Bijo ga Yajuu

This story, in my opinion, was not very good. I have finished the series, but I had to read the ending twice and still didn't understand what happened. The characters were okay, but the storyline was confusing to me. In every volume, the story seemed to shift direction from what I initially thought it would be. I will admit that some parts were funny, but overall, it felt kind of boring. If you enjoyed the series, you might have your own opinion about it, but I personally disliked it.

Contrary to other reviews, the story being "all over the place" didn't bother me at all and wasn't confusing. It introduced you to a variety of characters, including a refreshing non-stereotypical shoujo heroine. I found the slow-paced little stories cute and straightforward. What's refreshing about this shoujo is the absence of excessive crying, sparkles, or an overly girly main character. On the flip side, there are "eye-candy boys" and a mild love triangle, but it's all handled with minimal drama and painlessly. The manga has plenty of comic relief, isn't very long, and while it's far from a masterpiece, it's one of the better shoujos I've come across so far and wouldn't mind reading again later. A charming little read that might make you chuckle just a bit.

Reread this after about four years. "Beauty is the Beast" is a manga I always remembered, even though I didn't recall much of the plot. I don't know, the first time I read it, I was really impressed by how different it was from the shoujo manga I had been reading. But early 2000's shoujo does have that kind of vibe, so yeah...

As much as I love this manga, I'm only giving it an 8 (or maybe a 7.5) because the ending was super rushed. Actually, I rated it back then, and I was kinda surprised now with my rating considering how highly I regarded this manga. And after rereading it, I could understand why I didn't give it a 9 or higher. I don't know, maybe due to the lack of popularity or whatever, but it definitely could have used 2-3 more chapters. You're just reading and suddenly 'the end.' Aaah... that was frustrating...

But don't let this stop you from reading it. I would strongly recommend you check this out just for the story and the chapters! Ohh, and the art too... though the noses were weird at first, Lol.

I don't quite concur with the other reviews. Beauty is the Beast is a charming short story, albeit not deeply intricate or highly developed. There were times when it felt like nothing significant was occurring, and I'm unsure why the author included certain arcs or focused on elements that weren't utilized later on. However, most of the narrative aligns cohesively with the author's vision. I particularly appreciate Beauty is the Beast for steering clear of the excessive drama often found in other shojo stories. The ending does decelerate somewhat, and the climax isn't really climactic, but it was rather clever. The final twist left me puzzled for a bit, though I attribute that to my own slowness.

The artwork is average, and the characters are well-crafted. I just wish there had been more character development beyond the main three. The author introduces minor developments for a few characters at the start but seems to abandon them as the story progresses.

All in all, I found Beauty is the Beast most enjoyable due to the direction the author took and the delightful humor woven throughout.

Not the greatest manga out there. It felt rather anti-climactic, though there were moments that elicited a "that's cute" reaction. Overall, the story wasn't particularly engaging and seemed quite disjointed. There isn't much more to say about this manga other than its low profile and the minimal enjoyment it offers. It had some ostensibly deep moments, but nothing that would make me want to revisit it or care if I never did.

That said, I did appreciate the last few pages. The ending was slightly better than the rest of the story as it managed to give me a small internal chuckle.

This manga is actually a delightful quick read. I've always sought out shoujo mangas where the main character is laid-back and holds strong convictions or ideals, unlike many others where the protagonist often comes across as fragile and indecisive about their romantic choices. Interestingly, despite there being fewer romantic scenes and more emphasis on platonic relationships, it was still an enjoyable experience thanks to numerous humorous moments. The only downside was the rushed ending, which likely had something to do with the manga's status. So, if you're looking for something beyond ordinary plots, give this one a try.

If you're ever in need of a quick, lighthearted pick-me-up, this series can do the trick. The narrative isn't convoluted nor does it capitalize on the torture and tragedies of characters for shock value as some romcoms tend to do. However, it does contain the death of a sibling (Ch. 25/26) which I did not enjoy because it came out of nowhere. It was almost written as if Wanichin (the love interest) saw Eimi (the protagonist) as a sister instead of a prospective love interest. There were parallels drawn between his sister and Eimi, and then the creator immediately changed her mind because she remembered they were supposed to fall in love. I also wish she fleshed out minor characters more. Sometimes it seemed like Matsumoto lost track of where she wanted to go with the story and tried to make it up with quirky hijinks and tiny bouts of romance.

Overall, Beauty is the Beast is a terrific comedy with chuckle-worthy, heartwarming antics, and some romance. The characters have great personalities all the while using beloved tropes like the "tough guy who's actually really caring" and the "absentminded but clever girl" without being misused for dramatic effect. Some tropes were used to illustrate machismo but luckily it was kept to a minimum. The story slowed a bit toward the end and the conclusion was really abrupt! Not as satisfying as I would like it to be; there are a lot of unanswered questions and too many things left to the imagination.

There was an odd break before the story concluded where Viz put an unrelated short story (by the same creator) right before the finale. I'm about to spoil it for you because it was horrifically racist and romanticized slavery and human trafficking. Basically, these three white boys abduct a Japanese girl and throw her in a concrete block and chain her to the bars. They all racially fetishize her and one in particular takes it even further to sexual attraction. He throws cherry blossoms into her jail cell as if it were supposed to be romantic and then he grows a "conscience" and frees her, giving her nothing to wear and no weapons to defend herself with. We all know he's going to kidnap another person and auction them off. I'm not sure how Beauty is the Beast was published in Japan, but this terrible story really tainted my view of the author so I docked a lot of points for its inclusion. I don't wanna read that kinda shit.

I believe that "Beauty is the Beast" was truly excellent because it stands out from the rest. Initially, I worried it might be just another typical shoujo manga, and I usually avoid those with merely decent art. However, I decided to give it a shot, and I'm glad I did. Eimi has become my all-time favorite female character. She wasn't irritating at all and surpassed every other girl character in any manga I've read. I adored her direct, optimistic outlook and her ditzy personality. The plot moves slowly with not much happening, but it provided a refreshing break from the usual magical princesses and passionate romances. Additionally, it had me laughing throughout. If you're seeking a conventional love story, this won't be your cup of tea. Nonetheless, I highly recommend it!