To be perfectly candid, the summary of "Sonan Jyanaiyo" initially deterred me because it seemed rather peculiar: a girl discovers she isn't truly related to her striking brothers and suddenly finds herself in a love triangle with them. Who will she pick?
Thankfully (or perhaps not), it wasn't quite the sappy borderline incestuous tale it appeared to be ("Brothers Conflict," anyone?) because it took unexpected turns that left me bewildered about who was actually related to whom. I must admit, though, this manga elicited many genuine laughs.
I understand having twins with different hair colors aids reader distinction, but seriously. The fact that they're both attractive yet distinct should imply something! And their names, too—Tetsu and Retsu. Adorable, I suppose?
Still, the twins' reaction upon learning Shizuka might not be their sister struck me as odd. I get that they both care for her, but they were quick to consider being her boyfriend, which was disorienting. Apparently, their hidden romantic feelings surfaced once the truth emerged.
The story largely revolves around new characters arriving and the Maku family unraveling familial ties. Their typical family dynamic centers on secrets their mother keeps; she's humorously verbose but never reveals crucial information until much later. We also delve deeper into Shizuka, Retsu, and Tetsu's individual lives, recognizing their altered relationships post-revelation.
Though the uncovered details confuse the characters and complicate the plot with more questions, it crafts an engaging narrative diverging from conventional shoujo tropes. I was genuinely surprised by Shizuka's final choice since the romantic buildup wasn't obvious. The truth about familial relations remains hazy despite being clarified at the end due to convoluted connections like someone's aunt loving another's brother. The new guy introduced remained persistently unlikable. You get the gist.
What amazed me most was protagonist Shizuka. She isn't your stereotypical pretty girl despite having two dashing brothers vying for her affection. Everyone sees her as plain, yet through her brothers' eyes, they notice her unique sparkle. Even if she can't confront every bully, she's stronger than most girls her age and can stand up for herself when her brothers aren't around. She can express herself clearly, though sometimes she masks her feelings behind a smile if she feels it's inappropriate to speak out.
The challenges she faces throughout the manga significantly toughen her character. She deals with rumors surrounding her and her brothers, reconciles her feelings about whom she loves, and learns the essence of family. Shizuka evolves substantially as an individual, and the contrast between her initial and final states is remarkable.
Although I enjoyed "Sonan Jyanaiyo" more than anticipated, it doesn't rank among my top reads for various reasons. The artwork isn't particularly impressive to me; while the Maku brothers are undeniably attractive, others lack appeal. The intricate web of familial ancestry became overly confusing by the end. Their mother's secrecy bordered on manipulative.
However, I did find amusement in Shizuka and her brothers' antics. Interacting with their challenging mother and some other absurd characters added a touch of fun. "Sonan Jyanaiyo" isn't the quintessential shoujo everyone must read, but it has its merits and could translate well into a compelling drama.
Upon reading the synopsis, I anticipated a somewhat conventional shoujo manga but with an original and unexpected plot twist. And indeed, that was the case. However, don't misunderstand me—I genuinely loved this manga. Even though it's been quite some time since I read it, many of the details are still vivid in my memory.
Story:
The story begins as the synopsis suggests, but the atmosphere turns out to be deeper than I initially expected. The plot takes numerous unpredictable twists and turns. Nevertheless, the manga skillfully incorporates a good amount of comedy to lighten the mood.
The comedic aspect in this manga is something I ALWAYS look forward to.
Typically, I'm not much of a laugher, but while reading this, I couldn't help but re-read those funny pages multiple times before calming down!
Regarding re-reading, as mentioned earlier, the plot becomes more complex with LOTS of twists. This creates confusion at times. For instance, there were moments when I didn't fully understand certain parts or the relationships between characters, forcing me to re-read sections to grasp the situation. While this could have been improved, perhaps the mystery and secretiveness were intentional?
Art:
Personally, I believe the art was excellent. The cover image displayed for the manga is rather small, yet it was enough to draw me in and make me want to read it. I'm not usually drawn to big-eyed typical shoujo mangas, so I appreciated the detailed and unique art style.
In those smaller panels, which I refer to as "cartoon heads," where the art is simplified, I especially liked the protagonists' threatening expressions. These looked entirely unlike the usual protagonist expressions, enhancing the comedy significantly.
Character:
In terms of character development, I must say it was well-executed in this manga.
It certainly didn't feel like one of those COMPLETELY dramatic and psychological mangas, such as Mars (no offense intended).
While the story does have a psychological element that readers can empathize with, even if just slightly, the comedy effectively lightens everything up.
The characters are not only (somewhat) realistically drawn but also possess very human-like personalities—a trait I value in manga. It's important to see whether the mangaka has invested time in developing each character's background and personality. This manga certainly shines in that regard.
Especially the supporting character of the protagonist's mother, who appears to be the most complex from my perspective.
Enjoyment:
I truly adore this manga, and it is undoubtedly one of my favorites, which I plan to re-read once I somewhat (though probably won't) forget its details.
It's the kind of manga that makes you feel compelled to finish it before doing anything else, similar to books that keep you hooked until the end.
Since there are obviously some flaws I can identify in this manga, I would still give it a high rating of 9.5 and a low rating of 8 after further post-reading consideration.
Personally, I believe this manga deserves more recognition than it currently receives. So, if you're in the mood for a manga fitting these conditions and genre, I highly recommend this one! I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!
Popular Reviews
Thankfully (or perhaps not), it wasn't quite the sappy borderline incestuous tale it appeared to be ("Brothers Conflict," anyone?) because it took unexpected turns that left me bewildered about who was actually related to whom. I must admit, though, this manga elicited many genuine laughs.
I understand having twins with different hair colors aids reader distinction, but seriously. The fact that they're both attractive yet distinct should imply something! And their names, too—Tetsu and Retsu. Adorable, I suppose?
Still, the twins' reaction upon learning Shizuka might not be their sister struck me as odd. I get that they both care for her, but they were quick to consider being her boyfriend, which was disorienting. Apparently, their hidden romantic feelings surfaced once the truth emerged.
The story largely revolves around new characters arriving and the Maku family unraveling familial ties. Their typical family dynamic centers on secrets their mother keeps; she's humorously verbose but never reveals crucial information until much later. We also delve deeper into Shizuka, Retsu, and Tetsu's individual lives, recognizing their altered relationships post-revelation.
Though the uncovered details confuse the characters and complicate the plot with more questions, it crafts an engaging narrative diverging from conventional shoujo tropes. I was genuinely surprised by Shizuka's final choice since the romantic buildup wasn't obvious. The truth about familial relations remains hazy despite being clarified at the end due to convoluted connections like someone's aunt loving another's brother. The new guy introduced remained persistently unlikable. You get the gist.
What amazed me most was protagonist Shizuka. She isn't your stereotypical pretty girl despite having two dashing brothers vying for her affection. Everyone sees her as plain, yet through her brothers' eyes, they notice her unique sparkle. Even if she can't confront every bully, she's stronger than most girls her age and can stand up for herself when her brothers aren't around. She can express herself clearly, though sometimes she masks her feelings behind a smile if she feels it's inappropriate to speak out.
The challenges she faces throughout the manga significantly toughen her character. She deals with rumors surrounding her and her brothers, reconciles her feelings about whom she loves, and learns the essence of family. Shizuka evolves substantially as an individual, and the contrast between her initial and final states is remarkable.
Although I enjoyed "Sonan Jyanaiyo" more than anticipated, it doesn't rank among my top reads for various reasons. The artwork isn't particularly impressive to me; while the Maku brothers are undeniably attractive, others lack appeal. The intricate web of familial ancestry became overly confusing by the end. Their mother's secrecy bordered on manipulative.
However, I did find amusement in Shizuka and her brothers' antics. Interacting with their challenging mother and some other absurd characters added a touch of fun. "Sonan Jyanaiyo" isn't the quintessential shoujo everyone must read, but it has its merits and could translate well into a compelling drama.
Story:
The story begins as the synopsis suggests, but the atmosphere turns out to be deeper than I initially expected. The plot takes numerous unpredictable twists and turns. Nevertheless, the manga skillfully incorporates a good amount of comedy to lighten the mood.
The comedic aspect in this manga is something I ALWAYS look forward to.
Typically, I'm not much of a laugher, but while reading this, I couldn't help but re-read those funny pages multiple times before calming down!
Regarding re-reading, as mentioned earlier, the plot becomes more complex with LOTS of twists. This creates confusion at times. For instance, there were moments when I didn't fully understand certain parts or the relationships between characters, forcing me to re-read sections to grasp the situation. While this could have been improved, perhaps the mystery and secretiveness were intentional?
Art:
Personally, I believe the art was excellent. The cover image displayed for the manga is rather small, yet it was enough to draw me in and make me want to read it. I'm not usually drawn to big-eyed typical shoujo mangas, so I appreciated the detailed and unique art style.
In those smaller panels, which I refer to as "cartoon heads," where the art is simplified, I especially liked the protagonists' threatening expressions. These looked entirely unlike the usual protagonist expressions, enhancing the comedy significantly.
Character:
In terms of character development, I must say it was well-executed in this manga.
It certainly didn't feel like one of those COMPLETELY dramatic and psychological mangas, such as Mars (no offense intended).
While the story does have a psychological element that readers can empathize with, even if just slightly, the comedy effectively lightens everything up.
The characters are not only (somewhat) realistically drawn but also possess very human-like personalities—a trait I value in manga. It's important to see whether the mangaka has invested time in developing each character's background and personality. This manga certainly shines in that regard.
Especially the supporting character of the protagonist's mother, who appears to be the most complex from my perspective.
Enjoyment:
I truly adore this manga, and it is undoubtedly one of my favorites, which I plan to re-read once I somewhat (though probably won't) forget its details.
It's the kind of manga that makes you feel compelled to finish it before doing anything else, similar to books that keep you hooked until the end.
Since there are obviously some flaws I can identify in this manga, I would still give it a high rating of 9.5 and a low rating of 8 after further post-reading consideration.
Personally, I believe this manga deserves more recognition than it currently receives. So, if you're in the mood for a manga fitting these conditions and genre, I highly recommend this one! I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!