Series Review: Takane & Hana Vol. 1-18 ~ Yuki Shiwasu

 

 

 

Image from Goodreads. Click on the image to learn more about this book.


Format I Used: E-book
Pages: Various
My Rating: 4 stars overall
Publication Date: Various

 

So this is my review for the overall series and how it made me feel. 

 

There might be spoilers, SO READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK

I put off reading this series for F O R E V E R because the huge underage age gap made me feel icky. But I'm trying to reach a new reading goal for the year, and 18 books makes a H U G E dent in that.

The age gap was still really weird to me, but I actually ended up enjoying this story much more than I originally thought I was going to. Like, it was surprisingly wholesome. Hana was freaking hilarious, and I want to be as sarcastic as her when I grow up lol. She wasn't afraid to put Takane in his place faster than a blink, and that stayed the same throughout the whole story.

Takane was such a child, and he had a lot of growing up to do. It was super nice to see his character development, and learn some humility (a litttttttle bit anyway). He was definitely giving me Daoming Si from Meteor Garden vibes... Except, you know, a LOT less violent.

The expressions that the characters made throughout the entire series were both hilarious and ridiculous (mostly the faces that Takane and Hana made at each other) It had me in tears from laughing every once in a while.

My favorite characters were Nicola and Okamon. They were literally the best. Little Hiromi was also adorable.

I do wish that we'd gotten a little more closer at the end for some of the other characters. It just felt a tiny bit rushed to me at the very end.

I was so glad to see that there wasn't some (real) big heartbreaking scandal/drama that threatened to tear Takane and Hana apart. They had their rocky moments, but the Big Bad Thing that I was expecting to happen didn't, and that made me so happy. And Mr. Soten Takaba, that wily old man. I was thinking he'd be the biggest wrench in their plans, but he wasn't!

Overall, I'm glad that I read this series, it's funny and wholesome, and definitely worth a read through

 

Review: Nina The Starry Bride Vol. 7 ~ Rikachi

 Image from Goodreads. Click on the image to learn more about this book.


Format I Used: E-book
Pages: 171
My Rating: 5 stars
Publication Date: August 16, 2022

Okay, my feelings are starting to get hurt a little bit.

There's a lot of tip-toeing around the drama, and I need things to start speeding up. Lots more characters are introduced (not really, there's maybe like, ONE important introduction) And all I want is for Nina and Sett to be reunited. As much as I love Azure, I really really R E A L L Y love Sett. And my heart's breaking for him just a lottle.

I realize that it's being set up for some big revelation, but I'm starting to get reeeeaaallly nervous, because I don't know how many books are left in the series.

Ugh, here I go again, having to impatiently wait for the next book to come out.

PUB Day Celebration!

 

Image from Goodreads. Click on the cover to learn more about this book.

I'm sure that there's about three thousand other books being published today, but this is the one that I am MOST excited for. I've been obsessed with this series for far too long, and I'm hoping that it doesn't hurt me in the end. I am going to be so sad when it ends, and I'm even more sad that I can't own physical copies of this book because it's only a digital release.

By the time this posts on my blog I will probably have already finished the book, so please hold tight for a review.

Review: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 16 ~ Gege Akutami

 Image from Goodreads. Click on the image to learn more about this book.


Format I Used: E-book
Pages: 192
My Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: June 21, 2022

*DEEP BREATH IN*

*DEEP BREATH OUT*

I really REALLY just need to stop. By continuing to read this series, I get stabbed in the heart EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. And get my feelings hurt, and it's just not a good time.

But I feel this need to complete it. And that's a decision that's going to end up devastating me, I'm sure. It just shows what a glutton for punishment I am.

Review: Dengeki Daisy vol. 1 ~ Kyousuke Motomi

Click on the cover to read more about this book on goodreads.

Format I Used: Combination EBOOK
Pages: 202
My Rating: 5 stars (per my original read through)
Publication Date: July 6, 2010

I originally read this back in 2011, but I'm going back through and re reading old manga because there's not enough new ones coming out in my preferred genres... and that really really hurts my soul.

The age gap in this one is weird. But the thing that makes me the ick more is the ridiculous amount that Kurosaki smokes. Also Daisy and all his, I'm watching over you (or something similar) is giving me Edward Cullen creeper vibes lol. 

I'll leave its rating the same to honor the younger me who adored this series so much.

Series Review: Monster To Parent 1-4 ~ Ichi Sayo

 

Image from Goodreads. Click on the image to learn more about this book.


Format I Used: E-book
Pages: various
My Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: various

This is an overall review for all 4 books. I really enjoyed this series. The whole premise was really intriguing to me, and I really enjoyed the relationship our MC had with her "brothers". Plus, the covers and the artwork are absolutely gorgeous and I am 100% obsessed with it.

I really wish there had been more books in the series, because there are still a lot of things I wish I could have seen fleshed out a little more. Especially with Kei. Like, I want to know how they made him better, and you can't just say "oh I haven't given up on you." and then just end it. Like, whaaaat. I wanted more of him and Saika, even if that just meant that they ended up being friends. But I needed more closure.

But also on Goodreads it says that the status of the series in the origin country is still ongoing, soooooo.....

Did It Make Me Cry? No

Waiting On Wednesday: Those Not So Sweet Boys Vol 7 ~ Yoko Nogiri

 This week my pick is:

Those Not So Sweet Boys Vol. 7 ~ Yoko Nogiri

Expected Publication: July 19th, 2022

Summary From Goodreads:

Midori’s refreshing candor inspires those around her, and it convinces Rei to talk to his father once more. Despite the many obstacles in their way, the young couple ultimately find an ally in him. However, the calm doesn’t last long before Midori’s father shows up unannounced! Meanwhile, Yukinojo wraps up his own loose ends…

Why I Can't Wait:

This series is so cute, and I can't wait to see how it all wraps up (at least I am assuming that this is the last book, because there are no more volumes on Goodreads.)

**WoW was originally created by Jill @ Breaking The Spine**

Review: Boys Over Flowers Season 2 ~ Yoko Kamio

 

Image from Goodreads. Click on the image to learn more about this book.

Format I Used:E-book
Pages: 208
My Rating: 3 stars
Publication Date: December 22, 2015

 

Hello, it's me!

I haven't actually read the original BOF (nor watched the OG show)... And I'm not sure if I will or not. Because everytime I try, I'm just like.... eh..... ehhhhhh.... maybe not for me.

 

HOWEVER, I binged Meteor Garden (the Chinese adaptation of Boys Over Flowers, and I am obsessed SWOOOOOON), and I have started F4 Thailand... And now here I am reading this.

It's promising start

Haruto is annoying and spoiled at times and I want to smack some sense into him. He's also VERY into himself (and not in the adorable way that Tamaki Suoh My little cinnamon roll who is annoying and spoiled, but not in a mean way, just an oblivious way) But he's... learning?...hopefully...to be more aware of others and their feelings. We'll see. It took Si like 40 episodes to take other peoples' feelings into consideration and it was still pretty hit or miss.

I'm curious so see how things progress with everyone. And how bad the drama is going to get. Because you know there's going to be drama

 

Did It Make Me Cry? No.

 

Characters I HATE

 Hello and welcome to a new thing I'm going to start where I tell you all about the fictional characters that I really just DO NOT like.

Today's post was inspired by *makes wretching noise* 

Mahito from Jujitsu Kaisen

*picture not mine. It is an image from Google*

I've been binging the anime and the manga (the reason why will be a post all on its very own, but it's not very hard to figure out)

I just... I don't know y'all. I just do not like this man (evil cursed spirit). There's not a lot of characters that I vehemently dislike, but he's at the top of my top 5. 

A lot of times I tend to like the bad guy, and I am interested in their background story and seeing why they are the way they are... but not this one. NOPE. There's nothing that I can say is redeeming about him, and I think that's the point. But I even harassed my sister into watching this (she doesn't like reading manga) and I warned her many many times not to be fooled by him and that we MAHATE MAHITO.

I think she thought I was joking, but no. I would NEVER.

ARC Review: Having An Idol Loving Boyfriend Is The Best ~ Mito Aoi

Click on this image to learn more about this book on Goodreads

 

Format I Used: Digital ARC

Pages: 167

My Rating: 4 stars 

Publication Date: March 1, 2022

 

This is a VERY promising start to a new series, and I hope it stays on the fluffy cute side. The MCs are both adults so it could drift to the spicy side (but I hope it doesn't)

I think the two MCs are absolutely adorable, and even though I think they take it to the extreme at times, I can appreciate the level of fangirling that goes on (I mean, who doesn't fan girl/boy at some point in their life?) They're quirky and awkward but at the same time totally relatable.

I can't wait to read volume 2 to see how their relationship and the story progresses.

Thank you to Kodansha and Netgalley for the digital ARC! 

 

Did It Make Me Cry? No

Review: Nina The Starry Bride Vol. 6 ~ Rikachi

 

  Image from Goodreads. Click on the image to learn more about this book.

 

Format I Used: E-book
Pages: 176
My Rating: 5 stars
Publication Date: February 22, 2022

 

There is literally so much of me just rambling on and spoiling random plot points, so PLEASE don't read this unless you want to be spoiled on things that happen in this volume of Nina The Starry Bride.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

I have been ANXIOUSLY awaiting this book since book 5 came out. When I say that I was literally stalking Kodansha's website every single day until the publication date was updated, I am not joking. Then I stalked Amazon until I could place my preorder for the volume.

This volume was good, but also WHAT. the darn cliffhanger ending has me all sorts of upset especially since I have no clue when book 7 is releasing in English. (Back to my fangirl stalking...)

As much as I adored this book, I would be lying if I didn't say that I was hoping for more Nina/Set page time, but that didn't really happen. I wanted them to have more conversations, and I wanted Sett to ask Nina about the fact that there are no childhood names from where she's from. (but maybe he's already figured it out, and just isn't saying anything, because he actually cares for her.)

And then the whole plot twist of someone trying to poison Sett (I say someone, but I know exactly who it was) and now Nina and her people are in trouble, and Hikami is not actually a girl, and is he going to be another love interest? And She's being sent to a scary cold prison place (because bad people are in charge while Sett is down for the count.) But there are still people who believe she's innocent and good for Set.

And then Az decides he's going to go back to help/save Nina...

AND THEN THE LAST PAGE IS LITERALLY A SEQUENCE OF SETT OPENING HIS EYES. Like damn boy, you couldn't have done that a few scenes earlier?

So now  how are things going to play out? Are Sett and Az going to work together to find Nina? Will one go Bidoh's detention facility and the other one go to the scary Griffigeld? Will something happen in transit and Nina will be someplace different still? I'm

I am literally shaking with anticipation again. Is that just me being extra? Yeah, probably. But I haven't been this invested in a series in a while, so I'm gonna go with it.