Genre: Romance, Drama

Rating: Teen

Price: $9.99

Takami, who is a few years older than her best friend, Akira, also is the exact opposite of him. She's tall, attractive and funny, but she is at the end of her rope with dating guys.

The two met when they were young kids at piano lessons. Since then, they have bonded and become opposites. Takami is also a bit of a tomboy -- she grew up with four older brothers -- so she is not used to wearing a dress and acting like a lady. Akira, meanwhile, is a highly talented piano player who is totally hot, some other girls say. But he also comes off as fairly feminine.

Takami goes to Akira for dating advice in the wake of being dumped by a former boyfriend. He uses the session to slyly point out that she is beautiful. Later, the two enter into a situation that allows Akira a chance to lie about their relationship, perhaps for the benefit of both himself and Takami.

A fellow piano student enters and begins to make moves on Akira. Although Takami seems a bit jealous, it might not be for the reasons Akira hopes for. She quickly devises a plan to ensure that she and Akira continue to be close and that a wedge is not placed between them.

After that, an opportunity at school comes along for Takami to help show up her former boyfriend. Takami seems to want to help another girl who was dumped, but that relationship seems to be more tenuous than at first glance. Luckily she has Akira she can fall back on, and the two of them work together beautifully.

The characters are the most interesting aspects of Venus Capriccio. Their personalities break the mold on cliches and breathe some freshness into what could have been a pedestrian offering.

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