Like Yazawa's later series, NANA, Paradise Kiss is the story of a normal girl who wanders into the path of young people with ambition, becomes invested in seeing their dream come true, and must ultimately find her own path to happiness. The Basic Story Yukari Hayasaka is a hardworking high school student who has never been in trouble. Since early childhood her main … [Read more...] about Paradise Kiss 1-5 by Ai Yazawa: A
Josei
A Royal Proposition by Marion Lennox and Harumo Sanazaki: C-
Before he died, the king of a vaguely European country called Castaliae drafted a will to reign in his son’s profligate tendencies. This will calls for the next would-be king to marry a woman of faultless virtue before he can ascend to the throne. Alas, that son is now dead too, and the new heir, Alastair, must also abide by the bizarre terms set forth by his predecessor. … [Read more...] about A Royal Proposition by Marion Lennox and Harumo Sanazaki: C-
Butterflies, Flowers 2 by Yuki Yoshihara: B-
Choko Kuze continues to work as an underling of the man she loves, Masayuki Domoto, who used to be her servant but is now her superior. She confessed her feelings for him in the previous volume, but is still uncertain how he feels about her and must watch as various other women in the office make a play for him, including the niece of the company president. Of course, Masayuki … [Read more...] about Butterflies, Flowers 2 by Yuki Yoshihara: B-
Jack and the Princess by Raye Morgan and Junko Okada: B+
Karina, the 22-year-old princess of Nabotavia, is going to be returning to her home country soon and getting married to an aristocrat of her aunt’s choosing. Lonely and looking to enjoy her final summer of freedom, she attempts to befriend Jack, the new head of security for her uncle’s Beverly Hills residence and only other young person around. Jack’s resistant at first, owing … [Read more...] about Jack and the Princess by Raye Morgan and Junko Okada: B+
Married Under the Italian Sun by Lucy Gordon and Mayu Takayama: B-
When Angela—an actress who’s been playing a “dumb bimbo” called Angel for eight years—is jilted by her wealthy husband, she’s too weary to battle his lawyers and instead accepts an Italian villa for a divorce settlement. Upon moving to Amalfi, she meets Vittorio, the former owner who assumes a lot of negative things about her character, given the life she comes from, only to … [Read more...] about Married Under the Italian Sun by Lucy Gordon and Mayu Takayama: B-