Twinkle Stars Review. From the Author of Fruits Basket.

If Fruits basket is half as good as this, I'll probably hate it cuz this manga isn't that great either.

Twinkle stars revolves around the theme of stars. If the title wasn't obvious enough. Our FMC is currently living with a family friend because her parents hate her because this is a manga and loving parents is an alien concept to the Japanese. She meets the male lead whom she immediately falls in love with the male lead because he's the male lead and he said the one thing no one has ever said to her ever in her life because every person around is a complete asshole.

For real the manga has a huge problem of making majority of its characters complete dinguses... Dingi? The worst people imaginable. God Forbid you are a parent in this series because you are useless, a pushover, a cunt, or just someone that can push someone to the brink of suicide.

The series had this over the top comedic villains which is almost every parent in the series. I think 1 couple is the only decent parents' in the series. Even then there child is super fucking annoying.

The reason I'm hammering to hard on these problems is because the author tries to hammer the reasoning of MMC's behavior. Like I mentioned this is a shoujo manga, and no shoujo manga is complete without a dickish male lead that opens up slowly throughout the series. Even though I get it. I get his behavior, with parents like those. But its still goddamn annoying. There are series that do the exact same thing but they do it with a much more resounding success. This isn't one of them.

The series is at its strongest when it isn't dealing with parental drama. The parental drama drops the series hard. Even the dramatic crying moments from running away from home cuz your parents' don't love you didn't tug any heart strings.

The series fails on this front because I just don't have the emotional connection the author tries to build between the characters and the audience. So I can't cry with him because Frankly I don't care.

The series later turns into a decent love triangle. Because at this point. Either its Stockholm syndrome or Sunk cost fallacy but I've become somewhat attached to the characters. Even the male lead by the halfway point turns into someone that I actually enjoy reading about. However the love triangle is a bit odd. In the sense that the FMC compares the male lead to a star and the other guy to a Sun. But here's the thing. The sun is a fucking star. So what the hell. I get that she means that one brights up her world, whilst the other is a dream (shooting star concept) but I just found it hilarious.

In the end I'm kinda disappointed with this series. This is made by Fruits basket author. I haven't personally read Fruits basket but that is the main reason I picked up this series.

I think the fact that the author didn't try to redeem the parents characters was a good bonus because after everything they've done I would've hit my screen if they suddenly turned good for no reason.

The main cast is solid (though shakey) enough for me to continue reading this series. It's probably going to be enough for you too. Some of the characters are downright monsters and some characters are fun to hang out with. The art is great. the main Story kinda sucks. The ending is lopsided.

Overall. Medicore with some fun moments. But mostly Medicore. 5/10

... Last updated on October 20th, 2021, 6:01am

Not rushed not axed but I was still stuck up with the tragic part
but I guess that's shoujo for you, I did expect it'll be long before they've realized things for themselves.

I don't really know what to say about this manga. It pulled me all over the place but in a good way. At first it started off pretty cliche but I started appreciating every little thing afterwards, especially the main character and her strength and persistence despite all that she's gone through. Definitely character growth in this manga so I loved that and I definitely get why "slice of life" in included in the genre section. Hm.. I don't really know what to say about this manga.. I'm really just letting it sink in for now. Give it a read though!

Well, I suppose I'm a bit biased since I started this series hoping for something I would love as much as furuba but....I really just find this somewhat disappointing. I really don't like most of the characters. They're just too weak, whiny and depressed in my opinion. Yes, I know there are reason given for this, but no one ever really seems happy and it gets depressing after a while. I really didn't think they were too similar to furuba characters either. (maybe appearance wise?) The only character that I really like is the "love rival" (I guess you could call him?) who's in the main group of friends, but it's pretty obvious he's not going to be anything more than a rival and is there as the childhood friend love cliche. As for the main couple, their love is annoying as well. The guy she falls in love with is nothing but a jerk to her for the longest time, yet she still loves him? There's nothing that explains this at all.

Of course, it's not all bad. I do like the plot in general (though it is a bit slow), and I like the characters backgrounds and flashbacks and stuff. I guess I just wish something good would happen...ever. It all just seems so bittersweet. Even when something good happens, it's quickly followed by some type of dark past or something.

Like the person before, yea it is really slow. I mean I think the characters are great and all, but the storyline its just dragging, and frankly it really doesn't interest me.

It's too slow, and I REALLY don't understand how Saku falls head over heels for Chihiro after just met him once. I mean, I understand if she's curious about who Chihiro is, why did he say that he's her bf, why does he hate her, etc. But she seems so obsessed about him, WHY?? And also if I were Saku, I'd just slap Chihiro, shake his head, and make him spit it out why he hates me so much (LOL..just kidding). Ahhh...it's frustrating. I'm sorry but it's my opinion..(and I usually a sucker for slow drama and romance manga).

It's amazing, I think. I like the plot, the dialogues...the mimics etc etc. The only thing I have to critisize is: the heroine Sakuya is the same as Toru from Furuba, just with short black hair... That was a little disappointment but it's okay, because of that good plot. I also liked Furuba, but this one is a good work too.

Very cute.
The story is not the best but it's good, the art is realy pretty(shme that the scans are poor..)
a little wierd at times but it has potenial.


Edit:
I'm on chapter 17, and I can say I really enjoy it so far.
There is even character development with both of the leads.
Some drama, with Sakuya's sweetness^^

... Last updated on April 28th, 2008, 9:00am

Like every other review here, I feel the need to state that this is not another Fruits Basket.

Deep, emotional slice of life is difficult to pull off because it comes down to speed. If you present things to the reader too quickly, it seems unrealistic and sappy. And if you present events to slowly, you lose the reader.
Hoshi wa Utau did the latter for me; I loved the subjects this series touched on and the realistic emotions and struggles, but I felt like so little truly happened. At 11 volumes, this was just too long.

Again, this series has many great aspects. The characters are all unique and well-rounded, the plot is meaningful, and the art is Takaya-sensei's.
Sadly, the drag between events and repetitive struggles lost me in the middle. But the ending brought me back, and made me very happy I read this; it was truly beautiful.

Overall, I say this is definitely worth reading. It plods along in the middle, but Hoshi wa Utau is a more mature shoujo with beautiful messages.

... Last updated on December 16th, 2014, 6:39pm

This manga is really beautiful. The story teaches us about love -- various kinds of love. Parents love, friends love, bitter love. You can get stronger and move on because of love, but it can also break you apart and shatter your heart into pieces. Nevertheless, no matter how harsh the reality is, the characters learn, accept, and then grow. It is very nice when you can get absorbed in the characters' feelings because afterall, people is just meant to love each other.

Fortunately the ending satisfies me. I've prepared to cry if the ending was going to be something else.. because it gets me really sad if you can't unite with the one you love >< Overall good read!! Another Natsuki Takaya's awesome work