23:45 is a sweet MM standalone manga with an interesting premise; our nerdy, lonely mc moves to Tokyo and can see a (cute) ghost - a ghost who more or less ends up moving in with him. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between Iku and Mimori's personalities, and I enjoyed their scenes together, watching their bond grow. I will say, though, that I definitely got more friend vibes than romance between the two, which is unfortunate, because I feel like with this could have been rectified with a longer text. Regardless, this was still a quick, enjoyable read, and the plot twist surrounding Mimori's death - as well as the full-circle ending - was extremely well-done.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for providing me with a copy of 23:45 by Ohana in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by any third parties.

The story was cute and a bit sad but I feel like there could have been done even more with it! Maybe it's because I'm used to reading long manhwas but it was too short for my liking. The tempo was good, it didn't feel too rushed, rather there was not enough content. Nevertheless, it was a good read.

I have mixed feelings about this. I do enjoy the fact that characters have to confront their pasts slightly in order to move forward. But they move forward just a bit too fast. Everything in this story is either a very slow, drawn-out scene or moves along at a very quick pace. There is a lot of talking, and not in a negative way. I also really didn't care much for the ending. This was certainly a story, I just feel so neutral about it, it's hard to say anything at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

First I want to thank NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher for this ARC.

This is just the cutest!!!!
I'm soooo hooked!
Now I want to read 23:45RE...
I really want to know if they talked it out, and does Mimori gets his memories back from when he was dead??
This is a wonderful story nonetheless.
A quick, easy yet heartfelt read.
Beautifully illustrated, you can feel the shame, the pain, the loneliness and awkwardness they both go through.
It isn't graphic in anyway, which makes it friendly for most audiences.

loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I'M NOT CRYING!!! YOU'RE CRYING!!! This story reminded me of how I felt at the end of Cemetery Boys (world building aside). Finding out that Mimori wasn't actually dead MADE ME SO DAMN HAPPY. But I was also stressed out for Iku because it meant Mimori wouldn't remember him!!! I didn't think this would be a full story in one volume but I don't think it needed to be expanded any farther than this. It was good as it was and I really enjoyed the characters and the art style.

This single-volume manga surprised me in a good way. Sometimes it’s hard to tell a good story in just one volume, but the story and characters were so sweet. It shows how we sometimes assume what others think of us, which can change the way we interact. It’s a charming tale with supernatural elements about a ghost and a college student who, despite having different circumstances, they can have a lot in common. The art was also very pretty. I love it.

Iku stumbles upon a ghost, Mimori, who only he can see. As he has nowhere else to go and doesn't remember anything prior his death, Iku lets him stay at his place. While they spend day and night together, trying to find out what happened to him, feelings blossom between them …

~

The story is quite fast-paced, a bit too quick sometimes, and yet, at the same time, felt like a slow read. In a good way, though? I'm not sure how to explain.

It's overall a nice concept with loveable characters. Although the romance was almost insta-love, which isn't my favorite trope, I did feel the chemistry between them.

It has a tender writing style, with some nice quotes that make the death theme more poetic rather than dark. I loved that vibe while reading.

It did lack a bit of depth, which I, on one hand, find unfortunate, cause instead of having a side-story with Iku's mom, that time could've been used to give more moments between Iku and Mimori. On the other hand, it makes it quite realistic, showing that we all have side-stories in our lives, and there's never enough time to spend 100% time on one plot. Even if we wanted.

Maybe it was never intended to be a deep love. This manga's love story certainly isn't anything new, but the "fleeting moment" vibe did touch me in a soft way.

-02.03.25

This was such a sweet read and I really enjoyed the story! It was simple yet impactful and flowed so nicely! I think the author did really well with both the sotry and the art and I would love to see more from them in the near future!

Amidst the running series coming out and continuing this month, Kodansha manga is also releasing 23:45. This single-volume story by Ohana is an unconventional romance about a college freshman named Iku who has a run-in with the friendly Mimori. This new acquaintance moves into his house, plays his video games, and reads his manga. There’s just one problem: Mimori is a ghost, and he’s lured to the site of his tragic accident every night at 11:45 pm.

Before long, Iku learns the truth of Mimori’s accident. But helping him move forward may break them apart. What happened? Why did it happen? And what will guiding Mimori to happiness mean for the two? This sweet story is wrapped up in a single volume, and it’s well worth a read!

“We all want to matter to someone. We want to be irreplaceable.”

5.00 / 5.00 stars

Iku is a socially awkward and newly minted Otaku that looks down on “normies.” After moving to Tokyo, he discovers he has the ability to see ghosts. And he keeps coming back to one ghost in particular – a boy around his age living on a bridge he comes to know as Mimori. The pair soon form a cross-dimensional friendship, and facts about Mimori’s life, and death, are slowly revealed. Can Iku find a way to reverse what’s happened to Mimori? This first volume kicks of the series with 6 short and sweet chapters.

This was an amazing story! I loved the depth of the characters and the growth Iku goes through in this first volume. The slow-burn romance was everything. It was so beautiful to watch as Iku was falling in love and to know that’s what was happening before he even realized it. I absolutely loved the art work, and I found myself taking down quotes in every chapter. It’s a quick read, so I think both newcomers to manga and seasoned vets will be able to enjoy this series.

I ate up this volume so quickly and I absolutely cannot wait for the next volume to be released. I mean, I guess I technically have to wait for the official release of this volume, don’t I? But you can bet I will continue reading and have already recommended it to several of my friends.

I recommend this manga to anyone who appreciates a slow-burn romance, those looking for an unforgettable romance, and anyone who loves a good story to go along with even better artwork.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for gifting me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a cute tale of Iku, a geeky college student who finds himself able to see the ghost of a boy called Mimori who fell of a bridge, and at 23:45 every night he goes back to the bridge and relives the accident. Iku befriends Mimori, and has made it his mission to stop him from reliving the accident and also to find out what happened to him. Very cosy and sweet, with a bit of mystery. Felt like a m/m manga version of the film Just Like Heaven and I was here for it! 3.5/5

Thanks for #Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I started with mangas many years ago...because they are beautifully illustrated and I just like them. And it's still the same! I enjoyed every page with this book and am still over and over. The author has put so much effort into it, the pictures are all so beautiful! I always admire authors who conjure up such beautiful pictures in their books. And in a manga, of course, they always exist! The story is simply beautiful and you can literally enjoy absorbing every page. It was a blessing to be able to read this book. Iku and Mimori, a story about friendship or love with wonderful colouring🩵🫶🏻

I really hope there is a future book to show next steps. This was a sweet, emotional, lovely manga. I loved Iku and how he tried to help Mimori. Mimori was such a good boy too. I'm sad that is felt short so I do hope there is a second volume or maybe a future bonus chapter because this story made me feel greedy.

It was fine but it could have been better. I feel like they went over some possible plot lines a little too fast. It has a lot of potential though. It would be a good read if it was re-released as a series, because for now it feels like a hurried oneshot. Especially the ending was too fast. It might have been better if it ended with a big cliffhanger instead.

2.5/5 stars

I really wanted to like this more. The idea of an otaku and ghost falling in love sounded great but didn't quite live up. There were a few too many spots in the story where I was confused exactly what was going on and had to reread to try to figure out what was going on. Also, the love part of the story felt not only rushed but kinda forced.

Well, this was pleasant! A ghost story with an interesting premise turns into a sweet, thoughtful, look into the world of the living and the dead and the relationships we build. While I guessed where it was going early on, that was not a bad thing at all. If light BL are more your jam, give this one a look!

** spoiler alert ** This manga was so emotional, and I did not expect the ending. Imagine you're walking home one day and you're the only one that can see the spirit. Well this happens to Iku, and he runs into Mimori on this bridge. Iku bumps into someone on the bring and drops a bunch of books, Mimori tries to give one back to Iku, but Iku is startled and runs away. Mimori wants to give the book back, and follows Iku back to his apartment. Iku seems to be the only person that can see, talk, and touch Mimori, and he doesn't know why. Mimori ends up staying with Iku in his apartment, but when Iku wakes in the morning, Mimori is no where to be found. Turns out every night at 23:45, Mimori returns to the bridge and falls over the edge and dies every night. When there are no leads, Iku is about to give up since Mimori's death has no leads. Then one day, Iku's coworker has a picture of Mimori in her group of friends as her screensaver. When Iku asks her about visiting his grave to pay respects, she slaps him and runs away. Iku is confused as ever and conflicted since he loves having Mimori's presence and isn't alone but wants him to find happiness. Finally Iku runs into his coworker and turns out Mimori isn't dead, just in a coma after falling from that bridge. Mimori's memories had returned to him and he ends up telling Iku the way he ended up in a coma. Mimori was fighting with his ex on that bridge when they broke up and Mimori was trying to return her necklace, but she threw it at him and it landed over the edge. While trying to retrieve the necklace, he slipped and fell and ended up in the coma. Iku encourages Mimori to go back to the hospital to see if he will wake up. Mimori eventually wakes up, but has no memories of his time being asleep, including Iku. But Mimori ends up having a feeling that he knows Iku and remembers where he lives. This book was so emotional and had a great ending, and may have brought a few tears to my eyes while reading. I am really grateful for the opportunity for this ARC read, it was truly amazing!

Ooh that was wonderful but too short :)

The sweetest story full of mystery about an Otaku boy who sees ghosts, and one day he comes across the one he actually can touch. Why?.. The answer is at the end of the story.

Heartwarming story for cold days!

This was a really sweet short manga. The ending, I hope the happy one that was implied was everything. It was a story about forgiveness and acceptance. I didn't find a creepy that he fell in love with a spirt it made sense as they both were there supporting one another's growth. Even though I could always use more of a story I enjoy, this one didn't feel incomplete to me. All the plots brought were wrapped up nicely in the final chapter. I thought the twist with the ghost was nice and I didn't expect it. Thank you NetGalley for the the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the Arc!

I absolutely loved this manga! I loved the way the two main characters interacted and slowly grew into their relationship. I wish it was just slightly longer to flesh the characters out a bit and give more story as to what happened afterwards, but it was a cute and fluffy story nonetheless. The chemistry between the two was so soothing and just great to read, as they quickly filled in emotional needs in healthy and natural ways.