Best Shoujo Manga Reviews

Heroine for Hire

May 14, 2021

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Name: Heroine for Hire
Mangaka: Amakura Fuyu

Volumes: 4 (Complete)
Licensed: Kodansha (Complete: Digital)
Type: Manga
Genre: Slice of Life
Age Group: Teen

Summary:
Shuko Kodakamine is strong—too strong, by the standards of some. She hopes to make a good high school debut, but that plan goes up in smoke almost immediately when she injures the attractive, charismatic Serizawa-kun…and later suplexes him, to boot! But when Serizawa-kun finds himself in hot water with a jealous boyfriend, it’s Shuko who comes to his aid…and he comes up with a ridiculous proposition: If Shuko becomes his bodyguard, he’ll make her the most important girl in his world!
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 3/5
Plot Rating: 3/5

Opinion: I really hoped to like this more than I did. Overall it just didn’t wow me and was very much OK.

Art was very unique and very sketchy but I didn’t really enjoy it. It seemed more unfinished rather than a specific choice. A lot of nice scenes seemed to be rushed due to the art style and it was dissapointing.

The plot is cute but it was lacking. Usually when you have the super strong heroine she has more personality to her. I found the heroine incredibly boring, and to be honest I was more interested in her best friend.

The male lead wasn’t anything special either just another popular male lead. As a shoujo the series did well but it was predictable and boring. Sometimes super entrancing art can elevate it to something more but this wasn’t it.

If you’re bored this is an interesting shoujo series. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for something to be deeply invested in or see something unique it’s not here.

Final Rating: 3/5

Extra: N/A

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Ichinose Kyoudai wa Gaman Dekinai

May 13, 2021

Name: Ichinose Kyoudai wa Gaman Dekinai
Mangaka: Sakurai Mayu

Volumes: 2 (Complete)
Scanlations: V.02 Ch.08 (Complete)
Type: Manga
Genre: Slice of Life
Age Group: Older Teen

Summary:
A new big beautiful guy is transferred in Hoshino’s class. Wait! He’s Ichinose, the troublemaker of middle school. At that time Hoshino has written a love novel between Ichinose and his new stepbrother. When the novel was discovered by a classmate, they make fun of them and triggered Ichinose’s wrath. Then ichinose transferred. Maybe was Hoshino’s fault? And now he’s back!
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 5/5
Plot Rating: 5/5

Opinion: It’s been a while since I have read a series that made my heart stop like this. It’s almost brought me to tears with how sincere all the three main characters are. And I’d like to point out the love triangle isn’t two guys to the one girl, it’s a girl and a guy going after the same guy.

The art is great. I will be totally impartial and admit I love the art. I think it’s very unique and detailed. I love the way the mangaka draws both female sand males in a sketched kind of way.

This series is interesting in the way it approaches the different types of love there are. There is romantic love, familial love, brotherly love, and they are all equally important. Rarely do you see men affectionate on all levels but it’s amazing to see the male leads admiration and respect for his older step-brother.

On the other hand, it’s heartbreaking to see his brother’s romantic love kept a secret while the male lead pursues the heroine. Even on top of that is the complication of the heroine trying to find a place for herself where she still respects and honours the male leads relationship with his brother.

And finally my most favourite part about this series is how loving and honest the male lead is with the heroine. I’ve been so desensitized by tsundere leads I keep waiting for the hero to turn around and hurt the heroine. But he never does and it’s so refreshing.

Highly recommend this series to literally anyone. I’m so glad I was able to read this and I hope it’s licensed and released paperback some day.

Final Rating: 5/5

Extra: From the mangaka of Boss Wife

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Araki Won’t Be Tamed

May 7, 2021

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Name: Araki Won’t be Tamed
Mangaka: Kapparappara

Volumes: 2 (Complete)
Licensed: Kodansha (1 Volumes: Digital)
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy/Slice of Life
Age Group: Teen

Summary:
A high school girl who lives alone in her parents’ home, away from her sister and mother who are working as actresses in Tokyo. Under such circumstances, my family’s birthday, for a long time, somehow, popular actor Shiraki Araki appears instead of the family! Araki rushed to the confused Yakko, saying, “He became a star to help him find her.” “Keep me”…?! A gift (?!) that arrived at JK who was worried that there was nothing for me. It’s the start of a half-lived love comedy with a superstar!
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 3/5
Plot Rating: 4/5

Opinion: I’m impressed with how cute this series is I’m just disappointed it’s so short!

The art is actually very unique. In some parts it’s gorgeous and others it seems a bit rushed. I find the heroine to be quite bland, and I get that it’s a plot point, but her sister isn’t that dazzling either. Otherwise, the male lead looks amazing and I love all the poses he does!

This series is actually a very cute take on the low self esteem girl with the persistent and loving male lead. While the heroine starts off super annoying and plain it’s fun to watch her grow more confidant over the first volume.

It’s also refreshing to read a series where the male lead is loving and supportive to the heroine. I really loved reading this just wish it was longer!

Final Rating: 4/5

Extra: N/A

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Takane and Hana

April 30, 2021

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Name: Takane and Hana
Mangaka: Shiwasu, Yuki

Volumes: 18 (Complete)
Licensed: Viz (Ongoing – Digital/Paperback)
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy
Age Group: Everyone

Summary:
Hana is a high schooler who ends up replacing her big sister at a marriage interview. Little does she expect that the potential groom, a handsome 26-year-old businessman named Takane, immediately insults her and calls her a gold digger! Furious, Hana throws her wig in his face and leaves.

Against all odds the two end up going on dates on a regular basis. Takane is a rich kid who’s much more immature and inexperienced than his good looks and flashy manners suggest, so they find it easy to forget that their ages are ten years apart. But how will these two ever find love when they’re so busy teasing each other?
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 3/5
Plot Rating: 3/5

Opinion: I wanna start by saying I think I would have enjoyed this series much more if it were much much shorter. Say, 5 volumes instead of 18.

The art is very girly and shoujo but often distorted for comedic effect. It doesn’t stand out but it’s not in any way bad.

Like I started with this series would have been much better if shortened. While the antics between the heroine and the male lead start off very cute, it becomes grating quickly. We are talking 10+ volumes of them still being very childish to each other.

While they inevitably reach bumps along the way in their relationship it feels like every new volume brings them back to square one. This may add to the “Comedic” effect, but the comedy style gets old as well. It’s like a comedian who just shouts their jokes the entire time. It isn’t that charming.

While the series may be great for someone who is new to shoujo or doesn’t care about romance much, if you are deep in the shoujo fandom this isn’t that good. It isn’t TERRIBLE either but it is hard to read.

Final Rating: 3/5

Extra: N/A

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Demon Prince of Momochi House

April 23, 2021

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Name: Demon Prince of Momochi House
Mangaka: Shouoto, Aya

Volumes: 16 (Complete)
Licensed: Viz (Complete – Digital/Paperback)
Type: Manga
Genre: Supernatural
Age Group: Teen

Summary:
Momochi Himari, despite being an orphan, unexpectedly inherits an old house. Despite warnings she receives on the Momochi House being haunted, she decides to go live there anyway. She soon learns that the house is already occupied by three somewhat strange men, Aoi, Yukari and Ise, all of whom may or may not possess supernatural abilities to combat evil spirits. What happens when stubborn Himari decides to stay, despite being told to leave?
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 5/5
Plot Rating: 5/5

Opinion: I am so enamoured with this mangakas style. I think so far of the three series I’ve read by her this one finally lands the ending and creates a great series that matches the gorgeous graphics.

Starting I love the way the art is. Very detailed and original look that is instantly reminded of the specific manga-ka. The girl is drawn very cutesy while the plethora of men in the series are dark and brooding.

I really liked this series. It’s a great supernatural series with demons and the isekai vibe. The series is well thought out and paced really well. I love how we slowly see the two main characters fall in love in this fantasy world. It’s also really nice to see a kind. gentle, and caring male lead.

I had a lot of fun with this series and highly recommend it if you enjoy yokai and supernatural series.

Final Rating: 5/5

Extra: From the author of Pureblood Boyfriend

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