Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. I've really been enjoying Nana, the widely popular manga series. It's a great series to try if you enjoy music, friendship, and relationships. Today I'll be reviewing the seventh volume of Nana.

Description: Nana K. was happy to be Blast's biggest cheerleader, but now that the band is taking off, she's discovering that there are hordes of fans eager to take her place. At the same time, her involvement with Trapnest's hottie bassist is turning into a romantic entanglement she hadn't expected. When a chance for another kind of happiness presents itself, will Nana K. be strong enough to face the difficult choices that result?

Review: Drama continues at a brisk pace in this latest volume of Nana. Unlike the previous volumes where both Nanas take part of the story, Nana K. has much larger presence in this volume as the story centers around her.
  Nana K. has always been Blast's biggest supporter. Now that band has a very good possibility in signing with a huge music record company, she feels herself being alienated with the band. It's not that the band doesn't want her around, but she really has no sense of what they are going through at the moment. Still Nana K. shows her support making food for an after party for the band though aren't able to enjoy it together.
  The story gets interesting as we follow the tangled web of relationships that burst on to the page from volume 6. Nana K. is determined to break things off with the sleazy Trapnest bassist as she becomes closer to Nosbu. After mustering up courage, Nana K. calls up the bassist and tells him goodbye, which in everyone's book means that their 'relationship' is over. In a heartbeat later she tells Nosbu and the two are together. I was really surprised how quick Nana K. was to end one relationship and then jump into another. I have to say though that I really like Nana K. and Nosbu together. I think they fit together as they both are romantics at heart. Nosbu seems to put Nana K.'s needs first by offering support and making her happy. It's really the first time Nana K. has been in relationship where her needs are deemed important. The couple is adorably lovesick which makes we worried and wondering when the shoe is going to drop.
 Nosbu feels grateful for his relationship with Nana K. and goes to thank Nana O. for her help. Nana O. has a really strange response and says that she has to thank Nosbu for making Nana K. have free reign in her kingdom. I had to reread this a couple of times to understand Nana O.'s reaction, but I think she's a bit jealous to have Nana K.'s adoration taken away from her and maybe she doesn't feel Nana K. dating a band member to be a good thing.
 In addition to Nana K.'s relationships, Shin has an interesting problem. We are given hints in previous volumes as how he works as a male escort. Reira, the lead singer of Trapnest has request Shin of his services and actually pays him. He takes it as an insult but he also seems to be falling for her. We also get a glimpse of Shin's family background as his father appears briefly and apparently is financially well off as well as distant from his son. 
 The voiceover dialogues which I mentioned last time are really having  me curious and anxious as they become darker and lonelier. Could the happy days for the Nanas be over? If so, what exactly happened? Who is responsible for the rift and is there any chance of reconciliation? I guess I'll have to see where this all leads to in volume 8.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Strong sexuality, some language, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 8 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa