---
title: "Ao Haru Ride (Blue Spring Ride) – Book Review"
url: https://alsuprun.com/blog/ao-scan/ao-haru-ride-blue-spring-ride-book-review/
author: "Editorial"
date: 2026-09-22T04:53:56+00:00
categories: ["ao scan"]
tags: []
---

# Ao Haru Ride (Blue Spring Ride) – Book Review

Discover why this shojo romance is a must-read for high school and first love fans! Available to read physically and digitally.

 Futaba Yoshioka thought all boys were loud and obnoxious until she met Kou Tanaka in junior high. Now, years later, he’s back in her high school class, but is he still the same boy she fell for?

 

## Characters

 Futaba Yoshioka used to think all boys were loud and obnoxious until she met Kou Tanaka in junior high. He was her first love, and she thought he’d be hers for good until she found out that he had moved away. Now that she’s entering high school, she’s determined to reclaim her image and make a fresh start.

 [![Rejuvenate your whole body & balance your health without medications - now remotely!](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/BioresonanceTopAd.png)](https://www.bioresonance.rent) ‘Ao Haru Ride’ is a heartwarming shoujo romance about second chances and the beautiful journey of youth. The manga’s title, which the author Io Sakisaka explained means ‘youth + ride,’ captures this perfectly. The characters are well-rounded and deeply affecting, and the artwork is stunning. This is a true standout in the genre, and a must-read for anyone who loves shoujo romance. Whether you’re looking for something sweet and cute or a little more serious, this is definitely worth your time!

 

## Plot

 Futaba Yoshioka is a first year high school student who tries to make female friends by acting unfeminine. This is because of a misunderstanding in junior high that left her feeling ostracized by girls. One day she reunites with her first love, Kou Tanaka who moved away to Nagasaki after middle school. He now goes by the name Mabuchi and is cold and distant, nothing like the gentle Kou she remembered from the past.

 The two become close as they spend time together, but Futaba is unable to tell Kou how she feels. However, when she tries to break through his hard shell by helping Yui Narumi through the loss of her father, he realizes that his relationship with Yui is holding him back and tries to move on. In the end, he decides to meet her and confess his feelings.

 [![](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ForeverYoungYouWannaBe.png)](https://alsuprun.com/services.html#Contact) The manga series was written and illustrated by Io Sakisaka and serialized in the shoujo manga magazine Bessatsu Margaret between 2011 and 2015. It has sold over 5.84 million copies. An anime television series and drama CD adaptation were both licensed for release by Sentai Filmworks. The drama CD is bundled with the limited edition of the tenth compiled volume of the manga. A light novel and film adaption are also in the works. Ao Haru Ride has received critical acclaim in Japan, ranking among the best-selling manga of the year. It was also a nominee for the 2013 and 2014 Manga Taisuke Awards. It is a must read for anyone who enjoys romance, comedy, and slice of life genres.

 

## Reviews

 Io Sakisaka’s beautiful artwork, paired with her evocative storytelling and characters that feel like they come straight out of real life, make Ao Haru Ride (Blue Spring Ride) a standout in the shojo romance genre. Ao Haru Ride is not just about high school romance, it is about the whole journey of adolescence and how to find one’s place in this world.

 The pacing and emotional depth of this story are refreshingly different from the typical romance anime, making it an enjoyable watch for anyone who is looking for a heartfelt love story with some drama elements. Ao Haru Ride is a must-see for any shojo romance fan! It’s a memorable and beautiful trip through “blue spring” that you will not want to miss.

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