Literally Graphic reviewed My love story! by Kazune Kawahara
Review of 'My love story!' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
The refreshing modern perspective on Shojo manga I've been looking for this year. I love love love almost everything about this comic, just wish it didn't end on such a problematic note >.< I've already requested the next few volumes.
-
Returning to this first volume after having read at least a handful last year and then wanting to plow the entire series at once, I'm a bit less skeptic about the ending and willing to give Kazune Kawahara even more credit in the subverting stereotypes department then previously.
Considering the further rise of toxic "beta"? masculinity this past year I did pause to rethink my initial positive impression of the character of Takeo. After some consideration, I still think that depicting Takeo as a NICE GUY who hasn't gotten the girl in the past but is now as a 100% good thing. Because rather than creating unrealistic expectations this …
The refreshing modern perspective on Shojo manga I've been looking for this year. I love love love almost everything about this comic, just wish it didn't end on such a problematic note >.< I've already requested the next few volumes.
-
Returning to this first volume after having read at least a handful last year and then wanting to plow the entire series at once, I'm a bit less skeptic about the ending and willing to give Kazune Kawahara even more credit in the subverting stereotypes department then previously.
Considering the further rise of toxic "beta"? masculinity this past year I did pause to rethink my initial positive impression of the character of Takeo. After some consideration, I still think that depicting Takeo as a NICE GUY who hasn't gotten the girl in the past but is now as a 100% good thing. Because rather than creating unrealistic expectations this depiction of the NICE GUY getting the girl does the work of contrasting so many of the messages popular media sends to guys (although I'm pretty sure girls are this book's target market) about how NICE GUYS never get the girl.
Otherwise, the thing that I most appreciated about this initial volume is the way that ideas about women not wanting "sexual" things and women not going after the guy. OK they only ended up holding hands in this volume, but the conversation to get to that point was the exact same conversation I have had with many female friends that obviously we must be freaks because we were raised to think that only guys want sexual things. This is also where Takeo really proves himself to be a real NICE GUY and not just a NICE GUY TM because he rolls with the punches and doesn't just stick to some ridged preconceived notions of white knighting.