SKIP BEAT

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.....

Kyoko's desire for revenge upon finding out that her former childhood friend had been taking advantage of her for years is the catalyst that gets the plot moving and sparks a whole series of changes in Kyoko. Fortunately, the plot and the character's motives eventually grow beyond that story point, or else the story would have become repetitive and one-dimensional.

Rather than being a story about revenge, I would say that Skip Beat ends up being a story about different people coming to terms with the struggles or traumas of the past. For Kyoko, it is her history with Shou and her feelings of abandonment by her mother. For Ren, it is his estrangement from his father and his guilt over the sins of his past. Even the supporting characters have issues that they have to work through.

I really enjoyed both Ren's and Kyoko's characters. They were both well-rounded characters that didn't fall into predetermined tropes, with a variety of different motivations and the ability to grow over time. Their relationship with each other developed really slowly....gradually slowly....I appreciate that in a romance ( "love at first sight" makes me throw up in in my
mouth a little bit) but the pace may be too slow for some people.

The setting gave the mangaka the opportunity to place the main characters in a lot of different situations to push the boundaries of their relationship without it seeming too forced. The change in roles that Ren and Kyoko are portraying in their acting career helped to keep the story stay fresh as well. I especially liked the Cain Heel arc as it really pushed the boundaries in their relationship. I felt like that arc just kind of fizzled out, though, and would have liked to have seen more resolution or permanent changes in how Ren and Kyoko treated one another.....once those roles were over, I felt like their relationship back-tracked too much.

Oh how I love this one! I first started it just because I had nothing to read and it just popped at the top of the list. I fell in love with it on the first page. I spent 35 hours straight reading it. The story captivated me.
The artwork - I did not enjoy it at first because it somehow reminded me Chinese style (I base this on those 3 Chinese mangas I have read), but, as I have reread this one for at least 7 times, I absolutely love the art style, it's not the best one there is, but it just fits with the story. The rough edges and ooo my those expressions in their eyes.

This one somehow compiles a lot of different experiences. The main protagonist is not the sweetest angel, that you usually see in a shoujo manga, and I love it. The way she has been developed during series is wonderful. Romance - everything happens so slowly, and it just makes me warm and fuzzy. Those few erotic moments were so tasteful, and it actually brought charm to the story.
The age gap - adorable. Comedy - marvelous. Drama - outstanding.
I think that this one will be on my re-read list for many more years to come. And I will be devastated when it ends.

Skip Beat is to a certain extent, rather awkward to be considered a shojo manga. Unlike the cotton fluffiness normally displayed in most shojo titles, Skip Beat distinguishes itself from its counter parts through its fervent dialogues and actions. Many times, readers find themselves getting entangled into Kyoko Mogami (the heroine)’s undying display of avant-garde deeds and its difficult not to fall for this heroine. Exactly how can you like someone that can be so naïve and thoughtful, and yet dark and sceptical at the same time? – Read and you will find out.

To compliment the stunning storyline, you have the not-so-perfect (but close enough to make you want more of him) hero - Ren Tsuruga - that fits into the role of Kyoko’s confidant and love interest. Ren has an exceptionally kind and gentle persona but beneath that persona lies a dark past and insecurities that slowly unravel as the story develops.

I especially love the interaction between Ren and Kyoko, and even the not so pleasant re-encounters between Kyoko and her childhood love interest, Sho Fuwa (the jerk who ditched her for glamour and glitter). That said, despite the unforgiving jerk that Sho is, his affection for Kyoko is still very much evident throughout the series and because he does care for Kyoko despite his treatment towards her, its difficult to hate him completely.

The thing I enjoyed about Skip Beat is that a significant developments takes place almost after every chapter and the characters (one if not more) progress in a rather pleasant manner at the end of each chapter. That is, the story doesn’t get stagnant at all and readers find themselves taking something out of each chapter.

Another plus point of Skip Beat is the likeable characters. Whether the good or the bad, one can’t help but empathize with the characters and their situations. Nakamura-san did a splendid job of illustrating the characters - even the supporting roles that make you look forward to each update.

It’s definitely a manga that will keep you at the edge of your seat for the next update. Skip Beat is a healthy blend of finding strength and support in the face of adversity, rediscovering oneself and above all, finding friendship and romance in the most unexpected places and circumstances. In Skip Beat, the idea of romance is not being in possession of someone but rather, love and affection is display through the analogy of being each other’s guardian angel.

I am surprised I loved this one so much. I nearly read all released volumes in like two days! And I could not put it down. I normally don't read a lot of shoujo honestly because I have little patience for the air-headed girls and the bishounen that sweep them off their feet types that populate shoujo, but this one is very addictive -- I love the main character, Mogami Kyouko, and her evolution as an actress!

All of those scenes where she gets to try out new roles (the arcs where she acts in Sho's music video and as Natsu in Box-R are my favorites) are actually kinda thrilling. Especially the Natsu arc. I hope the mangaka continues to make her struggle to become at top actress (while showing more of those awesome acting scenes ofc) the main focus of the manga, with the romance as a side thing.

The guys are typical handsome bishounen, but they're pretty fun too. Ren is mysterious but charming in this cute way. Sho is this arrogant bastard from the beginning of the manga but man he grows on you. Love it! Wish the mangaka released stuff faster.

O.K. look. First glance you think, meh. Second glance, why is this so great and popular???? Third, after being recommended to it SO many time based on what you like you decide to read 1!!! (just 1) chapter. Suddenly everything changes. it is SOO funny, it a fantasy but at the same time not fantasy...... Kyoko reminds me of me. Blind and slightly easy to fool but can get so angry imaginary devils attack! She loves fairys (

The Skip Beat! manga retains much of what makes the anime so great. It’s still a silly, humorous tale about warped intentions and personal rebirth that, when needed, is not afraid to take on the deeper underlying issues. And it still has a stellar main character who has enough soft spots and hard edges to be engaging, and whose growth is central to and the driving force of the plot.

Because it’s much much longer though, the manga includes both positives and negatives that the anime does not. To start off, it’s able to explore the other characters more, giving the main people surrounding Kyouko a bit of life and dimension. It also paints a more all-encompassing picture of Kyouko’s character development, taking us further into the journey with her. The added length also allows the addition of more situations the characters can get involved in, which is a good thing if you want to see more of them, but a bad thing if you think it makes the plot meander a bit too much, especially since a few of these veer toward the more fanciful. In the manga, we also witness the blossoming romance between Kyouko and Ren, and again, depending on whom you ask, this can be considered a strength or a weakness. Personally, I consider it the former. It further showcases just how far Kyoko has come and builds on the theme of learning to love and be vulnerable again. I also like that it’s a slow burn, and we’re allowed to grow with the characters and their feelings. But I do understand why some people have a problem with it, as the romance does lean heavily on the usual tropes. It feels like an indulgence, but it’s an indulgence I welcome and enjoy. A problem that I do have though is with Ren’s character. Don’t get me wrong, I like him well enough, and he makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, but I do wish they could have done something else with his supposed hidden history. It just feels like the manga is trying too hard to make him interesting at the expense of making the plot a little convoluted. I’m okay with him just being himself and not having a dark hidden persona to be afraid of. A character can be sexy without the affectation of danger attached. I also have an issue with some of the male-female interactions not being as progressive as I would like, but these don’t happen often enough to pose a great distraction. The last point of contention is the art style, which does admittedly look outdated, but I eventually got used to it, and it does get better as the manga progresses.

All in all, though Skip Beat! is not without its faults, none of them irritated me enough to stop adoring this manga. It’s definitely a sweet treat, and it’s my kind of sweet treat.

Story: Skip Beat is my favorite story in manga, anime, and even the live action drama! The story is deep but funny and light-hearted with the characters each having some emotional problems having to do with love while the setting is in the world of showbiz.

Art: The art may be a bit unsettling at first since the characters are definitely elongated, but the facial expressions are amazing and the art starts to grow on you after awhile. I love the switch between chibi in the light parts and the detailed expressions in the emotional parts.

Character: The characters are all well planned and characterized, especially the protagonist Kyoko. She's not your typical female protagonist since she is very innocent except for the revenge for Sho. My heart really goes out to her! Ren and Sho as well are well characterized with emotions and character depth. Even though you are meant to hate Sho, I really can't hate him for too long because of his character flaws. This story also portrays the different types of relationships well.

Enjoyment: The rollercoaster that is Skip Beat is definitely a fun one! As Ren and Kyoko get closer, there is more and more tension and the depth is well balanced with the funny parts and chibi.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this manga, even if you don't typically read shoujo.

When I heard about Skip Beat, I was like, “What the heck is that? Is that even a good manga?? Whatever, i should just read it so i can write a review on it...."

So when I read the summary, I was like, this story is definitely the same as the simple shoujo manga that everyone reads, but its not, it’s a simple romance comedy that should be appreciated! While reading the summary, I thought that this was kind of stupid. After reading a couple of chapters, the main character, Kyoko, kind of reminded me of other characters. I'm not a big fan of characters reminding me of other characters, but as the story gradually climaxed, it made me think about a lot of things. Like Sho is the typical bishounen and Ren is the usual quiet guy with a mysterious past. The plot line was a little normal, but while reading this manga, I realized that it made me look forward to more. Then after that, i realized that with every scene, it made my heart skip a beat. I wonder if this is why the manga is called Skip Beat.

I remember thinking, “What was I thinking when I said that this isn’t a good story. I was wayyyy WRONG!” I just laughed at myself and I found the reason why this has such high marks. I definitely think that this manga is worth the 10, a perfect score!

The romance is absolutely complicated. I really don’t understand how Sho might possibly like her and why Ren would worry a lot about her. I believe that the artist should give a little more detail, but also keep it the way that it’s been. The process of the story is truly amazing and i give a lot of credit to the artist. I just think that the romance could be a little better.

The story has all sorts of genres. Like romance, shoujo, comedy, and more. The plot line is good so far, but I'd really like it if there was a girl that interfered with Ren and Kyoko. But that’s just my opinion. I think that Sho should show up more in the manga and he should be put in the story in a way that puts the readers in awe.

Overall the story is truly amazing and if you’re looking for a simple comedic shoujo to read this is meant for you. I don’t want you to decide if the story is good or not, based on the summary. I want you to read it and appreciate this manga, based on what you think. It’s the one manga that will leave you in awe about the celeb world. It also makes you realize that not all celebrities have the time of their lives being famous. I think that everyone should at least attempt to read this manga.

I definitely recommend it to people of all ages and all genders.

Who wouldn’t love a simple story that makes your heart skip a beat with every scene??

Skip beat! is a truly wonderful manga, at first I was a bit skeptical in reading it but after the first few chapters I was instantly hooked. Skip Beat is a story about a girl who gave her everything to a guy but then finds out that he had been using her all along. Kyoko left everything behind to support her love Shotaro, who wants to become a star. She works herself to the bone to try and please him, until she stumbles across him having a conversation with his manager. She finds out that Shotaro has never had true feelings for her and had just been enjoying her stupidty. Kyoko filled in a fit of rage promises that she will enter the show business herself and get her revenge.

At first the plot seems faintly ridiculous, with naive characters. However as the story progresses the characters develop and revenge takes a back seat after Kyoko realises that acting is the only thing she has done for herself and actually enjoyed. The characters are brilliant, they instantly won my heart. Especially the main character, I found myself cheering at her every achievement and crying at every mistake. The manga has just the right balance of humour and emotion.

For me the only let down in this manga is the artwork, but that might just me being fussy! I have truly loved every single chapter so far and am waiting on tenterhooks for the next few chapters to be released.

I hope this helps!! :)

I have to admit, when I first looked at the description of Skip Beat, I thought that this manga, like others, would be full of shoujo moments, such as the bishounens, compulsory love triangle, and most importantly, the heroine contemplating how to show her affections for the male lead. Yet, Skip Beat portrays its characters and the plot in a way that's rather revolutionary and inspiring.

Kyoko Mogami, the protagonist of Skip Beat, surpasses my expectations. Sure, I did not like her portrayal at the beginning of the manga as a girl engulfed in a one-sided love, but she soon recovers from that and begins her quest to become an actress. Kyoko's emotions have a wide range, from menacing to absolutely charming. She's very mature in one way, but becomes a child anew when listening to stories about princesses and ladies. It is very enjoyable to see how she has a lot of talent, yet remains grounded. Readers with all types of personalities will definitely be able to connect with her on an emotional level, even if they haven't done the same things as Kyoko has.

Ren Tsuruga is often known as the "cold-hearted ladies' man". He is very frank when talking with others, especially about his profession. Yet, Nakahara-sensei could have developed his character a little more. Later in the series, he goes through a lot of inner turmoil, but readers cannot connect with him because they can barely understand Ren's emotions. As expected of a shoujo male lead, he is very talented, from fighting to acting, but is not as well-rounded as I had hoped for.

Yashiro, Ren's manager, and Lory Takarada, the president of Kyoko's and Ren's agency, have an uncanny knack for being able to sort out Kyoko's and Ren's problems. As Ren's manager, Yashiro is able to pinpoint the feelings that Ren has, from hatred to liking to jealousy. Takarada, on the other hand, does the same, but he guides the characters gently with his pearls of wisdom. Both characters are there for comedic relief as well as their viewpoint of the whole situation.

The story is more creative than most, as the way acting is taken so seriously taken gives the impression that acting is an art, not just a simple task. Not many shoujo leads are motivated by revenge and don't know how to love, like Kyoko. Sho Fuwa's narcissism is something that would be expected, yet, he brings a new type of understanding to the whole concept of loving oneself. In the incipient stages of the series, everything seems like fun and games, but later on, the manga explores some dark themes that may be disturbing to one yet captivating to another.

In the beginning, I was kind of disappointed with the art. Ren and Sho have extremely long, triangular faces, and there's barely any distinction between them and other male characters their age in the series. I wish that Ren would have some human proportions, because even though this is a manga (and not real) I would have liked to see Ren as more of a normal person. Kyoko is very expressive throughout the series and I'm glad to see that, opposed to the impassive faces of Ren and others.

So far, I have definitely enjoyed this manga! I love to reread the character-defining moments in the series, as they motivate me. Skip Beat is such an insightful yet enjoyable manga that anyone would like to read.

Is this the One Piece of shoujo manga?

It's been a minute since I last wrote a review, but it's been many more minutes since Skip Beat! began. In the simple words of a fellow reader of this series:

"Either we will die or the author will die before this manga is completed"

Honestly I've faithfully followed Skip Beat! for several years now, with the intent of postponing my review until its completion. But what is this? "This pacing is rather slow," thought I. "The clothing and hairstyles are a bit outdated as well, I noticed. Just when did this begin? ...I'm sorry, does that say 2002?!? We're coming up on 20 years now?!"

Before we get into actual series content/quality, my preliminary advice is to put off starting this series for as long as you can so that you aren't left waiting for monthly updates of chapters that are unfailingly short. There it is, I can't do more for you on that front, let's get to critique.

Skip Beat! is sublime, despite its mediocre artwork. A long-running series ought to boast of (1) an expansive storyline and (2) notable character development; Skip Beat! succeeds in both.

We achieve the former through the realm of entertainment. As an actress, Kyoko's ongoing improvement in her acting range translates directly to the environmental expansion viewed by the reader. It's historical drama, it's an action flick, it's shoujo within shoujo (so meta!). I most likely would have dropped the series upon reaching the latest chapters, except one of these subplots hooked my interest and I remain hopeful for more content like it.

The latter benefit, character development, is the author's particular--and possibly indirect--skill. Without this, the series would be truly unbearable. Truthfully, characters' big "realization" moments are somewhat overblown and fairly trite. However, the underlying pace of the story actually results in subtle shifts for the story's leads that are very satisfying to consider at large. I wonder how much this effect is derived from the author's own maturing over 2 decades of work.

To conclude, Skip Beat! holds a unique place in the ranks of shoujo manga for a reason. I think you'll find something to enjoy in its many pages, but if you like conclusions (like me), then hold off for "another minute."

I love this manga, this is the kind of manga you just love more every time you read it. It's got a lot of chapters so that's good.

At this moment I've read the chapters until (and including) 248. I am going to keep editing this as I read so I'll be caught up and you'll have a better idea of the entire thing.

NO SPOILERS

So I'll start with this: Kyoko is a great main character!!!
Skip beat! is one of those rare stories where the main character is what pulls me into the story. Often main characters are vaguely heroic but deeply self-centered in a hypocritical way and their motives can be so boring and unrealistic. But Kyoko is what always makes Skip Beat! fun to read. She's eager, sweet, but has a creepy voodoo obsession and a temper you do not want to mess with. You always understand what she's feeling yet she keeps surprising you. She's funny, crazy, obsessive, bitter, paranoid AND naive, determined, honest (well, most of the time), enthusiastic and an unapologetic dreamer. She also portrays fear of love perfectly and with both humor and that touch of realism. She's what we all dream of being: completely herself.

I like the story a lot, it's shoujo and has the shoujo quirks of (seriously) dragging out romance and the revenge thing is not exactly new I guess... But it has no black and white characters. It has thoughtful character development. Also there's great friendships, weird characters, weird situations (seriously edging on wacky sometimes), there's some real emotional depth to the story but it's kept light hearted for the most part, and doesn't have the lock-yourself-up-in-your-room-and-cry-for-three-days-straight-thing that some anime and manga tend to go for. You find new insights into the characters every single chapter.

Another big part of what I loved about Skip Beat is that the showbizz part is viewed as an actual profession. It shows the hard work, the creativity, the guts, the perseverance and the passion needed to actually make it as well as the help of others. Not only that, you can also feel the FUN radiating off the page, the pride and the joy in it. I'm always looking forward to every new part of it.

I think the art is better in the later chapters than it was in the beginning and certainly better than what is portrayed in the anime, and it has changed a lot (slowly but steadily) so it is a little inconsistent but beautiful and great at showing emotions and that's what counts.

As you have probably realized, I enjoyed this manga immensely, and am still really looking forward to new chapters coming out. I hope this review was helpful, and at least made you a bit curious :D

When i looked at skip beat first and saw it was a shoujo, i won't lie to you, i was not impressed, all the sparkles and showbiz i thought it look so unoriginal, i put off reading it for as long as it's been out! however i picked it up this two days ago and have been unable to put it down! i finished all 177! it's FREAKIN AMAZING!

Story: when i read the first chapter i was unconvinced but about 5 chapters in it all took off and i realised the way the story was going to be written! it's not really fluffy more funny and deep. but its not boy meets girl, love triangle ensues...this story is so much more, its so REALISTIC. which is what i love about it, because the past of the characters are there and yes, they influence them, but They Don't talk about it every second panel, its realistic in the sense that, even if something hurts you, you have to move on, and i think the story painted this perfectly. I have also had tears coming out of my eyes from laughing so hard at the dialogue!

Art: i admit upon reading it first i found the art so confusing and hard to see, but that got better from about chapter three, the expression she shows on them is truly amazing, I've read so many manga and this is the first where I've seen a character make as many emotional faces as Tsuruga ren has made and they all look so genuine, the care taken in the portrayal of them is so good, and all the costumes the characters have. the panels can be a bit packed sometimes so that's why it gets a nine.

Character: The character development in this manga is excellent. every character is so unique and their personalities are so life like. sometimes you can guess what's gonna happen in the next panel, because you know that character so well that you know what they're gonna say next. The thing is although they develop and learn as the manga goes along, the original character is still there, just having learnt something new. the only thing i have against it is that the main character although she has learnt and developed, is too much the same. it's a plus but also a minus in terms that she hasn't realised things that she should have etc..

Enjoyment: this gets full marks. i read all the available chapters there are. this manga will draw every emotion out of you. i have felt anxiety, panic, happiness, sadness, curiosity and even anger! I've laughed out loud so many times and felt like despairing with the character aswell. this is a guaranteed read, don't trust the cover and enter into this incredibly detailed and realistic world!

It's been so many years since I've started this manga, and since then, I've read it at least four times, and when a wave of nostalgia hit me 2 months ago, I decided to read it again - realizing that about a hundred chapters were released since I last picked it up.

This manga is everything. I've started it as a teen, and even as a 23 year old young adult, I can still appreciate it. Here are some of my thoughts based on my most recent read.

Story:

Honestly, if nothing else, story is the main pont of this one hell of a rollercoaster ride. Even when you think they cannot possibly think of something new, the mangaka introduces a new storyline, a new movie to shoot, a new struggle for the characters to overcome, a new setting... anything to make it interesting, and even after 276 chapters, it works! (surprisingly enough)

Characters:

Each character is unique, and you are guaranteed to fall in love with all of them. There are no cliché characters here: even if they seem like that, by the 3rd chapter they appear in, they will be fleshed out characters that you will hope to read more about.

The main character, Kyoko, is the best shoujo - nevermind that, the BEST - character I've ever seen in any manga (and even some books). While she goes through serious character development, she always stays true to who she is, using her past experiences to move forward and become a woman that she herself can be proud of.

Art:

The art has improved a lot since the very beginning, and it has seen a big - and quite controversial - change in the recent chapters. For long-time fans of the manga, it might be weird at first, but it's definitely more fresh and modern now, although I still love the initial style too.

Conclusion:

I could write for eons about the sheer awesomeness of this manga, but let me just say this: whatever you like about a shoujo manga (be it the sappy romance, the love triangles, the slow development, the excitement, ANYTHING), you will surely find something (if not everything) to love in this one. I strongly suggest you give it a chance, because it will be one hell of a ride, but on you will not want to get out of.

skip beat is and will always be one of my favorite manga.everything makes you read it and hold your breath for the next chapter.it is an unique story full of laughter,touching moments and romance.
Story:it is one of my top 5.i read it and re-read it countless times but still i want to read it again.it doesn't tire out the reader but keeps him in alert for what it'll happen.i really like spending time reading it.it worths every single minute.
Art:well the characters are reallyyyy well-done and i don't think it has any errors.it matches the types and attitudes and the chibi-forms or the special effects such as kyoko becoming a squirrel are awesome.
Character:in this manga i found some of the best heros and heroins that i ever found.kyoko goes off the typical and i wouldn't like it any other way. ren is cool,handsome,deep chara that needs to be there. as well as the president,maria,moko,yoshiro-san and the others are really funny and cool.
Enjoyment:i don't have anything to say more than 100/10
Overall:i love it.i can't wait for the next chapters.it's really interesting:):):)

This manga isn't all that original cause in quite a few mangas that I have read, the story line has been pretty much the same by being about revenge.

Story: It'd pretty much all about a girl and a former best friend/first love who decides to go to Tokyo to become a pop star and takes her with him just so she can do all the house work. Later, she over hears him talking to another actress about her and says that he feels nothing for her and that she's nothing to him. After hearing that she decides to enter the show-biz world and become an actess to try and get back at him for leading her on.
So, in all honesty, who has read something that isn't something along those lines? It pretty much has no originality or creativity what-so-ever, but it really is a good read.

Art: The art is amazing! ! The characters' emotions are shown prefectly on the characters face and in their body language. The author is very precise on how he wants the emotions of his characters to be brought across. When their pissed, you know their pissed, not by what their saying, but by how they look. When they're happy, you can tell, when they're sad, you can tell. When they feel anyother emotion, you can tell.

Character: The character isn't origianl, like I said before, but it does have SOME origianlity. The characters are independent and do what they have to, to get what they want. Everythiong else about is just amazing to.

I very much so enjoyed it and I would most definetly recommend it to anyone and everyone

Overall: AWESOME! ! 10 til the end! !

Both the best and worst thing about this Manga is that it is still ongoing.

The benefit of this is that it keeps developing so well and this is my favorite story arc of any manga I have ever read. For me, it competes with some great novels' storyarcs.

At no point did I feel like the story had throw-away scenes or repetition of the same old problems.
(Unlike for example, Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge-
[url=https://myanimelist.net/manga/422/Yamato_Nadeshiko_Shichihenge%E2%99%A5?q=the%20wallflower].
Just when I think the story is going to end because some conflict is resolved, another one pops up.
And while this Manga isn't really billed as a mystery, it probably should be due to all of the backstories and drama that pop up for the characters. I love how this manga was able to create so much anticipation in a scene with just some drawings and dialogue.

I have read everything published to date (Up to the March 2017 release) and I suspect this manga won't be wrapped up until AT LEAST 5 more years (2022) at the current rate of story telling, which is why I say the manga still ongoing is one of the worst parts.

I know some people complained about having started it and then having to wait the 6 months between volume releases, but I'm looking forward to getting to re-read the story in anticipation of each release. I hate re-reading or rewatching things, but that is how much I love this story.

I also love the character development.

Because the characters and stories are so great, I didn't really care about how good the art was, but there were a few points where I couldn't really tell what the image was.

Overall, favorite anime/manga to date and I'm sooooooo sad I'm going to have to wait several years for the resolution, but I'm glad they don't rush this story either.

When I was first contemplating reading Skip Beat!, I was hesitating a lot. I'm not the type who likes really long stories, nor did the synopsis caught my attention that much. However, once I got into it, due to an intense persuasion by a friend, I couldn't stop.

Story:

Skip Beat! is not your standard, very cliché shoujo-romance manga where the plot revolves around the female and male lead falling in love and eventually getting together. The manga, of course, has romance as well, but it's also a lot more than that. It's a story about a young girl with a mentally abusive past finding her own path and happiness in life and learning to love herself (and eventually others) in the process.

The story itself is very grounded, since the mangaka had it all planned out at the beginning, so there is lots of foreshadowing as well. It's full of funny, hilarious, heart-wrenching and also angsty moments, so you can't help but in one minute laugh and then in the next one cry your eyes out. The story-telling is incredibly detailed and also quite slow-paced (while still keeping the enjoyment), the mangaka puts loads of attention on every little detail, which makes the story very unique and you can truly feel the slowburn. Every chapter ends with a cliff-hanger so you can't help but be dragged into it more and more.

Art:

The art is the only downside of Skip Beat!, in my opinion. At the beginning of the story the art style is definitely not too appealing, the chins are too narrow and long, the arms and legs are too dis-proportioned compared to the body and the overall impression of the art is not the best. However, you can definitely see it all improving, the more recent chapters can even be called beautifully drawn.

In a strange way, the art also one of the manga's strong points. Nakamura Yoshiki is incredibly talented in drawing the emotions displayed on the character's faces and in the eyes. It's incredible how strongly she can convey the feelings to the readers, it's truly outstanding.

Character:

Probably one of the strongest points of the manga. Every character is incredibly unique, and all of them are very human with notable flaws. The supporting characters also get their precious "screen time" and all of them under-go character growth as well.

The main female lead is unlike any of the shoujo heroines I've ever encountered. She is vengeful, she has a heart full of hate, and lost the ability to love others. She, on the other hand is also incredibly strong-willed, strong and very naive. Her mentally abusive past makes her very relatable, and in a way, controls her actions and thoughts. She shapes the main story and message of Skip Beat!, since it's all about her growth and about her finding herself and learning to love again.

The main male lead, just like the female lead, is an incredibly complex character, and his story, background and character growth is just as important and relevant to the story line, as hers. Coming from a physically abusive, painful and guilt-ridden past, he too, has to go through a lot in order to finally let it all go and allow himself the happiness and love he ultimately deserves.

The story, among everything else, is also a story of these two people finding and - unbeknownst to them - healing each other along the way.

Enjoyment:

To sum it up, I believe that the "shoujo" label is misleading, since I'm certain that not just girls can enjoy the story that this manga offers. It has everything a good story needs. Outstanding storyline, complex characters, totally torturous, slow-building romance, good humor, angsy moments.

I would suggest everyone not to judge the book by it's cover, aka do not judge by the un-appealing art-style at the beginning, because the story is more than worth the amount of time it requires to read.

A shōjo like no other (and it feels great!)

Get ready to laugh over and over again!
Wouldn't Skip Beat be one of the most hilarious mangas that exists? Honestly, I think so.

First the synopsis. The main character - Kyōko Mogami - moved to Tokyo to follow her childhood friend - Shō Fuwa - (whom she is in love with). Having become a well-known singer in Japan, he ended up manipulating Kyōko, throwing her away from his life like she was nothing to begin with. Put yourself in her shoes? What would you do? I would probably cry. Well Kyōko has decided otherwise and she intends to take revenge. She decides to become an actress and integrate the competing company of Shō which produces stars such as actors and singers. Then she will meet the other main character - Ren Tsuruga – a handsome talented man recognized as one or even the best actor in Japan. He will become his mentor and will start falling in love with Kyōko.

A love triangle like no other
Let's agree, I hate love triangles in shojos, too cliché for my taste. The main character is generally in love with the brown hair guy, the brown is also in love with her but cannot admit his feelings. Then the sad heroine will find some comfort in the arms of a very kind blond, respectful and always present. Their story develops and then plot twist! The brown finally wakes up after months and decides to win back her love and the worst is that he succeeds. And the blond guy (way too nice) lets his sweetheart join his true love... MY GOD STOP!

Skip Beat offers a completely different approach:
1°) The heroine has built a real relationship with the two men. As a result, we appreciate these two relationships.
2°) The three characters are charismatic, funny, ambitious and slightly naive which gives them an endearing side. It also allows the story to go further.

More than 250 chapters...
Skip Beat has been published monthly since 2002. The series is still in progress with over 250 chapters/42 volumes (83 chapters/18 volumes for Ouran High School Host Club, 85 chapters/18 volumes for Kaichou Wa Maid-sama!).

Why is the story still not finished?
If we constantly wonder how the love story will evolve, we do not forget that the main character is Kyōko, and which heroine: beautiful, funny, intelligent, ambitious. She is not just reduced to a girl who seeks love since Kyōko, betrayed by Shō, refuses to fall in love again. She has a real goal: to become the greatest actress in Japan. The story invites us to follow her dream.

In summary
I read a lot of shōjos and for now Skip Beat is my favorite one. I have read it over and over again with the same enthusiasm. I therefore advise it to all those who are revolted by weak main characters who take no initiative. Kyōko Mogami is an example for all the heroines of shōjo.

The story is funny and it makes you laugh many times.
The main character - Kyoko Mogami - is a young girl who promised that she take revenge on the boy she loved once. She entered show biz for this sake. Kyoko want to became an famous actress so she must belive in herself and learn to love once again.
In this story are many funny situations, there are sad and romantic moments too.
This is the best manga I've ever read. I think the best of the story characters are
Kyoko's demons, they're the true comedians.