Kimi Ni Todoke Review.
Kimi Ni Todoke: From me to you (Alternate title - Reaching you) is a shoujo title written and illustrated by Shiina Karuho. The story is about Kuronuma Sawako - nicknamed Sadako for her creepy resemblance to Yamanura Sadako from the Ring. Everyone at school are scared due to her appearance - claiming that she curses people and that she can communicate with the after life -regardless of what the rumours say, she does not possess any supernatural abilities.
Despite her gloomy appearance, she is a shy, honest somewhat normal girl who longs to have friends and is intrigued by Kazehaya Shota - a boy in her class who is a laid back, easy going guy. Shota soon becomes her role model and she aims to be like him- but before she knows it - the two slowly become closer and romance bloom between the two.
Thanks to Shota, Sawako has been able to make many friends and has opened up to those around her - less people believing in the fact she can curse people.
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This is a sweet light-hearted romance manga - though most Shoujo titles generally play among the same themes - I found this story more than enjoyable. It is not the immediate boy meets girl and they fall in love. Both characters go through the hardship of coming to terms that they like each other- raw teenage emotions and misconceptions - mostly on Sawako’s part as she does not realise the feeling she’s feeling. Also how Sawako slowly opens up to those around her whilst keeping the same gloomy personality she had the beginning of the manga.
I quite like the relationships blooming between the characters - not only the romance but the friendship - how Sawako befriends Chizuru and Ayane and how their friendship develops. The relationship between Chizuru and her childhood friend Ryu is probably my favourite of the character pairings in this manga.
The artwork is simply beautiful - not overly done as most Shojo mangas usually display - you know what I mean, creepy huge detailed eyes, feminine looking men, the porcelain doll look. The expressions some characters display are very amusing - especially when Sawako forces a smile and ends up looking even more gloomy has made me laugh on several occasions. The pacing is also very good, like I said earlier - the romance is not immediate - in fact the two main characters only just started dating (scanlations are currently up to chapter 42, apparently 44 chapters are out - but I haven’t found the RAWs yet). What I have read so far has been enjoyable and I can’t wait for future chapters ~~
Similar manga: Fruits Basket; Koukou Debut; Suki-tte Ii na yo.
