5 Star Manga Review: Horimiya (Vol. 1)

Author| Hero X Daisuke Hagiwara  Rating| 5 Stars

Edition| Paperback

Buy Links| Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Book Depository

This isn't normally the type of story I would pick up, but it's one of the best decisions I've made all year.

Let me tell you a story.  I was complaining to a friend about the slow-burn relationship in Noragami and she told about a great manga where there's a slow-burn relationship (but not to slow) that ends up being the cutest relationship ever.  She said it was just an adorable manga that centered around a great relationship.  Actually, she said less than that, just that it was a fulfilling relationship (eventually she explained a bit more).  Right away, though, I ordered the first volume off of amazon.

And it is absolutely the cutest thing in the world.  Not into manga?  This might change your mind.  Within the first chapter I was completely charmed.

To back up: Horimiya is a high school drama story, sort of.  Basically, Hori, the female lead, is really popular at school.  She never gets to spend time with friends outside of school, though, because her parents are never home and she has to take care of both the house and her brother in a very unglamorous way.  One day, a pierced and tattooed (and good looking) stranger shows up at her door, guiding her little brother home after he fell and hurt himself.  Turns out the stranger isn't really a stranger, but Miyamura, the male lead.  At school he's a shy and strange boy who hides behind bulky clothing and long hair.  On his own time, he's not so afraid to be himself.  Both discover that these secrets bring them closer together and they begin to feel a budding attraction to each other.

And it's super cute!  Have I mentioned that before?

It's a very basic plot, and very little actually happens except that they spend time together.  Every second of the book, though, drips with sexual tension and you just can't wait for them to finally get together, or at least admit, our loud, that they're attracted to each other.

SPOILER ALERT: it doesn't happen in this volume.  My friend has promised that it does happen soon, so finger's crossed it's in the next volume.  Which I have to wait until January for.  END SPOILER ALERT.

I really recommend picking this one up, especially if you're in the mood for a cutesy romance.