Manga Review: Ani-Imo, Volume 4, by Haruko Kurumatani

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: August 2015

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Despite his trepidations, Youta agrees to check into a love hotel with Yurika in pursuit of the two who now inhabit their bodies. Youta is pleasantly surprised by the hotel accommodations, but surprise turns to shock when he hears moans emanating from Hikaru's neighboring room! The experience leaves Youta deeply shaken. Is he protective of his sister's purity as her big brother, or is it because he wants to defile her himself?!

Review:

I think why I’m trying so hard to like this series, is because I want more like it. I want mature, smutty shojo (or josei) series, including ones with surprising twists. I want books like this! Why am I not liking the ones that Yen Press is releasing? Ugh.

My biggest problem with this volume is Yurika. She’s in Mayama’s body right now, and is pushing herself on Youta in Hikaru. And then Yurika starts a benefits relationship with Mayama. And I hate her. She’s practically forcing herself on Youta, and then using Mayama with no intent for anything more. I don’t like Yurika as a character, and I don’t like what Yurika stands for.

I don’t mind Youta and Hikaru’s relationship too much. I think there have been moments of vulnerability between them that I liked, but the way that Hikaru manipulates Youta is distasteful to me. I’m not even sure how I feel about Youta as a character, honestly. He’s weak and conflicted, for a reason, but I just don’t think I really care for him. I like the smutty moments we get between them, but the fact that I’m not a fan of their characters is lessening my enjoyment.

The only character I did like was Mayama, and now he’s being dumb about Yurika. The cliffhanger makes me a little interested, but I’m not sure if it’s enough to read more. It’s just all the same stuff, and then I don’t even like the psychology and biological aspects used to explain what happened to them. We even met a new body-swapping couple, and they didn’t really help matters.

I just don’t like what I'm getting with this series at this point.

Manga Review: Ani-Imo, Volume 3, by Haruko Kurumatani

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: May 2015

Volumes: 7

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Hikaru is pressuring Youta to take their relationship too far and too fast for her brother, who still can't see Hikaru as anything but a little sister. But Hikaru is not willing to take "no" for an answer. As tensions escalate between the siblings-turned-lovers, onlookers Oda and Mayama can't help but notice "Hikaru"'s uncertainty--a weakness Oda fully intends to exploit! But the opportunity turns to disaster when Oda and Mayama's hasty pursuit leads to an accident that changes everything...

Review:

I’m starting to feel a little unsure about this series. I really want to like it, too.

While some of the sexy stuff can be a little forceful, and I don’t always care for the manipulation that Hikaru uses, and I really don’t like the way the Doctor manipulates Youta, I do like it some parts of it. I do kind of enjoy Hikaru and Youta’s attraction. I don’t care for Yurika much—and I don’t like how all the dominant personalities turn to manipulation and coercion so quickly. I do think that Kakeru is a sweetheart, though, and I like him a lot.

But then there’s the whole psychology and biological aspects to the plot. The Doctor has a theory about what is happening to the teens and what it’s doing to them, and honestly I don’t really care for it much. It’s going in a direction that I’m not sure I like, and it’s making me unsure about continuing the series.

I’ll probably give it another one or two volumes, though, to see what I think.

Manga Review: Ani-Imo, Volume 2, by Haruko Kurumatani

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: February 2015

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

When elder brother Youta and kid sister Hikaru get into an accident that switches their bodies, Hikaru (in her brother's body) changes into a fiendish sadist, and Youta (in his sister's body) finds himself her "girlfriend." Thrust into a bizarre reality where he's now taking orders from his own body, will Youta ever get himself out of this pinch and back where he belongs?!

Review:

This is a pretty mature series. I don’t know how much more it’ll get, but there’s a lot of forceful kissing, and a lot of hinting for more. I kind of love it.

I know that some people have a problem with the brother/sister thing (even if they technically aren’t), but I kind of don’t? I probably should, but I don’t. I’m just getting that out of the way. It doesn’t really bother me.

I do love the reverse stereotypical sexism here. How they’re now the normal stereotype of woman and man, that they’re in the others’ body. I mentioned it in the last volume, but it’s so well done here.

Youta is forced into a relationship with the now older sibling, even if he doesn’t want to be, or is denying that he wants to be. And Hikaru is very forceful about it, touching Youta all the time, not bothered if people know. And Hikaru's insecurity that Youta will never want it is very sweet.

We see more of Yurika, who is trying to manipulate the younger sibling to be hers. We got to know Kakeru better, though, and he’s a sweetheart. I really like him. I love how honest he is with “Hikaru”, even letting her go to be with “Youta” if he has to. He’s so sweet, the poor guy. Someone needs to love him. 

I’m enjoying this series quite a lot. It’s very mature, but it’s also funny, and honest, and I am really liking the characters. I look forward to the next one.

Manga Review: Ani-Imo, Volume 1, by Haruko Kurumatani

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: November 18, 2014

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

See?In this body, I can do whatever I like to "my sister."
Youta has always had a soft spot for his twin sister, Hikaru. Soft spoken and docile, she's everything a doting big brother could hope for! But when a freak accident results in the siblings swapping bodies, Youta discovers that his "innocent" little sister is anything but!
Now trapped in Hikaru's body, Youta becomes the object of his "little sister's" advances--advances she now has the testosterone fueled power to back up! Will Youta ever get his body back in this uproarious forbidden love comedy?

Review:

I was intrigued when I first heard of this book, then wary, then intrigued again. I wasn’t too sure what to expect—the incest made me wary, and the art looked iffy, but it sounded interesting enough. And now I’m glad I picked it up.

I don’t think I fully understood what the description meant until I started the book, because I was surprised by what I found.

Youta is loud and exaggerates and dotes on his twin sister. Hikaru is quiet and a loner and everyone thinks she’s creepy and never knows what she wants. Youta understands her perfectly, which is why they’re so close.

And then they switch bodies, and it turns out they’re not even related by blood. Youta freaks out, because he doesn’t know how to handle being in his sisters body, and he’s so sensitive and inexperienced that he doesn’t want to even change clothes. Hikaru, on the other hand, has openly confessed to him that she’s in love with him, and is perfectly happy to be in his body.

I think since their roles are reversed—with the sister being the one hitting on her brother—that I didn’t mind the scenario so much. Plus, they aren’t related by blood.

I also think it’s funny that with their stereotypical roles reversed—with the brother exaggerated and embarrassed and the sister quiet and the instigator—that when they switch bodies, they’re in the sex normally put with those roles. But you never forget that they’re in the wrong body—it’s mentioned a lot without being pushy or overdone. I appreciated that. It's almost a parody of the normal.

The artwork is pretty, and the characters are rather well done, with some surprises thrown in. The humor is good, and the exaggeration isn't over the top. There is a color page at the front, and it is very pretty. Hikaru is in love and emotional, and I felt for her a few times. Youta just plain doesn’t know what to do.

At this point, I’m really glad that I picked this volume up, and am looking forward to reading more.