Manga Series Review: “Stupid Love Comedy” by ShuShuShu Sakurai

“Stupid Love Comedy” by ShuShuShu Sakurai 2018)

Genre: Manga, Romance, Slice of Life

Synopsis: Suzu Sakura is a lazy author who can’t keep a deadline, is twenty-four hours late to meetings, and falls asleep in the middle of crunch time-you name it! It seems like no one can keep her in line, but then she gets a new editor. Hasegawa’s a super-mega HOTTIE, but his temper runs just as hot. Though he scolds her endlessly and they’re quickly driving each other up the wall, will something bloom between this odd couple…?!An inside look at the manga industry, full of laughs and a little heartache!

Review:

*This is spoiler-free review containing books 1-3 of the series.

To sum it up this manga is about a mangaka, Sakura, whose world is shaken up by a handsome new editor, Hasegawa, who starts to work with her. Sakura is lazy, a bit of a slob, and is overly obnoxious which grows on you after a while as a reader. Even though she is loud and her imagination is always in overdrive, manga is her passion and that’s what drives her in her life and career.

Sakura’s extroverted nature is a way for her to cover up her more vulnerable side as readers get to know her. She’s hurt by bad reviews of her work and questions if her art is good enough. On the other hand, her editor Hasegawa is so stern. Sakura reminds him to loosen up a bit and honest about the critiques of her work. He’s uptight and grapples with if he’s too harsh on the creators he works with and if he is a good editor. Though he might not always show it, he has great faith in the mangaka he works with and works hard to promote their books.

While there are hints of romance and what it means to fall in love, the book focuses more on what it takes to create a manga. I think the title is a bit misleading since I thought originally it was a romance story. It also could be alluding to the fact that Sakura writes shojo manga for a living. I’ve read stories previously where they show the life of a mangaka but this was very in-depth and I appreciated seeing the little details such as the writing process, making deadlines, and working with designers for the cover art.

In the editor’s notes it was cool to learn that much of this story is loosely based on the author’s life and her own experience within the industry. It was comical, entertaining, and most of all heartwarming. It showed the struggles of creating art. I’m glad I picked up Stupid Love Comedy and enjoyed it so much! If you like stories about the heart of a mangaka I’d recommend it.

Final Verdict: