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After giving a lot of thought, I finally decided to write a review about this anime.Before I begin, do note that this review is only regarding the anime and not the manga ( which is still running as of today)

Story : 7/10
The main girl, Yoshioka Futaba, a middle-schooler is depicted as the typical young shoujo school girl.She’s cute, pretty and attracts all the boys with her looks and personality.As a result of this, she isn't very popular amongst the girls and barely has any friends. That is, until she comes across Kou Tanaka. a soft-spoken, gentle guy with whom she gradually develops a friendship. However, ... after a misunderstanding, their relationship as friends ends when he transfers schools over summer vacation. In high school, her world is turned around once again when she meets Kou again, this time under the name of Kou Mabuchi.
Fast forward 3 years.
Futaba is now no longer feminine and she acts like a complete slob just so that her so called ‘friends’ don’t leave her and hate her because she doesn’t attract guys anymore. However, he’s changed too, he’s no longer ‘nice’ or ‘gentle’ and he’s actually quite silent and mean now. So life carries on after that … do they still have feelings for each other, do they even remember each other?
The story is a simple one that is relatable and yet offers a lot of intrigue and suspense.
Art: 8/10
The animation is amazing and Production I.G has done a great job in keeping the original look of the manga, something I haven't seen in other shows lately.
Although the show billed as a shoujo romantic comedy ,it’s a pretty basic light coming-of-age in high school tale.
Sound: 9/10
The sound is amazing, with a medley of heart-warming and and beautiful songs that would definitely strike a chord.
Character: 6/10
Character development is one area I hope that this anime had focused more upon. Apart from the two main characters, not much focus is given on the supporting characters which would have added to more depth and enjoyment in the story.At times, it is one-dimensional and could have been improved a lot.
Enjoyment: 7/10
Futaba fits the bill perfectly as an awkward lead as she fumbles through her attempts to get closer to Kou and giving us a lot to enjoy as we listen to her thoughts. The anime manages to seamlessly integrate both romance and humour, providing for a fun-filled watch.
Overall: 7.5/10
It is one of those shows that start off strong, but unnecessary filler through the mid-episodes can be a bother.
Still, Ao Haru Ride breaks beyond the cliches of typical shoujo anime and a master of subtlety, realism, and pacing, not to mention its brilliant use of art style and understanding of human relationships.
In conclusion:
If you want to watch a romance anime, watch this show.