Ranked #972

Usotsuki Lily (Manga)

Usotsuki Lily is the feel good shoujo manga that i'v been waiting for, and it's a shame that it currently remains almost completely unknown.

The story follows the popular manga gender bending concept with a twist: What if the girl actually accepts a young man as a woman AND her boyfriend?

This isn't just a story where a man cross dresses sometimes for fun, but rather, it is a part of his personality and he is compelled in his heart to take on a female identity. He still likes women and must struggle with his female identity pushing them away. Luckily, he meets Hinata, who is able to see past this. The two begin dating while both are dressed as women in public.

I find this manga more interesting than your typical gender bending series because it appears to examine gender identity in depth rather than turning it into a cheap plot device or a gag. It shows the struggles that a young person who defies their gender identify goes through both internally and externally.

So far, the characters are what drives Usotsuki Lily, and for good reason. Our protagonist Hinata is not your typical flowery self insert. She is a strong willed, independent woman with a big heart and an open mind. The lead male En is also very interesting and courageous despite his delicate demeanor. You can't help but wonder what fuels his hatred for men and why he chose to get close to a girl like Hinata. The two play reverse roles, with her as the protector and En as the lovestruck heroine.

I had been waiting to read this series for about a month now, and not only was every page of it thrilling and adorable, but deeply enjoyable and a pleasure to read. The art is stunning and the story is coming together well. Hopefully this is a series that will not only manage to go on for a long time, but gain many more fans in the west.

Since this manga is coming out slowly, im going to be updating my review as I get farther through it. read more