If you've read any Miki Aihara, you know what the deal is. Weak girl who is sometimes almost not weak get tossed around by boys and inevitably ends up with the one who is the worst. Honey Hunt went on hiatus before this could actually be codified but it was coming.

For a romance that is, and I like angsty romances. In this one, it's not the show business aspect that takes the forefront though, it's the romance. The show business aspect seems to be used as a plot device to further the romance of main pairing, which at the moment seems to be Yura and one of the twins. So, if you are looking for acting development of the main character, you most likely won't find it here. Thus, it is certainly no skip beat, as many who have read this one will probably demonstrate. While some aspects are certainly the similar, the characters, the plot - and the initial motivation for entering show biz are the same (although to be fair, the art is better), it just dosen't hold a candle to it's more developed counterpart. If fact, there are so many similarities that it couldn't possibly be a coincidence. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing (after all, people in the entertainment industry copy each other all the time), the way it is used here annoys me slightly. The show biz aspect, to me, could have been handled far better in terms developing the romance if thats what the mangaka was going for. For example, does Yura and Q'ta shows any signs of growing as a couple and as individuals from being in the industry? Nope, not at all, and throughout the story it only gets worse, especially as Q'ta becomes more possessive and Yura's initial motivation to get revenge on her mother is instead replaced by door-mat like tendencies as she lets others (especially Q'ta), trample all over her.

Perhaps I am being a bit unfair with Yura's character, but image this scenario - Kyoko and Yura are in a room with a good-looking male character. On one side, if this male character tried to seduce Yura, the most likely conclusion would be a successful seduction, with a blushing, crying damsel in distress as a result. If, on the other hand, the male character went to seduce Kyoko instead - the end result would be far different. Kyokos solution to this would be 1) sic her demons on him and 2) high-tail it from the room. Effectively, it would be the male character left as the red-faced, crying mess - after Kyoko had finished with him, of course.

To conclude, if you want pure campy shoujo romance with good art - go for it. Honey Hunt is okay, not horrible,but enough that I will hold out in the hopes there is going to be some plot and character development when Aihara Miki picks this back up from hiatus. Still, if you were looking for a show biz manga with a combination of character and plot development, where romance was present but not central to the story - I'd recommend Glass Mask, Skip beat and The One.

... Last updated on April 25th, 2011, 5:41am

I like how Yura is more 'in-tuned' with her feelings where as Kyoko is much too oblivious to realize her own feelings. Or even someone elses, when it comes to love.
Even though the whole love triangle thing is A LOT like Hot Gimmick I do hope she ends up with Hakura and not Q-Ta. Because already Q-Ta makes Yura feel insecure but Hakura is way more straight up. He doesnt seem like he has his own personal agenda like Q-Ta does.
And dont even get me STARTED on the manager. He is too old for Yura. And he is a sell out. Dont trust him. Enough said.

... Last updated on April 17th, 2009, 11:08pm

You see,i didn't really like Hot Gimmick,so i was expecting a manga where the guys all feel her up just like Hot Gimmick.but i was proven wrong! this manga caught me off guard and i gotta say,this manga is breathtaking.my oh my,this is a very good manga.all the three men are just so awesome and suitable for yura,so i cant excatly pick who is the right one for yura! xDDD i guess i underestimated this manga,but,really,this manga is GREAT.to haruka,Q-ta,mizorogi and yura,good luck! and to yura's mom:suck it! so i hope this manga develops into a more and more fantastic manga! and because of this manga,i'm wlling to give Hot Gimmick another try!

I had high hopes for this manga when I first started reading it. Unique plot (?), interesting male harem, great opportunity for some good conflicts...but no. The main female turned out to basically be like any other shojo lead. Crys all the freakin' time and smiles to keep up appearances so that no one will worry (because she's pretty much useless anyways). And she has some of the worst decision making abilities too. It just gets stupid and insults the intelligence of everyone involved.

But I did like the art style.

... Last updated on December 5th, 2009, 12:33am

Let's start with the art. It's not super amazing. But it's cute. Quite simple.

Then the whole Skip Beat comparison. I'm not really a Skip Beat fan, and I don't find Kyoko to be as amazing as most people say (though she's a decent heroine unlike most) but she's definitely way more impressive than Yura, who doesn't exactly have a personality/spine. The premise isn't trying to rip off SB. They're just both about the same industry, and SB is more successful by far, so comparison is unavoidable. That's all. Oh, and the whole evil mom thing in this manga is a little unrealistic, but then again I didn't expect much realism anyways so I wasn't that bothered by it.

The brothers in here are cute and all, but nothing totally memorable either. To be honest I only started this series because I heard Haruka was based off Akanishi Jin from KAT-TUN, whom I absolutely adore. I was curious. It's kinda of personal thing for me though, why I kept reading just for that little detail. But now that I've run out of chapters, I'm not really interested in more. It's really nothing special. Just okay for shoujo fans. I admit I'm more of a shoujo critic, so I gave it a lower rating because it's really mediocre from a critical standpoint, but you could very well enjoy it. Just depends.

I got to agree with chhaya_poth's comment.

The manga started pretty well in the beginning but in later chapters you'll start to get annoyed by the heroine. I had hope that Aihara sensei would make the heroines character change for the better in the later chapter...but NOOOO...it didnt happen...I doubt . Well I kinda predict this would happen... cos it looks like Aihara sensei is using the same 'formula' as Hot Gimmick in HH... Overall I'm disappointed with HH.

I've read somewhere that after chapter 30 the mangaka will take a break from continuing HH... Just hope Aihara sensei would consider dropping the same old similar theme.

Oh Please, why can't there be a tough and smart heroine for once!

And LOLx I'm very shock to see why most of the comments compared this manga with SB. Oh well~

... Last updated on December 3rd, 2009, 9:41am

the manga is soooo good and addicitive. the heroine is actually smart and can stand up to herself, and i like that. but she still needs some work, i hope she turns out better in the end. i love the miki aihara art, and the plot is amazing. i cant wait to read the other chapters (:

the only problem with this, is that it may be predictable, and my predictions are becoming true.

its VERY similar to Hot Gimmick.

... Last updated on July 8th, 2008, 10:53pm

Honey Hunt is lovely. As expected of Aihara Miki. I completely agree with Marei_23. I like Honey Hunt more than Skip Beat already after reading just one chapter! Although it does look like it's heading to an area similar to Skip Beat, as in going into the industry, and beating her opponent, I really don't think it will... If that made sense. But you know what? No matter how original anyone thinks their work is, someone will probably say they ripped it off somewhere.

This manga isnt HORRIBLE. i mean come on, in the shoujo genre, i KNOW ive read worse. in fact if we're being honest here half of the shoujo mangas are complete crap. Only a select Few are Amazing, and besides them you have to settle for bad and worse. This manga is one of the better shoujous, but its not the best.
I think its cute! it has a Plot and i actually like the main character. Shes realistically wimpy and not fictionally strong and brave.How many people do you know that could get through her situation and think "itll be fine!" barely anyone. For some reason, i generally adore this manga. I think its the mangaka's way of drawing you in with how well i could relate to the characters.
So stop bashing Aihara miki!

... Last updated on July 21st, 2010, 1:20am