contemporary romance

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Lenni Reviews: “Dogs and Punching Bags” by Kaori Ozaki

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Nichiko returns from a complicated life in the city to her small hometown to see her dying father and meets Chimaki, a strange yet chipper guy who is obsessed with saving and/or helping to make up for a tragic mistake in his past.

This is just beautiful. It’s funny, sad, poignant, and amazing to experience. It’s sad and melancholic in the beginning, but it’s a story about finding a place where you can be your best self and be happy despite a sad past. This would be a perfect 5 out of 5 for me if not for my admittedly personal opinion that cheaters fucking suck and don’t deserve a happy ending without seeing some kind of justice. 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Plus-Sized Misadventures in Love!” Vol. 2, by mamakari

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

As Yumeko enjoys her new outlook on life, the investigation into the incident that cost her her memories is ongoing, making it seem that, despite her optimistic outlook, not everyone around her can be trusted.

This is one of those stories where I’m not sure if I want it to get super serious. I want this to be Yumeko’s new lease on life, not how horrid her old life was. Some of the jokes at her expense aren’t very funny as a plus-size woman (let us feel cute, for fucks sakes…) but I am a sucker for characters like Yumeko: positive, hard working, earnest… That little light in a cynical, dark world. Much like in Hirayasumi, I don’t want that light to go out, no matter how strong my curiosity around the incident might be. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Plus-Sized Misadventures in Love!” Vol. 1, by mamakari

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Yumeko is miserable, believing herself unworthy of love, much less worthy of her work crush, Keisuke. After what is assumed to be a suicide attempt erases her memory, her personality completely changes to a confident, outgoing person. As she learns about her former life, the cause of her accident may not have been her own doing.

It’s clear that there’s an underlying mystery clouding all the fun positivity Yumeko brings to this story. Something dark enough to warrant trying to kill her. While that’s a compelling plot, I’d read Yumeko just being fabulous and enjoying her new life. Even if the stereotype of her always eating is there (can we drop that joke, for fucks sakes…), it’s clear her newfound confidence and boundless positivity are the highlight of this story, and it’s so sweet to see her make everyone better around her. 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Neighborhood Story” Vol. 2, by Ai Yazawa

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Mikako is working with her friends to get their club going but Tsutomu brings in a new girl, Ayumi, and Mikako lets her jealousy get the better of her.

I’m on the fence about how quickly Mikako and Tsutomu worked things out. Was it too easy or am I glad the back and forth wasn’t needlessly drawn out with a bunch of contrivances to keep up the angst? Either way, it’s resolved so the rest of the volume is prepping for the flea market and some conflict with Mikako’s father making it a very dramatic volume. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Neighborhood Story” Vol. 1, by Ai Yazawa

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Mikako is an aspiring designer attending Yazawa Arts Academy and her childhood friend Tsumomu is attending the same school. Tsumomu happens to resemble a famous rock star and ends up being very popular, even getting a girlfriend; forcing Mikako to consider if her feelings for him are more than friendship.

While our main pair and the surrounding group are dynamic and interesting; for some reason I thought more of this would be about fashion and design. This manga is all about the drama and feelings and the forming relationships. I can’t blame the story for my assumptions so, as this is, it’s a breezy little school romance. Mikako is a high-energy character and the art style really allows for her highs and lows to be expressed beautifully. The story may not have fashion as the focus but the outfits the characters wear are fantastic. Very creatively done. 3.9 out of 5.

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