Does two stars seem harsh? Probably, but hear me out. It's not like this manga isn't good although I have to say I'm a bit weirded out by having a twenty years old boy in my high school as my potential lovers. Still and all, this novel do have an interesting premise to offer.

Lightning and Romance follows Sumire, who despite having an overprotective father, will to experience new things in her life — including a life-changing romance. However, that might happen sooner than expected when the mysterious troublemaker, Leo Ninomiya becomes her deskmate.

Firstly, I love the illustrations and the outfits drew in the manga. It's simply amazing since I always paid attention to it and it was nice to see them dressing up. I also love Sumire's character who's bold and consenting.

However, I'm a bit bummed by Leo who wasn't given the nuts and bolts, though it may be intentional. I just feel like the mangaka was too focused on making him mysterious that we barely get anything of his character. I believe this will be laid out more in the next volume, but the first volume itself was a bit convoluted. Every scene or chapter sometimes does not connect to the next. I was also a bit disappointed when I find that nothing really happened in this volume, even though the romance was developed naturally. I just wished there's a bit more to it.

As a whole, it's hard to say if I wanted to continue with the next volume since I didn't find myself interested enough to stay for this one. I guess we'll see if I'll be given another ARC next time and take a glimpse if the story gets any better — but not if I have to spend the money myself 🌚

Thank you to netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the e-arc!

Sumire is starting her second yr of high school when she meets ninomiya, who has a lot of nasty rumors going about him. Sumire finds this 20 yr old bad boy ninomiya to be her seat neighbor.

So I did find it to be some what lack luster. It was cute and I liked it by the end it just took a bit to get there. I just wanted alittle more depth from the plot. I never really attached with sumire who is a gutsy girl and kinda wants to find love. I did find ninomiya to be interesting and I like the mysteries about him. They leave a couple details in the manga kinda mysterious and I am excited to see where they go in vol 2.

Overall it was cute and I liked it. But it wasn’t super amazing. My only critique is that it was missing depth but I have a feeling it’ll show more in other volumes.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5
-Characters: 3/5
-Cover: 3/5
-Story: 4/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Comedy/Shoujo/Romance
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yeah

First want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review! I will be honest a 20 year old being into a 16 year old is very... uhm... reddish area. I know Japan has its own set of rules there but besides the age gap the story is cute and fluffy. A typical bad boy with a soft side and a girl who sees past the rumors. I did enjoy the story, I do want to know more on the mystery side of things and what was hinted at. It is kinda giving me My Love Monster meets Say I Love You.

It’s been almost 10 years since I last read a shoujo manga, and you know what, I loved it!! With gorgeous drawings, cute story. It’s the kind of story that maybe its not for everyone, there’s a bit of an age difference between the main character (Sumire) and the boy (Ninomiya) around 4 years, but again I am a fan of classic sailor moon and Usagi and Mamoru had a bigger age difference, or maybe around the same age difference.

Anyway, Ninomiya seems a bit rough outside but in truth he is soft as the cute bear that he draws in a thank you note for Sumire, and I really can’t wait for the second volume! It’s very well edited, and the shades used as background give a nice effect.

I thank NetGalley and Kodansha for the opportunity and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

In Lightning and Romance vol. 1 by Rin Mikimoto, you have Sumire who is a high school good girl that has a gutsy brave side to her. Her new seatmate is Reo who is a 20 year old deemed “bad boy”. Within the first few chapters of the story, they get to know each other a little bit more and its very apparent Sumire has developed feelings for Reo, which feels very “insta-love” to me. It also appears that there is a plot twist that is unknown to the readers right now, so I am curious how that pans out for the storyline.

I like the characters, however, I am not a big fan of a romance between a 20 year old and a high school student.

Thank you Kodansha and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I want to start by saying that this manga was not what I expected it to be. The story follow the main character, Sumire, who ends up sitting close to a older guy that is still attending high school. He seems to be the bad boy of the story: there are rumors going around about is past, and his general scary appearance scare the other students.

Again, exactly what I expected from a romance. And yet, reading the story I realized that something didn't add and that there were some secrets that were hidden to the reader. By the end of the volume I didn't have all my answers, but I was eager to read more.
All in all, the story is fast paced and the author tries to get away from general cliches of the a romance. The characters are just outlined in this first volume and I don't know how much depth they are going to have. But I am faithful, also because I liked the way they interacted.

I would recommend this story to the romance lover and manga reader, but also for the one that one to get close to this genre.

A super sweet story about falling in love for the first time. I have always loved this author’s work and her artwork is just *chef’s kiss* STUNNING. The story is off to a great start! Its about a girl who wants to experience love and when she starts class she is seated next to the new seat mate who seems like trouble... except he’s oddly sweet and kind and he’s hiding a secret.. that they have a deeper connection than she even knows. I can’t wait for the second book!

*Thanks Netgalley and Kodansha for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I was super excited to see this was available on NetGalley. I've previously read Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight and Kira-Kun Today, and I really enjoyed both.

Sumire is a young girl wanting to fall in love for the first time. Rio is an older student with a dangerous aura to him. His classmates misunderstand this aura for aggression and aloofness. This love story features the brooding older guy and the looking for love girl, a traditional story told in a fresh way.

I really enjoyed how forward Sumire is. In many other mangas I've read, the female characters usually are timid. They would be dejected when snubbed by the love interest, but not Sumire. She has such a cheerful and optimistic personality and is bold in pursuing love.

The English translation is spot on as well. The translation was coherent and engaging.

Overall, this first volume provides a good set-up, outlines plot points to look forward to, and you start to fall in love with Sumire and Rio.


Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this eArc!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. This was a very fast paced read and very cute. Only the age gap threw me off a bit and there is insta love, so if you’re not much for insta love this may not be for you. However, it was quite adorable and an easy read overall and the art was very good ^.^

Reo Ninomiya is the enigmatic 20 year old high school student feared by the students around him. Stoic and scarred, he of course is whispered about among the class. Sumire Yoshizawa, our quiet heroine who sits at the perfect back corner of the classroom next to the window discovers she has been seated her senior year next to our dangerously dark hero.

It isn't until she rescues him on her way to meet up with her best friend, that discovers he works as a bartender, and loses an earring given to her by her father that she starts to want to understand, when he offers to replace her earrings with a set of violet earrings--the flower she is named after.

"Protecting someone even though it puts you in danger, or standing up for them... not many people can do that in the heat of the moment."

It's obvious that Reo simply lives his life for him and it isn't until Sumire forces herself (curiously) upon him that things begin to take a different path. Sumire is properly curious and her reactions to Reo are quite natural given what her character is expected to be. As with most HS romance manga this is a very trope-y selection so far. But I am intrigued enough to wonder how Mikimoto intends to tell the story.

"Would you mind if I fell in love with you?"

Had I been given only the first chapter, I don't think I would be as interested as I am now. The first chapter is almost entirely in Sumire's POV with only a momentary first page in our hero's. However, by the last chapter it is obvious that our hero is charmed. Interesting heroines are abundant, it is how I feel their interested heroes respond that I find the most satisfaction.

"After all, she's your whole world"

This is a Fated Mates story, full stop. With a stubbornly possessive hero who doesn't *want* to be. So if that's your jam, then I highly suggest you pick this up and expect to stay around.

I look forward to Sumire and Reo's romance, and to the integration and growth of so many characteristic supporting players. Eagle eyed readers will narrow in on a possible love interest halfway through.

-As with most published manga, there a number of references to famous people in Japan, as well as words that remain untranslated due to the lack of formal English translation. I would suggest that the translators include asterisked references to explain these as any reader not up-to-date on current Japanese trends might miss the importance or narrative weight of said reference or non-translation.

-Visually, the art is some of the most beautiful I've seen in manga. However, there is an obvious digital rendering of the tones that make everything a bit flat, which is generally not what you want to do with shading. This is the future of manga publishing however, so it's best my old eyes get used to it

***Disclaimer: I received this volume an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this eArc! I would have rated this 5 stars, but I felt that the age gap was pretty unecessary, especially chosing to make her a second year in high school. I just felt that the story could have been the exact same without one. Otherwise, I thought Sumire and Reo were a perfect match, and the art was completely stunning! Reo is such a sweetie, and I don’t blame Sumire for confessing so early because I probably would have done the same! Reo is honestly pretty oblivious sometimes, but that might be one of the reasons whyI liked him so much. His actions often contradict his words and its refreshing to clearly see his feelings shine through his cover up of a cold demeanor. I’m super intrigued with the possibility that the two may have known esch other in the past, and i’m definitely looking forward to the next volume!

“After all, she’s your whole world.”

AHHHHHHHHH this ended way too quickly for my little heart!! I love love love the FMC & MMC so much! This is an incredible beginning to this story! It does well setting up the characters with amazing, unique personalities, and keeping a nice balance of intriguing and fluffy and sweet and serious with the cute moments and story building. I can’t wait to see more!

* I received this as an ARC for this willing review. Thank youuuu!

I may be the only shojo fan who has not picked up Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, but having heard great things about that series, I wanted to give this one a try. Sumire is just starting high school and wants to have a love that changes her world. In comes mysterious Reo, who just happens to be a 20 year old going back to school--presumably because he had dropped out earlier. And of course, his seat is right next to our star, Sumire's. The age gap doesn't bother me, but I am more curious as to how this whole situation came to fruition to begin with. There's something that Reo isn't telling us about his reasons for coming to this particular school and all signs are pointing to a past connection to Sumire. As plenty of others have already pointed out, the art is stellar, but this first volume doesn't immediately shout read the next one too! I am intrigued, so it might be sitting in the cart of my next manga haul--who knows!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha for a copy of this manga in exchange for a review.

I actually enjoyed this more than I had thought I would. Brooding bad boy meets innocent, never been in love girl. The art style is stunning and I really enjoyed the first volume. Can't wait to pick up the second one!

Let me just say that this is one of my favorite author in manga. I have been a fan of Rin Mikimoto since her manga, Kira-kun Today, where the ML doesn't have much time to live and he spent his life doing so many bad things. Since he realized he doesn't have much time to live, he wanted to start doing good things in life and that's when the FL came in and saved him --> HEA btw!

This manga of hers amazed me again! Definitely a 5 star for me.
Sumire is a bold and straightforward girl and Reo is a secretive boy who is known as a "bully or a gang member" in school. Sumire doesn't care about the rumors and spots how different Reo is outside of school and how he is as a person. Sumire wants to experience love and when she gets to know the real Reo, she falls in love with him and out of nowhere, she confesses her love to him. He wants to accept her love, but she doesn't remember him from the past and he doesn't want to just accept it right away, but his face couldn't hide how happy he is HAHAHHA
this moment was so cute in my opinion and I was like, yess we love a bold QUEENNNN
At the end of the volume, the manga ends with Reo blushing so hard from Sumire's confession and I loved this so much! Thank you #netgalley and #kondasha and #rinmikimoto for the ARC --> absolutely loved this

BTW this is an age gap since the ML is 20 and she is a second year in HS

This was... fine...
The ending made me feel like there's some interesting mystery in here somewhere, but the rest was whatever

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha comics for letting me review this book.

First things first, the art and cover is really beautiful and I THOUGHT THEY WERE THE SAME AGE.

Anyway, the age gap really did made me skeptical and uncomfortable to be honest because once again, I really did thought they were at the same age.

Aside from that, I like Sumire. I think she's very striking character and also her friend which I'm also interested about.

As for how the story did goes, I'm really intrigued in what Ninomiya's friend meant on that particular panel so I think that information will really be important as to why Ninomiya's in school.

Overall, this one is a good read minus the age gap romance that will probably played out soon.

Thank you to Net Galley and Kodansha for allowing me to read the ARC of this manga!

This is yet another of the non-traditional style romance mangas that have been coming out and getting my attention. This is coming from the same creator of Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight which I’ve enjoyed quite a bit! I really love that the plots are different and engaging. Each character has personality and is full and well-developed. Our main character is very interesting and there are hints that there is much more to her than what we’ve gotten so far. And our love interest, the bad boy Reo, is different and refreshing! I like that he’s supposed to be a rough, bad boy type but he blushes at certain things! It’s very wholesome and cute.

I’m really intrigued to see where this manga goes and I’m excited to read more. Loved this!

Very cute! I just read through the volume and couldn't put it down. Sumire and Reo are interesting characters. Both in high school but Reo is 20 so he's a but old for her and he tries to stay away. A quick cute read. Waiting for more to see what happens with them.

Sound the alarms! New Manga just dropped and it comes highly recommended from this reviewer!

This was a great story. We have to start by acknowledging that the art inside is just as beautiful as the art on the cover and that art is gorgeous. Not every manga has art this pretty but this one is especially beautiful. With that amazing art comes the most wonderful and cute character design. The heroine is so cute and her best friend is downright adorable in her pigtails. Also, the main guy is stunning.

Moving away from the art sadly, the story is also so great. I immediately loved the characters and was intrigued by the plot. The heroine is just so pure and kindhearted. This seems like it is going to be a really great romance perfect for valentines day. Not only that but there is some serious hints at intrigue and secrets going on towards the end that I must know more about.

Overall I would recommend on art alone but the story is also superb.