Genre: Romance
Price: 13.99 USD
Rating: M 18+
You're like a little puppy waiting for a master who isn't ever coming home.
It needs to be stated first that although I am not familiar with the rest of this series there is only one naked booby frame and maybe two profanities in this book, which is apparently enough to push it to M 18+. I would certainly feel comfortable letting a teen of any age pick this one up, and if you are looking for lurid and erotica, Suzuka is not the title for you.
However, if you are looking for a naturally-paced love story exploring teen romance in Japan, you will want to check this title out. Teen romance in Japan isn't that different than teen romance anywhere else. There are miscommunications, especially between young men and women. There are crossed signals. There is confusion. There is second guessing. There is waiting up all night staring at a phone that never rings.
What makes Suzuka very Japanese is the seemingly purposeful attention given to very Japanese aspects of college-age dating. Japanese Christmas, giri choco, karaoke and dating parties are key parts of this story, helping give those who fantasize about a romance overseas a little insight as to how it might go.
Suzuka is a soft-spoken co-ed with a slowly blossoming relationship with her college classmate, Yamato. As this volume begins they are still at the very beginnings, and they seem a bit more innocent than typical college students. Despite the title, Yamato-kun is more of the main character, which is a good approach, as he is the more interesting character.
At first I was a little frustrated by the flubs and snafus that keep Yamato and Suzuka from truly being able to show their feelings for each other. Arguments and misunderstandings compound, but I warmed up to the title more as I saw these kinds of issues are common for all young people dipping their toes into what may be their first real relationship.
Suzuka is also helped by the lack of supernatural aspects that tend to be mainstays of titles like these. This title is driven strictly by human emotion, and that is surprisingly refreshing.
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