The anime adaptation of Sakura Trick is very close to the manga template, with each episode covering two, sometimes three, chapters exactly with a few nice extras. Depending on the viewer, this can be considered good or bad, like most things in life. Explaining the appeal of Sakura Trick can take a while, but it is very easy to understand. It is more than a series with cute and sexy girls kissing a lot. Sakura Trick tells a light-hearted, yet serious story of first love/young love. Sakura Trick skips the process of two people getting to know each other and instead focuses on the progressing relationship and the growth of the girls' feelings for each other. It still uses classic formulas, but it focuses attention on the already established relationship(s), mainly Haruka and Yuu's.

Haruka and Yuu's relationship begins as one of "best friends with benefits", but as the series progresses their feelings for each other become stronger and stronger. Haruka is in love with Yuu from day one, but it doesn't take long for Yuu to develop her own feelings as well. Each episode shows a progression in their relationship, no matter how simple or mundane their activity, from empty classrooms to shopping together. Their kissing also plays a central role in the plot, as each kiss shows the two becoming more comfortable with each other. Their first kiss shows inexperience and as they get further their kisses become more sensual. However, they do not cross the line.
Despite all the girls following an "anime girl stereotype", all the couples' interactions feel natural and believable. This is the key to a good yuri rom-com. There can be silly moments here and there, but as far as the interactions go, the viewer has to believe that the girls really care about each other. That's the key and Sakura Trick has done it very well.
Although I have written a lot about Haruka and Yuu's relationship, there is a second important couple in the series with their own developing romance in Kotone and Shizuku. They have a slightly more dramatic relationship. Unfortunately, their relationship is really secondary as they don't get as much focus as fans would have hoped. They have several great, hard-hitting moments together, but they definitely could have used more. What we saw of them was pretty good. The manga doesn't cover their story as much as you'd like, so it's not the anime writers' fault.
Back to the first crush/love issue. The series, as mentioned, presents this romance in a light-hearted yet believable way. Early on in Haruka and Yuu's relationship, it is clear that they are friends rather than lovers. The show creates a sense of exploration in the realm of the first crush. What does it feel like to be with the person you like? What kind of thoughts go through the minds of both people? Do they both understand what it means to be in such a relationship? Are they ready to take the next step? All these questions and more go through the couples and the viewers as the series continues.
Mitsuki Sonoda, Yuu's older sister is the unofficial third main character of Sakura Trick. The episodes where she has a lot of screen time are important, both because of her role as older sister to her inexperienced lesbian younger sister, and because of her own blossoming feelings. Her perspective is that of a girl who is slowly learning what it is like to be who she is becoming and accepting that path, so her role is not a waste.
Lastly we have the "dynamic duo" of the series, Yuzu and Kaede. Yuzu is the straight girl and the one trying the hardest to stay mentally sane. Kaede is a fun girl with very sharp eyes and senses. Apart from being the "subtext", Kaede is a particularly good observer.
The Sakura Trick soundtrack is not an Academy Awards masterpiece, but it fills my soul with absolute joy when I hear most of the tracks in this show. If you look for the lyrics of OP and ED, you will see that they are love songs. The presentation and animation style are like an updated Hidamari skit.

Overall, Sakura Trick exceeded my expectations. For yuri fans who like both everyday life and light-hearted casual stories whose romantic content can be taken seriously, this series is definitely worth watching. Viewers who are very sensitive to fanservice in any form, but are still curious, would be better off picking up the manga.