Ran-dezvous's Reviews

If you enjoyed the J-drama "Cursed in Love" on Netflix, this is the manga it's based on. A revenge plot set in the world of traditional Japanese confectionery, or wagashi! If you want to read a story set in the "real" but contemporary Japan, this scratches that itch. Mystery, suspense, intrigue, and compelling leads, what's not to like? Not to mention a riveting enemies-to-lovers romance!

For those wondering about the rigor of the mystery, however, this is more character than plot driven. There are many twists and turns for sure, but the truth about the murder ultimately cannot be solved by the reader. If the lack of fair play is a dealbreaker for you, then I can't recommend this as a *mystery* series.

This is a heavily political story, so if that's not your thing, this isn't the series for you, especially if you aren't already on a plant-based diet. And even if you're already on one, the manga still challenges you. The main theme is undeniably about animal rights and veganism, but it's more than just that. How far should you go for your beliefs? Are extremists truly unhinged, or are we not taking our activism seriously enough? You can replace the main character with a minority or a neurodivergent person, and it still illuminates the struggles they have fitting into a society that doesn't want or understand them.

Out of all the manga I've read, this feels the most Western. From the art style, the writing, to the references, if I wasn't reading from right to left, I would've easily assumed this was a Western graphic novel. If I were to recommend a manga to someone who isn't a fan of the usual anime tropes, this would be one of them.

If you want a challenging and socially-relevant yet thrilling tale, this is well worth the read. I'm looking forward to the anime!

Disclaimer: I'm ace, but I occasionally dabble in spicy stories in an attempt to get into the headspace of allosexuals. With that said, I tremendously enjoyed this, with its complex characters, and am quite tempted to recommend this to people who aren't necessarily fans of the genre.

Excellently written, which I hesitate to say about many in the genre.

A grounded and somber look into the animation industry. The idealistic and fresh-out-of-high school protagonist works alongside veterans, both successful and unsuccessful, as they deal with the consequences of their chosen life paths.

I read this without any knowledge of the original series, but I was able to follow along easily! Highly enjoyable, but the copious amounts of unnecessary fanservice can be a deterrent for many.

Compulsively readable. Also, I've never, ever hated an antagonist so much! (She's also the best character.)

This is the tale of a writer for whom motherhood wasn't on her radar, but supports her boyfriend's decision to take in his two nephews after their parents had passed away. She grows into her newfound role as a parental figure, but makes sure to stress that she doesn't plan on replacing their mother, and gives them the space to grieve. Little by little, the boys learn to be comfortable in their newfound family. A sweet read!

For female slobs like me, Hotaru is an incredibly relatable character who still manages to be a professional at work. And I'm normally not a fan of age-gap relationships, but I'm whipped for her and her boss/landlord!

Not only does this offer a look into the manga industry, there's a lot of heartwarming father-daughter shenanigans, too! The paneling is also some of the coolest I've seen, with how often it imitates the feel of a manga magazine.

Another cute cat manga from the author of "Chi's Sweet Home"! Unlike the former, however, this is strictly from the perspective of the owner, a lovely, elderly lady.

An endearing slice-of-life series about a father and daughter grieving for their matriarch of the family, with a generous serving of mouthwatering food. I was initially worried that there would be a teacher-student relationship in this, but that's averted, thankfully!

At the end of each chapter is a recipe for that chapter's featured dish. The translation notes at the end of every volume are also very cool.

Heartwarming and cute. The pages are in color, and the story's appropriate for all ages. If you aren't sure what to read in this genre, you can't go wrong with this one!

If there's only one thing you can read on MangaPlaza, you can't go wrong with this! Not only is it a heartwarming story of a plus-sized woman filled with newfound confidence, there's also an element of mystery: who caused her accident? And don't forget the romance!

I initially assumed that this would be nothing more than a straightforward but fun story about a girl and her ghost boyfriend, but boy, was I wrong! There's horror, mystery, and suspense! Do be warned, though: Some readers might find the female lead's unhealthy obsession to be distasteful, to put it mildly.

It delivers on its fun premise and so much more, with the male lead's bisexuality explored beyond stereotypes and delving into the female protagonist's generational trauma. Many of the characters are adults edging into their thirties, figuring out how to deal with the pressures of marriage, with all of them wanting different things from their lives. If you're into older-adult characters struggling with self-acceptance and love, this is the manga for you!

This is one of those titles I deeply regret procrastinating on; I wish I started this when I was a teenager! That said, reading this at the same age as the protagonist, makes his struggle all the more resonant to me, the oldest sibling with considerably more successful younger siblings. This is one of those rare stories that simultaneously feel grand and intimate at the same time, with the characters's struggles and psychology at its core. It's long, but well worth the journey.

They say opposites attract, and, in fiction, this is usually exemplified by an extrovert-introvert relationship. This isn't the case here, though. Both characters are introverts, but their introversion is expressed in radically different ways. The male lead is a man of few words, but is very comfortable in his skin; the female lead, on the other hand, struggles to be with other people, as well as deprecating herself. It's a sweet story of a girl learning to love herself, as well as find love in the process.

This josei title is near and dear to me, as it is the one that taught me to appreciate romance. I wasn't one to actively seek out romance stories, but I had to check it out because of its use of classical music as a central theme. Aside from the burgeoning romance of the main couple, the series depicts the struggles of starting a career in classical music and how it brings the protagonists together and tears them apart.

If you're able to get over the silliness of the premise and the heavy handedness of its Sherlockian references, "Sherlock Bones" is an enjoyable fairplay inverted-mystery series. Cases usually consist of four chapters, though if one is familiar with "Detective Conan/Case Closed", each chapter is considerably less dense than the latter.