I have a lot to say about Maid sama and I'll start with the good points. Misaki is a likable character because she's hard-working and gets a decent amount of development. The series is an easy read, you're not reading shoujo manga for the deep stories. You read it for the characters and relationships. Most characters are likable, except for a few that are only there as a running gag.
The beginning has a nice pacing, then it gets really repetitive in the middle and picks up a bit again in the end. Eighteen volumes is too long for the series, it could have been wrapped up in less. I liked how they actually became a couple in the middle of the series and not dragging it on until the first kiss at the last page.
Usui is one of the most Gary Stu persons I've ever seen. He's good at everything, handsome, popular, mysterious. He's the detached lone wolf. But his behavior is not consistent. He has always been affectionate towards Misaki but whenever he was asked whether they were in a relationship he was saying "that would be bothersome". If that was an attempt to show that he's torn between keeping her close and keeping her away, it's not believable to just say it once in a while to a third person.
Usuis family circumstances are out of the most cliche kind, setting up a Romeo and Juliet scenario that is not very convincing. The story tries to tell you that the couple is from different worlds but Misaki is never rejected from reaching out to him. She gets smuggled as a waiter to his high prestige birthday party. The people from the wealthy school give her special treatment, training even to make it possible for her to see Usui. She is being bullied a bit by those people but all in all she's receiving huge amounts of support an actual "normal" person wouldn't get.
The story also tries to tell you that his heritage is a heavy burden for Usui but you have to pull out more reasons out of the ass to prove it. Apparently he was able to avoid it all until high school. Usui doesn't seem to be traumatized from having no friends either. Having to play the noble is mildly annoying but he can do it effortlessly. I was waiting for something that would show me that inheriting a huge pile of money is actually a bad thing.
Regarding Usuis and Misakis relationship, I wish there was a development in Usuis feelings. Misaki slowly realizes her feelings but Usui's just been clingy from the first chapter. It would have been nice if it was portraited a little better that he just found her interesting at first and if there were some little hints of kindness from Misaki to make him fall in love with her soft side. (At least I think that was the intention.)
Misaki is a little bit better than Usui but it feels hard to relate to her as well. She's the best and only second to Usui. She's bad at cooking.. okay, a lot of people are. She doesn't know etiquette (until taught) and doesn't know about fashion (but is still the best looking of the bunch of course). Her weaknesses don't have real consequences and anything she lacks, she learns really quickly. I guess it makes sense that Usuis partner can one be someone equally drowning in accomplishments. But she's not struggling enough to overcome her shortcomings to make you feel like she deserved it.
Some of the side story lines and relationships were sweet though. Like Suzuna's crush on You-kun or the story about Usuis parents.
