Manga Review: Kiss Him, Not Me!, Volume 4, by Junko

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: April 2016

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Hi again! It’s me, Kae! After sweating it out with the boys, I’ve slimmed down again, but the fujoshi in me will never fade away!

After everything that happened in the last volume, Igarashi has now fallen in love with the true me. He’s decided to continue his pursuit, but this time, he means business!

Igarashi’s new resolve also spurs a change in Nanashima, and he doubles his efforts to win me over. It’s great that they’re both so fired up, but what’s firing me up is the thought of them possibly getting hot and heavy with each other…

Includes extras such as a White Day-themed bonus comic and sketches of never-before-revealed character designs!

Review:

Another delightful volume. I just can’t get enough.

In this volume, we find out that there was a competition between Nana and Igarashi when they were younger, only Nana decided he could never win and gave up. Kae roots them on until Nana agrees to be motivated. Lots of yaoi inducing moments here as well.

Then there’s a beach trip, with lots of swim suit shots, and a point where they all get lost in the woods. This is really about Shinomiya, though, and his low self-confidence. He thinks he’s the weak one, the one Kae won’t fall for, and so Kae has to give him some attention to boost his ego.

Igarashi is my favorite here, and I also enjoy Kae’s friendship with Mutsumi. Even Nishina intrigues me. This volume was fun and light, and showed an insight into a couple of the more background boys. I look forward to picking up the next one.

Teaser Tuesday[212]: The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson

Genre: YA Historical Romance

Publisher: Speak (Penguin)

Release Date: 1993

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Twenty-year-old Ruth Berger is desperate. The daughter of a Jewish-Austrian professor, she was supposed to have escaped Vienna before the Nazis marched into the city. Yet the plan went completely wrong, and while her family and fiancé are waiting for her in safety, Ruth is stuck in Vienna with no way to escape. Then she encounters her father’s younger college professor, the dashing British paleontologist Quin Sommerville. Together, they strike a bargain: a marriage of convenience, to be annulled as soon as they return to safety. But dissolving the marriage proves to be more difficult than either of them thought—not the least because of the undeniable attraction Quin and Ruth share. To make matters worse, Ruth is enrolled in Quin’s university, in his very classes. Can their secret survive, or will circumstances destroy their love?

Excerpt:

“Whether Ruth would return to this doomed city he did not know, but he and his like would surely do so, for he did not see how this evil could be halted by anything but war.” (Paperback, pg. 75)

What are you reading right now?

Manga Review: Yotsuba&!, Volume 13, by Kiyohiko Azuma

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Volumes: 13+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 12.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Fresh off the excitement of her camping trip, Yotsuba initiates a very productive session of sandbox play in which she instructs Fuuka how to properly run a bakery. But even more exciting is a visit from Grandma! Yotsuba learns how to value and enjoy cleaning, how not to be rude when hoping for souvenirs, and most important, how to cope when Grandma leaves. But don't worry, she'll be back someday!

Review:

There is never enough Yotsuba in the world. Never. I will never grow tired of it.

We start with Yotsuba coming from camping, with souvenirs for everyone. And then we meet Grandma. There’s lots of adorableness to be had here. There’s preparation and excitement, and then Grandma teaches Yotsuba all kinds of things. Like cleaning, as Grandma pesters her father about it all. Yotsuba tries very hard to be a good helper, and she’s so cute.

There’s also a learning moment, when Grandma has to leave. Yotsuba throws a fit, but Grandma and her dad stay strong, they don’t give in, and she’s forced to accept it. And say goodbye, and then be a kid again and move forward.

Every volume of this series is a delight and I love it all to pieces. I will always want more, but re-reads are also very fun.

Manga Review: Love Stage!!, Volume 4, by Eiki Eiki and Taishi Zaou

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2015

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Izumi Sena is an average guy born into a family of famous celebrities. A college student and total otaku, he works hard every day with the goal of someday becoming a manga creator.

Mega otaku Izumi and famous actor Ryoma have finally confirmed their feelings for one another. Izumi successfully makes his debut in the entertainment industry, and everything seems to be smooth sailing in both his public and private life. However, as Izumi continues to do unexpectedly well in his new career, Ryoma starts getting nervous when work begins keeping them apart!

Review:

At the beginning of the volume, we see Izumi reacting to having sex with Ryoma, and I appreciate the different look this series has. Izumi wants Ryoma, but he also felt some pain and discomfort from sex and he doesn’t want that. I like how he finally admits this, and goes to Rei for advice. It’s funny and cute to see.

Next, a new character is introduced. He’s a bit of a sexual harasser, and Ryoma already has a past with him that left him scarred. It leads to some bad situations for Izumi, but ultimately gives the cliffhanger of a fight between the two. It should lead to some drama, but also some fun in the next volume.

In the extra at the end, we get to see some flirting between Rei and Shogo, hinting at a deeper relationship between them. There’s also some hot stuff between Izumi and Ryoma, but I seriously want to see more between Rei and Shogo. I find their relationship interesting, and I mostly just like Rei a lot.

This series isn’t too high on my list, but I still find myself wanting to pick up the next one when I can. It’s more fun than it feels like it should be.