It's just so sincere and calm....It made me step back and review my life .... why am I getting so emotional.
I think it was beautiful. Thank you.

... Last updated on December 10th, 2015, 6:42pm

It's a very pretty art style, but that's it. Very stereotypical shoujo ups and downs. The lack of communication is because neither of the characters can communicate. The main characters are rather shallow, without any good reason for why they're attracted to each other, except maybe Suiren being very pretty.

To sum up, the two characters can't talk for shit (even when they figure out it's mutual love, the male lead is like, what is dating?? how to date) and are flatter characterwise than a sheet of paper.

TL;DR: Beautiful art, cutesy, but the plot is shallower than I am and that's saying something.

It's very slow/non existent development, and everything sort of just - happens! The characters are also more 2D because of that. For people who prefer more realistic developments and would prefer a faster pace, this isn't the manga for you. Yet, there's something rather dreamy about how the manga plays out, and I'm sure the pretty art helps with that - the pacing almost reminds me of Taiyou no Ie, but it's...better. It's gentle. The slow but also somewhat random developments between characters and relationships is old school, and that's not a bad thing - it resembles the romantic daydreams of a stereotypical school girl, you know? Or another way to describe it - those old dating sims where target-MC interaction is low, but the romance blossoms just by seeing each other however briefly. It's not realistic at all - but once in a while, something as silly as this sort of romance is cute.

To be more critical, the way the characters treat each other can be problematic and unhealthy, although it's not quite a surprise (not an excuse, but Japan has a much different culture and therefore much different takes on gender roles/relationships/etc - unfortunate, but true). In more recent chapters, it seems that they're take steps to know exactly what their relationship is like and how they will work it out, I'm a little happy. The girl seems to remain as dependent as ever! Sometimes, that's not quite a bad thing, and it makes sense considering she's extremely shy/possibly insecure (I, uh, relate, unfortunately, to both), but through both feminist and literary lens? Hopefully she'll become more independent & decisive (and there are few signs here and there that she is), because that would make a truly great story. (But, as said before, the plot is just shallow, but with romantic daydream quality.)

... Last updated on July 22nd, 2015, 12:29pm

When I first started reading this manga, I thought, this seems interesting and very unique. The art is refreshing and having a female lead who's actually 'attractive' in the eyes of other characters - it was new, but as the romance was getting starting ...

I felt like this manga would have been better off as a oneshot because their relationship is dragging on so much with the romance development - which I don't understand. I like slow romance because it's more realistic, but when I'm reading this and I'm watching the interaction between the main couple - it feels so ... I don't know, awkward and force and I feel like they're not the type of couple that will last long in the future - especially bc they have absolutely nothing in common.

Male lead worries too much about burdening the female, the female lead feels like a burden in general towards the male lead - they get wishy-washy over their feelings over ... Nothing? They can't even talk properly to each other without being super sensitive over the smallest things.

Honestly, the art is so pretty, I love it, but like ... The characters are so boring and bland ... I can't find myself attached to Suiren or the male MC or even the side characters whom I can't even remember the names of. I don't understand their feelings for each other too? Why do they like each other? They have nothing in common, they can barely speak to each other, the most they do is stare at each other, and they're still having trouble saying "Hi" to each other without being extremely tense or awkward.

It's full of fluff and cuteness, something I would really like in a manga, but this one just make me feel... nothing. It starts off interesting, but srsly, Suiren is so plain in a very annoying way. You could punch the girl and she wouldn't have any reaction at all. I don't even get the reason she's like that. Probably got explained later in the manga but it's so boring I don't even remember anymore. Also, it looked as if the glasses guy (don't even remember his name orz) only liked Suiren because she's pretty, because she doesn't even talk ??
Seriously though, this thing about "as long as you're pretty/handsome you will be the center of attention and every goddamn person is gonna love you forever" is so OVERLY USED like no, just no, stop this already, this is NOT how it works in real life.
It's as if the author doesn't even know wth she's doing, and just put whatever idea she comes up with.
The art is super pretty though, the only thing that kept me going for a while, but the non-existent plot is a total turn-off.

... Last updated on May 28th, 2015, 7:00am

OK, it has been 63 chapters and I am officially tossing in the towel. Until this manga manages to do something with itself, I'm probably not going to come back to it.

The biggest problem with Hibi Chouchou is how utterly, well, bland it is. It has nice art, sure, but the characters all feel like really flat cardboard cutouts, drawn to act in the most inoffensive and least interesting ways possible. I usually like slice-of-life romantic fluff (in fact, it's my favorite choice of romance), but Hibi Chouchou just somehow... doesn't work.

The main problem, I think, is that the mangaka doesn't seem to understand how to depict day-to-day life without making it seem... trite. It's not the lack of drama or conflict, it's more of how utterly directionless every scene seems. When I watch the two main characters together, I don't think, "Oh, how cute, they're getting to know each other." No, I think, "Man, these people really need to take some classes to learn how to communicate." It's not ~cute~ how shy these two are, especially if there's no significant character development. (There is some, I guess, but its pace is as slow as a snail's.) It's actually really, incredibly boring to see the same everyday scenes rehashed over and over again, with basically no advancement in their relationship--or even their communication skills! Hibi Chouchou isn't romantic fluff, it's just a slog through a borefest.

You know which shoujo mangaka are good at writing slice-of-life romances? Ozaki Akira (尾崎あきら), off the top of my head. Oh, Tsukuba Sakura definitely (though she often veers off into supernatural territory, but same idea--nice, long, fluffy romances that don't drag). Heck, I'll even concede that Taamo (who I find a bit drag-y with her longer stuff) is better at this than Morishita Suu.

The art, for what it's worth, is really, really nice. And the overall storyline is pretty inoffensive. Does that mean it's good? Well, it's not terrible, but the fact is that Hibi Chouchou would've been a decent manga if it was much, much shorter. Like, maybe oneshot length. Because with the way it's dragging, I find myself barely able to feel anything except tired resignation and boredom anymore. And that's as sure a sign as any to quit while I'm still marginally ahead, I guess.

... Last updated on January 7th, 2015, 11:24pm

Yes, as others have said, it can feel a bit slow at a point. But this is still a lovely manga.

I think at a point I was pretty much just reading this because I enjoyed it, but it was definitely worth sticking with. (Up to ch 65--as I post this--is translated on raffmanga.)
The emotions in this manga are also portrayed very well. Especially Suiren's-- in the beginning I felt more distanced to her character, but now I find her endearing and understand her more.

In all: keep reading, this manga is developing nicely.

The art is one of the positive factors of this series, other then that nothing can be said that leaves a lasting impression on me.

I'm really surprised how high the ratings are for this considering how bland and slow the series is, I've read up to where the scanlators had stopped off and didn't bother to go back because of how unimpressive the storyline is.

I can appreciate slow story lines, but there is a point where I need to stop especially since the two leads are the least interesting characters I have read.

Amazingly enough the author has produced enough materials for eight volumes?? And continuing?? Not even the pretty art can make me stay for it.

As previously written by everyone or prewritten for those yet to come.. its pretty. Very pretty. The characters are pretty in their archetype too. The story revolves around two people falling in love and trying to make it work. As of vol 6, ch 43...its still a feeling as if you're reading a dream that's full of fluff and romanticism. It is not a read for those who can't stand romantics. Underneath the fluff though, emotions are conveyed very well and the commonality is love. Love between best friends, lovers, and family. Of course, I don't mean friends that become lovers or incest, I just mean people care and it shows.

Soft and slow paced, but not in a boring way. The protagonists are adorable and worth watching. This gentle shoujo series simply leaves you feeling happy. And the art is excellent. I have to wonder at anyone who fails to be moved by this manga.