Local shop owner Shuji Tanihara and neighborhood pediatrician Takafumi Saji are in a relationship, and what began as a mere fling has turned into love. Little by little, Shuji has grown accustomed to the relationship, but he can’t quite gauge how much he can open up to Takafumi, which troubles him. What will the future hold for these two men as they reach an important turning point in their lives?
The following review is based off my own opinions, thoughts and reactions. So in other words brace yourself. *There may be inappropriate words such as curse words.* You have been advised in advance.*
Where do I even start?! Oh my glob, so much I could talk about and so many thoughts I want to type out about this book!!!
For starters, my amazing friend introduced me to this series. So its his fault that I became so obsessed over this series. With him being a homosexual and myself being bisexual, you can believe we had a HUGE gab session over this book. Most of it too inappropriate for the internet and for a book review, but he's the awesome reason on how I got into the series and ended up falling in love with these books and author.
I actually was waiting to get this book for a while now, but the opportunity never came until recently and needless to say I was so starved for this book that I finished it in one night. I tried reading this work, but too many people wouldn't let me read so I ended up reading it in the comforts of my home (which was absolutely divine).
The way this book flows from such intimate parts and then moments that have you feeling so many emotions, it really is a bitter-sweet kind of bliss. Not to mention that the audience who reads this series is definitely going to connect with one of the main characters. I instantly felt connection with the Doc and was like "yeah, this guy gets me to a 'T'!" Yet at the same time had me like "DO HIM!!!" It was one of the most intense moments throughout this entire series and even now I still feel like that. The characters just have such a powerful energy and electric connection with each other.
The fact the ex-wife was introduced in this book was a very bold move I think, but it definitely allowed for a deeper connection with the characters and also sucked the reader in deeper which is one of the reasons I flew through this book so fast. Let's face it, I'm a drama junky. I love gossip and I've been around drama my whole life so I just kind of get warped deep into this pool and drown. But damn if it wasn't delicious to savor!
I'm just going to wrap of this book review with saying it's absolutely delicious. It's like taking a bite of forbidden fruit and knowing you just sinned, but you just don't give a fuck about it. It's THAT good! I will probably reread the whole series a couple times because I'm addict and have an addiction with this series. However, definitely not a book series for the faint of heart or people who just can't handle such intimate books. Obviously, this is now on my 'favorites' shelf and I refuse to remove it! But I highly recommend reading this series and this book! Absolutely divine for the mind and the soul!
Hide and Seek is the third and final volume in this sweet and mature romance series. I've really enjoyed following the relationship of our two main characters: each is unique and distinct and don't follow the cliches often found in this genre. Author Sakuragi does a great job of letting their relationship unfold organically and without high drama or over the top situations: there are no jealous lovers, deus ex machina plot devices, unlikely coincidences, or misunderstandings. Rather, Hide and Seek 3 is the culmination of the story of two men who come to respect and then love each other despite their different backgrounds.
Story: Tanihara is still considering his situation - both with the kiosk he runs and with Dr. Saji. Saji never pushes or rushes the relationship, which gives Tanihara time to decide how he feels about this change in his life. As he spends more time with the pediatrician, he slowly begins to understand his own heart and that sometimes, the best things in life are the ones that are completely unexpected.
The art is clean and the storytelling languid. But it comes to a natural conclusion with an extra side story to finish the volume. The storytelling is wonderfully mature with a few graphic sex scenes in the middle. Those who enjoyed the first two books in the series will definitely enjoy finishing the story of Tanihara and Saji.
Not for the Faint of Heart - Hide and Seek Vol. 3 Review
So I come now (not like that!) to the end of the Hide and Seek series. And I am rather sad to see it end. Here is the story of two grown ass men finding love and making it work around their professions and their families. The two have been enjoying a rather heated but until now supposedly shallow sexual relationship that is much more important to both of them than they are willing to admit. What happens in this volume? Trips to the beech! Meeting the ex and her new guy! All the confessions! (also lots of sex!)
So part of why I like this series is because it's a sexy fun time and there are no consent issues at all. Both men want sex. They have sex. It is good. The art is particularly nice and the guys are very distinct and have some great personalities. The doctor is dry but the much more romantic soul, always trying to do the right thing and get close but afraid that if he overplays his hand there will be trouble. He's very conscious not to take anything for granted, not to push or refuse to listen to a no. Meanwhile shop-owner is bi and that is rather odd and great and he's just sort of wrapping his head around liking guys and finding out after the terribleness of his relationship with his ex that he's capable of love.
Whew. So, that leaves this last volume to actually offer up something like a happily ever after. Kind of. Not exactly but definitely a resolution from both men to try and keep trying. To fight for each other. To be more serious about it. Obviously shop-owner is scared and doesn't really like the idea of marriage again but it's something that he admits is a possibility, and that is a huge step for him. It's a romantic story and a fun one and a sexy one and why can't more yaoi be like this. If they solved mysteries or there were ghosts or something it would be perfect. As it is the story is, yes, really just about them and their relationship. Which, eh, is good and is rather carried by the sex.
In the end, it's the last volume in a regrettably short series. But the series is short mainly because the character are good together and there's nothing keeping them apart. They are more mature than more yaoi protags, and in that they are still just as sexy. There's a lot to like here, really, and that's why I'm giving it an 8.5/10.
This was the perfect end to the series. Not only did they discuss their relationship like adults and think about it - rushing things is often a common relationship plot line in a lot of yaoi I've read, and this was a nice change to see - but they acted like proper adults about everything.
The plot wrapped up really nicely and it left me feeling warm and I couldn't stop smiling. The artwork seems to have cleaned up, the characters have such a good amount of depth and are perfectly three dimensional now. The new characters introduced this volume weren't as good as the main three, but still absolutely wonderful.
This manga series was an absolute delight to read, and I'm really glad my boyfriend let me read it. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a good yaoi.
I'm so happy that this was completely solid all the way through. More great relationship talks, honest communication, exchanging insecurities, talking seriously about the future...all the stuff I really, really love in these kinds of stories.
We also get Tanihara interacting with his ex-wife, and while it's not totally clear why they broke up, it seems like it's because they were too much alike - so it's not much of a coincidence that she's now dating a guy who's a lot more like Saji. They both needed people who were more unlike them: steady, kind, reliable, etc.
Loved the trip to the beach where Saji bonded more with Tanihara's daughter. It was a really interesting development that she's not actually his biological daughter, but that, plus his attachment to the old candy shop, says a lot about his character and the solidity of his future with Saji. Once he cares about something or someone, the labels don't really matter; he'll put his whole heart into it.
This was just fantastic and I'm so pleased by the open-ended up very, very happy ending. I'm not that interested in the idea of the original series this spun off from, but the writing was so good that maybe I'll rethink trying it. Wish it was easier to get more of her other works in English.
Okay I want to read the other series now. I really liked this one and I want to see more of Shu even as a side character. Kind of bummed that it didn’t go even deeper with the family and career stuff. I feel like this could have easily had a fourth volume. Like Chii just leaves? They’re also not going to explain further about the fact that Shu isn’t her real dad? I feel like the emotional impact wasn’t as hard as it should’ve been. It was just like anyway she’s gone now which makes me sad. I was really liking this volume and towards the end it felt like it was building up to another volume or just a little more story and conclusion and then it just ended. The author says it’s up to our imagination but I love when it’s just part of the story!! Either way I really liked this series. It was a good, fun read.
Re-read this series for the Thirsty Thursday livestream in June for Pride Month. I still love the relationship and consent in this series. It's a lovely romance. But now I see some of the weak plot points of the story. The daughter was just there, the Uke's wife is a trash human, and I wanted more from this romance. Where is our cosplay nasty chapter? Overall, I still enjoyed it. But wanted more! So fun reading this with my friends. |
Ok, i really am not happy about they way Shu talks about cosplay in the extra story at the end of the book, but the rest was amazing. After the love confession and the trip to the beach in book two, it´s getting more and more serious this time and the love interests have to deal with the new partners. Most of the times this can be very challenging for a relationship, but again the two handled it very well. You can see that they don´t want to lose each other. I wish them the very best and I hope they can be together in the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
review for whole series: all books—> 3.78 stars ⭐️!
oh my gosh, i rlly enjoyed reading this series :) i didn’t know what to expect when i started and i have to admit, i am pleasantly surprised by how nicely everything was handled :D there was communication, and even when there wasn’t, there was *acknowledgement* that the characs were avoiding it. it was a lovely romance btwn two mature adults with their own faults and strengths.
plus, i liked how consent and sex was handled in the main relationship :D it was nice to see ^^
Un BL entre dos adults (cosa que sempre és benvinguda), l'un és propietari d'una botiga de llaminadures d'un poble i l'altre és el nou pediatre amb cara de pocs amics que s'intenta guanyar-se la canalla fent-los regalets de la botiga. Diria que és una sèrie que ha envellit una mica malament pel clixé del "gay for you" i tot l'embolic familiar sobre la paternitat, però té la mescla perfecta entre rerefons i superficialitat. Final un pèl abrupte, però lectura molt entretinguda, amb una dinàmica de parella ben aconseguida.
What a good conclusion to a good story! I love how there's no weird bitterness or acting like they don't care, it's just wholesome, good vibes. A little upset at the "twist" they put into Chii's story because it felt so empty, but it did give them an excuse to kind of move on from that arc. Definitely a story that would benefit from an epilogue, but it's not entirely necessary as it ties up a bunch of the looser ends from the previous two volumes.
Definitely a series to read over and over. The ending was very simple and not too sappy. I was a bit sad that it doesn't go longer as there are questions left unanswered that get brought up in the previous volume. However, with the declaration of Saji of not needing to know Shu's past I think it's okay to end the series here. Again very, very quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Ce dernier tome comble mes attentes même si je suis un peu surprise par la fin que je voyais un peu différente. On voit dans ce volume une autre facette de Saji dans ces interactions avec la fille de Tanihara, il est adorable avec elle. Chi est d’ailleurs beaucoup plus présente dans ce tome ce qui nous permet de la connaître un peu plus est j’ai adoré son personnage. Bref, une belle histoire.
Miért van már vége? Annyira olvastam volna még. ♡ Shujit már az előző sorozatban is nagyon szerettem és ez csak fokozódott ebben a három kötetben. Ki gondolta volna, hogy ez a szeleburdi, semmivel sem törődő pasi ilyen lesz? Saji pedig... annyira szeretem az ilyen kis szexis maguknak való, csupa szív fickókak.
Maybe this volume would be 4.5 stars but I rounded up because it's such a beautifully mature and shockingly healthy relationship. They are so wonderful together and the story just felt so realistic and mature.
My one wish about this trilogy is that I wanted more Ryoumei in it, since Shu was in Bond of Dreams a lot. And maybe if Ao could've appeared once or something haha. I like connected stories.
Grandioso manga, ame que haya sido una relación adulta con sus problemas y desavenencias pero que al final pudieran superar los obstáculos y estar juntos.
I love how they talked about their relationship, they didn’t rush, and talked openly about their problems. Ahh! Wished I got to see more but the ending was already perfect!
I had a lot of fun reading this series. There were a lot of great story development moments. My favorite in volume 1 was when Tanihara, being the playful and somewhat capricious guy that he is, tries to rattle the Doc by taking him out of his element and much to his disappointment, the Doc actually turns out to be subtly suave. The bonus is that Tanihara’s plan and subsequent disappointment is exposed and he has to kind of wallow in it for a minute. But that’s it, he doesn’t try it again.
In volume 2, my favorite part was when the Doc is getting walked over like a doormat by his ex and Tanihara steps in and chastises Yukihisa about it which leads to conflict between him and the Doc which eventually turns into yet another attempt by Tanihara to “break up.” But the best part is that he wanted to do it without hurting the Doc’s feelings too much but ended up telling him the reason straight out. And it’s one of the best reasons to break up with someone. The whole scene isn’t gold, but the important parts are.
It’s kind of a drag at points, but mostly sad; the Doc wasn’t treated well by his previous partners and it really shows. He has a serious inferiority complex. Tanihara kind of picked up on its manifestations at times and those moments inadvertently clued him in on his own feelings. These things don’t go away so easily, even after they become an actual couple. So in volume 3, Tanihara feels suffocated when they cuddle after sex. He rejects the Doc and in turn, the Doc has an “I’m not good enough” moment. What I liked is that rather than say, “oh well, if it’s you…,” Tanihara’s pretty firm about his decision, but still manages to find a compromise when he decides to be the big spoon, so to speak, instead of the Doc.
It’s not a perfect story; there are somethings that I could have done without, but if I have to pick one thing that I’d most like to be different, it is the magical subtraction of the child out of the equation. I’d like to see more single fathers explaining their relationship to their children and perhaps going through the process of becoming a blended family and not have their kids be blissfully unaware.
Ich liebe die Hide and Seek Reihe und habe mich total gefreut als ich bei Amazon entdeckte, dass ein neuer (aber leider auch letzter) Teil herauskommt. Dieser Band ist der Abschlussband der Reihe und toppt noch einmal alles. Die Beziehung zwischen Doc und Shuji festigt sich immer mehr, auch wenn beide immer noch viele Sachen ausloten müssen. Etwas traurig finde ich, dass sie ihre Beziehung auch weiterhin geheim halten. Aber ansonsten sind sie einfach super süß miteinander. Doc ist nicht mehr ganz so stoisch und ernst. Man merkt, dass ihn der Umgang mit Shuji etwas lockerer macht und er sich auch bemüht freundlicher zu wirken. Shuji hat ja eine kleine Tochter, die bei ihm lebt. Da kommt in diesem Band ein neuer Aspekt dazu, weil man nun auch die Mutter kennenlernt. Mehr möchte ich zum Inhalt nicht verraten. Ich fand den Inhalt interessant und der Zeichenstil ist ja sowieso mein allerliebster. Die Mangaka zeichnet wunderbar die Mimik und Gestik der Charaktere und kleidet diese auch sehr abwechslungs- und einfallsreich. Die erotischen Szenen sind schön in die Story eingebaut und wirken nicht überladen. Hier gibt es auch keine billige Zensur, sondern die Mangaka zeichnet einfach ganz geschickt so das bestimmte Teile ganz natürlich abgedeckt werden. Das finde ich sehr klasse. Ich bin wirklich traurig, dass die Reihe nun abgeschlossen ist. Für mich hätte sie noch ewig weiter gehen können. Ich hoffe stark, dass die Autorin bald eine neue Reihe herausbringt. Wenn ihr mehr zu Band1 oder Band 2 wissen wollt, schaut euch einfach meine Rezensionen dazu an.