A young librarian falls in love at first sight with a professor returning home, and is determined to be let into his guarded heart…
About Flip Flip Slowly
Flip Flip Slowly is a boys’ love manga by Mame Ohtako, published in English by Kodansha. In a cozy little remote town a man named Hagiwara works as a librarian. When a new patron starts attending, Hagiwara can’t help but to be curious of this man, who seems to be reading all the works by one particular author. A missed bus on a late night gives Hagiwara the opportunity to take this man, Yabumi, home and start a friendship.
As Yabumi and Hagiwara get to know each other, Hagiwara starts falling for Yabumi. Yabumi notices and tells Hagiwara not to fall for him, and lists all of the reasons not to. Luckily, Hagiwara isn’t one to be deterred and says he will counter. As a result, the two start spending more time together and they start unloading the heavy baggage Yabumi is carrying.
My Thoughts
I went into Flip Flip Slowly not knowing a single thing about the story and walked away with so much love in my heart. There’s so much truth in the “slowly” of the title because often the love that comes in and disarms us is slow. It’s small, tender moments that allow us to let our guards down. It’s the little fight that shows up and says “I know you’re not ready and I’m willing to wait until you are.”
Both Yabumi and Hagiwara are such beautiful and complex characters, in opposite ways. Yabumi, being older, feels like he’s the one who can set the tone. He wants to stop Hagiwara from breaking his own heart. His reasons are so valid: he’s older, he was “outed,” and became estranged from his family. He still hasn’t fully come to terms with everything that has happened, even though he thinks he does.
Hagiwara is younger, and it shows in his pursuit of Yabumi. He’s emboldened to act first, making his intentions clear, even if after the fact he feels a little embarrassed of being so bold. Hagiwara knows why Yabumi is trying to push him away and while he respects it, he still goes forward because he is assured by his own feelings. I love that Hagiwara is confident in who he is and what his heart wants.
These types of one-shots always do a number on my heart. I love all the moving pieces to both characters and how they can come together, despite the load they are carrying. Flip Flip Slowly beautifully tells us that our presents do not need to be defined by our past. We can take chances and move forward when we’re ready.
Where to Buy Flip Flip Slowly
Flip Flip Slowly
Mangaka: Mame Ohtako
Translator: Adrienne Beck
Letterer: Dietrich Premier
Editor: Cayley Last
Publisher: Kodansha
Flip Flip Slowly is available now.
Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the ARC!
