Reviews for A Home Far Away

This is what this manga did to me through its chapters: it made me feel. I felt so bad, and happy, and glad and confused, and mainly I was invested in the story. Haruka Tooki Ie is about 2 boys that went through a lot and decided to deal with it together. The backstory of the characters itself isn't the most original thing, to be honest it, but i don't think the matter or the point is really the backstory, but how it's been told, how we can understand what the characters feel and empathize for them even if we didn't (or did) go through thesame they did.

I finished this in a very little amount of time, and in this short time I've went through more emotions that I've felt while watching entire movies. Another great point is the art, it's relaxing, it's beautiful, it's warm. It's so important for me to see what I'm reading, that's why I like comics and mangas in general, they make me go through way more feelings when I can SEE the information I'm absorbing (even though I'm pretty invested in books and novels as well).

As far as i'm not a professional into making critics and availing things, I realized there are no reviews of Haruka Tooki Ie, which makes more difficult for people to find interest on reading it, so I simply decided to make a review of my own of this short, dramatic and emotional piece of work, with what I feel from the bottom of my heart after reading it.

After all this useless speech I made, i think I should do a final review at least.

Story: 8

As I said before, some things are far from being original, but it's not like it was a problem at all, because it brings up unfortunately rather common problems that people could have gone through life, and it's developed in such a sad, dramatic and kinda beautiful way.

Art: 9

I dont have nothing to complain about it, the artstyle used to duo with the story of this manga is beyond beautiful.

Characters: 9

I think the main thing to be availed is the characters. The world goes around them, the story is about them and how people see them. I don't think there was really anything left to be added, there were few chapters but it was enough to show us the main characters and make us understand everything we needed about them, make us feel sorry about them, care for them.

Overall: 10

It might be just according to my very personal feelings, but for such a short story, the message it gave was way too big and it did the work that many similar on going pieces of work couldn't. Haruka Tooki Ie is definitely not for everyone, but I would recommend it to anyone interested on reflecting all of their life decisions and ideals, and crying for fiction that is mixed with reality.

"If I were a woman, loving you wouldn't be a sin." Story: This manga tackles some highly controversial and heavy topics, such as religion, abuse, neglect, vices and evil. But what's absolutely amazing about it is how much it manages to cover without feeling rushed in just a few chapters. The story is well thought through and executed in such a way that it will make you a part of it; an onlooker unable to do anything, but exposed to every single emotion shown in it. If I had to pick one, I'd say 'love' is the main theme; however, it takes on different shapes and directions,and gets mixed with sadness, grief, self-loathing, joy and freedom.

This is, in a way, a critique of the society as it is, pushed to the extreme, with all these double standards, injustice, selfishness, wickedness and darkness it incorporates. In a world that rejects your very existence, a fight for freedom and love is as hard as they come; and while you're gasping for air amidst all that tragedy, the guilt lingers.

This is a story about finding oneself, breaking the chains of trauma and hatred, escaping toxicity, healing and selflessness.

Art:

The art is stunning, absolutely beautiful and powerful. It fits extremely well with the story and further elevates the severity of it all. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then some of these panels speak volumes about the mindset, torment, dedication and salvation.

Characters:

The MCs in this particular manga have such a deep understanding of one another that, at times, it can make them seem a bit too alike, but that is only if you were to look at this story superficially. Should you try to dig deeper, you'll realize soon enough that they are totally different individuals with very compatible souls.

They don't feel one-dimensional at all, and both have a lot of personality and layers to them. It might be hard to relate to their individual stories, but it is extremely easy to relate to their rawness, especially during monologues.

The focus is purely on the main couple, with the rest simply being extras present to further emphasize their motives or help us understand where their feeling are coming from, what has shaped them and in what way.

Enjoyment:

If your life has been, in any way sad, or if you have felt alone and betrayed, this will resonate with you.

Anyone thinking about reading this, I suggest approaching it with no biases and no prejudice. Just because one does not want to admit something, it doesn't stop it from happening to someone, somewhere in this wide world. This being a 'boys love' story shouldn't define it's reality as impossible outside of the genre. This is fundamentally a slice-of-life, that could very well have been described through a shoujo, seinen or any other demographic.

Personally, I found this story rather sad, but beautiful at the same time. The message it carries is as important as it is a grim reminder to us of how unjust the world we have created has become.

This story is a very human one, and a very painful one. It goes to show just how much one person can hurt or break another, how much suffering one can cause and just how long-lasting the consequences are; but also how one person can become another one's salvation; a home, a safe place, a new world, freedom.

*A brief journey with a poetic end, where sinners hope to find their haven* ~~ Brief in length, heavy on pathos. A Home Far Away is an exceptionally appropriate title in encompassing the cognitive state of the spiritually and societally ostracized through the lens of religion and domestic misfortune. To escape from it all, those people need a home: a community of shared love and warmth. I just have to say, the author really gets it. By that, I mean the indubitable highlight of the story, which is religious guilt. There lies a copious amount of stress shouldered daily by people who think they are the devil's spawndue to their realization that their heart's desires misalign with their bodies sculpted with the likeness of The Divine Entity. The fear of being cursed, intermingling with the hatred of one's nature, all stream into this woeful ocean of philosophy:

"If I were born differently, this love wouldn't have been a sin."

And at the very least, that newfound home could have been one without the gallows for a backyard; where greetings don't come as meted judgments; where they can be one with the neighborhood, warm cheers close in proximity as they all relish in the greatest gift given to man, the ability to wholeheartedly love.

Of course, contrarian scenarios all too well exist in real life, and the author resolved to capture its full tragedy. Sprinkle in some hope and joy to exacerbate the looming threat, give the characters some time with peace that should have been theirs to regularly taste to begin with, before finally pushing them off the edge once and for all.

How cruel is the truth that this world cannot save space for the people who need it most.

All this to say, A Home Far Away was sad to read. Despite the depressing frame, the hasty approach it took dried up the adhesive of a surefire emotional journey, thus preventing me from being too heavily invested enough for a heartbreak.

However, it had its powerful moments, such as when Alan shot through the crucified statue of Christ. That bit, yes, it broke me to pieces. That whole scene in the chapel subdued my capacity for optimism, because it was the last nail in the coffin. After being enclosed on all sides, even Jesus, whom Alan had faith for and prayed to even after all the pain His devout apostles (his parents and the priest, though he really shouldn't be included) gave him, had failed in Alan's eyes.

His entire life was practically dictated by people and things that didn't come from his essence. Simultaneously, there is a breathless feeling of denying who you are to escape the punishment of sin. Despite having Hayden, a runaway of memories, even that was fleeting in the end too. It is poetic that their end was met at the palms of the ocean, the primordial source of life and the material used to relinquish sin in the hopes of a resurrected one without it.

I express all this, but the genuine emotional movement I had could only be attributed to the approach the story took and the execution to traverse the plot. Were it to be more fleshed out, were more avenues to have been explored, were it to have been more than a trauma dump and a flash-to-pathos, maybe I would have had sufficient room to move as the author's stringed puppet play. Nevertheless, it was a good experience overall, and I am not discounting its loyalty to its themes and the resolute gestures to paint a melancholic work.

do you guys know about that one videoon tiktok, about a car riding straight to a fishing pier in virginia beach back in like 12/2023? yeah i read this manga right after that and i got literal goosebump. please be gentle on the young generations, because we dont know what theyve been through and what we have put on them... the special thing here, it's not just about the unique religious reference in bl manga, but they discuss about the harsh reality while coming out of age and finding who you are in life, the holly paradox, the twisted adult life and how it could affectthe child, past trauma, ptsd, murder and justice,...

everything in this story is just so welldone, from the plot to the dialogs to the narrations to the art. to me, it's a straight 10 ever from the start. the ending was sublime, and i couldnt imagine anything better for both of them since not only have they found their freedom, but they are with each other from the very beginning to the very end. truly brought tears to my eyes ♡

This is when he said “I love you.” but Alain said “No matter how many times I can reincarnate, I will always find you & I will be the place you want to return too. And we’ll come back together to our home.” THE STORY IS A MASTERPIECE. Why? Let’s talk about the elements of the story. Plot: I’d give this a 10/10. A small novel/manga with a deep message within. Below is the story (SPOILER & W/O BACKSTORY & DETAILS) So, the story starts in 1990 with Alain Saverio (the mc) (ill make his name ‘AS’ so it’ll me quicker), at that time (of the scene) hewas running away from home. There, he met a guy named Hayden Stewart (ml) (i’ll make ‘HS’ to be quick). As AS & HS opened up their backstories, AS decided that HS is similar to him — and he is someone who AS can lean on.

When AS came back home, his parents — rather than searching for him — they just prayed to God (at this story they’re Christians) that AS would “magically appear”. The father yelled at him for not coming back, and his mom is worried asf. The mother guilt tripped AS, saying that she’s worried that something is happening, so she prayed to God.

“Why don’t you search for me, then?! All you do is pray to God without even try!”

At that point, AS is cooked. (and yes AS’s father slapped him)

As the story goes, AS is getting closer to HS as someone he can relate to. AS showed HS places he’s never been to, and having fun with him as a friend.

Then his heart shatters as HS state that he’s moving that spring.

“I rather to tell you now than later. I’ll give you time to decide if you wanted to come with me or not.”

That spring, AS decided that he’s following HS.. to a new world where no one knows the past him.

(long story short they kissed & do the boombayah)

As they drove past another country (i think its MEX but i forgot lol), there’s news that in a church nearby, there’s a new priest moved from America 10 years ago.

“It must be coincidence, right?” AS thought to himself, his face turning pale.

As he recieved the news, he asked HS to go to that church, since that one priest has something to do with AS.

Simply put it, AS killed the priest & shot Jesus’s forehead.

On the other side (hometown), there’s an investigation going on that AS is “kidnapped” by HS, and they’re the current suspect of a murder & a hit-and-run.

The police went to the parents house asking about AS as a phone call rings in..

“Father, at 7 yrs old, the priest r*ped me.” “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? YOU’RE A SIN. DO U KNOW WHAT MY BROTHERS FELT ABT THIS?!” AS’s father calls him a slvt, then hung up on the call.

Since then, a police (who took care of HS once) has a hypothesis that the runaway was from the adults they lived with, not them.

Finally, they arrived at the beach HS always dreamed of. As HS enjoys the view, AS made a sketch about him, where he looks at the sea & smiles.

As they’re having a time together, police came to arrest both HS & AS. They ran to the car, speeding away as AS throws his sketches. And when AS wants to throw the photocard of the beach, he got shot.. in the chest.

“My only most beautiful place in my whole life, where there is not even the name of God, nor sin, nor punishment, nor forgiveness. The only place.. is by your side.”

“I no longer wish. I just need this. If this place is now our world, that’s fine. I can let go of my whole being in this sea.”

“He is the one who gave me everything, and offered me everything, who gave me life. That’s how it is. Since that day.”

(BRO I WAS CRYING AT THIS PART COS I WANT A MAN LIKE THIS DAMN)

As they drove to a pier, they flew themselves into the ocean.

“Hey Alain, what would the world look like if all our wishes came true?” AS chuckles. “If that place existed, it’d be paradise. There’d be nothing special, only raising my face & look up.”

“Would you be..”

-END-

I CRIED. SO HARD. ITS ANGST, SAD ENDING, DEEP, AND AN OPEN END. ITS PERFECT. It talks about religion, pedophilia & the effects, prostitution, runaways from abuse, and leaning on to someone who relate to you. Even tho its rushed af, I didnt feel like it. the excecution is perfect

Art:

The art is stunning, absolutely beautiful. It fits extremely well with the story and further elevates the severity of it all. The artist potrays the emotions completely, making me drawn more into the story. 10/10.

Characters:

At first I thought that AS & HS were cliche, both have traumas & they run away together. But if you dug deeper, you'll realize soon enough that they are totally different individuals with very compatible souls.

They both have a lot of personality and layers to them. It might be hard to relate to their individual stories, but it is extremely easy to relate to their pure feelings, especially during monologues.

The focus is purely on the main couple, with the rest simply being extras present to further emphasize their motives or help us understand where their feeling are coming from, what has shaped them and in what way. 10/10.

Enjoyment:

If your life has been sad/if you have felt alone and betrayed, you’d love this.

To anyone interested in reading this, I suggest read it with no biases and no prejudice. Just because someone doesn’t want to admit something, it doesn't stop it from happening to someone, somewhere in this vast world. This being a 'bl' story shouldn't define it's reality as “gay romance”. This is fundamentally a slice-of-life, that could very well have been described through a shoujo, seinen or any other demographic.

Personally, I found this story rather sad, but beautiful at the same time. The message it carries is as important as it is a reminder to us of how unfair the world we have created has become.

This story is painful. It goes to show not just how much a situation can hurt or break the chars/readers, how much suffering anything can cause and just how long-lasting the consequences are; but also how a person can become another’s salvation; a home, a safe place, a new world, freedom.

Two boys meet and start talking about their problems at home. Alan talks about an overprotective father who doesn't leave him alone. Hayden instead of an absent mother, who spends her nights with different men. Alan is also beaten by his father. His parents are very religious and have passed on their religiosity to their son. Hayden is the first person Alan has opened up to and it's the first time Alan has felt encouraged. Hayden also suggests that he visit him at his shop when he is depressed. Hayden is the next to move though. Alan takes Hayden around town and confesses that he was abused bya priest and is very devoted to the Madonna. Alan has feelings for Hayden, but he doesn't confess it because due to his religion he would feel like a sinner to have a homosexual relationship.

Hayden remembers his mother, who was beaten by his father and to escape that vortex of terror she killed him. Subsequently, she died of an overdose.

Alan doesn't want to lose Hayden and chooses to run away with him and live their love, despite the possible repercussions from his family and the fact of having become a wanted man.

Alan establishes a relationship with Maria, a prostitute who has lost a son. Once he tells him that he has to leave, the woman becomes agitated and threatens to call the police. Hayden and Alan hit her with their car. During the escape Alan hears a call from God and goes to pray in Church. During his escape, he finds the priest who abused him as a child and goes to find him with a gun.

A Home Far Away is one of the few BL manga with a dramatic ending. Alan never really got over his trauma and going to take revenge on the priest is definitely not an action that God ordered him to do. The fear due to Maria's death shook him and he felt fragile, which is why he returned in Church to do what helped him calm down in times of need. This manga is very strong and immersive, I always felt very involved in reading it. The ending remains open and we would never know if the boys will be able to reunite and how it will end for them.

Well now I'm sad :( I felt like there was a hole in my chest the entire time I was reading this. This manga completely devastated me. The way it explores religious guilt, corruption within the church, and complex, suffocating family dynamics is raw and painfully real. Every page felt like a quiet, emotional blow. But at the heart of it all is Alan and Hayden’s relationship - and oh my god, I loved them. It was beautiful, sad, messy, and deeply human. The kind of bond that feels fleeting but life-changing. I just want to hug them both. And the artwork? Absolutely stunning. I’ve never read somethingso beautifully drawn - every panel is soft, expressive, and aching. It buries deep inside you and hurts in ways you didn’t expect.

I honestly wish this was a full-length novel. I can so vividly imagine a 300-page version of this story in my head - it would be so beautiful and devastating, and I’d gladly let it ruin me. The manga format is gorgeous, and I love the art, but it's so short, and this story has had such an impact on me, I can’t stop thinking about it. I just want everyone to read it.

Short, powerful, and hauntingly beautiful. I’m not okay.