Published: 2010
No. of Volumes: 1
Every so often there comes a series so compelling that I feel the need to just keep reading it (over and over and over).
Tomodachi no Hanashi is one of those. I was drawn in by Yamakawa's unique take on the shoujo style - a bit of a stylized realism that you don't find often among the wide-eyed, pretty faced heroines of the genre. It is a nice blend.
The story itself focuses on two best friends, Eiko, often considered a "plain jane" by their classmates, and Moe, who is super popular with boys. It chronicles the type of friendship that comes around once in a lifetime, the kind that creates a type of love that transcends the line of best friend. For Moe, it even trumps the possibility of having a a shot at a real relationship (by her own choice of course).
Eiko and Moe.
Being so popular, Moe's one rule for dating her is that her boyfriend must pay the same attention, if not more, to Eiko. The only one to do so is the sweet Tsuchida. When things do not go according to plan in Moe and Tsuchida's relationship, the reader is then treated to the point of view of Tsuchida's best friend, Narugami.
Tsuchida and Narugami.
The relationships in this series are touching as they intertwine and breathe a life of their own. Different types of love, both romantic and friendly, are represented in a way I feel is often misconstrued in the shoujo genre. It feels genuine instead of contrived.
Tomodachi no Hanashi also touches on other subjects such as first loves, bullying in all its forms, revenge on behalf of a loved one, and how everything that happens in someone's life will build the person they will become. Kawahara's story brings these tropes together in a unique way that really touched me.
It's a short and sweet series that will please fans of shoujo, slice of life, and realistic romance.
★★★★★
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