tstone's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
absentminded_reader's review against another edition
3.0
Alas, this volume was a step back for me. The first three fourths were quite excellent as Tomozaki worked on things from his own angle. I liked how the breakup between Tomozaki and Hinami was handled, as well as their reconciliation. Kikuchi is also a delightful character. I especially adore how Yaki Yuku uses poetic, florid prose to describe Kikuchi, and only Kinuchi.
What I didn’t like about this volume was the suffocating last fourth. I’ve been wondering through the first few volumes why we weren’t dealing with bullying yet. Although I feel the changes Tomozaki is making to his personality are believable, as are his exercises, I remain skeptical that fellow students will allow somebody to rehabilitate their image so quickly. People, especially bullies, are cruel and like others to know their place. I also find it hard to believe that Konno held back her abusive behavior for three volumes. It seems to me that she should have targeted Tomozaki after he balled her out a couple of volumes ago.
As for this volume, I didn’t enjoy Tomozaki’s passive role. He sits and frets while others are bullied? Hinami just shrugs her shoulders? For pages and pages and pages? I don’t take issue with the characters acting this way, but rather disliked how the last fourth of the book was drawn out as padding leading up to the cliffhanger. The action felt stalled, the resolution delayed, and the characters going through the motions. It wasn’t entertaining reading.
Still, the first three fourths of the story were a good read. The I’ll be back for the fifth volume soon.
What I didn’t like about this volume was the suffocating last fourth. I’ve been wondering through the first few volumes why we weren’t dealing with bullying yet. Although I feel the changes Tomozaki is making to his personality are believable, as are his exercises, I remain skeptical that fellow students will allow somebody to rehabilitate their image so quickly. People, especially bullies, are cruel and like others to know their place. I also find it hard to believe that Konno held back her abusive behavior for three volumes. It seems to me that she should have targeted Tomozaki after he balled her out a couple of volumes ago.
As for this volume, I didn’t enjoy Tomozaki’s passive role. He sits and frets while others are bullied? Hinami just shrugs her shoulders? For pages and pages and pages? I don’t take issue with the characters acting this way, but rather disliked how the last fourth of the book was drawn out as padding leading up to the cliffhanger. The action felt stalled, the resolution delayed, and the characters going through the motions. It wasn’t entertaining reading.
Still, the first three fourths of the story were a good read. The I’ll be back for the fifth volume soon.
More...