This tale was very pretty and inspirational; it was just right for a young girl, perhaps one who really loves the world of ice skating.
It isn't about the "romance" of Maya and Shun; rather, it is about the "romance" of helping one another to shine. It does have a heart flutter or two, though, and they were entirely innocent and wonderfully sweet.
The shoujo style aspects of flowers and emotions are all tastefully and moderately done; there are no overly flowery scenes or high melodrama, but it still runs at a fast, clippy reading pace. I think this partly had to do with the unusually short chapters, running around 15 pages, verses the 40 or so that I'm use to with more mature titles. Regardless, my interest, even as a...er..."seasoned" adult was completely captivated.
Maya is similar in personality to Tohru, from Fruits Basket, and just as cute and likeable. Shun is appropriately dark and mysterious with a serious, sad past, though never as intensely tragic as Kyo or Yuki. The older coach fits the bill as the the funny and clever Shigure character. Yup, a lot of parallel FB characters...
A large part is the bright, spacious and alive-with-movement art, but what really makes this predictable story sparkle is its delivery through the world of ice skating itself. While reading, I could almost feel the triumph of the skaters, the magic of what happens when you accept the partnership of another, and the delicate beauty of "concentrating with your whole body."
This would be an ideal read for a young person who has not seen much darkness in the world, or perhaps someone of any age who has seen woeful troubles, but still appreciates something that sparkles with a simple joy.