"'You know, people come to Italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, it's for the same two things.'

'What?'

'Love and gelato'" (pg 322).

A sweet story! The parts about family, grief, and Lina's father are the absolute best. I wasn't really feeling the romance. It felt like too much emotional cheating happened in a week.

The Italian setting is beautiful, and I like Lina for the most part. She had a wicked-awesome best friend too!

I recommend for anyone that wants a simple, light-hearted read.

Why did Thomas have to be a fake all along? Why couldn't he have been just British?

:o

2 stars for my enjoyment; 3 stars for story

This volume laid more foundation and world-building and introduced a mysterious character. I'm digging Grim's design.

AND, OF COURSE, Seth’s got a hidden brother. Never change, shounen.

Also, we get to see how Naruto-lite is progressing and more prejudice against wizards. I feel like this volume is one where you have to eat your vegetables before the good stuff. There is more gross-out humor (vomit, pee, dirty, old dudes groping women) than before but whatever.

[rating from personal enjoyment]

There's a lot going on to the point I want to skim through some of the text. Still, this volume introduces a new character and what looks like to be castle-shenanigans. We also see a town where the infected and non-infected seem to get along. Grimm is still gunning for my favorite character here. He's interesting.

I didn't really care about the Melie and Seth drama.

Mandatory training arc! The time business was confusing to me, but I like the development of how Seth acknowledges fantasia now. It's not just something he can shoot out and wield, it's all around him like energy. The glimpse of Grimm was good and Pichon's got some explaining to do! Also, a nice heart-to-heart between Melie and Seth concerning their problems.

2.5

This is that for real, for real slice-of-life story that works best when the characters can carry the story. As it is now, I find the story bland. Ten is utterly bland too, but she totally owns it.

Riku’s bratty brother is the most interesting thus far.

On another note, I think this story might be heading toward Ten taking Riku seriously and falling for him. Who knows!

I already have volume 3, so onward we go.

Okay, the story is still run-of-the-mill and Ten and her housemates are bland as toast (minus bratty Rei), BUT those last few pages were beautiful and gave off a moviesque, rainy night atmosphere. The panels, the control of black, white, and gray, and the fact you can feel the tension are just excellent. Of course, five bucks next volume they get interrupted, or Riku does something dumb to break the tension.

Still, there’s not a lot keeping my interest here despite that beautiful surprise, but, if the library, buys volume 4 I guess I might continue.

2.5

Wonderful. It’s simple but moving. I enjoyed the journey and Sola's determination a lot.

First, what were the bully girls on? Yes, mean girls will make fun of you and whisper behind your back about your cycle being on, but the level of taunting for this book was super-exaggerated.

Anyway, a good message. The tone has a very tumblr vibe about it, which can be great or annoying depending on who you are. Still, I think this issue was intertwined well with fiction and a cute art style.

I’ve never taken a chance with the pad/tampon dispenser in public bathrooms (and I always love the places that set out a basket of complimentary sanitary products, which I have only seen at hotels, churches, and super high-end places). If society finally moves toward making sanitary products free, I would certainly cheer. Right now, the sanitary products market is guaranteed money because who’s going to willingly bleed on themselves? Yes, I know some do to make a statement, but that's not the majority On another note, I’m thankful how open my mom was about periods. Talking about periods should not be taboo. I remember knowing as young as five-years-old that one day I was going to bleed. It scared me silly and, to be honest, I was dreading the day, but, when it happened at age twelve, I knew everything to expect and how to wear a pad.

SN: I’m all for female friendship and being comfortable, and I’ve seen girls talk while in the stalls all the time, but it was so weird how Christine was on the toilet, and they were standing in the same oversized stall like nothing. It’s like the equivalent of a needy-two-year-old bursting in on their mom. Idk it's just me, but I need my space.