So strangely enough, I feel like Vol. 5 is now my favorite of the series so far, even though I did also really like the first one. The budding friendship between Kyoko and Moko is so heartwarming
I got so excited about the development of the Kyoko and Moko relationship and particularly with their 2nd group audition when they really got put on the spot and had to totally rely on each other...it was such a beautiful moment
Of course the shifting dynamic between Kyoko and Moko was the primary plot of this volume, but there were other parts of this one that also really shined. The girl that kept trying to one-up Moko their whole life basically, really really got on my last nerve. Her expressions and actions were just perfect at showing her character. I feel like when the person that is supposed to be getting on the main character's nerves is getting on my nerves even more, that is just good character portrayal on the creator's part. Which leads into one of my favorite parts of the Skip-Beat! Series: none of the characters seem like just "stock" characters. I figured from the beginning that we would be getting a different impression of Ren across the series, but having characters like Moko, and the LME president's granddaughter, and Ren's agent, all have this deeper development-- I wouldn't be surprised if we learn later that super annoying girl changes her attitude after these experiences.

Once again, Skip-Beat! has delivered a whole spectrum of emotions, from funny, to serious, to sad, to angry, to determined. This series has been a journey of discovery for Kyoko that is just beginning, and while she is on her way to finding out who she is and what she really cares about, I can't wait to see all the other characters that come to change from interacting with this girl that is just so honest, both to others and herself. And though she seems to take "plain" as a bad thing, just being as true to herself as possible and giving everything her best try, while giving others the benefit of the doubt: I'd say, having someone "plain" like that in a celebrity world full of actors, is rather refreshing.

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This volume was so wonderful I couldn't put it down! ( )

29:09 ( )

I'd forgotten how much fun Kyoko is. She's never disappointed, what with her constant persistence and absolutely ridiculously way of going about things. I especially like this volume because there's so much of her and Moko, and them auditioning for the commercial is brilliant. ( )