At first, I read up until volume 3 and couldn't move on because the art was so shabby.
Don't get me wrong, it's still shabby at the end but I've come to realize that it's a great story and that I need to go on reading.
As for the story itself: Personally, I really was surprised by the ending. It moved me to tears and I never expected it to end like this, actually.

I just finished it and during the past 20-25 chapters of it I had to cry so many times. I cried whole-heartedly, over and over again.
When a story made me cry, I feel that I actually loved it. And I really do, I love Bokura Ga Ita!
There were some parts that were too long and there were some things I didn't understand well because it was hard to know who was speaking, at times. Because of this and the art I give it only a 9, otherwise it would have definetely been a 10.
I think the art has to be simple and clear for this story, but it just looks plain instead of simple and sometimes confusing instead of clear.

As for the story: It's just too beautiful. I'm longing for series like this. It's not you all-day-romance. Bokura Ga Ita is SPECIAL!

Edit: I have to make a certain pont totally clear: I absolutely cried and it was overall extremely touching and emotionally.

... Last updated on August 1st, 2012, 6:42am

This story will always be a favorite of mine and one of my top 10 shoujo manga of all time. I seldom find well paced and rich plot shoujo like this one. It's Dramatic, Romantic and Unforgettable. If you love good romantic meaningful story with a slice of life genre, I recommend this wonderful manga to you.

... Last updated on November 26th, 2012, 11:10am

The difference between a Josei and a Shojo manga is the seriousness of its contents. Bokura ga Ita, a tragic and obscure story of betrayal, manipulation, loneliness, hate, guilt, death, pain, existentialism and idealistic love, is in the borderline between those two genres.

The first chapters are there to show you why love is beautiful, magical, special and heart-warming... the later ones to teach you why, in reality, it is not always so. The brutal helplessness, desperation, frustration and even depression the characters go through is so realistically based that you can easily relate to some of it, making you feel their anguish to the brink of tears – and, one of this story’s most outstanding characteristics, is that not always if you fight for something with all your might, you will get it.

Plot: 10/10
The plot by itself is very well thought, interesting and easy to follow, with a deep search of the meaning of one’s existence and that every action we take, every decision we make, for the better or worse, is an important lesson…

Characters: 9.5/10
For a Shojo manga, in which is more likely to find strong willed, happy characters, it was refreshing to see only three of this type (Nanami, Takeuchi and Akiko), the others having a dark, messed up side that most people have in real life… Though some of them lacked any common sense at all to the point it was frustrating seeing them make a decision.

Art: 9.5/10
The art in a manga is not really that important if the story is good… though a MUST feature it has to have, is that it could easily convey every feeling the character is having. Though at very few times the art was so poor one couldn’t exactly tell what was happening… This requirement was INCREDIBLY WELL fulfilled.

So, despite having such a heavy emotional load that will make you cry most of the series, I highly recommend this story.

... Last updated on May 23rd, 2012, 1:57pm

the best realistic-love story i have ever red.. loved the plot.. enjoyed reading it.. felt like i was living the story.. completely captivated me.. watched the anime twice.. i think i'll read it again to relive the mixture of emotions all over again..

two thumps up

Just a heads up, I watched the anime and then continued from there.
At first, I thought "the description makes it seem so cliche".
This is quite a good slice of life manga, as for tragedy.. meeeh it is not bad.
I am glad I ended up reading the manga/watching the anime. The lead can be quite annoying at first but hey, it is slice of life. I cannot complain. This manga expresses many problems that occur in real life. Some mangas have such a unrealistic plot for a slice of life, this is something you can relate to. It makes you think are there really people out there with the same problem? Instead of 'Wow, this is so unbelievable'. I am not saying it happens all the time but it can happen.
Every relationship has obstacles; relationships take a lot of effort. Honestly, this quote can relate to this manga a lot.
"When you accept somebody you accept their past too. Don't hold it against them later."
The past is very important in this manga; they have problems accepting what happened in the past so they can move ahead, but hey, it is like that for most relationships. People can change you know? The lead tries to forget about their past, but it is hard. Just like real life, you cannot just ignore the past but you can try.
All the way through, I never thought 'Isn't that a bit overboard?' you can understand everything, you can relate to it. When you are in love stuff like this can happen, some people can be more loyal than others.
I swear if I continue, it will end up in spoilers so... yeah! I believe it was worth reading.

The manga really surprised me (even though a friend told me the end beforehand: BIG TIME SPOILER). I think that's why I didn't feel extremely ansious and mad, while reading it.

I would like to cry at the end, because that way I feel this memory will remanin engraved in my heart, is like your heart blend as one with the story because you truly understood the feelings that were conveyed, they entered and will remain engraved inside your heart as a beautiful memory. If the 2 Live Action Movies (after been released) when I watch them, they are able to convwy those heart warming feelings and make me cry, I will proudly say that knowing this whole series (anime, manga and the 2 live action movies) turn into the most beautiful memory ^^

I WAS THERE *-* reading it, feeling it and loving it X3

... Last updated on April 24th, 2012, 2:50pm

Wow...I can't say how much I love this manga. At first, I read it because I saw a preview of it in a shoujo beat preview book which they used to have...but anyways, I didn't particularly love the art or the story when I read the first chapter, but I'm sure glad I decided to continue it. It started out really light-hearted and cute, and I instantly loved the characters--Nanami, Yano, and Takeuchi. They were all very loveable in their own ways. And I kept reading, because everything about the story/characters seemed very realistic to me, even though at times the plot went by really slow that it killed me. But it's a slice-of-life, and things do/can progress slowly in real life, and I think that's what makes me love this manga so much. There were also many beautifully drawn/written scenes that tugged at my emotions. The mangaka is very skillful at that...sometimes I would cry just because the scene was so simply drawn, yet it was so calm and beautiful, and even if there were only words, the words meant a lot. Like UsoSora said, it makes me feel serene. I don't know how to describe all the feelings I've felt reading this manga, but I definitely cried a lot, and it did hurt to read it at times. Also, this manga does make me think a lot, like the last few pages of the last chapter. Because the manga started when they were 15 and ended when they were 25, it made me think how much times passes.

Well all in all, this is also one of my favorite manga because it had so much depth and so much emotions in it that made it realistic and relatable. By the way, the ending was beautifully written, and I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy stories that are realistic and not some cliched and cheesy story with no depth.

... Last updated on October 3rd, 2013, 9:01pm

I cried my heart out, it ended beautifully. It was worth waiting patiently all this time. One of my favourite manga pieces I've read so far and I believe that it will stay dear to me even after some time passes by. Really beautiful story.

I do like this manga, it's been fairly entertaining, however, if it was a bit more realistic, then I don't think there is any justification for many of Yano's actions except for the sake of adding some unrealistic drama to the story. Also, if you really think about it, could they ever really be happy after being apart so long? I mean, one or the other would always be fearful of the other just disappearing for no reason. Also, after 5 or 6 years, I think she would of moved on and not be waiting anymore.

So in the beginning I thought this manga was boring. But then it quickly picked up and I started to get excited. My sentiments are just about the same as everyone's. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I get so mad I don't want to read anymore. But I just have to find out what the ending will be and who she'll end up with. (I so want her to be with Yano...Sorry Takeuchi...)

I swear if Yuri end up it the picture i just might pull my hair out. And why the hell is that damn Akiko apart of this.Ugh!! Pisses me off.

update: after chapter 45 I completely lost it. WHY?

This story was so beautiful. One of my all time faves. I swear my heart almost broke with that accident. I'm so glad that things finally looked up. Obata sensei did a really beautiful job. Recommend to all.

... Last updated on March 27th, 2012, 9:22pm