Finished
“Ian's reverse-told journey across continents seeking family and belonging, framed by a reporter's novel.”
Not Simple
not simple
7.74
1,696 rank · 13,898 readers · 317 favorites
Seinen
Drama
Slice of Life
Would You Love or Hate This?
AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
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Synopsis
Ian's reverse-told journey across continents seeking family and belonging, framed by a reporter's novel.
Ian, a young man with a fractured family history, travels from Australia to England to America in the hope of realizing his dreams and reuniting with his beloved sister. His story unfolds backwards through the framing narrative of Jim, a reporter driven to capture Ian's experiences in a novel: not simple. A story within a story, a book within a book, a tale about the search for family, for an emotional home. (Source: VIZ Media)
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 11 sampled reviews
9.0
/10
What 11 readers settled on.
100%
recommend
Score distribution
median 9
mode 9
σ 0.74
Agreement
Strong agreement
σ 0.74 · scores cluster tight
The polarity gap
—
Not enough recommend signal yet
Score over time
↓ 1.00
Running avg · Mar 2010 → Sep 2025
Snap verdicts
· shortest highly-rated reviews
- 9 “"Not Simple" is a beautiful, emotionally resonant story that masterfully explores a brother's search for his sister through a compelling non-linear narrative. While the art style may not be the...”
- 10 “The art is uniquely expressive and the characters are masterfully developed, pulling me into the story from the very first page. While the non-linear narrative structure can be a bit confusing, it...”
- 8 “The storytelling in *Not Simple* is complete, brutal, and deeply moving, leaving me with a profound sense of empathy for the protagonist. Unfortunately, the art quality is severely lacking,...”
Verbosity
Short · 45%
Medium · 9%
Long · 45%
Read Order & Related
A self-contained story.
No sequels, spin-offs or alternate tellings — Not Simple begins and ends here.
Cast
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A Manga Publication
- Format 14 × 1 ch × vol
- Total read 1h 52m approx
- Published Sep 2004 – Nov 2005
- Source Manga media type
- Ref. BS-M8363 catalog