Not Your Idol is a suspenseful story that considers issues such as masculinity and femininity, gender expectations, the price of fame, and dealing with past trauma. I was immediately caught up in the action and the characters, while the steady pacing kept me always keen to turn the page to see what would happen next. The story is definitely gripping, and when I closed the final page I wished I could read on. I would certainly be interested in picking up volume two to see how the story evolves from here. I also liked the artwork style in this one; it is beautiful and free-flowing. A solid 4.5 stars from me.

This series was a total and utter surprise. It was much more suspenseful than I originally anticipated, but I am now fully invested in the series.

In this series our primary perspective is Nina. She is, or was rather an idol. At a fan meet and greet, she is attacked by one of her fans. After this attack, she stops looking like an idol, and more like Haruhi Fujioka from Ouran High School Host Club. A new, shorter haircut, and wearing a boys uniform instead of a girls, she moves, and begins to attend a new school.

While she is there, she changes her name, and is trying to lay low, since her attacker was never found. She avoids trying to fit in at school out of fear. One classmate, a boy named Hikaru, starts trying to become her friend, even though she makes it hard for him.

I don't want to say anymore because of spoilers, but I was gripped throughout this volume. There were little things happening here and there leading up to certain things. The ending BLEW ME AWAY and I am sad this series is most likely going to be a slow release, since there are only 2 volumes out in Japan right now.

Either way, I do recommend trying the series for yourself!

I really really enjoyed this manga. I enjoy most manga, because the artwork is so nice to look at, but the story line of this series is very intriguing. The main character used to be an idol in a girl group, but due to an attack from a fan she has hidden from the public and is dressing as a boy while trying to deal with the trauma. I liked getting a peek into the idol lifestyle, as well as the typical Japanese high school life. There was some definite interesting character development in this first volume, as well as hints that certain characters are not what they seem. The end of the book is a definite twist that leaves you wanting more. I will be picking this up and eagerly waiting for the second volume to see what happens next!

This was a very quick read. Disclaimer: I do not normally read manga, but I thought the subject was intriguing. It made me think of the old anime movie "Blue." So I kind of thought this would be a bit more haunting and creepy, but I just didn't get that impression. I thought this first installment in what is clearly a series was good, and I want to know more about what happens to the characters, but it didn't "wow" me or really pull me in. Here's to the next installment!

Karen is the unabashedly most famous member of Pure Club, a miniskirted all-girl pop band. After being stabbed at a fan event, she quits the group. Hikaru is a judo jock. Nina Kamiyama is the only girl in their high school who wears pants. How they relate to each other is the main subject of the #metoo manga, Not Your Idol Vol 1.

At its heart, this is a high school relationship manga. However, it also has surprising twists and an underlying message. Can a girl be girlish without being objectified?

Not Your Idol Vol 1 is a good gift for someone struggling with a #metoo situation. But it is also a just plain entertaining mystery. 4 stars!

Thanks to VIZ Media and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first manga that I have ever read.

I found at the beginning that I was reading it wrong (my own fault more than anything else) but once I got the flow, the story was really interesting.

It was interesting to read about a story surrounding Japanese Idols and I found myself researching about them soon after I finished the manga.

A brilliant manga, looking forward to reading more about Nina as she tries to piece her life back together again after enduring such a horrific attack.

I enjoyed the way this manga is drawn but I feel that the story falls flat and I don't plan on continuing the series.

This story was really cute. I enjoyed the art style and overall beginning to this story. Highly recommend for anyone who likes Idol storylines and cute art. Overall, very enjoyable

Really enjoyed the first volume. The story seems promising and I can't wait to see how it will actually develop.

I thought the artwork was lovely and it provided an interesting commentary on the darker side of stardom, especially for young women and the precautions we take to keep ourselves safe after experiencing trauma. Some of the storytelling felt a bit disjointed at times, but overall it will be interesting to see how the story unfolds and is captivating enough to keep the reader interested in another volume.

The storyline for this book is one that I feel is needed. I think in books and media the topic of assault tends to be glossed over. As a female myself, it is nice to read something that shows the true horror and pain from being assaulted. The author did an excellent job of showcasing diverse perspectives on this topic and showing the main character's suffering. I also liked the varying female views on assault and how they deal with it.

The mystery at the end makes me eager to read Volume 2. I adored the art style and the main character's look. Although the way she dresses is a defence mechanism, I still think she looks badass. The main couples growing friendship brings a smile to my face. I enjoyed how he was often there helping her and offering her friendship. This book has some very heavy topics as mentioned above so be warned. It is still an easy and quick read with complex characters and an enjoyable plot. I'd recommend this book to everyone. Everyone should try to open their minds to understanding these kinds of topics and sensitive issues.

This manga looks excellent and really intriguing, unfortunately my download had some problems so I wasn’t able to read this which Is such a shame as it looks fantastic and sounds well worth a read. I have read the other Netgalley reviews to get an idea of this manga and can honestly say that I would love to read it and will be recommending to other manga readers. Thank you

This book wasn’t the best or worst, I had hoped it would be a bit more though. The characters fall flat for where they could go overall. Thanks for the advance read publisher.

This is a fantastic manga!

While it deals with sensitive material, I feel the author did an amazing job with how it was handled.

The art is marvelous and the storyline intriguing. It will keep you turning pages until you reach the end.

It talks about what a lot of women feel and have to deal with on a daily basis for just being a woman. For how men think they can behave towards them and how trauma can change a person.

I can't wait for the next volume because of that cliffhanger...wow.



Warning: Trigger warnings for some.

Not Your Idol is not an ordinary manga that is a light read. This was something else. It deals with assault, femininity, fame, and the excruciating road to recovery. What I loved most about this manga is that it touches upon a serious issue and combines it with pop culture, making it relevant for all age groups. I wish this manga was a standalone, but I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment.

This is a very cute manga. Nina is actually an Idol who has retired due to some bad incidents. She is slowly working through those issues and trusting others/boys. Horiuchi is a boy from school who has interest in Nina. Could he be her stalker?

I really enjoyed the ups and downs in this installment. I would definitely continue reading future additions as this one has me hooked and waiting for more. Not just the average cliche manga romance.

So, I really wanted to read this when I read the blurb, much darker than I’d expect for Manga. I was intrigued. I really enjoyed this and found the subject matter while dark, very original and very different from the norm. The only real issue I had is that the #ARC was dotted with watermarks throughout which made some of the text hard to read. The author handles the rather grim subject matter with delicacy and ticked all the boxes for me. I was worried it would be very clichéd or mocking but the subject matter is handled with real sensitivity. I would highly recommend this and plan to read the rest of the series.

I would rate this 4.5 stars!

Not Your Idol attracted me because I am a fan of both manga and Kpop. Not Your Idol follows a member of a female kpop band who was attacked at a fan event and thus quit the band and went into hiding because she couldn’t cope with what happened. She tried to minimise her femininity as much as possible and keep to herself. She slowly begins to talk to one of the boys from high school judo squad at her new school and begins to open herself back up again slightly. The illustrations used in this manga were stunning, but the watermark applied by NetGalley was a bit distracting at times.

This manga addresses the very current and common issue of sexual assault in a realistic but gentle way. There is a lot of talk about young women getting groped, raped, and being an idol for anyone to stare at. It’s the harsh reality that many women, young or old, face each day.

The approaches to gender blaming, victim reaction and other myths surrounding sexual assault draws awareness to and opposes this false view society has created. Not Your Idol highlights realistic aspects of Asian culture and of the kpop industry, making the manga more enjoyable and real to read. Kpop stars are attacked by fans and thousands of men and woman are sexually assaulted daily, all around the world. Not Your Idol explores these issues in a gentle but, in my opinion, successful way.

I loved Nina as a character and how brave she was. She had her days where it was all too much, but she stuck up for those who wouldn’t or couldn’t on their own. The manga’s approach to her flashbacks was clever and well executed albeit a little confusing and hard to follow at times.

There is a twist about three quarters of the way through this volume that I did not expect at all! The volume ended on such a cliff hanger as well! Now I see why the manga is described as a psychological suspense thriller. I need the next volume as soon as possible to find out what happens!

This book isn't not graphic with the visuals or description surrounding the topic of sexual assault, but please be aware that it is very emotional and could be triggering to those with similar experiences.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my own, honest opinion.

This is a funny little manga (not funny haha). I once read an article about the Japanese Idol culture. To this American it seems a little strange. Girls are picked to be in a girl group (think Japanese Destiny’s child) or some other entertainment industry. They are meant to be “for the people” and as such can not date or appear to date, and must remain “forever young”. I find the culture odd because it makes me think of legal pedophilia. But that is mainly because I don’t know much about it.

However this book has given me a bit of a different look. Our main gal doesn’t like to wear mini skirts or dress feminine. She gets mad at other girls around her who just want to dress for the boys. Part of it feels backward to current American society where we are being more aware and accepting of gender fluidity. However in this book, that is not the case. She gets teased and ignored because she doesn’t look like or act like other girls. But she has a very big secret. She was once the main center Idol for Pure Club. She was the star. Until she was attached at a hand holding event. She feels, rightly so, that her body is her own and it belongs to no man, and no male has dominion over it. So when she sees girls who take grouping and other things for granted or think of it as no big deal, she becomes upset and defensive.

Of course there is a boy involved. He seems like a good guy. He sees the idol under the pants. But why??

While at times this story irked me for what feels backwater stereotyping of women’s roles in society, I need to know what happens next. I am curious. I am also curious, as this is a manga how long a run it will have. Will they wind up the story in 2 volumes or will it go on for 20-30.

Overall I enjoyed the read, but I didn’t love it. It makes me more curious about a society I know nothing about so that is a plus, and the story was entertaining. Was it great literature. No. Will people still be talking about this manga in 20 years? I don’t know yet. Right now I say no, but we will have to wait and see how the story progresses.

A pop star (“idol”) changes her whole persona after being attacked by a fan. An interesting take on patriarchy, harrasment, and violence against women. I was really into this story, and the concept was interesting, but the ending killed it for me. The subject matter is important, though, so I might be swayed, but for now it’s a no.