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tomiebear's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
CUTE!! it’s hard to get me to like romance media without constantly cringing but i really loved this! the art style and summer vibes are so so lovely. it’s pretty rare that i actually like all the male characters in a manga but i was pleasantly surprised all the characters were so likeable!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
(not from partner)housedesignerking's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Hmm...
Wataru is the main character. He's somewhat shy. No one seems to suspect that he may be interested in boys. He spots Saeki, a boy with an appearance that causes girls to swoon and nearly faint, and they eventually talk and hang out. Before long, Saeki tells him that he likes him... and that's when this story went downhill for me. Saeki is that stereotypical mysterious male who's supposed to be endearing, but ultimately comes across as irritating. The mystery surrounding him somehow draws Wataru in. At this point, just remember Janet Jackson in that song saying, "like a moth to a flame, can't you see my desire?" Unlike Wataru, I wasn't drawn in. I was driven away from him, and it almost became literal as I nearly drifted away from a page.
I just don't personally get the whole mystery surrounding a male. What makes him hint at a relationship like someone dangling a cherry over a starving person is not really something I would care to know in real life. Let's face it: Wataru's love interest is something of a jerk. I mean, he tells him he likes him a lot, but says that just him knowing he's liked is enough. No relationship is necessary. At one point, he disappears, leaving Wataru out of the loop and goes as far as to change his number. Sorry, but what the actual hell is that? That is not a turn on. It is a very serious turn off and I'm afraid I didn't swoon into the page like the idiot girls at this school. Sadly, his 'tragic back story' just kind of didn't make his case the way it was probably supposed to, and their role together just became more bizarre with its addition. I never connected with people in middle or high school who enjoyed being dramatic and trying to make it look like there was some mystery about them that justifies their bizarre or outright rude behavior, and I just couldn't connect with Saeki today in this, either.
Unfortunately, while the love interest came across as a jerk, the main character eventually decides to become physically abusive. I'm supposed to believe that Saeki swooned even harder after being physically struck and that Wataru is still a good guy? You might as well select The Crystals absolutely nonsense song, 'He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)' as this book's main theme... I have absolutely horrible luck with lgb love stories. I'm sorry. I really wanted to like this...
1 star.
Wataru is the main character. He's somewhat shy. No one seems to suspect that he may be interested in boys. He spots Saeki, a boy with an appearance that causes girls to swoon and nearly faint, and they eventually talk and hang out. Before long, Saeki tells him that he likes him... and that's when this story went downhill for me. Saeki is that stereotypical mysterious male who's supposed to be endearing, but ultimately comes across as irritating. The mystery surrounding him somehow draws Wataru in. At this point, just remember Janet Jackson in that song saying, "like a moth to a flame, can't you see my desire?" Unlike Wataru, I wasn't drawn in. I was driven away from him, and it almost became literal as I nearly drifted away from a page.
I just don't personally get the whole mystery surrounding a male. What makes him hint at a relationship like someone dangling a cherry over a starving person is not really something I would care to know in real life. Let's face it: Wataru's love interest is something of a jerk. I mean, he tells him he likes him a lot, but says that just him knowing he's liked is enough. No relationship is necessary. At one point, he disappears, leaving Wataru out of the loop and goes as far as to change his number. Sorry, but what the actual hell is that? That is not a turn on. It is a very serious turn off and I'm afraid I didn't swoon into the page like the idiot girls at this school. Sadly, his 'tragic back story' just kind of didn't make his case the way it was probably supposed to, and their role together just became more bizarre with its addition. I never connected with people in middle or high school who enjoyed being dramatic and trying to make it look like there was some mystery about them that justifies their bizarre or outright rude behavior, and I just couldn't connect with Saeki today in this, either.
Unfortunately, while the love interest came across as a jerk, the main character eventually decides to become physically abusive. I'm supposed to believe that Saeki swooned even harder after being physically struck and that Wataru is still a good guy? You might as well select The Crystals absolutely nonsense song, 'He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)' as this book's main theme... I have absolutely horrible luck with lgb love stories. I'm sorry. I really wanted to like this...
1 star.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
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