Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun
My Little Monster

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

I finished the whole series in just a shorter amount of time than I had expected it to. Yes, this is that good, and I feel that I had to write a review when I am done reading it.

First off, Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun is absolutely one of the most beautiful mangas I have ever read! This is one of those mangas that is so heart warming and relateable. You can feel as though you can understand the thoughts and feelings of the characters. I liked how the story was not only focused on the love story between the two main leads. This series is so ... much more than a shoujo manga, it also deals with learning about life, valuing friendship, overcoming challenges and finding your own identity. This is how high school life and romance should be written, since it has utterly captured the beauty and the struggles of it. The character development was brilliant and every single one of them was my favourite. The art was also amazing and it kept on getting better with each volume. The final volume was really special, and I just loved how it ended so perfectly that I would not have preferred a better and more touching ending than this.

Like all the stories I have finished reading, I am quite sad that this series has to end. It was great, fun and unique in its own way. I thoroughly enjoyed reading every page of it. I could have wished for more chapters since I want to see more of it. Oh, and the anime was awesome as well! :) I am definitely going to miss Mitty and Haru-chan!

Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun is probably a manga I won't forget. Despite it having a simple premise and characters that have stereotypical archetypes (Shizuku being a study bug, Haru being an eccentric softie, etc) I still enjoyed this so much because it was executed nicely and, true to the description provided by MAL, a fresh take on your typical tsundere girl x dere boy romance.

The characters are definitely the best part of this manga. Though they aren't groundbreaking, their interactions with each other and how each of them influenced the other characters (directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly) felt so honest and true to ... what high school and youth in general is like. Unlike other shoujos I've read that were so dreamy and impossible, it felt as if what these guys went through and felt could actually happen to you in real life (and some of these things probably have). I especially loved the dynamics of the main protagonist "quartet" (Shizuku, Haru, Natsume and Sasayan), who befriended each other regardless of their differences academically, socially and as a whole -- though this manga focuses on the relationship of Haru and Shizuku, I'm also glad that the mangaka took the time to show us through these four that love can also come in different forms and people, not just in a romantic way, and change us just as equally. Though Haru and Shizuku would definitely be different if they hadn't met, the fact that the people around them were just as important and that they weren't the only people in that world was what made this manga stand out to me.

On that note, the story and writing is probably the epitome of what "slice of life" is. It's slow but mellow, and it ultimately doesn't make you feel as if you're reading filler. The conversations and events that take place are meaningful and there are quite a number of quotable sayings from this manga, at least for me! It was also really funny and sweet, enough to make me giggle at the awkward moments caused by a lot of characters' inexperience (especially Shizuku) when it comes to relationships with others, and even laugh whenever anyone (shout out to the Natsume-Haru duo!!) would do something wacky. Though this work is primarily narrated by Shizuku, whenever it shifts to another person's view for a chapter or two, it never feels out of place and it flowed really nicely overall.

The art was just as wonderful! It was clean and pleasant to look at, and the character designs really fit each of their personalities. (I'll be honest, I looked forward to whenever Natsume came "on screen" because her clothes looked so fun and very fashionable, compared to the modest Shizuku, who dresses like a grandma!) Also, the backgrounds were detailed, and the overall quality was just really great and consistent.

All in all, this is a really enjoyable manga! Though there's certainly romance involved, this manga is about love in general, what it means to truly reach out to someone and what your relationship with that somebody does to you and others as people. It's nothing overly convoluted, but it's not that simple, either. It's a fun read and definitely worth a glance if you have the time. This may be a shoujo, but I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read something a little more unique.

Disclaimer: some scenes differ from the anime and make the manga an overall worse feeling experience. I will elaborate on that part mainly.


The biggest problem for me I consider a personal one but I am sure it is one for many readers, and that is FL(Shizuku) having strong feelings for another character while with ML(Haru) already. It makes little sense, too. Only to be seen in the manga, it might leave the reader feeling irritated and sour. It was a shock since I first watched the anime and it made little sense to me suddenly having Shizuku transform into this meek Shoujo girl with strong ... feelings for another man while having an established relationship. The character lost all of its credibility for me and it stayed that way until the end of the manga- moreso since actual wholesome romance with ML is scarce, so much so that I still am not sure if she actually should be with the other cast member. But that is another discussion.


The content is pretty much the same but with more extras. Most characters are some sort of "outcast" and it shows when interacting with the rest of the cast. While not necessarily bad, the dynamics can be weird and uncomfortable at times. But all in all it feels like a nice little read even if pretty shallow- to add to that, there really isn't much to this manga. It does everything a little but nothing too much or great while at it. It feels like you just see this world pass by- and suddenly it is over not being too memorable.

Would I recommend the manga/when having watched the anime? If you have not watched the anime, go ahead and read it. The mentioned problem still consists but you might be able to overlook it. If you watched the anime, I would recommend ending the series with that. It is not worth destroying a whole character for some added content for me personally.
And as always, art is great :-)