Ao Haru Ride

Okay, this manga is just so fantastic. I ended up taking notes as I read it(on my opinion, that is). I must say that I'm upset that mangareader.net only goes up to chapter 13, though. It had such a nice ending chapter, but I want chapter 14!



Plot [From Mangareader.net]
Yoshioka Futaba has a few reasons why she wants to “reset” her image and life as a new high-school student. Because she’s cute, she was ostracized by her female friends in junior high, and because of a misunderstanding, she couldn’t get her feeling across to the one boy she has always liked, Tanaka-kun. Now in high school, she is determined to be as unladylike as possible so that her friends won’t be jealous of her. While living her life this way contentedly, she meets Tanaka-kun again, but he now goes under the name of Mabuchi Kou. He tells her that he felt the same way as she did when they were younger, but now things can never be the same again. Will Futaba be able to continue her love that never even started from three years ago?







Now, I really love the drawing style. I love the story, though the "start fresh in high school" thing got boring after I saw it in more than one manga. Anyway, I must admit that I really love the shading and detail I see in the chapters. I also loved in chapter 6 when Kou and Yoshioka were saying the same thing, the bubbles were layered. So, you see both shout lines from Yoshioka and a regular speech bubble from Kou. It's really nice.

For characters...

Yay! Found a profile for Yoshioka!

Yoshioko is a nice character to have. I enjoy how she had the past of being disliked by the girls in her class and then became friends with a girl who was having the same problem. I also enjoy how she is always thinking about how his neck looks. It's cute. ^.^
She also seems to have the problem of questioning whether she should do something. Like speak up for someone or volunteer for a position. I have the same problem, and usually the coward half of me wins. So, it's nice to see her fight off the coward side enough to do something. ^.^

I suggest anyone interested in learning about Kou drag this to the bar at the top to see its full size!

Kou had a childish touch that was really sweet when he was in middle school. And then his parents divorced and his mother died. He changed his name and seemed to change his personality in general. Even so, his kindness peeks out. I really love that. I mean, I imagine his life was nice up until the ground collapsed from under him. I also love how he held in his problems, not letting anyone know of how he felt. Not letting anyone know about the sadness he had when he learned his mom had cancer. And then he just let it out in chapter 13(nice spot for Mangareader.net to run out of chapters...)

Yuuri

Yuuri is okay. I guess her personality was confusing to me at first. I ended up guessing "Loner who is really sad but doesn't have the guts to be any different." I was really close. She enjoys having friends, so she's not really a loner. Other than that, I don't really have much to say on her. Though, I like how small she is. That adds to the cute look that she had in her first year of high school.

Murao

Murao isn't really introduced. All of a sudden she is there. So, I was confused what exactly she would have a role of. I guessed rival, but then I realized her role wasn't that at all. I actually enjoy her being in the manga. It's a nice touch.

Kaminato

Finally, Kaminato. I really love how he is always talking about how he wouldn't be rude to girls or make them do things. And then with how he is so friendly. Finally, when a few guys say that they thought Kou only got into advanced classes because of his brother(who is a teacher) and Kaminato flipped out, I decided he is definitely one of my fave characters! Actually...at this point, he's the only character I can honestly call a favorite. :P

Fave scene in the manga by far!!!

Love So Life

So, mangareader's chapters don't go past chapter 33, so I have to wait. So, why not review it?

[Plot: From Mangareader.net]


Shiharu is a high school student who loves kids, lives in an orphanage, and works at a daycare... Until the handsome uncle of two-year-old twins offers her a raise if she’ll be their babysitter. Often relying on memories of her mother’s actions for guidance, Shiharu quickly finds herself falling in love with her new makeshift family.

Okay, the drawing is nice. I really enjoyed reading it. As usual, the explanation of the main character's story at the beginning of each chapter was tiring. I ended up skimming over it most of the time.

Other than that, it's really fun to read it. I love the characters and how their roles play out. I really have my favorites, and even though I'm a fan of Nao-kun, I'm still cheering for Matsunaga-san!

Character reviews:

Shiharu-chan

Shiharu-chan is really nice. I enjoy her character. And how it shows that, while little, she tried putting on a brave face. I especially enjoyed the two chapters spent on her and Nao-kun's past. It was nice. I enjoy how she talks about the smallest things in life that make her happy, and I have to agree. Also, her reaction to the key was so funny! And how she acts almost every time she sees the kids is amazing! *SOOO CUTE!*=reaction

Matsunaga-san, Akane, and Aoi

Matsunaga-san is the one I'm cheering for! Sorry, Nao-kun! He's great to have in the manga and it's fun to see the difference between his television mode and home mode! ^.^ It makes it all the funnier. And how he's always going on to himself how he is not allowed to like Shiharu, but he was actually thinking how nice it would be if he got to kiss her(when Shiharu taught them what a kiss was)

Akane

Aoi

Akane-chan and Aoi-kun are so cute! I love it when they talk! It's the cutest thing ever! And they wear the cutest outfits and do the cutest things!!!

Also, they make the cutest faces!!! And I love how Aoi always bites everyone! (Not that you should go around biting people...)

Riho is the one freaking out.

Riho-chan is a really good friend. I enjoy watching chapters with her in them! Especially the festival chapter!

Takeru is on the left. I dunno the name of the guy on the right, but I hate him.

Takeru-san is nice. He's a good character to have in the manga. I especially love how he is with his siblings. It's fun to watch him since he acts a bit childish. Go Takeru-san! Fourth fave character! ^.^

Nao-kun and Shiharu

I love Nao-kun! Especially with how he's jealous of Matsunaga(he says that Matsunaga isn't gonna take away all the hard work he's put into the relationship he has with Shiharu...he obviously likes her.)

Sorry, Nao-kun, but I'm cheering for Matsunaga Sei. *huggles* But you're still my fave charrie!!! You and the twins!