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Strawberry Panic (Light Novel) #1-3
Strawberry Panic: The Complete Novel Collection
For new transfer student Aoi Nagisa, St. Miator Girls’ Academy offers her the chance at a fresh start and a way to redefine herself. But these noble intentions go out the window when she catches her first glimpse of honor student Hanazono Shizuma, whose porcelain white skin and goddess-like beauty leave Nagisa speechless.
It’s puppy love at first sight, but naive Nagisa is unaware that Shizuma is a serial heartbreaker who has set her sights on Nagisa herself. Will Nagisa end up as another notch on Shizuma’s belt, or does fate have other plans in store for the new couple?
It’s puppy love at first sight, but naive Nagisa is unaware that Shizuma is a serial heartbreaker who has set her sights on Nagisa herself. Will Nagisa end up as another notch on Shizuma’s belt, or does fate have other plans in store for the new couple?
672 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2011
46 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
Sakurako Kimino
27 books22 followersSakurako Kimino (公野櫻子 Kimino Sakurako) is a Japanese novelist. She is notable for the creation of Sister Princess and Strawberry Panic!, two very successful bishōjo series where almost all the characters in both series are young girls. She has had her work serialized in the Japanese bishōjo magazine Dengeki G's Magazine, published by MediaWorks. She is also the creator of the light novel series Baby Princess, currently serializing in Dengeki G's Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 20, 2012
To be frank: this book, the story of teenage girls at a super-elite, all-girls boarding school, who fall in love in a dainty, elegant, and yet tittilating manner, is not genius. It is escapist fluff, a fantasy castle in the air where girls are pure and sweet, intensely passionate and sexual to a point that doesn't threaten. It is girls in cute costumes declaring love upon horseback and going through great obstacles to be with their beloved. Never is the outside world--or a male character--brought in to shatter the feminine haven of the Strawberry Dorms.
...I loved it.
This is surprising because I dislike romance novels, straight or gay. They usually take place in the real world, so I can't help picking apart everything unrealistic about them. However, Strawberry Panic doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is, a fantasy, and it invites you with such earnestness to float away from reality with it that it's difficult to resist the lure.
The characters are so intensely likable, and fall in love with such perfect teenage intensity that I fell in love with them too. And look forward to being in love again, every time I crack open the cover.
-Elizabeth Reuter
Author, The Demon of Renaissance Drive
...I loved it.
This is surprising because I dislike romance novels, straight or gay. They usually take place in the real world, so I can't help picking apart everything unrealistic about them. However, Strawberry Panic doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is, a fantasy, and it invites you with such earnestness to float away from reality with it that it's difficult to resist the lure.
The characters are so intensely likable, and fall in love with such perfect teenage intensity that I fell in love with them too. And look forward to being in love again, every time I crack open the cover.
-Elizabeth Reuter
Author, The Demon of Renaissance Drive
December 5, 2011
Ever since I was introduced to the Strawberry Panic! series, I've been itching to get wrapped up within the story line as a whole. And I must say, I was not disappointed in the least. As soon as I got passed chapter 1 I found myself literally sucked into the book. You can say that this was the one book I actually enjoyed to read before I went to sleep. It's a shame that it was only 3 novels but I'm completely satisfied.
The concept of the story really did appeal to me. Each character was lovable in their own unique ways and after learning their stories I felt sympathetic. This series really does show that love can transcend upon people of the same gender. And I do not in the least feel any regret towards reading this. Now because of the novel, I'm watching the show. It's slightly different but it does not affect my liking to it overall.
The concept of the story really did appeal to me. Each character was lovable in their own unique ways and after learning their stories I felt sympathetic. This series really does show that love can transcend upon people of the same gender. And I do not in the least feel any regret towards reading this. Now because of the novel, I'm watching the show. It's slightly different but it does not affect my liking to it overall.
June 15, 2012
Review to come!
February 10, 2020
Really good book! One of the biggest books I’ve ever read, was definitely a genre of book I’d never read before very chick-lit but turns out I really liked it! recommend! 5/5
May 17, 2017
I rated this book 5/5 stars, mainly because it was so much fun to read once you realized what it was. I did a lot of research before I decided to buy the omnibus novels for my collection. I had planned on watching the anime and reading the manga but found out that it had an unfinished story that only continued in the novel. Thus, I discovered Light Novels and immediately fell in love. Light Novels are basically Japans answer to Y/A literature here in the states. Think The Hunger Games reading level and you've basically got the audience for Light Novels.
Strawberry Panic was originally a story that was published in a magazine where readers could vote on their favorite couples. From my understanding, it was a mixture of the visual novel genre and choose your own adventure. I really wish I read Japanese, I really want to take an in-depth look at what those types of magazines had to offer. Heh.
Anyway, eventually Strawberry Panic was redesigned and reissued as light novels, then there was a manga and anime following it. I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It's definitely not for just anybody. It's got the same sort of appeal as those Rape And Rapture Romance novels you see all the time in drug stores or grocery stores. Except... it's marginally more fluffy than any romance novel I've ever read. It was beautiful. Lots of romance, lots of fluff, lots of happy endings. You don't see this a lot in Yuri or even in LGBT literature as a whole and it's something I'll always appreciate Strawberry Panic for. I look forward to starting in on the manga and eventually the anime. For me, the 5 stars is definitely personal taste. This is a series I'll likely come back to when I'm in a sad, lonely place as a single lesbian female.
Strawberry Panic was originally a story that was published in a magazine where readers could vote on their favorite couples. From my understanding, it was a mixture of the visual novel genre and choose your own adventure. I really wish I read Japanese, I really want to take an in-depth look at what those types of magazines had to offer. Heh.
Anyway, eventually Strawberry Panic was redesigned and reissued as light novels, then there was a manga and anime following it. I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It's definitely not for just anybody. It's got the same sort of appeal as those Rape And Rapture Romance novels you see all the time in drug stores or grocery stores. Except... it's marginally more fluffy than any romance novel I've ever read. It was beautiful. Lots of romance, lots of fluff, lots of happy endings. You don't see this a lot in Yuri or even in LGBT literature as a whole and it's something I'll always appreciate Strawberry Panic for. I look forward to starting in on the manga and eventually the anime. For me, the 5 stars is definitely personal taste. This is a series I'll likely come back to when I'm in a sad, lonely place as a single lesbian female.
March 21, 2024
Strawberry Panic offers a lighthearted escape into a world of teenage romance at a prestigious all-girls' school. The story focuses on the strong bonds and affections between the girls, exploring their intense but innocent passions. Set in a sheltered haven free from outside influence, the narrative celebrates feminine connection and pure emotions. Despite its fantastical nature, the characters' genuine affection and heartfelt desires are surprisingly endearing.
August 24, 2019
It reads just like fanfiction. :D
But I‘m glad the creators of the anime didn‘t include all characters/storylines and also decided not to be too faithful to the novel when creating the characters. Some are a little weird in the novel.
But I‘m glad the creators of the anime didn‘t include all characters/storylines and also decided not to be too faithful to the novel when creating the characters. Some are a little weird in the novel.
January 6, 2019
Great fun yur I novel. Anime is good too
March 1, 2015
The first thing I have to say here is that I did not finish this book. Not because I didn't like it, but because I got tired of it. It was a huge book that didn't capture my attention enough to warrant me wanting to finish it, so I put it down and decided to read something else instead. This review will probably be shorter than my others because there isn't much for me to say about this book either good or bad.
The only real complaint I have about this book is that it reads like a bad fanfiction. The writing is very, very immature and it doesn't read like a real book. Arguably, it isn't a real book, it's a light novel, but even so I've read better written light novels and this one sounded like something I wrote when I was in middle shool. Another issue I had with the writing was it sounded like whoever wrote it just wrote down what they'd found in the manga and added a little to it, so it sounded like it was meant to be a manga rather than a novel.
That being said, the story itself was very cute and interesting and the way the characters were all at once cute, manipulating, interesting, and deep was also very nice. The only other complaint I have is that it was kind of fetishizing same sex relationships. The main characters weren't really lesbians, but they acted like they were because it got them popularity and they went to an all girls school, so they didn't have anyone else they could be with.
So would I recommend this book? Not really. I mean, I didn't even finish it, so it was definitely not a fantastic read and I can't even really talk about the plot because it was so dry, but if you like this kind of stuff, then for sure go for it.
The only real complaint I have about this book is that it reads like a bad fanfiction. The writing is very, very immature and it doesn't read like a real book. Arguably, it isn't a real book, it's a light novel, but even so I've read better written light novels and this one sounded like something I wrote when I was in middle shool. Another issue I had with the writing was it sounded like whoever wrote it just wrote down what they'd found in the manga and added a little to it, so it sounded like it was meant to be a manga rather than a novel.
That being said, the story itself was very cute and interesting and the way the characters were all at once cute, manipulating, interesting, and deep was also very nice. The only other complaint I have is that it was kind of fetishizing same sex relationships. The main characters weren't really lesbians, but they acted like they were because it got them popularity and they went to an all girls school, so they didn't have anyone else they could be with.
So would I recommend this book? Not really. I mean, I didn't even finish it, so it was definitely not a fantastic read and I can't even really talk about the plot because it was so dry, but if you like this kind of stuff, then for sure go for it.
October 4, 2015
I love Strawberry Panic in my own little way. Even though I wasn't always too fond of the anime, I was more of a fan of the novel omnibus and the manga than anything else. What made me love this series was the story line and the elements of French. But moreover, I love the serial romantic that is "l'etoile". She's mysterious and she's like that one star player dude in college that every girl wants to get with, but he ends up breaking them and their feelings into a billion pieces...and his reputation precedes him. Shizuma is "that guy"...and I love it. I think that's what made SP so good for me. It's not the best, but it's good. A lot of puppy love and dragging on and on with the "romance", but it's good.
June 12, 2011
I really enjoyed this. However, after waiting so long for the release of the last book in the series I found myself disappointed with its lack of emotionally gripping drama. It became overly complicated with far too many subplots pulling away from the main story. If the series were a few books longer those subplots would have been fine, but in this circumstance they just made the last book a muddle. All in all, while I did like the series, and was happy to have finally read the end, I must say I greatly preferred the anime with its greater attention to drama and character.
August 8, 2011
i have just discovered that I, despite being fond of lesbian romance and f/f fanfics of manga full of subtext, am not really into the moe genre, if you can call it that. because the only moe I really have is for pitchers with control problems. maybe if there was a yuri property about that, I'd be all over it. what this really did was got me to identify with Nagisa, which may have been what was intended.
December 29, 2013
These books had many issues: a large enough cast to be confusing at times, too much telling rather than showing, and more than a smattering of both purple prose and melodrama. And yet I thoroughly enjoyed them because they are also adorable, sweet, and addictive. They were largely what is to be expected of a set of light hearted romantic light novels, and that's exactly what I needed to get through "the holidays" this year.
April 26, 2015
Never before have I read a book which so proves the difference of television (or anime), and literature.
Absolute trash. The mindless cliches and melodramatic activities that comprise "successful" animes are all present here--- and when you read them, you'll understand immediately how vapid, dull, and downright atrocious these designs are.
A horrible book, but perhaps a good one for anyone looking to understand why the medium of anime is in fact sensationalist garbage *mostly* as well.
Absolute trash. The mindless cliches and melodramatic activities that comprise "successful" animes are all present here--- and when you read them, you'll understand immediately how vapid, dull, and downright atrocious these designs are.
A horrible book, but perhaps a good one for anyone looking to understand why the medium of anime is in fact sensationalist garbage *mostly* as well.
February 24, 2015
Cherry Blossoms scattered, fluttered and were everywhere.
Typical high school girl drama. Back stabbing, relationships, jealousy, forbidden love and one upping. And a lot of those girls beliefs were totally ignorant.
Typical high school girl drama. Back stabbing, relationships, jealousy, forbidden love and one upping. And a lot of those girls beliefs were totally ignorant.
March 27, 2015
Having seen the anime, I was surprised by how different the novels were to the series. Looking forward to reading the manga.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews