Where I live, summer is here, and there’s nothing quite like being in summer while also being engrossed in a story that takes place in it.

Adapted from the manga My Summer of You by Furuya Nagisa, the Japanese BL of the same name stars Oku Tomoya as Toda Wataru and Mokudai Kazuto as Saeki Chiharu, two high school students brought together by their shared love of film. What begins as an easy friendship built around movie marathons and shared interests gradually grows into something more as Wataru begins to question what it truly means to love someone. Set against the backdrop of one unforgettable summer, the series follows the two boys as they navigate friendship, first love, and the emotions that come with growing up.

My Summer of You is a romance built on nostalgia and a friendship rooted in similar passions, especially a shared love of film. From Chiharu’s quiet, unrequited feelings for Wataru to his surprisingly casual confession and the film pilgrimage they set out on together beneath the summer sun, the series captures the beauty of first love while quietly hinting that there’s something much heavier waiting beneath the surface.

The first two episodes do a great job introducing Chiharu through Wataru’s eyes while also letting us slowly recognize the feelings beginning to bloom between them. At the same time, small pieces of Chiharu’s past are woven into the story, revealing that he and Wataru crossed paths as children and suggesting that whatever happened back then may have shaped the person Chiharu has become.

I’ll save the bigger revelations for my final review, but while the romance itself is a beautifully done slow burn, I find myself more invested in Chiharu, his past, and what first drew him to Wataru. Childhood connections are a familiar trope in BL, and while they can sometimes feel overused, this particular story has me genuinely curious to see where it’s going.

For a series that blends a slow-burn romance with nostalgic summer memories while hinting at something much deeper beneath the surface, check out My Summer of You, now streaming on GagaOOLala.

Rating- 4 out of 5