A review by ravensandpages
I See Your Face, Turned Away, Vol. 1 by Rumi Ichinohe

4.0

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Netgalley and Kodansha!

Ah... turns out I'm still weak for a well-done high school romance, contrary to what I believed in my head. This was 100% a cover request, but I was absolutely delighted by what was inside, especially because of the similarities between it and my second favorite shoujo series, Love Me, Love Me Not. If you're as big a fan of that one as I am, I would recommend reading this! 

This shoujo follows four high schoolers: Hikari, Mari, Ohtani, and Asagiri. Hikari and Mari have been friends since elementary school, and Mari fits the perfect archetype of the romances Hikari likes to read: shy and sweet. Despite her beauty, Mari has always had a hard time even greeting people, and Hikari decides to help her by wingmanning Ohtani, the boy who sits in front of her that has shown his own interest in Mari. Asagiri often tags along when Ohtani comes to sit with them for lunch, and thus the quartet rounds out. It would be a simple set up, if only Hikari hadn't begun to realize her own interest in Ohtani. 

I loved the art style in this one and the characterization was endearing. There were so many charming details, like the conversations about double eyelids, Hikari's french horn playing, and Mari's adorable face she makes whenever she's anxious.  Of the four, I think Asagiri shines the least—he's only on the edges of Hikari's POV and is more a supportive friend in Ohtani's than his own character—but I have faith that he'll be more fleshed out in the following volumes, which I absolutely plan to read. I am liking the beginning of Mari's arc and I am very excited to see where this series goes.