YA romance manga

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Lenni Reviews: “Wolf Girl and Black Prince” Vol. 15, by Ayuko Hatta

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

Wanting to pursue glass blowing, Erika is trapped between her mother’s insistence on studying it in Kyoto and Kyoya’s ultimatum to stay in Tokyo or break up with him.

Yeah, I’d expect Kyoya to be a dick about this. There are plenty of characters who can balance cool, aloof jerk with a soft spot but Kyoya comes off as overly cruel then has to walk it back so the story can keep the couple together. The best part of this was someone giving him a good smack and putting him in his place because he keeps acting like a walking red flag to a girl who clearly cares for him and doesn’t deserve his abuse. 2 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 5, by Luka Kobachi

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

After their kiss at the festival, Nanoha and Chidori are struggling to communicate with each other about wanting to do it again. Also, a former classmate of Nanoha’s, Mai, joins their school and literature club.

These two are so damn adorable.

Even with this potential rival showing up, I’m still thinking this relationship won’t crumble because of Mai unless she threatens to out them. If I were to guess, that’s probably what’s going to happen since keeping their secret is so important. If Mai doesn’t do it, someone/thing else might. It doesn’t seem like the type of series to get really dark, so if it did, it would be very out of character. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Wolf Girl and Black Prince” Vol. 14, by Ayuko Hatta

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

As graduation looms, Erika is unsure what she wants for her future. Also, Kyoya’s birthday is coming, and while Erika is excited to do something nice for him, Kyoya is indifferent to the whole thing.

Erika goes to her aunt Eiko, who makes glass art, and since she’s so excited about it, she’s considering doing it as a career. Meanwhile, this volume tries to get me to like Kyoya again as he learns to enjoy his birthday, and he encourages Erika to come to college with him, but I didn’t forget what happened in volume 12. In my mind, he hasn’t redeemed himself, and that temper is consistent throughout the whole series. It wasn’t just one bad day. Maybe college is the chance for Erika to get away from him for a while. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Like a Butterfly” Vol. 12, by Suu Morishita

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

This volume is spinoffs, one-shots, and bonus chapters, changing some perspectives and some what-if stories.

While cute, these feel like they could have been divided up and put at the end of previous volumes, not sold on their own in a separate volume. I mean, if you’re desperate for more content with these characters, it may be worth it for you, but for me, I was skimming most of this. And I’d be annoyed if I’d paid for this. In this economy? No thanks. 2.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “My Special One” Vol. 10, by Momoko Koda

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

This volume features how Kouta and Kanata met as kids at an idol head start school, where Kouta was a completely different kid than he expected. It also shows a young Emika when she became obsessed with Kanato and a Cinderella themed side story.

The Cinderella story took up way too much time. It’s the type of filler volume where it feels like a waste instead of being entertaining enough to hold my interest until going back to the main story.  I guess since our main couples are established, everything is just fumbling about. I mean, it’s not bad, but I got the feeling of dangling keys trying to hold my attention. 2 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Wolf Girl and Black Prince” Vol. 13, by Ayuko Hatta

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

Despite Kyoya’s warnings, Erika tries to play matchmaker. After the trip, Erika’s parents want Kyoya to come over to formally meet him, and he takes Erika out for her birthday. There is also a side story where Takeru tries to tell Kyoya he shouldn’t be so blunt.
Takeru is a decent guy, and it’s nice to see someone be a friend to Kyoya. Overall, the bungled birthday date was the most amusing part. Kyoya was really trying to put forth some effort with the date and meeting her parents was off the rails; it gave me emotional whiplash, which was NOT appreciated given I haven’t forgotten what happened last volume there, kiddo. You’re still an asshole. 2 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 4, by Luka Kobachi

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

This volume has our secret couple Nanoha and Chidori going on their first beach trip with their friends as well as introducing Igarashi; Chidori’s first love that broke her heart.

It’s interesting to see how f/f relationships are seen in Japan. I remember reading/watching somewhere that these little intimacies are seen as cutesy things you grow out of as life gets “serious,” then you go on to have a family. My mother believed something similar. It was so fucking sweet to see Nanoha put her foot down and say Chidori is her girlfriend. They’re still a secret to their friends but this isn’t a passing thing for them. While this isn’t a flash forward 20 years in the future to see they’re still together for a real confirmation but I’ll take it. They are so damn adorable. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Let’s Do It Already!” Vol. 5, by Aki Kusaka

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

Due to the restrictions placed on their relationship, Keiichiro is planning something special for Yuri’s birthday; a three day trip to Kyoto.

I love how Keiichiro throws himself into things wholeheartedly. Yuri’s struggling with a class? He organized a whole damn curriculum to help her. He wants to have an overnight trip within the constraints of his family’s rules? He makes that shit happen. Bless that young man because he just wants to do his best and do right by the love of his life. The comedy isn’t bad, but it’s mostly all about Keiichiro being a sweetheart. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “A Star Brighter than the Sun” Vol. 2, by Kazune Kawahara

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

Sae decides to get over her crush on Koki since she knows he has feelings for someone. It sounds easy, but they still have to spend time together.

Sae may have decided to temper her feelings and support Koki with his crush, but they’re in the same class. As such, this volume is just that: various situations in which they are forced to work together. It happens over and over for all of it. It feels like no progress is made for either of them. It’s meandering through each encounter they have, and while Sae may say things are going to be different, that doesn’t happen. A little disappointing. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Komi Can’t Communicate” Vol. 34, by Tomohito Oda

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

Rumiko still hasn’t responded to Wakai’s confession and Komi gets accepted to her first-choice school. Their class is gearing up for another festival and decides to do a ramen stand.

The ramen stand was a funny event. Komi’s come a long way from not speaking at all to leading the class to play for an event and having a great time. I like that this volume keeps most of the focus on this event with only a couple side stories like Rumiko and Wakai. The volumes with a ton of different little stories have been hit or miss but this volume was just some cozy fun. 4.5 out of 5.

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