Aishitagari no Maison

While the initial premise feels terribly unethical no matter how long I think about it, it sets the stage for a cute and satisfying school love comedy. Art: Very pretty, quintessential shoujo. Everything I could ask for. Character: There are a few characters I disliked, either at the beginning or later as they developed, but the majority of the cast is decently endearing and the dynamics built through their friendships were interesting. There are no ground-breaking characters--they almost all fall into regular shoujo tropes--but if you're already a shoujo fan, that might not be a bad thing. I wish there was even one respectable adult, though. None of thechaperone characters are overtly terrible, but I could argue against any of them being responsible adults. Story: The standard 'throw a bunch of kids into tangled romances and see where they intersect.' While not all the rival relationships felt like they enhanced the story they didn't necessarily detract, and the main two love interests kept my interest for the vast majority of the story. Who the main character ends up with is pretty easy to predict, but part of the enjoyment also comes from the fallout. The story doesn't end at everyone pairing up, and I appreciated that. Enjoyment: I was in the mood for a very standard shoujo romance, something that didn't go too long...and this perfectly scratched that itch. The ending isn't amazing, but it's also not dissatisfying. The epilogue is forgettable, but like...most epilogues are. There are flaws, but don't flaws make a story more fun to think about later? This story isn't anything to write home about, but if shoujo is what you're looking for this is a solid pick.