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brookeisbusyreading's reviews
340 reviews
I Hear the Sunspot: Theory of Happiness by Yuki Fumino
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this series so much! I feel a personal attachment to Kohei as someone who has to wear a hearing aid. Knowing that sometimes, even with it, I get anxious talking to people. I’ll catch myself reading their lips to make sure I hear them correctly and I still mishear them sometimes. Working in retail makes my anxiety worse with it. Reading about the relationship Kohei has with Taichi reminds me of the relationships I have with people. I get the ringing in my ears too, and there are times when I’m terrified I’ll wake up and just not be able to hear - at least in my left ear (where my disability is). Not only that, but I worry I’ll start to lose hearing in my right ear.
I Hear the Sunspot is both very personal to me but also just an incredible story of understanding and acceptance! I can’t wait to dive into every aspect of Taichi and Kohei’s journey together!
I Hear the Sunspot is both very personal to me but also just an incredible story of understanding and acceptance! I can’t wait to dive into every aspect of Taichi and Kohei’s journey together!
Links by Natsuki Kizu
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ugh, the art style is SO PRETTY!!! But the storyline and shift with the couples gave me whiplash every time. I don’t really get the overall story, and I only fully understand bits and pieces. Also, I HAVE to have introductions of the characters when they’re introduced! It took me so much longer to read this than it should’ve because I kept having to remember each characters’ names plus their individual stories.
Is it just me or was the blurb kind of misleading?And am I the only one FLOORED WHEN I REALIZED NEAR THE END OF THE BOOK THAT KAMEDA IS NAKAJO’S BODYGUARD??? I was wondering how the two were connected but that felt out of left field! Oh but behold: SADO WAS ADOPTED BY NAKAJO’S YAKUZA FAMILY AND YAHIKO IS SADO’S BODYGUARD (and secretary)!! Again, I was wondering how they were connected but not expecting that!
Overall, I just wanted more from this collection. I would’ve preferred if it was split into 4 books that focused on each couple - cameos welcome though - and under the umbrella title, Links. BUT the art is still beautiful and Links is by the creator of Given so of course I was going to read it.
Is it just me or was the blurb kind of misleading?
Overall, I just wanted more from this collection. I would’ve preferred if it was split into 4 books that focused on each couple - cameos welcome though - and under the umbrella title, Links. BUT the art is still beautiful and Links is by the creator of Given so of course I was going to read it.
Given, Vol. 7 by Natsuki Kizu
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
SHIZU IS A POSSESSIVE TOP!! I would be totally okay with a spinoff story with just Shizu and Hiragi, like flashbacks to meeting Yuki and Mafuyu and continuing to the present. I want more of them and their “unrequited” dynamic!
After the ending of this volume, I’m so glad I found out about Vol. 8! I can’t wait to read more! I HAVE to know what happens with Given and SYH!
The little extras are cute too.
After the ending of this volume, I’m so glad I found out about Vol. 8! I can’t wait to read more! I HAVE to know what happens with Given and SYH!
The little extras are cute too.
Given, Vol. 6 by Natsuki Kizu
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love the Hiragi-Shizu pair!!! Shizu being obsessed with Hiragi is just YES! And I like the balance of characters between both groups - Given and Hiragi’s band.
I also really enjoyed learning more about Yuki, especially through the eyes of Hiragi and Shizu. But please tell me Mafuyu hears the song! I NEED to know how he feels about it!!
[Side Note: There should be a season 2 of the anime that includes everything from this and Vol. 7! The music from the anime is amazing!]
I also really enjoyed learning more about Yuki, especially through the eyes of Hiragi and Shizu. But please tell me Mafuyu hears the song! I NEED to know how he feels about it!!
[Side Note: There should be a season 2 of the anime that includes everything from this and Vol. 7! The music from the anime is amazing!]
The Summer of You by Nagisa Furuya
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I love that this manga took its time developing the relationship of Saeki and Wataru over the summer! And it was refreshing for it to be about high schoolers but not showing much of the school part. But it was the personalities of the boys that was my favorite! I was expecting a quiet x sunshine dynamic (Saeki being the quiet one and Wataru the sunshine) and what I got was better! Seeing the two of them chatting and enjoying each other’s company even outside of the romantic feelings was so cute!
I was intrigued by the summary, though I’ve avoided buying Vol. 2 in advance until I read Vol. 1… But I will definitely be getting Vol. 2!
I was intrigued by the summary, though I’ve avoided buying Vol. 2 in advance until I read Vol. 1… But I will definitely be getting Vol. 2!
Sorry for My Familiar, Vol. 4 by Tekka Yaguraba
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Okay, this volume was chaotic to the EXTREME! I’m honestly a little whiplashed with all the stuff that happened. We got to see Patty’s dad and learn his name though! I admit that I’m really interested in his motives and backstory. And Sialul has me theorizing about stuff…
The wolf bros are awesome too and I want more of them! It would be nice to have just a little more serious moments but we’ll see how things continue to ramp up in Vol. 5!
The wolf bros are awesome too and I want more of them! It would be nice to have just a little more serious moments but we’ll see how things continue to ramp up in Vol. 5!
Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Vol. 2 by Hiromu Arakawa
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I did not realize this series was by the same crator as Fullmetal Alchemist but it makes sense! There was something familiar about it but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
I’m here for Yuru and Right and Left! Jin seems interesting too, but that’s pretty much the extent of my interest in the characters so far…except maybe the mysterious swordsman. Hopefully I don’t get lost in the growing cast of characters because I just have trouble remembering large casts.
Yuru is an absolute badass! I want more of him fighting! And his straightforward personality’s got me hooked! I’m pretty invested in the main storyline with my fingers crossed that things don’t go too off the rails before we get to the end, whenever that is.
[I don’t normally stumble across a series that’s fairly new and this one only has 6 volumes so far. It makes it feel like it’s taking forever for them to get to where I live. I guess it helps with the excitement though!]
I’m here for Yuru and Right and Left! Jin seems interesting too, but that’s pretty much the extent of my interest in the characters so far…except maybe the mysterious swordsman. Hopefully I don’t get lost in the growing cast of characters because I just have trouble remembering large casts.
Yuru is an absolute badass! I want more of him fighting! And his straightforward personality’s got me hooked! I’m pretty invested in the main storyline with my fingers crossed that things don’t go too off the rails before we get to the end, whenever that is.
[I don’t normally stumble across a series that’s fairly new and this one only has 6 volumes so far. It makes it feel like it’s taking forever for them to get to where I live. I guess it helps with the excitement though!]
Seven Days: Monday–Sunday by Venio Tachibana
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Okay, this is a lot more well-constructed than I thought it’d be! A week-long romance of course would be sweet and dramatic, but I was worried it would feel rushed…and it wasn’t! When you put a timeline on falling in love, it increases the pacing because of expectations. Yuzuru and Seryo’s relationship was pretty evenly paced within that pacing though.
I really like the dynamic between the characters! Their personalities were nice compliments to each other without the impulsive one (aka Yuzuru) overpowering the sweet/calm one (Seryo). The only thing I would’ve liked to see expanded on was the current relationship between female Shino and Seryo and maybe a scene where Seryo explains it to Yuzuru. BUT I still give the story and characters 5 stars! And man, Rihito Takarai knows how to draw some pretty guys!
I really like the dynamic between the characters! Their personalities were nice compliments to each other without the impulsive one (aka Yuzuru) overpowering the sweet/calm one (Seryo). The only thing I would’ve liked to see expanded on was the current relationship between female Shino and Seryo and maybe a scene where Seryo explains it to Yuzuru. BUT I still give the story and characters 5 stars! And man, Rihito Takarai knows how to draw some pretty guys!
Our Dining Table by Mita Ori
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Japanese culture, at least as I learned about it through anime, changed my views on eating food for a long time. I started to really notice how nice it felt when my family would go out to eat because it was the closest we really came to just being in each other’s presence and enjoying good food. This book reminded me of those times. I love its focus on family, especially adopted and found family. (Found family is one of my favorite tropes.)
This was a really cute story with truly relatable characters. Minoru and Yutaka are traumatized cinnamon rolls and they are perfect for each other! And the little extra at the back was an great way to end the story. Man, I want more of them! Spinoff stories or an in-between look or something!
This was a really cute story with truly relatable characters. Minoru and Yutaka are traumatized cinnamon rolls and they are perfect for each other! And the little extra at the back was an great way to end the story. Man, I want more of them! Spinoff stories or an in-between look or something!
Sorry for My Familiar, Vol. 3 by Tekka Yaguraba
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This volume - no, the whole series - is ridiculous and I actually love that. It’s chaotic too with an episodic feel. I do love the characters, especially Norman, and it’s nice to get some backstory for him. I may or may not also have a crush on Lasanil…
But we get to meet Patty’s dad in the next volume? I’m so curious!
But we get to meet Patty’s dad in the next volume? I’m so curious!