I Love Amy by UNNI

 31/01/ 26

I Love Amy by UNNI is a girl's love manhwa that follows the stories of Amy and Bibi as they navigate their years in an American high school, exploring themes of love and friendship. Bibi is introduced as being in love with or infatuated with a boy named Peter, until she notices the girl Amy talking to him. This makes Bibi feel jealous and plan a way to get rid of her. This plan consisted of inviting her to her house and warning her about the consequences she would face if she were near Peter. After talking to her, though, she takes a liking and decides to ask for help to win Peter over with her confession. Things end up different, though, as Amy starts to lose interest in Peter and starts feeling different around Amy...

On the day I first stumbled upon this. I was actually looking for romances that weren't boys' love and straight. I was like a sleep-deprived girl craving something unusual, and I managed to find this manhwa on  Pinterest. I've never read a girl's love manhwa before, and honestly had never considered the idea. Yet when I found this one, it made me want to read a lot more after. I even sometimes write some whenever I get bored, of course, I'm going to keep that secret to myself, haha. Anyways, I found the art style super cool, most Manhwas either have the generic art style or have a cool art style but are like realistic. Which is not bad, it doesn't ruin it unless it's crazy human proportions, then that's different. I Love Amy is designed in a very cutesy art style, however, and creates the atmosphere of a cozy read. Bibi is also designed as the opposite of sinister; she seems like she would not harm anyone, but on the inside, her nature is quite menacing. Her heart eyes add the touch of innocence, but create a depth of uncomfort not being able to read her expressions. Amy, on the other hand, is like the moon. Her eyes are like tired black voids, and honestly sort of contrast with Bibi's. Meanwhile, Peter looks like your dream boy in teenage dramas, with blue eyes and a cute smile. This is not really about him, though. Oh, I forgot Amy's friend, Camilla. At first, I thought she was a bully due to having a vague description of her. Turns out she is really sweet, looking out for her friend whom she had not been able to talk to. She knows of Bibi's nature and warns Amy to stay away from her, due to the possibility of her being roped into her schemes. Camilla has long dark hair, tan skin, and is quite tall, reminding me of Hyuna from Alien stage (RIP QUEEN). Camilla's height could contribute to her tough nature, being intimidating to others. She is also a cheerleader, being quite popular. Amy is the opposite, being a timid girl and likely to avoid conflict, making for quite an interesting friendship. Bibi is also a bit different, being outgoing and always causing problems. Amy finds her comfort in Bibi and tends to stay with her, unlike Camilla... 

<<<<Spoiler Below>>>>

Amy lives with her aunt after her mother landed in prison due to attempted child murder. At the very end of the series, Amy is seen wanting to see her mother, sneakily travelling towards her Mother. Her aunt would tell Amy that she should not fall in love, due to the outcome of Amy's single mother. Amy, however, starts developing a relationship with Bibi. Amy is concerned, though, as she constantly worries about what her aunt feels. Such as the time she stayed overnight at Bibi's house, being grounded after she came home. Amy is not the only one who has trouble with her family life, though. Bibi's parents died in a tragic accident, leading her to live with her uncle. Her uncle at first cared for Bibi, being nice towards her, but after the family dog died at her hands, It wasn'nt clarified exactly how she did it. Some interpret this as her taking her uncle's words of "Precious things should be put away," or by accidentally poisoning the dog and dismembering him due to not fitting in the box. Having this traumatic experience, her uncle later distanced himself from her. In a way, I believe her uncle still cares about her, sorting out the conflict she had been in, but due to the past, it is quite difficult.Oh, and I want to mention the hospital scene where they start dancing after being hit by a vehicle was super cute. They had the whole room to themselves, and it created a comfy and romantic atmosphere. I honestly swooned at that moment.  Bibi was so gentle, and Amy was just so adorable... 

Anyways, this manhwa was a super cool read, and I'm happy it was the first to introduce me to the girl's love genre. I'm a sucker for yandere's, and it did not disappoint. Bibi is also quite cute. I love her concept, and her personality adds a flair to the manhwa, same with Amy, of course. Both their characteristics merge so well; Amy is the timid one, and Bibi is the tougher one... I think I'm going to read it again, haha. Anyone should read this manhwa, it's seriously amazing and will want you to keep reading it when you have to sleep, and if you're like me, who has never read GL, then this one is for you!!!

9/10

BYEEEE

Bastard by Carnby Kim

 30/01/26

The Manhwa Bastard by Carnby Kim is a suspenseful thriller short story, following the sickly disabled main character Seon Jin navigating through the unusual reality he has to face. His father is a serial killer, and the girl that he loves is possibly dying at his hands. For Seon Jin to live a normal life, he must put his father in prison or, worse, kill him. Though this may pose as difficult as for many years, Seon Jin has been his dad's accomplice in murder.

Boy, do I have a treat. Bastard by Carnby Kim is one of the most amazing twisted manhwa I have ever read. From the character development to the horror that keeps you on edge, Bastard has everything. I really loved this manhwa as I never wanted to stop reading such a master piece. I actually found this one through another blog about yanderes. This one isn't really a yandere, but when the girl he likes is saying stuff about another boy, he nearly alerts his dad about her. I still don't really find that yandere-like, but I still enjoyed the romance. I read this one a while ago, so my recollection is a bit fuzzy, but I remember that it made me really enjoy it. The main character also gets bullied by a group and a guy named Manny. I quite liked Manny. He wasn't the typical bully who would just bully you like no tomorrow. He had remorse and empathy, something you will never see in any manhwa. Secretly, behind closed doors, Manny was actually teaching Seon Jin how to fight with only one condition that he won't tell anyone. I found Manny's character tragic. Due to his bullying Seon Jin before he had fallen into a car accident at Seon Jin's father's hands. His parents had died, and his sister was in critical condition; on the other hand, lost two of his legs. Finding out that Seon Jin's father is the murderer, he was determined to take him down. Unfortunately for him, he ended up being stabbed and burned in an old warehouse. Sighhhhhh, I really liked that guy too. 

Anyways I really liked how the main character couldn't instantly tell anyone about his father. He couldn't tell his girlfriend, when he ran away from home, or even Manny, due to his also partaking in the murders. It sets up the stage for angst and will keep you on your toes. I also liked the ending where we find out that his mother threw him off the balcony (Whereas he thought it was his father), and his dad, who helped him, because of Seon Jin actually being okay with the murders his dad committed, and even enjoyed helping him. This shows how adolescents are extremely influenced at a young age to follow their parents. If Seon Jin had known that murder was ethically wrong, he wouldn't have done it; he was born and raised into it. The final scene shows Seon Jin's father dying, holding the portrait of him, Seon Jin, and his wife, really showing how a sick and twisted human being could really just look like a normal person with empathy, unlike the ones you see in serial killer movies. 

So I know this review is short, but if you ever want to read a horror with a bit of romance, this is the one for you. Everything within the manhwa is amazing, so I honestly have nothing bad to say about it. 

9/10

Bye!!!

I Like You With That Look of Repulsion by Oniyama Mizuki

 26/01/25 

Iyagateru Kimi ga Suki or I Like You With That Look of Repulsion by Oniyama Mizuki. It is one of the more interesting works I've managed to read. It's about a high school girl, Shirakawa Mikoto, looking for a boyfriend to show off to, and then getting confessed to by Otsuki Makoto, who isn't exactly her type, but she agrees anyway and ends up coming across many strange and almost horrific things along the way. It is a manga definitely not for the light of heart and makes you wonder why you're even reading it, but if you're looking for something to make you extremely uncomfortable or even question at the end, this is the one. 

I found this manga when going through male yandere works I can go through because I have found that it was my type, but oh boy, maybe I should of sticked into a more calm lane. The art style gives me retro anime vibes, and so I was like, "This looks cool, why not?" I would later regret this decision, yet I don't know why, why I even finished it. I felt like if Shirakawa were to use her head, the situations that she is being put into, she wouldn't end up messed up or even dead in the end. Like they even did it near a homeless shelter!?!? Now it's been a while, and I have no idea what her family situation was, but she did react extremely uncomfortably, and all she had to do was say no to his confession. *sighs* I will say the artstyle is so pretty, but the manga is absolute garbage. Well, not really if you wanted to be extremely disgusted, which I think is the main focus. Can I just point out, though, a site's literal description is this: This is a raunchy, heart-pounding love story. Expect goosebumps and some doki doki action on the side.

I was completely expecting a bit of cute romance or even a much more tamer romance, yet I was completely fooled. The whole manga feels like a horror story that I would never wish on my worst enemy. She even continues to stay in these abusive relationships after breaking up with the damn man. Like, girl, get therapy. The man still calls her his girlfriend after breaking up, like dude, go to therapy as well. Like, is it bad that I don't completely hate him? He was abused and had to eat dog food, but he was quite awful, so I sort of hate him as well. I hate every character, to be honest, there is not a single likable one. I kind of forgot the owner of the houses' main purpose. That owner seriously needs jail, though; he is sort of the problem why this dumpster of a situation was brought on Shirakawa.

Anyways I did not have much fun with this manga, even though I finished it. It's terrifying thinking of it in real life, and that's what I enjoy somehow. I just think I should not have read it, but I am glad I gave it a try, though. Yeah, if you enjoy bad endings and disgusting stuff, you should give this one a try; it will definitely ick you. I know there may be worse stuff out there, but this took it for me. Also, I may not have gone thoroughly into this because I had read this a while back and do not wish to read it again, so I apologize. Thank you for reading through.

5/10

Bye

Yona of the Dawn by Mizuho Kusinagi

 24/01/25

Yona of the Dawn by Mizuho Kusinagi is a shoujo manga about sixteen year old princess named  Yona fleeing away from her castle after her father had been slain by a close childhood friend. Together with her bodyguard, Hak embarks on an adventure where she later finds a nearby priest, who tells them a tale about the four dragons that protected a king. Hearing this, Yona is determined to seek out these warriors in order to protect her kingdom, Kouka, and restore its future.

I started reading this manga when I was in year 8. Being bored on a bus, I discovered the historical romance, Yona of the Dawn, and was intrigued hearing a lot of good reviews on it. Sadly, the anime did not have a season 2, but right now I am hearing that there is going to be one this year!! I am so excited. Anyways, hearing that there was no season 2, I had a look at the manga, and I was seriously blown away. I love Yona so much. The way she pursues and is determined makes me want to read the manga even more. Even when she had a goated and honestly OP bodyguard, she still learnt the bow and arrow. The other characters in the manga also made me admire them, such as Zeno, the yellow dragon. He showed the sad bit about immortality, having to grow up, leaving everyone, such as the original dragons, behind. He was also the most knowledgeable, and I quite liked him. Same with Soo Won and Hak, their friendship was quite sad, but the way they both cared deeply for Yona and how they would protect her was nice. Soo won did make me angry at first, killing Yona's father, but he did help the kingdom when the former king couldn't. He also had a reason, believing the king had murdered his father. Which, honestly, revenge is never going to lead to happiness, but I can see why he did that. Hak was just a chef kiss, the best male lead so far. He was Yona's bodyguard and did all he could to protect her. HE EVEN PROPOSED WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE!!! Seriously, there was no better man for Yona than Hak. Anyways, there were other characters as well, such as Kija the white dragon, Jae-Ha the green dragon, and Shin-Ah the blue dragon. All of them supported Yona throughout her journey, saving her from a literal war, and honestly just really funny. Oooo, I also can't forget Yoon, he was just a normal human being, but I swear he was the most logical lol. 

This manga was seriously a wild ride, and I'm sad to see it end, but the ending was soothing. It wasn't tragic, but it would make you want to see Yona go on an adventure again. What I like about this manga is that it is not solely based on romance and actually focuses on character growth and the environment around them. I quite liked seeing a bit of politics in the manga; it left a lasting impression on me. It didn't focus on Hak and Yona's romance, but on how war can damage many, how friendship can change, and how we may grow differently in another environment. I truly believe people should give this manga a try and that it may put a lasting impression on your heart. It may also inspire courage within yourself. The message I held onto when reading this manga is that, no matter what life throws at you, you must take it on and keep moving. Which inspires me. PS: I enjoyed the way Yona expresses how she is not the crimson dragon, but her own person, showing she doesn't care about status and that she is her own person

This manga seriously deserves a 

9/10 

Just the characters, world being, and adventure are well written, so if you could, give Yona of the Dawn a read!!! 

Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa Review

 23/01/26

Around Christmas, I came across a book at my local QBD. At that time, I was watching Nana and accidentally came across another story by the same mangaka, Ai Yazawa, Paradise Kiss. It was the 20th-century edition, and it caught my eye. Having a bit of knowledge due to Nana's collaboration with Vivienne Westwood, I knew Ai Yazawa loved fashion. Paradise Kiss may have been an expression of that. It follows teen Yukari getting thrown into the world of fashion by a passionate young group, who are determined to spread their label, making Yukari a muse. Yukari, being a teen, is conflicted by this choice due to balancing out school and performing as a muse. This is also an extremely difficult decision as Yukari's mum is very strict on Yukari getting a good job, such as white collar workers, and having good grades. In this manga, she faces hardships, romance, growing up, and many more themes that individuals like ourselves could face. Facing these, she learns how to overcome them and eventually find individualism, which is a core theme throughout the manga.

Paradise Kiss is a fashion-focused manga, having many outfits to entice the viewer's eyes. I myself love the look of every outfit that was displayed and wish I could own a closet full of them. Each chapter showed different characters in outfits, some of my favourites being chapters 15 and 24. Throughout the manga, Yukari also performs with several outfits, which contrasts with before she met the group. Fashion also expresses Yukari's character and her future dreams, showing how it may have given her a sense of individualism. 

Apart from the fashion, the manga feels quite raw and relatable to growing up now. First of all, growing up, she was told to have a good job and make money. Which some children grow up hearing. It's always have a white-collar job and marry a wealthy man. Yet some do not end up happy with what their future career might be, and it may be too late to stop. Which is shown between Yukari and her mother, wanting to do fashion, she is kicked out of her home and is made to live with a few of the group's members, one being George. George is an interesting person and is shown to be quite manipulative. He is also Yukari's boyfriend, who appreciates women with independence. The reason that could be formed is how his upbringing as his mother's child turned out to be. George, growing up, was told that "You shouldn't have been born" by his mother, who was a former model. She would also complain about her dependence and other stuff, which impacted George's point of view. He was a man who favoured fashion over love, putting Yukari aside for his own aspirations. Which I believe created a learning curve for her to find out her identity. Growing up was never meant to be easy for some, and it just shows in this manga, from being kicked out to living with friends, to a toxic relationship, to understanding what you may truly want in life. 

This manga demonstrates just how vital your environment may be and how it could impact your choices, and that is why I love it so much. Seeing Yukari grow into independence and finding her footing as a model really made me warm inside after all the stuff she was put through. I believe this manga really shows you how you should appreciate your interests and the tough times of growing up. That you're not the only one who may experience such hardships, and that we can change to love what we can achieve and eventually be happy. Life is not easy, but that's just the beauty of it. 

So if anyone is reading, please go read Paradise Kiss. It is an amazing manga that expresses the themes of growing up. It also has amazing fashion within the story!

8/10

Bye!!  

Tamon B Side Manga Ongoing Review

22/01/26

I am currently reading Tamon's B Side (A Popular Shojo Manga), where a F/ACE (The name of the band) fangirl, Utage, discovers that when working as a housekeeper, her idol, Tamon, is extremely different from what he portrays to others. Tamon is supposed to be this wild, sexy idol to others, but he is different when he is at home. At home, he is a socially introverted, sensitive, and low self-esteem individual, making negative remarks about himself a lot of the time. Utage, not liking this, works to improve on Tamon's negative attitude. 

I am currently on chapter 21, Vol 5, and so far it has been an enjoyable read. The pace is really good, and the interaction between characters has been sometimes funny. For instance, the other idols from the group have distinct personalities in real life, such as Keito and Ouri. Keito, who is portrayed as a calm and sweet individual, is actually greedy and does not genuinely care for his fans as he claims; it is revealed that he only cares about the money. It was mentioned later that the reason why he cares about money so much is that he wishes to support his siblings. He is also quite protective of his member's image, disliking it whenever Utage is close to either Tamon or Ouri. Ouri is portrayed as the "Prince" in the group, which is far from the truth. In secret, he is actually a very arrogant, hot-headed individual. Being described by F/ACE's manager as a "Gorilla". Right now, it is hinted that he may like Utage, which, in a way, is a bit annoying because I am mainly focusing on Tamon and Utage's relationship. This could also be a positive, though, as this could reveal Tamon's jealous side and his love for Utage. 

To be honest, I was quite reluctant to read this because I don't really read Idol x fan stories, but this manga is quite fun to read, and the characters are quite interesting. Tamon is also quite cute and soft, which I rarely read. So I would definitely recommend this manga; it is quite light-hearted and relaxing. 

Anyways, I am going to continue reading and let you know when I finish. 

Update:

I have just read Chapter 51 volume 11 (The latest). At the moment, I am still enjoying reading the manga. I found out about Tamon's past after finding out about his brother, and it made me a bit sad. Like, Tamon is so cute and adorable, and the fact that he got bullied makes me so sad. The art is amazing, and honestly, little Tamon smiling as he watched his older brother dance was so heartwarming. This is later revealed to be his inspiration and the goal of "Making that one person smile."

He recently friended Utage, and honestly, it was quite refreshing as their relationship felt like a wall, considering Utage restricts herself solely because she is a fangirl. I believe being friends sort of gets rid of that wall and allows the two to get closer. The way Tamon was trying to be friends with her was a bit weird, though. In chapter 47, volume 10, Tamon states that he will use money and sell his organs just to be friends with Utage. Which is odd and can be taken as due to him not having friends in a while; he has no idea how to befriend someone. I also believe he definitely has feelings for Utage, as in another chapter, when Utage got whisked away by some men, he got quite jealous. This is not just one scene where he gets jealous, though. Ouri, who may be the 2nd male lead, contributes to this jealousy by telling Tamon in recent chapters about his feelings for Utage. Which honestly just ugh, can you just leave them alone? 

Moving on from the romance, I learnt a bit about the other bandmates, who are polar opposites of their idol personas. Natsuki is a sluggish smoker/drinker, and Rintaro is a chatty otaku. These characters were pretty cool to read about. I especially liked looking through, maybe I have a thing for sluggish men? Anyways I'll update more in a few months' time since it is ongoing and let you know what I feel.

Bye!!!