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Shugocharalover

about 17 years ago

10

This is one of the best underrated manga’s I have seen in a long time, so I hope my review can convince you to buy or read online such a masterpiece. -Spoiler Free- Story- A misunderstood Sumire finds a homeless boy in a cardboard box outside of her apartment complex. It isn't the most gripping start but don't be fooled to think that this is its basis, instead of being a typical manga that follows a weak female character and a hot male this goes in a completely different direction. Sumire is strong and Momo is quirky and funny, with this they build a good friendship that isintriguing to read and hard to pull you're eyes away from. Throw in some twists and love triangles (that strangely unlike most manga's isn't nauseating) plus a couple of side pairings that we no doubt we will be cheering for equals a fabulous and touchingly original story.

Art-

This is a hard subject; personally I found the art to be pleasant however from fellow readers I have been told it took them around 5+ chapters to get used to it. No doubt it is different; big lips, big eyes and overall a strange drawing style. However I think all of it is quite charming and detailed especially clothing and hairstyles. Also unlike most manga the background is absolutely packed with effort and hard work that you can definitely appreciate. From my own personal option the art is something special in an individual and unpredictable way.

Character-

By far my favourite aspect of this manga, every character even if it’s a main or side shines personality. Even with someone we only see for a couple of pages we can really grasp their situation, life style and persona. Every character is like a real life person with their own views and morals, some more intriguing than others but all the same interesting. Momo is my personal favourite, with his being secretive, wise yet childish and loyal. Every one gives you a chance to become attached to their individuality and teaches you just a little bit about how people work and because none of the characters are at all the same we learn to love each of them for themselves. A definite win for this category and something I recommend you to pay close attention to.

Enjoyment-

There has never been a moment in reading this amazing piece of work that I wanted to get up and do something else. As soon as each one arrived to me I ripped it open and read it for all it was worth. Each chapter has development in some way or another that makes it hard to put it down, every chapter holds something funny, angsty and just downright heart-warming. I think the goal is to make you smile by the end of every chapter and it succeeds with flying colours.

Overall-

If this review hasn’t convinced to read this (which you may do online or from buying it) then I pray that something else will. This is an underrated manga that needs to be recognised for being the stunning success that it is. Although I was hesitant to read it at first I’m very grateful that I did. It’s gripping and pulls you deep into the story. I hope to see more fans for it soon!

96
Recommended
P
PartiaL

over 16 years ago

8

A pet is someone that will accept you for all that you are weaknesses, strengths, and all the other quirky things wrong with you. Sumire is a woman with a pet that does exactly that, and her pet Momo whole heartedly fills that role. What you get from Kimi wa Petto is a well written and complex story about people trying to find a place in life. It's filled with likeable characters and interesting stories and situations. At times it will have you smiling and laughing to Sumire and Momo's strange interactions and at othertimes it will give you the chance torelate to their difficulties and lifestyles.

Although pertaing to a human pet this manga is not an ecchi filled mess. It is however not afraid to show a good amount of skin and sex either. This is not a manga written for children. As the Josei genre suggests, this is a story for an older audience. So if you are looking for an ecchi shounen or an overly cutesy pink sunshine shoujo this is not it.

The art of Mangaka is something to get used to. It has an emphasis on the eyes and lips of the characters. After the first few chapters you should get used to it. It actually makes the work a bit more distinguished and original from a lot of the other mangas out there. I ended up liking the difference.

The story although not perfect moves the characters along quite nicely. It fleshes out the characters and allows itself to let the characters grow from beginning to end. Nothing too shocking but it lends itself to some unforeseen twists and turns involving multiple love triangles. There are a couple of less than stellar arcs and sidestories but it pulls itself back to the main plot eventually.

The characters are what really put oomph into this manga. They are all given multiple dimensions as well as their own motivations and desires. There are few if any characters out of the many introduced that are ubearable or disliked. The real meat is the interaction between the main characters, which is incredibly well done and enjoyable to read.

For those of you willing to try something different in the realms of romance and comedy this is a good read. Its one of the best in the genre and is great in terms of length if you're looking to invest your time.

51
Recommended
b
blushjoy

about 15 years ago

9

Kimi wa Pet or Tramps Like Us is the manga equivalent of a nice bowl of soup. It's a dramedy revolving around the relationships of Sumire, a successful reporter whose tough exterior hides many insecurities, Takeshi (Momo), a young man Sumire picks up off the street who, in return becomes her 'pet' and finally Hasumi, Sumire's first love who becomes her boyfriend after her breakup in the beginning of the story. What makes this manga work is the chemistry between all of the characters, from the love triangles to the bitchy co-workers, to Sumire's domineering family. As a single woman in a tough work environment, Sumire putsup a tough front and plays the perfectionist. Her co-workers are torn between fear of her blunt manner and admiration for her morals and competence. Yet, underneath she is a normal woman, often insecure about her appearance, her choices and her relationships. Sumire is one of the best written women I've ever come across in a manga. The author isn't trying to give us a super woman role-model to follow or an incompetent idiot to laugh at. Sumire is real and I love her because of it.

Takeshi is a freelance modern dancer, living a carefree, careless life. He dances because he loves to and doesn't have a thought for the future, which is what lands him on the streets on the first place. He plays the roll as Sumire's 'pet'; basically freeloading off of Sumire and doing whatever she wants in return. Though in other mangas this could take quite the perverted turn, Kimi wa Pet plays it straight. Takeshi, dubbed Momo by Sumire, gives her not merely companionship but the freedom to be herself. Their relationship, made exciting by Takeshi's attraction to Sumire and Sumire's growing realization of Takeshi as a man, is what holds the book together.

In sharp contrast to the comfortable, easy going and honest relationship between Sumire and Takeshi, is Sumire's boyfriend Hasumi. Hasumi sees Sumire as a delicate, sweet woman, and Sumire is too insecure about the relationship to ever correct him. So when she blushes because he almost catches her smoking, he thinks she's cute and she feels guilty. Their relationship is poignant and so interesting to watch unfold because they're two wonderful people who just don't seem to belong together.

Anyway, the backbone of the manga is the relationships obviously, but the plot doesn't disappoint. We go through Sumire's rises and falls in the company, her relationships and travels. We delve into her and Takeshi's past and see the relationships between all the characters change and develop along with them. At 14 volumes, it is a fairly long story but the drama is always exciting and will keep you interested. There are a few filler-like pitfalls, some for comic relief (which are hit and miss) and some which are just odd and out of place. Still, overall, the pacing is good despite the weaker points here and there.

I love the artwork, but it is a matter of taste. I love the way the creator draws her character's lips (since manga characters often go without) and the eyes are gorgeous but almost creepily huge. There are a wide variety of characters, each with a different look and build, the creator even goes so far as to show you how the woman look with and without makeup. The wardrobes are varied and expressive of each character's individuality and overall the art shows an attention to detail and a great sensitivity. It's different looking and totally suits the manga.

All in all, Kimi wa Pet is a fun, entertaining and funny manga that will leave you feeling good about yourself and others with a warm, fuzzy feeling in your tummy afterward. It's honest, intelligent and meaningful. A worthwhile read!

22
Recommended
k
killerhuglady

about 11 years ago

10

Quick version: If you haven't read this, then read it. It's amazing. Not lemme elaborate: I gave it a 10/10 across the board for a reason. Story? The development wasn't rushed. It was fun (maybe not always realistic, but hey it's manga), and not super cliched, so that was pretty refreshing for me. It also didn't over romanticize things like- "Oh Abc is SO amazing we'll get married and live a happily ever-after" and be all kawaii kawaii desu desu everywhere. Which was another thing I liked. Art? I'll tell you now, it's not your usual fluffy, skinny girls with magical proportions. Especially Momo. Any dance scene was so....*drools*. Very anatomicallyproportionate. Which was absolutely wonderful. The art also gave me this very Josei-type feeling to me. Not sure if that's universal though, haha.

Character?

The best part of this manga, I think, was that I hated some of the characters or their choices. It's just so wonderful. It makes it more substantial, in my opinion. Again, not always realistic, but you can relate to almost any character- and hey, it's manga, let it be.

Enjoyment?

Well. I was tempted to say 9 so that there was SOMETHING to say hey, it's not a magical manga, okay. But. Well. I guess it is. Since there was no point when I was reading (or rereading, or rerereading) this manga where I rushed or wanted to stop reading. I mean there's one point where I always WANT TO since it makes me feel sad, but I know it'd take away from the manga so I read through anyway. So yeah. It's amazing.

Therefore. 10/10 x 4 = 10/10 Overall too.

So there you have it. READ THIS SHIT. IT'LL MAKE YOU FEEL THE FEELS.

13
Recommended
i
ixaa

almost 4 years ago

6

I loved the first 25 chapters of Kimi wa Pet, but not so much the rest of it. Everything I found intriguing at the beginning of the story-- Sumire's refreshing personality, her relationships with Momo and Hasumi, and her funny yet relatable work environment-- all ended up needlessly frustrating as the story dragged on and on without any real change. In the 5th chapter, Sumire is in a relationship with Hasumi, however she has Momo living with her as a pet. By the 40th chapter-- the situation is still pretty much the exact same, save for a few minor details. At this point, I wasalmost over the manga as it had seemed bloated with filler, and I was worried that the story would repeatedly drag on until the final volume.

Unfortunately for both Kimi wa Pet and me, the story took a worse turn that simply being a drag. Something unexpected occurred in the middle of the manga which left a bitter taste in my mouth and completely hanged my view of the story. Spoilers ahead-- but something about falling in love with the person who raped you when you were black-out drunk just isn't something I'm into (and neither should anyone else be). Combine that with a plethora of other grievances about the manga-- such as Sumire's long-term emotional cheating on Hasumi, a weird time travel plot-twist at the end, the lackluster side couples, confusing paneling, and bad pacing issues-- the manga just ends up falling flat on its face for most of the series.

Now don't get me wrong, Kimi wa Pet has its moments. I was enthralled with the first few volumes of the story, and even in the latter chapters, there were still a couple moments that pulled on my heart strings or made me smile with glee. The last 15 or so chapters had a good amount of development between Sumire and Momo, which I liked because I wanted them to be together. The ending is relatively nice, and it IS a decent manga as far as mature/adult relationships go-- however, none of that is enough to save Kimi wa Pet for my own enjoyment. 6/10.

5
Preliminary
Mixed Feelings
Preliminary
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paperstarxo

over 13 years ago

9

This was my first Josei manga, and it was quite the kick starter! Coming from not so realistic romances, I found the way the romance in this a bit frustrating, but it is realistic. I wish it was more popular to get an anime, but it is definitely worth it even if you prefer to wait for an anime version. You'll be hooked from the first chapter and it is worth re-reading once complete!

1
Recommended
T
Torii-chan

almost 16 years ago

10

This was a really enjoyable story. The main character's strength and determination is endearing. The development of the characters was complex and flowed nicely. There was quite a bit of humor mixed with the drama, which lightens up the series considerably. The animation was very detailed and clean looking. Awesome!

2
Preliminary
Recommended
Preliminary
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N201_ASYLUM

about 12 years ago

10

Kimi wa Pet is a masterpiece in it's genre: Josei romance. It is unique, well-written and utterly enjoyable. And this is coming from someone who takes girly romance manga stories with a pinch of salt. Sumire Iwaya is a high climbing career woman with an intimidating aura, modelesque good looks and an impressive work record. Still, this is only one facet of her character, and something concocted from superficial observations of acquaintances. In actuality, she's quite dorky and endearing, loves anime and wrestling shows, and feels most comfortable in her sweats and lounging on the sofa. However, she's had little luck in love and was evencheated on by past boyfriends. One left her because he felt inferior when he was with her.

To prevent this from happening ever again, Sumire swore to only date a man who earns more than her, is taller than her and has a higher education than her so he would never leave her due to self-esteem issues. No easy feat mind you. She is also jaw-droppingly tall. (In fact, she's been called an 'Amazon' in the manga.)

Can a love really blossom between her and a boy, who is not only 7 years her junior, but also fails in the three departments?

Kimi wa Pet is a long series, spanning 82 chapters. But the length is needed for such a complex and lovingly paced story.

Art-wise, it might take some getting used to as the style is distinctively different. But it's one of those types that grow on you after a while, so don't let it turn you off.

This is a romance that is heartwarming, mature and genuine, and teaches that love comes in ways you would never expect.

Overall, highly recommended for anyone who likes romance with a more mature and realistic edge, or if you're looking to try something with this theme.

1
Recommended
R
RoodyChan

almost 13 years ago

9

It's absolutely one of the most underrated mangas out there, I'm truly hoping for an anime adaption! The story is unique and completely new to me, I was bewildered by it at first, but then it started to grow on me, just like the art, which is different to regular mangas. The love story of Takeshi "Momo" and Sumire is cute, and sheds a new and fun light on Older women/Younger men relationships. I absolutely loved Momo, his passion and dedication for Sumire is amazing. and Sumire kinda reminds me of myself (we both are journalists! :D), and we have many traits in common, soI had fun reading this.

It's the story of an older working women who takes in a younger man, as a pet, into her house, until their relationship starts to change little by little, evolving to their own happy ending!

2
Recommended
b
blushinggeek

about 4 years ago

8

WARNING: This review contains some spoilers so read at your own risk. I first heard of this story when I stumbled upon a jdrama which was based on this manga a few years ago. I really find the idea of a person being someone else’s pet amusing. I know what you’re thinking, wahahaha. This one isn’t kinky at all, it was actually pretty wholesome. Kimi wa pet is a story of Sumire who stumbled upon a box containing a young Takeshi. She fed him and found out that he had nowhere to go. Takeshi wants to stay, but he can only stay if he becomes her pet.Thinking that saying such preposterous things would discourage Takeshi, Sumire was surprised he agreed. Both of their lives after that encounter changed forever. Was it for good or bad?

This story started with introducing Sumire who I would say is a perfect example of a “strong independent woman”. That would have been a great thing right? Unfortunately because of it, her boyfriend of 5 years cheated on her and made her feel that it was all because of her that it had happened. She is also not that well liked in their office because she looks really stiff and strict. But her life took a turn after taking in Takeshi whom she’d named Momo, which was her dead pet’s name.

Kimi wa pet is quite a lengthy read for a josei so it includes a lot of scenes not only focusing about the relationship between the main characters but also about some of the side characters as well. And speaking of characters, this story has a lot of them so I find it hard to keep track of them sometimes. Just like most manga that I’ve read, Kimi wa pet has a lot of very funny scenes that left me laughing my heart out. Maannn! I still can’t stop myself from laughing just thinking about those scenes, lol.

Aside from the happy ones, Kimi wa pet had a lot of scenes that I really hated. Unfortunately this story contains one of the things I hate in romance, which is the third party. I just keep on hating the other girl that I also ended up hating the other love interest of Sumire as well. He was actually a pretty ideal guy and I love how he reacts to Sumire. You can really see how he adores her, plus they really look good together. He can be pretty funny too lol, just too bad he wasn’t able to keep that image for me until the end. Although I kind of pity him a little in the end.

As for the main character Sumire, I really liked my first impression of her. She’s a really tough chick and she doesn’t accept b*llsh*t. She can be really harsh at times but I guess that’s just how she is. Little by little, I’ve got to really see the real her and why she’s like that. She looks really tough but she can be fragile too. I really like her character, but I just hated how she can’t always voice out her real feelings and how she always delays informing her boyfriend about her pet, that in the end, I don’t think he ever found out. I also liked Momo’s influence on her, ever since they were living together as master and pet, Sumire was finally able to create connections with other people and express herself. I just find it really interesting getting to know her character in each chapter.

Momo on the other hand is very fun to read. I usually don’t like childish characters, but his childishness is not in an annoying way. He is also very outgoing so it’s hard to imagine those hardships he experienced in the past and in the present too. When he’s with Sumire, he’s very childish and playful which makes him look like a real pet dog, lol. He ran away from home. That’s why he doesn’t have a place of his own, so despite his age you could say that he knows a lot about life. I guess he also has this promiscuous side to him, but I think it was only seen around 2 times while I was reading this story. He’s years younger than Sumire but he taught her a lot of things. I also LOVE how he loves Sumire so much, I just can’t imagine how he’s been feeling all those times while Sumire is still in a relationship with her boyfriend, who is also her first love.

As for the romance, I guess it’s already pretty obvious who’s going to be the main couple right? There were a lot of annoying characters who really irritated me but I guess that just helps Sumire realize whom she really wants to be with. The hint is actually there in its early chapters, but I like how the mangaka transitioned her feelings until she finally realized that she’s in love. Their official relationship started in a long distance romance, but I love how the two of them made it work. I particularly like their virtual date, it was really cute. I also love the fact that the two of them didn’t sacrifice anything in their life just to make their relationship work, even though it could mean that they’ll be in a long distance relationship.

I also love the fact that this manga didn’t just end after the two of them were finally in a relationship but we’ve got to read more! It didn’t just focus on the relationship between the two but also the friendship between Sumire and her best friend. Actually, this manga didn’t just show me romance, but it also gave me life lessons and realizations that we could apply in our daily life. We’ve also got to read about friendships between the characters and work life (especially about relationships between coworkers). Isn’t that nice?

Kimi wa pet is highly recommended for every romance lover. I am certain that this will really entertain you, *wink.

1
Recommended
p
paulinasmiles

over 1 year ago

9

Spoiler free. I haven't read this series in nearly a decade since it came out. It was the first series I picked up that wasn't rated teen. When I was 17! I even had to wait for the last English book as well that I picked up back in 2009. I recently re-read it again online and still enjoyed the tale. It is a fun story and a great tale of differences and growing up being different than what society believes is normal. And if you have apps like Viki I recommend watching the drama done by TBS as they did a great job followingthe series in its original form.

0
Recommended
t
tsunderebarbie

2 months ago

9

Hello BARBIE IS HERE꒰ᐢ. ̫ .ᐢ꒱!¡ I LOVE THAT THIS HAS A TV SHOW, ANYWAYS. I can't describe the feeling but as simple as it is, it is not that simple, ADULTHOOD IS HARD, well try to be a grown up woman, that´s even harder, not bc is something bad, but bc as a woman you've been told that you can't have a certain lifestyle, certain things, guilty pleasures and more, not being a full human being at this point, and this is how we enter and encounter a woman who's 27 years old and thinks of herself as a robot for everyone's pleasure, and then navigateswomanhood afraid of exploring, and searching.

If you are into mature manga, this one is for you, the art style and the summary of all is just *chef kiss*.

0
Recommended
w
wurlygurl17

over 15 years ago

10

I usually don't read this type of manga, but one day I came across it and started reading it out of curiosity. I fell in love with it and could not put it down. I highly recommend this manga to everyone. This manga was also made into a drama called, "Kimi Wa Peto" or "Pet Lover". It is very similar to the manga, but has some variances to keep the audience on their toes. I myself own the DVD. It is in Japanese, but if you get the right dvd it will come with subtitles.

2
Recommended
f
frikini-yasha

over 11 years ago

10

this is a MUST-READ for anyone who loves Romance stories that are not-too-cliched-and-overly-dramatic. one of the greatest manga I've read so far :) it has a cute story which can be applied in real life. (except the pet part thingy XD) give it a try and see what i mean :)

1
Recommended
h
heliotrope

almost 12 years ago

9

I had no intentions of writing a review but changed my mind when I saw the rating. This is one of the if not the best josei out there Story: the story in the beginning somewhat freaked me out cuz the whole finding a boy in a cardboard box and keeping at as your pet is hardly believable but don't back out because of this because as the story progresses that doesn't matter anymore as the situation seems so natural. The mangaka did one heck of a job as it really does show prospects of real life and how the characters face such situations with light comedywhich actually had me rolling on the floor. The manga shows a relationship between a young twenty or so year old boy and a 28 year old woman but don't be dampened by this fact if u don't like older female and younger man cuz I really avoid them but I didn't even notice in this manga. The romance is somewhat slow like really slow but it shows how TRUE love progresses not ridiculous ohhh its the second chapter and I've found my soul mate. There are a few parts which seem really dragged on and the heroine could be rather indicisive at times but hey no manga is perfect

Art:- the art was pretty good, pretty,clear and understandable. Even the parts which were on the side panels or really small images were easy to comprehend.

Characters:- the characters were all good. Each having a special place in the story without seeming useless. Every one had their good and bad points. No one was perfect or flawed to the point of insanity

Enjoyment:- I really loved this manga, the pace,romance and comedy all were superb. I recommend you this manga if you like comedy,romance and slice of life.

0
Recommended