*Note: This is a review for the completed series.

I'll start off by saying that this is an exceptionally unique manga; every one of cecropiamoth's points are true and what makes me want to rate this series highly. This truly does examine the mind in a way so bluntly that almost makes us uncomfortable-- it's certainly not fluffed up shoujo.
But there are elements of this manga that just disturbed me, and I can't get past some of them. Perhaps it's because I read this from a female perspective. Funny, I know, I just said that the GOOD thing about this manga is what I dislike about it. But there's a difference between expressing truths of humanity about coming of age and disturbing for disturbing's sake.

DO NOT read this if you are looking for a light, cute story about a cross-dressing boy who is in love with his younger childhood friend. It may start off that way, but it gets deep rather quick. I will admit the first couple volumes are hard to get through and you wonder how you're going to get through the next ten pages, but after a certain point you are so hooked you just fly through the volumes.

The art is not glamorous, but it has its own appeal and is consistent.

I also feel the need to mention that the protagonist is INTENTIONALLY unlikable-- he's almost comparable to a tragic hero. Largely unliked, but, on a certain level, you sympathize with him. This is very different from romance novelists that unintentionally make a character shallow and stupid.
So ladies, you will want to bash his head in, and gentlemen will be embarrassed to have had some of the same thoughts, but this was the author's intention. Actually, instead of saying he's intentionally unlikable, it's better to say "painfully realistic" in his portrayal.

The ending did not seem axed to me until the last couple pages which entirely ruined the "complete" feeling the last chapter added to the series.

... Last updated on December 16th, 2011, 4:28pm

Thanks to the manga, which I THINK I've read to the end (Chapter 83), I believe I now understand some perennial manga mysteries that had no idea an answer to before:

1. Why a high school guy who is loved by more than one girl would hesitate for years in choosing one, unfortunately causing each of them much pain.

2. Why an essentially heterosexual guy would cross-dress for years and have trouble giving it up.

3. How uncertain and wavering the process of growing up can be, without anyone involved being evil, simply because teenagers often don't know themselves well, and have to discover themselves and their needs and preferences through an empirical process of trial and error.

Issues number 1 and 3 above were all over my other favorite shounen love manga, "Ichigo 100%". That manga suffered from its excessive length and the fact that the only answer it made available to issue #1 was so strange and unlikely that it was very off-putting. The Boy Who Couldn't Decide in "Ichigo 100%" appeared to be either really stupid and unable to read people, or so deeply sexually inhibited that he might well have turned out in the end to be unable to have a sexual love relationship with anyone. Luckily, the much more thoroughly worked out version of issue 3 in "Ichigo" saved the manga for me, and maybe a lot of other people as well.

This manga didn't need to be saved by the scruff of its neck. It presents all of its three cardinal issues completely, yet subtly, and in the end solves them all clearly and insightfully. I bet many male readers will recognize parts of themselves in this story.

And the ending is a thorough one. It did not seemed rushed to me. And I liked it.

Nevermind that Yoshinori was annoying; the fact that I was glued to this series says a lot. Pretty much the only thing that kept me from reading this in one go was that I didn't want to know who he'd choose between Hidari and Minamo as I honestly liked them both. Would've prefered a Honeymoon Salad ending, but I digress XD.

But the last two volumes? Ugh.



So yeah, a decent read - the first eight volumes bordered on excellent, even - but you've been warned. Haha.

Shame that the series ended so abruptly. I am looking forward to the authors work of such in the future. The next series Rika seems lighter but the next few chapters might dispelled my thoughts on that.

As for this manga, definitely not for the faint-hearted vanilla fans. The author explores a lot of controversial topics such as incest, cross dressing and etc etc. I was deeply absorbed into this manga as it progresses.

The story itself is very compelling to me than most of the other gender bender without any substance as to why they do it. A complicated feeling of a boy who likes cross dressing and engrossed with the female body. To add to that, he is surrounded by girls his whole life sure doesn't help his indecisiveness. And how does he escape his insecurity? He does it by cross dressing as the perfect girl taking good traits from all the girl he surrounds himself with.

Character development is also good and the art-style is alluring to me. Besides that, the author cleverly knows how to create interesting and awkward atmosphere between the characters. Tear jerking and rage event are often prevalent in this manga. And that is what truly makes a absorbing manga to read on.

I saw this series quite late but when I went on reading, I couldn't stop reading it till the end and ended up finishing it in a single day. And not many manga compels me to read non-stop for quite a while.

Highly recommended to mature readers. A very entertaining read.
Last, but not least,


... Last updated on July 13th, 2011, 11:16am

Yubisaki Milk Tea represents a manga that fits perfectly in the "coming of age" genre. We have a guy, named Yoshinori who has a very complex personality, so complex that you never know what the hell he is thinking. A mere coincidence led to a result that was really unexpected, he started to enjoy crossdressing in a girl, and even more of it later on .

The thing that pissed me a bit like everybody else, was his indecisive character. Not knowing in what way he loves the two girls, Hidari and Minamo, was indeed something that I did not appreciate. Amplified by his female half (later known as Yuki) one thing became obvious, someone will be a third wheel in the end.

All in all, this manga seemed a simple romantic one at the beginning and in the end it proved to be one of a kind. Hourou Musuko would describe this one a little but i do concider Yubisaki Milk Tea far better, the characters are portrayed more realisticaly and not so abstract like in Hourou Musuko. A nice read for everyone that is in for an interesting concept.

i can partly understand why no ones fond of the main hero. (hell when i read how hes cheating nonstop part of me just wants to beat him to a pulp)

still i think there is more than that, and if you really think about it, it isn't as disgusting as it may seem to be. just try to imagine how you're really in love with 3 women it may be just his reaction to that confusion thats in his mind.

Its about cute guy cos-playing cute girl. Kinda slice of life. Half of his experiences troublesome, most are disturbing, none extraordinary. But he keeps doing it. Probably he is gay, but most likely he not sure yet. Or maybe he enjoying all that weird relations his cos-play spawning. Art decent, girls (cos-played "girl" included) are cute.

... Last updated on June 27th, 2010, 3:54pm

i disagree with you , and still i agree but there is a lot of parts that tell us thats what happen in real life think of it how did he turn out to his friend (i didnt like it at all) second is that he knew the idea of doing an ideal girl he have made it perfect but there was bad consequences for what he done 1st his friend fall for him 2nd he admired him self so much and he wasnt able to balance bet. his both liefs 3rd he let fall of the girl that she truly admired him
THE POINT Is =that we fall for the same mistakes without we notice i still not sure of what u said about this

i read this back when it was just one volume manga, the story at that point, is good, go with nice art make this a decent read. At that point, i was think this could be a good manga to introduce to guys searching for nice drama. When 2nd vol come out, i was like WTH but still enjoy reading it, but the further it go, the bad taste it leaves grow stronger. Daxisheart's comment is overrated him (for the worst one should be someone like Makoto from School Days and the guy from Sundome ) but i can assure you, this Yoshinori guy is keeping a good track on becoming some trash like that. No need to say more since most of the guys below me has said a good deal about him.
For the solely volume 1 : 6
For the 2nd volume and up: -3

... Last updated on December 30th, 2009, 8:13pm