At first, I was hesitant in starting "Paradise Kiss" because it seemed cliched and the synopsis made it seem boring, but after starting it, I really couldn't put it down. In the beginning, I had an extreme dislike for the art because I couldn't see how Yukari could be considered pretty and I couldn't stand how lanky most of the characters were, but after awhile, I got used to it and even started to like it, although I still dislike the art from the anime.

The part that interested me the most was actually the relationship between Yukari and George. I liked them together at first, but then they kind of turned into a mess, but unlike some people, I really liked the ending.

Also, the story strayed from Yukari and George's story and included other characters', such as Miwako and Arashi's.

I've got to say I started reading this manga thinking of it as a light break from more complex stories I was reading but oh but how wrong I was. I love how it started as almost a clichéd shoujo but evolved into something completely different, gripping and deep.

I loved the main characters and their relationships. Throughout the series I noticed a touch of realism in every single one of them. They were not perfect and/or annoying reflections of some character types, they felt very human - with all their doubts, uncertainties and passions. Yes, even George. Thus it was very easy to identify with them.

The romance was lovely but not all bubbly and peachy - I appreciate that.


Everything was going all right with the plot, it was well paced but I always wondered while reading it why there were only five volumes of this series. The ending, however, was like a wake-up call.

This is a beautiful, thought-evoking story about growing up and learning how to stand on your own two feet, love, appreciate and let go. Highly recommended.

... Last updated on August 6th, 2012, 11:50am

I just finished with the manga, and it has left a bitter taste. It was good halfway through, but after that the story went completely downhill. The needlessly stubborn side of both the main characters was disappointing, and by the end, I just felt that the story was forcibly shaped into how the mangaka had thought it out to be.... It wasn't satisfying, instead it made me feel cheated....


I won't advice anyone to read this manga, the main characters show no development all through the series.... And the plot is the worst. The 4 point it got was only due to the decent art.

ParaKiss really allowed you to learn and understand the story at the main character's pace. In an ingenious combination of scenes and art, in just the right sequence, Ai Yazawa surprised me when I found out that my attitude at first towards this manga was the exact same attitude Yukari had towards the members of ParaKiss when they first met, as if this was intended (but this was just me).


The art and storyline were very unique.

As for why this is not a 10, more than half of the manga online (11 and on) were from the actual sold English copies and while I don't usually prefer those (the wording is just so...), the more worse part was that it was badly scanned, two pages on one, etc. That kind of made the manga go fast for me, so I felt no big impact when it ended.

There was also the constant breaking the fourth wall that the characters always did, which was annoying and sometimes was straight into/during a passionate moment or scene.
The ending, to me, was also kind of disappointing...


Otherwise, everything was good. The love was passionate; it was real; it was mature. There were many characters/scenes that really allowed you to understand the romance between George and Yukari, but maybe her

Lastly, my favourite thing about this manga was...


... Last updated on August 16th, 2012, 6:08pm

I'm an easy rater, but trust me, this manga is worth your time. I'd consider it a good old 19s manga for sure. The art is definitely unique, and so are the characters and the situations they're put through. Much originality to indulge on, hm, hm.

It has its own style. The ending was pretty bitter-sweet, but I think it was not a bad way of ending the story. I have to include - I'm just really grateful to this mangaka for not making her characters all sterotypical and shit.

... Last updated on August 13th, 2012, 11:57am

Art is not bad (and mean more an British "not bad" than anything else *g*). Objects are drawn good, faces have not very much distinguished features and the range of expressions are limited. But overall OK.

The story is good, the characters have noticeable own personal motivations and own goals.
I really like the story. It's not happy story, a story that could happen in real live. Even the one main character is only 18, the story is very mature (well it's Josei after all). The Ending is appropriate and good but the last 11 pages are completely unnecessary. On the last 11 pages you can read what happens 10 years after this story. It seams that the author is weak-willed and dare not to let a strong ending standing alone. The 11 pages didn't destroy anything, they are only unnecessary. What happens in 6 months or 10 years is simply a different story.

I give a penalty point to the author for two reasons: first, i didn't like the meta-talking. This thing when characters begin to talk about how many panels they have left for this chapter, or complaining that they have not enough appearance in the manga and there like more.
Second and more importantly: the author is recycling old characters from old stories.This happened in this manga also. I thing it's boring. Arashi, Miwako and Hiroyuki were a love-triangle in a other manga. In volume 4, out of the blue and without a real connection to main story, the author begins something like "and now we continue the story of this 3 Lovers". I could almost follow what and why they say things to each other but some hints could only readers of the old manga understand. It is a very bad style for storyteller if you begin a side story which don't connect to the main story (OK, there is a connection in the way that the 3 were side characters in the main story but this lame), the outcome of this side story has no influence on the main story what ever. If you think as a marketing chef this is a very good move to get some readers interested in the old manga. For a Storyteller this is only very, very bad style.

Besides this penalty point(s), i can only recommend this manga.

Art is great! I mean Yazawa-Sensei just have this thing on her drawings that makes it so gorgeous. It's not cute, it's bizzare, Beautiful.

Story was as my subject say, Makes my heart clench so much! It was so full of drama that almost every chapter tears keep rolling down my eyes. Well, maybe because I sometimes see myself on Caroline, but I know it's not just that. The story just appeals to me so bad that I'll probably never forget about it my entire life

I gave a 9 because of it's bittersweet ending. I mean, i love bittersweet ending but Coraline have been through a lot of hardship the entire manga so I hope for a better ending for her. But I guess. It's too late to hope now

This is really a bittersweet manga and i love it.
I gave it only a 9.9 , because I felt when I gave it a 10 I really would have to admit that the ending was the best for Yukari and George (I really thik it was for the best, BUT...)
So this is one of the most touching manga I ever read!

Oh gosh i'm depressed reading this. The main character really grows though i can tell you this, i think i've fallen in love with her only really late in this series and to tell you the truth i don't like George, so i'm happy about the way it ended. I think it's really interesting how George's character kind of changed drastically in volume two but regardless its a good manga...if a bit sad XD

There was a Japanese movie made based on this and trust me, it was so much more amazing! She actually ends up with the right guy in it! haha The manga was okay (the art=amazing!) but the movie made it SO much better! ^^