We Were There, Vol. 1

After having read the first volume, I can understand why the one critic only gave it a two star. Sure its a bit girly (but whats wrong with that?) and a bit cliche. But if you haven't read all of the volumes then you're missing one of the best ending to any manga series that I've ever read. I don't want to give anything away, but if your eyes are dry by the end of this series then your heart is cold.Volume one through the end of volume 8 focuses on the high school aspect of young love. Now these volumes did start out very slow and the typical cliche of girl meets boy, girl hates boy but then falls in love with boy. However, boy is still not over the death of first true love. So that's about how the first two volumes start out. But when you get past those two volumes, the story line picks up until you are so caught up that you get to the adulthood of love, which are focused on volumes 9 through 16. These last volumes will answer whether love can endure a separation or can love actually conquer all. Please read through to the end. I promise you wont regret it. I'm 44 years old and I enjoyed the nostalgia that this story has, I'm sure that you will too.

I've been wanting to start this series for a while, ever since I started collecting manga honestly. It lived up to all of my expectations <3 though there were some parts i found a bit confusing overall it was very good. I finished it the day i got it, then reread it the next day. It's very dramatic too but that's my ideal theme i guess (that and romance school life). Would recommend if you like shojo! ^^

My son love this product. Excellent service.

I really love this manga!

The popular award winning manga series "Bokura ga Ita" by Yuki Obata arrives stateside via the title "We Were There" through Viz Media's Shojou Beat Manga imprint.The manga which won the "2005 Shogakukan Manga Award" for shojo manga has sold 7.6 million copies in Japan and not long after, in July 2006 was adapted to a 26-episode anime series. With a popular storyline, not only is it great to finally have the manga series in the US but due to its popularity, it's great to know that the manga which was first serialized in Betsucomi back in Oct. 2002 is still ongoing in Japan to this day.The first volume focuses on Nanami Takahashi. A teenager who is just entering high school and like most teenagers entering high school, having to deal with life of having to find new friends, getting involved in school activities and also dealing with emotions. In this case, her crush on the most popular student in school Motoharu Yano.Nanami (or Nana-chan) is not really head smart and if anything, she tends to have so many things going through her mind and somewhat lacking confidence in her own emotions to express herself.But her interest in the most popualr guy in school has suddenly caught her off guard. But each time she feels drawn to Yano, he does something very nice and sincere and once you think everything looks good between the two, Yano will do something that really ticks her off.So, to say the least, throughout this first volume, it's about Nanami (or Nana-chan) wanting to get closer to Yano but wondering how she should deal with the emotions that she is currently feeling. Should she express those feelings towards Yano?At high school, Nanami makes new friends but one person catches her interest. In class, she sits next to a smart and very quiet girl named Yuri Yamamoto. When she asks Yuri about Yano, Yuri makes a comment that she detests Yano. Nana doesn't understand why all girls think Yano is so hot but yet Yuri doesn't like him at all.But Nana starts to learn more about Yano and learns that his ex-girlfriend died in a car accident a year ago. Her name was Nana and was the older sister of her Nanami's classmate Yuri. This derails Nanami's plan to express her feelings of her crush to Yano and knowing that his ex-girlfriend was beautiful, older and popular, she feels that she doesn't have a chance.But everyday is a new day and Nanami does what she can to motivate herself and express those feelings she has inside. Will she be able to?When it comes to shojo manga, may it be a storyline such as "Hana Yori no Dango" or "Kare Kano", there are plenty of manga series that revolve around high school love. But so far, I think that readers can get a sense of the purity of Nanami' s character and these are genuine feelings that not just girls share but also boys who enter a new high school and has a crush on someone.There is no ulterior motive, there is no villain. This is pretty much a drama-like series that focuses on emotions that anyone can possibly related to when they were younger or are currently that age and going through it right now.Overall, the first volume features a pure and humorous storyline. Nanami is just a pleasant character while Yano is your typical cool guy character who likes to play with Nanami's emotions. And the interaction between the two is quite interesting. At times where you feel like Yano is a jerk, you'll see him coming through for her and overall, you just want to see how the two interact with each other, if there is chemistry and wonder when or if the two will get together.ARTWORK:Obata's artwork is simple and clean but she puts a lot of emphasis on the eyes and the emotions of the character. Obata effectively uses quite large panels effectively in getting a person's emotions across. Overall, the artwork and storytelling naturally blend quite well with each other.Overall, "We Were There" is an enjoyably, fun shojo manga and vol. 1 pretty much captures the emotions of teenage angst but the happiness and sadness that goes along with the emotions that Nanami has throughout each chapter.With "We Were There", these are realistic emotions that any person can feel for a person and I like how Nanami says one thing but in her mind, she constantly thinks if what she did was the right thing or not. A rather indecisive person but she's portrayed as a girl who has her faults, is aware of it, others are aware of it but yet manages to make the best of her life.All in all, the first volume was enjoyable to read. There is a good amount of humor but most of all, a good balance of emotion and a touching storyline in the first "We Were There" vol. 1. An enjoyable manga to read and I look forward to seeing how this relationship between the two progresses.

Think The Notebook. This series has moved me deeply, showing me what it is to love and stay strong through hardships. A true must read.

Got that package fine and everything I just can't stand how the story is going... It's way too dramatic for me. If you like a good dowp opera then this is the book for you...

What a garbage hero. And what an idiot heroine to fall for him before he does anything worthwhile. Yano is a lazy blackmailing jerk who somehow charms nearly everyone he meets. Including the stupid heroine Nanami, who sees him as a jerk at first and yet inexplicably falls for him.Whyyyyyyyyy?I rarely get the urge to give up on a volume of manga, as they're quick reads, but this one I nearly quit multiple times, and it was a waste of my time to finish.Do not recommend. A jerk and an idiot, neither of which have the courtesy to be funny, make for a frustrating read.

The manga's amazing, a bit chaotic but I loved the anime. The delivery was great and the condition is really good, arrived with no marks or damage.