I am a sucker for cute romance, and that is exactly what you get with this first volume. Is this a little teen movie-ish? Absolutely. In part, it reminds me of She’s All That where the main character doesn’t want the cute boy or anything to do with him. Here our girl feverently believes that she absolutely will not fall in love. But then we spend the whole book with the cute boy, who happens to be an Idol, convincing her that she is worth getting to know. Then you get hit with the end to ensure that you pick up the next volume. I don’t completely understand idol life and some of the way it’s talked about, it’s biases etc, but I did thoroughly enjoy this book. While it’s very much “teen girl drama”, it puts a very happy smile on your face and makes you want to book 2. ( )

“Someone said I have the power to cheer people up… and to make everything seem that much brighter.”

Cheesy as you’d expect but earnest too. Kouta comes off bland and kindhearted, but his motivations make sense. Celebrities and entertainment can bring a sense of comfort to some people. Sahoko is dramatic, but her humiliating first love makes her avoidance of relationships and pretty boys understandable.

This is a rare ‘girl in love with super-hot popstar’ story where the dynamic works. The creepy stalker fangirl trope gets tiring, so I was glad to see a more grounded girl. Not to mention the whole cast of characters is self-aware.

Despite being very cute, I don’t know if I see myself reading another volume. I think a younger me would’ve enjoyed this series more. But I will always love these fluffy shoujo stories.

“I’m no longer a fan. I’m truly in love.”

( )

The first half of the book bugged me as the main character, a faux tsundere of sorts, lied to herself constantly about the feelings she was having. It got more tolerable as it settled into shojo tropes about the fan in love with the super popular idol, but I've already read too many manga about that to care much.

I might pick up the second volume if it turns up at my library, but I kind of hope it doesn't so I don't. Save me from myself, librarians! ( )