Bird Kiss

This is the first time I'm writing a review, so please excuse me if my reviewing skills aren't great. But after reading this manhwa, I felt compelled to share my thoughts...

Story: 5/10 Mediocre
The story did okay. I've read many other shoujos that captured my interest more. Yes, it's unique in focusing on how the guy feels chasing the girl he loves throughout his life, which can tug at your heartstrings. However, there are times when I wished he would move on and find someone who deserves him more! Consequently, the story can feel draggy and irritating, mainly due to the lead female character. I appreciate how they included stories for minor characters like the brother of the male lead and the father of the female lead. However, I was disappointed by the ending, as it didn’t improve the lead female character’s personality. I wish the story had continued a bit longer to show some growth in her character.

Art: 8/10 Very Good
The art took some getting used to, but that's just me being picky. Eventually, it grew on me, and I ended up enjoying looking at the illustrations, especially of the male characters and Rosa. Overall, the artwork is pleasing to the eye.

Character: 3/10 Poor
This section is tricky for me to judge because I really like the male lead but strongly dislike the female lead. That dislike overshadows my appreciation for the other characters. Every other character in this manhwa is pretty good—even the initially annoying playboy becomes likable. However, the female lead frustrates me immensely. I’ve never encountered a lead character who irritated me so much. To the point where I didn’t want the two leads to end up together because the male lead deserved better. Her actions, like randomly hitting another girl in the park, were never justified or improved upon. She never developed into a better person, and I wish the artist had worked on showing gradual improvement in her character.

Enjoyment: 4/10 Decent
For the same reasons mentioned above, I gave a low rating. The nice artwork saved it somewhat, along with Heerack (the male lead), who is genuinely adorable. Everyone else was fine, but the main girl significantly lowered my enjoyment. It's frustrating when the main female character makes you irritated and annoyed. While this is just my personal opinion, I couldn't enjoy the manhwa much when most of the time I was frustrated and wanted things to progress faster.

Overall: 5/10 Mediocre
I apologize, but the lead female character is one of the most irritating and poorly characterized leads I've ever encountered in a manhwa. At times, she even seemed evil!

This shoujo manhwa breaks away from the typical clichés associated with the genre. If you're tired of the usual storyline featuring a timid, likable, and naive protagonist saved by a dashing prince, this is the perfect antidote. The story presents both main characters with uniquely distinct personalities, offering perspectives from both the boy's and the girl's viewpoints.

The main character is intentionally designed to be unlikable. You will likely hate her for most of the narrative, but that’s precisely what the author aims for. Personality-wise, she is neither "lovely" nor particularly cute compared to her peers, which adds an interesting twist. Instead of focusing on her struggles, the manga centers on the boy's efforts to convey his feelings to a rather brash and sometimes slow-witted girl.

The artwork is commendable, providing enough visual appeal to enjoy the bishounen elements. There’s plenty of comedy throughout, and I would give this story high marks for its originality. Trust me, I've read a lot of shoujos.

Another intriguing aspect is how the author portrays the reality behind the "pretty boys," showing that they aren't perfect princes in terms of personality. This refreshing take makes the story stand out even more.

Be ready to encounter some of the most detestable main characters ever. This series takes all clichés and dismantles them; the boy is utterly smitten with the girl, and she exploits and mistreats him. She starts off incredibly unlikable, but as you continue, her character evolves significantly, making her much more appealing than before. The drama and love triangles are all quite ridiculous yet still manage to be entertaining. I dislike how they spoiled some intriguing plot points with random absurdities, though. The story struggles to decide whether it wants to be comedic or serious, which definitely undermines many scenes. But considering this is a 24-chapter series, one can't expect perfect development without its share of flaws. Overall, it was decent. I enjoyed it enough, but if I didn’t own it, I’d probably forget about it.