Ranked #6926

Girlfriend (Manga)

The title of the series is "Girlfriend" and the author makes a few attempts to link the title with the content. In my opinion this link is unsuccessful -at least in a western context- since a title like "f*ck buddies" or "Friend with benefits" would do for most of the stories.

Don't get me wrong, it makes an interesting read and it can make you root for a character... it can disgust you a lot too. If you feel uneasy about cheating boyfriends/girlfriends or adult-teenager relationships, be ready to feel very uneasy at some points. There are however some bitter-sweet stories (never entirely sweet) that are worth the while. Also, be ready for a lot of sexual scenes depicting various poses. The author is specially attracted to bj's, but worry not, the male reproductive organ is only implied.

The stories are rarely revisited and never conclude entirely. It's like a feeling of a lot of knots being tied and problems that arise without ever being resolved (I can only think of one or two stories that do reach an ultimate conclusion). There are of course a lot of cliché stories being exploited. Of how realistic they can be I guess depends on what sort of sub-world you live in: there is without a doubt teenage sexuality without love, based on self esteem problems or even loneliness and curiosity. However, being in my late tweens, I don't really think I've ever been in a relationship that twisted or at least never really thought of them in this depressive angle.

The art is good. It may not be extremely beautiful, but it fits the realism the author wants to imprint the stories with. Still, it's not realistic enough as to draw fatty girls, for some reason all the girls in the series seem to be pretty and the one complain is to be plain (then again it's mostly a guy's point of view).

The characterization: Yes, there are horny girls in the world and I can identify myself with that (not all of us are so crazy about bj's, though). Men can be sometimes more prudish. The author seems to enjoy portraying women using men for their status, their vulnerability, their shyness, etc. Women in the series mostly want to use the men to experience sexuality without strings attached or for selfish reasons (eg. boost their self-esteem so they can chase after another guy). The one exception to the rule I can think of is the only story told in the girls pov. Guys are masochists: be ready for a lot of "I know she's playing with me, but I can't help it".

You will be drawn to the series. You will want to read more to see if you'll finally learn what happened with x couple. As the dread pirate Roberts said: Get used to disappointments. It will make an impression on you, whether good or bad depends on how much you feel related to the story and how much offense you take on the chosen topics.

I can't say I enjoyed it, I can't say I suffered it. I certainly would have chosen NOT to read it if I knew how most the stories would turn out. I would not read it again either.

All in all: inconclusive storyline, nice art, semi-twisted but possibly lovable characters, will make an impact on you. read more

Ok , I'm not really a manga reader, but here's my 2 cents about this one:

No central story (therefore the low grade), but keep in mind that this particular manga doesn't need one: It's all about the ups and downs of a bunch of (mostly) high-school relationships.The characters are explored in sufficient depth, provided their stories are usually very short.I found the couples very interesting, for each had its unique share of problems.I admit that many of the situations aren't terribly realistic, but it didn't bother me personally.
Many of the other reviews I've read complain about the fact that there is too much sex going on in the manga and that many of the girls act slutty, cheat , etc.While clearly there are some exaggerations, I find that overall the manga does a good job at depicting the psychology of the average teenagers throughout their first steps in the world of interpersonal relationships: sometimes too eager, sometimes too shy, excessively horny and psychologically unstable, girls can't figure out their emotions, guys can't figure out the girls, etc, etc.Everyone who's had at least one turbulent relationship in their youth is bound to get this good ol' "been there , done that" feeling at least a couple of times while reading this.
Bottom line, it's certainly not a manga everyone will enjoy, so make sure to give it a try and find out if it's your cup of tea read more