follows him everywhere he goes puts a hindrance in their relationship. The story is great because it focuses on facets that are rarely spoken about in romance anime. I think it's a great pick if you want a more mature manga that follows the real life distress of being an adult in love.
Art- 8/10
Story- 9/10
Characters- 9/10
Enjoyment 10/10