Manga Review: Idol Dreams, Volume 3, by Arina Tanemura

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 6, 2016

Volumes: 3+

Spoilers?: Light.

Buy it here: Amazon.

Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

At age 31, office worker Chikage Deguchi feels she missed her chances at love and success. When word gets out that she’s a virgin, Chikage is humiliated and wishes she could turn back time to when she was still young and popular. She takes an experimental drug that changes her appearance back to when she was 15. Now Chikage is determined to pursue everything she missed out on all those years ago—including becoming a star!

To pursue missed chances at love and success, 31-year-old Chikage Deguchi takes an experimental drug that changes her appearance back to how she looked at age 15. Chikage meets Tokita and her first love, Haru, for drinks. Tokita has been able to keep his feelings for Chikage a secret, but Haru isn’t fooled…

Review:

In this volume, we get to see adult Chikage go on a date with her long-time crush from high school. This is good for her, though conflicting for the two men fighting for her and trying to be amicable to each other. Chikage has little experience, but it seems like this could be good for her to grow.

And then that half ends and Chikage goes back to being a teenager with two boys fighting over her. One of whom confesses, though I mostly feel bad for him. Because it’s clearly not going to work in his favor, and it’s just going to get messy from here.

I’m kind of annoyed that Chikage has at least four boys in love with her, two for each age. I’m also not a fan of her being a teenager again. I think her adult age is more interesting and more honest, so her changing to a kid so often bothers me.

I want to like this series more than I do. It’s Tanemura, so of course I like it on some level, but I really hope it gets better soon.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!