So, this manga is probably one of the best your gonna get from this genre. At least, as I've found so far. I said this with the anime as well, but Kimi ni Todoke is as realistic as realistic get with romantic fiction, and that's really nice. I won't lie to you: if you don't like slow paced things, this manga will probably bore you more often than not. It does take the story extremely slow, so you need to be invested in the characters to care about what's happening.

Though, that really shouldn't be a problem, because all of the characters written for this manga are absolutely amazing. I think the thing I loved seeing the most was how the characters' friendships were written. It felt authentic to watch Sawako's friendship begin and develop with her friends because the writer took such care with it. It's because of that specifically that this manga could be about more than just romance. It had substance beyond that.

Some of the negatives, and I'm gonna keep it a buck, the story's pure form as far as the romance goes got so boring after a while of reading it. Don't get me wrong, this is a really inspirational manga that really showcases what it means to be a teenager, especially a teenager that feels invisible. It tells a great story about a great main character that breaks out of her shell... but the *romance,* oh my goodness. The development of it was wonderful and realistic. I think seeing how she falls in love was done beautifully. However, after a while (about where the anime drops off... well, at least for the main character), it just got to be a bit too much.

It didn't turn super gushy, but it felt like the progression with the characters stopped in favor of romantic developments and conflicts. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the series probably should've stopped a bit earlier than it did, but I understand why it went where it went.

I've got the negatives fresh in my mind because I didn't quite enjoy the last stretch of the manga, BUT the manga as a whole is amazing. Honestly, if you want a good slice-of-life type romance manga, you should read this. It's warm and comforting, and it'll make you happy from the bottom of your heart. Just... pace yourself with reading it so you don't get jaded like I did. That's all for now.