Back to sinclairHH's Profile sinclairHH's Profile

This review may contain minor spoilers.
Hotel Phryne takes the question, “If I had a clone, would you be able to tell I’m the real one?” to the extreme. Doyoung takes his love interest on a romantic date and when they arrive at the hotel they have reservations at they begin a game neither of them could have anticipated.

Plot: 8/10 – The story of Doyoung and his potential lover, Hyunjin, is simply fascinating. After a year of friendly flirting, Doyoung in finally ready to ask Hyunjin out. Taking him to the only hotel he was able to make reservations at, Doyoung prepares to romance ... his Hyung off his feet. Upon arriving, however, Hyunjin is split into 12 identical clones by the mysterious hotel manager, Mr. Rose. Mr. Rose informs Doyoung that the only way out is to find the real Hyunjin. A simply fascinating mystery that will have you writhing in frustration.

Characters: 10/10 – Doyoung is incredibly interesting. Put in an impossible situation, he handles it amazingly. He’s not perfect and it really adds to the tension. Hyunjin is the main focus of this story. Having 12 identical Hyunjin’s interact with each other is the perfect way to explore the character. Mr. Rose is as confusing and frustrating as he can possibly be. I won’t say much more here to keep this relatively light in spoilers.

I really enjoyed reading this. I was so caught up in the story being as confused and worried as Doyoung was. I wanted to find the real Hyunjin just as badly as he did. The mystery is so thrilling, and the artwork lends itself really well to this story. The bold line work made for some dramatic moments. The “spice” was a little on the light side, but that is not the focus of this story. I highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Clue, mysteries, or suspense. An awesome find in the BL genre!

This review may contain minor spoilers.

This is a yaoi about chasing after your hero. Riddled with cliches and poor writing, Hinekure Chaser is not a great read. I dropped this story in the middle of volume two, so some of my issues with development or backstory may be solved. However, I do not value having to slog through poor writing to get to explanations. As a heads up, there are more volumes than MAL has listed.

Characters: 3/10 – Hirokawa is our main character and is in love with Yamato. We are introduced to Hirokawa as he bullies Misaki, a sweet character who is ... very kind. Hirokawa bullies him because, “He just looks cheery.” Hirokawa is a blatant tsundere and all his actions are forgiven quickly because “he’s just so dang easy to read”. Yamato is a classic cool, tall, strong type with a stereotypical bartending job he has to keep secret. The big “twist” of the story is that Hirokawa is actually a rich boy who’s had a falling out with his father, which we learn very quickly. Before that backstory gets fleshed out more in the back half of volume two, it’s used in a way to make the reader sympathize with Hirokawa. Despite his unfortunate falling out, Hirokawa is still a complete jerk, acting more like a small child than a freshman in high school.

Plot: 2/10 – There is no plot. Yamato rightly dislikes Hirokawa for all of three chapters before falling head over heels for his best friend’s bully. Misaki completely forgives Hirokawa and even urges Yamato to consider Hirokawa’s feelings. It progresses incredibly fast and they are dating before anything can really happen. All the more interesting bits come after they begin dating. By the time I got to the more interesting bits regarding Hirokawa’s shrouded past, I was just bored. The plot was rushed, boring, and jarring from chapter one. There is also a very awkward sexual assault scene. I am not one to shy away from the more graphic scenes, but it just made no sense. Yamato showed no romantic, much less sexual, interest in Hirokawa up to that point. Why he would feel compelled to assault him is beyond me.

This story is very underwhelming. It’s bland, full of cliches, and illogical. Yaoi as a genre generally encourages some suspension of belief, but this was too much of an awkward execution to warrant more time wasted. I do not recommend this to anyone.

This review may contain minor spoilers.
Sono Koi wa Ichigo no You ni is a light-hearted romance that’s super sweet. Centered around a young woman assisting her grandfather with his strawberry farm and the gentle giant who has a farm right next door, this romance is sweeter than their strawberries.

Plot: 7/10 – This story is super cozy. There isn’t much going on outside of their relationship, but their interactions are adorable. Sarah Moritani comes to her grandfather’s strawberry farm after he breaks his leg to help him out. There she meets Minori Sugiura, the gentle giant who’s 13 years her senior. Both are painfully ... aware of the age gap, unsure if they are too far apart for any real feelings to develop. However, both being much too adorable for the other to ignore, the age gap quickly takes a back seat. There is some interaction with their best friends and family which is nice, but other than the friends’ relationships, not much is really explored there.

Characters: 7/10 – Sarah Moritani is a bubbly personality. She’s kind and open, not scared to speak her mind when it really matters. Minori Sugiura is the cool silent type. His face doesn’t change much, which is why Sarah doesn’t pick up on his feelings right away. Both of these characters feel believable. I really enjoyed them. The side characters have good chemistry as well. They take a bit of a back seat in this story, however, so they aren’t as in depth.

Overall, this story is short and sweet. Minori and Sarah have great chemistry together. It’s a cute love story and I really liked their dynamic. This is a light read, there isn’t much depth or conflict, so I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re looking for something more serious. But if you’re looking to smile and have a nice relaxing read, this is definitely the manga for you!

This review may contain minor spoilers.
Futari Ashita mo Sorenari ni is a wholesome romantic slice-of-life story about a couple already in a relationship. If you’re looking for a comfy read with no drama, this is the one for you.

Plot: 8/10 – This is a simple read. It’s a peek into the lives of our titular characters, Yuuya Aida and Rio Aihara. It’s a story about the everyday challenges that living together presents. While simple, it’s very effective. Not every day is drama riddled or amazing. Sometimes, it’s the little things like going shopping together or waiting up for the other to come home ... at night. This story does a great job of portraying that happiness. We also see a bit of the side characters relationships as well. The author doesn’t delve too deep into their stories, but as most of this is told from Rio or Yuuya’s perspectives, it feels natural.

Characters: 9/10 – Yuuya Aida is our male lead. He’s shy and awkward, but his love for Rio is unending. Rio Aihara is our dependent, cool, older female lead. She has a bit of a complex dating a man younger than her, and it really drives her character at times. Both of these characters feel real. They react to situations normally instead of dramatically like in some romances. Each of them have fleshed out families, friends, and work lives. The small side stories including these other characters are fun and engaging.

Everything in this manga feels just right. Nothing is too much or too little. I was a little daunted by the 80+ chapters for a slice-of-life, but I was pleasantly surprised at how quick of a read it was. The chapters are a little shorter to make them easier to digest. This makes the snapshots into their daily life feel more realistic; not every day is packed to the fullest of happenings. Overall, this is a really comfy read. It was cute, romantic, and easy to digest. I would recommend this to people looking for a decent relationship, a simple read, and an enjoyable time. Perfect for right after reading that heavy shounen work!

This review may contain minor spoilers.
Umarekawattemo Mata, Watashi to Kekkon shitekuremasu ka or Will You Marry Me Again if You are Reborn, is the beautiful memoir of an elderly couple. Old and ill, our main couple reminisce about their life together, embracing the good and the bad. A heartwarming tale that tugs on your heartstrings like nothing else.

Plot: 10/10 – The plot of this story is our main couple, Toranosuke Ibuki and Kaoru Okouchi, remembering their life up until now. They reflect on how the met, how they grew up, how they married, how they raised a family of their own. Toranosuke is ... in the hospital, and it’s clear he probably doesn’t have much time left. Surrounded by his loved ones, he and his beloved wife Kaoru spend their days loving as much as they can.

Characters: 10/10 – Toranosuke Ibuki is the second son of an establish family. Kaoru Okochui is a servant of his household. She is treated as one of the family by this kind household cast, allowing for a beautiful relationship to grow. Surrounded by a large cast of family and friends, every scene is rife with personality. Our main couple is incredibly endearing. This story may not be long, but we feel their struggles and triumphs right along with them. The author does an amazing job of immediately capturing the reader to drag them along with their life.

For me, this story is a perfect 10/10. It delivers on the romance, the story, the characters, the sadness. It’s lighthearted and heart wrenching and beautiful and so real. That’s what makes this story impactful, how real everything feels. Life is full of ups and downs, beautiful moments and tragic moments. It doesn’t shy away from any of those. This is truly a work of art and one of the best mangas I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. I would recommend this to anyone.

This review may contain mild spoilers.
Love is an Illusion is an omegaverse manhwa about Dojin, the dominant alpha, and Hyesung, the recessive omega who was misdiagnosed as an alpha. This story is rushed, messy, and chaotic. During a chance meeting, Hyesung has his first heat, an omegaverse pheromone scene happens, and the plot is born.

Characters: 4/10 – At first, all the characters seem interesting with complex backstories. Dojin is introduced as the typical cold, arrogant alpha type. He hates omegas and is isolating to the audience. He has someone who follows him around named Heesoo. It’s never quite clarified who Heesoo is to Dojin, ... a friend, assistant, secretary? He attached himself to Dojin because he was nice once and has never left Dojin’s side since. Hyesung is our bratty omega. In the beginning, Hyesung believes he’s an alpha, so his standoff-ish behavior is understandable. However, that attitude grows intolerable as the story progresses.

Dojin’s opinion of omegas is quickly changed after meeting Hyesung. He has one other interest in music, but it takes a backburner almost immediately. His backstory is never really fleshed out as more than a surface level issue. Dojin becomes a doormat for Hyesung’s every wish. It’s not clear why Dojin likes Hyesung. He states because “you’re just… you”, but Hyesung is such an abysmal person I can’t understand the reasoning. Other than loving Hyesung, Dojin serves no real purpose to the story.

Heesoo is by far the most interesting character. He serves Dojin like a personal assistant would. He becomes a sort of antagonist against the main couple’s relationship, but I found him to be the only voice of reason against the otherwise chaos. He has interesting goals and reasons for what he does. Heesoo was enjoyable because he was as frustrated with Hyesung as I was.

Hyesung is a bottom of the barrel loser. He cannot make a decision for himself, constantly going along with whatever anyone tells him. The only decisions he can make are wildly disastrous or self-harming. Hyesung is spoiled and snobbish. He uses Dojin like a credit card and never apologies for it. His behavior is excused away because “recessive omegas are stupid”, but that is just a crutch to enable his behavior. Despite his tragic backstory of abuse and neglect, Hyesung is a spoiled brat. His backstory came up once in the first half and was left open-ended. There was no resolution there. It’s more likely there for Hyesung to have an excuse for being such a terrible person at every moment, and that’s just poor character design.

Plot: 3/10 – This story is rushed. Character beats hit way too fast. Plot points are used to progress the story faster than necessary. Characters are dropped because the story progresses faster than arcs can be resolved. Things are constantly left unfinished, leaving the reader with whiplash each time another story beat happens. The characters never have time to grow and breathe. Story just keeps happening around them, and much too quickly. Hyesung suffers from this the most. If the author allowed Hyesung more time to just exist with Dojin, they might have been a better couple. It’s difficult to describe why this plot is so rushed without spoiling major beats, so please skip to the next set of * for non-spoilers.
***spoilers for chapters 20 and on***
Dojin and Hyesung have a sexual relationship right off the bat. Hyesung ends up getting pregnant in chapter 20. Hyesung immediately wishes to abort, but Dojin insists on carrying to term. Dojin wants to use this as an opportunity to keep Hyesung from fleeing yet again. Hyesung writes up a contract stating: Hyesung will immediately hand over the child to Dojin, Dojin will pay him 50 million won upon the birth, and 30 million won in the event of a miscarriage. Dojin immediately signs the contract. Heesoo is in disbelief, as am I. Hyesung spends his entire pregnancy leeching every cent Dojin is willing to spend. Their relationship makes no progression. Hyesung is described as a tsundere, but the dere part of Hyesung is blatantly absent. Hyesung runs like a startled cat at every opportunity, and that never really changes. Eventually, Hyesung gives birth, refuses to look at his child, and then promptly disappears. Season two is only 10 chapters long, and yet it goes from Hyesung being missing, to the couple making up with Dojin’s family. In 10 chapters, the main couple “reconciled”, met Dojin’s family, Dojin proposed and was rejected, Hyesung ran away and tried to sleep with a random character from the first chapter, found out he was bonded to Dojin and would die without him, came back to Dojin for the umpteenth time, and made up with Dojin’s family. It was here I stopped reading. I skipped several chapters to breeze through the rest and found more of the same. At some point, they got married and yet Hyesung was still as emotionally distant from Dojin as he was in chapter two. For as late in the story as chapter 70 out of 100, I expected a little more character growth. By far the most egregious moment was the accidental bonding of our main couple. Omegaverse is convoluted and it’s up to the author to shape it how they please. However, forcing two characters to magically bond without their knowledge or consent is just contrived.
***end of spoilers***
The characters of Love is an Illusion never grew or developed. I think the fast pacing of each monumental story beat stifled this. Characters were forced together by convenient plot points, not because they grew to love each other. Their relationship was strained and painful to watch. Despite the interesting artwork, the story just couldn’t hold its own. It’s possible several of my issues with this story were resolved in the later chapters, however it’s not worth waiting for. You shouldn’t have to read 75% of the story before things get good. Overall, this is a disappointing read. I don’t recommend this. Unfortunately, the smut wasn’t particularly well done either, so I can’t even recommend this as a pleasure read. Overall, just pick something else. There are plenty of other stories with decent plot points and decent smut scenes if that’s all you’re looking for.

This review may contain mild spoilers.
What's Wrong With Secretary Kim is not your typical office romance. Ms Kim Miso, the headstrong female lead, is the perfect secretary to the world's toughest boss, Lee Yungjoon. Well she WAS the perfect secretary, because after nine long years without a single day off, Kim Miso has had enough. Her sudden decision to quit has Lee Yungjoon frustrated and confused. How dare she leave his side?

Characters: 9/10 - Kim Miso is a seemingly average girl who has grown quite the reputation. After working for an impossible boss, she can handle anything with class. We are introduced to a ... capable woman, but it's made clear that she wasn't always this way. Kim Miso is a fully fleshed out character. We learn about her goals and dreams, her family and their influence, her own personality. She's searching for someone crucial to her foggy memory. With Kim Miso as our main narrator, we relate to just how overwhelming her job really is. Most of us are not the super elite, rich boss, but the super poor secretary.

Lee Yungjoon is god's gift to earth. Beautiful, arrogant, rich, smart... the list goes on and on. When Kim Miso says she wants to quit, his world is immediately put in jeopardy. How could he lose the secretary he describes as "a finely tailored suit" without putting up a fight? Throughout the story, we learn he may not be as simple as a cocky boss. Lee Yungjoon is the biggest surprise to this story.

The side characters in this story are just as rich in personality as the main ones. Miso's family was warm and provided a great board for Miso to bounce her worries off of. President Park is a great comedic foil to Lee Yungjoon's seemingly perfect visage. Every interaction with these charcters is meaningful to the plot in some way.

Plot: 9/10 - When I say you will not guess what happens, I mean you WILL NOT guess what happens. The overarching story of the romance between Miso and Yungjoon is comedic and fresh. Their romantic relationship starts as a way for Yungjoon to keep her around. Why he's so determind to keep Miso is the heart of this story. A backstory no one could have predicted tie these two characters together. The pacing is phenominal. There are no misunderstandings, miscommunications, or silly accidents. This story feels believable, down to the last detail.

The romance that blooms between these two is beautiful. I love these two characters, and Miso might be my personal favorite female lead I've ever read. This is a beautiful romance, and authors Kim Myeongmi and Jung Kyun-Joon do an amazing job really letting us explore the world of these two. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves romance, mystery, and comedy.

This review may contain mild spoilers.
Noblesse is a dramatic story piece with a hidden agenda. A compelling story meshed with vivid and interesting characters. Please do not let the early art put you off for even a second. By the time it's gotten exponentially better, you'll be hundreds of chapters deep and won't have even realized.

Characters: 9/10 - We are first introduced to Cadis Etrama di Raizel "Rai", a man of few words and even fewer facial expressions. Rai's character recieves the least amount of growth and for good reason. He's been alive for thousands of years. He's done plenty of growing. Immediately ... after Rai, we meet the trio of high school friends, Han Shin-woo, Wu Ikhan, and Seo Yuna. Finally we meet Frankenstein, loyal servant to Rai and pricipal of the high school our cast attends. The cast of this story is immense, more than I can list off here. While Rai may not need chacacter arcs, every single person around him grows and evolves. Rai's worldview is simple, he wants humans and mythical creature to get along, and he will do everything in his power to protect that. His kindness touches those around him. His strength encourages others to evolve. His weaknesses inspires protection.

Each character has such a well thought out background. Each character was loving created with hopes, quirks, and more personality than necessary. WHile at first glance they may all seem like generic fighters A, B, and C, when you really delve into the heart of this story, no two characters are the same.

Plot: 10/10 - While I cannot deny the repurposed plots, I would be remiss to explain their purporse. Yes, a bad guy appears, someone gets beat up a bit, and eventually the good guy saves the day. This story is not about winning, its about how it was accomplished. This story is not about waiting for Rai to show up and save everyone, in fact it is the opposite of that. The plot revolves around the people around him doing everything they possibly can to stop him from using his abilities. They want to be the protectors. While at first, Rai seems the overpowered Saitama type, he is actually the furthest from it. This story is about the weaker characters becoming stronger and overcoming obstacles. This story is about sacrificing to protect everything you hold deal. Watching the large cast of characters grow and evolve, with Rai at their center, is rewarding. The little guy gets stronger because he fights bigger and badder foes. How else are they supposed to evolve.

On the subject of fighting, this story is all about action. While the fights get more grand, the characters evolve new ways to adapt. The large casts of characters ensures no two fights are the same. The dynamics between humans, vampires, and werewolves creates dynamic fighting arenas and strategies. What worked against the humans won't work on the vampires. What worked against the vampires won't work against the werewolves. And so on. As our cast grows, so do the complexity of the action scenes. Every chapter leaves you on baited breath, waiting to see who resolves this problem and how. Will it be the werewolf companion, the human hacker, the vampire prince, or some new party entirely? This is what keeps us reading.

Overall, this is personally one of my favorite reads. I can understand why some people veiwed this as dragging and repetitive. I didn't see it that way. This evolution of all the side characters is what made Rai's story so interesting. Each character is so fleshed out, so unique in what they bring to the table, I fell in love with each and every one of them. I loved loving the good guys but I also loved hating the bad guys. It was so easy to get roped into the drama of everything. This is a brilliant story with beautifully written characters. I enjoyed every second of this story. Please, do not watch the anime. It was a slap job of story beats that were fleshed out in hundreds of chapters squished into a 12 episode disaster. A poor representation of literally every character and plot.

This review main contain minor spoilers, but nothing to put off a reader. I only want to inform the reader of what to expect.
Dame na Watashi ni Koishite Kudasai is a story about two adults who are completely different and drawn together only by circumstance. This story is mature yet lighthearted. The comedic timing of Nakahara Aya was not only well timed, but served to enhance the story. If you enjoy a slower paced adult romance this one is for you.

Characters: 8/10 - Shibata Michiko is a down on her luck, easy going, airhead. She's easily fooled by men with cute faces and ... lives off pennies because of it. However, she's not unaware of her folly, and she actively tries to improve. But character growth isn't achieved overnight, or in a chapter. Kurosawa Ayumu is a stern, sharp toungued, grouch. He's brash and quick to speak his mind. He really doesn't hold back, especially concerning Shibata. Both characters have distinct personalities designed to clash at all times. Watching their interactions had me laughing out-loud more than once. They have fleshed out backstories that help place them in their respective positions in life. The people around them were just as interesting. Focusing the story on side characters never felt like a slog because the chemistry with the main characters was always well done.

Plot: 9/10 - Shibata is giving her all, literally, to her cute younger boyfriend. Forced to buy only cabbage a the grocery store, she runs into her old boss Kurosawa Shunin. Shunin takes pity on her and treats her to meat, but not without giving her a healthy dressing down on how stupid her actions ave been. Kuwosawa offers her a part-time job at his resturant, and allowing her to stay in the upper floor of his resturant, Shibata and Shunin begin their new life together. Shunin and Shibata have wonderful chemistry. They influence each other greatly, enhacing the story further. A well developed plot and compelling arcs makes the journey all the more interesting.

While they don't immediately start off as lovers, the natural progression into having feelings for each other is much more interesting that way. The way they are at the begining, a relationship between these two would never last. Only by starting as they do, growing and meeting new people, do they begin to change and grow closer. I enjoy the distance and I think it makes the romance all the more sweet.

Overall, this is an amazing story. Shunin and Shibata are interesting and funny. Nakahara Aya has cemented herself with her romcom Lovely Complex, but I much prefer the adult shenanigans of Shibata and Kurosawa. If you enjoyed Lovely Complex, you're sure to like this as well, but Dame na Watashi ni Koishite Kudasai is more mature with its adult themes. If you really enjoyed this story, don't forget to check out its sequel, Dame na Watashi ni Koishite Kudasai Returns.

There may be some minor spoilers in this review, but nothing to put off a reader. I only want to inform the reader of what to expect. This series is an excellent work in the josei style. The soft, loving type romance between the two main characters was believable and warm. I had a fun time reading this. The emotional beats were just as well timed as the comedic ones. Overall this was an enjoable experience and I can't wait for it to finish.

Characters: 9/10 - Our main cast is Cha Ju An and Yoo Do Jin. These chacacters couldn't be more different at ... first glance. Where Cha Ju An is capable and professional, Yoo Do Jin is clumsy and inexperienced. Where Cha Ju An is cold and unaproachable, Yoo Do Jin is kind and considerate. A cat vs dog arc is what you'd expect, but it really seems to be only Cha Ju An who seems unable to get along with his clumsy persoanilty. Both charcters experice significant changes over the course of the story. They grow as people but also as a couple. These characters are fleshed out with rich backstories and personal tastes. The surrounding cast is as vivid and interesting as the main duo, making interactions with characters other than the main two fun and compelling.

Plot: 8/10 - Cha Ju An and Yoo Do Jin are introduced as opposite as two people can be. During a work trip to a Bhuddist temple, a young monk forces a soul swap on them, resulting in their souls being placed into the others' body for one hour a day. The time is random and unpredictable, resulting in chaos and awkward situations. As someone put off by genderswapping or body swapping, I can say this limited take was refreshing. I enjoyed wondering when the characters would swap as much as they dreaded it. Sure it was a little cliche at times, but the characters handled their situations interestingly. Forced into adapting their normal routines because a switch was possible at anytime was more enjoable than I expected.

Overall, this was an enjoyable series. While a little cliche at times, the characters more than make up for that. I enjoyed the lack of "miscomunication plot" and felt this was a very mature and realistic romance. I enjoyed this experience, and if you enjoy mature themes, sappy romantic moments, humor, and just plain old love, than you will enjoy this one as well.