This manga made me so incredibly happy! It didn't take long for me to fall in love with this story because of its simplicity and its excellent writing.

I'll admit, it would have been enough for this book to just be passable. I probably would have still been happy. But instead, I got something that met some of my highest standards for shojo. Instead of being just a manga about the novelty of girls who like girls I think that Girl Friends creates a portrait of what it is like to be a girl in high school.

The story of two friends who start to fall for each other is a classic and the execution here is pretty fantastic. I see the connection these two girls have and I loved the way that the story tackles the denial and fears that come along with discovering you may like your best friend as more than a friend. The characters are all very well written and I love the way that they would actually be a cute couple.

One of the best things about this book is where I found it. When I found this in the graphic novel YA section of my library I was shocked. I live in a community that doesn't have a huge LGBTQ population. We're mostly churches, liquor stores, and summer tourists looking for a good view of the lake. Throw a stone and you will hit at least one of those three things. A yuri manga is like finding the actual holy grail of lesbian/bisexual representation. It is so interesting to see some of my own experiences as a bi teenager represented in a way that feels authentic.