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queenslovebooks's review
4.0
“Let’s walk together hand in hand. Through the joyous times… and the sad… the cycle repeating itself, again and again. That’s how we’d grow old together.”
I finished reacing Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 12 and here’s my thoughts. Watching the characters finally find peace after everything they've been through was so emotional. Kyo and Tohru’s bond really shines, and their first date was such a sweet moment. But Kyoko’s words, “I’ll never forgive you,” still hit so hard—fans will definitely feel the weight of that reveal.
I really appreciated how the theme of forgiveness was handled in the story. I liked how it showed that forgiveness is different for everyone—some people can forgive quickly and move forward, while for others, it takes much more time and personal reflection. It felt real and nuanced, and added depth to the characters' journeys.
Now, for my personal take—Fruits Basket has been dear to me since I was a young girl. I watched the first anime adaptation and fell in love with the story so much that I saved up just to buy the DVD. Reading the manga only deepened that love, and it’s a series I find myself revisiting over and over again. That said, there’s one part of the story that never quite sat well with me: it’s as if it’s fine for the adults not to end up with their first loves, while the younger characters (except for poor Momiji) seem bound to their first romantic interests.
Take Yuki, for example. For most of the series, he appears to have feelings for Tohru, but by the end, she’s suddenly just a “mother figure” to him, and his “first love” became someone else. I think it would’ve been more satisfying if Yuki had realized that even though his affection for Tohru stemmed from her nurturing nature, it’s still love, but they just weren’t meant to be. Then he could have naturally fallen in love with another girl, instead of the sudden shift of his feelings.
Still, this series means so much to me, and I know I’ll be coming back to it again and again. It’s a story that sticks with you, even if it’s not perfect.
I finished reacing Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 12 and here’s my thoughts. Watching the characters finally find peace after everything they've been through was so emotional. Kyo and Tohru’s bond really shines, and their first date was such a sweet moment. But Kyoko’s words, “I’ll never forgive you,” still hit so hard—fans will definitely feel the weight of that reveal.
I really appreciated how the theme of forgiveness was handled in the story. I liked how it showed that forgiveness is different for everyone—some people can forgive quickly and move forward, while for others, it takes much more time and personal reflection. It felt real and nuanced, and added depth to the characters' journeys.
Now, for my personal take—Fruits Basket has been dear to me since I was a young girl. I watched the first anime adaptation and fell in love with the story so much that I saved up just to buy the DVD. Reading the manga only deepened that love, and it’s a series I find myself revisiting over and over again. That said, there’s one part of the story that never quite sat well with me: it’s as if it’s fine for the adults not to end up with their first loves, while the younger characters (except for poor Momiji) seem bound to their first romantic interests.
Take Yuki, for example. For most of the series, he appears to have feelings for Tohru, but by the end, she’s suddenly just a “mother figure” to him, and his “first love” became someone else. I think it would’ve been more satisfying if Yuki had realized that even though his affection for Tohru stemmed from her nurturing nature, it’s still love, but they just weren’t meant to be. Then he could have naturally fallen in love with another girl, instead of the sudden shift of his feelings.
Still, this series means so much to me, and I know I’ll be coming back to it again and again. It’s a story that sticks with you, even if it’s not perfect.
unmistakablyphoenix's review
4.75
And here we are, at the end of an amazing story.
The ending is pretty much perfect, and I appreciate that all the characters get their happy ending, even those that didn’t quite deserve it. You don’t have to forgive someone for them to be able to become better people, and that’s my hope for those characters that sucked the most.
Tohru and Kyo will forever be my favorites.
I enjoyed all the extra content provided in this collectors edition, the character profiles and timeline were my favorite!
The ending is pretty much perfect, and I appreciate that all the characters get their happy ending, even those that didn’t quite deserve it. You don’t have to forgive someone for them to be able to become better people, and that’s my hope for those characters that sucked the most.
Tohru and Kyo will forever be my favorites.
I enjoyed all the extra content provided in this collectors edition, the character profiles and timeline were my favorite!
dannothedino's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Forced institutionalization
queenpebbles's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cherriees's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
milyz13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cait_readsxox's review
5.0
This series was such a success! I absolutely adored it! The different dynamics between the characters throughout the series was just amazing to read! Absolutely loved the character development and the romantic relationships that blossomed. Also loved the unlikely friendships (specifically Rin and Tohru). This series made me laugh, cry, and feel joy ❤️ definitely one of my top manga series and definitely worth the hype! Can’t wait to watch the anime! ❤️
lexingtonreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i can't believe i have finished this series! I originally started this series in middle school. I believe i was about 11/12 and now i'm in my last year of high school. It's truly bittersweet. I feel like i grew up with these characters, I have seen them go through so so much and the character growth every character has went through...is incredible!! i'm so proud of them- i mean i know they are not real but...i love them. Tohru tought me so much, i mean all the characters did. I related to every single character in some way. the author wrote them so complex and you can't help but want to root for the character's. Seeing the growth of Akito was the most suprising of them all. She was definitley one of the most complex of the characters. Even the dynamic of Shigure and Akito was so interesting. Even after finishing the entire manga i still haven't been able to fully grasp shigure's character. The relationships in this series and how they are written is so realistic. I love how every charcater has thier own struggle that is so personal to them and many people can relate to it. Fruits basket shows the complexity of family relationships, romatic and friendhsips. Even grief!! mental health, i mean just everything. it has such a big place in my heart. i will always keep these characters with me and what they taught me. Thank you natsuki for writing this masterpiece that tears at everyoneof your heart strings but, still makes you smile ear to ear. Thank you fruit's basket!!
yliana's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
i avoided finishing this last volume for so long because despite finishing the anime as it was being released, finishing the manga feels like a FINAL final goodbye. I love these characters so much and i just wish we couldve gotten even more time with them.
I will say that I'll never forgive natsuki takaya for giving akito and shigure a happy ending, they're both complete assholes and deserve the worst.
If she ever decided to write a bunch of one shots that expanded on their daily lives in the timeline of the series and their lives after the series ends, I would give takaya my firstborn child. I know this series has been over for many many years but I still have hope that we'll get more cute stories of them all one day😭🙏
I will say that I'll never forgive natsuki takaya for giving akito and shigure a happy ending, they're both complete assholes and deserve the worst.
If she ever decided to write a bunch of one shots that expanded on their daily lives in the timeline of the series and their lives after the series ends, I would give takaya my firstborn child. I know this series has been over for many many years but I still have hope that we'll get more cute stories of them all one day😭🙏