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lavendermarch's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting volume.
Thoughts on Shintaro: Not sure why he needed to have such a similar name to Shin. I think his overall personality is fairly okay, entertaining enough. Not in love with him, but I don't hate him either. Interested to see what Tōmori does with his character.
Thoughts on the overall volume: Some focus on Shin. Interesting. He needs to get himself together. I'm glad the Anna storyline was wrapped up. I'm glad she left. I'm happy we learned about her and Maria's past, as she's been referenced since the beginning, but I mostly found her to be a pain. I do hope she finds happiness, just far away from Maria's life.
4 stars.
Thoughts on Shintaro: Not sure why he needed to have such a similar name to Shin. I think his overall personality is fairly okay, entertaining enough. Not in love with him, but I don't hate him either. Interested to see what Tōmori does with his character.
Thoughts on the overall volume: Some focus on Shin. Interesting. He needs to get himself together. I'm glad the Anna storyline was wrapped up. I'm glad she left. I'm happy we learned about her and Maria's past, as she's been referenced since the beginning, but I mostly found her to be a pain. I do hope she finds happiness, just far away from Maria's life.
4 stars.
heyjudy's review against another edition
4.0
~4/5
This series is just so good. And while the last few volumes were good, it was a little muddy with the whole Anna plotline, and now it’s really started kicking up again. This volume was just plain fun, along with some good plot development. And gah that ending, but I’ll get to that further below.
The first chapter closes up the Anna storyline in a very good way. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with that—if they were going to leave us hanging, if something more dramatic was going to happen and they were going to go find her, or what. What did happen, though, was really nice. I don’t want to give it away, but it wasn’t what I was expecting, it was much preferred to my other ideas, and it left me very satisfied.
Then the story moves in a different direction, and we’re introduced to a new character. First, there’s a marathon at the school, and things seem tense between Maria and Shin. Shin is, really, just being dumb and Maria doesn’t know what to do or think about it. Then, as Maria and Shin might be moving closer, might be moving farther apart, in comes Shintaro Kurosu. He makes quite an enterance, as well, but I won’t give that away. And he proceeds to be very pushy with Maria, upfront with that he finds her interesting, wants to be around her, wants to walk her home, and later, that he’s in love with her (and I’m going to ignore how fast that sounds, because even if it is, it kind of works, and I’m okay with it). Him and Shin talk, and Shin tells him some stuff about Maria’s past and why he’s not making a move on her, and Kurosu straight up tells him that he’s not going to hold himself back from being with Maria if he can, and that she’ll be able to work through it and he would be there to help her.
So, I’m a little unsure of Kurosu. I like Shin, that’s obvious, but he needs to get his mind in the game and stop holding himself back, especially when Maria is ready to be with him, and she needs to work through what happened with her mother. But Kurosu has his good parts. He’s very similar to Maria, in that he’s straightforward, isn’t afraid to speak his mind, sees through a lot of people's acts, but the big difference is that he doesn’t think that’s a bad thing, whereas Maria believes that she needs to learn how to interact with people better. But I like that he’s so straightforward. Also, he’s slowly making her get more comfortable with being touched and touching other people, which is very good.
Then there’s Yusuke, of course, and I like him. He’s sweet and he’s nice and he’s very good to Maria. And I feel bad for him during all this, seeing as how Maria is his friend and knows he wants more, and he’s just kind of stuck watching her love Shin as someone else moves into the picture. I mostly just want him to move past his feelings for her so that he can fall for someone who will love him like he deserves. I know there’s Ayu, but I’m not fully bought on her and him being a thing.
Anyway, Kurosu is moving steadily in on Maria. She’s still obviously in love with Shin, and rather open about her feelings even while hesitant around Shin, but she’s quickly forming a close relationship with Kurosu. Shin inadvertently invites everyone to his family’s beach house for the weekend, and the girls and Kurosu (who pretty much invites himself to both things) go swimsuit shopping, in a very nice scene. Then they’re at the beach, and we meet Shin’s father (in an odd meeting), and Shin and Maria seem to be growing a bit closer.
And then, the end of the volume comes, and it’s just really not very nice. I’m not going to spoil it, but it’s a rather horrible way to end a volume, and am I ever so glad that I have the next volume ready and waiting so that I can go start it right off, because I would hate to have to wait to see what happens next. And now, I’m going to go do just that.
This review is also available on my blog.
This series is just so good. And while the last few volumes were good, it was a little muddy with the whole Anna plotline, and now it’s really started kicking up again. This volume was just plain fun, along with some good plot development. And gah that ending, but I’ll get to that further below.
The first chapter closes up the Anna storyline in a very good way. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with that—if they were going to leave us hanging, if something more dramatic was going to happen and they were going to go find her, or what. What did happen, though, was really nice. I don’t want to give it away, but it wasn’t what I was expecting, it was much preferred to my other ideas, and it left me very satisfied.
Then the story moves in a different direction, and we’re introduced to a new character. First, there’s a marathon at the school, and things seem tense between Maria and Shin. Shin is, really, just being dumb and Maria doesn’t know what to do or think about it. Then, as Maria and Shin might be moving closer, might be moving farther apart, in comes Shintaro Kurosu. He makes quite an enterance, as well, but I won’t give that away. And he proceeds to be very pushy with Maria, upfront with that he finds her interesting, wants to be around her, wants to walk her home, and later, that he’s in love with her (and I’m going to ignore how fast that sounds, because even if it is, it kind of works, and I’m okay with it). Him and Shin talk, and Shin tells him some stuff about Maria’s past and why he’s not making a move on her, and Kurosu straight up tells him that he’s not going to hold himself back from being with Maria if he can, and that she’ll be able to work through it and he would be there to help her.
So, I’m a little unsure of Kurosu. I like Shin, that’s obvious, but he needs to get his mind in the game and stop holding himself back, especially when Maria is ready to be with him, and she needs to work through what happened with her mother. But Kurosu has his good parts. He’s very similar to Maria, in that he’s straightforward, isn’t afraid to speak his mind, sees through a lot of people's acts, but the big difference is that he doesn’t think that’s a bad thing, whereas Maria believes that she needs to learn how to interact with people better. But I like that he’s so straightforward. Also, he’s slowly making her get more comfortable with being touched and touching other people, which is very good.
Then there’s Yusuke, of course, and I like him. He’s sweet and he’s nice and he’s very good to Maria. And I feel bad for him during all this, seeing as how Maria is his friend and knows he wants more, and he’s just kind of stuck watching her love Shin as someone else moves into the picture. I mostly just want him to move past his feelings for her so that he can fall for someone who will love him like he deserves. I know there’s Ayu, but I’m not fully bought on her and him being a thing.
Anyway, Kurosu is moving steadily in on Maria. She’s still obviously in love with Shin, and rather open about her feelings even while hesitant around Shin, but she’s quickly forming a close relationship with Kurosu. Shin inadvertently invites everyone to his family’s beach house for the weekend, and the girls and Kurosu (who pretty much invites himself to both things) go swimsuit shopping, in a very nice scene. Then they’re at the beach, and we meet Shin’s father (in an odd meeting), and Shin and Maria seem to be growing a bit closer.
And then, the end of the volume comes, and it’s just really not very nice. I’m not going to spoil it, but it’s a rather horrible way to end a volume, and am I ever so glad that I have the next volume ready and waiting so that I can go start it right off, because I would hate to have to wait to see what happens next. And now, I’m going to go do just that.
This review is also available on my blog.
misssusan's review against another edition
3.0
i wonder if this would have read more smoothly if i'd read it directly after volume 7? the end to the anna storyline felt super abrupt to me but i think that could be because i don't remember the details of how the last volume ended. i like that it leaves room for reconciliation someday though
so, new character! my feelings: they are mixed. i suspect if their bond was completely platonic i would be all about the shintaro-maria life? the way they understand and mirror each other is something that really appeals to me in non-romantic contexts. i would be perfectly satisfied to have him interested in maria just because her type of bluntness and honesty suits his own, sans ~l'amour~
idk, i liked the volume okay but it didn't give me as many maria feelings moments as i am accustomed. hopefully it is but a temporary lag! 3.5 stars
so, new character! my feelings: they are mixed. i suspect if their bond was completely platonic i would be all about the shintaro-maria life? the way they understand and mirror each other is something that really appeals to me in non-romantic contexts. i would be perfectly satisfied to have him interested in maria just because her type of bluntness and honesty suits his own, sans ~l'amour~
idk, i liked the volume okay but it didn't give me as many maria feelings moments as i am accustomed. hopefully it is but a temporary lag! 3.5 stars
ksd1441's review against another edition
2.0
Don't like the new guy.. hope he doesn't stick around too long.
rach's review against another edition
5.0
Another great volume! I'm so relieved that the storyline with Anna is finally over, and with the bare minimum of time spent on it, too!
This volume really centered on relationships, and how touch plays such a strong part in how close and connected you feel to a person. Maria still loves Shin, and doesn't want to be just friends with him, and unconsciously tries to touch him when she can, though more tentatively than she used to. She obvious feels a bit at a loss in regards to their relationship, and Shin isn't helping things. Flipping back and forth between coolly ignoring her and then helping her during the marathon is just confusing.
I really love the addition of Shintaro to the cast. I appreciate his bluntness and honesty, and the way he persistently tries to connect with Maria. Shintaro is the one who points out to her how wanting to touch someone is not a bad thing, and Maria finds herself growing closer to him despite herself. They are so similar in many ways, and are actually rather suited to one another.
Shintaro is also very observant, and is particularly pointed in his comments regarding Shin and Yusuke's feelings for Maria. How is it that everyone can see that Shin loves Maria except for Maria herself? Shintaro makes a very good point about the stupidity of Shin hiding his feelings -- Shin may think he is doing Maria a favor and protecting her from bad memories, but wouldn't it be better to deal with those emotions together, come what may? And incidentally, didn't Maria start to remember the stuff about her mother's suicide when Yusuke hugged her?
In the end, I have to admit that I love seeing Maria stuck between these 3 guys, and I can't wait to see who ends up winning her. She may be in love with Shin right now, but he's left the door open for either Yusuke or Shintaro to sneak in and steal her heart. Hopefully seeing this cliffhanger-maybe-kiss coming up will be what the guys need to make them step up their game.
Side note, how adorable was Shintaro during the swimsuit shopping scene? His for all the suits, and then, "I forbid you to wear swimsuits!" His confession was so honest and straightforward as well. He's definitely grown on me, and in just one volume, too! :)
This volume really centered on relationships, and how touch plays such a strong part in how close and connected you feel to a person. Maria still loves Shin, and doesn't want to be just friends with him, and unconsciously tries to touch him when she can, though more tentatively than she used to. She obvious feels a bit at a loss in regards to their relationship, and Shin isn't helping things. Flipping back and forth between coolly ignoring her and then helping her during the marathon is just confusing.
I really love the addition of Shintaro to the cast. I appreciate his bluntness and honesty, and the way he persistently tries to connect with Maria. Shintaro is the one who points out to her how wanting to touch someone is not a bad thing, and Maria finds herself growing closer to him despite herself. They are so similar in many ways, and are actually rather suited to one another.
Shintaro is also very observant, and is particularly pointed in his comments regarding Shin and Yusuke's feelings for Maria. How is it that everyone can see that Shin loves Maria except for Maria herself? Shintaro makes a very good point about the stupidity of Shin hiding his feelings -- Shin may think he is doing Maria a favor and protecting her from bad memories, but wouldn't it be better to deal with those emotions together, come what may? And incidentally, didn't Maria start to remember the stuff about her mother's suicide when Yusuke hugged her?
In the end, I have to admit that I love seeing Maria stuck between these 3 guys, and I can't wait to see who ends up winning her. She may be in love with Shin right now, but he's left the door open for either Yusuke or Shintaro to sneak in and steal her heart. Hopefully seeing this cliffhanger-maybe-kiss coming up will be what the guys need to make them step up their game.
Side note, how adorable was Shintaro during the swimsuit shopping scene? His for all the suits, and then, "I forbid you to wear swimsuits!" His confession was so honest and straightforward as well. He's definitely grown on me, and in just one volume, too! :)
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