Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 14, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2020

Volumes: 17+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 13. 15.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when these two utter opposites pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly!

Review:

This volume takes a surprising turn into a survival movie, which I didn't see coming. It's a bit crazy and hard to believe, but that's all okay because it's also not actually real.

After vacation, though, it's back to the real world. At this point, that just means Hana gets to catch her friends up with what's been going on in their relationship, and Takane is back to work and gaining his old position back. Though there's sure to be drama regarding Takane's family soon.

We did get a tiny bit of Nicola and Mizuki's growing relationship in this volume, though. Despite them only supposedly being friendly, they both saw a new side of each other, and it particularly sparked a new feeling in Nicola. I don't really know how I feel about their actual compatibility, but I do love Nicola and think he needs someone who sees through him, and she might be that.

I truly love the characters in this series. They're crazy and ridiculous, and so very lovable. I really love the main couple, and I also really love some of the side characters. I just can't get enough at this point.

My enjoyment and affection of this series, might equal how I feel about Maki Minami's series, now that I think about it. And I truly do have a specific kind of affection for that mangaka's work, as well. They're got similar crazy comedy vibes, now that I'm thinking about it.

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 13, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February 2020

Volumes: 16+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 12. 14.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when these two utter opposites pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly!

While Hana contemplates whether or not to take Rino’s advice on matters of the heart, Takane and Okamon duke it out to determine who’s better suited for Hana! With everything on the line, who will ultimately win in this no-holds-barred love showdown?

Review:

Hana gets to confront the reason why she's giving Takane a hard time, and Takane gets to confront his reactions and attempt to improve himself. They both get some intervention from outside, and then finally talk to each other and are honest about their feelings. It's really touching on both sides, and very real from Hana.

That's not the end of that, though. They have to worry about Hana's family. And then public appearances, because of the age difference and because of who Takane is. It gets a bit complicated there, when they pretend to not be together. I'm curious where that's going to go, as they'll have to confront things at some point, particularly the undermining reason for why they're hiding their relationship.

This series is an absolute favorite at this point, and a must for any shojo fan. The dynamic between them is stellar and the comedy is superb. It's always a delight getting a new volume.

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

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 12, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2019

Volumes: 16+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 11. 13.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when Takane and Hana pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly between these two utter opposites!

A hospitalized Takane drops a major bombshell on Hana, and she doesn’t know if he’s serious or not! In typical Takane form, he overdoes things, and Hana is at a loss as to how she should deal with the news. Could some advice from love rival Rino actually help?

Review:

After that last volume, Takane needs some recovery time. And, suddenly, Hana is making this even harder on him. Despite how Hana had confessed her feelings, now that Takane has accepted his, it's hitting her in a different way.

I understand part of what's happening with Hana here. But then Okamon steps in and tries to help, and I don't like that one bit. It makes me feel bad for Okamon, but also I really don't think bring this triangle back is necessary. Near the end of the volume, it seems like Takane has started to realize what he's doing wrong, so I'm curious where that will go next.

I actually didn't expect this twist in the plot. Part of it makes sense, part of it upsets me. But overall I'm excited to see where it goes next.

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

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 11, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2019

Volumes: 15+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 10. 12.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when Takane and Hana pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly between these two utter opposites!

Takane gives Hana a surprise kiss on the nose, and now a flustered Hana is dying to know what it means! Meanwhile, Takane’s cousin Yakumo wants to be reacquainted with Takane, but there’s an ominous vibe about him… What exactly is he after?

Review:

There are some of the best Takane reactions in this volume. Takane's moment of drunken weakness has caused him some real mental struggles. He's embarrassed about it and doesn't know how to act around Hana, and Hana is wondering if this could mean something real and is trying not to react too much.

Just as they're struggling and fighting about this, Takane's jealous cousin shows up, who decides to play with Takane for revenge. His cousin is really despicable, but kind of in a pathetic way, too. He's terrible, but not scary. He needs to get beat up, honestly.

This was a big volume for Takane and Hana, actually. It feels like they took a step forward, though we'll have to see in the next volume for sure; either way, they were put through some trials here.

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

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 10, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2019

Volumes: 15+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 9. 11.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when these two utter opposites pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly!

When Hana’s childhood friend Okamon confesses that he’s in love with her, Hana goes into a total panic! Can she possibly return his feelings? And once Takane finds out, all bets are off on how he’ll react to the news!

Review:

Okamon's confession throws Hana and Takane for a loop in this volume. It takes Hana completely by surprise (cause she's dense), and it makes Takane consider their current relationship and how it mistakenly might be affecting Hana.

After all of that drama, we get to see how Takane and Nicola met. And it's super adorable. Nicola is such a happy-go-lucky guy, he loves everyone and doesn't even mean to be a playboy. He just thinks everyone is great. And then he meet Takane. His determination here makes perfect sense, and really explains how they became friends. He had to wear Takane down.

Things kind of calm down in the second half of the volume, up until that ending. Super cute, though.

This series is honestly one of my favorites at this point. Whenever a new volume arrives, I need to read it immediately. And I really get a kick out of the comedy in this volume, and how Takane and Hana tease each other. It's just a lot of fun.

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

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 9, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2019

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 8. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when these two utter opposites pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly!

Hana’s father makes the deal of a lifetime and moves the Nonomura family into a huge mansion… But what the Nonomuras didn’t plan on was Takane moving in with them! Just how are Takane and Hana going to adjust to living together?

Review:

Them living in one house together is really a test to their relationship. They both have reason to protest, and it changes things for them a little. They're forced to be around each other a lot more, which means finding out more habits and learning how to live together. Hana isn't one for sitting in the back and not doing something, so it's not surprising that she thinks everything through and even confronts the issue with everyone. She's pretty vocal about these things. For once, it's Takane who's left a little in the unknown, actually.

This issue also forces Okamon's hand a little, too. Hana is so blasé about the whole thing, when Okamon sees the threat of an older man living in the same house as her.

I really love the dynamic of this series, the characters, and Hana in particular. It's a lot of fun, craziness to follow. I end up reading these volumes so quickly without even realizing it, it feels like.

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

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 8, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2019

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when these two utter opposites pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly!

Valentine’s Day rolls around, and Hana wonders what she should give Takane even as she struggles to hide her feelings from him. Meanwhile, Hana’s father poses a question to Takane—exactly how long is he planning to continue his arranged marriage relationship with Hana?

Review:

Valentine's comes and goes, and Hana continues to worry about her relationship with Takane. She likes him, but she doesn't want to change anything or show her feelings, and so she decides that she needs to make Takane think about her and fall for her. If he starts relating her to common items and places, then he'll start to think of her all the time. It's progress, apparently.

I really love the struggle and banter between these two. They both clearly like each other, but they're being stubborn about it. There's a sudden change for Hana in this volume, as her family is suddenly given a new opportunity to move into a much bigger house, not too far from where they live now. Given the surprise at the end (though not actually surprising), I'm curious to see what that means for them next. This could be a really fun development, I think.

This series has probably become one of my favorites at this point, and I always get excited when a new volume arrives. It's just so much fun.

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

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 7, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February 2019

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when these two utter opposites pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly!

Stripped of his wealth and now penniless, Takane has to learn how to cope with being poor. He refuses any help from Hana, but she isn’t about to let him brush her off! Takane is as difficult as ever, but Hana can’t seem to leave him alone. Is she finally ready to admit she has feelings for him?

Review:

As Takane continues to get used to being “poor” and finding value in himself as a normal person, Hana is starting to come to terms with her real feelings for Takane. Hana's acceptance of her feelings is exciting to me, but I also understand why she wouldn't want things to change. It's more than the risk of losing their current relationship, because they kind of have an agreement for what they have now. But mostly, I just want her to kiss him already.

Ideally, this could be a more mature relationship, and yet it's actually very high school. They're immature together, and I seriously love their dynamic. The teasing and one-upping each other, and the genuine feelings and caring they showed in this volume. It's forming a really sweet, fun relationship for them.

In the last part of the volume, we got to see Mizuki's point of view regarding Nicola. It's complicated, because she's always tried not to be girly, and she's trying to understand that he's a flirt by nature. But she also likes him, and it's clear that Nicola feels something for her. It was a nice insight to see, and I honestly do really like Nicola. He might be my favorite after the main pair. He's so much fun.

This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It's really fun to read, and I love the main relationship dynamic. I'm curious where the plot is going, as I want it to form quickly, but also I love the slowness of it now. I'm curious about Takane's work/family issues; honestly, I really liked seeing him humbled and bumped down, but it looks like he's trying to change that very quickly already. I'm conflicted about that, cause I don't think he's learned enough yet. We'll see.

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 6, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot, young scion of a business empire can’t help wanting to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when these two utter opposites pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly!

Takane is suddenly confronted with a major crisis when his grandfather, the chairman of the Takaba Group, strips him of his wealth! When Takane instantly goes from being super rich to penniless, how will Hana deal with a dejected Takane who has lost everything?

Review:

The volume starts normal, with Christmas and then some friend drama. Of course, Takane goes over the top for Christmas, because he wants it to be special for Hana. And then we see how Nicola's flirty personality affects one of Hana's friends not-quite-as-intended.

But then, in the latter half of the volume, Takane has to see his family for a get-together, which leads to a surprise turn of events for Takane. He gets thrown a curve-ball, in which he's going to have to experience life like a normal, poor person. My main issue with this idea, is that all of Takane's money and everything goes away, even what he has worked for himself. He wasn't given everything, he did actually do an important job for the company. But, I see the reason behind it—and, I do love seeing it humble Takane. It's a big difference to what he's used to, and despite how Hana has always reacted to his money and actions, he doesn't think she'll be okay with this version of himself.

The facial expressions in this series are kind of epic. They're ridiculous, and often for humor, but done so well and so purposely, that I love them. The reactions between Hana and Takane, too, are great. They work to surprise each other, to pretend they don't feel as strongly as they do, but sometimes the surprises are just natural, like when they're honest with each other, as they are at the end of this volume.

I'm really enjoying this series. It's grown on my to where I look forward to each volume, and I'm really interested to see what happens next with Takane.

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 5, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 13+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot, young scion of a business empire can’t help wanting to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when these two utter opposites pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly!

Hana’s usual Christmas family celebration gets canceled, so she can’t help but feel disappointed at the prospect of spending Christmas Eve alone. Takane decides to ask Hana out to dinner for that night, but then a beautiful medical school student named Rino shows up declaring her love for Takane! Does this mean Hana has a love rival?!

Review:

Despite the apparent age difference, and that this series features such an older male love interest, and that even the plot of this series hints at more mature themes, and even the main couple being in an actual romantic relationship—this series is really quite light on the romantic moments. There's more normal shojo tension and high school humor and drama, than you would expect, if you think about it.

Part of me wishes this were more mature—because I do love those kinds of romances—but I do quite love the humor and tension. This series is a lot of fun.

In this volume, as the school festival ends, we get to meet some new people from Takane's life. First there's his young cousin, who looks like a copy of Takane, and who wants to be just like him. He's not impressed by Hana from the get-go, and I actually liked where this plot went. When Hana gets to watch him for a day, there's a nice teaching moment, as we see him take his admiration and pride too far for a moment. After that, we meet an old friend of Takane's, who causes some momentary drama, but is rather fun overall.

This is a really fun series. I like the main couple, but it's also nice to see Nicola and Hana's friends, and the basic jokes on Takane's personality are always fun.

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

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 4, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 7, 2018

Volumes: 11+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot, young scion of a business empire can’t help wanting to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when Takane and Hana pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly between these two utter opposites!

It’s summer, but Takane is so busy with work that he doesn’t have much time to spend with Hana! Enter Takane’s new assistant Eiji Kirigasaki, an efficient helper who gains Takane’s trust and allows Takane to have more free time. Despite all the support he’s giving, however, Kirigasaki might have an ulterior motive that could lead to Takane’s downfall!

Review:

Summer vacation draws to an end, and Takane and Hana continue their usual competition of one-upping each other but not showing their reactions. Takane always goes overboard, but Hana is starting to really realize him and realize that she might actually want him.

Takane's brother sends in a spy to work under Takane, and when he discovers Hana and tries to end their relationship, it causes some mixed feelings and she has to decide what she really wants. Despite Kirigasaki starting out as a spy, I actually really like him as a character. He's hard for Takane to decipher at first, rather straight-faced, but he's a good guy.

This series is quite fun. The comedy is well-placed and I love the banter between the main two.

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

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 3, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2018

Volumes: 11+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot, young scion of a business empire can’t help wanting to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But when Takane and Hana pair up, get ready for some sparks to fly between these two utter opposites!

Hana’s scores on her proficiency test are dismal, and everyone around her, including her teacher, blames her new love life! Hana adamantly denies that to be the cause and vows to study hard to do better on her finals. But when Takane storms in to tutor her, will his help actually prove to be more of a distraction?

Review:

We get to see Takane and Luciano finally make up. It reinforces that Luciano really does just want to be Takane's friend, and that Takane isn't easily fooled—but he does have a hard time admitting when he likes someone and misses them.

After that, Hana is struggling with her schoolwork, and Takane steps in to help tutor her. Takane is clearly on a higher plane, and he is very smart. He proves this to Hana. Though at the same time, Hana is trying to prove that she isn't falling behind because of Takane, and it's her own doing; some guy isn't distracting her. I liked this chapter, for several reasons—we get to see Takane really helping Hana, yes, but we also see Hana trying to be her own person, but still accepting his help, when it does in fact help.

Of course, after that, Takane falls sick. This chapter is actually quite adorable, as we see Takane vulnerable and unable to resist as Hana takes care of him and cooks for him. It's rather cute, and doesn't even include Hana being a stereotypically useless, bad cook teenager.

In the latter half of the volume, the group goes on a beach trip. Okamon, Hana's childhood friend comes along, and we see the underlying challenge between him and Takane. Takane acknowledges the challenge, but also doesn't appear to find it serious. He seems to believe that it's up to Hana, and her feelings are more important than proving himself to some boy. It's unclear whether Okamon is actually going to do something, or accept Takane. We'll see, I guess.

The side chapters after this were both quite hilarious. I really enjoy the humor in this series, and the ways that the mangaka plays with her characters. It actually reminds me a little of Komomo Confiseries author (insert!), who is also one of my favorites.

I'm really enjoying this, and excited for more.

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

Manga Review: Takane & Hana, Volume 2, by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2018

Volumes: 10+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A strong-willed high school girl and a hot, young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But what happens when Hana meets Takane is an unexpected pairing of utter opposites!

Hana has to continue to pretend to be her sister and Takane’s fiancée after Takane’s grandfather expresses his desire to meet Takane’s prospective marriage partner! But she’s totally out of her element at a party hosted by the Takaba Corporation, the largest conglomerate in Japan! Just how the heck is she supposed to pull of these high-class hijinks?!

Review:

Takane and Hana come upon a challenge in this volume—Hana gets to go with Takane to a work event, where she's supposed to be her older sister, because that's who his father thinks he's dating. They go shopping, trying to find something to make her look older. But at the party, she realizes what their age difference could mean for him if it's found out. It bothers her for a little bit, until Takane confronts her about it.

After that, we get someone from Takane's past. Nicola seems like a good guy, but also has some questionable intentions. I like where it's going near the end, and so I think the cliffhanger will be resolved nicely in the next one.

This is a really fun series. I like how competitive Takane and Hana get with each other, but how clearly they like each other. Even with the age difference, they seem very similar and get along really well.

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