Manga Review: Hatsu*Haru, Volume 7, by Shizuki Fujisawa

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: June 2019

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: Light.

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Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

After an uneasy start to their relationship, Kai and Riko are officially dating! But now Kai has a new ocean of relationship questions to cross -- first up: what kind of lunch do you bring your girlfriend?!

Review:

Now that Kai and Riko are official, they must figure out how to work as a couple. Kai is the typical girl here and learns how to make Riko a bento lunch. And then he frets over their relationship moving forward, since Riko is avoiding his advances, kind of.

At the same time, Kiyo and Miki are dealing with a miscommunication over their height differences, and this culminates into Kiyo and Riko not really talking to each other, either.

It's a bit of a square of issues, only the guys still talk and discuss things better than the girls. They figure it out, though, of course.

I like the couples in this series. They're cute and fun, and I like the boys' friendship as well as the girls'. I'm wondering when we'll get more from the other characters, though.

Manga Review: Hatsu*Haru, Volume 6, by Shizuki Fujiwara

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: April 2019

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: Yes.

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Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Summer break has been full of endings and new beginnings for Kai and Riko both. Suwa's wedding saw the conclusion of Riko's long-held first love, but only time will tell if its departure leaves room in her heart for another. Can Kai safely navigate dating when love is involved, or will his uncalculated swing in the dark throw everything off course?

Review:

And finally the main couple becomes a thing. Though there's some conflicted communication here, since Riko immediately goes away for the summer, and Kai thinks they're dating now.

I really liked how Riko reacted here—not slapping Kai, but after that. Kai was sure he was going to be rejected, and he wasn't going to run away from it for long. But all of this made Riko rethink their relationship and how Kai has been there for her. It was really sweet.

There is surely more drama to come here, especially when we see their first date, but we also get to focus on the side characters a bit more here. Firstly, Takaya and Ayumi's fake relationship. We discover what's in Takaya's past, what his dark secret is. I'm not a big fan of his past relationship drama, but I like how Ayumi was there to help him when he needed it, and to try to help him move on. I really like their relationship, honestly. I enjoy their dynamic.

This is a really fun shojo series. It feels a little old-shojo but also fresh. It's really a fun read.

Manga Review: Hatsu*Haru, Volume 5, by Shizuki Fujisawa

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: February 2019

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kai just can't shake his feelings for Riko, no matter how hard he tries (or how many other girls he dates). When it comes to first loves, though, Riko knows better than most how hard it can be to let things go. With Suwa and Akemi's wedding fast approaching, will Riko be able to finally tell her most important people a heartfelt "Congratulations"...?

Review:

Riko is upset by how Kai has suddenly reverted to his playboy ways, but doesn't know why. And Kai is reacting to what he thinks is happening between Riko and Takaya. Which means Takaya has to do something—thus, the pretend romance trope of Takaya and Ayumi. I can get behind this.

Riko and Kai both have to figure themselves out for a bit here, and come back to a middle ground of friendship. Around this time, the wedding has arrived, and Riko has to figure out her feelings about that, and get some closure.

Given the previous cliffhangers, we'll see what this one adds up to. But I'm hopeful.

I'm really enjoying this series, still. It's cute and fun, and uses the normal tropes in a mostly fresh and fun way. The characters and friendships are a lot of fun, in particular, though.

Manga Review: Hatsu*Haru, Volume 4, by Shizuki Fujisawa

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 3. 5.

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RightStuf Synopsis:

School can't teach you everything, especially when it comes to love! No matter how much a guy studies, it still won't be enough to turn around his terrible luck with romance! Just as an apple can never return to the tree it fell from, is unrequited love destined to never be reciprocated...?

Review:

While it would have been nice for Riko to see what Kai was saying, that would have been too easy. Of course she takes it as merely meant to cheer her up. Though there are hints that she just won't let herself think that he likes her that way, which is somewhat of a good sign.

We get quite a lot of Misaki in this volume. There's still the developing of a relationship between him and Ayumi, and it's obvious they're forming some kind of understanding type of relationship, even if they don't quite see it yet. But then we get a curveball as Kai thinks Misaki and Riko are starting to hit it off. This shows a really mature side of Kai, as he believes he can't compete with Misaki, and we get some insight into their friendship because of this. They've known each other for a long time, and Misaki has always been there for Kai, even if he didn't realize it at the time. They've formed a really close friendship over the years, a caring and respect for each other. It's sweet.

Aside from that, it's nice to see the rest of the guys trying to root for Kai, and trying to push him and Riko together. Also Kai's family. I love how big and close they are, and enjoy seeing them all together, and him taking care of the kids. It's so sweet.

The romance is going to take a bit longer, I suspect. But it's fun to see it grow, and I like the side characters a lot, as well. I'm enjoying getting to know them better, and would actually like more of that at times.

Manga Review: Hatsu*Haru, Volume 3, by Shizuki Fujisawa

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Playboy Kai and Tomboy Riko make for an unlikely couple in this adorable and hilarious shoujo romance!

Review:

Just as Riko is starting to look at Kai differently, he confronts her about her feelings for Suwa. Being lovesick himself, he has trouble with her odd relationship with Suwa, given her feelings for him. It's a conflicting moment for both of them, as Riko has to consider herself, and Kai gets to fret over it. Kai doesn't seem the type content to sit in the background and watch what he wants get away, so it's not surprising how he reacts.

While those two take up most of the volume, we also get to see their friends lives developing. Mostly, we get to see Miki and Kiyo take the next step to make their relationship official. They're the innocents of the group, and Miki is easily influenced. They seem sweet, and I like how they contrast and mesh together so far.

This series takes on the typical tropes really easily, but also gives them a new twist or perspective that I enjoy. There's the festival story in this volume. And then, for instance, when Riko gets threatened by fangirls at school, instead of it turning into a bully plot, or anything for Kai to help with, she handles it rather well herself.

This is a fun take on the shojo, school story. I'm enjoying it so far, and I'm interested to see where it goes next. It seems to be developing at a steady pace, without dragging anything out too much.

Manga Review: Hatsu*Haru, Volume 2, by Shizuki Fujisawa

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: August 2018

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 3.

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RightStuf Synopsis:

Kai, ever-suave, is used to being the target of affection. But deep inside, he's in turmoil because the girl he loves has eyes for another! Can he find a way to be direct and confess his feelings?

After things on the school camping trip don't go his way, Kai's left dumped and convinced he's better off just giving up on girls and dating altogether. Yet somehow his friends rope him into a group date, and he ends up at the amusement park with...Riko!? But when Suwa-sensei turns up at the same park with another woman, will Kai be able to hide what he saw and protect Riko from experiencing heartbreak like he has?

Review:

This volume develops more of Kai's feelings for Riko, but a large part of it explores the side characters, too. Kai's friends get more dimension, and we meet Riko's friends, and a new girl. As they all end up on a group date, they have to even out.

As they break off in pairs, we get to see their personalities better. Two of them already hate each other (or at least the girl hates him), then there's the odd match of innocent tall girl and short boy, and the new reporter girl that invites herself with the aloof guy. I like how this series seems to easily be switching up stereotypes. Kai is the playboy, a bit of a wimp, and he's fallen for Riko, who's violent and straight-forward and a bit oblivious. There's the mix of height-differences with the one forming couple. And the overprotective girl friend, who dislikes the supposed playboy, who's actually just a nice guy, I think.

As the volume goes, we also get to see the true friendships. Kai's group of guys are very close, and I really like their friendship. They're there for each other, trying to help when they can, especially when they realize Kai's feelings. There's also Kai's family, who are big and close, and I quite like all of them as well. And how Riko isn't used to it, but clearly likes it.

I enjoyed the first volume, and this one only expanded on that even more. I'm excited to read more.

Manga Review: Hatsu*Haru, Volume 1, by Shizuki Fujisawa

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: June 2018

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Playboy Kai and Tomboy Riko make for an unlikely couple in this adorable and hilarious shoujo romance!

Review:

A new shojo series from Yen always catches my attention. They tend to be either very good, or very bad. This one looks to be on the good side.

We meet Kai, who's rather full of himself, one of the popular boys who can get any girl he wants, and knows it. He has his guy friends, and classmates who he's known forever, including Riko. He's never had a very good relationship with tough-girl Riko, but after she confronts him about a friend of hers, they start getting pushed together, and he starts to notice her in other ways.

I will admit that I appreciate seeing a cocky, unlikeable-at-first character get put in their place, and start to grow some humility and likeability. Kai definitely needs that, and as he starts to crush on Riko, it happens. It doesn't take long for him to start changing, and even his friends notice pretty quickly.

Sadly for him, Riko already likes someone else. Although, it looks like Kai is going to have to make some hard, mature decisions to help Riko move past her own problems.

I like where this is going already, and I look forward to reading more.