Lovely★Complex
Love★Com

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My first review! Forgive me if I've given out easy 10's, but I really do feel this deserves it, at least in my opinion!

I've read the manga, excluding a few chapters from 57 on that could not be found. I have to say, I was completely hooked. Really, I never read a lot of strictly romance. Sure this is comedy, but it has no other plot than the relationships between the characters. Usually, this style of anime could really fly off course. But Lovely Complex was really great! It's a character-driven series, and this time the characters are likable, or realistic.

I watched the live action ... movie after I read the manga. It was a pretty faithful adaptation, and I did like the character choices a lot, and they did their best to depict the height differences between the two main characters. Otani was really adorable, and Risa was really crazy and generally awesome. However, I'm not used to watching Japanese movies or even dramas, and it was a little different for me. In a manga or anime, the characters can look a certain way, but when real people try to mimic anime, it can look a little fake. I really enjoyed it, still, despite the fact that they had to cut some parts out due to length. It really was cute.

I've only just started the anime. I did like it, the style and presentation in up my alley, but I am disappointed after reading the manga. It progresses way too fast for me to be comfortable. It's great for me, since I already love the characters from the manga, but if I hadn't of read it, I don't think I'd be very attached to them! So, if you plan on getting into the series, or already are, make sure to read the manga! It's long and really satisfying, but it doesn't drag on.

__STORY__
I really like the story. Too many romances about one person having a complex (which is never a complex, just moe of some sort) and liking a person. Bleh. Lovely Complex presents two characters who have identical complexes, and the growing relationship between them as they battle to overcome their problems. I really liked it a lot, and I enjoyed that the characters had complex feelings. It never was like they had one pure emotion, they had feelings mixed in which made it really realistic and enjoyable. A very nice story to me.

__ART__
I'm a fan of the style. Nothing completely unique as far as I'm concerned, but truly great presentation. It's not really notable, but it would've been easy to mess it up, so the artist deserves props!

__CHARACTER__
The best aspect, because their is no plot that involves a magical girl transforming and having to keep her identity from her crush. It's just straight character development, through and through character-driven. It's really wonderful, you grow attached to every character, even minor ones who don't appear much after their introduction. You end up liking the characters so much, and seeing them as realistic people, that you don't complain when they make a stupid decision, because it's 'what a person in that situation would do'.


I really love the series, I never want to finish it! Once I finish the anime, what will fill the Love*Com hole in my heart? WHAT, I SAY?!

so far, i have been completely obsessed with this manga, anime AND live movie. i find this manga very sweet and the relationship is different from a lot of other mangas.

you feel that you can relate to this manga because each and every one of us has a complex about ourselves, and the two main characters just happen to share the same complex, but in an opposite way. also, risa's love for otani is a very long journey and admirable. makes me want to love someone as much as her.

you will learn to love the characters and you'll be wanted more. there are ... many sweet moments and some moments where i cried. i give this manga a 10 out of 10

!!!Warning- This manga can make you go all "awwweeooooiii,blush,tears,laugh,feels" and In case like mine combination of all. Before, I start reviewing I need to say 2 things

1. This is just my opinion,feel free to give your suggestions.
2. I will try my best to ignore the story plot as much as possible, so it won't ruin the fun for you.


Plot- The best romantic manga ever made, trust me when I say this I have read hundreds of shoujo manga, but none has high re-read value compare to this. It may sound Exaggerating, well I guess it is since this manga was my gateway to the ... manga world and to the romance genre too. Since, then I have read a LOT, I mean really A LOT romance manga, but only found very few that makes my face like this O///////O while reading (Yes, I am a guy I prefer shoujo over Shonen). Anyway, as for the PLOT Synopsis is given, But I will highly recommend to ignore that as it gives off major hint towards what is going on the manga. All I have to say for the story, If you are looking for a loveydovey romance, with no annoying love triangle and where male lead is not your typical handsome shoujo guy, you came to the perfect place.

Characters- As for shorty myself, Koizumi she is the perfect girlfriend you could wish for, who never gives up on you (No, I am not gonna mention my height its embarrassing). As for Ootani some people might find his personality bit annoying, But if you put yourself in his shoes, you might be able to understand him like I did.

Art- Needless to say anything both art and story is done by Nakahara sensei. She has done many other works too like Junjou Drop,Benkyou Shinasai!, Ringo Nikki etc. Its just like asking obvious question when animation is done by famous studios like "Madhouse and Trigger"


Enjoyment- Like I mentioned above, It has HIGH RE-READ VALUE. I have read this manga almost 20 times, It was still on-going, I think when I read it back in 2006.


Note- IF YOU WATCHED THE ANIME FIRST, MAKE SURE TO READ THE MANGA AGAIN, AS FOR ANIME IT SKIPS 3-4 ARCS and goes straight for the ending (Not saying, the anime is bad). Even if you are first time manga reader, Like this manga was for me. I pray and hope this becomes the gateway for you to the manga world.

--- DISCLAIMER: Minor Spoilers Ahead ---

Lovely Complex was OK: there were times where it was hilarious and I really liked it; however, more often than not, Lovely Complex's story and characters tested my patience. Because of that, I think that it's fair for me to give Love Com a score of 6.

Going by most of the comments about Love Com, it's clear that many people regard the series highly and believe it's 'refreshing'. However, if one ignores the fact that Risa and Otani have a rather large height difference, Love Com is your standard shoujo romance set in a high school. Risa is your standard ... noisy crybaby whilst Otani is your standard jackass with a soft heart. The rivals are clingy, one track-minded and annoying (as per usual). The misunderstandings are typically stupid. Everything just follows the standard romantic comedy formula without doing anything different at all. Yeah, the gags are funny but they're too far and few - especially when most of the pages are full of incessant whiny and crying (from Risa's part).

The relationship between Risa and Otani isn't particularly innovative either. Of course, Risa, being your typical submissive heroine, is the first one to fall for Otani after he does one nice thing after being a huge jackass for most of the time. She chases after him in her mission to "make him love her". Now, I know this isn't an uncommon trope in manga like Love Com, but in the case of Risa, it really goes on for far too long. I really hated seeing her try so desperately to make Otani fall in love with her for as long as she did. She was so whiny and pathetic - it was as if this girl's only goal in life was to get some permanently butthurt half-pint, like Otani, to fall in love with.

When the two finally do get together, the relationship itself is just as generic as the build up to it. A rival, or a stupid misunderstanding, will arise and either Risa or Otani will end up blowing their top off and throwing accusations at the other party. Cue a bucket of tears from Risa, and lots of cold glares from Otani, several pages (sometimes even chapters) of not speaking to each other etc etc before the side characters tell the two MCs that they're both being unreasonable idiots and should just talk things out. MCs talk things out and make-up. Rinse and repeat. Literally, that is pretty much all that happens in Love Com. Things do get more interesting near the end of the series when it starts to focus on the prospect of the future and we get to see more of the supporting characters, but otherwise, there's really nothing that sets this manga apart from others in its vein. The story is actually really frustrating, for the most part, and I found myself rolling my eyes on more than one occasion because all of the major conflict was seriously stupid and pathetic. I understand that the two are in high school, so they don't need to have such severe communication problems. It's so inane.

Furthermore, Risa is just plain annoying. I could barely tolerate her. She had been a whiny and hypersensitive crybaby from the beginning, but instead of getting over her insecurities once she got boyfriend, she got worse. All she did was moan, whine and cry. It was like Otani was much better, but at least he did mature a bit as the manga went on whilst Risa's character just stagnated and she continued to be her incredibly childish self. Both of the characters were stupidly selfish as well, and I don't think they ever truly got rid of that.

Honestly, I don't think the relationship in Love Com is a particularly viable one. Risa and Otani weren't compatible, in my opinion, because they spent more time bickering with one another instead of having meaningful communication and trying to get over their differences diplomatically. It's probably why Love Com did very little for me, in the romance department. I would have preferred reading more about the supporting couples because whilst those relationships did seem to have some conflict, it wasn't incessant and they seemed compatible with another.

As for the art, well, as for most things about this manga, it was generally OK. My biggest gripe with the art is that too many of the characters look exactly the same sans for different hairstyles. Even Otani and Risa look ridiculously similar. However, this manga did have some excellent comedic facial expressions. They were hilarious and better than the characters' regular faces.

Overall, Lovely Complex is OK. I wouldn't tell people not to read it, but at the same time I wouldn't recommend it either. I think there are lot of manga, like Lovely Complex, that do what Lovely Complex does, but better and with more depth. It's disappointing to see the characters barely develop over 62 chapters as it makes their relationship seem really shallow. I mean, it's all well and good that they say that they love each other, but I can't help but wonder WHY after reading Lovely Complex. I did have high expectations for Lovely Complex. Unfortunately, they weren't fulfilled, but I wouldn't say it was a waste of time. It was a fun way to kill time, whilst it lasted, but I probably wouldn't read it again if I didn't have anything else to do.

|| Manga Recommendation/ Review ||

Manga - Lovely★Complex
Genres - Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Shoujo
Author - Nakahara Aya

So, You want to see the best possible shoujo manga with no utter bullshit, pure love, no love triangle and no fast pace romance? Lovely complex is way to go. Lovely Complex perfectly portrays the romance between two people who are having height complex. The story isn't fast paced and it takes sensibly appropriate time for the love to bloom, romance doesn't just start automatically in 3-4 chapters but you see the hint of love developing.

Story(9/10) - The story was really cute and pure, it feels like the reader might ... swept away with the flow of the storyline. The plot doesn't have the typical shoujo story where both protagonist start loving each other in mere 3 chapters, it takes time as they interact, fight and enjoy their time together. So the story is perfectly well-timed, full of lovey-dovey moments and unique concept taken to above-par with script writing.

Art(7/10) - The art was good too with typical shoujo style drawing. the characters are drawn perfectly suiting the script but still being a vivid seinen reader, i felt the art to be lacking. The use of various screentones too were well-used.

Enjoyment(10/10) - I have tried reading about 5-6 shoujo manga and dropped all of them except for lovely complex. This was by-far the greatest one i read and story just kept on going interesting. Never did i felt like stopping and completed it with 4-5 days. Most of the shoujo manga i tried reading have suddenly love bloom and kissing in about 3 chapters and having bigass and long fights due to third character, but lovely complex was free from it, even if the third wheel caused a fight, their love didn't falter and they got back. this was rather cute and happy manga.

Overall (8.5/10) - I have said this above too i think but again with quotation and in capital :-

"THiS IS BY FAR THE BEST SHOUJO MANGA I HAVE READ SO FAR'

So I've finally finished the last volume of Lovely Complex after watching the anime for like five times. I can't express how much I loved this series. I could actually read this over and over again and not get tired of it. This has got to be the most beautiful shoujo manga I've ever read. Love Com is a brilliant romantic comedy, with wonderful and well-developed characters. Aya Nakahara also did an excellent job on the artwork. It was amazing and remarkable, which makes Love Com a totally fun read!

I absolutely enjoyed reading Risa and Otani's story. They're just one of my favorite couples ever. ... They're so perfect for each other and I loved the way their relationship progressed throughout the story. In fact, they're so adorable that their obvious height difference doesn't matter at all. I simply loved how their story is realistic and relatable. You could certainly see the emotional ups and downs that they had before and after they started going out. I always find myself laughing at their witty dialogues and hilarious moments. I loved how their attitude towards each other didn't change even when they finally began dating. There are also those super sweet, cute and touching moments that made me say "Awwww" and smile like an idiot all the time! The Umibouzu theme is also superb in its own way, and I liked that it has played a huge role in bringing our lovable couple together.

And also, Love Com won't be as good as it is without Risa and Otani's group of friends: Nobu, Nakao, Chiharu and Suzuki. They're like the most awesome friends you could ever have and they're a great addition to the story. I liked the fact that they helped Risa and Otani understand their feelings for each other and become a couple, and how they were always there for them whenever they need them.

Overall, the series is an easy 10/10 for me. I really enjoyed this manga from the beginning to end. The characters have all grown on me, and I'm kinda sad that the manga is over. I wish there could have been more, since I don't think I'll ever be able to find another romantic comedy series as good as Love Com! I absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a great and charming shoujo manga!

Risa Koizumi frequently gets rejected because of her tall stature. But what will happen when she falls in love with her comic duo/endless bickering partner Atsushi Otani? Adding to that, he's shorter and has a really cute ex-girlfriend!

Join them in this romantic comedy series you will never forget.

I'd have to give this manga a perfect ten! It is surely a MUST-READ! :D

It has been an amazing experience reading this manga. Lovely Complex keeps you wanting more and more of Otani and Koizumi's romance~! They may not be the "perfect" couple because of the height difference but it just goes to show that love isn't all about physical appearances and that is one good point that this manga has emphasized brilliantly. :)

To make my point clear here's a very in-depth review, which you shouldn't really read if you haven't finished reading the manga since it MAY contain SPOILERS:

STORY: 10/10

Well, since I am a ... pretty tall girl, I could easily relate to Risa's point of view and that's what I really like about this manga. The "realism" it portrays is very enjoyable and the kind of relationship Risa and Otani develops in the manga was just so awe-inspiring. :)

The story starts with them not really getting along but because of people they like, they "join forces" and "help" each other with their love lives. But then, the people they were trying to get, fall in love with each other. I believe that was the turning point to their relationship. Their weird rivalry-like friendship never ceases to amuse me and their tandem is very funny. They truly deserve the title "All Hanshin-Kyojin".

And besides, I am a sucker for happy endings so I was just so thrilled with the results of the hard work Risa put in for Otani. :) The story was truly magnificent!


ART: 10/10

I am very particular with the art (not because I am a good artist but because I have no talent on it whatsoever yet I want to see what's pleasing to the eyes) and I can't say the art of Lovely Complex had the best art I've ever seen, it's actually just so-so. It wasn't bad. . . . but it just wasn't outstanding. Although. . . . I really found Otani to be a cool guy (especially during those serious moments), Kohori to be simply adorable and Maity & Haruka to be HOT. :D So, I still gave two thumbs up for the art!

CHARACTER: 10/10

No complaints here. There was variety in the characters in LC. From stupid couples (*ahem*Risa&Otani*ahem*) to overwhelmingly HOT English teachers and obsessive childhood friends. I enjoyed every character in the series. Enough said. :)

ENJOYMENT: 10/10

So during the time I was reading LC, i was SUPPOSED to be doing a lot of stuff for school but I just couldn't leave it alone till I finish it. And even after reading it, I still daydream of the couple's lovey-dovey moments in my head. So that should be enough of a explanation for how much I enjoyed it. xD

OVERALL: 10/10

It was great! If you want a story that blends comedy and romance quite nicely, this is a manga that will not disappoint. :D

I found a version of the translation that flowed very well and helped make this story more lovely than the original manga translation. I read a few chapters of the original and the writing was just so stiff it really took me out of the story, with that said I found myself enjoying the story less and less as time went on regardless of the translations.

The story revolves around a topic that really does bother a lot of people, height. So it was really cute to see a couple not care about it, or even try to work past it to find out that together ... they have a lot in common. SPOILERS: Otani wants to appear manly despite his height, which means he can be a real ass and as some stories go that's what cool looks like. bleh. Risa and Otani fight CONSTANTLY and at first it makes complete sense, but as time goes on Risa is the only one that really starts to change and work past constant insults. Otani, continues to be an asshole and Risa has to just forgive and forget. Notice how often she has to apologize for over reacting when Otani struggles to comprehend wtf he should. There were moments they addressed things like "Wow you didn't believe your own girlfriend but you believed a stranger?" but this is followed by Risa having to apologize because even though Otani did do something shitty, she was wrong about something that barely is considered relevant.

Risa spends all of her time, life, and energy swooning over Otani, especially once they get together. She is his personal cheerleader. The favor does not get returned and we even find out as much as Risa is struggling, Otani is thriving and not really talking to people about the fact that he has a girlfriend. Ouch.

There's a lot of Risa talking about how Otani is her life, her power source, ect. And we never see that on Otani's side but every blue moon as he has to be struggling with how manly and dumb he is, all in all it was fun at first, but as many of these types of stories, the girl has to be extremely forgiving and her life has to revolve around the boy she loves, and it was well.... It was meh. Nice try, Lovely Complex. He did a few things right, you had a great start, you had a trans person that you accepted as a girl but couldn't quite wrap your mind around how to interact with that concept. It's cool tho, you're not just not meant for me. Let's break up, k?

Story: Lovely Complex is about Koizumi Risa and Otani Atsushi, a comedic duo, since the girl is outrageously tall and the boy is really short. They constantly argue with each other because they are both insecure with their height. Their arguments are so often that when they argue people stop to watch as if it was an act they were doing. Now since both are insecure with their height, they each also feel insecure about finding a boyfriend or girlfriend. However, as the story progresses on Koizumi starts to like Otani, with him being a total idiot, has no clue about it. The plot is ... really good because it shows a development between two people who eventually fall in love with each other and the problems that could occur.

Art: The artwork is pretty unique in this series. Unlike the generic big eyed girl you see in many manga, the author gives the characters a more realistic face and hair. Also the clothes changes like every other chapter, so its not like those other manga where the characters wear the same clothes every time haha. But over all the artwork was pretty good. I really liked how the author putted a lot of details into the character art, which helps conveys their the characters' feelings and personality.

Character: Where to start on this? The manga itself is probably almost like raw character development. There isn't those side-story or fillers. Mainly it just sticks with the development between Koizumi and Otani. Though the whole entire story is told from Koizumi perspective, it makes the manga pretty interesting because it shows Koizumi's admirable love for Otani despite their height difference. Also I have to mention that the character development is not limited only to Koizumi and Otani. The author actually allows the supporting characters to have their own character development, with Koizumi learning from those experience which just increase the development of her and Otani.

Enjoyment: Overall I really LOVED this manga series AND I will definitively go watch the anime. Also the many challenges the characters faced was really amazing and touching at the same time. There are plenty of cute and funny moments. I really loved how the characters all developed, not just the main characters but also the supporting characters, which is one of the reasons why I really liked this manga. When the manga ended I felt kind of sad knowing that such a wonderful series had to end. I enjoyed every single one of those chapters, and I am sure that many will be able to relate to certain situation in the story because many of us have something that we are insecure about. So I hope you enjoy this manga series as much as I did!!! :D well have fun reading

Before I read this one, I thought I didn't like shoujo. It was just that I wasn't reading the right ones! This one is adorable and gets a 10/10 from me.

Basic premise: Tall girl and short guy annoy each other and tease each other about their heights, but become really good friends in their attempt to hook their other friends up, and then develop feelings for each other. AWW. I love these romcoms in the school setting ♥. Watching their relationship develop over their high school years was so sweet and ... yeah I admit I lived vicariously through ... them too. (As high school was years ago for me haha!) All the scenarios felt so real and all the interactions felt so genuine.

Also, the ending was picture perfect. Guh. I die for happy endings.

Koizumi Risa: a taller than average girl. Otani Atsushi: smaller than average boy. Lovely Complex follows the story of these two out-of-place people and how they're relationship grows from mutual hate, to love consultants, to one-sided crush, to completely head over heels in love with each other.

story: the story is...not unique, but in it's own way, very unique. the story of a tall girl and a short boy falling in love is found in many different stories (like Ikeyamada Go's "Get Love") but Aya Nakahara add's her own bit of character into LoveCom, making it stand out from "any other manga" the humor is great, ... the different arcs in the story arent pointless and long, and the length of the story progresses with the right amount of pace. Story:9

Art: something about the art captivates me. its different than that of other mangas. the girls don't have those outrageously large eyes (thank God) and the guys aren't the typical shoujo guy who is liked by all the girls. Aya Nakahara's art is outstanding, because she adds all those little details to everything. unlike some other stories i've read, Aya Nakahara adds the little fly aways that hair naturally has. the backgrounds are drawn nicely. the facial expressions had me jumping, laughing, and i could really see how the characters felt. Aya Nakahara really adds amazing precise detail to every little thing. so i'll give the art a 10

Character: another one of LoveCom's strong points. in normal shoujo manga, the main girl is the type that all the guys like. she's kind, beautiful, and willing to help others at her own expense. Not Risa. Risa is some aloof idiot who wants nothing more than to hang out with her friends, play video games, and of course, be with Otani. THANK GOD she wasn't one of those annoying nice girls. but if you like that type of person, then Chiharu Tanaka is the person to look at. Also, the guys is either the super cool smart guy, or the deep emotional guy with a bad temper who looks at life like everything is just wrong and boring. Not Otani. Yes, many stories have the crazy, cute, and carefree guy, but Otani also has a bit of temper to him that makes him loveable. He's basically a mix of different selections of characters, minus the smart type. his personality is the perfect match with Risa. The character development is really great too. you can really see how much Otani likes Risa, even though he doesnt show it. Nobu and Nakao are just as sweet, and Suzuki and Chiharu aren't that bad either.the side characters were very unique too. u can't forget loveable Haruka and transvestite Seiko. each character played an important role for the story to project. Character:10

Enjoyment: VERY ENJOYABLE

Overall: as you can see, this is one of my favorite mangas of all time. i've read the whole story about 8 times (that's how good it is) and i'm sure that others will find this to be one heck of a good story too. i would recommend this to everyone :D

Okay, First of all.... THE MANGA IS SO MUCH AWESOME THAN THE ANIME. (Just so you know).

Why? Well there are numbers of reasons why the manga is so much better than the anime. There's the ending, the scenes which got cut, scenes in the anime that never really existed in the manga, and most of all the art of the manga is more attractive than the anime.

STORY (9). The story is something different. I have never seen such unique animes before because some animes have cliche stories! Like for example, when girl meets boy then they fall in love with each other and ... the guy will confess then after an episode boom, they have a relationship blah blah blah. It's different on this one. I really felt happy because on some point, I read a manga that I can relate to. The height complex, the love and hate relationship and so much more. It's kind of bizarre but somehow it reflected my life a bit. I am also a tall girl longing for a tall guy who would love me someday but after reading this everything changed. I enjoyed the story because it wasn't really that erotic, there were no corny scenes, it's just a shoujo manga with a fun-filled story that will shock you. The ending was very satisfying because they showed how strong Otani and Koizumi's love because no matter what happens, they will continue to make the relationship strong and healthy. What really bothered me was the cliche parts of the story. I've read tons of shoujou manga and every manga has the following cliche japanese high school scenes in manga and anime:

1.) School Field Trip
2.) Cultural Festivals
3.) School Festival Things (which every classroom must do something like a play, or a haunted house booth and so on)

Yep, every frickin' time, these scenes show up in every frickin' shoujo manga but then again, they have different stories and it's just the setting and I didn't really mind because there are some parts of the manga that has a unique plot and setting.

ART (8) The art didn't actually blew me away but it's better than the anime. But the characters have actually different looks unlike other mangas who actually have characters who look exactly the same and it's really confusing especially when they have the same hair color because in the manga there are only 2 colors which are black and white. But in this manga there are a lot of familiar faces but with different looks so it's not really confusing. Like for example there are characters that have chinky eyes and some have different hairstyles that doesn't really resemble other character's hairstyle so all in all the art is very good.

CHARACTER (9) I wasn't fascinated with the other characters. Mostly, I'm only concentrating on Otani's and Risa's side of the story because obviously they are the main characters. I think there are characters that I didn't really like that much like Nobu-chan and Nakao. They somehow freak the hell out of me when they do love scenes together. It's not promising to see and it's too much lovey-dovey almost like 2 couples you see in a restaurant and poke each other then kiss then after a week they broke up. But Otani and Risa's romance is more like a bestfriend love theme. They are not a typical couple who show their love to other people by doing disgusting things that would just make them PUKE.

Enjoyment (10) I really hope the score of "10" defines AWESOME because I really enjoyed this manga. It helped me realize that if you want something grab it! Don't give up when you are just starting to do it. It's like Risa's love for Otani. It took time but it was worth it. But I must say, I enjoyed the ending because it proves how they are faithful to each other after all those years. But I can't help but say this... WHY AREN'T THERE MORE CHAPTERS!

Overall (9) Everything is great about this manga. Nothing more nothing less, It's just a piece of entertainment that will give you smiles and it will effortlesly make you keep coming back for more. Unfortunately, it ended so soon so it's not that okay for me. But the ending was good don't get me wrong, It's just that there are a lot of shoujou mangas that gives this feeling of we want more, please make their adventures more longer like other shounen manga. For me, It's just unfair why do shounen mangas never end? While shoujou manga ends quickly as possible. Well, that's about it. I just told you everything that I need to write on this review so what do you say?

Will you read it??

(PLEASE DO!)

"Lovely Complex" is indeed a unique take on the complexities of love and relationships. While the manga is sprinkled with heartwarming moments and has its fair share of humor, it isn't without its shortcomings.

One of the things that genuinely stood out is its sweet nature. The interactions, the banter, the highs and lows of Ootani and Koizumi's relationship are endearing. Their height difference and the associated challenges provide a backdrop for numerous humorous situations that can't help but make you smile.

However, diving deeper into the emotional fabric of the story, certain aspects felt lacking. Ootani's emotional unavailability until the very end was a letdown for ... me. While every character has their own pace of growth and understanding, his static emotional state felt repetitive and frustrating at times. On the flip side, Koizumi's persistent advances towards Ootani often felt forced and, in places, uncomfortably aggressive.

From my own life, I know that being with someone who doesn't share their feelings can be hard. While everyone is different and takes their own time to understand their feelings, it felt like the story kept going in circles with Ootani's emotions.

Maybe the title "Lovely Complex" is perfect for this story. Their relationship is 'lovely' but also complicated or 'complex'.

In the end, "Lovely Complex" has ups and downs. It's a fun and cute story, but at the same time, I wish the characters learned more about themselves and each other. If you like love stories that make you think a little deeper, this one might leave you wanting more. But even with its problems, it does teach you about love, how people are different, and how they can grow together.

I really love thins manga! It is my favorite.
I love how the mangaka created such ordinary (I mean i the personality) main characters and given them a unusual characteristic (height) and made a comedy of their complex. Furthermore I can highlight "otani" because it is one of that rarest manga that describe a normal boy as a main character and not some romanticized male that is perfect and loves the girl unconditionally (it is mostly impossible in real life). ~
Another thing that I can highlight is how koizumi express her feelings honestly and doesn't put up a "cute" show in front of ... others. She's not afrad to be her self (I'm not count the beginning when she was trying to impress Suzuki ).
I was funny and very addicting.
When I finished I wanted more! sometimes i even re read it when I feel like something lovely and funny.

No spoilers. Art and Characters are the highlight of this Manga. However the constant reprisal of the "Jealousy" conflict as well as "I'm not sure if he really loves me" conflict really made the story go stale for the second half of the Manga.

First half of the manga I'd give 9/10, but for the reprisal of the same old story arcs I have to give it a 8 and the fact the final 5 chapters contained nothing that moved the story or the characters along I have to take a point off for that.

7/10 is my rating. Art is great and the Characters themselves ... are great but the story lacked any real direction towards the end.

I want to start my review saying that I’m a biased person when it comes to Lovely Complex. I’ve watched the anime years ago and it left a deep impression on me, so when the manga started being published in my country, I couldn’t be happier. In fact, I’ve re-read it all two times already (something I don’t usually do, at least not in less than ten years time span). Therefore, I felt compelled to write some words about it, because, despite its flaws, it remains as a very memorable story for me.

I can’t stress enough the fact that this began being serialized more than ... 20 years ago! And having a shoujo demography, you would expect a lot of clichés from that time (which definitely have), but I still find it refreshing. I love how the author balance the comedy with sensitiveness. It doesn’t shy off from the drama, but doesn’t rely heavily on it too, something I appreciate a lot, as I’m not a big fan of characters crying all the time and adding misunderstanding after misunderstanding without any conclusion or development.

The main characters are very well defined in term of personality since the beginning, so the more the story advances, more chances we have to dive deeper on them, helping empathizing and understanding them. I’m not going to lie, the additional characters serve more to create conflict and keep the story going on than any other reason, so it becomes repetitive after some time, still, I was attached already with the main ones to care how they would solve the problems thrown at them (and for the most time, they didn’t let me down). Also, the whole cast is diverse and interesting on their own way.

As I mentioned before, some clichés are used as a plot device, however, the antic comedy or the interaction among the characters made me enjoy the ride. Things don’t get stuck for too long, especially because of the side characters, as they honestly voice out their opinions about the conflicts arisen and being quite sensible, serving as a third person point of view or even speaking what is going on the reader’s mind. The romances portrayed aren’t overly complicated or passionate, and can be a slow burn for the main couple, which was quite endearing for me, as it follows a more organic approach (but it has way more action than the ones who just show characters blushing, I reassure you).

Nitpicking on one aspect, it would be the moments where they highlight “men are like this and women like that” in a restrictive way. Such dialogues made me roll my eyes sometimes. That said, these discourses don’t stop the characters to break from gender roles or stereotypes from time to time, encouraging people to be the versions that they are the most comfortable with, and that’s why I think it’s a work that somehow aged pretty well (not all the “jokes” though).

The art’s biggest strength is definitely the characters’ expressions. They perfectly settle the mood for the story, creating the atmosphere and expected impact. We don’t see a big investment in depicting the scenarios, but I thought some stylistic decisions and angles takes were interesting, like when the characters are serious or making their comedy act. I appreciated the different clothes, accessories and hair styles arrays too, contributing to characterization.

Overall, LoveCom remains a great source of entertainment for me, one where I can find joy and characters that I relate, care and cheer on. I recommend it to anyone who just want a light and warm-hearted reading (with lots of bantering)!

perfect!
this manga made me realize how emotional i actuall am... after only 20 chapter it had me crying! i like to read my manga when i'm commuting to my school with the train, and sometimes i had to stop reading, so i wouln'd cry in public or laugh out loud! I've given other works a 10 before, but this one is with out a doubt a 10! if i could, i would rate it more! i now have to watch the anime of it.

sure you might think "oh the art style is quite something, well it is from 2001, the art style changes all the ... time, but after 10 chapter i really liked it!

if you like romance and some drama, this manga is perfect! their highschool romance gets so far

I’ve been meaning to read Rabu★Kon or most commonly known as Lovely Complex after watching the anime one or was that two years ago? Oh well, I don’t remember the exact date but I can still clearly remember why I loved it. It was one of the funniest anime I’ve watched that time and I love the concept of the story. Imagine falling in love with a guy who is shorter than you. Kind of weird right? Well, it’s possible ofcourse (I have a neighbor in our province who’s husband is shorter than her) but it seldom happens. I haven’t read anything like this one ... before and most shojo manga/anime doesn’t have this kind of idea too so it was really something new for me.

Lovely Complex revolved around a tall girl named Risa and a short guy named Ootani. Risa is taller than her age and Ootani shorter than his age. They doesn’t get along well and keeps on bantering like little kids whenever they see each other, and with both having height problems, they were then dubbed as Hanjin Kyojin comedic duo at school.

Unlike book reviews, I always do my hardest not to drop some spoilers, but with manga, I wouldn’t mind. So read on your own risk *wink.

I always enjoys love and hate romance and Lovely Complex is definitely perfect for me. Risa and Ootani started their friendship (I’m not even sure if you can call that friendship as they keep fighting each other, lol) as enemies. I think that wouldn’t be a surprise as they both have height problems – Risa being tall than normal in her age and Ootani the shortest, thus making them like a clown at school. They keep on getting on each other’s nerves until Summer break came in. Risa and Ootani along with some of their close friends attends Summer class and that’s how the miracle happened. And when I said miracle, it’s the two of them getting along well. They become closer since they are in agreement, and guess on what? It’s about their love interest. Ofcourse they don’t have the same crushes, although that would have been fun, but they are on agreement to work together since both of them are friends of each other’s crushes. But something unexpected happen, haha, both of their crushes likes each other instead. And guess what? Their crushes ended up together thus leaving Ootani and Risa heartbroken. I would have expected both of them consoling each other eh? Sure they did but in an unromantic way which includes a lot of hitting and punching, haha. Really, it’s true. Risa, since she’s taller always treated like one of the guys and Ootani as a girl because of his height too. So it should be normal that the two of them understands each other aight? But I guess even with that knowledge, they still end up fighting and irritating each other as they are somewhat the same; both have the same favorite singer and both of them acts like a kid.


What I Liked:
1. I love the idea, a tall girl falling in love with a short guy. Not impossible to happen in real life but the idea is fresh as it’s uncommon to romance stories.
2. It’s setting is in High School and you know how I love YA.
3. The love and hate romance. It could get a little too much sometimes especially when they finally became a couple but it’s still very entertaining to read and the illustrations were so on point!
4. The facial expressions. Haha, I love how the creator drew the facial expressions especially one from Risa. It’s no different in anime too, the expressions was way too funny.
5. The kissing scenes. My! It was just wonderfully drawn and soooo romantic.
6. I hate to admit it (know why in my What I Liked The Least section) but Ootani is just so cute especially if he ties his hair. Sometimes he could look hot too, haha. My! I think I have a little crush on Ootani now.
7. Ootani is not into mushy stuffs let alone say something romantic to Risa, but whenever he did, it’s just way too sweet I can hardly bear it without combusting.
8. I love that even if Lovely Complex is originally about Risa and Ootani’s height differences, it also includes conflicts between other characters in this story which gave other character to shine.
9. When I think about it again, most problems the main characters encountered we’re what we normally read in YA and any other shojo manga but I have to say that some of them makes sense that even younger sweethearts can gain some lessons from it.
10. Even if it includes some “slightly” annoying conflicts, I was happy that on the next day, Risa and Ootani both gave each other a chance to explain whenever there’s some misunderstanding.
11. And lots of good looking and supportive characters. Special mention, Nakao and Nobu-chan. My! This couple is the cutest, funniest, and supportive character ever. And obviously, they’re added to my favorite list so is Ootani and Risa *wink.

What I Liked The Least
1. I really really hate the part of Ootani where he’s so stubborn and so unexpressive and refused to say some romantic lines to Risa. I understand that they started as a comedic duo so it would be a little weird but dang! Can’t he be a little considerate sometimes?
2. Ootani’s very very very dense. I really pitied the part where Risa did her best to tell Ootani what she feels about him but ended up being laughed at.
3. Ootani not being an ideal boyfriend to Risa. Ofcourse he can’t be a complete boyfriend material but sometimes this guy can be so irritating, like forgetting her birthday (who’s boyfriend would even forget his girlfriend’s birthday?!), not believing in Risa and a lot more I dare not to mention or I’ll deduct another star again.
4. Both of them having third party problem. That setup is common in every romance stories but I have to say that I was still entertained because of the illustrations lol.

Main Characters
1. Koizumi, Risa – I always adore her character. Aside from making me laugh my heart out every single moment, she’s really nice too. One example was when Ootani’s tall beautiful neighbor trying to steal him away from Risa. If that was me, I will really cut her head off, but wow, the way Risa handled her was amazing. Another amazing thing about her is being caring, even if Ootani can be a bit irritating, she’s still trying her best to support him and take care of him.
2. Ootani, Atsushi – I love and hate his character at the same time. He could be cute yet dumb at the same time and it was irritating to read how he treats Risa. But when once in a while drop some sweet lines to Risa, my heart goes gaga. I guess you could say I love him more than I hate him, haha sucker.

Favorite Characters
1. Ishihara, Nobuko and Nakao, Heikichi – These two is absolutely one of the cutest and funniest couple ever. I love how responsible Nobuko is and is very supportive to Risa especially when those times that Risa almost wants to give up Ootani. Nakao on the other hand is a very funny guy but I really adore his love for Nobuko. They’re just perfect for each other.
2. Tanaka, Chiharu and Suzuki, Ryouji – they used to be Risa and Ootani’s crushes and right now they’re one of their very good friends. They’re a very cute couple too. I don’t have anything bad to say about them as they’re always there to support Risa and Ootani with their relationship.
3. Fukagawa, Haruka – Risa’s childhood friend and Ootani’s rival for Risa. He’s one good looking guy and sometimes I want to give Risa to him. He can be sweet and charming yet very stupid at the same time haha. He’s very funny too and sometimes I pitied him because he’s really doing his best to get Risa’s attention but with no use. But atleast in the end, he respects Risa’s relationship with Ootani and that’s really good.
4. Kuniumi, Maitake – the hottest and coolest teacher assistant you could ever have. I thought at first that he’s going to be in a love triangle for Risa and Ootani’s relationship but it turned out that his participation made it possible for the Risa and Ootani to make it official.
5. Yoshi – He wasn’t mentioned until on the extra part where we’ve got to see how Risa and Ootani really first met each other. But he’s one of the main reason why the two of them got to meet each other and has the huge impact to both Risa and Ootani so I guess it’s just right to add him to this short list.

My plan was to make this a short review but still ended up making it a long one, haha. Oh well, it can’t be helped *wink.

Overall, I really enjoyed Lovely Complex. It was romantic and was very very very entertaining. If you like shojo anime and YA, then Lovely Complex is highly recommended. While at it, you may want to consider watching the anime too. Enjoy!

Well to start it of. Hello. Now to speak about this manga. There are a lot of things that one could say about this one. But i have just a few. If it's about the art, nothing actually stunning, except the expression of the characters. It's actually weird how well their emotions are transmitted to the reader.
Got to admit this, at some point it was bad, in others was good, but i mean that about my heart. Sometimes i felt personally hurt maybe because of the story or maybe because of the ridiculousness of the whole situation sometimes. What actually was nice about this one ... was actually the fact that it's completed and so, after a binge read of a little over 12+ hours i know don't know how i feel. I know though that i can recommend you to go and read it yourself. It's good, i feel the story applying on my actual life, and in the end actually made me remember my last moments of school and the whole process. The characters actually may seem sometimes annoying or upsetting but at other times you see them being very real, nice, strong even weak. To summary it, it's a mature from a kid to a young adult kind of manga so that is self explanatory. The romance part, well it's there. Maybe not so fast as other manga or so passionate all the time, but when it is there, it certainly makes itself felt story and feeling wise. It warms the heart, it hurts the heart, and it heals the hurt. What i learned from this manga as from others, don't give up. Academically, romantically, doesn't matter in which field, go forward. Never forget that being strong it's not about having no weaknesses, but accepting them and moving forward. And when you hit that wall, ask for someone to help you overcome it. This manga reminds me a lot of real life , as it made me feel that there's always something about tomorrow that it's attracting, maybe the hope that it will be better than today? That's just how the characters feel in this one, as we do in our life too. So just try to be as strong as you can. And when you can't anymore say it, and ask for help. Enjoy life is my advice and be as happy as you can. There is always a new day awaiting for us, so go on and be happy. As i may have went on rumbling too much about other things, this manga was great. It now became part of my life too, as it's another good story that i don't want to forget. So yea, try it for yourself and see if you don't agree with me. But for now keep on going and be safe and happy. With this being said we will see each other someday. Farewell.