Last updated on August 6th, 2024 at 05:48 pm
Today I’ll be sharing my experiences with mangas that didn’t quite make the cut in 2023. From uncomfortable scenarios to disappointing storylines, join me in exploring why these manga didn’t make the recommended list. In this breakdown, we’ll explore the reasons behind dropping each series, offering insight into the elements that left me questioning the direction of these narratives.
Mangas that made the list (skip to a manga via the title):
- Spring Storm and Monster (Haru no Arashi to Monster)
- The Tiger Inches Closer With His Pure Love, Sweetly but Surely
- Koi no Mae ni, Amaku Hajimete
- Love Me, Love Me Not (Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)
- Today the love begins (Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu)
Disclaimer: The release dates and status provided are based on the English-online released versions as of 12th January, 2024. Now, let’s delve into these disappointing mangas.
1. Spring Storm and Monster (Haru no Arashi to Monster)
Genre: Shoujo, Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life, School Life, Delinquents, Psychological.
Author and Artist: Mitsubachi Miyuki.
Status: Released 2022 – Ongoing.
Latest: Volume 3. | View next dropped manga >
Dropped after the 1st chapter.
Meet Ranko, a girl cherishing her peaceful daily life until her dangerous stepbrother, Kaya, disrupts her routine. The moment step-sibling romance entered the equation, alarm bells rang. Unlike “Love Me, Love Me Not,” where the crush felt realistic (though I did drop it for other reasons), Spring Storm and Monster takes a dark turn. Kaya’s possessiveness and erratic behavior made it a walking red flag – a messy, twisted family drama I decided to skip
2. The Tiger Inches Closer With His Pure Love, Sweetly but Surely (Jun'ai Tiger wa Jikkuri Amaku Seme Ageru)
Genre: Josei, Mature, Comedy, Romance.
Author and Artist: Haruo.
Status: Released 2022 – Ongoing.
Latest: Volume 1. | View next dropped manga >
Dropped after the 2nd chapter.
Kotoroi, in search of love has only been betrayed by men until now, when she finds herself in a complicated situation. Taiga, a younger man who has deep feelings for her, confesses his feelings. Despite the well-matched jokes from regulars at the ramen bar, Kotori-san doubts linger. Can a relationship with such an age gap truly work?
The enticing prospect of a skilled, younger man expressing his feelings clashes with the lack of a meaningful connection. While the promising art, hot characters, and the older woman-younger man theme were promising, the lack of story build-up and odd spice left much to be desired. The rushed narrative coupled with an abrupt push for a long-distance relationship made this one not my cup of tea.
3. Koi no Mae ni, Amaku Hajimete
Genre: Josei, Romance.
Author and Artist: Kosame.
Status: Released 2022 – Ongoing.
Latest: Volume 1. | View next dropped manga >
Dropped after the 2nd chapter.
Meet Rui Sasaki, a 25-year-old single virgin longing for love and intimacy. During a night out with her childhood friend Naoko, she encounters Ritsu, a modest and handsome man. Amidst Rui’s complaints and drunken moments, and Ritsu being there to lean on, an unexpected kiss sparks a complicated love affair.
While the art captivates, the cringy intimate scenes and unsettling dialogue, especially from the male lead Ritsu, raised red flags for me. His actions during moments of vulnerability left me uncomfortable, particularly in situations like sleeping with her when she’s black out drunk. This prompted my decision to drop this manga after the second chapter.
4. Love Me, Love Me Not (Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare)
Genre: Shoujo, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, School Life.
Author and Artist: Io Sakisaka.
Status: Released 2015 – 2019.
Latest: Volume 12. | View next dropped manga >
Dropped after the Volume 7.
In “Love Me, Love Me Not,” Yuna and Akari, our two female leads, hold contrasting views on love. Yuna dreams of love as a fairy tale, while Akari takes a practical approach to choosing romantic partners. The story introduces two additional characters, Kazuomi and Rio (our male leads), each embodying different attitudes toward love. Kazuomi is naive, while Rio is open to confessing feelings if physically attracted.
While the overall story had its cute moments, I decided to drop it after Volume 7. The step-sibling love trope, although approached tactfully, persisted throughout too many volumes for my taste. As the narrative leaned towards a more kiddish tone with repetitive elements, particularly the “love kiss”, my interest waned, leading to eventual boredom.
5. Today the love begins (Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu)
Genre: Shoujo, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life.
Author and Artist: Kanan Minami.
Status: Released 2008 – 2013.
Latest: Volume 15.
Dropped after chapter 1.
In “Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu,” we follow Tsubaki, a girl who adores styling her younger sister’s hair but doubts such elegance suits her. During the High School Opening Ceremony, after failing to secure the role of top student speaker, Tsubaki sits next to Kyouta, the actual top student. However, Kyouta’s rude behavior prompts Tsubaki to cut his hair in retaliation. Things take an unsettling turn when Kyouta demands repayment “with her body.”
The first chapter took an uncomfortable turn with Kyouta’s inappropriate behavior, and the prevalence of sexual assault themes made it challenging for me to continue. While character development might be in store, the initial content led me to drop this manga.
Closing thoughts
In the realm of manga, not every story resonates as expected. As we explored my 2023 manga drop list, it became evident that certain elements, be it unsettling themes, rushed narratives, or lack of story build-up, contributed to the decision to part ways with these titles.
While each manga had its promise and potential, personal preferences and discomfort with certain content led me to bid them farewell. Remember, manga preferences are subjective, and what might not have worked for me could be someone else’s hidden gem.
Read my blogs about the mangas I love and recommend!!
Happy reading!
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*ML = Male Lead, FL = Female Lead, MC = main characters
