SKIP BEAT

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.....

Kyoko's desire for revenge upon finding out that her former childhood friend had been taking advantage of her for years is the catalyst that gets the plot moving and sparks a whole series of changes in Kyoko. Fortunately, the plot and the character's motives eventually grow beyond that story point, or else the story would have become repetitive and one-dimensional.

Rather than being a story about revenge, I would say that Skip Beat ends up being a story about different people coming to terms with the struggles or traumas of the past. For Kyoko, it is her history with Shou and her feelings of abandonment by her mother. For Ren, it is his estrangement from his father and his guilt over the sins of his past. Even the supporting characters have issues that they have to work through.

I really enjoyed both Ren's and Kyoko's characters. They were both well-rounded characters that didn't fall into predetermined tropes, with a variety of different motivations and the ability to grow over time. Their relationship with each other developed really slowly....gradually slowly....I appreciate that in a romance ( "love at first sight" makes me throw up in in my
mouth a little bit) but the pace may be too slow for some people.

The setting gave the mangaka the opportunity to place the main characters in a lot of different situations to push the boundaries of their relationship without it seeming too forced. The change in roles that Ren and Kyoko are portraying in their acting career helped to keep the story stay fresh as well. I especially liked the Cain Heel arc as it really pushed the boundaries in their relationship. I felt like that arc just kind of fizzled out, though, and would have liked to have seen more resolution or permanent changes in how Ren and Kyoko treated one another.....once those roles were over, I felt like their relationship back-tracked too much.

Oh how I love this one! I first started it just because I had nothing to read and it just popped at the top of the list. I fell in love with it on the first page. I spent 35 hours straight reading it. The story captivated me.
The artwork - I did not enjoy it at first because it somehow reminded me Chinese style (I base this on those 3 Chinese mangas I have read), but, as I have reread this one for at least 7 times, I absolutely love the art style, it's not the best one there is, but it just fits with the story. The rough edges and ooo my those expressions in their eyes.

This one somehow compiles a lot of different experiences. The main protagonist is not the sweetest angel, that you usually see in a shoujo manga, and I love it. The way she has been developed during series is wonderful. Romance - everything happens so slowly, and it just makes me warm and fuzzy. Those few erotic moments were so tasteful, and it actually brought charm to the story.
The age gap - adorable. Comedy - marvelous. Drama - outstanding.
I think that this one will be on my re-read list for many more years to come. And I will be devastated when it ends.

Skip Beat is to a certain extent, rather awkward to be considered a shojo manga. Unlike the cotton fluffiness normally displayed in most shojo titles, Skip Beat distinguishes itself from its counter parts through its fervent dialogues and actions. Many times, readers find themselves getting entangled into Kyoko Mogami (the heroine)’s undying display of avant-garde deeds and its difficult not to fall for this heroine. Exactly how can you like someone that can be so naïve and thoughtful, and yet dark and sceptical at the same time? – Read and you will find out.

To compliment the stunning storyline, you have the not-so-perfect (but close enough to make you want more of him) hero - Ren Tsuruga - that fits into the role of Kyoko’s confidant and love interest. Ren has an exceptionally kind and gentle persona but beneath that persona lies a dark past and insecurities that slowly unravel as the story develops.

I especially love the interaction between Ren and Kyoko, and even the not so pleasant re-encounters between Kyoko and her childhood love interest, Sho Fuwa (the jerk who ditched her for glamour and glitter). That said, despite the unforgiving jerk that Sho is, his affection for Kyoko is still very much evident throughout the series and because he does care for Kyoko despite his treatment towards her, its difficult to hate him completely.

The thing I enjoyed about Skip Beat is that a significant developments takes place almost after every chapter and the characters (one if not more) progress in a rather pleasant manner at the end of each chapter. That is, the story doesn’t get stagnant at all and readers find themselves taking something out of each chapter.

Another plus point of Skip Beat is the likeable characters. Whether the good or the bad, one can’t help but empathize with the characters and their situations. Nakamura-san did a splendid job of illustrating the characters - even the supporting roles that make you look forward to each update.

It’s definitely a manga that will keep you at the edge of your seat for the next update. Skip Beat is a healthy blend of finding strength and support in the face of adversity, rediscovering oneself and above all, finding friendship and romance in the most unexpected places and circumstances. In Skip Beat, the idea of romance is not being in possession of someone but rather, love and affection is display through the analogy of being each other’s guardian angel.

I am surprised I loved this one so much. I nearly read all released volumes in like two days! And I could not put it down. I normally don't read a lot of shoujo honestly because I have little patience for the air-headed girls and the bishounen that sweep them off their feet types that populate shoujo, but this one is very addictive -- I love the main character, Mogami Kyouko, and her evolution as an actress!

All of those scenes where she gets to try out new roles (the arcs where she acts in Sho's music video and as Natsu in Box-R are my favorites) are actually kinda thrilling. Especially the Natsu arc. I hope the mangaka continues to make her struggle to become at top actress (while showing more of those awesome acting scenes ofc) the main focus of the manga, with the romance as a side thing.

The guys are typical handsome bishounen, but they're pretty fun too. Ren is mysterious but charming in this cute way. Sho is this arrogant bastard from the beginning of the manga but man he grows on you. Love it! Wish the mangaka released stuff faster.

O.K. look. First glance you think, meh. Second glance, why is this so great and popular???? Third, after being recommended to it SO many time based on what you like you decide to read 1!!! (just 1) chapter. Suddenly everything changes. it is SOO funny, it a fantasy but at the same time not fantasy...... Kyoko reminds me of me. Blind and slightly easy to fool but can get so angry imaginary devils attack! She loves fairys (

The Skip Beat! manga retains much of what makes the anime so great. It’s still a silly, humorous tale about warped intentions and personal rebirth that, when needed, is not afraid to take on the deeper underlying issues. And it still has a stellar main character who has enough soft spots and hard edges to be engaging, and whose growth is central to and the driving force of the plot.

Because it’s much much longer though, the manga includes both positives and negatives that the anime does not. To start off, it’s able to explore the other characters more, giving the main people surrounding Kyouko a bit of life and dimension. It also paints a more all-encompassing picture of Kyouko’s character development, taking us further into the journey with her. The added length also allows the addition of more situations the characters can get involved in, which is a good thing if you want to see more of them, but a bad thing if you think it makes the plot meander a bit too much, especially since a few of these veer toward the more fanciful. In the manga, we also witness the blossoming romance between Kyouko and Ren, and again, depending on whom you ask, this can be considered a strength or a weakness. Personally, I consider it the former. It further showcases just how far Kyoko has come and builds on the theme of learning to love and be vulnerable again. I also like that it’s a slow burn, and we’re allowed to grow with the characters and their feelings. But I do understand why some people have a problem with it, as the romance does lean heavily on the usual tropes. It feels like an indulgence, but it’s an indulgence I welcome and enjoy. A problem that I do have though is with Ren’s character. Don’t get me wrong, I like him well enough, and he makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, but I do wish they could have done something else with his supposed hidden history. It just feels like the manga is trying too hard to make him interesting at the expense of making the plot a little convoluted. I’m okay with him just being himself and not having a dark hidden persona to be afraid of. A character can be sexy without the affectation of danger attached. I also have an issue with some of the male-female interactions not being as progressive as I would like, but these don’t happen often enough to pose a great distraction. The last point of contention is the art style, which does admittedly look outdated, but I eventually got used to it, and it does get better as the manga progresses.

All in all, though Skip Beat! is not without its faults, none of them irritated me enough to stop adoring this manga. It’s definitely a sweet treat, and it’s my kind of sweet treat.

Story: Skip Beat is my favorite story in manga, anime, and even the live action drama! The story is deep but funny and light-hearted with the characters each having some emotional problems having to do with love while the setting is in the world of showbiz.

Art: The art may be a bit unsettling at first since the characters are definitely elongated, but the facial expressions are amazing and the art starts to grow on you after awhile. I love the switch between chibi in the light parts and the detailed expressions in the emotional parts.

Character: The characters are all well planned and characterized, especially the protagonist Kyoko. She's not your typical female protagonist since she is very innocent except for the revenge for Sho. My heart really goes out to her! Ren and Sho as well are well characterized with emotions and character depth. Even though you are meant to hate Sho, I really can't hate him for too long because of his character flaws. This story also portrays the different types of relationships well.

Enjoyment: The rollercoaster that is Skip Beat is definitely a fun one! As Ren and Kyoko get closer, there is more and more tension and the depth is well balanced with the funny parts and chibi.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this manga, even if you don't typically read shoujo.

When I heard about Skip Beat, I was like, “What the heck is that? Is that even a good manga?? Whatever, i should just read it so i can write a review on it...."

So when I read the summary, I was like, this story is definitely the same as the simple shoujo manga that everyone reads, but its not, it’s a simple romance comedy that should be appreciated! While reading the summary, I thought that this was kind of stupid. After reading a couple of chapters, the main character, Kyoko, kind of reminded me of other characters. I'm not a big fan of characters reminding me of other characters, but as the story gradually climaxed, it made me think about a lot of things. Like Sho is the typical bishounen and Ren is the usual quiet guy with a mysterious past. The plot line was a little normal, but while reading this manga, I realized that it made me look forward to more. Then after that, i realized that with every scene, it made my heart skip a beat. I wonder if this is why the manga is called Skip Beat.

I remember thinking, “What was I thinking when I said that this isn’t a good story. I was wayyyy WRONG!” I just laughed at myself and I found the reason why this has such high marks. I definitely think that this manga is worth the 10, a perfect score!

The romance is absolutely complicated. I really don’t understand how Sho might possibly like her and why Ren would worry a lot about her. I believe that the artist should give a little more detail, but also keep it the way that it’s been. The process of the story is truly amazing and i give a lot of credit to the artist. I just think that the romance could be a little better.

The story has all sorts of genres. Like romance, shoujo, comedy, and more. The plot line is good so far, but I'd really like it if there was a girl that interfered with Ren and Kyoko. But that’s just my opinion. I think that Sho should show up more in the manga and he should be put in the story in a way that puts the readers in awe.

Overall the story is truly amazing and if you’re looking for a simple comedic shoujo to read this is meant for you. I don’t want you to decide if the story is good or not, based on the summary. I want you to read it and appreciate this manga, based on what you think. It’s the one manga that will leave you in awe about the celeb world. It also makes you realize that not all celebrities have the time of their lives being famous. I think that everyone should at least attempt to read this manga.

I definitely recommend it to people of all ages and all genders.

Who wouldn’t love a simple story that makes your heart skip a beat with every scene??

Skip beat! is a truly wonderful manga, at first I was a bit skeptical in reading it but after the first few chapters I was instantly hooked. Skip Beat is a story about a girl who gave her everything to a guy but then finds out that he had been using her all along. Kyoko left everything behind to support her love Shotaro, who wants to become a star. She works herself to the bone to try and please him, until she stumbles across him having a conversation with his manager. She finds out that Shotaro has never had true feelings for her and had just been enjoying her stupidty. Kyoko filled in a fit of rage promises that she will enter the show business herself and get her revenge.

At first the plot seems faintly ridiculous, with naive characters. However as the story progresses the characters develop and revenge takes a back seat after Kyoko realises that acting is the only thing she has done for herself and actually enjoyed. The characters are brilliant, they instantly won my heart. Especially the main character, I found myself cheering at her every achievement and crying at every mistake. The manga has just the right balance of humour and emotion.

For me the only let down in this manga is the artwork, but that might just me being fussy! I have truly loved every single chapter so far and am waiting on tenterhooks for the next few chapters to be released.

I hope this helps!! :)

I have to admit, when I first looked at the description of Skip Beat, I thought that this manga, like others, would be full of shoujo moments, such as the bishounens, compulsory love triangle, and most importantly, the heroine contemplating how to show her affections for the male lead. Yet, Skip Beat portrays its characters and the plot in a way that's rather revolutionary and inspiring.

Kyoko Mogami, the protagonist of Skip Beat, surpasses my expectations. Sure, I did not like her portrayal at the beginning of the manga as a girl engulfed in a one-sided love, but she soon recovers from that and begins her quest to become an actress. Kyoko's emotions have a wide range, from menacing to absolutely charming. She's very mature in one way, but becomes a child anew when listening to stories about princesses and ladies. It is very enjoyable to see how she has a lot of talent, yet remains grounded. Readers with all types of personalities will definitely be able to connect with her on an emotional level, even if they haven't done the same things as Kyoko has.

Ren Tsuruga is often known as the "cold-hearted ladies' man". He is very frank when talking with others, especially about his profession. Yet, Nakahara-sensei could have developed his character a little more. Later in the series, he goes through a lot of inner turmoil, but readers cannot connect with him because they can barely understand Ren's emotions. As expected of a shoujo male lead, he is very talented, from fighting to acting, but is not as well-rounded as I had hoped for.

Yashiro, Ren's manager, and Lory Takarada, the president of Kyoko's and Ren's agency, have an uncanny knack for being able to sort out Kyoko's and Ren's problems. As Ren's manager, Yashiro is able to pinpoint the feelings that Ren has, from hatred to liking to jealousy. Takarada, on the other hand, does the same, but he guides the characters gently with his pearls of wisdom. Both characters are there for comedic relief as well as their viewpoint of the whole situation.

The story is more creative than most, as the way acting is taken so seriously taken gives the impression that acting is an art, not just a simple task. Not many shoujo leads are motivated by revenge and don't know how to love, like Kyoko. Sho Fuwa's narcissism is something that would be expected, yet, he brings a new type of understanding to the whole concept of loving oneself. In the incipient stages of the series, everything seems like fun and games, but later on, the manga explores some dark themes that may be disturbing to one yet captivating to another.

In the beginning, I was kind of disappointed with the art. Ren and Sho have extremely long, triangular faces, and there's barely any distinction between them and other male characters their age in the series. I wish that Ren would have some human proportions, because even though this is a manga (and not real) I would have liked to see Ren as more of a normal person. Kyoko is very expressive throughout the series and I'm glad to see that, opposed to the impassive faces of Ren and others.

So far, I have definitely enjoyed this manga! I love to reread the character-defining moments in the series, as they motivate me. Skip Beat is such an insightful yet enjoyable manga that anyone would like to read.