Citrus

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

Creator: Let's make a school romance series like all the rest, but make the main couple lesbian.

Me: Yes.

Creator: Let's make it take place in all girls school.

Me: No.

Creator: Yes. And all the girls there are lesbians. Also all the girls who don't go there are lesbians.

... Me: No.

Creator: Yes. And let's make all the men in it assholes, women beaters and one-dimensional losers.

Me: No.

Creator: Yes. And the main couple in it will be sisters.

Me: No.

Creator: Yes. And the other one will sexually assualt the another sister on a daily basis.

Me: No.

Creator: Yes. And let's blame men for her behavior. The assaulting sister is the real victim here.

Me: No.

Creator: Yes. And the main couple will be super inconsistent. Like in every other chapter they kiss and love and then the next one they be like "why don't you go bang some other lesbian and die."

No: Me. Me. No. What?

Creator: Yes. And it will have at least two love triangles around both main characters.

Me: No.

Creator: Oh, and did I mention all of these love triangles will consists of just girls? No guys will be present.

Me: .... I kinda guessed.



Citrus is the worst lesbian series I have yet read. It constantly rubs the lesbian into reader's face in a same manner as ecchi series shove boob jiggling down the throat. This would be great of course if the characters weren't so full of shit. The other girl pretty much looks like the hoe at your local high school who trades sex for cigarettes. The another is exponentially worse. If she was a he, this series would be tagged as a pro-rape propaganda and tumblr would have to expand its server capacity.

The inconsistent romance in this is not pretty to watch. Whenever the sexually assaulting sister is not in the mood for kissing and boob fondling, she is in angst, and every bit of her dialogue during these moments could be replaced with "yes, I do have a licence to drive a truck" and the conversation had would still make as much sense.

The pacing is terribad and the series so long only because the characters are idiots who ponder over the same questions for half the eternity, only to choose the most obvious outcome without changing much at all as characters during the run. Apparently, all of their bs can be excluded completely by making a vow. Who needs character development and believability when implied happily ever after is an option, too. The story is nothing but an excuse for our characters to act like the clowns they are.

The art is rather boring. Outside the mediocre characters, not much is often even drawn on the panels. Background art is either a myth or otherwise nonexistent 50% of the time. I rather suggest reading the cute and 2pure5thisworld lesbian romances, such as "Stretch" and "Tamen De Gushi". Or alternatively cute with passionate sex, such as "Prism" and skip this nonsense.

This is my first review, hope it will be useful ^^


About the manga
The manga began airing in 2012 and is coming out every two months. When I am writing this review, there are 7 chapters out. About the artist.. well he's not that well-known and his works are mainly made in shoujo, drama and romantic genre. Out of his works, this is the greatest.

The story
Aihara Yuzuko is a fashionable, typical city-girl whose starting to attend a new school because her mother recently remarried. Yuzuko's goal is to fill in the school and finally find love. What she doesn't know is that the school is not ... co-ed, it's a girls-only school with very strict rules. So, she can't look for a boyfriend and the student council is often picking up on her because of her look. On the very first day Aihara Mei, the the president of the student council is taking her phone... well, not in a common way. She hugs her and takes it under Yuzuko's shirt. This shocks Yuzuko a bit, by this I mean she falls to the ground totally embarrassed. Later it's revealed that Mei is her new step-sister and they will live together, they also have to sleep together. At night Yuzuko tells Mei that she saw Mei kiss Amamiya-sensei (a handsome male teacher) today at school and tells her opinion about how a real kiss should be (I mean emotically) and then Mei kisses Yuzuko. After this Yuzuko falls in love with Mei.
There's a lot of drama and a strange love from Mei (if we can call it love) which confuses Yuzuko's feelings. On top of it, she's not experienced in love, so she has no idea what to do to make their relationship to a "real" love.

Characters
Aihara Yuzuko: a plain-spoken, brave and cheeky girl. She often wears clothes that violate the school rules so she gets in trouble with the student council quite often. She seems to be a little rude towards Mei, but only becaude she likes her. Her best friend is Harumin.

Aihara Mei: president of the student council, good student, the grandchild of the school president. She is cold and serious with people, but she has a reason for that. She is always calmed, composed and very mature. At first we don't know much about her and Yuzuko gets the wrong idea about her when they first meet, but this will change. It seems that she's hard to get close to, but later it's revealed that she's very lonely, this makes Yuzuko want to take care about her.

Harumi Taniguchi: Yuzuko's best friend, lively and attentive. They are similar with Yuzuko, none of them are good students. She always helps Yuzuko.

My opinion
A well developed, detailed and cute manga which has a beautiful art. Yuri mangas like this are rare, you can't find something like this every day. I could compare it to Girl Friends, even though it's not as popular as GF.
My inner fan of yuri would vote the manga a 10/10, but I have to stay at 9/10, because I don't like Mei's attitude.
I highly recommend to read it for everyone who likes this genre, you won't regret. ^^

Citrus was a trip to my heart, and in the end, I am delighted to have the opportunity to read it.

Citrus manga and anime are not for all the tastes. Sadly, most of the readers will divide themselves into yuri lovers and yuri detractors. However, Citrus is more profound, a mere comparison of being or not a yuri manga would not be fair with a love story that could transcend in the heart of any open reader. The moral of the story “Love does not have boundaries.” You cannot throw the manga away for being a lesbian story, but it is not for all the ... tastes, however.

The manga centers in two girls Yuzu and Mei. No matter if they are step-sisters, call it luck, destiny or cliché, they fall in love. Nevertheless, the attraction will take time to appear. Yuzu will need to understand what she is feeling. Her innocence and inexperience lead her to make decisions that affect all the characters around. And as for Mei, her responsibility will always cloud her emotions to the point that the reader will notice her coldness. I am sure that you could have some empathy with the characters and the story of this couple.

Regarding the story, it is more than a yuri manga. For me, the plot is more complicated. It is what we do when we are in love. We do not have a manual when we love someone, we try to follow our instincts, heart, and sometimes we fail and do some clumsy things like Yuzu or some unskillful actions as Mei’s. Honestly, I liked the story, you can perceive some realism on it, and you can enjoy it even if you are not a yuri lover.

Furthermore, Sabutouta took the right decision not to prolong the manga too much because the predictable events could destroy the plot. The choice was bright, and I am glad of how all was resolved. However, the conclusion feels rushed, and perhaps the reader will notice a time gap missing. The story could have more details on the outcome, but overall the manga developed a very delightful story, and I enjoyed most of it.

Deeply exploring the manga, the characters. They have an emotional progression. Yuzu and Mei are very different in personality, but you will observe the chemistry between them. As for the other characters such as Harumi, Matsuri they are the perfect complement to our main couple. In the beginning, these characters create some chaos, but it helped to have a beautiful view of the figures’ contrasts, and in the end, friendship will be the most important for them.

On the other hand, the manga is very well developed. Sabutouta did a magnificent job. The art is exquisite, detailed and shows the emotions of the characters. Great work, hon!! Also, the design of the panel helped the transition from panel to panel, and the dynamic of the story is not taken away from the shifts. It was enjoyable seeing this kind of art in every volume.

Lastly, I am feeling a bit sentimental because Citrus ended but it was the right decision. I am sure that you will enjoy reading the manga. The story will hook the reader and will take your breath.

I feel this manga should be more acknowledged among readers. It truly is a well-made manga through the works of Saburouta.

As far as this goes, i will try to make a semi in-depth analysis on this manga. As many of you are all aware, yuri manga are not quite as popular as other genres. Thus, making it quite rare to come across a well-rounded manga such as this one.

Before we begin, i'd also like to mention that i will not be discussing much about the characters and their summaries, but rather an analysis of the portrayal and execution that the manga has, i'd ... rather let you read the manga and see for yourself :)

Story (8)
The story of Citrus revolves around Aihara Yuzuko, a fashionable teenage girl who happens to be on the lookout for a boyfriend. However, much to her dismay she is sent to an All-girl's Academy upon the remarriage of her Mother. To add, Mei, her uptight student council president at the strict school happens to be her new step-sister. I wouldn't quite say the plot to this is very original, but it is indeed a very refreshing plot that has a promising storyline. The execution on the other hand, couldn't have been better.The situations are meaningful and fairly realistic. Exciting, logical, heart-breaking, suspenseful, such words as these describe the story. The plot developments within the story are very well executed as well as the easiness to interpret all the progress in the story as each chapter is published. Each chapter has a significant amount of development, which makes up for the slow 2 month update.

Art (9)
The art in this story is absolutely beautiful, all the characters are well drawn and Saburouta does a great job in portraying the actions and emotions of the characters within the story. The background and drawings of the venues are also well drawn so it gives a firm picture of where a scene is taking place and its structure.

Character (9)
The character development is right off the bat great. There is a significant amount of change that the characters induce, yet their main qualities that keep them, them, is still there. I will not go into much detail, but all of the characters are considerably likable and not to mention their well drawn out depth. I can honestly say, i have respect for all the characters in the story.

Enjoyment (10)
To be honest, i'm not really one to read a yuri manga, especially since i'm a girl myself. However, that did not stop me from giving this manga a try, and believe me i do not regret a single bit of it. I wanted a change from reading all the same manga and i guess i bumped into this one by chance. Yuri manga are definitely new to me, but anyways, the enjoyment i have had with this series thus far is outstanding. I love everything about this manga and i want to keep on reading more. Each chapter is filled with excitement and i'm kept intrigued with every page. The romance between Mei and Yuzuko is especially intriguing, as well as the conflict that the two face, whether it be directly from other characters, or the fact that they're both girls and step-sisters. This manga never fails to keep me wanting more.

I hope you all enjoy this series as much as i have!

Citrus is one of the popular Yuri Manga and I can somewhat understand the hype surrounding it because it's actually pretty damn good. Now I read the Manga after watching the Anime and honestly the chapters after the point where the Anime ended were much better and way less Ecchi.

Story:
I don't think I need to go into details since you'll already know the story for this. Yuzu, a girl who is all in for fashion and romance goes into highschool which turned out "All girls" where she encountered a girl named Mei which later was revealed as her new "sister", not blood-realeted of ... course and then later Yuzu started to grow feelings for her more and more. And finally was able to tell her feelings to Mei and after that they both started going out but then Drama happened and they overcame all of it. Now, the biggest problem I had with this was how there was only 1 girl who was doing all the efforts while the other one just ice-cold and gets emotional and acts all hopeless even TILL THE END, nothing really changed. Same one girl trying to keep their relationship alive.

Characters:
Characters were all good. Yuzu was my favorite character because of how determined she was towards her goal and that is to have a happy ending with Mei. She was quite funny too and overall a character fun to watch.

Now, Mei. Mei was decenet but I just could not get into liking her that much. Yes, she was bold. Yes, she gave Yuzu courage that it's OK for two girls to be in a relationship but the fact that Yuzu had to do 90% effiort and trying so hard for Mei but Mei just chickened out towards the end and didn't even try to fight for her feelings and accepted the reality. Weak!
She also tried to take responsibility of everything regarding her family issues. She had a troubled past with her father as well(nothing such as "Abuse" or anything).

Now as for the side characters. First Harumin. Harumin was probably one of my favorite character of the whole Manga. She was Yuzu's first and best friend at School. She was a really considerate person and had Yuzu's back all the tiime. However, I don't really like her elder sister that much. She barely got anytime anyways.
Another one was named "Matsuri". She at first seemed like a thot(she actually was), she is Yuzu's childhood friend and also tried to manipulate Yuzu since she wanted Yuzu to herself bur despite all that she actually became a really good character and someone who madly cared for Yuzu. She actually became my second favorite character towards the ending chapters.
There were other characters too such as "Shiramon-Senpai", who was a senior to Yuzu and was a weird sorta girl, there was that Yuzu's fangirl and her mother, father, grandfather etc. None of them got barely anytime so nothing much to say here.

Art:
The Art of this Manga is outstanding and probably the best part of the whole series. All of the characters were very well and beautifully drawn and specially the way Mei and Yuzu were drawn.


Overall:
Overall this was a good read. Honestly the author rushed the ending to a point where I would "It kinda ruined all the build-up". *Spoilers* Like how Yuzu kept trying to convince Mei to come back but she kept telling her to leave througout the whole chapter but Yuzu decided not to make the same mistake as Clay Janson from "13 Reasons Why" and stood their with Mei and just said the one line and BOOM, Mei is convinced and everything just wrapped up, just like that. Honestly there could be so much more that could've happened but didn't. But oh well it was still worth reading.

This will be a spoiler-free review. Citrus by Saburouta is a yuri manga that comes out once every two months (the 18th of every odd number month, ie, the most recent chapter 17 came out on July 18). It is a psuedo-incest series because the two main characters are step-sisters. But don't be scared by the word "incest," because they did not even know each other before they became sisters; they are basically strangers. As of the latest chapter, nothing too graphic happens (like sex), despite the provocative cover picture. On the contrary, it is very pure in a way.

Story: 8
The story isn't that ... great, nor is it very new. The summary is given in the description. It is just a slice of life depicting the romantic struggles of the two main characters, and other things that happen in their daily lives. Of course there are plot conveniences at times, and the story moves too quickly sometimes, but the events offer the characters major opportunities to show themselves off. There are multiple story arcs that go by in a flash (with the exception of the latest 2), but I assure you that a LOT happens in each one. A drawback is that it gets slightly repetitive, but is still interesting nonetheless. I'd say that this aspect of the manga is its weakest point.

Art: 10
Even for a yuri manga, the art is probably the best I've ever seen. This is surely the strongest point of the series. Saburouta puts a lot of detail into each of her drawings, whether it is because she has more time (two months) to work on it or not. If you see Mei's hair, then that alone will probably make you like her work. There is no denying that her art style is extremely captivating. Personally, I only gave Citrus a try because I was drawn by the art. If not for the amazing outer appearance, Citrus probably wouldn't be as great as it is. However, this is not to say that the series is solely dependent on its art.

Characters: 9
At first glance, the characters seem to be very plain and flat, without much depth. This is not true. They are actually more complex than they look, and develop.

There are two types of "bad" characters to me. The first is one who is just so terrible and cringe worthy that they do not develop, and even if they do, they're still unintentionally frustrating, not because they play the role of a villain who is meant to be hated. The second is the type who's dislikable but for good reason, and even if everyone hates her, she is still a good character.

Mei, the younger sibling, is the second type. Upon first glance, all she has are her beauty and status as the "model student," even holding the position of student council president as a first year in high school. Other than that, she is a rude and uncaring person. But she has good reason to be the way she is. She makes progress as a human being and eventually becomes likable, a contrast to many of her uncalled-for actions. In the first chapter, she unintentionally changes Yuzu and brings out the best of the latter's character. Obviously, Mei's character isn't that shallow. Her main problem is miscommunication. She never expresses herself, so no one knows what she's thinking. The reader, for sure, never does. Maybe not even the author. Mei's mysterious nature is strangely attractive as you start to wonder what her true feelings are at any one time.

Yuzu is the typical nice character that everyone is already in love with. She's cute and stylish (breaking school rules because it's a conservative academy), not to mention she has a great personality. At first, I didn't think much of Yuzu. She was too normal and not noteworthy; I've seen her character a million times before. Yet, I started to really like her to the point where she's one of my favorites. Why? Well, it's hard to explain, but Yuzu is very innocent. As a girl who has never had a boyfriend before, she is in love with the idea of love. She also wants to fit in, so that makes her even more interested in romance. But because of her lack of experience, it is also easier for her to fall for the person who gets to her first, obviously Mei. Complete amateurs like Yuzu are more prone to liking the same gender because they have no experience; what is normal and what isn't? Other than this, Yuzu is very loyal and considerate. (Slight spoiler) She loves Mei as both family and as a significant other. Her inner struggle and confusion due to her forbidden feelings are very realistic. Even if Mei shows no interest in her, Yuzu will always support her because she is just that type of person.

The differences between the main two make for interesting interactions. After all, opposites attract. Other characters include:
Taniguchi Harumi (nicknamed Harumin), Yuzu's best friend who gets in trouble with her all the time. You can say that she is the reason why Yuzu doesn't completely hate her new school.
Momokino Himeko: Mei's childhood friend and also the student council vice-president.
Mizusawa Matsuri: Yuzu's childhood friend who is slightly younger.
Tachibana Sara: A girl Mei meets later (chapter 13), on their school trip.
Tachibana Nina: Sara's younger sister.
To avoid spoilers, I will not say anything else about them, but they are very unique and contribute to an interesting story.

Enjoyment: 10
At first, I simply thought this manga was okay. Until I got to chapter 3. From there, I caught up to the most recent chapter at the time (13) because of the cliffhangers every chapter. Citrus readers are most likely masochists, even if they don't know it. Every chapter is agonizing to read, yet each one is so good. When you catch up, you'll hate yourself because then you'll have to wait two months for the next one to come. It is painful, despicably so. Despite all the drama, Citrus offers a pleasant reading experience. If you're a masochist, you will love it. I mentioned this earlier, but a lot happens. If you skip one chapter, then you'll probably be extremely confused. In ~35 pages, Saburouta manages to make enough things happen, then makes you want the next chapter a few minutes later. Citrus has its cute moments that make you want to squeal, but also has insanely dramatic events that make you want to scream in a corner. Enjoyment also comes from the realisticness of this series. It doesn't sugarcoat things; if it did, Yuzu and Mei would happily be together. The issues that this manga raises are very much real and will make you imagine what it would be like for someone to be in Yuzu or Mei's position, especially in the more conservative setting of Japan where homosexuality is looked down upon.

Overall: 9
Personally, Citrus is a 10 in my mind because most of what influences my scores comes from personal enjoyment, but I recognize that it has its flaws. However, its strong points are many when compared to its weak points. The story isn't bad, the art is superb, and the characters are very likable and realistic. This combination will make for an enjoyable reading experience. It's a shame that this manga is not very known (probably because it's a yuri romance) but I'd say that even compared to any manga, Citrus deserves more popularity. As a yuri series, I am convinced that it is one of, if not the best out there. If you are into yuri, then you need to try this. If you're unsure about going into the genre, I highly recommend it. In any case, Citrus will prove to be an interesting read.

This is my first review. I don't write reviews but, I really love this manga(this is actually my favorite). Usually I don't wait for mangas but i'd rather read mangas which is already Finished. But this manga is something. Especially if you're a Yuri lover.

First of all, the art is really something which will capture your eyes immediately and make you all curious and excited. Second, the story line is perfect and unique! I might say, "Every page is a treasure!" and a pleasure in the eye!

Btw, the story is about step sisters which is soooo different to each other. Yuzu, the elder but immature ... one is looking for a boyfriend and promised herself to get one after transferring to a new school. But she didn't expect to transfer in an all-girls-school. Now her plan was postponed especially when she met her new cute sister who suddenly kissed her because of some reasons.

I don't wanna spoil more so I just want you to try this manga out I'm sure you won't regret it. It's the best! Thanks for reading my review! *3*

edit hist: /*I don't wanna spoil more so I just want you to try this anime out I'm sure you won't regret it. It's the best! Thanks for reading my review! *3**/

This is my review for Citrus. I'll be referring to the characters by what they are most commonly called in the manga. Please note that this review is structured around how I personally felt about the manga; objectively, it deserves an overall rating of 6 (individual ratings being 5/10/4 for story, art, and character, respectively), but subjectively, I give it a 7.

Story: 5/10

Citrus does not have a very extravagant plot. However, due to the fact it falls in the yuri genre, it doesn't need to have one. This isn't to say that every yuri manga does not have a great plot; a reader does not ... typically read yuri for the story, and they know this. Anyway, Citrus is centered around a high school girl named Yuzu, who has transferred, for the first time, to an all girl's school. Due to some circumstances, she ends up becoming the older stepsister of the president of that very school: her name is Mei. A certain event between these two kickstarts everything. The story is mostly told from Yuzu's point of view, making her the main protagonist, and Mei the supporting protagonist. This is the canon shipping for the manga, and it's obvious that the yuri, for the most part, will occur between these two girls. Up until the current chapter, the manga has been developing the relationship between Yuzu and Mei, and how they got to where they are now was a very bumpy road. Many problems, including a love triangle and childhood friend have been presented to the pair. However, these are very typical problems that people come across all the time, but since Citrus has attempted to rise above other yuri manga by actually trying to have a decent plot, it is deserving of the score I gave it for its story. For literary lovers, Citrus has deus ex machina, but this is done in such a way that the reader will appreciate it for being there.

Art: 10/10

If you've ever been to an amusement park, you should be familiar with the term "main attraction". That's what the art is: the best aspect of this manga. The mangaka has managed to draw very beautiful and clean art that it is simply a feast for the eyes to gaze on. The background is not drawn very complicated, but has just enough detail to provide the reader with context clues as to where the characters are at or are currently doing. Speaking of characters, Saburouta really, really deserves some kind of award for her impressive character designs. One can spend hours along just observing the art for this manga, and because of this, it helps to enhance the simple story presented. Simply perfection.

Character: 6/10

The characters, while seemingly generic and typical, are not bad at all. As aforementioned, Yuzu and Mei are the main characters, and also the main couple. Mei is like a foil to Yuzu in the sense that she is everything that Yuzu isn't. While Yuzu is the more energetic and cheerful of the two, Mei is more quiet, reserved, and intelligent. Their interactions are something to look forward to, as despite how strong Mei seems or how Yuzu looks so happy-go-lucky, they come to trust and depend on each other a lot more. Harumi is Yuzu's best friend, and she, of course, falls into the role of the protagonist's best friend. Personally, I think she is a great character because of how sensible she is and really just how she demonstrates the qualities of a true friend to Yuzu. The only other characters worth mentioning are Matsuri, who is the sly, manipulative childhood friend of Yuzu, Himeko, the vice president who works under Mei, and the Tachibana sisters Sara and Nina. The last three characters don't receive as much screen time as the first four, but they are certainly essential to the manga.

Enjoyment: 9/10

Amazing artwork, coupled with a decent story and characters are what define Citrus. I truly enjoyed reading every page and panel, and it's saddening that each chapter was so short. Many people do not like yuri for various reasons, and that included myself for a very long time. However, Citrus, my first introduction into the yuri world really positively changed my perception of the genre, and taught me to give everything a chance before I judge them. Just like it did for me, I hope that you, the reader, will give this manga a try, regardless of what your first impressions of it may be.

Full transparency: I dropped this manga after 24 chapters. May pick it up again in the future if the mood strikes me, but for now I will share my thoughts.

I started reading this manga because I enjoyed Bloom Into You and wanted to see what other kinds of conflict could arise in a story focusing primarily on a same sex relationship. I was disappointed in that this manga was not at all what I wanted to find.

The conflict in this manga are all surface level and almost always immediately resolved. Yuzu is a likeable enough protagonist, but the love interest Mei is simply too ... one dimensional. I get the argument that some people will make that she becomes more complex as the series progresses, but I feel as though the 24 chapters of opportunity Igave is well and enough time to add something interesting to her arc. I don't want to read all the way to the end of this manga just to FINALLY think that Mei is interesting AT ALL.

The series tiptoes around serious topics surrounding the prospect of being queer by normalizing it in an unnatural way. Every character in this story is gay. Every man in this story is a P.O.S.

But the cardinal sin that trumps all is that this manga is BORING. There are no stakes, no believable drama, no nothing.

I think that this manga appeals to a certain audience that I unfortunately do not fall into. I think that if you are looking for any generic love story but with the slight and meaningless twist of it being queer, this is the manga for you. The art is great and it does what it seeks to do very well, I am just unfortunately not the person who enjoys where they went with it.

When putting Citrus as one of the manga I had read on my manga list, I had wondered why I had dropped it in the manner that I did all those months ago. Looking at the reviews posted by users under Citrus reminded me why. Citrus is an unfortunately bland story that repeats itself constantly over the course of it's relatively short serialization. Many of the small conflicts revolve around a new character, or situation, being introduced that gets in the way of the two main character's relationship, only to return to the status quo after the problem has been resolved, rendering any quarrels that ... might have happened between our leads, Yuzu and Mei, significantly pointless considering that they don't build as much as you'd think they would from these conflicts. In terms of the writing of the characters themselves, there's not too much to say. Nothing about both Yuzu and Mei particularly stands out as unique to their character, borrowing traits that I've seen in multiple characters through manga and anime (such as the upbeat Gal character, and the serious student council president type ) that have all been somewhat done to death at this point.

Citrus' art doesn't particularly stand out as unique either. Everything from proportions, to setting, to paneling, and page layout are nothing short of standard to what you would expect from manga as a basic medium. For manga to stand the test of time, I feel as if the mangaka needs to take a more non traditional and experimental route in order to strengthen their art and truly develop its voice. Citrus lacks it's own artistic voice, and therefore is left being nothing more than standard.

My main point of contempt with Citrus is how completely forgettable all of the events within its story are. As I wrote this, I had gone back to the manga in question so I could list which chapter I had dropped it in. As I looked for it, the majority of it seemed unfamiliar to me, only to come across a spread that had reminded me that I actually had read past it at some point in time. This coincidently reflects Citrus as a manga. Its ultimately uneventful as a story, and though it doesn't do anything horrible that completely ruins it for me, it is nothing more than completely average.

With all that said, I would be lying if I said I didn't somewhat enjoy reading Citrus to a certain degree. I remember the feeling a handful of panels gave me with the two leads that felt pretty heartwarming. But, then again, it simply wasn't enough for me to actually remember those individual panels, only the feeling.

The "Love" in "Girls Love":
Citrus' romance is about 5% love, 95% drama, and a wealthy dose of poison, since it is based on trauma and lust, while nurtured by addiction and obsession. The protagonists' appeal relies on how convenient and pitiful they find each other to be.

The "Girls" in "Girls Love":
Nowhere to be found. At any given moment, the fact that they are two girls is utterly inconsequential. The story works as fine with two boys or with a regular couple, since the issue that drives the plot is class and, secondarily, family; not gender.

Not-so-forbidden Love
No one in this manga cares. Every problem involving other ... characters is immediately solved by talking it out. This makes the protagonists also the only antagonists, which comes across as two brats just being miserable by themselves. Reading such play becomes painful in the head rather than the heart.

Personal, Overall Assesment
All in all, it's just normal. It feels heavier than necessary due to the over-the-top depiction of distress within a regular sibling romance storyline. It's like the story is trying too hard to make a sweet story darker than it can reasonably be, but that's drama for you all, and that's why even if the rendering feels somewhat forceful or awkward, it could still be blamed on the genre; salt to taste.

Citrus Haiku:
The present of love
pretty wrapping; heavy box
it's empty inside

I'll start by saying this is the first Yuri series I have ever decided to pick up. I'm usually a shounen kind of guy who doesn't really watch/read slice of life or romance anime/manga but I found this series highly enjoyable. After finishing the anime, I wanted to know if there was more Citrus out there and I was happy to find out there were plenty more chapters left so I quickly binged the rest of it. Why a second season hasn't been adapted yet is beyond me because the series deserves the justice, even if I enjoyed reading the manga a bit more.

I ... did enjoy the beginning chapters but found the story so much more engaging, heartwarming but also sad at times in the second half of the manga, this is where the relationship between Yuzu and Mei really starts to develop and feel much more authentic and not just like two lustful, confused teens in love. This is also where you learn the most about Mei's character and see just how conflicted she is on the inside with not as much control over her own life as you may think. Besides the romance, with most of the story taking place at a strict, very orderly high school, Citrus convoys a message that shows you just how miserable someone can be when they try too hard to conform to what other people expect and don't instead be themselves and pursue whatever makes them happy. It also shows just how helpful having supportive friends in your time of need who accept you for who you are can be as well.

In a nutshell, Citrus is a touching read with beautiful artwork that will make you feel a rollercoaster of emotions and I think is a great introduction to the Yuri genre.

This is my very first review ever so I hope I described this manga good enough to be read! ^

Story:
The story is pretty typical when you first read it because it's set in a highschool background and the love story is pretty common too if you look at it in a simpler form. But as you keep reading, you discover things in addition to the story that weren't really expected and I guess that's how my score for this category came up to a 9 :D

Art:
The art is BEAUTIFUL! Every page I turn to, I feel like screenshotting the screen because I just love the ... characters' designs. Especially one of the main charcter's Mei! You won't be disappointed in this aspect

Characters:
The characters' personalities aren't very unique but they have some certain traits that you don't see in any other manga/anime character ^^ For example, the other main character Yuzu is a very persistent, sometimes cocky girl but she has a very caring side to her. The character I mentioned before: Mei. She is very hard to read and she just does things that are very abrupt and confusing o-o and she always rubs it off likes it nothing. Nonetheless, you can't help but like her c: As for the other characters, I just see them as typical side characters lol. Nothing so special with them. Except for this one character in the newest chapter..she seems pretty interesting =_=

Enjoyment:
I absolutely enjoy this anime very much. I actually reread the manga 2 days ago when I woke up from sleep xD There's a cliffhanger in every chapter and it's just gonna keep you begging for the author to update!

Overall:
This anime is a 10 for me. Despite it's small flaws in certain categories, its strong points cover up the flaws and it just comes off to me as a pretty great manga. It's my favorite yuri ever! I'm sure any yuri fan would give it a 10 too, if not, atleast a 9. ^__^

This is my first time writing a review since it's not something I usually do, but this manga was just so appalling to the point I decided to write one. I'll try to keep this review as spoiler free as possible.

Sadly this was the first yuri manga I read, I was recommended it and I decided why not, what harm could it do? I was told it gets better which isn't true since I read this thing from beginning to end and hated it more and more. This whole manga feels like just fetishization of wlw relationships. It's disgusting, this is not a nice, light ... hearted manga about love. This manga disgusted me and made me extremely uncomfortable with all the sexual assault and manipulation that happens. Also the sexual assault comes off as a fan service, which is very disgusting. In the first chapter the MC gets sexuality assaulted by her new step sis (love interest) and that's not the last time. Her step sis also manipulates her multiple times just to get her way. (I'm gonna put all the times there was sexual assault, as far as I can remember, at the bottom since there are some spoilers.)

Ok so first off let's get the pros out of the way. The art is beautiful, really detailed and just nice to look at.


Anyway to the cons...

Characters-

For me there was only 2 likeable characters, the MC and her close friend, that's pretty much it. The MC is pretty much a bubbly gyaru and her friend is similar to her. I wish they had more chapters together. The MC's love interest (her step-sister) is a flat out bitch. She's overly cruel to the MC and is just super unlikable. She's pretty much the tsundere, beautiful, smart, student council president stereotype. She also sexual assaults the MC multiple times. She's always cold even after her and the MC date for a while. Her friend is the classic secretly inlove best friend who is jealous, not much to her. She has an odd change of heart out of literally no where, no development at all. Ok now it's time for Matsuri, the MC's old childhood friend. She's something else, really something else. She's pretty much a manipulative bitch just like MC's love interest. Honest to God I hate her, and her motivations are piss poor for what she does. There's also a few other characters that are just thrown in there to stir up drama and then dip. Character development is just bad and the characters are never consistent.


Story-

The story started off okay. Our MC Yuzu pretends to be a popular girl with the guys even though she's never had a bf. She moves because her mother remarried and now she's going to an all girls school. Basically her first day sucks and she returns home to find out that Mei is her new step sis. So I guess her mother never mentioned her at all. At first I kinda thought "Isn't this a bit much?". Anyway Mei ends up sexually assaulting Yuzu their first day together and Yuzu falls for her because of it (honestly wtf?!!). Basically the rest of the series is filled with that in the beginning. The story is filled with melodrama cause by misunderstood situations that could've been easily resolved just by communicating. The pacing is also all over the place, and the ending is super rushed and unsatisfying. Yuzu and Mei's relationship is all over the place too, they're in love one minute and the next they fight. The "emotional" moments just feel empty and also creepy due to what lead up to the relationship.




SPOILERS:
All the times sexual assault happened that I remembered...

1. Yuzu gets groped by Mei on the first day of school, Mei was searching for her phone but it came off as really overly sexual.

2. Mei gets forcefully kissed by a teacher at school. (This time it didn't seem like fan service or sexual at all.)

3. Mei forcefully kisses Yuzu in their room.

4. Mei likes Yuzu while showering together and pushed her against the wall.

5. Yuzu forcefully kisses Mei in the chairman's office. (She also contemplated kissing her while she was sleeping.)

6. Mei manipulates Yuzu and tries to initiate sex but Yuzu actually stops her for once and slaps her.

7. Mei forcefully kisses Matsuri for absolutely no reason. (Matsure gets a photo and uses it as blackmail.)

8. Matsuri gropes Mei in the school. (She uses the photo as blackmail so that Mei has to go on a date with an older creepy man. Could've possibly been raped. Idk how there characters are supposed to be likeable.)

Anyway that's basically all the times I can remember this happening.

END OF SPOILERS




So would I recommend this manga? No, not to anyone. I don't feel like this would appeal to anyone who just wants some nice, sweet yuri. I just felt really uncomfortable reading it, as stated above. I don't understand why people recommend it so much. I wanted to enjoy this yuri since it seem popular among yuri readers, but I just couldn't bring myself to enjoy this stuff. As I said before this feels like fetishization, like some hormonal teen wrote this as fap material. This is just not worth your time, it's not even so bad it's good.

Btw if you're looking for a good manga about GL I highly recommend Bloom into you. It's no where close to Citrus. No fetishization, no uncomfortable fan service, no sexual assault. It's a good story with likeable characters and no melodrama. It's a sweet story and I think it's a really good read if you wanna check it out. Anyway thank you for reading my review till the end, enjoy your day :)

If you're reading this then, welcome to the wonderful world of yuri!

Who it's for:
This is a story for the reader who isn't looking for anything too deep. If you're looking for a relatively light story to pass some time with, then this is the series for you!
But honestly, if you're looking to get into yuri it's a must read -- even if it looks like something you wouldn't usually pick up.

Story:
As I mentioned above, reading this is mostly for those who are in the mood for some easy reading. No second guessing, no confusion. Just good old-fashioned linear plot. The story is ... straight forward, cause and effect for the most part, which is good and bad. As a reader who admittedly gets a little irked when plot gets a little shallow, I did have to drag myself through the story, but if you consider yourself to be less pedantic than I sound, then you might be a little better off.

Art:
The drawing in this manga is great. It's highly detailed and delightfully shaded. There are particles, and textures, and it's visually quite appealing. The line weights are used with mastery, and 97% of the cells are drawn with a quality that anyone on devArt would be proud of.

Characters:
If not the plot, at least read for the characters? Well, that's sometimes how it goes, but not with this one. Technically speaking, the character development is nearly intangible. Many of those who have read Citrus complain about the cyclical feeling of development -- the problem where any progress that people perceive the characters to have made is reset, and the story has to start all over. I would say that this is fairly accurate. Both the main characters Yuzu and Mei change so little I think it would be fair to call them static. This is not to say that static characters cannot be intriguing leads, but in this case it does not help the series at all.

Enjoyment:
If you're looking to feed your yuri cravings then this will do nicely. I enjoyed this series a fair amount, not so much that I would spend a ridiculous amount of time to re-read the thing at 3 in the morning, but enough that I check back in every couple of months to see if anything has been uploaded.

Overall:
Again, it depends on what you're looking for. Different people look for different styles, and fluctuate between styles depending on their mood. If you're in the mood for some yuri fun then go ahead! If you're expecting down to earth development, save this for another day.

What you should know before reading this manga:

1. It is very fast-paced compared to yuri which starts slow and a relationship grows but in this, it just jumps right into it

2. DISCLAIMER: They are step-sisters even though they don't look like it! If you don't enjoy this genre then i really don't think this is your jam

3. once you jump into this yuri you cannot escape... Good luck!

My review of this story:

VERY entertaining! Reading this was very fun and made me fangirl at least 1M times! I enjoyed watching Yuzu and Mei get closer! I cannot say I am really a big fan of Mei's ... personality being so distant and cold but very loving at times. Yuzu is very positive and energetic which is something I enjoy! I don't think boys will fall in love with this series very many reasons but if you are a girl that likes Yuri (Or a boy that likes yuri which is rare) then go right ahead! Read this awesome series!

Are you here for Yuri? Well, this is the emotionally cathartic kind, juicy in terms of drama rather than in the bed. Honestly, the blonde chick - Yuzu is a great reactive protagonist who goes to any lengths for her convictions. In some ways she reminds me of Great Teacher Onizuka as to how recklessly earnest her actions are, ideals you respect and fight for, instead of sitting idly by. In turn, the Kuudere love interest - Mei relentlessly follows her own convictions in a cold, pragmatic fashion, an introvert with no care to anyone but herself, at first glance. This is the romantic duo, ... and how the opposing juxtapositions slowly meld together through trials and attrition. What I believe romantic stories should strive to be, period.

True to form, Slice of Life doesn't offer anything more than a contemporary, conventional background aka high school, and as a Yuri story, it's an all girls' high school. Surprisingly, Yuzu still gets away with her brash actions, yet the snappy pacing makes up for it, along with the consequences they bring, be it in the relationship or school department. Outside the main conflict of the couple forming up and emotionally bond with each other, the catalysts for that are villain arcs, where a new girl is introduced, offers competition for Yuzu's attention away from Mei as Yuzu contemplates Mei's emotionally intense, but sparse interactions.
Aside from Matsuri, who is the edgiest element in the entire manga in a good way, the other villains aren't compelling enough, their arcs are rather short and not to mention that later on, the conflicts are literally resolved by talking and just putting the brakes on the drama, because it is artificial in essence. However, the good thing coming from that is reaffirming the strength of Yuzu's love for Mei and vice versa. While Mei is more of a supportive role, given an enigmatic presence, as introverts are seen as puzzles in romantic relationships, her actions are intense, yet scarce, spaced out so they give a much a greater meaning to her character with minimal panels and lines. Over time you feel her progressing as a more open, emotive person, someone who is accepting Yuzu's outlooks on life, seeing how earnestness and emotional investment do not contradict her goals, nor do they exist solely to hurt wherever she is vulnerable. She starts taking on her own calculated risks instead, seeking to test Yuzu's resolve, while proving hers for herself.

The manga's presentation isn't anything amazing, but very functional for its story. Yuzu's garish looks ala gyaru is always shown with enough detail for you to recognize it. And each background has its own feeling, you can follow the character's daily activities through their locations and not feel lost. And the biggest highlight of the mangaka's artistic skill are Mei's detailed expressions, they manage to truly "show, don't tell" what Mei is experiencing in her moments of emotive epiphany and climax. Whether pissed, confrontational, determined, shocked or accepting empathy, you can tell what it is through her eyes and expression, what is going on through her head. Which is paramount for a story about dragging an introvert out of their shell with few words.

The juicy scenes are more like teasers, affirmations that the bond between out couple is getting stronger and stronger with each trial they are faced with. At the start, they feel creepy, as intended, but that's just to start and serve as a base for something that blossoms over time. I like how the drama is handled, Yuzu and Mei feel like three dimensional characters, who exist both outside their relationship and school, they have their own unique thoughts, expressions and actions to keep them distinctive and contrasting to each other. I can tell what kind of people they are and that impression never falls out of line while reading.

The biggest drawback I see right now is that the author is running out of ideas. The villains become less and less relevant each time, while our duo seem to get more focus on their own terms, which can also show their progression as people. I wouldn't mind this finishing after a few more chapters, there doesn't feel like there's more inspiration to explore what other dramatic venues could exist.

Hence why I give credit to Mei and Yuzu being compelling enough to make this a rather easy read. It's fun, but nothing truly impressive or amazing. And as a Yuri manga that stays true to its characters, that is quite the achievement, making it successful. As a romantic drama, it's just one done right, but in a fleeting sense, showing that it's running drier and drier as it goes on. There isn't really that much in terms substance, despite the competent presentation.

Here's my take after reading and re-reading 32+ chapters of Citrus by Saburo Uta.

I find Yuri Manga really interesting.

In a typical boy-girl love story, it is easy to relate to the characters one way or another as you already have an idea of how everything would work or go by. However, having a girl-girl romance completely turns everything 360 degrees. Your feelings as a reader would be stretched, bent, and twisted as the Juliet and Juliet of the story goes through experiencing love.

Citrus is a perfect example of what Yuri is and should be. As it is a roller coaster ride of emotions from the ... excitement of thinking of riding the roller coaster, the anxiety of waiting in line, the nervous feeling of getting in the cart, the tense building up to the point of no return, forcing your body to take those twist, turns and loops the bringing you to a sudden stop either wanting more of it or "I'll never getting in there ever!" reaction.

The premise of the story is not that complicated to understand. Yuzu, the spunky and trendy gyaru transferred to an all-girls school due to her mom's marriage to the father of Mei, the school's mysterious and beautiful stern student council president. Things started to develop when Mei kissed Yuzu out of the blue.

This polarizing contrast between the two is the best part of the story since it opens a lot of great interactions as the story progresses. Yuzu initially would be thought of as the aggressor of the story but would be later become a confusing mess as Mei gives out perplexing signals and actions to Yuzu. This goes on and on each chapter up to the latest one at the post date of this review.

The story is a never-ending tease fest making sure that you would have less than enough for you to want more of their love escapades.

Another thing about Citrus is that the art perfectly depicts the characters. They are so fleshed out that they almost feel as real when you read and scroll back and forth through the pages. Even the supporting characters are well developed and no one is forced into the story.

Intense scenes are intense and you'll feel the burn of every passion-filled panel of Yuzu and Mei showing their affection to one another. The great thing is, it never felt inappropriate nor obscene as it is true and respectful to the feelings of the characters.

You'll understand what I mean when you read it as I give it a perfect 10.

This is my first review so I thought I'd start with one of the first Mangas I ever read. This review is going under the assumption you've read the synopsis and have a basic idea of what the story is about. Also as of writing I've read all available 28 chapters but the story is not yet completed. Hope this helps some of you out!

*********

Story - 10

One of the strong points of Citrus is definitely its strong storyline. It skips between the lines of heartwarming to heartbreaking with such grace, allowing the reader to really feel the highs the main characters have in their ... relationship along with the gut wrenching hardships they have to get through before they can break down the barriers between them. The pacing really helps with this. Whenever the characters break down barriers between them and they grow closer together as a result, you are under no illusion that this is the end of their troubles, but it still gives you that warm fuzzy feeling that attracts so many to romance stories in general. In the end, I really don't feel giving anything but a 10 will do this beautiful story justice.

Art - 9

The artwork in Citrus is of very high quality. Everything from the backgrounds, to the main characters themselves are made with a such care that it really is pleasing to the eyes and I think you'd struggle to find any fan of manga to put up much fuss about the artwork. That being said, knowing that Yuzu is supposed to be a self proclaimed Gyaru who gets in trouble for wearing too much make up, her character should often be seen with slightly more pronounced make up as throughout she seemed to look as natural as her step sister Mei who is fondly against make up. It's a small detail but never the less something that bugged me enough not to give the art the 10 it otherwise deserved.

Characters - 8

The character development throughout the 28 chapters I've read so far is paced very well. You never get the feeling like either of the main characters (Mei especially) are ever being rushed into to anything for no good reason, and I think that is complimented by the way the story has progressed so far. Unfortunately there are some instances where the characters decisions aren't clear and it seems they themselves don't know why they do certain actions and although you can see why some characters do certain things, you would expect them to go about it differently based on their personality. Saying that, it is something I have found in several highly sought after mangas, and by no means ruins the storys impact.

Enjoyment - 10

I enjoyed Citrus immensely, there is enough development from each chapter update to keep you satisfied but at the same time always leaves you wanting more after each chapter as every story should.

Overall - 9

A very good piece of work and possibly the piece that got me into the whole yuri genre. I can't recommend this highly enough, I was lingering on giving this piece a 10 however I both would like to see just how its storylines develops more before calling it a masterpiece. After 28 chapters there is definitely enough for you to have read it all and feel content however like I said before, it always leaves you wanting more!

Found out that an anime adaptation is happening and the premise intrigued me so much that I just had to take a look at the source material. (Also because i was bored) Couldn't put it down once i started and caught up to the series (Volume 8 as of writing this) within a day. Let's review.

Story (8)
New school, new sister, new friends, new experiences. It's a setting used a multitude of times in various works and it's nothing too special. Citrus is at its core a drama with many typical drama moments that caused my eyes to roll. But it was also filled with moments ... that made me notice my own heart beat. The story is rather cliche at times but i never found myself bored for even a second.
Art (10)
When a character smiles it's not just that she's happy, when she cries it's not just that she's sad. This manga excels in showing the various complex emotions displayed by each character. They all laugh different, they all cry different. She's not just happy, she's the happiest she's ever been. She's not just crying, she's heartbroken. Citrus is brimming with a plethora of emotions thanks to the artwork. These characters are not real... Yet they're more alive than most people in the real world.
Character (10)
The two main characters are worlds apart and throughout the story they are brought closer together. Given that premise they MUST be able carry this manga, and they do just that. Development of characters are generally well paced and logical. The supporting cast are dynamic and unique. The manga does a great job of showing you everyone's point of view and motive. The vast majority of the characters were easy to sympathize with for me and i quickly took a liking to them.
Enjoyment (9)
It's not a 10 because the manga isn't flawless... nothing is. The characters make dumb decisions, the plot has ex-machina moments, and there are instances of absurd miscommunication. That being said, i absolutely loved the rest of it. It's a beautiful showcase of people finding themselves, finding what's important, and struggling against societal views.
Overall (9)
Citrus is one of the best pieces I've ever read, in my heart i give it a 10. I'm no expert on love stories but I believe this one's up there. It's both entertaining and relevant to current society. Citrus takes a step beyond a manga that's read just for entertainment, it's got a voice and something to say.

"There is no right answer, we only do what we want to do".