I will admit it did take a little while to get into the art style but I was instantly hooked on the story and quickly became addicted to this finishing it quickly. I really loved the developing friendship between Uno and Kobayashi. It’s part slice of life, part comedy and has a lot of heart too. The story is fun and I can’t wait to see where it goes in the future. A definite must read if you are looking for a funny and feel good manga.

As always thank you to Kodansha Comics for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!

Kobayashi struggles with school and keeping a part-time job, but his life changes once he becomes friends with the new transfer student Uno. This was such a sweet and wholesome manga! I really enjoyed it. I appreciated how this manga showed that it's important to be kind and helpful to others. I also appreciated that this manga has characters that are neurodivergent. I'm interested in seeing where the story goes in the next volume.

Thank you to netGalley and Kondansha for the eARC.

This was a fun and sweet intro into a story about acceptance and understanding of others. It is lighthearted but full of heart, and I will probably continue to keep reading the series.

This first volume was a great introduction to the main characters and the plot itself, and the set up for these kids having a well rounded and heartfelt high school experience in learning about themselves and accepting others was well done and paced out between chapters.

I received an ARC though NetGalley for an honest review.

I have to say that this was a tough manga to read...because I was crying happy neurodivergent years throughout!

I cannot believe how wonderful, charming, touching, and important this manga is! It absolutely floored me and did an absolute number on my emotions.

I am AuDHD myself and, while, the book is specific, it is very clear that the main characters have different neurodivergences, which are somehow shown in a rather extreme, camp, and cartoony manner, while also being incredibly understanding and respectful. It's quite something to pull off.

Just reading this slice of life of awkward neurodivergent teens just trying to muddle through and be there for each other was such a balm for my soul. I truly wish I could have read something like this when I was a kid.

I absolutely adored it and am now and lifelong fan!

Kobayashi’s ready to quit on everything, especially his job, then along comes Uno, the super bubbly new classmate who totally catches him off guard. The whole "new student shows up and changes everything" setup feels kinda mainstream for me, but the chemistry between the two is fun to watch. The pacing is a bit slow and the conflict doesn't hit very hard, but it’s an okay read if you like this kind of story.

What a great manga focusing on neurodivergent characters and their relationships as they learn to tackle life. I really liked the art style when the characters would feel overwhelmed and how much detail was added in. I think this would be a great manga to gift to neurodivergent teens who are figuring out their place in the world.

Thank you Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for this ARC!

This was adorable! Love seeing the “delinquent” learn to express himself and ask for help.

The progression of Uno and Kobayashi's friendship was well done and I like the dynamic they have going on, even if no one else understands it.

This feels like it’s going to be a cute series about friendship, acceptance and growing pains. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the astronomy club gets up to next and how they evolve together and apart.
Thanks to Kodansha for the DRC!

I’ve been introduced to so many new mangas this year that are good. I fear I’m going to have to create a spreadsheet to keep up with them all.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for this volume 1.

It looks good but it’s not for me though like its boring really….

The art was good but I could not connect with the characters or plot. I won't be reading more of this series.

This gem caught my eye completely by accident — but wow, I’m so glad it did. The description had me curious: a debut artist, a fresh story, a manga unlike anything I’d read before. Turns out, it was exactly what I needed.

Honestly, I adored this. It’s heartwarming, inspiring, and just makes you feel better about the world. The way the story explores anxiety, social pressure, and emotional support through their friendship felt incredibly real and refreshing. In another manga, you might expect this dynamic to be bully vs victim — but here, it blossoms into a connection based on kindness and mutual growth. Loved that.

The premise is simple but incredibly touching: Kobayashi is a loner drifting through life, struggling with focus and burdened by low expectations. Then he meets Uno — a new classmate who’s all energy, innocence, and a head full of stars. What starts as a chance encounter (Kobayashi saves Uno from getting scammed) slowly turns into a deep, meaningful friendship. These two couldn’t be more different on the surface, but they find common ground in their vulnerabilities and start lifting each other up in the most unexpected ways.

Uno’s obsession with space becomes a major theme in the story — the boys end up joining their school’s astronomy club, and that adds a surprisingly beautiful layer to the manga. Not only does it deepen their bond, but it also introduces real cosmic facts and perspectives that mirror their emotional journey. As they explore the vastness of space, they’re also learning to navigate the uncertainties and wonder of their own lives. It's nerdy, heartfelt, and so well done.

The art style deserves a special mention too — it’s raw, expressive, and unpolished in the best way. Nothing about it feels overly “clean” or stylized. Instead, it gives you that warm, handmade, human touch. Like something created by a friend who really gets it. I’ve been craving something with this kind of authenticity, and this manga absolutely delivered.

Massive thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the chance to read this. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this series — and the artist — from now on. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something cozy, emotional, and unexpectedly cosmic. 🚀

This story was honestly so good! It was so obvious in its portrayal of Kobyashi and Uno that they are both neurodivergent. But this story did such a good job at showing how just because someone is neurodivergent, it doesn't mean that they are like other neurodivergent people. It's heavily implied that Uno is Autistic and that Kobyashi has a learning disability, possibly ADHD or Dyscalculia. It's never explicitly stated, but the story is written well enough that you just know. I love that through Uno, Kobyashi slowly starts to unlearn some of his own self-doubt and self-hatred while learning how to be a good friend for Uno. Also, the thing with lists is honestly so relatable!

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

Very cute.

Usa, the main character is very autism-coded – no labels were used but he has many traits. Not in a bad way though, and not very stereotypical either. Either the mangaka is autistic themselves or they’ve done genuine research. I could relate to Usa a lot at least.

I love how the mangaka is providing helpful examples how autistic(-coded) people could easier navigate through life. And how one doesn’t need to be neurodivergent to do things a little differently or get oneself a Gedankenstütze, like writing notes down when starting a new job; as shown with Koba, the second main character.

It’s also cool how the space theme isn’t just used as an “I feel like an alien in this world” metaphor/analogy, but that Usa is actually into astronomy and the two also join an astronomy club.

Very friendship-focused, and I love the healthy relationship of the guys. Quite feminist. (Could be considered CBDCT, perhaps?) Sets a well example for young boys – not only, though. Anyone can learn a thing or two from this.

It also has some funny bits.

Definitely looking forward to volume 2!

~

Thank you to Kodansha on Netgalley for an eARC.

-20.04.25

A touching, neurodiversity-affirming story about accepting yourself, including all your vulnerabilities, mistakes, and needs

I did not expect to cry as much as I did while reading this volume! I was endeared by the main characters almost immediately, and it was nice to see depth in all the side characters as well. This is one of my new favorite representations of neurodiversity. Uno is autistic: this volume doesn’t say if he has a diagnosis or anything like that, but it shows the accommodations that he’s built for himself and the way that being autistic affects his daily life. Kobayashi might have a learning disorder, and it’s not until he’s inspired by Uno that he begins to create accommodations that he needs to reach his goals and feel happier.

The volume doesn’t use any mental health terminology, which I think creates a realistic and eye-opening narrative. Many people and cultures don’t use diagnoses, but that doesn’t change the fact of being neurodivergent. Plus, even if our characters don’t have labels of mental health diagnoses, they’re still labeled by other people as dumb or naïve or strange. I was incredibly moved by the bravery each of these boys showed while facing their daily struggles and trying to grow into themselves. This story perfectly captures the anxiety of being judged for your differences and the freeing joy that comes with accepting and being accepted for those same differences.

The art is expressive and well thought out. The colored art of the cover and the first few pages is not as strong as the black-and-white pages, so I wouldn’t consider the cover representative of the rest of the book. The black-and-white pages are well drawn, and the style changes slightly to enhance the mood depending on the scene. For example, the characters look cuter during sweet moments and more serious during reflective moments. The panel and page designs are used creatively. It also has one of the best visual depictions of sensory overload that I’ve ever seen.

I love the mangaka’s list of songs she listened to while drawing each of the characters. I discovered some new favorites! I also learned in the afterword that the first chapter was originally submitted as as a one shot; that’s exactly what I had thought when I reached the end of chapter 1! “This would be such a perfect one shot.” I’m so glad that we get to spend more time with these characters. I can’t wait to show my neurodivergent friends this hidden gem so they can feel as seen as I did, and I’m looking forward to volume two!

This is such a sweet and wholesome book. Kobayashi is a boy that everyone looks down on as a dumb, lazy punk meets Uno and learns about the tools that Uno uses to get through life. By applying those skills Kobayashi learns that he isn’t all the things that people look down at him for being. He starts to develop a friendship with Uno and supports him as well. The relationship of the two characters is so heartwarming and the neurodivergent rep in this manga is very artfully crafted. I couldn’t help but smiling while reading this manga.

"Spacewalking With You" is so WHOLESOME. I love a good manga about bromance. This one is special because it touches on mental health, misfits, friendships, etc. The character development is pretty great for a first volume. The mangaka does a really good job at showing how sensory overload works. I really like how the image perfectly described how the character felt. This was heartwarming, it made me go "aww" a bunch. I can't wait to grab a physical copy.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

I just finished reading the first volume of Spacewalking With You by Inuhiko Doronoda, and I really liked it. I’d never heard of it before, but now I completely understand why it was such a success in Japan. The themes aren’t obvious or heavy-handed—they’re subtle, but they stay with you. The character development is slow, but so well done. I especially loved the introspective tone and the slice-of-life atmosphere. The story also gently touches on themes of neurodiversity and emotional resilience, portraying characters who don’t quite fit in but find ways to connect and grow. It’s the kind of story that quietly pulls you in and lingers after you turn the last page.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this manga

This book was cute in places to read and I could relate to the guy who had to note everything down because he had problems remembering the fly, there are different attention and learning spans that we all have and I liked how we focused on that to show how it can make u feel like u don't fit in. By embracing our differences we became stronger for it and shouldn't be bullied or treated weirdly for that, I saw the space side as a metaphor for freedom for both the main characters, and finding themselves feeling better or whole helps them feel that way. The friendship they share brings out so much in both of them

This upcoming title from Kodansha is quite likely to become a modern classic. Ostensibly about a pair of odd-couple high school friends, Spacewalking with You is actually an earnest and eye-opening conversation about life on all parts of the spectrum. Delinquent boy Kobayashi is bad at work and bad at his studies, and he just assumes that’s how things are. But then he meets Uno, written off by his classmates as “weird.” When Kobayashi finds Uno’s notebook full of tips to keep him tethered during difficult times, he realizes he might benefit from one as well. Together, the two learn about each other’s unique needs, as well as how to “spacewalk” through modern society together.

Anyone who’s ever been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or something similar later in life will feel very seen and understood by Spacewalking with You. The art depicts life through Uno’s eyes vividly in two-page spreads. But it also explores a life without diagnosis: when one flies just enough under the radar to be considered “lazy.” More than anything, though, this manga is a hopeful story. While the world around these two may lack understanding at first, bit by bit they find ways to help each other and themselves.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for early copy for review*

I really enjoyed this. Everyone was looking down at Kobayashi saying that he's lazy and a quitter and he was very misunderstood. He was someone that needed extra help and then he meets Uno and sees the tools that he uses to get through life. Uno is an autistic-coded boy who writes down everything that he's supposed to do so when he gets overwhelmed he can go back to that notebook. While Uno is classified as "special" in the manga it is very clear what he is. Kobayashi doesn't judge him and instead befriends him and learns from him. I look forward to reading more volumes of this friendship an how they grow together.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!!

five stars, five stars!! i thought this was gonna be a cute manga of highschoolers and space or something (started without reading the synopsis again...) and while it is it's so much more!! i normally don't get that attached to slice of life manga but this was so refeeshing and cozy that i'll probably end up continuing this!!

okay /deep breaths/ i love the neurodivergence rep here. i'm not 100% sure if i am neurodivergent or not and i'm not very knowledgeable so please bear with me. i was always touted as the the 'smart kid' growing up so i don't understand what Kobayashi goes through, but i do understand the notetaking aspect of it and how it can be a tether that makes one feel safe, even if it's just for school or work.

going on a tangent a bit, i used to be the studious kid who took notes in class, so i think that attributed to me doing well up until secondary school. in poly i realised nobody took notes on paper anymore and i wanted to be cool too and take notes on my laptop. and i think that was when my grades started to slip because not much made sense to me when it wasn't on paper and i didn't remember writing it down. it was only when i started working and taking physical notes again that things got better.

i love how Uno and Kobayashi help each other in their own ways and though the way they do that is a bit more mature than the average highschooler, i do live for the way their friendship grows and they are probably the only ones who understand each other's struggles. the allegory of space and floating around in it alone is a harsh reality to accept but a really good metaphor that works especially well in a visual medium like manga.

the addition of Mikawa senpai as a sort of foil to the both of them turned friend is very nice and i look forward to reading more about them and the astronomy club!!