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akookieforyou's review against another edition
4.0
“He would hold him like this moment, forever.
He would be here with him, forever.”
This book was just so light and nice, like the embrace of a warm blanket on a cold day. I really liked Wataru and Yuichi together, they had such an unique way to show each other affection, and they had such cute moments together.
While this book wasn't perfect, it made me happy while I was reading it, so I'm looking forward to checking out the sequels at some point in the future.
He would be here with him, forever.”
This book was just so light and nice, like the embrace of a warm blanket on a cold day. I really liked Wataru and Yuichi together, they had such an unique way to show each other affection, and they had such cute moments together.
While this book wasn't perfect, it made me happy while I was reading it, so I'm looking forward to checking out the sequels at some point in the future.
_skyream's review against another edition
4.0
(4/5 ☆)
I remember reading this novel for the first time around 2012-2013. Back then I was just getting into the world of BL novels/mangas and this novel had the privilege of being the first I read in this genre.
I discovered the novel shortly after reading the manga. I had liked the story so much that I might know if it had a sequel and looking for it was how I discovered the novels.
What I liked about this novel is how it is written. Use a delicate and simple narrative to describe the relationship between two boys in school years without making it cloying. How does this progress, from the realization of their feelings until they finally become a couple. I liked how the author emphasized the issue of feelings, which are important especially at this stage, describing them in a natural way without making them look over-exaggerated and how important it is to express them.
In conclusion, I have loved this novel like the first time I read it. Reading it for the second time has made me notice details that I missed when I read it for the first time and that made the experience totally different.
I remember reading this novel for the first time around 2012-2013. Back then I was just getting into the world of BL novels/mangas and this novel had the privilege of being the first I read in this genre.
I discovered the novel shortly after reading the manga. I had liked the story so much that I might know if it had a sequel and looking for it was how I discovered the novels.
What I liked about this novel is how it is written. Use a delicate and simple narrative to describe the relationship between two boys in school years without making it cloying. How does this progress, from the realization of their feelings until they finally become a couple. I liked how the author emphasized the issue of feelings, which are important especially at this stage, describing them in a natural way without making them look over-exaggerated and how important it is to express them.
In conclusion, I have loved this novel like the first time I read it. Reading it for the second time has made me notice details that I missed when I read it for the first time and that made the experience totally different.
txbularxsa's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
enemies to lovers speedrun we love to see it! i'll probably read the following novels
enemies to lovers speedrun we love to see it! i'll probably read the following novels
bluenicorn's review against another edition
4.0
At first I was disappointed that this wasn't manga- the cover is such a teaser!- but by the end, I was hooked and was just giddy about the romance.
jaimesamms's review against another edition
3.0
This is most assuredly your typical yaoi high school romance, with the harsh seme protecting his feelings by trying hard to hide them and the confused uke denying he even has them.
What isn't typical is the way in which Kazuki secretly falls for Wataru and all out stalks him long before they ever even meet. To Wataru, Kazuki is simply a respectable, popular upperclassman who doesn't figure much on his radar otherwise. It never occurs to him that an older boy might have feelings for him.
The issue of the two boys discovering how they feel and coming to terms with it is dealt with in an uncommonly sensitive matter in this story, and that appealed to me a great deal. It wasn't a angst-ridden fest of self-loathing or candies and popcorn, flower-strewn love in. It was realistic and honest, and in the midst of an otherwise ordinary story, that was a fresh take.
The ring featured in the series title proves to be an elusive bond between them, and I felt true authenticity in the naive importance the boys put on the physical object. It sweetened their fumbling first steps into love, reminded me of some of the silly things people do in high school.
I'm not sure, in this book, if the translation or the original Japanese text is the source of the sometimes awkward phrasing in this story, but I did notice sometimes the wording seemed stiff. I also noticed some very simple and straightforward use of description I found added to the sweet feeling of the whole story over all.
The illistrations I found quite sweet as well. There is a marked difference in the way the artist depicts Kazuki, being the older boy, from the wide-eyed uke, Wataru. I know this is a common technique, but I was impressed with the consistency of the character details. Some really lovely illustrations in this book made it a pleasure.
What isn't typical is the way in which Kazuki secretly falls for Wataru and all out stalks him long before they ever even meet. To Wataru, Kazuki is simply a respectable, popular upperclassman who doesn't figure much on his radar otherwise. It never occurs to him that an older boy might have feelings for him.
The issue of the two boys discovering how they feel and coming to terms with it is dealt with in an uncommonly sensitive matter in this story, and that appealed to me a great deal. It wasn't a angst-ridden fest of self-loathing or candies and popcorn, flower-strewn love in. It was realistic and honest, and in the midst of an otherwise ordinary story, that was a fresh take.
The ring featured in the series title proves to be an elusive bond between them, and I felt true authenticity in the naive importance the boys put on the physical object. It sweetened their fumbling first steps into love, reminded me of some of the silly things people do in high school.
I'm not sure, in this book, if the translation or the original Japanese text is the source of the sometimes awkward phrasing in this story, but I did notice sometimes the wording seemed stiff. I also noticed some very simple and straightforward use of description I found added to the sweet feeling of the whole story over all.
The illistrations I found quite sweet as well. There is a marked difference in the way the artist depicts Kazuki, being the older boy, from the wide-eyed uke, Wataru. I know this is a common technique, but I was impressed with the consistency of the character details. Some really lovely illustrations in this book made it a pleasure.
jenriv89's review against another edition
3.0
Great if you love shounen-ai manga, bad if you want a really good novel
jupanuma's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This story has issues. It is terribly translated, but if you can get over that then the story it’s self is iffy at best.
There is little to no detail so it’s hard to know what’s going on, and there is nothing to show a scene is going to change, which makes it jarring to read.
Both main characters are not fleshed out. We have Yuichi, who has internal homophobia on himself which it uses to bully the person his likes. And once they do get together he’s very passive aggressive and gets jealous easily.
Then we have Wataru. I don’t know why it’s a trope but the “this person is bullying me and now that they act like I’m invisible, I start to see that I actually like this person”, that’s what gets him to fall in love with Yuichi. No. Just no. This person was terrible to you and now that they are leaving you alone then you should be glad, not sad and falling in love. And he’s best friend is terrible to him too. Kawamura, his best friend, asks how their relationship is going but then just doesn’t not care what the answer is and is rube about it. And Wataru just plays it off as oh he’s single so it’s okay. No. If he was really a good friend he would be invested in what you have to say even if it doesn’t effect them. And when Wataru returns the favor to ask about his love life he says“why would a homo like you care”. And they play it off likes it’s teasing but it’s not.
Once they are in a relationship multiple people ask if they have had sex yet. And when Wataru say no and that he’s not ready it’s portrayed as something strange. Like they only have been in a relationship for a few months, they don’t need to have sex right away.
I think the best part of the story is the wholeblack mailing part just because the scenes don’t break up and it read smoothly, but otherwise is was just as bad as the rest of the story. It’s could have all been solved if Wataru just told the true from the very beginning, instead he lies about what’s going on, have to deal with a girl who’s black mailing him, and this stupid bet he made with his boyfriend. Yeah your relationship is going so well. And when everything does work it’s self out it feels like a huge waste of time.
And I’m sad that this story wasn’t as good as I was expecting. I read the manga first and liked it, so I was hoping to at least think this was decent but not really.
There is little to no detail so it’s hard to know what’s going on, and there is nothing to show a scene is going to change, which makes it jarring to read.
Both main characters are not fleshed out. We have Yuichi, who has internal homophobia on himself which it uses to bully the person his likes. And once they do get together he’s very passive aggressive and gets jealous easily.
Then we have Wataru. I don’t know why it’s a trope but the “this person is bullying me and now that they act like I’m invisible, I start to see that I actually like this person”, that’s what gets him to fall in love with Yuichi. No. Just no. This person was terrible to you and now that they are leaving you alone then you should be glad, not sad and falling in love. And he’s best friend is terrible to him too. Kawamura, his best friend, asks how their relationship is going but then just doesn’t not care what the answer is and is rube about it. And Wataru just plays it off as oh he’s single so it’s okay. No. If he was really a good friend he would be invested in what you have to say even if it doesn’t effect them. And when Wataru returns the favor to ask about his love life he says
I think the best part of the story is the whole
And I’m sad that this story wasn’t as good as I was expecting. I read the manga first and liked it, so I was hoping to at least think this was decent but not really.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Homophobia
midnightsun337's review
3.0
Reading this again as an adult, I can't help but find the characters more frustrating. There are a lot of unnecessary petty arguments, and pretty much all of the drama could've been avoided if people just communicated better and told the truth. However, I also know that I feel the same looking back on my own interactions with people in my teenage years, so I can't criticise too much.
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