Ao Haru Ride
Overview
Ao Haru Ride is a soft, emotional coming-of-age story following Futaba, Kou, Yuri, Shuuko, and Kominato as they navigate friendship, grief, heartbreak, and the painfully slow process of figuring out who they want to be. Kou’s emotional distance and trauma are a major part of the plot, and Futaba has to decide whether to hold on… or finally move forward. This story balances heartbreak and hope in a way that feels real, raw, and incredibly nostalgic.
Character Spotlight
Futaba Yoshioka
Kou Mabuchi
Yuri Makita
Shuuko Murao
Aya Kominato
Touma Kikuchi
Yoichi Tanaka
Yui Narumi
Tachibana Kisyun
Uchimiya Haruhiko
More from Io Sakisaka – Mini Library Shelf
Love Me, Love Me Not
Sakura, Saku
Yumeka Utsutsu Ka
My Thoughts
Ao Haru Ride hits differently because it doesn’t glamorize the ugly parts of growing up. Kou’s miscommunication and emotional shutdowns were honestly frustrating — like watching someone wither away in real time because he refused to speak up or trust anyone with his pain. I felt for him, but wow… he made it hard.
And Narumi? I get that she’s a grieving teenager, but the manipulation was wild. Instead of supporting Kou as he tried to escape his despair, she dragged him right back into it. I understand her trauma, but I cannot excuse the way she actively pulled him down when he desperately needed to heal.
On the flip side, Touma deserved better. He was patient, respectful, and genuinely cared. But Futaba dated him on impulse, and even though she didn’t mean to hurt him, she still kinda did. He walked into a love triangle he never asked for, and he handled it with so much maturity.
As for Shuuko and Mr. Tanaka… I know they couldn’t be together, but the way her feelings switched off suddenly felt rushed. Same with Aya’s ending — I’m happy he got what he wanted, but it did feel like everything wrapped up quickly for the sake of closure.
What I Loved
Despite everything, the story’s heart is beautiful. The friendships, the soft scenes, the quiet mornings, the festivals, the longing, the “almosts,” the moments where they wanted to speak but swallowed the words instead… And deep down, I wish I had a love like theirs — the kind that waits, breaks, heals, and still chooses you after everything.
TL;DR
A tender, frustrating, nostalgic coming-of-age romance that makes you want to scream, cry, hug the characters, and root for them all over again. If you’ve ever loved someone you couldn’t reach, this story will get you.
🎲 What is Roulette Review?
Reading three volumes of manga, manhwa, and manhua all at once 📚💨
Watching a J-drama or K-drama at 2x speed because I have to know if they kiss 😭
Switching between my Switch, phone, and Steam library because I can’t pick one game 🎮
Balancing a controller, my phone, a matcha latte, and five tabs of otome game guides… all while pretending I have it together ✨
Roulette Reviews are chaotic, emotional, and always from the heart ❤️
Stay tuned for more roulette reviews—anything can pop up next!
More Manga You Might Love
Soft romance, heartfelt drama, and sweet storytelling — curated for you.
Strawberry Love
A gentle high school romance with sweetness, jealousy, and blushy moments that feel like first love all over again.
Read Review
Itazura na Kiss
A comfort classic full of slow-burn chaos, stubborn love, and the OG academically genius x sunshine disaster girl trope.
Read Review
Stepmother and Daughter Blues
A beautifully emotional slice-of-life about motherhood, healing, and forming a new family from broken pieces.
Read Review💖 Thanks for reading! 💖
If you enjoyed this review, don’t forget to check out more otome game content on the site!
🌸 View All Otome Reviews 🌸
Follow for more otome, manhwa, manga, anime, and gaming updates ✨
