Book Review: Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale Vol. 2 by Chie Shimada

Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale Vol. 2

Author: Chie Shimada
Series: Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale, Book 2
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Publishing Date: July 3, 2018
Graphic novel, 200 pages
Amazon  Goodreads

Summary: Beautiful boy rebels using their fists to fall in love!

Hinako thought she didn't have any family, but on the day she starts high school, her twin brother Hikaru suddenly appears and tricks her into taking his place. But the new school Hinako attends in his stead is beyond unusual. Now she must fight her way to the top of Shishiku Academy, an all-boys school of delinquents!

Hinako takes her twin brother Hikaru’s place at Shishiku Academy for boys. Fights break out every day, but there are also lots of heart-palpitating events with the boys that she never expected! And as the battle to be the boss of the school rages on, will Hikaru make it to the top?

Book Review: Takane & Hana Vol 1 & Vol 2 by Yuki Shiwasu

Takane & Hana Vol. 1

Author: Yuki Shiwasu
Publisher: VIZ Media, LLC
Published: February 6, 2018
Rating: 5 Stars
★★★★★
Goodreads  Amazon
Summary: A strong-willed high school girl and a hot, young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But what happens when Hana meets Takane is an unexpected pairing of utter opposites!

The meeting between Takane and Hana ends in an explosive manner, and Hana is convinced that she’ll never have to see that awful Takane again. But Takane actually seems interested in Hana! Exasperated by Takane’s immature attitude, yet amused and intrigued despite herself, Hana embarks on a hilarious journey with Takane that just might lead to love!

Review: GAH! Takane and Hana are so cute! I had a stupid, silly grin on my face the whole time I was reading this. I love their back and forth banter. It's kind of weird that she's 16 and he's 26, but they acknowledge the age (and life experience) gap at several points and they think it's weird too, so oddly that makes me kind of OK with it? I can't wait to read the other volumes in this series.

 

Takane & Hana Vol. 2

Author: Yuki Shiwasu
Publisher: VIZ Media, LLC
Published: April 3, 2018
Rating: 5 Stars
★★★★★
Goodreads  Amazon
Summary: Hana has to continue to pretend to be her sister and Takane’s fiancée after Takane’s grandfather expresses his desire to meet Takane’s prospective marriage partner! But she’s totally out of her element at a party hosted by the Takaba Corporation, the largest conglomerate in Japan! Just how the heck is she supposed to pull of these high-class hijinks?!

Review: Fancy parties, cherry blossoms, and stolen kisses - oh my! I love the way Takane and Hana bicker and tease each other. Neither one wants to admit that they actually like the other one for real, and it's just so CUTE. With Hana it makes sense because she's a high school girl, but shouldn't Takane know better? And suddenly a rival appears?!

*I received copies of both these volumes from the publisher and Edelweiss+ in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale Vol 1 by Chie Shimada

Kenka Bancho Otome: Love's Battle Royale

Author: Chie Shimada
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Expected publication: April 3rd 2018


Rating: 5 Stars

★★★★★

Goodreads  Amazon

Summary: Beautiful boy rebels using their fists to fall in love!

Hinako thought she didn't have any family, but on the day she starts high school, her twin brother Hikaru suddenly appears and tricks her into taking his place. But the new school Hinako attends in his stead is beyond unusual. Now she must fight her way to the top of Shishiku Academy, an all-boys school full of delinquents!

Review: AHHHH you guys! I love this. She switches places with her twin brother and he attends her all girls school while she attends his all boys school for delinquents. If you've followed my reviews at all you know I love me a good woman disguised as a man story, and this one is great! You've got your childhood friend/sweetheart who knows her true identity, your best friend who doesn't know she's actually a girl but is weirdly attracted to her anyway, your last minute swaps with her twin to prove she's AHHHH you guys! I love this. She switches places with her twin brother and he attends her all girls school while she attends his all boys school for delinquents. If you've followed my reviews at all you know I love me a good woman disguised as a man story, and this one is great! You've got your childhood friend/sweetheart who knows her true identity, your best friend who doesn't know she's actually a girl but is weirdly attracted to her anyway, your last minute swaps with her twin to prove she's actually a boy to the people who start to suspect she's a girl... This manga has it all! I love how strong Hinako is, and how loyal and determined to protect those weaker than her she is. I want to be her bestest best friend. :) I also really love the art style in this manga. Now gimme then next one RIGHT NOW!!



*I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss+ and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Manga Review: Anonymous Noise Vol 7 and Vol 8 by Ryōko Fukuyama

Anonymous Noise

Author: Ryōko Fukuyama
Publisher: VIZ Media: Shojo Beat
Volume 7 Published March 6th 2018
Volume 8 Expected publication May 1st 2018
Rating: 5 Stars
★★★★★

Volume 7
Goodreads  Amazon
Volume 8
Goodreads  Amazon

Summary: Music and longing collide in this ballad of unrequited love!

Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Luckily, Nino reunites with Momo and Yuzu in high school, but things haven’t played out the way anyone expected…

Yuzu and Nino have been tasked with writing the debut song for a popular fashion model duo. They manage to complete their first collaboration…but to what end? Meanwhile, Tsukika goes in search of Momo, but will she be able to find him when all she has is a questionable lead? 


Review: OK, first off I have to start off by saying, if you having started reading this series yet, DO IT NOW. If you're into music, visual kei, singing... read this series.
Volume 7: Another great installment to an amazing series. The first chapter or two seemed to mostly be Nino screaming and everyone going "Wow, woooow!" in awe, but after that it got really crazy good. I'm not sure if I'm rooting for Yuzu or Momo. Major case of second lead syndrome on this one!!
Volume 8: Another great installment to an excellent series. There are so many crazy amazing developments in this volume. More progress on the Momo/Nino/Yuzu/Miou/Haruyoshi love triangle (love pentagon?) I just want EVERYONE to have a happy ending, and I have a major case of second lead syndrome, regardless of who the actual male lead is - which I am STILL not sure about. AH! Will Nino end up with Yuzu or Momo? I'm team Yuzu, all the way!

Book Review: The Young Master's Revenge Vol 1 by Meca Tanaka

Rating: 4 Stars

Expected publication: March 6th 2018 by VIZ Media LLC
Summary: Love's revenge can be sweet.
When Leo was a young boy, he had his pride torn to shreds by Tenma, a girl from a wealthy background who was always getting him into trouble. Now, years after his father's successful clothing business has made him the heir to a fortune, he searches out Tenma to enact a dastardly plan--he'll get his revenge by making her fall in love with him!
(from Goodreads)

Review: Poor Leo. He just wants to get his revenge on the girl who made his life a living hell 10 years ago, and people keep getting in his way. I love that he went out of his way to develop this super suave ladies man personality just so he can get Tenma to fall in love with him - so he can reject her and break her heart! That's a lot of effort, and I always say hate and love are two sides of the same coin... I'll be interested to see how their relationship develops.

Book Review: Takane & Hana Vol 1 by Yuki Shiwasu

Rating: 5 Stars

Published February 6th 2018 by VIZ Media LLC (first published March 20th 2015)            
Summary: A strong-willed high school girl and a hot, young scion of a business empire can’t help trying to outwit each other every chance they get… But could these opposites be conning themselves out of the perfect match?!

After her older sister refuses to go to an arranged marriage meeting with Takane Saibara, the heir to a vast business fortune, high schooler Hana Nonomura agrees to be her stand-in to save face for the family. But what happens when Hana meets Takane is an unexpected pairing of utter opposites!

The meeting between Takane and Hana ends in an explosive manner, and Hana is convinced that she’ll never have to see that awful Takane again. But Takane actually seems interested in Hana! Exasperated by Takane’s immature attitude, yet amused and intrigued despite herself, Hana embarks on a hilarious journey with Takane that just might lead to love!
(from Goodreads)

Review: GAH! Takane and Hana are so cute! I had a stupid, silly grin on my face the whole time I was reading this. I love their back and forth banter. It's kind of weird that she's 16 and he's 26, but they acknowledge the age (and life experience) gap at several points and they think it's weird too, so oddly that makes me kind of OK with it? I can't wait to read the other volumes in this series.

*I received a free copy of this book from Edelweiss+ and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.