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Lenni Reviews: “Neighborhood Story” Vol. 4, by Ai Yazawa

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

When Mikako wins the Grand Prix award, she is offered the chance to study in London for a year and a half, all expenses paid. She hesitates to accept because it will separate her from Tsutomu.

After Mikako makes her decision, we fast forward to our cast as adults and then transitions to the characters from Paradise Kiss; which is an interesting choice. I think it would have been better to use the time to see how (spoilers) Mikako’s studies in London affected her relationship with Tsutomu because that could be some good drama right there. It didn’t quite stick the landing for me. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite” Vol. 1, by Julietta Suzuki

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

Hina is a vampire who loves anime and since she’s never bitten a human, she gets permission from her father to move to Japan where she can be closer to the media she adores. Her neighbor, Kyuta, looks exactly like her favorite character but has none of the fictional man’s personality. Despite this, they do become friendly even though Kyuta is hiding something from not only Hina but his own friends as well.

Hina is adorable. She really makes all this fun and I love characters who are bubbly and cute but will flex their considerable power when necessary. Of course, Kyuta is the perfect deadpan foil to her otaku energy. I wonder if this series will keep it’s light hearted tone or if it will go a more serious/dark route as I can see the potential for both given what happens but we’ll see as the series continues. For now, I’m enjoying the positivity. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Let’s Do It Already!” Vol. 2, by Aki Kusaka

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

Yuri and Keiichiro still find ways to be together under the weight of Keiichiro’s family’s oppressive rules. Their latest threat is Shinobu Kasuga, a spy for the family who is trying to break them up.

Kasuga’s plans to break up our main couple are funny but also creepy. I want to lean more towards funny but nah, he gives me the ick and I hope we don’t see much more of him. Other than that, Yuri and Keiichiro are just trying to find ways to get to know each other and spend time together. They do seem to really care for each other so it’s easy to root for them. I do wonder how long we can ride this gimmick or if it will feel tired in the future. 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Sakura, Saku” Vol. 4, by Io Sakisaka

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

Saku worries that Kotono may also have feelings for Haruki as they are still pretending to be dating to throw off her ex.

This was really sweet and I appreciate Saku and Kotono talking things out instead of letting all these doubts and questions fester but honestly, I am really worried about Kotono’s ex. He is a walking talking red flag that I could see getting violent and I don’t believe he’ll completely back off. He needs to be dealt with before I feel I can enjoy Saku and Haruki getting closer. It’s this mental axe hanging over the plot for me. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Neighborhood Story” Vol. 3, by Ai Yazawa

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

Mikako and her friends heat for Mariko’s family villa for the summer but Mariko’s first love, Shu, happens to be staying next door, causing conflict with her current boyfriend, Yuske. When they return to Yaza Arts, the upcoming school festival gives the chance for the students to show off their work.

Maybe I wasn’t in the right headspace when I read this but, (SPOILER) after Mikako flipped out on Tsutomu because he was so jealous of her new assistant, Seiji, I was checked out. He had every right to be more upset with her than he was, even if his jealousy was unfounded. Yes, she is hardworking, talented, and has big dreams; but the way she put him down stuck with me and I wasn’t rooting for their relationship so much anymore. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Wolf Girl and Black Prince” Vol. 8, by Ayuko Hatta

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

Lena is dead set on confessing her feelings to Kyoya, no matter how Erika feels. After that, the focus shifts to the upcoming holidays and how Kyoya will spend Christmas with Erika.

When it came to Lena, we got to see the old, nasty Kyoya but it didn’t look like this middle schooler was gonna back off. It felt like obnoxious met obnoxious in this case because it’s skeevy to go after your cousin’s boyfriend like that and she wouldn’t take no for an answer. I guess Kyoya’s nasty attitude was helpful in this case. The Christmas thing was nice and the story about Kyoya’s horrifically bad eyesight and him softening a bit because of Erika was a middling affair. It’s just okay and I stand by my initial assessment that it’s Erika’s happiness that keeps my interest in this series. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Like a Butterfly” Vol. 5, by Suu Morishita

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

After a confession, Kawasumi’s crush on Suiren becomes common knowledge and while she reciprocates, Kawasumi’s next obstacle is not only his complete lack of knowledge of how dating works but meeting Suiren’s parents.

Man, as cute as our main couple is, this volume makes me so damn happy I’m not in high school anymore. Since this isn’t one of those super depressing manga, I doubt this will lean hard into any real bullying from the other students like in a lot of other stories where what you’re looking at isn’t so much bullying as several violations of the Geneva Convention… Legit torture… But, there are plenty of other ways they can make Suiren and Kawasumi’s lives harder as the couple figure this whole romance thing out. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Komi Can’t Communicate” Vol. 29, by Tomohito Oda

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

While the kids are at a study camp, Tadano’s old crush, Rami Kawai, is also there with her friends. When she finds out Tadano is with Komi, she challenges Komi to compete for Tadano’s attention.

This rivalry is the main focus of this volume and it seems Tadano is none the wiser about it. I actually like that because after all this time, we know this kid and he wouldn’t be jazzed about Rami interfering the way she is. I guess this is going to work itself out to Rami becoming another friend on Komi’s list but I wouldn’t mind if she just backs off and goes away because not everyone is worth forming a friendship with. 3.7 out of 5 because I really dislike Rami.

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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: “Yakuza Lover” Vol. 12, by Nozomi Mino

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

Things with Yuri’s family didn’t go well and now, Oya’s mother summons Yuri to give her the truth about what it’s like being a woman of the yakuza.

The final volume brushes aside it’s premise so fast and throws in this random thing with Oya losing his eyesight? That’s never resolved? Then they get married and she’s pregnant: the end. There, I just saved you the time reading this. Watching Yuri prove herself to Oya’s mother would have been awesome to see. Maybe even, oh, I dunno, show the dark side of being a yakuza wife? Any danger it might put her in? Put her family in even though they’re not involved with a dangerous crime organization? Nope. That’s a criticism I’ve had for this whole series. Where there were chances to really go somewhere, it turned into just fluff. 2 out of 5.

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