If you like shoujos or joseis that are not so cutesy but still fun and lighthearted give this story a try.
Chizu's life is turned around in the beginning by her father's passing, she has to move to a new family and country and is not familiar with anything. She has to learn the language and culture while missing and her Dad and old home.
I started reading this, because it is scanned by a group that does stories I like, so I know I am going to like the stories that they pick to work on, and it was by the mangaka of some other good stories. So, I have been reading each chapter as it comes out for a while. It is only 3 volumes so at this writing only the one shot extra story is left to go and the main story is complete.
I liked the story because it blended romance with humor and a good story and some unusual situations that are not your usual cliches.
I would rate the story line an 8 or 9.
The manga takes place in two countries and discusses the differences between Japanese and American culture in realistic ways as she tries to adjust.
Chizu has been raised as an American girl in Las Vegas of all places and gambling and finding your fortune in life is a big theme of this manga.
Her father had always said that she was like a lucky charm and brings good fortune to those around her, although it does not make her win herself.
Chizu is big hearted and emotive although sweet and she is a fun main character who can pull some antics. She acts childish in some ways but it is not irritating. She is a girl who wants both her career and the man she loves and does not want to give up either.
Her love interest is a Japanese university student and I liked his character as well. He was thankfully like a real person and did not fall into the cliches that are common in many modern shoujos - ie, he is not a bad boy, a prince or a torturer nor pervert but just a nice handsome guy.
Overall, I rated it an 8, it is enjoyable and different enough you won't feel like you are reading a clone of another shoujo story and the characters are actually nice real seeming people with both good and bad traits that are not done in an overblown way, but more like the way people actually behave. I remembered the story just fine each month so I did not have to re-read chapters to know what was going on or who the characters were, like I have to with some stories that all seem the same.
I did not have the urge to hit the characters over the head in my mind like I do with so many!! lol
If you like fun characters without tons of cliches and drama and an interesting romance as a side line to a good story with a female lead you would like as a friend - try Ohimesama no Yurikago.
