Reviews

Tokyo Tarareba Girls, Vol. 7, by Akiko Higashimura

misssusan's review against another edition

3.0

me, repeatedly: i don't think i like this series

also me: it's too much emotional effort to read things i like, i'll take the next volume

not digging recent developments, i don't think key having a sad backstory excuses him being an asshole and idk why her friends seem to think it does. if a guy treated one of my friends they way key has rinko i'd be team Bin Him Forever

3 stars

tolutolu9597's review

4.0

…wth

millie's review

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

3.5

realynnlong's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

elliottkozuch's review

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

notevenastar's review

4.0

Whew. I’ve got a lot to say so buckle in. (Or don’t. I’m perfectly content with the fact that all the reviews I write are just me talking to myself. I mean that genuinely! I’m an extroverted person who’s spent the majority of her life by herself, against her will. I really adore quiet spaces where I can work out my feeling and opinions. It’s hard to get lonely when you have yourself as a conversation partner.)

Anyways! Something you should know about me is that I really enjoy spoilers. They very rarely impede my enjoyment and I really don’t see the point of every single piece of media relying on contrived suspense and shock value. That being said, as good as this volume of TTG was, knowing who Rinko ends up with made it less enjoyable. I loved seeing her settle into herself and I genuinely enjoyed seeing her find a comfortable, budding relationship with Hayasaka. I think it would be circular for her to end up with him.

But again. Knowing that

Spoiler

Key

is her endgame is so frustrating. He’s done nothing but degrade her, take advantage of her, and treat her and her friends like garbage since volume one. I wouldn’t have minded his backstory without the knowledge that the two of them link up at the end. Knowing that his backstory was meant to make him sympathetic makes it seem flat, whereas an honest look into why he is the way he is (with no emotional stakes other than simple explanation) would have been preferable. It just feels cheap, otherwise.

And on the subject of his backstory. Yeah, the

Spoiler

dead wife thing

sucks. And I get that they made it as chaste as possible, but you can’t escape the grooming thing. Like dude.

Spoiler

You were 18 years old married to a 30 year old doctor who’d been treating you since you were 10 years old? You are not a brooding, romantic hero. You are a victim. And this might sound callous, but it definitely was too little, too late. Because while I do feel sympathetic for him from an objective, moral standpoint, the story isn’t treating him as a victim of grooming. TTG is still trying to convince us that Key is a man who has a tragic excuse for being misogynistic and cruel to a woman ten years older than him. So, no, I don’t think so. And like I said! I might have been able to accept this narrative crime if it wasn’t for the fact that Key is Rinko’s endgame. If I was going in blind, this might have been a four star review. But not only am I dissatisfied with the fact that Rinko is going to throw out all her progress with Hayasaka, I’m still sore over the fact that Key isn’t ever going to really apologize for all the awful shit he’s done and said.

Ugh. I have so many opinions. Anyways, two more volumes to go! Wish me luck.

rach's review against another edition

4.0

Finally, we’re getting to the meat of this story. First: Rinko and Hayasaka. I actually don’t think there would be anything wrong with this relationship. Maybe it’s my cynicism or pragmatism, but if you can find someone you are comfortable with that you are glad to be around, why not try to make that work? Does life have to be full of crazy fireworks? I don’t think so. But the main problem here is that Rinko still has Key in my mind. Maybe that’s something she’d forget over time, but I think she owes it to herself and Hayasaka to take things a little slower, like he suggested.

Second: We finally know the bulk of Key’s story.

torywestside's review against another edition

3.0

We finally learn Key's backstory and not only is it upsetting and lowkey uncomfy/icky, but it also doesn't excuse his terrible behavior towards Rinko! Great, love that for them.

thebookfinch's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

emeraldreverie's review

4.0

Best volume yet! Paced excellently, compelling plot. Art, as always, great.