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Your Lie in April is nothing short of a masterpiece, and I totally understand why this series is so beloved.

Art:
The art didn’t really speak to me personally, but it was consistent throughout and didn’t have any weak moments. I found the use of colour to be a nice touch. I also loved how the piano was animated—the detailed shots of the inside parts were fascinating, and I’m guessing the hand movements were accurate too, though I’m no expert.

Music:
I’m not a musician, so I can’t say what makes one pianist better than another. But the piano music in this anime felt like it truly spoke to ... me. Despite my lack of musical knowledge, I could feel what the pieces were trying to convey (though that is probably to be expected from an anime with such a heavy focus on music...).

Characters:
One of the things I really appreciated was how the story didn’t just focus on the two main characters. Most of the cast felt like they mattered, and I’m glad they got the attention they deserved. There were just enough characters to keep things interesting without making anyone feel forgettable.

Story:
The story was fantastic. The pacing was great, and I have to admit, this show had me losing sleep. I’m not someone who usually binges a series in just a few days, but the pianist in the blue suit had that something that kept me hooked.


Despite my high praise, I'd like to adress a few negatives as well:

Though I just praised the development that most of the characters received, I felt like Tsubaki didn’t get the proper conclusion she deserved. It felt like she was just kind of tossed aside with a shrug, like, “Eh, she’ll be fine.”

I also wasn’t a big fan of the “violence = funny” scenes, which were surprisingly common. Sure, it might have worked once or twice, but it felt way overused. You have this perfectly bittersweet story on your hands—why stain it with goofy, out-of-place moments that don’t fit the tone?


Still, these criticisms aren’t enough to lower my rating. I’d give this series a perfect 10/10.
Thank you, Maty, for the recommendation—I had an amazing time watching it.

I realized very early on that I’m probably not the target demographic for this anime—it seems clearly aimed at p*rn-addicted self-inserts. Since I don’t consider myself part of that group, take my review with a grain of salt.

I have very mixed feelings about this anime, so I’ll break them down into clear points:

Art and Design:
Easily the best part of the series. The character designs are beautiful, and the animation is consistently well-executed. I honestly can’t ask for much more in this department—it’s top-notch.


Characters:
There’s plenty of variety among the characters, but many feel like they exist solely to attract as wide an audience as possible. The ... main character is a pitiful attempt at a relatable self-insert—Oh, he’s actually a reliable guy just pretending to be lazy? That feels like a shallow ploy to make romantically frustrated men think, “Oh, he’s just like me!”

Yuki, in particular, left me baffled. What was her end goal? Did she want to surpass her brother? Did she wish for her brother to be happy with Alya? Or—disturbingly—was she trying to seduce her own brother? Incest is not okay, and it’s easily the most disgusting aspect of this anime. I genuinely worry about the people who enjoy such a trope in a show. Do better.


Plot:
The plotline isn’t particularly groundbreaking. The student council setting ensures that at least something is always happening, but it doesn’t reach very deep. The way the student council is treated with such gravity feels a bit over-the-top, though this might be due to cultural differences and it's definitely not exclusive to only this anime, so I won't take points away for that.

Given that this is supposed to be a romcom, I personally would’ve liked to see more emphasis on the romance. The comedy element works occasionally, but it often feels cheap and doesn’t leave much of an impact in the grand scheme of things.


Fan Service:
I understand that fan service makes money, but I don’t understand the appeal of mixing it into an anime. If I’m bored, I’ll watch an entertaining show full of drama. If I want to see women in underwear, I’ll watch an entirely different type of video. Combining the two feels unnecessary and detracts from the overall experience.

Furthermore, this series takes fan service to uncomfortable extremes. What did the hypnosis scene add to the plot? Nothing! It just made all of the unga-bungas drool because “haha boobie.” This kind of content is exactly why I feel like I’m likely not the target demographic.


Summary:
Despite its many negatives, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the show at least a little. It does have its charm, I suppose. I’ll stick around for the second season in the hope that some of these issues are addressed. The potential is clearly there.

5/10 – Average

Oh my, this series is almost too sweet for its own good. I won’t spoil anything, but by the time I finished, I was absolutely devastated. The sheer sadness of it all really hit me—the story is incredibly captivating and emotionally gripping.

The main characters complement each other beautifully, making their connection feel genuine and heartfelt. The romance isn’t really there, but it’s not needed in this story—it still manages to be incredibly touching without it.
The art is stunning and the cover of volume 1 is one of my favourites.

Big recommend, but consider yourself warned: you might shed a few tears...

This series takes its time, with a slow pace and not much happening plot-wise. The main characters can be quite awkward, but there’s a certain charm to their interactions that kept me entertained throughout. But it really isn't that deep.

Maybe focusing more on the side characters would have been an interesting direction, as they could have brought some additional depth or variety to the story.

If you’re looking for lots of drama or unexpected plot twists, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. But if you’re in the mood for something sweet, light, and easy to enjoy without overthinking, this series is a delightful choice.

Now this is a banger! A top contender in its genre, no doubt. Some people have expressed disappointment that the focus shifted away from the main pairing, but I honestly don’t see that as a bad thing—some of the side characters are arguably even more compelling.

Art? Easily the best in the genre, in my opinion. Characters? While not flawless, they’re incredibly diverse and well-written. Story? Something is always happening, so I didn't get bored.

As for the latest arc (Miki's arc) at the time of writing this: please, please don’t make it weird! This series is so dear to me, and I’d hate to see its ... reputation tarnished by anything overly bizarre or off-putting.

This series comes so close to being "perfect," but it falls short due to the purely platonic nature of the relationship between the two main characters. While everything else—the art, the writing, and the characters—is excellent, the lack of a romantic element feels like a missed opportunity, especially given how the story is framed.

It’s a bit disappointing, as I imagine most readers (myself included) went into it expecting a romance-oriented narrative. Still, the series is so well-crafted that you can easily close your eyes during the final chapters and picture a kiss scene to give it the romantic ending it deserves.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series! It’s charmingly cute, with gorgeous artwork that adds to its appeal. The side characters are quite entertaining, while the main pairing is absolutely adorable and heartwarming.

That said, I did find the pacing a bit rushed. Almost every conflict or issue the characters face is resolved within the same chapter. While I understand that the short length of the series limits the complexity of the plot, a few unexpected twists or moments of tension would have made it even more captivating. Additionally, the whole sheep/wolf dynamic doesn’t really add much to the story beyond a couple of specific scenes, which felt ... like a missed opportunity to explore something deeper or more thematic.

Despite this, the series is light, enjoyable, and if you really wanted to, you could definitely binge it in one sitting. A perfect pick for when you’re in the mood for something sweet and quick!

Yagate Kimi ni Naru sets the gold standard by which I measure all other yuri manga. It consistently claims its well-deserved spot at the top of numerous manga rankings, and for good reason.

The story keeps you engaged, even if the stage play bit was a bit too long.

The characters are well-written and I don't just mean the main pairing, but also the supports. (Miyako is an absolute carry fr)

And lastly, the art - It's very good, the backgrounds are nicely detailed. I'm a big fan.

Above all, its sheer cuteness earns it a perfect 10/10 score. For fans of the genre, this is an absolute must-read.