Hatsu*Haru

I just finished the manga and it was super cute. I love the fact that it doesn't have any unnecessary drama and a love triangle. All the relationships have their own story and focus. One of the interesting things about this series is that it is focusing on the main boy dialogue more than the girl, which makes the series refreshing. Most shoujo focuses on the main girl's struggle but this one puts us in the main boy shoes and his struggles and it was super adorable. My favourite one is definitely taka and the camera girl. Definitely one ofthe best relationships. Also, the art is really beautiful. Overall, a very good series for a feel-good moment especially during the 2020 pandemic.

8/10 +Extremely likeable male lead with positive change +Avoids common genre cliches and relationships move at steady pace +Pleasant, cutesy artwork that adds to dreamy atmosphere -MC carries story alone; features cookie-cutter supporting cast that fades into the background -Favors shallow interactions over deeper character work It’s hard to forget the feelings of first love. For some, the experience truly shapes one’s identity. For others, it’s a nightmare. Hatsu*Haru presents a unique perspective on this transformative period through the eyes of Kai, a womanizer who is unexpectedly captivated by the tomboyish Riko. What’s great about the manga’s presentation is that it’s a simple story that avoids common pitfallsof the genre; there are no love triangles, fan-service, or outrageous drama to be seen. Kai’s eccentric, passionate, and sensitive personality truly carries the manga as he transforms from a stuck up snob to a sensitive lover. Unfortunately not much can be said about the supporting cast, with dull cookie-cutter archetypes that ultimately fade in the background. Like blossoms that bloom in the spring, you’ll feel the high and lows while reading Hatsu*Haru. It may lack the emotional depth and complexity of others stories in the genre, but still evokes warm feelings nonetheless.

Story: [8/10] The story revolves around our male main lead, Ichinose Kai, as he maneuvers his way into wooing our female main lead, Takanashi Riko. The story is in the perspective of Kai, the school's resident player! Incidentally, this "womanizer" falls for Riko who happens to be our unpopular tomboy. While the story maintains a fresh take on the popular guy-tomboy girl cliche: the drama, the misunderstandings or side plots can be a bit mundane and draggy at times. Kai and Riko definitely score points on the level of cuteness they exude from each other though! Art: [8/10] The art is very cute with theirround-ish shaped drawings and it matches the tone of the story (which is a bunch of cuteness and diabetes)!! Character: [8/10] The characters really carry the story for me. This manga is definitely a play on cliches, but the author really cares about her characters and gives them the development they deserve! Kai maturing throughout the story warmed my heart, and watching him squeal over Riko made me squeal in return! I also enjoyed some of the side characters and their own romance adventure (in fact, I probably shipped one side pair MORE than the main couple. Hint hint: bestie x cameragirl is a win for me)! However, I did find myself not caring for some other characters and skimming through their arcs. Overall, most of the characters were a hit for me! Enjoyment: [9/10] The characters are fun and the plot isn't heavy, making this a breeze to finish! This is by far one of the better shoujo mangas I've read. I am a firm believer that cliches are good for a reason and as long as your story has a fresh take on it, it'll be a hit! Of course there were some parts that were dull, but once they gave me the cuteness I needed, it was very an enjoyable read. Overall: [8/10] If you enjoy shoujo manga on the daily, I would highly recommend this one. The plot is simple and it's a fairly easy read. I found myself cheering on for the main leads with all my heart! When Kai felt disappointed or hurt, I felt just the same! I really liked that it was in his perspective, it's so rare to find a nervous dorky boy in shoujo manga I can't help but love this! I also LOVE the bestie and cameragirl, how can I get a love like that!?