Tenshi Nanka ja Nai

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You've probably heard of Nana, so no need to introduce Ai Yazawa. Honestly, this is one of the very few mangas that captures the instant of happiness just as well as the more negative emotions. The artwork is also beautiful. As far as "high school shojo" go, this one is just exceptional - so much that all the other ones I've read left an aftertaste of "something's missing". Many scenes will give you that special feeling you had, at the end of a summer high school day, when it's warm and you're hanging out with your friends and it's golden hour. I've read it multiple ... times in the 10 years since I've bought it and it's never lost its charm.

All the characters make you fall in love with them and their act!

Story: 8/10
It is nothing new as a plot but the execution is very entertaining. Our heroin is a social butterfly, while our hero has a regent hairstyle but doesn't act as a delinquent, he is very mature(They kinda resemble my favorite duo in 'Dame na'). The story has some interesting twists that works out without stressing you along the read.

Art: 10/10
Yazawa's style is unique and the characters are always dressed elegantly, she changes their hairstyles and looks often! It's very enjoyable with Midori and Mamirin, especially because it's very 90s here.

Enjoyment: 9/10
A manga ... that makes you laugh and cry is worth the time, this is what I felt reading it.
However, sometimes the crying heroins in Yazawa's works are annoying, though it somehow feels as her style to include them. But Midori isn't annoying, she's strong, responsible, and smart. I also was pleased with the minimality in rivals and drama over love and trust, the atmosphere was more mature compared to other shoujos.

Before Nana

The heroin is not an angel suggests the title and yet it looks like she is.

Ai Yazawa's codes
We won't lie to each other, we can recognize the work of the incredible Ai Yazawa: an authentic drawing even if it is less worked than Nana's (1991/1994 VS 2000/2009), a retro style, charismatic characters, very funny moments, permanent doubts and an atmosphere that vacillates between lightness and questioning.

Privilege your own happiness?
Like all of Ai Yazawa's works, I can read this shojo over and over again with the same excitement. Unlike "Nana" "I am not an angel" or "Tenshi Nanka ja Nai" shows the story of high ... school students. And yet, despite their young age, we find the characteristics of all human thoughts: favour your own happiness or that of those you love. This happiness can sometimes be incompatible, we do not always get what we want.

A touching heroine
Midori just wishes to spend good moments with friends and live happily with the one she loves so much: Akira. However this boy turns out to have a complicated past that forced him to hide his emotions. This is a huge difference in their couple: she shows all her emotions whereas he hides its.

To sum up
You will see friendly characters, touching scenes, strong links between each character, a light atmosphere despite twists and turns, shōjo short (8 volumes).
Special reference to Chapter 31 (Volume 7) <3