Honey Hunt, Vol. 1 by Miki Aihara

Aihara, Miki. Honey Hunt Vol 1. San Francisco, Viz Media, LLC, 2009

978-1421523477 $9.99 192 pages OT

Genres: manga, romance, shojo, slice of life

Summary:     

    Yura Onuzaka is the only child of famous parents and has spent most of her life being invisible.  That was until her parents finally decided to get a divorce and the media decended on the house. While Yura's family had been in shambles for a while our quiet little mouse suffers one heartbreak too many when she comes home early one day.  She then looks to enter her mother's world of acting for redemption.  This series features lots of high drama and romance while Yura tries her best to become a star.

Pros – Fans of Hot Gimmick will recognize the love trapezoid that quickly develops between the main character and her handsome bishies.  The artwork is typical Aihara with clean and polished art. ?? relationship with Q-ta is ripe for heartbreak from the beginning.  It is a little like watching a wreck in progress. You know it’s going to happen but you can’t help but watch either.

Cons – Skip Beat!  does a more believable  revenge via stardom story but this is more the teen version despite it's somewhat lewd name as it focuses more on the Yura's feelings and struggles.  Personally, I found Yura somewhat hard to like as she keeps making some frankly bad decisions.  We can handle stupid and we can handle selfish (for the right reasons) in the shojo universe but the two rarely work together to make a likable character.    As I continued reading the series, I found Yura bouncing from one co-dependent relationship to another.  I hope the story develops further soon because as of Vol. 6, I can't really recommend but there is still time to turn the story around and traditionally Miki Aihara doesn't disappoint.  I'd recommend her other titles: Hot Gimmick & Tokyo Boys & Girls.

     Also there are many fan"scanslations sites with Miki Aihara's other works that haven't made it over here yet.  The sites will often even often have discussion threads of even the licensed works.  Remember, if you like these works please support the mangaka and buy them when they become available in the States.