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This is one of those unpopular opinion reviews.
A lot of people seem to like this manga and really, I tried to like it too.
Actually, the first ten chapters and I thought I'd love it.

The heroine seemed promising. She had the whole icy exterior thing going on and had balls of steel. I felt like she was someone I could root for.

The hero was cute and he had a whole facade going on too. He pretended to be a nice guy all the time while in reality he felt differently.

The art was good.
The setting was nice.
... The plot was unique:
A girl trying to learn about the art of love so that she could write about it in her novel and be successful.
Who would've thought of that?

I really thought that Watashi xx and I were going to be best friends and be together for a long long time ... but alas, that thought fell flat by the entrance of Akira and Mami.

That's when it all turns derivative.
I've just seen it all before.
The other girl who's in love with the hero. The cousin who's in love with the heroine.

I actually liked Akira. He was supposed to be the nice, supportive, cute cousin and then he evolved into a love interest and I'm just like- meh.

These love triangles would be the death of me.
And not the good 'died and went to paradise' kind of death but more like 'slow agonizing death that is still preferable over reading these damned love triangles' kind of death.
(I'm out of breath.)

I see the story going in circles and it all just seems so boring to me; mindless smut is not something I enjoy.
I don't see the plot going anywhere anytime soon and I don't have enough patience to bear with it.

Feel free to disagree. :)

D.N.F

This is a classic example of a cliche shoujo romance.
It's very formulaic, the formula applied is:
A shy,insecure, big hearted heroine, a rude, playboy hero and their love story.

It's so very generic.
The hero doesn't have the depth that other's like Daisy and Usui have.
The heroine doesn't have the balls and personality like Misaki or Kyouko.

The anime centres on the character's relationship and has little variety.
There's a lot of kissing and frisky stuff going on.
... It's labelled as a coming of age novel but mostly every action is based on the romance.

Then there's the fact that when the characters are, ahem, 'love making' Hibino, the heroine makes such tortured expressions that it is painful to read. I felt embarrassed for her and quite sorry for Kyouta, her boyfriend who has to deal with that kind of negativity in bed.
But well, since he's pretty brainless himself, he probably likes it.

Hibino was actually a source of quite a lot of anger for me. She is just so damn insecure and meek. I hate the fact that girls are portrayed like that.
Sure, there's a thing called giving into your man, when you feel like it but not standing up for yourself AT ALL.
That's just bullshit.
Secondly, she is just so stupid.
I can't even think to sugarcoat it.
She acts stupidly and selfishly and then usually does something to label herself as a selfless martyr.
Nope. Not buying it.

Kyouta's biggest good trait is that he's pretty.
That's also his only good trait.
He doesn't have much of a character and the fact that he makes his own team lose so that his girlfriend's can win is just plain lame.
Call me old-fashioned but I really hate these stupid attempts at romance.
Cheating for your girlfriend is not romantic.
It just proves you both to be wimps.

So basically, it comes down to the fact that this manga lacks any sort of plot or character development.
What it does entail is two mindless characters making out mindlessly.
So if you want a guilty pleasure to burn time, this manga is for you.
If you want to read something substantial or meaningful, run far and fast.

Romantic comedy is one of the most sought after genres of modern day. Tonari is a great example of this genre. Filled with enjoyment, hilarious laugh out loud moments and a good story, this anime does not disappoint.

Shizuku, a hard working student has her complete focus on her studies. She doesn't care for socializing and is content with getting the highest grades. Haru, on the other hand is a guy most feared in the school. His violent tendencies and domineering expression terrorize people and so he is deemed a loner. When Shizuku's teacher asks her to deliver an assignment to Haru, he thinks he ... has made a freind in Shizuku. And then, surprising to all those watching, he confesses his love for her.

As their relationship developes, Shizuku's cold and uptight personality begins to change and Haru finds himself among friends who can look past his scary exterior and witness the purity of his heart.

Tonari is a very enjoyable anime. This is not a lovestory in which the main protogonists spend hours pining over the other. There aren't 'love me -love me not' insecure moments plundering all common sense in their minds. No, the straight forward nature of the characters is very refreshing. If they have something to share, they are quick to tell the other and so there is no room for frustrating misunderstandings.

This anime unlike most romance animes has granted it's characters with proper character development. They all have a background story and a reason for how they act the way they do. The main hero and heroine are not completely obsessed with each other, instead they have a sound relationship with other people too.

Haru is a very lovable character. He is very stubborn and persistent in what he wants and in this case he wants Shizuku. His genuine love for her is so adorable that numerous times I found my self unable to stop the involuntary 'awws' slipping from my mouth.
Shizuku, a smart and highly independent girl is also a pleasant change from the shoujo heroines of the norm. Her mind isn't subdued with indecision and she doesn't let petty matters ruffle her, ofcourse the matter of Haru is different. She finds herself wanting to be in his company and caring for him.

Even though, the love confessions our sprung quiet early in the anime, the love story is not rushed. Haru and Shizuku clash multiple times and yet they find their way back to each other.
The art is good and the characters are easy on the eyes. The opening song is a typical shoujo anime opening song but the main background song is really good. It has a bittersweet feel to it that gives you a sense of nostalgia.

Overall, I think it is a fairly enjoyable anime, perfect for fans of romantic-comedy.

I came across Psycho-pass while going over the recommendations for death note. What I expected was a seat gripping, heart wrenching, cat and mouse police-criminal chase involving some hardcore battle of wits. While, not exactly that, Psycho-pass was along the lines of it.
Here is a world of computers and everything is controlled by Cybil, a system that determines all walks of life. The difference between good and evil, law and order and the prevention of crimes is all in the hands of cybil.
Everyone has a psycho pass, a detector which determines their potential as a criminal. If their hue is dark, they are deemed ... latent criminals, if they are beyond redemption they get executed, if not, they get therapy to manage their hues.
Some of these latent criminals are used in the police force to assist them in cases. After all, the best way to catch a criminal is to think like one. These particular latent criminals are called hunting dogs.
Enter, Shinya Kougami, a former detective turned hunting dog, fueled by the need to avenge the murder of a comrade. Also enter, Shougo Makishima, the murderer of the said comrade.
After three years of dead ends, Kougami is met with a spark of hope when he sees the signs of the devil's return in a recent murder.
So Kougami under his supervisor, Akane (female protogonist) and band of detectives sets off in a goose chase that can only lead to mayhem and murder.
Psycho-pass isn't exactly a suspense anime. I mean, sure, it creates a dire need in the viewers to know what will happen next but not in a 'what will the bad guy do next and how will the good guy respond way' but in a more 'how will it all end way'. The strategies and the twists don't come on as a shock and they are, dare I say, predictable. It almost seemed intended as the viewers are given obvious clues from the start leading to the big discovery. This begs the question of what makes Psycho-pass a great anime?
It's the way the story flows. The philosophical and spirtual outlook gives the anime an outstanding feel. The dialogues seem to be the essence of the anime. The lines of the characters are so fetching, that you hang on to their every word and Makishima definitely has a way with words and we love how Kougami thinks too.
The character development is great. Every character has a story and they aren't made to be fickle or hollow. Akane's character seems to evolve the most. A rookie at first, she emerges into a strong determined woman fighting for what she thinks is right.
Kougami, our protagonist has his own distinct style, a rough exterior but a genuine kind personality. He is smart, intellectual and driven. Sure, he is bloodthirsty for revenge but his goodness can be seen in his interactions with Akane.
The supporting characters too have their own standing and they mould the story nicely.
And then there is Shougo Makishima. Well . He is surely one of my favorite anime characters. He is such a charismatic villain that he will charm your wits off. All along the anime, I kept making excuses for his actions even if it was obvious he was in the wrong. He wanted the society to break free of restraints and act on their own free will. Though, he wanted that just so he could enjoy it. Life was a game to him and he was winning. He had an attractive personality and a face to match. To put it simply, he is quite the badass.
As a fair warning, I have to say Psycho-pass is not for the faint hearted. After all, it is rated R+. Its based on police work and so rape and murder is daily news. Also, the anime doesn't really strike until after the thirteenth episode, now as it has fully accomplished in setting a background story, from here onwards, the plot skyrockets and I found 20-22 episodes to be quite beautiful.
The art was spectacular, the opening credits make you want to mimic the choreography, frankly put ; it is so damn cool. The music, though not exemplary, is good enough to set the mood and create an epic backdrop.
While it is not on the same pedestal as death note or code geass, Psycho-pass is definitely worth watching.