Hatsu*Haru

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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 of ... the best relationships. Also, the art is really beautiful.

Overall, a very good series for a feel-good moment especially during the 2020 pandemic.

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 their ... round-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!?

Hatsu*Haru is a cute romance about cute characters having cute relationships. The problem here is that being cute is what limits this story from being better than it can be. While it is easy to like the bubbly cast in their dreamy situations, there isn't much depth to anything because there is an emphasis to keep things charming. This lack of a more down-to-earth storytelling makes things too convenient, too distant from reality.

The pairings of tomboyish Riko Takanashi + the sentimental Kai Ichinose and the silent Misaki Takaya + the ebullient Ayumi Shimura are lovable as they learn more about themselves and their loved ones. ... While it feels good to see the characters show their affection for each other, there isn't much realism in the drama to see them through a broader perspective. Problems are solved with some light drama, but without much difficulty.

It is really nice how Kai is portrayed. To show his big family and his relationship with them. His relation with Misaki and Riko. His thoughts are everywhere in the pages, but it is those interactions with his loved ones that say who he is in a much more expressive way. I feel like the rest of the cast lacks these poignant moments.

I like the first third of the manga since it focuses on the two main protagonists, but after that the flow of the story is all over the place. The author just shoves the two other couples (Kiyo+Miki and Tarou+Kagura) into the story whenever it seems convenient. It is annoying that they are usually abruptly thrown in and removed here and there whenever the plot needs them.

This might be a good choice for younger folks, but not for those who want a more natural drama.