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 have been slowly working my way through the widely popular and critically acclaimed Fruits Basket manga series. Fruits Basket is a completed series with a total of 23 volumes.

Description: A family with an ancient curse...

And the girl who will change their lives forever...

Tohru Honda was an orphan with no place to go until the mysterious Sohma family offered her a place to call home. Now her ordinary high school life is turned upside down as she's introduced to the Sohma's world of magical curses and family secrets.

Review: I would highly recommend reading Fruits Basket to readers who want to try reading manga, but are not sure where to start. The series is complete so you don't have to wait for volumes to be released. It also has a broad range of genres ranging from cute romantic comedy to serious reflection on what it means to grow up and change, which makes the series very appealing to a wide variety of readers. 
  It took me a while to get my footing in this series. The first few volumes felt repetitive as we watch Tohru learn about the Sohma clan's curse and meet each member of the Chinese zodiac. Once we have the initial meet and greet of the large cast of characters, the story switches its focus from exploring the zodiac to the relationships between the characters and it was at this point where I got hooked into the manga series. 
 The characters of Fruits Basket gives the manga its emotional depth and heart. Tohru is a selfless and resilient heroine who is consistently positive and full of life despite the hardships she has faced. Some readers may see her as a stereotypical shojo girl who is clumsy, ditzy, and naive, but I would strongly disagree. Tohru is a symbol of warmth, love, and acceptance. She knows there will be times when life will have some steep lows, but she tries her best to be happy and do her best. Tohru is a stark contrast to those of the Sohma family. For many members of the Sohma family, Tohru fills a void in many different ways ranging from a mother figure to a sister and to a friend.
  The Sohma family's curse in which hugging a member of the opposite sex will turn them into their zodic animal is initially used for comedy relief in the first few volumes, but as the manga continues the curse is used metaphorically for their phobia of growing up and assimilating to the outside world. The interactions within the Sohma family are surprisingly heart wrenching, dark, claustrophobic, and cold as the characters are pretty much void of any emotional attachment until Tohru comes into their lives. Any attempts of being remotely happy are squashed under the iron fist of the Sohma family leader who 'chains' himself to everyone. Even the innocent children are not spared and almost all of their parents have abandoned and neglected them. I was very surprised about the dark and mature issues in this manga series given the volume's cheery and cute cover art.
 As the manga processes, its characters also grow and change both physically, emotionally, and mentally. I really liked how the author focused on all of her main characters, giving them their own subplot stories that are critical to the manga's overall plot arc and themes.  
 I did have a few issues with the artwork in the manga series. In the first few volumes, the art looked too compressed and squished in their panels. There were many times I was confused as to who the characters are because they look so much alike, but it did get better as the manga moved along and the author becoming more comfortable with her characters and story.
 While I did have some lingering questions that were not addressed in the story, I was overall pleased with how everything came together. There were a few volumes that seemed to be a bit filler and I would have combined them, but that is not unusual for manga series. There are certainly dark moments throughout the manga series, but the ending was full of hope and heart. I can certainly see why many people chose this series to begin their manga reading journey and I would definitely recommend it. I plan on watching the anime shortly.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution:  The first few volumes in this manga are suitable for tweens, however, as the series continues mature situations and themes are explored. There is some language, suggestive nudity, crude humor, allusions to sex, and depictions of emotional abuse in the manga series.Recommended for strong Grade 7 readers and up. 

If you like this book try: Sand Chronicles by Hinako Ashihara

 I haven't done a Manga Mondays in a while. 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 actually haven't been in the manga reading mood lately, but I hope to change that soon.


Description: Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!
  Kaname vows to sacrifice himself. Yuki vows to sacrifice herself to stop him. Zero takes a weapon in hand to protect what is dear to him. Whether parted for eternity or close enough to touch, they each will always desire their beloved.

Review: Volume 19 is the last book in the Vampire Knight manga series. There is a lot happening in this volume that I had to reread it twice in order to wrap my head around the shocking revelations. In the end I had mixed feelings about the book and the series as a whole, mainly because it went in a direction that I didn't agree with.
  Volume 18 has left our three main players going their separate ways. Kaname is done with being a pureblood vampire. Sick of what has become of his race, he has made a decision and is hell bent on sacrificing himself and allowing the vampires to be exterminated for good. He reveals his master plan and acknowledges that he was the one that set Zero's tragedy in motion leading up to this end, which shocks not only Yuki but also me as a reader. I've never liked Kaname though he had some few moments, but I never trusted his motivations and disliked him because of his cruelty.
  When Yuki hears of Kaname's suicide plan, she vows that she will stop at nothing to save him even if it will cost her own life. Yuki and Kaname have had a very weird relationship, hovering between sibling fealty and love and romantic love. I was never shipping for them, but I do understand why she feels responsible towards Kaname. Of course where there is Yuki, there is Zero who keeps getting flashes of his memory that Yuki tried to erase in the previous volumes and goes after her to save her life.
  The pacing of Volume 19 was off balance. The first half moved at a leisurely pace, allowing Kaname to unburden himself and come clean. The second half of the book, particularly the ending, is put on fast forward as we get one large revelations after the other without getting any time to process them. The solution to the love triangle is a cop-out in my opinion and doesn't really work. The alleged character growth of Kaname feels a bit forced and I honestly can't buy Zero's reactions after learning what Kaname did to his family. There is a epilogue that is a bit jumbled and it needs a few rereads to figure what happened in the future.
  Overall I enjoyed Vampire Knight as a manga series. Like any other series there are volumes that were really good and others that were a bit meh. I just wished that it ended on a strong note and not a weak one. I would recommend this series to readers who enjoy paranormal romances.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is a small sex scene, but not graphic. There is also strong violence. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Millennium Snow series by Bisco Hatori, Black Bird series by Kanoko Sakurakouji

 Dawn of Arcana has been on my manga reading list for quite some time. The series is now complete with thirteen volumes. It is also my first foray into fantasy shoujo and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This review is for all thirteen volumes.

Description: Princess Nakaba of Senan is forced to marry Prince Caesar of the enemy country Belquat, tantamount to becoming a hostage. While Caesar is pleasing to the eye, he is also selfish and possessive, telling Nakaba outright: “You are my property.” With only her attendant Loki at her side, Nakaba must find a way to cope with her hostile surroundings, her fake marriage...and a mysterious power!

Review: Dawn of Arcana is a light fantasy that has the usual tropes of a shoujo manga. The plot is very easy to follow and the characters are quite likable. The heroine, Nakaba, has been discriminated all of her life. Her grandfather denies her royal status and stows her away in a tower where she is treated poorly by many except her loyal servant Loki. Nakaba is a strong heroine, a person always seeing the good in everyone. She has been gifted a power called the Arcana, which allows her the ability to see the past and the future. She struggles to find a balance to use her gift to make a good decision rather than abusing it.
  In another kingdom, Caesar is born as the second son to the king of Dequat. His desirable black hair makes people believe he is fit to be the next king. There is hidden deceptions and factions working to make Caesar the next king. Caesar doesn't crave power, but just wants the love of his family. He is played like a pawn in the politics of the castle and thus grows into a young man who has a negative outlook and distrust of people. Caesar is not a great guy we are first introduced to him, but I like the way his character changes throughout the series. He really grows up and takes his role as a prince seriously and fights for Nakaba.
  Nakaba and Caesar were married only to keep a treaty between the two warring kingdoms. At first Nakaba and Caesar have an antagonistic relationship, but it slowly develops into trust, loyalty, friendship and eventually love to  much of the kingdoms surprise and disgust. Their relationship is tested the true motives behind their respective kingdoms are revealed as well as their individual opinions on how the Aijin should be treated. Aijin are creatures who share traits with various animals with uncanny fighting abilities and skills. Due to their physical appearance, they are horribly treated and used as slaves.
 This series also has a great cast of secondary characters that are given sufficient page time, well flushed out and quite complex as the story continues. I absolutely loved Loki, Nakaba's Aijin servant, who I couldn't quite figure out. I loved reading about his background and the surprise ending which fits everything quite nicely. The artwork is also quite stunning and it was easy to differentiate all the different characters, which can be difficult sometimes in mangas. I highly recommend Dawn of Arcana to anyone who enjoys fantasy with a nice romance and a strong heroine.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution:  There is some violence, brief nudity and scenes of sensuality in the later volumes. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Arisa by Natsumi Ando, Sakura Hime by Arina Tanemura

 It has been a while since I did a post for Manga Mondays. 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. Instead of reviewing each volume separately, I'm going to review the entire series of Sand Chronicles since it is complete at 10 volumes. I hope you like this review format!


Description (of the first volume): After her parents get divorced, Ann Uekusa and her mother move from Tokyo to rural Shimane. Accustomed to the anonymity of city living, Ann can't get used to the almost overbearing kindness of the people in her mother's hometown. But when personal tragedy strikes, Ann discovers how much she needs that kindness.

Review: Sand Chronicles is a standout shojo (i.e. romance) manga that tackles series issues as such suicide, depression, betrayal, and infidelity although at times it tends to veer close to melodrama. In each volume there are series topics that are discussed and a nice character growth arcs for its cast of characters which gives this manga series more depth unlike the many silly, typical shojo mangas. The series is framed by the seasons and time a running theme throughout the manga. In the first volume 12 year old Ann Uekusa and her mother have been abandoned by Ann's debt-ridden father and forced to move from Tokyo to Ann's grandparents' home in Shimane. At first, Ann feels both oppressed by her mean, strict, conservative grandmother and totally out of place in a small town, but once she makes some friends she adapts quickly. When her disillusioned, depressed, and demoralized mother commits suicide, Ann leans on Daigo, the first boy her own age that she met in Shimane, and their budding romance becomes the series's focus. Ann and Daigo's romance is sweet and develops at a realistic speed. Though there is a necessary love triangle in this manga, it thankfully doesn't hold much weight. The real obstacles that Ann and Daigo's relationship faces are Ann's nightmare of becoming her mother and her failure to grieve her mother's death.
   Ann is an extremely likable character. An every girl who is forced to grow up faster and become an adult. She deals with normal every day situations from a rival girl who is scheming for Daigo's affections, stumbling through the mysteries of a relationship, both romantic and friendships. Daigo is the perfect boyfriend whose only fault is that he wears his heart on his sleeve. What impressed me with this series is that the fact that the secondary characters were also strong and dynamic pushing the plot forward and not making it stale.
 I like the artwork in this series with its delicate lines and the beautiful scenery which also becomes a landmark on these characters' rite of passage. I highly recommend reading this manga series if you prefer reading true to life scenarios with a sweet romance. A great pick for Sarah Dessen fans and a really good primer for reading Nana by Ai Yazawa (a manga series that nearly broke me).

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Due to mature themes, a few scenes of sexual situations, some nudity. I would recommend Sand Chronicles for high school readers and up.

If you like this series try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Nana by Ai Yazawa, Kimi Ni Todoke by Karuho Shiina

It's Monday and time for Manga Mondays! 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 haven't found a series that I want to dive in and read so I'm trying a few different series in hopes that one of them would grab my attention.


Description: Yume desperately wants to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a magic user in the worst way! She innocently practices using magic to help the people she encounters: struggling soccer players, the wrongly incarcerated, and a student who wants to show his moon-loving teacher a lunar eclipse on a cloudy evening. On this coming-of-age journey filled with genuine imagination and a passionate sense of awe, follow Yume as she learns that the true magic in life can take place right inside her own heart.

Review: Someday's Dreamers has great potential of being a great manga, unfortunately it is very slow, bland, and confusing. The world-building aspect of the story is very interesting albeit unfinished. I wasn't exactly sure how things worked in this world of magic and mages. The characters also seemed to have depth and interesting motivations. This manga has a hard time deciding whether it wanted to be an action-packed magical adventure series, a deep character study, or even a combination of both of these. The story refuses to dig into either the world or the characters and instead it meanders around on these small episodes, occasionally giving us tantalizing hints of depth, but then just as soon pulling away. The basic story that I got from this volume is a kindhearted girl named Yume travels to Tokyo to further her training as a magic user. With the guidance of her teacher, Masami Oyamada, she takes on different clients to grant them wishes closest to their heart.
As I mentioned earlier the pacing is a bit off in this series. There are a plethora of flashbacks, but it's not always clear that they are flashbacks. On the plus side, I did think the artwork was nicely done but there were a few panels that I found hard to read because there was so much crammed into them. Even though Someday's Dreamers is a two volume series, I didn't feel think this story grabbed me enough to pick up the next volume. I will try and see, however, if there is an anime based on the series that I might watch instead.

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for strong Grade 5 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Someday's Dreamer: Spellbound series by Norie Yamada

  It's Monday and time for Manga Mondays! 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. One of my favorite manga series, Vampire Knight, is going to be finished very soon with a total of 19 volumes in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed Volume 18 which sets up the finale quite nicely and I'm very curious to see how this series ends.

Description: Yuki and Zero team up to go after Kaname. Yuki and Kaname fight each other in the headquarters of the Hunter Society while Sara tries to control Zero through her blood. The female progenitor’s origin metal intervenes, and Yuki realizes there is only one way to stop Kaname

Review: Vampire Knight Volume 18 is the penultimate volume full of action sequences and surprising twists which sets up the events for the finale. The running theme of this volume is sacrifice. Each character must make a decision to lose something precious to them. 
  Yuki and Zero continue to chase Kaname down - trying to reach him before the purebloods seal his fate, however, the progenitor furnace is also reaching its critical mass - and with it, all chances the humans have to fight the vampire menace. Yuki will learn some hard truths about Kaname in this book before taking a drastic final act at the end. Will she align with Kaname or will she join Zero who she realized she can not live without?
  Unlike a lot of the previous volumes of this series, I had to reread this volume a couple of times because the pacing is at a break-neck speed and I thought I missed a few things in my first read. The Sara arc is finished quite nicely and I'm glad that it didn't extend into the next volume. I'm still confused as to why Kaname killed a certain pureblood and was disappointed to not see his reasoning in this volume. 
  This volume has a lot of full page visuals and too many close-up of characters. I love the emotional intensity between the characters which leap off the page when it is depicted in the wide panels. It is clear that Yuki is at a crossroads and neither paths she can take are easy. I can't wait to see how this series, particularly this love triangle ends.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and some language. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Vampire Knight Volume 19 by Matsuri Hino, Black Bird series by Kanoko Sakurakouji, Millennium Snow series by Bisco Hatori

  It's Monday and time for Manga Mondays! 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. We have finally reached the last volume of Boys Over Flowers, but there is an added bonus volume to the series which was fun to read.


Description: Boys over Flowers officially ended with volume 36, but Yoko Kamio, one of the most beloved shojo creators of all time, just couldn't stay away from her beloved characters! Jewelry Box contains two short stories that take place one year after the end of Boys over Flowers volume 36.

Review: Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box is a supplemental read for the manga series. This volume is solely created for fans of this story as it contains contains two short stories, both of which take place a few years after the end of the manga. In the first story Tsukasa is still overseas and Tsukushi misses him dearly. Despite their best attempts to stay in a long distance relationship, it is still hard. Rui has been coming over quite frequently, much to Tsukasa's dismay when he discovers this. Thankfully Rui is only there as a friend and knows that Tsukushi has no romantic feelings for him. As a surprise, we get to go on a trip and see Shizuka's wedding as Tsukushi and the F4 reunite. The second short story is entirely about Rui, a character that is still a bit mysterious and someone who I can't really figure out. In his short story he reflects over everything that has happened over the course of the series & wonders whether or not he can truly move on or if he is capable of loving again.  While this supplemental volume doesn't entirely give a lot of closure to the series, it was a pleasure to read and seeing the characters again.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language and crude humor. Recommeneded for teens and up.

If you like this book try:  Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

 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. We have finally reached the last volume of Boys Over Flowers. Though I had mixed feelings while reading this series, I ultimately enjoyed it.

Description: The final volume of Boys over Flowers has Tsukushi facing a very uncertain future. Forces seem to conspire against her as she races to make it in time for her high school prom. Characters from her past make cameos as she reflects on her tumultuous time at Eitoku Academy. Will she decide to join Tsukasa in New York or will she stay in Japan and finish school?!

Review: I was a bit surprised on how the author ended this manga series. Though a wedding is normally how a romance story ends like Boys Over Flowers end, we are given a more realistic solution which stays true to the characters. I thought the ending was nice as it ended on a positive note, leaving hope for the future. I really enjoyed watching the character growth of Tsukasa especially since he was the character that had me worried from the start. He has morphed from a hot head bully to someone with more patience and self awareness. I would recommend picking up Boys over Flowers because of its characters and the story much more than its artwork.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some mild language and crude humor. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers: Jewelry Box, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

 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. There are only one more volume left in this series!

Description: Tsukasa makes two shocking announcements! One of them is to the public and one is for Tsukushi's ears only. The couple spend some time together and visit some familiar faces not seen in a while. This second-to-last volume of Boys Over Flowers is guaranteed to please as we head toward the final climactic volume!

Review: Graduation time has come for the F4 and each of them must has to make a decision of what they want to do after high school. Tsukasa makes two very big decisions, one professionally and one personally, that will change his life forever. On his own, Tsukasa decides that he will work for his family company and be the responsible son. This choice is a clear indication of how much Tsukasa has matured in this series. I was surprised by this move as I have watched Tsukasa spend countless amount of hours avoiding any type of responsibility and spent money recklessly. His other decision didn't surprise me as much as he pops the question of marriage to Tsukushi. Tsukushi is shocked and still has her whole life ahead of her. She will still be in high school as she is two years younger than Tsukasa. I'm curious to see what choice Tsukushi makes in the final volume of Boys over Flowers.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and some crude humor. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 36, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

 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. There are only two more volumes left in this series!

Description: Tsukushi's friend Yuki has been trying to convince herself that her crush on F4 member Sojiro is over. She has continued studying the formal tea ceremony that he introduced her to. When she invites Sojiro to help teach her tea club at school, a stunning series of events begin to unfold!

Review: There are two story lines unfolding in this volume of Boys Over Flowers. In the first story line, Tsukasa has regained his memory of Tsukushi back. The couple has realized how much they have personally changed as well as how their relationship has evolved from the antagonistic relationship to the confusing affection towards one another and being happy as a couple. Though it is clear that letting Tsukasa get amnesia was the author's way of keeping this couple interesting, I did think it was a fun way to see how these characters reacted to their situation and thankfully it didn't get drawn out too much in later volumes.
  The second story line featuring Yuki is the one that I loved the most and I was really looking forward to see how this story line concludes. Sojiro is repeatedly shown as a playboy, a reputation that he is not ashamed of but we do get to see a personal, private side to him. Sojiro has only one regret that haunts him: the failure to start a real relationship with his best friend. Once he shares this truth and vulnerability to Yuki, Yuki relentlessly tries to reunite Sojiro with his long lost friend even though it breaks her heart. Things take an interesting turn and while I wasn't initially happy with how it gets resolved, taking a step back I do realize that the direction of the plot resolution stayed true to the characters' personality and made them even more complex. As this volume concludes, the F4 are ready to graduate from high school and now must embark on a journey of college and beyond. Where does that leave Tsukasa and Tsukushi?

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are some allusions to sex but it is not explicit. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 35, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

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. There are only three more volumes left in this series! I'm curious to see how this series ends.

Description: While Tsukasa recuperates from his amnesia and head injury, a fellow female patient takes to visiting him. This seemingly well-meaning girl soon becomes a rival to our beloved Tsukushi. Meanwhile we catch a telling glimpse into Sojiro's past and meet his first female friend. Later, Yuki uncovers a message from this friend meant for Sojiro's eyes only.

Review: Luckily in this volume we don't have too much melodrama. The sickly sweet girl that Tsukushi meets at the hospital is infamously known for stealing other people's boyfriends. Thankfully with Tsukasa reverting to his old mean, grumpy self, he is not in the least concerned with being in a relationship. I'm sure Tsukasa will get his memory back. I'm also sure that a huge break through will happen in the next volume but I'm not exactly sure what that could be. Meanwhile  Tsukushi is still taking Tsukasa's memory loss in stride. She is trying different tactics that might help spark his memory back.
 While the drama between Tsukushi and Tsukasa is happening, I became more interested in learning more about Sojiro's storyline. We are given hints as to who he was afraid to open up his feelings to and how he had lost the girl that he cared for. Yuki is still pining for Soijiro and plans to help him make up for his regrets. I only hope that Yuki doesn't get hurt in the process. Overall this was a fun volume and it doesn't end with a cliffhanger.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language. Recommended for teens.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 34 by Yoko Kamio, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

   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. There are only four more volumes left in this series! I'm curious to see how this series ends.

Description: Tsukushi's on-and-off boyfriend Tsukasa is hospitalized after a gruesome head injury! While his life hangs in the balance his devious mother shows no emotion at all! Could a mother really be so heartless?! Even if Tsukasa is able to survive, he may never be the same again...

Review: Volume 32 has a good balance of romance and drama. Tsukushi and Tsukasa's mother never got along and in this volume they come to an understanding after a big confrontation between them, which nicely closes this thread to the overall plot arc. Both women realize they want what is good for Tsukasa but how they define 'good' is very different. 
The plot switches its focus to Tsukasa's well being after we learned that he was severely injured in the last volume. Now that he is out of the danger zone, Tsukushi and the F3 find out that he has selective amnesia, he has completely forgotten Tskushi and reverted back to the way he was before. I felt horrible for Tsukushi as she tried her best to jog Tsukasa's memory and fails. If that's not bad enough, there's a new rival for Tsukasa's affection who is hiding behind a wall of seemingly "real" friendliness. How long will it take Tsukasa to remember? And will this loss of memory have any harmful side effects to the relationship he and Tsukushi have worked and fought so hard for?

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language. Recommended for teens.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 33 by Yoko Kamio, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

 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. There are only five more volumes left in this series! I'm curious to see how this series ends.

Description: Mysterious men have knocked out Tsukushi and her boyfriend Tsukasa. The two awake to find themselves alone on a boat, a situation that reeks of the diabolical handiwork of Tuskasa's maniacal mother Kaede. Will the two of them survive this insane twist of fate?

Review: Volume 31 begins with what might seem like another diabolical plan created by Kaede, Tsukasa's mother, to separate our love birds yet again. Tsukasa and Tsukushi are kidnapped and placed on a boat with no one else on board. The two quickly start to bicker about who is responsible for this set up. What seems to be dangerous situation actually turns quite comical as the real people behind this master plan is revealed.
  Having Tsukushi and Tsukasa isolated from everyone else was actually quite nice to read. Both of these characters have fought very hard to show other people that they are serious about their relationship, however, both harbor their own insecurities such as "why do you like me?" or "do I have the capabilities to make you happy?" While it was definitely very far fetched to believe these characters having deep discussion and thoughts about their relationship instead of freaking out about being kidnapped and on a deserted island, I did like these quiet, honest moments between Tsukushi and Tsukasa.
  This volume ends in a cliffhanger as Tsukasa's kidnapping was televised all over Japan. When he is spotted, there is a huge swarm of media and press trying to ask him questions for their interviews. In a quick moment Tsukasa is falls forward and is bleeding. He has been attacked by someone in the large crowd and rushed to the hospital! Good thing I have the next volume on hand to see what happens next.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some crude humor, minor language, and a few scenes of underage drinking. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 32 by Yoko Kamio, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

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. There are only six more volumes left in this series! I'm curious to see how this series ends.

Description: Just as Tsukushi thinks she can attend school unnoticed, the entire school starts bullying her and she finds herself in a love triangle with the two most popular boys, that’s when the real trouble begins!
 Tsukushi is drawn into the drama of the business affairs of the rich Domyoji family. This puts Kaede, Tsukushi's sworn enemy and Tsukasa's mother, in the tough position of having to show Tsukushi gratitude. Tsukushi's trip to New York takes another shocking turn when someone close to her admits his true feelings for her!


Review: Before I started reading Volume 30 of Boys Over Flowers, I was worried that this volume would ruin my enjoyable reading experience of this series. The foreshadowing of love triangle rearing its ugly head was high on the horizon as Rui became closer to Tsukushi and the drama between Tsukushi and Tsukasa took another turn when Tsukusa told Tsukushi go back home to Japan and forget him. I was so angry at Tsukasa at the end of the previous volume, but I knew there had to be a reason behind his aggravating decision and in this volume we find out why.
  While the drama is still on full force in this volume, we can see how much our characters have grown. Tsukushi doesn't waffle her feelings between Tsukasa and Rui and is upfront, honest when telling Rui how she really feels. Similarly, Rui accepts Tsukushi's decision and tells Tsukasa to not throw away his chance at happiness. Unlike Tsukushi and Rui, Tsukasa is not happy with his choice to turn Tsukushi away. He regrets his decision and tries to find Tsukushi. We find out that though he wants to be responsible and spear head his family's business, he doesn't want to do it on his mother's terms but on his own. I was surprised that I ended up liking this volume and I am sure there is more drama still to come.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language in this volume. Recommended for teens.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 31 by Yoko Kamio, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

 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.

Description: Things are going fairly smoothly between Tsukushi and her on-and-off boyfriend Tsukasa, but the bliss can't last for long... Deep in the heart of New York City Tsukasa's conniving mother is cooking up another evil plan to destroy her son's relationship with our beleaguered heroine. How far will Tsukushi go to be with her hardheaded beau?

Review: Tsukushi and Tsukasa have been happy for the past few volumes so it is no surprise that they run into trouble in this volume. Tsukasa and Tsukushi want to date openly, but due to the surveilance of Tsukasa's mother's security guards the couple can't. In a moment of teenage rebellion, Tsukasa and Tsukushi sneak out and go on a date..in New York City at a baseball game that is apparently aired internationally. There are many cute moments in this novel as we see Tsukasa and Tsukushi become more comfortable around each other.
  Of course Tsukasa's mother and everyone else finds out. What steps does Tsukasa's mother take this time to ensure they no longer see each other is quite smart. She definitely knows her son and plays to his weaknesses. I was a bit upset how this volume ends since it is a bit of a cliffhanger, but I'm glad that I had the next volumes to read to see what happens next. My only hope is that there is no love triangle brooding.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Some language and mild crude humor. Rated T for teens.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 30 by Yoko Kamio, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

 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. The secondary characters take center stage in a refreshing volume of Boys Over Flowers.

Description: Tsukushi's friend Yuki is still fixated on Sojiro, a member of the F4. While struggling to understand him she immerses herself in a mysterious event from his past. Meanwhile, spies continue to track Tsukushi and Tsukasa's every move. The two of them will have to take some outlandish steps to outsmart the snoops and get some "alone time"!

Review: Volume 28 belongs to Yuki and Sojiro as Tsukushi and Tsukasa's ongoing relationship fades temporarily to the background. We witness Yuki visiting several buildings late at night in her city in search of something. While we don't know exactly what she is looking for, we can tell it is extremely important to her and Sojiro from Yuki's fierce dedication and concentration.
  The author gives us glimpses about Yuki's mission, but only Sojiro knows why and his ordinary cheery, happy-go-lucky self attitude slowly becomes serious, dark, and full of remorse. Sojiro's sudden change begins his back story as he relives his memory. Sojiro's back story is one of missed chances, regret, and the belief that one doesn't deserve love is what tugs at the heart strings. Now more than ever I really hope Yuki is able to change his mind about love, especially the emotions that involve intimacy. As we see Tsukushi and Tsukasa try and fight for their relationship, I really hope Sojiro and Yuki fight for a chance to have one. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and allusions to sexual encounters though not depicted in graphic details. Recommended to teens and up.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 29 by Yoko Kamio, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

 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. Tsukushi and Tsukasa have reunited. Can they overcome big obstacles in order to be truly together?

Description: Tsukushi makes a shocking announcement at a party! Then her parents move into a tiny apartment, forcing Tsukushi and her brother to get their own place--next door to someone she knows. And, Tsukushi's friend Yuki is becoming increasingly infatuated with Sojiro, one of the F4. Is she willing to compromise herself for what she thinks he wants?!

Review: Tsukushi and Tsukasa are trying to make their relationship work. Instead of a third person trying to separate them, their own socioeconomic differences make the gap between them grow wider. Tsukushi is used to working and earning money to pay for the shelter over her head, tuition for school, and food to put on the table. More responsibility is placed on her shoulders when her parents decide to move to an affordable apartment, leaving Tsukushi to be responsible for her own brother and find a place of their own. Tsukushi handles the pressure with grace and finds a tiny apartment that resembles a shack. She is embarrassed to let Tsukasa know where she currently resides because it is not up to his standards, which makes Tsukushi wonder if Tsukasa will ever understand a lifestyle where luxury and money don't flow freely.
  While Tsukushi and Tsukasa work out their own issues, Tsukushi's friend Yuki steals the spotlight in this volume. Yuki is very serious about her feelings for Sojiro, a member of the F4 and a well known womanizer. Though we got clues in previous volumes of Yuki's crush, we didn't really understand the extent of them until this volume. She gathers her courage and tells Sojiro how she feels, which shocks both me and Sojiro. From the shojo mangas that I've read the female characters aren't really that aggressive and straightforward, which is why Yuki's step is quite bold and welcoming.  Sojiro isn't really sure how to deal with Yuki and tells her that he's got nothing to offer to her besides a one night stand. Yuki again shocks Sojiro and myself when she accepts his conditions. Luckily, Sojiro stops Yuki from doing something she really regrets and gives a hint to a mysterious past that has made him believe he is not worthy of love.
 I think Yuki and Sojiro would make a nice couple and I'm really curious to see if their relationship develops into anything, but I think Yuki is just too naive and sweet for someone like Sojiro. I'm also really curious as to what makes Sojiro behave the way he does and about his past, which I hope we get to find out in the next volume. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some minor language and some crude sexual humor. Recommended for teens.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 27 by Yoko Kamio, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

 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. Tsukushi and Tsukasa have broken up, but they still have feelings for one another. Can they overcome big obstacles in order to be truly together?

Description: Tsukushi struggles to understand her feelings for Tsukasa, her on-and-off boyfriend, and he struggles to try and not destroy Tokyo. Will the man who came between them step aside? The meddlesome F4 try their hand at forcing Tsukushi and Tsukasa together. All the while Tsukasa's mother's spies are hot on their trail!

Review: After reading a few filler volumes where nothing happens besides Tsukushi and Tsukasa whine and pine for each other, Volume 26 is full of surprises. Tsukasa builds up his courage to fight for Tsukushi. Tsukushi is still hanging out with the new guy in order to keep her promise to Tsukasa's crazy mother, Kaede, from being far away from her son. In a beautiful three to four page spread, we find Tsukasa meeting Tsukushi and the mysterious guy as they aboard the bus as Tsukasa shows all of his vulnerabilities to  Tsukushi just by his body language, his facial expression, and of course his plea to be with him. Tsukushi, to say the least is shocked, but boards the bus anyway! I couldn't believe it and was so angry at her, but thankfully, she stops the bus and runs to Tsukasa. Finally after being so miserable, these two are a pair, but her comes the tricky part: they have to keep their relationship a secret as Tsukasa has found out that his mother has hired spies to track every move he makes.
 There are plenty of sweet and funny awkward moments between our main couple, especially as they try to keep their relationship a secret from the F3.  The F3 and company are so tired of seeing Tsukasa and Tsukushi miserable that they come up with a devious plan of their own to get these two together by kidnapping them and sticking them in a room of their own! This plan leads to more funny and sweet moments, but my favorite is Tsukushi finally telling Tsukasa that she loves him in front of everyone. It is the first time she has said those three words aloud to him!
 Along with the developments of Tsukushi and Tsukasa drama, there is a subplot brewing between Yuki and Sojiro, one of Tsukasa's best friends and member of the F4. In a previous volume, Sojiro helped Yuki get back at her cheating and good for nothing boyfriend and Yuki has started to have a crush on him. In this volume we see that for Yuki, it's more than a crush but can see win the heart of a well known playboy who might not give her what she wants? I guess we'll find out in the next volume. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is minor language, some crude humor, and a scene of underage drinking. Recommended to teens.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 27 by Yoko Kamio, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

 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. Tsukushi and Tsukasa have broken up. Tsukushi and Tsukasa both have feelings for one another, but can they overcome big obstacles in order to be truly together?

Description: Tsukushi has an on-and-off romantic entanglement with a hothead named Tsukasa. Tsukasa has a sketchy relationship with his even more hotheaded mother, named Kaede. Kaede has found ways to destroy her son's relationship with Tsukushi, but the couple still has lingering feelings about one another. Now a new person has entered Tsukushi's life, but will he remove Tsukasa from her life once and for all?

Review: Volume 25 is a small book filled with melodrama. Tsukushi and Tsukasa are in their own separate little worlds. It is unclear if Tsukushi is actually dating the new stranger we met in Volume 24 or putting on appearances in front of Tsukasa, but my guess it is the latter. There is a really interesting juxtaposition between the stranger and Tsukasa. Both feel entitled to be with Tsukushi yet they come from two completely different backgrounds. The mysterious loner guy is working class who Tsukushi could relate to, but his attitude that love isn't real makes Tsukushi pause and think. Ultimately, the stranger shows Tsukushi just how much she cares for Tsukasa. 
 Meanwhile Tsukasa continues to brood and be aloof. His friends try to get him to forget Tsukushi or even open up, but he doesn't. Shigeru, his one time fiancee, sits down with him and tells him to not give up on fighting for Tsukushi if he really loves her. I was surprised that Shigeru though it's obvious she has feelings for Tsukasa that are only one sided inspires Tsukasa to man up and get Tskushi back. I really hope Tsukasa takes Shigeru's advice because I really need Tsukasa and Tsukushi to be together again! I can't deal with another volume of these two whining. 
 
Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some crude humor and minor language. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 26 by Yoko Kamio, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo

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. Tsukushi and Tsukasa have broken up. Tsukushi and Tsukasa both have feelings for one another, but can they overcome big obstacles in order to be truly together?

Description (from the volume): Tsukushi has been unconscious for two days and wakes up in Tsukasa's cousins's home! This terrifying man saved her life and now he's courting her! What is the secret behind this mysterious cousin who so closely resembles Tsukasa, and what could be the reason for his intense hatred of Tsukasa? Why does Tsukasa not know anything about him?

Review: Volume 24 is set up like a mystery. There are two story lines going at the same time. One story line features Tsukushi spending time with the mysterious guy who looks uncannily like Tsukasa. The second story line features Tsukasa and Tsukushi's group of friends who are trying to figure out the real identity of the the mysterious guy. I don't want to discuss the plot further because it would spoil the huge surprise, but the suspense in this volume works really well as we are given bits and clues sprinkled throughout until the truth is finally revealed in a cliffhanger ending. I hate those!
  I really liked this volume because both Tsukushi and Tsukasa are different. Tsukushi is torn between wanting to help others and wanting to be true to herself. She her warring sides are shown quite well. Throughout this series, the socioeconomic differences between the characters have been a strong theme and it is emphasized here as Tsukushi acknowledges that she will never be on par with Tsukasa and his lavish lifestyle, but what Tsukushi doesn't understand is that Tsukasa loves her because she is different in every possible way- stubborn, willing to stand up against what's wrong, work hard at her dreams, etc. Through Tsukushi, Tsukasa learns the value of life. Like Tsukushi, Tsukasa is also in conflict with himself. He is struggling to manage his anger issues and wants to prove to himself that can be mature, take responsibility, and be worthy of Tsukushi's love.
  As for the mysterious guy, I'm a bit ambivalent towards him and don't know enough about him to make a decision. He definitely isn't good news, but he does have both shades of good and bad in him. I do think he serves an important role and hopefully, that role would lead Tsukushi and Tsukasa to be finally together.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and sexual innuendo. Recommended for teens and up.

If you like this book try: Boys Over Flowers Vol 25 by Yoko Kamio, Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda, Mars by Fuyumi Soryo