Collection of early oneshots: 6v263p
Make me throb
It has to be you
From HotCakes:
Hisami, female high school student with a history of not having a boyfriend. She develops a crush on Haru-kun at a school event, but due to a misunderstanding ends up dating his friend, Narushi. What’s more, Haru-kun begins dating Hisami’s friend, Izumi… One day, Izumi suggests that they all switch lovers for day. Even if it’s only for one day, Hisami gets to date Haru-kun! A very excited Hisami gets brought to a love hotel by Haru-kun!Turn me on
Lost child of the forest
1 Volume (Complete)

If you're new to this mangaka's work I'd suggest you to skip this and go for other titles by her (for instance: Darling Wa, Chou Yo Hana Yo aka Oh Butterly Oh Flower, Itadakimasu, Oboretai, Mata Mata Oboretai, Haa Haa, Anata Senya Ichiya, Sheet No Sukina) .
Anata Janai To, similarly to the scanlated volume of hers Pretty In Blue, is an anthology of her early one-shots, while cover art features her present and more polished art style. Yoshihara can churn out some meaty oneshots (one of my fav oneshot is her Sheherazade and the mermaid/merman one in her Ningyo anthology ) but here the stories are very very light, very very silly and so far focused on high schoolers/uni students as opposed to the working adults stories she's most famous -. and accomplished - for.
For smut lovers: in term of smut too these one shots are very light, if you're looking for heavy dose of sexy just avoid. For smut haters: you'll find very little to hate 😛 , Yoshihara even in her green phase was not a fan of playing infamous smut tropes straight.
The first scanlated story is about two neighbours and childhood friends and features a couple nice gags, among those a shoutout to the classic Rose of Versailles 70's shoujo manga. The second story has a potentially risque premise (partners swap + unrequited love ) but the execution is on the crack comedy side. The crack and comedy are a tad too mild to be effective though imho.The second story also carries a 'can't buy me love' message.
These oneshots are interesting as an 'in hindsight' reading, as you can already spot some of her peculiar taste in gags and irriverent humour, but timing and delivery and buildup are still not crisp and consistent. The art is sort of lighter and whispy, but also less precise than in latter outputs. As a whole the stories in this volume so far range between average and pleasant - they gave me a chuckle or two - , but are neither memorable nor gut-busting funny as Yoshihara's later work (ref to titles I mentioned at the beginning) can be.
Both in of either characterization, quirky storytelling, art, sensuality and comedic value she can do much better ^^.
... Last updated 13 years ago