Ranked #429

Sukitte Ii na yo. (Manga)

Story
A girl who's never made friends before and who has given up on people is suddenly befriended by the most charismatic, popular boy in school. Sure, it's very shoujo-ish, but it stands out because it's so well done. Standard "episodes" like The First Kiss and The Overnight Trip and The Interfering Playboy are treated with surprising originality and depth. It's also more mature, but the "smut" isn't gratuitous; it's refreshing reading a manga like this that isn't about the heroine accepting the hero's feelings but about the progression of their very real, romantic relationship. Early on, they start dating, and THAT'S the focus, not on all the obstacles in the way of them starting to date, as often happens (e.g. Hana Yori Dango).

Art
Beautiful art. The heroine is adorable--small,untidy, pretty, and awkward at times. The mangaka managed to convey her stubbornness and strength in her appearance. The hero is GORGEOUS. I often complain about male leads just not being good looking enough, but this guy was designed great. He's sparkly (the way only manga guys can be) and while he isn't muscle-bound, the mangaka managed to make him look like a sportsman, not another super-slim pretty boy you often see in these stories.

Character
The hero and heroine are what make me love this story so much. In stories like this, usually the heroine is timid and needs to be coaxed out of her shell. Here, she's unsociable, hot-tempered, and stubborn. She's also very straightforward and insightful when it comes to people. It's refreshing having a strong heroine like her, who isn't just adorable and afraid of people, and who also isn't always putting herself in stupid,embarrassing situations she needs to be rescued from by the hero. The guy I also really like; he's very popular and charming, but also very kind, and his feelings for the girl are in the open from the start.

Enjoyment
One of my favorites. I check all the time for updates. Every chapter so far has been a great read.

Overall
With regards to this particular, "loner girl" formula, my favorite. It's got just the right blend of comedy, depth, and smut. read more

I've only read four chapters of this manga so far and I'm dying for more. At first, it was the art that compelled me to this manga. I especially love the way Hazuki Kanae draws hair and makes each and every character look so individual.

Beyond the way the characters are drawn it’s easy to tell that their personalities will come out in further chapters if they have not already. I’m in love with the characters and especially fond of Mei, a girl who reminds me so much of myself.

There's not much to say about the plot, and I'm rating this manga mostly on my predictions. The plot seems good so far and I think it will blossom into something brilliant. I think that this manga is really worth following.
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