Manga Review: Otomen, Volume 16, by Aya Kanno

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Publish Date: August, 2013

Volumes: 18

Spoilers?: Not really.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Powells. RightStuf!

Previous Volume. Next Volume.

Goodreads Synopsis:

This New York Times Manga Bestseller series features handsome, manly men who have cute, girly hobbies!Asuka Masamune is a guy who loves girly things--sewing, knitting, making cute stuffed animals and reading shojo comics. But in a world where boys are expected to act manly, Asuka must hide his beloved hobbies and play the part of a masculine jock instead. Can Asuka ever show his true self to anyone, much less to Ryo Miyakozuka, the girl that he's falling for?

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.

Review:

This series is drawing to a close soon, along with several other Shojo Beat titles, surprisingly. Several of them didn’t feel like the end was near, but I definitely don’t mind. This series does need a conclusion soon, and I’m looking forward to the main plots being concluded, but I still wasn’t really expecting it.

Asuka’s mom is, like, psychotic, you guys. She feels so strongly against boys doing girly things, it’s ridiculous. And now she’s watching her son closely, wanting to sabotage him. She needs to knock it off, get some sense put into her. I’m looking forward to that confrontation.

Aside from that, there was the rest of the Yamato plot line, then one where the group stars in an ad-lib play. Something big happens with Juta at the end, and that should cause some problems.

I think the shining star in this story is Asuka and Ryo’s relationship. They’re just so sweet and cute together, so secure in their relationships and mature about it. I enjoy relationship drama, but this is very nice to see as well. And I’m honestly starting to wonder if those two are ever going to kiss, or do anything overtly romantic. Hopefully something will happen by the end of the series, since there are only two books left.

This isn’t a series that really sticks out, it’s not high in drama or dark material or anything. It’s very lighthearted and sweet. But that’s nice, too, going into it expecting light and fluffy, drama over little things that get fixed easily, a very sweet read. I’m enjoying it.