Mangadays: Skip Beat Volume 1 Review

Summary: Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he's casting her out now that he's famous! Kyoko won't suffer in silence--she's going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!

Aww. Never, ever have I read anything with illustrations conveying emotions so deep... Skip Beat could be described as absolutely entertaining to anyone in need of a manga chicklit (or wants to try).

Kyoko feeling odd upon arriving at the talent auditions seeing tons of girls who wear makeup

Skip Beat follows the story of Kyoko, a girl in her early twenties larger than life (despite illustrations were made in monochrome black-white colours), who leaves small town with her childhood sweetheart, Sho (—or at least she thought they were ooey-gooey since childhood) to take the BIG CITY (Tokyo) by storm in order to make him famous. Years have passed and Kyoko lavishes being the shadow of Sho, cooking for him, cleaning for him and working jobs(!) in order to pay their rent while he lazies around working himself to stardom (—the scumbag!).

Finally Sho has made it to Japan's ranking of top-six celeb pop-stars and shows less respect to Kyoko despite she tries all attempts to make him happy including stroking his ego (—as though cooking and cleaning wasn't enough!).

It doesn't take long for Shotaro to kick her out of his life! But Kyoko wouldn't go down without a fight! One tough bitch, she is. She vows to get into pop-stardom to show Shotaro a thing or two about the consequences of underestimating a woman scorned.

The first volume of this manga rocks! I don't do manga. My roommate who you would describe as a manchild introduced me to Skip Beat (though he's more into the Naruto-Bleach kind). And I loved, loved it! So terrific!

The illustrations are detailed and humorous. Kyoko is humorous! I love her personality and her chutzpah! She's the character you'd expect to replace the ones in those chicklits you found dull. The character that gets you thinking: Can't someone write her! What I really love about Kyoko is that she's plain and loves to keep her looks au-naturel. See, when was the last time one of those were seen in a good chicklit?

Kyoko telling the famous, sexy annoying Ren Tsuraga where to stick it

Though she's two-dimensional—on paper, Kyoko bears emotions a three-dimensional psychopath would possess! Like her coldness, and why she thinks love is, by her words, "The prelude to disaster and despair!!!" Her transformation is very significant to the development of the plot of the story.

I can't wait to pick up volume two of this manga, which would focus on life after dealing with all those emotional demons—and trust me to report my new manga adventures.

Totally recommend this for anyone who is willing to explore but not far out of their comfort zone. Anyone who wants to really laugh out loud and would shout to curious passersby they are reading and enjoying (manga) chicklit!

You can read the first volume and the continuation of Skip Beat here.

So happy I wouldn't be able to post my review on Amazon 'cos I can't afford them chopping off a chunk of it.

Cover Reveal: It Ain't Easy Being Jazzy By Quanie Miller

Author Quanie Miller is releasing her debut novel, It Ain't Easy Being Jazzy and we jumped at the opportunity to host her cover release. A long-high jump before the chance gets whisked off by other bloggers, finding out the book is the real deal (if it's going for $0.00).

So I present to you the first sneak peak of It Ain't Easy Being Jazzy designed by Whit&Ware Design Services.

Cover

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Blurb: Jazzy secretly wants to get back together with her ex boyfriend, Curtis, so when he calls and reveals that he’s got something important to tell her, she’s got no idea that he’s about to propose—to her first cousin and bitter rival, Mercedes.

The annual family dinner is coming up, and fearing that she will spend the evening seething while Mercedes flaunts her four carat engagement ring in her face, Jazzy asks Reggie, an Adonis she met at the mall, to accompany her. As fate would have it, not only did Reggie and Mercedes used to date; that backstabbing,leopard print wearing cow is still carrying a torch for him! Revenge. It’s never been so sweet.

But falling for Reggie? Holy crap! That wasn’t part of the plan! She’s got enough on her plate as it is with a mother who spies on the neighbors and a sister and best friend with man problems that could land them on Jerry Springer. So when Curtis comes sniffing around again—this time, with an accusation that sends her blood pressure shooting through the roof— the one good nerve that Jazzy’s got left has just about run its course.

Message from Quanie Miller. Thanks for featuring the cover of It Ain’t Easy Being Jazzy on Chick Lit Pad! The novel will be available on October 15 and is loosely based on my experiences living and working in Silicon Valley (although, unlike Jazzy, I have never chased a man with a cast iron skillet). The book will be a great read for those looking for something light, quick, and fun. I hope you’ll have as much fun reading this novel as I had with writing it!

So you heard from Quanie Miller. Stay tuned to Chicklit Pad for a review of It Ain't Easy Being Jazzy before it's release date.

Signing Off,

Kobby.