A review by amyalwaysbooked
A Condition Called Love, Volume 1 by Megumi Morino
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
Hello mixed feelings!!!
On the one hand, I loved the heroine of the story. Hotaru is incredibly sweet and relatable. I enjoyed seeing her struggle with the idea of romantic love. She seems to be coded as demiromantic and/or demisexual, but I doubt those terms will actually be explored in this particular story. It's still nice to see a different sort of heroine in that sense.
HOWEVER. The male lead is incredibly questionable. It's clear that Hananoi is in love with the idea of love more than Hotaru herself. There's an obsessiveness to the way he treats Hotaru and their tentative relationship. He certainly has some lovely, romantic moments dedicated to Hotaru but they are tainted by his need to be her perfect boyfriend. If this weren't a shojo title and he wasn't set up as the romantic lead, I would have expected him to do a 180 turn into a creepy stalker.
My hope is that as the story develops that Hananoi will grow and change. If done well I could see the narrative becoming more favorable. Still, I will be hesitant as I try another volume.
On the one hand, I loved the heroine of the story. Hotaru is incredibly sweet and relatable. I enjoyed seeing her struggle with the idea of romantic love. She seems to be coded as demiromantic and/or demisexual, but I doubt those terms will actually be explored in this particular story. It's still nice to see a different sort of heroine in that sense.
HOWEVER. The male lead is incredibly questionable. It's clear that Hananoi is in love with the idea of love more than Hotaru herself. There's an obsessiveness to the way he treats Hotaru and their tentative relationship. He certainly has some lovely, romantic moments dedicated to Hotaru but they are tainted by his need to be her perfect boyfriend. If this weren't a shojo title and he wasn't set up as the romantic lead, I would have expected him to do a 180 turn into a creepy stalker.
My hope is that as the story develops that Hananoi will grow and change. If done well I could see the narrative becoming more favorable. Still, I will be hesitant as I try another volume.