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A Promise of Romance
Edward, an English nobleman, is every bit the handsome prince, except he doesn’t have a damsel in distress. Edward’s relatives have been trying to arrange a marriage for him after finding out that his late father’s will stipulates that Edward must be married by the time he reaches the age of 26 or he risks losing control of the family estate and fortune. Rebelling against his family’s wishes, Edward sets off to find himself a wife of his own choosing. But instead of a wife, he finds Satsuki, a young Japanese exchange student attending theater classes at a local college. Of course, there’s a catch… Satsuki is a boy!
186 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2001
19 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 12, 2020
I was so happy to get to go back to my favorite Japanese bookstore for the first time in months, and this goofy fake-dating cross-dressing yaoi novel was $5, so I bought it to be a fun amusement. For the first two thirds, it was exactly that: bad, but enjoyably bad. It had all tropes, the occasional moment of the characters actually seemingly bonding, and a truly hilarious and hilariously incorrect take on English culture. Look kids: racism is bad, but a book depicting British people as big blond barbarians is kind of funny, not gonna lie.
And then out of nowhere one half of the pairing rapes the other. That's their first time together, for absolutely no reason, except bad yaoi tropes, I guess. Points to the author for actually calling this rape a rape, and not "forced consent" or some bullshit, but it's still forgiven less than 80 pages later, so.
Fuck it. Bye!
And then out of nowhere one half of the pairing rapes the other. That's their first time together, for absolutely no reason, except bad yaoi tropes, I guess. Points to the author for actually calling this rape a rape, and not "forced consent" or some bullshit, but it's still forgiven less than 80 pages later, so.
Fuck it. Bye!
September 14, 2008
With a slightly interesting story but frustrating classic ending, "A Promise of Romance" is an average yaoi story.
The plot is an interesting one. It is not over done but finely thought out. The characters are entertaining and the couple passable. However, there is that side unrequited love that may cause some people to express dissatisfaction. So, if you usually never like main pairings, you probably should not read this.
The only problem with plot is the existence of that "I will be poor for you" that shows up in a lot of books but makes you roll your eyes because people in real life are not all that selfless. Other that that the book is ok.
If you like love stories between the genteel and the peasantry, this is for you.
The plot is an interesting one. It is not over done but finely thought out. The characters are entertaining and the couple passable. However, there is that side unrequited love that may cause some people to express dissatisfaction. So, if you usually never like main pairings, you probably should not read this.
The only problem with plot is the existence of that "I will be poor for you" that shows up in a lot of books but makes you roll your eyes because people in real life are not all that selfless. Other that that the book is ok.
If you like love stories between the genteel and the peasantry, this is for you.
October 2, 2008
It is about Edward who is an English Noble and he is suppose to marry someone by the time he reaches age 26 or he loses his inhertance. Edward seems to not care about his inhertance at first on being matched up with anyone. Until something happens and he decides he will go out and find his own bride. He meets Satsuki a young male Japanese exchange student who is trying to become an actor. Edward and Satsuki make a deal that Satsuki dresses as a girl and they get married only to divorce right after the wedding. Do these two really get married, do they divorce will the be together. You would have to read it if you like Yaoi novels to find out.
November 10, 2015
The only good point about this awful book is that it is short. The rest.. terrible. At the beginning, it was going fine. Handsome blond English seme; beautiful Japanese uke (I pity the Japanese guys; they always have to be the uke in a relationship with a foreign guy... it is inevitable). Satsuki has an agreement with Edward; to pretend be his bride for a lot of money. Hmmph, I love a Japanese hottie cross-dressing... cannot deny that. But then Edward commits the biggest crime and the story turns into a awful soap opera. And Satsuki forgives him! And the female cousin is the most cliche evil bitch ever.
Bah, I love these yaoi lights novel, but there are some crappy ones, like this one.
Bah, I love these yaoi lights novel, but there are some crappy ones, like this one.
August 14, 2018
So bad in so many ways. It's a cute set-up with a male actor pretending to be an English lord's fiancee. But the writing is so bland, it's like the entire book is a detailed summary (but with no commentary) of some actual work lost in the sands of time. There is nothing in the setting to make us feel like we are in London except random mentions of well-known places without any description.
There is nothing to save you from the cliches; they are just painful, and not in a so-bad-it's-funny way. Blonde aristocrat, Edward, is the seme and has no personality, but he's rich, so that's okay? There is actually a line in there about checking the door to make sure it's not a terrorist ringing. The ripping on English food is ridiculous; everyone already teases them about that, make a new joke or move along. The "romance" is just as painful. Out of no where, Edward rapes Satsuki because he just can't help himself. But it's not really rape as he suspects later that Satsuki might have had sex with a man before...wtf? Satsuki randomly forgives him and confesses his love. And so poorly researched. Gay marriage wasn't legalized in England until 2014, this edition was released in 2008, so their faux wedding...assuming they got a license, was illegal. Kind of a big scandal, yet it is never commented upon.
There is nothing to save you from the cliches; they are just painful, and not in a so-bad-it's-funny way. Blonde aristocrat, Edward, is the seme and has no personality, but he's rich, so that's okay? There is actually a line in there about checking the door to make sure it's not a terrorist ringing. The ripping on English food is ridiculous; everyone already teases them about that, make a new joke or move along. The "romance" is just as painful. Out of no where, Edward rapes Satsuki because he just can't help himself. But it's not really rape as he suspects later that Satsuki might have had sex with a man before...wtf? Satsuki randomly forgives him and confesses his love. And so poorly researched. Gay marriage wasn't legalized in England until 2014, this edition was released in 2008, so their faux wedding...assuming they got a license, was illegal. Kind of a big scandal, yet it is never commented upon.
October 4, 2024
I was really excited to read this book and for the most part enjoyed it; I love a fake-dating plot and it’s a cute BL with crossdressing. I think the premise had a lot of potential. The writing was a bit stiff at times and I was a bit confused on the time period but overall it was enjoyable. The only thing is the rape scene completely blindsided me. It came out of nowhere and was really upsetting with derailing the sweet romance. It seemed out of character for the perpetrator and seemed like a cheap plot obstacle that almost entirely ruined the book. Before that scene I’d probably just give it 5 stars for being a fun cute read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2016
Stereotype. Boring. Or maybe the translation doesn't do the novel justice, I don't know.
September 28, 2018
Honestly, the story could have done without the assault entirely. If you ignore that, then you have a pretty cute version of “My Fair Lady” to enjoy. 🤷♀️
October 20, 2018
CONTENT WARNING: RAPE
I read this book for a vlog that will go up on my channel soon... and let's just say that this novel didn't go down as well as I would have liked it to have gone. I bought this book to explore Yaoi literature, and try to understand why people like that genre (especially seeing as it is usually written by women for women but it depicts homoerotic relationships between men), but as of right now, I can't understand it that well.
In terms of the plot of the book, it was mediocre at best. I was mainly intrigued to see what would happen because it was a Yaoi book, but if it was a straight novel, I probably would have DNFed it. Then in Act III, Edward ends up raping Satsuki and that made me dislike the book... I didn't like how they got a happy ending too.
In regards to the romance... below average. Everything just happened because. There was no real development. It was more so because Edward and Satsuki spent so much time together, and time acting as an engaged couple. I'm not even sure if Edward likes Satsuki as a person or as a good looking cross-dresser...
With the characters, the only character that was developed was Satsuki. But I liked that because he was the only redeeming aspect about this book. Everyone else was surface level characters.
I would not recommend this book.
I read this book for a vlog that will go up on my channel soon... and let's just say that this novel didn't go down as well as I would have liked it to have gone. I bought this book to explore Yaoi literature, and try to understand why people like that genre (especially seeing as it is usually written by women for women but it depicts homoerotic relationships between men), but as of right now, I can't understand it that well.
In terms of the plot of the book, it was mediocre at best. I was mainly intrigued to see what would happen because it was a Yaoi book, but if it was a straight novel, I probably would have DNFed it. Then in Act III, Edward ends up raping Satsuki and that made me dislike the book... I didn't like how they got a happy ending too.
In regards to the romance... below average. Everything just happened because. There was no real development. It was more so because Edward and Satsuki spent so much time together, and time acting as an engaged couple. I'm not even sure if Edward likes Satsuki as a person or as a good looking cross-dresser...
With the characters, the only character that was developed was Satsuki. But I liked that because he was the only redeeming aspect about this book. Everyone else was surface level characters.
I would not recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2022
I found this novel to be simple. It took a bit of a dramatic turn right there towards the end and I only wish that we had got more of the story after all was said and done. There seems much more to be told here and I feel like there could have been a little bit more drama added into the mixture but sometimes a non-dramatic read is a breath of fresh air.
August 29, 2019
This web is so amazing it does have alot of book you love to read and I cant wait to read more.
April 1, 2023
It's been over a year since I've read A Promise of Romance by Kyoko Akitsu and yet I still remember enough about the book that I felt I could still review it without feeling like I was just dunking on it to dunk on it.
This book has layers. Not like...layers in an onion. This is not something as fantastic as Rian Johnson's Glass Onion. When I say it has layers, I mean it is filtered through many lenses to become something that is hardly coherent. You have a Japanese author writing about how she perceives British culture, and how she perceives British people perceiving Japanese culture. It turns into this muddled, unrealistic blob of triteness.
Now, I found my notes from when I read this book and all I said was "Would have been serviceable if not for the non-con rape scene" and I have to say I am very happy I do not remember the non-con rape scene from this book because I erased it from my memory. It was just that bad and out of the clear blue.
I think there might have been an attempt at a commentary on class disparity in this book that either got lost in translation or edited out of the final version because there are a lot of things that hint at that. Satsuki's roommate being sick and poor, the vanity of the nobility, the racism and classism aimed at Satsuki...Regardless, this book was hardly worth the time spent on it. I read it in a day, but I probably could have spent that time reading something else instead.
This book has layers. Not like...layers in an onion. This is not something as fantastic as Rian Johnson's Glass Onion. When I say it has layers, I mean it is filtered through many lenses to become something that is hardly coherent. You have a Japanese author writing about how she perceives British culture, and how she perceives British people perceiving Japanese culture. It turns into this muddled, unrealistic blob of triteness.
Now, I found my notes from when I read this book and all I said was "Would have been serviceable if not for the non-con rape scene" and I have to say I am very happy I do not remember the non-con rape scene from this book because I erased it from my memory. It was just that bad and out of the clear blue.
I think there might have been an attempt at a commentary on class disparity in this book that either got lost in translation or edited out of the final version because there are a lot of things that hint at that. Satsuki's roommate being sick and poor, the vanity of the nobility, the racism and classism aimed at Satsuki...Regardless, this book was hardly worth the time spent on it. I read it in a day, but I probably could have spent that time reading something else instead.
February 5, 2016
This is a novel that tugs at your emotions. Once you have taken the bait, this book is hard to put down. I found the characters likeable and honest in the sense where they have their perks and flaws, making it interesting to see them adapt to each obstacle thrown at them. However, this novel was translated from Japanese, thus the writing style is a bit simplistic and straightforward... but the plot is intense enough to keep you hooked! Not only that, but the illustrations are beautiful; done from my favourite manga artist, Tooko Miyagi (Il Gatto Sul G). I also loved the chapter title reference to Shakespeare’s plays. If you know your literature, you can see how suiting the comparison is!
August 25, 2014
Really enjoyable boy love story that had everything I loved--cross dressing, fake marriage plots that turn real, and sociological asides. The characters are fully rounded and you can really understand why they end up loving each other.
Two caveats:
There is one disturbing scene that could be triggering for some but I didn't mind it.
The translation is functional more than artistic but the language flows very well.
Two caveats:
There is one disturbing scene that could be triggering for some but I didn't mind it.
The translation is functional more than artistic but the language flows very well.
August 6, 2011
i love yaoi manga but i finally read a yaoi novel ( this one) and it was wonderfully and it had a detailed plot but i did miss the images you have in the manga but it was still a very lovely story
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March 22, 2012Terrible. The only good thing about this book was the art.
November 8, 2012
Es war leider nicht das Beste was ich gelesen habe, aber als Snack zwischen durch war es okay.
Ich hatte mir was anderes erhofft.
Ich hatte mir was anderes erhofft.
November 29, 2012
Just as expected.
December 14, 2014
I expected better from Kyoko Akitsu. A disappointment in the least.
September 10, 2016
Really good plot and caracters. It was very intresting to read it and I love it.
April 1, 2013
Average harlequinn-type of yaoi story. Less-than-2-hours read… I think it's a bit too short…
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews