As a shoujo romance, Nanoka no Kare is one of the stronger ones lately. It's has character building and development and the relationships and feelings keep you wanting to read to see what will happen next. At 36 chapters into it, I want to read more.

The art is quite beautiful, realistic and emotional, both in portraits and in action. It's by the artist of Akuma to Love Song and all the characters in Nanoka are so well drawn, they seem very real. The writer is not one I've read other works by before.

Nanoka,the female lead is more straightforward and take charge than most shoujo leads, she boldly makes a confession to a guy she had just met. I rather like her and understand her. The feelings of all the characters in this series develop, and are complex. She is a good shoujo lead heroine. I liked her better than the heroines of Strobe Edge and Crazy for You, ones that are along it's lines.

This is a definite triangle with two very different male leads who over time will make you like them. In the beginning of the story, you might definitely like the younger one Hayato, the good guy, but when you see Takato's, the other's, feelings that he keeps to himself, you will understand him too and start to question which one you prefer. Around chapter 30 you will start to like Takato, or maybe you will like both... hehe. Takato actually tries to change and in a lot of ways he is the most interesting character in it although in some ways he has that bad boy vibe. Hayato I like a lot but Takato is more complex.

The story comes off strong at first, then gets a bit muddy, but recovers and becomes rather intense with a lot of things happening, ie drama, however, it's enjoyable and exciting as you get further into it and get to see more of what's in the mind of the two male leads. It does have cycles of drama and it's more of a drama and character story rather than a plot.

The point of view changes between each of the three sides of the triangle in different chapters letting you see what that person is thinking and feeling from their perspective. This was one of the strongest points of this romance and I think it gives it more intensity than just seeing it from one person. It also lets you see all how each of the is different and similar.

However, there are points of this that are typical and cliche of many shoujos and the story itself is rather average shoujo, however, I really like it. It's an ongoing series that I think many shoujo lovers will enjoy. I give it an 8.