Boys Run the Riot 2

Ryo just wants to be seen as a boy and uses fashion to feel comfortable in his own skin. Jin enjoys creating and wearing fashion and loves expressing himself through his clothes as well. Together, the duo create a clothing brand of their own. But starting off the brand may need an extra set of hands.

I've been waiting for this book for such a long time! I asked for a purchase at my library and had to wait (for what felt like forever due to shipping delays and such) to get my hands on my copy. I'm so glad I finally was able to read it!

I just loved this so so much!! I love Ryo and Jin's relationship and how, even after the first hesitation on Ryo's part, they fell into a great friendship. It did take me a few pages to get into the story, show more but once I did, all I wanted to do was continue reading it!

Besides the fact that the main character is a trans boy and it's written and illustrated by a transgender author - Keito Gaku writes Ryo's experience in a way that is easy to understand for people who have never read anything with a trans character yet. It's not overly simplified though, which is nice since no two people are the same.

The storyline isn't really only about Ryo's struggle, though it is a main plot point, but it's also about living your truth and doing what makes you happy, even if that makes you stand out from those around you.

The art of the novel is so grand and the design of the characters really makes them pop off the page. The graffiti art is also something I really liked, especially Ryo's full page design that is shown at one point.

I'm so so so excited to continue reading this series! show less

As he pursues his fashion brand dream with his friends and starts a part-time job to raise funds for the endeavor, Ryo deals with the quandary of when, to whom, and why he should even ever come out as transgender. Making new friends becomes a minefield of sorts, and a new LGBTQ+ acquaintance is initially welcome, but they hold opinions Ryo finds strange and alien to his current state of mind, leading to more difficult questions than easy answers and a giant cliffhanger.

Looking forward to the next volume.

This story continues to be well-done, engaging, and touching as Ryo accepts himself as a transman. New friendships blossom and old friendships become stronger.