This manga could totally have Fergie's song as it's soundtrack, lol.

Anyway, I liked it. It's no earth-shattering masterpiece of the War and Peace variety, but it takes a unique perspective on one woman's somewhat unusual attitude to romance. She's so spunky and funny! And so hilariously obsessed with shopping! Plus, I like that the manga focuses on that in-between age, before a woman "settles down" and yet after she experiences the trials of love. Not many mangas do that - focus on young professional women who have several romantic and sexual experiences, none of which actually lead to long-term commitment (marriage). Usually most shoujo (and even some josei) mangas are about first loves, and even more unrealistically (or uncommonly) about first loves that become last loves - that go all the way from school/college to marriage and beyond. Real life ain't that easy! Most of us go through the wringer a couple of times before emerging with the motherload. Lol.

This heroine's had to deal with similar situations, and that's part of the reason why she takes shelter in shopping. Her experience-induced apathy to romance is... kind of funny to read sometimes, and kind of sad, but also very real as it does happen to women at this age - before they meet the love of their lives and end up marrying and settling down, or just settling and settling down. But what I like about this heroine is that she's not the type that'll settle for less; if she can't find love I think she might just stay the way she is - an unmarried and enthusiastic shopaholic. Not for her any arranged marriages schmarriages! She's strong and kind of cool in that way. Still, her labels-before-love attitude certainly won't last for long, because it's unsustainable when one has emotional and, ahem, physical needs to maintain. Being a young woman ain't easy, no matter how you cut it!

Which is why this manga is fun to read, because it shows that aspect of womanhood in contemporary society in a very ordinary and authentic way, without sugar-coating it or over-dramatizing it. The "girl talk" between the heroine and her friends feels so real it could be a series of quotes from my ACTUAL conversations with my friends. There's a lot of dry, affectionate humor and wry banter in there. I really like that aspect of the manga; it really brought the story home to me on an emotional level, without having to resort to all those artificial button-pushing ploys that so many shoujo romances resort to. It's sort of like Sex and the City, but without the (again, unrealistic) focus on sex. It's just a story about a stylish modern woman - in many ways, Madonna's "Material Girl" - trying to get on with her life, and trying to find some meaning in it. Yes, just the sort of ordinary story you could hear by talking to any young woman who is a recent college graduate, and who hasn't yet found what she's looking for in life! (Either professionally or personally.) We all go through that stage as we mature, so it's good to finally read about it.

I recommend this to josei readers looking for a relaxing and relatively realistic read. Nothing melodramatic has happened thus far (what a relief!), and um, the male lead is REALLY hot. Seriously. Incredibly hot. I just have a thing for dark-haired, dark-eyed, calm businessmen in suits...

... Last updated on May 3rd, 2010, 5:19am

So I truly believe that the author, Chiya Toriko (of Clover fame) got the underlying idea for this series from Sex and the City. It's about four women in their mid-to-late 20s who all (well, most) have serious careers and it's a story detailing their different personalities and love lives. In the beginning (first two volumes) it was VERY fluffy, in fact, probably too fluffy and fun. The story really revolves around sales & shopping sprees and getting expensive gifts from significant others (no joke). Then when Hayama comes into the picture and gets involved with Enjouji (no spoilers here), the story gets a bit more...painful & realistic because you know that it's gonna lead to some dramatic falling out somewhere in the next several books!

The other women in the story all have their own love messes (yes, messes) to deal with, but I have to say that I love the Hayama x Enjouji pairing the most. Fuu (main character) is very cute but in my opinion she really lacks substance beneath that exterior cuteness. I'm still really entertained by this series and am looking forward to the future happenings with all four women (especially Hayama & Enjouji!).

A fun read, and that's pretty much it.

Some probably wont agree with me, but here its my opinion: I know asian culture can be really sexist in some countrys and is common that woman work until they get a husband then quit (Which is fine if it is what they want). But, while I enjoy the story, it gets on my nerves how the characters lifes revolves about finding the perfect husband (aka RICH and EXTREMELY HANDSOME and what not), and not much apart from it.
wish this was less frivolous in that sense, and had a bit more of character development and friendship. Since this is 15 volumes long and I only read the firsts ones, I hope its just my impression.

This author has a habit of introducing sub couples in the middle of the story even if the main couples relationship is not established yet...
I mean please do a proper build up for the main couple first before introducing other's love story... I mean it's a chore to read like really...
Also the heroine is an airhead or somewhat dense..
Plenty of misunderstanding in the story too..
Definitely a no no no... I'm dropping this series!!!!

... Last updated on March 14th, 2017, 8:35pm