North. Volume 1 Cover Art Cropped, Always Human, Yellow Jacket.
Always Human – Information
Author of Story: Ari North (walkingnorth)
Chapter Count: 77 Episodes + epilogue (2 volumes printed version)
Status: Completed
Content Warnings
These content warnings do not reflect the contents of the review below, only the literary work itself.
- Topics about diet and weight
- Mature content briefly mentioned and implied
Spoiler Disclaimer
This recommendation post may contain small plot spoilers for review purposes. Any major spoilers are hidden by default and are able to be revealed via click or tap.
Today I wanted to review a webtoon called Always Human. It’s a lovely GL from 2015—and may have been one of the first GL series I ever read. I had forgotten a lot of the story since it’s been so long since I last read it, so experiencing it all again was such a good time. This series holds a pretty special memory for me, so I hope you will enjoy it, too. ♡
Always Human – Plot Summary
Always Human follows a young woman named Sunati, who lives in a high-tech, futuristic version of our world that has become significantly advanced in all things involving the human body.
They have something called “mods” (modifications) that are applied to the body. These mods help humans avoid illness and even allow people to change their appearance in any way they like. With mods, you can change your hairstyle, hair color, ear shape, freckles, eye color, or whatever you please!
Despite the fashion freedom that everyone seems to enjoy, Sunati frequently notices a girl at the station who seems to never change her appearance. Sunati admires her bravery to embrace the same look for so long, and even develops a bit of a crush on this interesting stranger.
Sunati finally gets the chance to talk to her one day… only to find out that this person can’t use mods at all! This short interaction results in Sunati’s crush leaving in a fit of tears.
However, she seeks out Sunati some time later to apologize—and she explains that she has a genetic condition that makes it very difficult for her body to use mods without significant intervention from doctors. After a short talk, Sunati gains a reckless and random bout of courage to ask her crush out without evening knowing her name!
Understandably, Sunati’s crush, whose name turns out to be Austen, declines at first. But, she eventually agrees to get to know Sunati better through dating. And thus, we have the start of a lovely romance!
This series is a beautiful, wholesome story that is great for anyone wanting to read something meaningful. It has a lot of great topics (romance and non-romance) that are sure to touch your heart. I really enjoyed re-reading it, so let’s jump into the full review below!
North. Volume 2 Cover Art, Love and Gravity: An Always Human Story, Yellow Jacket.
Why You Should Read Always Human
Plot:
Rereading this story in 2026 is actually kind of wild, as it has an interesting idea of what the future could be like (this story takes place in the 24th century). It sometimes references VR and has futuristic ways of working, studying, and more.
Personally, I always get the sense that futuristic worlds depicted in media feel almost dystopian… they often focus on new tech and shiny materials, and leave out the beauty of the natural world. However, this story focuses so much on the human experience and emotions, so it feels very grounded and relatable despite it having technology that doesn’t exist in our world.
The romance in this series is so lovely and pretty fast-paced. It stays as the main focus of this comic from beginning to end, with a few subtopics that join in along the way. I really love the romance in Always Human, as it is just really sweet, realistic, and wholesome.
While it is very cute, it’s not all fluff and sweetness. The characters have a lot of differences to overcome and many things to learn about each other!
Although there are “conflicts” in this story, there is a pleasant lack of annoying drama like love rivals or soap opera-esque betrayals. The conflict that does happen is meaningful and realistic for a new relationship.
For example, the first trial we see is where one character falls really hard for the other and (light spoilers here) puts them on a pedestal of sorts, which unfortunately ends up putting a heavy weight on their love interest. I really like this sort of topic, as it addresses what love is really like… learning about both the good and the bad of your partner(s) and loving them for who they are as a whole!
I really enjoyed this realistic and down to earth take on romance. Sunati and Austen work through many difficult conversations, support each other during hardships, and build a strong, healthy relationship that is very sweet!
There’s a lot more to love about this series, too—unyielding friendships, personal passions, and lots of other LGBTQ representation.
Characters:
I love how distinct the two main characters feel in Always Human. Although they are each lovable in their own way, they still have flawed personality traits and make mistakes, such as saying things they don’t mean or having emotional bursts that end up straining their relationship.
Let’s start with the first character we meet: Sunati. Sunati is a kind, slightly nervous, and empathetic character who seems very excited to learn about Austen.
She doesn’t pry or act rudely, but she also doesn’t always think things through properly—often letting her emotions or desire to say or do the “right” thing take rein over what’s actually needed in the moment. She has good intentions, but unfortunately ends up being unhelpful or hurtful while trying to protect others.
Despite these flaws, she’s very caring and thoughtful… and also sort of a goofy little nerd (which I loved about her)! (´ ω `♡)
Austen is a more guarded and understandably insecure person, especially considering she’s unable to use fashion mods and lives in a world surrounded by fashionable people. She stands out, but not on purpose.
This separation between her and what everyone else sees as normal affects her in every aspect of her life. It makes her put walls up around her heart, and she can often seem rather distrustful.
While this sounds negative, I really like this part of her personality. Austen stays true to herself and wants someone to accept her for who she really is. I like that she takes on hard conversations, and is pretty mature about communication and other important life tasks.
Additionally, I think Austen has one of the most realistic depictions of insecurity I’ve read yet. She’s not portrayed as a quiet, shy, or incapable person, as some insecure characters often are. Instead, she speaks her mind and seems like a strong person, but still struggles with her self image. I really appreciate this specific variation of character traits!
Anyway, both of these characters are really great as individuals, but they truly bring out the best in each other throughout this lovely story! ♡
Art:
While the art doesn’t give off the same vibes of other super high-detail webtoons you may know of, it absolutely has its own lovely charm. If you’re tired of seeing repeated art styles in webcomics, you may be refreshed by the style found in Always Human. It’s unique and very artsy!
I absolutely love that the author uses a watercolor-like style, and a heavy use of colors in general. The character designs are really cute, and overall I really enjoyed the look of this series.
The art definitely shifts in style over the course of many chapters, but the feel or aesthetic of the webtoon is still present throughout the series—and the watercolor stays along for the ride, too! Yay!
North (walkingnorth). Webtoon Promotional Art, Always Human, Webtoon.
Any Cons?
The chapters of this series can feel a bit short compared to other webtoons—and you can definitely binge this series in a relatively short amount of time—but I think that the length was perfect.
Sometimes it’s nice to have a story that gets the message and romance across without dragging everything out too much.
I do think the ending was a little bit unexpected, but nothing about the story feels rushed. I like where the author ended it. I have to admit that I don’t usually like the trope that this story ended with (spoiler: one character goes on a big long trip to support their individual growth) but I do think it was appropriate for the plot and character development.
What I’m getting at here is that some readers may find the story too short, although I personally enjoyed the length. Other than that, I can’t think of any other cons for this series. It’s just a super cute and wholesome romance—what’s there not to like?!
Final Thoughts
Overall, I highly recommend this adorable webtoon series! Always Human portrays a very unique world, a natural and healthy romance, and some very lovable characters. It’s a wholesome story told through a colorful art style, and I think it’s something anyone can enjoy.
This series is published on Webtoon and also has a physical printed edition, so feel free to look into either of those reading options!
Disclaimer: Many images used for this blog are for illustrative purposes only, are not owned by me, and are under ownership of the artist or publisher.
Images Credit: North, Ari (walkingnorth). Always Human, Webtoon, 2015. Yellow Jacket, 2020.
