I also find it confusing to classify this one as "yaoi", though it has all the BL sex scenes. Can't even say that I actually like it; but I admit being stirred up and captivated by its utmost strange plot. Three guys, physically and somehow emotionally involved with each other, all because of the common love and lust combined that is almost surreal and excruciating for the same girl. Oddest threesome ever, to be added.
Along with the beautiful art, this manga is like a uncanny melancholy verse. Feel like reading Norwegian Wood with yaoi scenes, really!

I didn't like it. I liked the whole mind screw element but not how it was constructed. I like this mangaka but this work made me cringe. I'm sure it'll hit all the bases for some fans but I'm more of a happy endings, angst with love person rather than all out tears and tragedy.
Also, I'm not sure I even understand why the three decided to do it. Logically doesn't make sense.

Psychological is the most apt word for this series, and it is all about the characters emotions. This isn't a typical boys love manga - there is no love between the male characters in this in the sense of romance. I don't know what to make of this altogether, my mind is still processing it in some ways. All i feel comfortable saying is that its a good manga, but i feel uncomfortable classifying it as yaoi, despite the intimate physical relationship the characters share for a brief time.

The characters and the story are well constructured but you can't help but feel you've been dunked in a bucket of water. You're suddenly immersed in their situation and then (also quite suddenly) you're taken out again. That's how i feel about the ending...

I'd love to know what happens afterwards. You can't go through what they went through and just go 'meh ... let's just move on'. And the way the characters were so well developed in the story, there's so much potential! I've read 5+ volume manga series based on less ... I want to know more about the ongoing consequences of their actions - their relationship and what becomes of it after everything.

Having said that though, I also feel there's something quite beautiful about the way it all ended. An intrigueing story, beautiful artwork as always and an ending that simultaneously satisfies but leaves you hungry for more.

Recommended.

Well after I finished it I really didn't know what to think of it. It's a really unique story and really deep, too. However I won't rate it because I can't decide if it's bad or good.
I would recoment this story to people who want to read something different from the usual stuff.

I love this despite not being a yaoi fan. This is mainly because it's not all about graphic meaningless sex nor cliched romance. There is just raw emotion in it's purest form.

It captures very well the sense of helplessness, hopelessness and lonliness felt during grief along with all the confusion and lust of being a teenager. There is a great balance between dialogue and meaningful silence and the feelings of the characters leap of the page. Anyone who has suffered the loss of a love one will instantly relate to the characters.

Deeply moving and very touching this is a heart wrenching tale with, in my opinion, a brilliant ending that fitted perfectly with the feel of the plot.

... Last updated on August 9th, 2009, 3:54pm

this is one of the manga that left me with DEEP impression-- i didnt dare to touch it anymore (serious. i only read it once, i remember everything and now it's lying somewhere in my room).
scary, touching, but just... not my type.

I don't know why people don't like it. I think most people are only interested in comedy and stuff that doesn't include angst at all. Just don't enjoy serious genres. But for me angst is the best genre to read. I didn't love it but it was the art and the general connection between the characters even though I can't figure what that was. I don't know how a girl can link the three of them together. I don't if it's just pity but thats something I really don't understand. It's a good story but I did feel that parts of the plot was quite pointless and I don't get why Tatsumi kept on screwing Orie. Also pointing to the fact that the artist isn't the same person that wrote story, the art doesn't really push the rating higher. I'll give it one good point, it had a girl in it. It's rare but I liked it because it was different. It's more realistic and not some pointless comedy or just basing the manga on boys. It gave a different perspective to the story and considering she didn't appear much its pretty much a given. I'm not giving it such a high rating but not a low one either because it was overall a good manga. I enjoyed reading it but I expected better.

... Last updated on June 5th, 2009, 3:00pm

It's so good.
It's not your typical yaoi thingy with no plots, shallow character and all.
It has a plot, the story is meaningful not just sex, sex and sex.
The story is really unique.
It's a gem really..

I'm disappointed so many people hated this story, but not really surprised.
Takaguchi sensei (who also wrote Shout Out Loud!) never writes straightforwards stories, and this one about grieving is especially intense and painful.
Western psychology supposedly has the five stages of grieving - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. I'm not sure if Japanese culture has something similar, but Koi no Kawaki certainly plunges into the more extreme depths of guilt and grieving.

Will be appreciated by mature readers.

Edit: The June publication is excellent by the way. Well translated, with honorifics retained. June's back-of-the-book synopsis is probably more accurate than the description on this page..
Synopsis from June:
"Yuka loves the passionate Orie, the arrogant Tatsumi and the painfully honest Suguru. All are different, but each is loved deeply and sincerely. One of the boys doesn't know that his girlfriend is cheating on him, another doesn't seem to care that he shares his girl with others, while one turns a blind eye to the situation. So what happens if you take away their common denominator?"
______

... Last updated on December 28th, 2008, 9:09pm