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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
First loves and second chance romance? Yes please!
1) I wish I could say I actually READ this in Japanese but I"m not there yet. I own a copy in Japanese but am reading the English translations online for now.
2) No judging- I am for whatever reason madly in love with this story, despite it being yaoi and following a few less than desirable tropes.
This is an ongoing manga series. The primary couple is the focus of this volume.
Onodera Ritsu is 25 and has just left his father's publishing company to work at Marukawa Publishing. His hope is that by switching companies he will distance himself from the image that he only is successful due to nepotism. However, he's in for a shock when he realizes he will no longer editing his beloved literature, but manga- specifically shoujo manga (that aimed toward teen girls). He is made a part of the Emerald Editing team, which is all men, and which alters between states of utter fluffy/sparkling pink extremity and utter disheveled depression. This is because a manga magazine (which is essentially the length of a book) is put out every month. Shortly after he starts, his boss Takano Masamune takes interest in him, puzzling Onodera. It is only after the two successfully help a struggling author finish her work that Onodera realizes Takano was his high school sweetheart (his last name had changed from Saga to Takano due to his parents' divorce). Upon realizing their break up was built on misunderstandings and miscommunication, Takano vows to make Onodera fall in love with him again.
We also meet Yokozowa, sales worker at Marukawa publishing and friends with Takano since university. He takes a disliking to Onodera straight off.
Reasons I love this story:
1) Takano is hot. Okay- it just has to be said. He is a beautifully drawn male figure and that is that. (The guy who does his anime voice also just adds to the sexiness.)
2) Ritsu may frustrate you, but he's relate-able. He's been hurt, bad, and he's not sure he can ever go through that again. On top of that he's struggling with family expectations and his own desire to do quality work. It's not that he doesn't love Takano... it's that he doesn't WANT to... at least not at first.
3) I love the discussion of the publishing industry in Japan. I love books- no shock as I belong to this site- and in my study of Japanese, this is a cultural difference of major interest to me. They do a great job of providing all sorts of information about the industry and insights into working with different authors.
4) While there are questionable moments of consent (typical of this type of manga), eventually the depth of the love these 2 share becomes so apparent, it just grabs you. You want to sit them both down, knock their heads together, and get them to just TALK already so they can move on to being happily lovey dovey. Instead we accept the slow torture that is the nature of such serial publications and just hope that it gets the proper wrap up it deserves.
Is it perfect? No. If you dubious consent that is typical with yaoi manga gives you the heebie jeebies, skip it. But if the description above appeals, this may be a good choice- especially as it has an accompanying anime.
2) No judging- I am for whatever reason madly in love with this story, despite it being yaoi and following a few less than desirable tropes.
This is an ongoing manga series. The primary couple is the focus of this volume.
Onodera Ritsu is 25 and has just left his father's publishing company to work at Marukawa Publishing. His hope is that by switching companies he will distance himself from the image that he only is successful due to nepotism. However, he's in for a shock when he realizes he will no longer editing his beloved literature, but manga- specifically shoujo manga (that aimed toward teen girls). He is made a part of the Emerald Editing team, which is all men, and which alters between states of utter fluffy/sparkling pink extremity and utter disheveled depression. This is because a manga magazine (which is essentially the length of a book) is put out every month. Shortly after he starts, his boss Takano Masamune takes interest in him, puzzling Onodera. It is only after the two successfully help a struggling author finish her work that Onodera realizes Takano was his high school sweetheart (his last name had changed from Saga to Takano due to his parents' divorce). Upon realizing their break up was built on misunderstandings and miscommunication, Takano vows to make Onodera fall in love with him again.
We also meet Yokozowa, sales worker at Marukawa publishing and friends with Takano since university. He takes a disliking to Onodera straight off.
Reasons I love this story:
1) Takano is hot. Okay- it just has to be said. He is a beautifully drawn male figure and that is that. (The guy who does his anime voice also just adds to the sexiness.)
2) Ritsu may frustrate you, but he's relate-able. He's been hurt, bad, and he's not sure he can ever go through that again. On top of that he's struggling with family expectations and his own desire to do quality work. It's not that he doesn't love Takano... it's that he doesn't WANT to... at least not at first.
3) I love the discussion of the publishing industry in Japan. I love books- no shock as I belong to this site- and in my study of Japanese, this is a cultural difference of major interest to me. They do a great job of providing all sorts of information about the industry and insights into working with different authors.
4) While there are questionable moments of consent (typical of this type of manga), eventually the depth of the love these 2 share becomes so apparent, it just grabs you. You want to sit them both down, knock their heads together, and get them to just TALK already so they can move on to being happily lovey dovey. Instead we accept the slow torture that is the nature of such serial publications and just hope that it gets the proper wrap up it deserves.
Is it perfect? No. If you dubious consent that is typical with yaoi manga gives you the heebie jeebies, skip it. But if the description above appeals, this may be a good choice- especially as it has an accompanying anime.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Enjoyed this series somewhat, but it contains pretty much every dubcon trope commonly found in BL manga...
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
~2.5-3/5
I’ve never read or seen Junjo Romantica, but I was intrigued by this series. Plus, I’ve heard so many good things about that one, I thought why not. I was honestly expecting to like it more.
Years ago, Ritsu confessed his love, only it didn’t turn out that well. And now he’s working in the publishing industry, thrown into the shojo manga department, only to find out that his new boss is the guy he thought rejected him.
First of all, the art isn’t very good. It’s just a bit rough, and I don’t find it especially pretty to look at, at least some of the time. Usually the close ups and faces aren’t too bad, though.
The manga department was fun, and I did like that he really put his all into his work. The attraction between him and Takano didn’t work for me, though. Takano is very forceful, and I didn’t like him much; though Ritsu was a bit of a wimp, so I didn’t care for him much, either. I just didn’t grow very fond of the characters or their relationship, and I had a hard time getting through this volume.
I really wanted to like this more, but I didn’t. I don’t know if I’ll pick up more.
A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
I’ve never read or seen Junjo Romantica, but I was intrigued by this series. Plus, I’ve heard so many good things about that one, I thought why not. I was honestly expecting to like it more.
Years ago, Ritsu confessed his love, only it didn’t turn out that well. And now he’s working in the publishing industry, thrown into the shojo manga department, only to find out that his new boss is the guy he thought rejected him.
First of all, the art isn’t very good. It’s just a bit rough, and I don’t find it especially pretty to look at, at least some of the time. Usually the close ups and faces aren’t too bad, though.
The manga department was fun, and I did like that he really put his all into his work. The attraction between him and Takano didn’t work for me, though. Takano is very forceful, and I didn’t like him much; though Ritsu was a bit of a wimp, so I didn’t care for him much, either. I just didn’t grow very fond of the characters or their relationship, and I had a hard time getting through this volume.
I really wanted to like this more, but I didn’t. I don’t know if I’ll pick up more.
A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
fast-paced
Yeah, you know, it’s cute. So far I like the anime adaptation better but that’s probably because I like a side couple better than the main and of course this first volume is exclusively about the main couple. The art style is nice except when people kiss because they have huge, weird muppet mouths and the kissing looks a little unsettling. My favorite part of this series as a whole is the emphasis on how hard it is to work in the manga industry, which feels very real and stressful, and that’s fully present in this first volume.