Jul 10, 2008
With some interesting twists and more depth to the story than you might guess at first, You're So Cool had me hooked right through to the last page.
It begins very simply, with our protagonist, Nan Woo, crushing on the high school 'prince', Seung Ha; as their relationship develops, so do the characters and the plot. A sidestory involving Nan Woo's uncle, Jae, and his own issues mirrors the main storyline, which is later blended seamlessly into the main theme.
STORY: The story progresses very smoothly and builds up to the climax without jumping too fast or too far ahead to ruin the momentum. While this is
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mostly a dramatic romance, there is a lot of humour thrown in to keep the mood light, despite some of the deep issues dealt with in the story.
One of the biggest highlights of the story for me was how the story is told mainly through Nan Woo's experiences, but it's really about Seung Ha. As Nan Woo learns more about her new boyfriend, so does the reader.
It starts off with some very typical high school problems as you learn more about the characters, then gradually takes the attention away from the high school environment and turns to life outside of school, where personal issues take centre stage.
ART: I can't say I'm an art critic, despite being a fan of manga/manhwa, but I really did enjoy the artwork. It was easy to picture the setting and environment, and you can notice subtle growth and change in the characters as time progresses without it being too much.
CHARACTER: I think the character development was my favourite aspect of the story. As mentioned, the story is told through Nan Woo, but it's really about how Seung Ha deals with his past, his family, and the wrench his new girlfriend throws into his life. Despite this, we also see growth in Nan Woo as she realises things aren't always what they appear to be.
There is an element of tragedy to the story, and you can really see the growth in the characters as they deal with each new issue that comes their way, culminating with the resolution of the main conflict.
ENJOYMENT: I really enjoyed the story. There are times when you want to just yell at the main characters, but you never really stop wanting to learn more about them. It was very hard for me to put down.
OVERALL: Overall, whether you're an avid manhwa fan or not, this story was incredibly enjoyable, with enough depth to the plot to escape the typical shoujo fluff.
[This is my first review. Please leave me a comment or two on what you liked or how you think I can improve! Thank you.]
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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