#Only read if your ok with spoilers!!

Introduction

At first, The Summer You Were There seems like your typical high school yuri romance. It kicks off with a pretty familiar setup. Shizuku Hoshikawa, a quiet and introverted bookworm, gets caught writing a novel by Kaori Asaka, the popular and outgoing girl in her class. Instead of making fun of her, Kaori proposes a idea; Shizuku should write a romance novel based on their experiences as a "couple" together over the summer. At first glance, the premise isn’t anything groundbreaking, but something about the two characters keeps you wanting to keep read.

The beginning moves at a pretty slow pace, letting us get to know Shizuku and Kaori's characteristics while also setting up the major themes of the story. (Self-discovery, emotional vulnerability, and the blurred line between fiction and reality.) Even though it starts off feeling kind of generic, the way the characters interact and the small moments of chemistry between them keep it interesting. There’s this quiet tension that builds up, making you feel like there’s something deeper going on beneath the surface.

Shizuku Hoshikawa

Shizuku is the main character, and she fits a lot of the typical traits of a shy, bookish protagonist. She’s insecure, withdrawn, and constantly doubting herself—not just as a writer but as a person. What makes her interesting, though, is her huge character development through this very short story. She starts off feeling like an outsider, someone who’s just watching life happen instead of actually living it, but as she spends more time with Kaori, she starts to open up, even if she’s reluctant at first.

One of the best things about Shizuku’s character is how real her struggles feel. Her self-doubt isn’t overly dramatic, but subtle and realistic instead. This makes her feel really relatable to anyone who’s ever felt like they’re not good enough. Writing is a huge part of her life, but it’s also something she’s scared of because she’s afraid of failing again. Her journey isn’t just about falling in love. I would say it’s more about finding confidence in herself, learning to express her emotions, and realizing that her feelings matter. By the end of the story, she’s not just writing a romance novel, but she’s taking control of her own story in a way she never has felt comfortable before.

Kaori Asaka

At the start, Kaori seems like the complete opposite of Shizuku in a lot of ways. She’s bright, energetic, and super outgoing. She’s the kind of person who seems effortlessly social, always knowing the right thing to say. But as the story goes on, it becomes pretty clear that there’s more to her than just being the popular girl. She’s not as carefree as she seems, and there are moments where you can tell that she’s struggling with something deeper.

Kaori plays a huge role in Shizuku’s growth. She’s the one who encourages her to step out of her comfort zone, to actually experience things instead of just writing about them. The way she pushes Shizuku isn’t mean-spirited. It’s playful, teasing, and full of genuine care. You can tell that she really believes in Shizuku, even when Shizuku doesn’t believe in herself.

One of the most interesting things about Kaori is the way her vulnerabilities show through small moments. Like hesitating before she speaks, a sad look that lingers for just a second, or a cryptic comment that Shizuku doesn’t fully understand at first. As the story goes on these moments become more and more obvious. These little details hint that there’s something she’s not saying, and that mystery makes her character even more compelling. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Kaori isn’t just helping Shizuku grow, but she’s also dealing with her own struggles, and those struggles are what make her such an emotionally powerful character.

Seri and Ruri: The Side Characters

Even though The Summer You Were There is mainly focused on Shizuku and Kaori, the side characters Seri and Ruri add a lot to the story. Seri is one of Kaori’s close friends, and she gives a different perspective on Kaori’s personality. She’s more observant than she lets on, and she seems to know that Kaori is going through something before Shizuku even realizes it. She’s supportive but also protective of Kaori, which adds an extra layer of depth to their friendship.

Ruri doesn’t get as much attention as Seri, but she plays an important role in grounding the story. She reminds us that the world doesn’t revolve around just the main characters. There are other relationships and friendships happening in the background. The way the side characters are used is really effective because they never take away from the main relationship, but they still add to the emotional weight of the story.

Seri and Ruri don’t just add depth to Kaori’s story, but they also play a huge role in shaping Shizuku’s journey. Even before we realize their connection to Kaori, we learn that their past with Shizuku was a defining moment that started her depressive state. When Kaori brings them all together, it marks a huge step forward for Shizuku’s character development. The way the author weaves their histories together through Kaori makes the story feel even more meaningful, enhancing the emotional impact and strengthening the overall narrative.

The Art Style and Visual Storytelling

One of the strongest aspects of The Summer You Were There is its art style. The visuals are clean and expressive, and the emotions of the characters come through in really subtle ways. The way they look at each other, their body language, and even the space between them in certain panels all help to show how their relationship is evolving.

The use of light and shadow in the manga is also really cool. A lot of the early scenes take place in bright, warm settings, making their summer together feel almost dreamlike. But as the story gets more serious, the art shifts. There are more shadows, more quiet moments, and a sense of something heavier looming in the background. The reader was always able to tell when something was extremely serious due to a really heavy art style that would come out of nowhere. This kind of visual storytelling makes the emotional moments hit even harder.

The Foreshadowing

One of the things The Summer You Were There does really well is foreshadowing. There are a lot of little hints throughout the story that something isn’t quite right, but they’re so subtle that you don’t necessarily pick up on them right away. Kaori’s occasional sad expressions, the way she avoids certain topics, or the way she acts like every moment matters more than it should. It all builds up in a way that makes sense once you reach the big reveal.

Seri also plays a part in the foreshadowing. She’s supportive, but there are moments where she seems worried about Kaori, like she knows something that Shizuku doesn’t. And then there’s the theme of writing itself, Shizuku’s struggle with fiction versus reality subtly hints at the idea that the story she’s telling is going to take a turn she wasn’t expecting.

One minor issue with the foreshadowing is that as the story gets closer to its conclusion, it becomes easier for the reader to predict the twist. While this doesn’t significantly detract from the overall experience, it would have been even more impactful if the hints had built up in a way that led to a more seamless and unexpected reveal.

The Plot Twist

The emotional core of The Summer You Were There comes from its heartbreaking twist: Kaori has been hiding the fact that she has a terminal illness. Suddenly, everything about her character makes sense. Like why she’s so insistent on making memories, why she avoids talking about the future, and why she pushes Shizuku to live in the moment. The story goes from being a simple summer romance to something way more emotional and devastating.

What makes the twist work so well is that it doesn’t feel forced or manipulative. It’s not just there to make the reader sad. It adds meaning to everything that came before it. Every scene between Shizuku and Kaori suddenly feels even more important, and the weight of their relationship hits even harder. It’s the kind of twist that stays with you long after you’ve finished the manga.

Conclusion

In the end, The Summer You Were There is more than just another yuri romance. It’s a story about love, loss, and the importance of truly living. What starts as a simple summer relationship turns into something way deeper, with beautifully written characters, subtle foreshadowing, and an emotional payoff that’s both heartbreaking and meaningful.

Shizuku’s journey isn’t just about falling in love with Kaori, it’s about learning to believe in herself, to take risks, and to appreciate the time she has with the people she cares about. And Kaori’s story is a reminder that even the shortest, most fleeting moments can leave the biggest impact.

While the ending is undeniably sad, it also leaves you with a sense of appreciation; for love, for life, and for the stories we choose to tell. The Summer You Were There isn’t just a romance manga; it’s an unforgettable experience that sticks with you long after you’ve turned the last page.