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librarypatron's review against another edition
5.0
Such a fun, satisfying read! I didn't expect it to make me as consistently emotional as it did. Every character is so lovable. I was so invested.
ameliabedeliagoesonline's review against another edition
5.0
With emotional artwork and thoughtful explorations of the humanity of its characters, “Fruits Basket” is both charmingly sweet and touchingly tragic, with moments of genuine humor throughout. Themes of kindness, forgiveness, grief, healing, and growth flow from the pages. With an odd concept and plenty of quirk, the story has more to offer than might meet the eye from the start. The reflections on kindness are resonant.
whipsnake's review against another edition
5.0
I usually don't read manga, but I watched the anime on my cousins recommendation and loved it. So I had to read the manga to see how it ended. And I'm so glad I did. I read it many years ago and had forgotten a lot of it, and reading it again only made me love it more. I loved all the characters, the story and the character development.
Tohru is not a character I would think I would like, as I normally don't relate much to too nice characters. But for some unknown reason I came to love her, and the Sohmas and all the bi-characters as well.
Tohru is not a character I would think I would like, as I normally don't relate much to too nice characters. But for some unknown reason I came to love her, and the Sohmas and all the bi-characters as well.
margeryb's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read a lot of manga, but I have read and own the entirety of this series and have read it more than once. It's a magical realism fantasy dramady romance that at points gets really angst-heavy. Only upon rereading was I able to appreciate the amount of forethought and foreshadowing this series had, as it was originally written and drawn as a serial over 7 years. It has a large cast of characters that is strongly developed. While there is this mystical element that plays a large role in the story, the story is intensely interpersonal and character lead. It subverts, many times, your expectations, especially when it comes to the "villain" of the piece. If you dabble in reading manga and haven't read this, read this.
ladyofthelake68's review against another edition
5.0
Fruits Basket is one of those series that become close to your heart. When I finished the series I was left in a state of shock. Happy shock to be sure but shock that I would never get to spend time and grow with these characters in the same way ever again. Throughout my experience with these books I have grown to cherish all the characters in a special way. I am deeply saddened that I will no longer be able to watch them grow up. At the same time I am glad I was able to spend these few years with them and I will always look back on them with fondness.
The premise of Fruits Basket is completely different from the books I normally read. It is a story about high school kids growing up, falling in love, and learning things about themselves; a book I would normally stay far away from. Perhaps it was the fact that it was a manga drew me to it. Or perhaps it was the fact that I received the first 12 books as a gift. I probably would not have read them otherwise.
Anyway, the illustrations told volumes about the characters and made them seem very much alive. Watching the characters react to situations much the same as I would helped me to connect with them an appreciate them all the more.
I also felt a very close connection with the author through the notes she wrote and the comments she gave at the end. I feel as if she and I are close friends and we have traveled with these characters together. Thank you so much for writing these books Natsuki Takaya!
I would put this book on the same level as Harry Potter. They don't have the same amount of action in them but they do take you on an emotional roller-coaster and you find yourself rooting for your favorite characters and despising the villains. Although in the end, there were no villains, just people struggling to get by as best they can. There are lessons in that.
Okay, so the point of all of this is READ THESE BOOKS! You will learn from them. You will fall in love with them. You will grow with them.
The premise of Fruits Basket is completely different from the books I normally read. It is a story about high school kids growing up, falling in love, and learning things about themselves; a book I would normally stay far away from. Perhaps it was the fact that it was a manga drew me to it. Or perhaps it was the fact that I received the first 12 books as a gift. I probably would not have read them otherwise.
Anyway, the illustrations told volumes about the characters and made them seem very much alive. Watching the characters react to situations much the same as I would helped me to connect with them an appreciate them all the more.
I also felt a very close connection with the author through the notes she wrote and the comments she gave at the end. I feel as if she and I are close friends and we have traveled with these characters together. Thank you so much for writing these books Natsuki Takaya!
I would put this book on the same level as Harry Potter. They don't have the same amount of action in them but they do take you on an emotional roller-coaster and you find yourself rooting for your favorite characters and despising the villains. Although in the end, there were no villains, just people struggling to get by as best they can. There are lessons in that.
Okay, so the point of all of this is READ THESE BOOKS! You will learn from them. You will fall in love with them. You will grow with them.
widdrims's review against another edition
5.0
What can I say about Fruits Basket that has not already been said? This is without a doubt one of the best shoujo mangas out there, if not one of the best mangas, period. It's heartfelt, original, funny, it really has something for everyone while at the same time feeling so distinctly personal.
Like many others, I watched the 2001 anime and read the manga for the first time when I was in middle school and I am so grateful for it. As corny as it might sound, I really do feel as though it shaped the way in which, now as an adult, I think about and interact with other people.
I would recommend this story to literally ANYONE. No matter if you have never read manga before, or if shoujo is not your thing, if you think it might be too girly, just read it. You will not regret it and I can guarantee you that by the time you are finished you will feel as though there is a part of you that has been changed by this story.
SIDE NOTE 9/16/19: I decided to re-read this in February in preparation for the anime reboot which promised to improve on the 2001 anime and tell the ENTIRE story. Once again, I am thankful that I did because not only did it remind me of how much I loved Fruits Basket but it also has dramatically increased my enjoyment of the new 2019 reboot. Once you are finished with the manga, watch the new anime. Few adaptations are as faithful and respectful to their source material as this one. It is truly a labor of love and it shows in every single decision, in every single frame.
Like many others, I watched the 2001 anime and read the manga for the first time when I was in middle school and I am so grateful for it. As corny as it might sound, I really do feel as though it shaped the way in which, now as an adult, I think about and interact with other people.
I would recommend this story to literally ANYONE. No matter if you have never read manga before, or if shoujo is not your thing, if you think it might be too girly, just read it. You will not regret it and I can guarantee you that by the time you are finished you will feel as though there is a part of you that has been changed by this story.
SIDE NOTE 9/16/19: I decided to re-read this in February in preparation for the anime reboot which promised to improve on the 2001 anime and tell the ENTIRE story. Once again, I am thankful that I did because not only did it remind me of how much I loved Fruits Basket but it also has dramatically increased my enjoyment of the new 2019 reboot. Once you are finished with the manga, watch the new anime. Few adaptations are as faithful and respectful to their source material as this one. It is truly a labor of love and it shows in every single decision, in every single frame.
anna_sun's review against another edition
4.0
On a whim I decided to reread Fruits Basket, a manga I had enjoyed as a teenager. I was pleased to find it held up well; like many YA series that follow their characters as they grow, the early books were fairly juvenile (appropriate for 12+ readers) while the later volumes were a bit more complex and sometimes even dark. After reading the series (at 30 years old it took less than a week) I watched the 2019 series and found it remained very true to the source material. It made my inner teenager very happy to watch a faithful adaptation after rereading the series!
allie_thebooktraveler's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
arissande's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this series so so so so much it’s such a beautiful tale of redemption and sacrifice 😭