Shoot Juliet Down 1

ジュリエットを撃て [Juliet wo Ute] #1

by Komachi Katsura

Amidst the dark glamor of host club Velvet Kiss, Juri-also called Juliet-commands a vice-like grip on the number one position. Impressed by this poker-faced beauty's supreme reign, newbie and number-two host Akatsuki decides he must learn Juliet's secrets-and shoot him down from the top of the pack. But Aka­tsuki's first up-close taste of Juliet's intoxicating charm leaves him craving more than he'd expected. And as he may soon learn, some secrets are better left in their bottles, and the bullet that shoots through one heart might take out more than it bargained for…

Genres: Manga, Romance, LGBT, Yaoi, Graphic Novels, Contemporary, Queer

Kindle Edition

First published January 12, 2024

About the author

Associated names :
BEPPIN (GS Taihei)
BEPPIN (GSタイペイ)
WENDY (桂小町)
WENDY (KATSURA Komachi)

Name (in native language) : 桂小町

Website 2: http://beppin.boo.jp/
Website 3: http://nishimura-p.co.jp/

pixiv: http://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=37...

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I am hooked! Volume 2 now please 🤍

So we’re introduced to Juri, the number one host at the Velvet Kiss club, where his rivalry with a newer host takes a turn when they discover unexpected feelings for one and other.

The story is much darker than I expected going in, I’m anticipating things going to deeper and more intense places moving forward (which I’m totally here for). In this introductory Volume, we got a peak into the sad and emotional romantic rollercoaster we’re in for.

I also love a fast narrative and the insta-love isn’t something I’m at all opposed to, in fact I want more please.

Thank you to Kodansha for the NetGalley ARC!

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

oh my…this is about to get crazy!

Juri is the number one host at the host club, Velvet Kiss. Akatsuki who is a newer host holds second place against Juri. Juri intrigues Akatsuki and Akatsuki makes it his mission to learn the way of Juri and how he makes so much more money than him.

this story is very insta-lust which i am totally fine with. it has darker themes so just know that going into it. it showcases the darker side of being a host and honestly the reality these hosts have to go through.

i’m awaiting the second vol because im already hooked and need to know how this ends.

thank you to Kodansha for the ARC via netgalley!

[Cassiereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooo this is gonna be MESSY.

Newbie host club worker Akatsuki is wanting to learn from the clubs ace, Juri, so he asks him for lessons. Cue the sparks flying. But, something seemingly dark is going on with Juri.

The pacing was FAST (very insta-love/lust), which I’m not usually a fan of, but the underlying dark themes involving host clubs and sex work have my attention hooked. I have a feeling this one is going to rip my heart out just a bit. I really enjoyed these characters and hope we get to see a lot of development in the next volume.

Thank you Kodansha for the ARC via netgalley!

[Ayxan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shoot Juliet Down, volume 1: 4.5 stars

Bold, but exactly what i want to see more of.

~

I absolutely despise guys like Akatsuki. Having him as the protagonist is is so dissatisfying and disgusting, putting me on 180 degrees whenever he’s on screen and especially his grin.

But all the other main and supporting characters are … wow. Great. Never seen such a good diverse cast in a BL manga. Especially the women!

At first the women too seemed to be just in the way.
But soon turns out they’re not at all!
Well, maybe, if you ship Juri and Akatsuki. But if you want it to be more interesting, the women will keep you entertained in this. In a good way. (And that’s coming from someone who usually hates (cis-)hetero scenes in BL/GL.)

Might be because of Juri. He is the only real man in this. One that gives hope to the “not all men” saying. One that actually stands up when women are treated badly, even when it’s just badmouthing them behind their backs. That happened the first time at around the end of chapter 1, making me want to continue right away! And I’m glad, cause I really got surprised by the writing.

Mary’s and Juri’s relationship is really awesome and new (at least in BL manga), and I can’t wait to dive more into it in volume 2!
Even though it’s also a bit evil, at least from Mary’s perspective. Though I’m not sure whether that one scene was actually “evil” or whether Juri was crying from pleasure.

It’s also really nice how much light the mangaka sheds on the porn industry. How much women, despite also liking sex and the payment, suffer from it. And the taxes too. They either got experience, or did well with their research – either way, love that.

I also love Saki. At first she was a bit annoying and at the same time I felt bad for her, but ooh, she’s actually much more than that. Both positive and negative. I usually dislike when women are the antagonists in BL, but this time … I’m sort of rooting for her. I like her view at things.

And even though Mary and Saki haven’t interacted at all … I ship them. Romantically/sexually. The mangaka’s been bold with a lot of things in this, so I hope we get to see some sort of sexual act between the two rivaling women. They’ve got chemistry even from afar! And it’s possible that Mary could be bi/pan/multi.

I really don’t ship Akatsuki and Juri – and yes I know they’ll be endgame –, but I did love some of their scenes. An actual power bottom! Dom and bottom. Yes they exist and yes it’s so nice to get actual representation – especially in the bedroom.
The last scene in the last chapter put me off completely (romanticizing non-consent, ugh) and made me hate the ship as well as Akatsuki again. But I’ll still continue, mainly because of the other characters.

Apart from the awful and cliche Akatsuki character, please, mangakas, do more of this boldness.

~

Thank you to Kodansha on Netgalley for a digital review copy. The book was released on 4th November 2025.
-Ayxan Solongo, 22.01.26
My main platforms: StoryGraph | Pending Plays | Instagram | YouTube

[Neurospicy Potato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juri is the number one host of the host club, with Akatsuki being number two. But sparks fly between the two hosts, and drama quickly follows. Will they get a happily ever after?

Shoot Juliet Down was such a fun manga and it is right up my alley! I love myself an enjoyable BL-story, and Shoot Juliet Down delivers exactly that. The main couple is cute together, though I wished they spend a bit more time ranking up the dynamic between the two. I would have liked a good bit of suspense. Other than that, they’re adorable, even in their fights and miscommunications.

The art-style is a bit softer around the edges than I am used to with BL-manga, but I really liked it! I think it fits the story well, and especially fits our main character; Juri. It’s a cute story with a sharp edge, taking place in the entertainment district with all the shady dealings & everything.

There are enough twists and turns in the story to keep me entertained. And the first volume did a great job at keeping me engaged. I definitely want to read the 2nd volume the moment it is released. Shoot Juliet Down is exactly the type of BL that I like, with the only vice being that it moved a bit too fast in the first chapter.

If you’re a fan of BL-Manga, just like me, then I definitely recommend this one! It takes only an hour to read, is engaging enough to be enjoyable, and has some nice twists and turns here and there. Definitely give it a try!

Disclaimer:
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Shoot Juliet Down enter into a world of lies and deception, where the two hottest (and highest ranking) host club hosts enter a precarious relationship. If you want yearning, look no further. If you grew up watching Ouran High School Host Club and wished it was gayer (and darker), then this is the perfect fit. I loved the two main characters, who both pretend to be way less interested in each other than they actually are. I think their relationship is gearing up to be very promising, and if you’re a fan of slow and complicated romances, then this is the manga for you. I’ve read a few of the authors other works (Rouge) and loved them, and so far Shoot Juliet Down is looking like it’s going to follow in similar footsteps! My only problem is that it’s way too short and now I have to wait for volume 2!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Julie Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this manga, to be honest, but I’m definitely intrigued! It takes place at a host club, where newbie Akatsuki wants to learn to be the best from the number one host, Juri. There’s an element of insta-love, or at the very least insta-lust, but it’s also immediately clear that Juri is struggling with something, some secret nobody knows, but he has a very good pokerface. The ending left me itching for the next volume already, which should be out in spring 2026, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes for these two!!

The illustrations are gorgeous, and whilst there are intimate scenes and depictions of sec work, the drawings aren’t explicit as such, and focuses more on facial expressions and face-to-black.



I received a free e-arc via NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Niki.reads.rainbow · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rivalry between hosts for the number one position. Juri (also called Juliet) is currently the number one host in the club Velvet Kiss. Akatsuki, who’s number two, is jealous of Juri, but is also attracted to him.

Akatsuki is determinated to find out Juri’s secrets while also desperately getting back into Juri’s bed.

This is definitely interesting concept, and I quite enjoyed reading it. It’s definitely a darker romance with a lot of smutty scenes.

I wasn’t sure if I would want to continue with other volumes, but the preview for volume 2 convinced me to give vol 2 a chance.

Overall, I’m rating this 3*. The plot is interesting, I would just like to see more developed characters and more communication between the main characters.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightfully messy romance between two competing hosts, and their clients with their own obsessions.

Juri was a particular joy to read as he’s portrayed externally as an ice cold type, but he gets so adorably flustered in secret over Akatsuki. It’s a complicated set up, with a bit of miscommunication and external motivations, but it’s compelling and I’m excited to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC!

[Laura (crofteereader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my thing. I was drawn in by the cover and title and it just kept catching my eye that I eventually gave in. Both Akatsuki and Juri are playing dangerous games - and it’s kind of interesting seeing women in antagonistic roles (because I feel like that’s kind of uncommon in manga in general but especially in BLs where there often aren’t many female characters). Also props for mentioning (if only briefly) that a character is STD-free (allowing the assumption that they get regularly tested)

{Thank you Vertical Comics for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review}

[Bebo Saucier Carrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

There are inklings here of a deeper commentary on sex work and objectification, which could be very interesting, especially given the story centers around male sex workers. But ultimately, the story skirted these points to focus on the relationship between the two MCs. The MCs themselves are not interesting or distinct enough to make me care about their relationship or their lives.

[ash ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

the tension, the drama??? i ate this up. the way our two mmcs interact with each other is SO good, i need about 500 more volumes of this stat

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok I’m obsessed. Going in, I honestly thought this was going to be yuri and that Juri’s big secret was that he was a woman but nope lol but I need more of this story.

Juri is so precious, and you can really feel how Aki is falling for him with so much honesty and awareness. Their chemistry feels both tender and charged, and the narrative doesn’t shy away from the complexities of sex work, which I really liked.

I can’t wait to learn more about Juri’s past and how much he’ll eventually trust Aki with it. I’m completely hooked and can’t wait to see where their story goes next.

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a much awaited break, I have finally decided to go back and see what's going on in the Yaoi scene, and to be fair, even after reading the synopsis, I didn't expect this volume to catch me the way it did. Obviously, this is only the beginning, but you can already tell just how messy and dark it will get as we go through the story.

The focal point will nonetheless be the different bonds we will see between all of the characters, however, I am truly intrigued by the whole "Host Club" aspect of it all (and the art style really elevated the experience). Besides our protagonists, I also took a liking to the side characters, both the silly guys and the drama-filled girls, and I am looking forward to learning more about them as the story progresses.

Juri (also known as Juliet) must have one hell of a messed up backstory because within all of the chapters you could see different sides of him, all seeming authentic even though they are from polar opposites of emotional points. I guess I could say I was also captivated by the way he is navigating his issues and personal desires. And the teaser scenes for volume two only made me more concerned for him...

As for Akatsuki (also known as The Prince), he felt a bit less complex in comparison to every other character. I feel that this is the reason why I decided to give 4 stars and not higher, but I am expecting to see some development, or maybe some more lore for him. As for now, he feels very "all bark, no bite".

Nonetheless, I am excited to see where the story goes next, so I'm sure to keep an eye out!

(Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the e-ARC!)

[EJ Washington · Rating 4 out of 5]

eARC Review:

The Basics:
Art: 5/5

Characters: 4/5

We’ve got the #1 host, Juri (aka Juliet), and the #2 host, Akatsuki. Juri takes his job seriously and aims to provide the best experience for his clients, while Akatsuki is more hot-headed and a bit of a noob, but still comes off as a decent guy. No overly red flags… definitely some yellow. It’s complicated.

I did like the characters! and Juri seems to have an especially tough past (that we don’t know much about yet), but the relationship between the two kinda came off as insta-lusty. Their closeness did feel a bit unearned.

Still, I really liked Juri’s personality. He gives off those cool, untouchable vibes but deep down seems like an actual sweetheart?

Story/Plot: 3/5

I’m giving this a 3 mostly because it just wasn’t it for me. I know it’s only volume one, but it really felt like it ended right when things were finally starting to get interesting.

The story takes place in Velvet Kiss host club. Mind your TWs… this isn’t a fluffy read and is more on the angsty side (especially since Juri’s backstory clearly isn’t a happy one). I think this is going to get more into the harsh realities of working nightlife/sex work etc.

Host two wants lessons from host one, who surprisingly readily agrees. But how can a relationship work between two hosts, especially when one of them has ties to the nightlife he can’t easily escape?

Writing/Dialouge: 5/5
Well done.. no complaints here

Extras:

Giggles & Sweetness: 0/5

Spice: 3/5
more story focused

Second-hand Embarrassment: 0/5

[Kristen Branch-McGlamery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

Shoot Juliet Down Volume 1 was a great example of what happens when you pick something up based on the vibes alone. I came across the title and a very brief synopsis earlier this year and was eager to dive into it when the ARC showed up in my inbox.

The first volume of this BL manga focuses on the happenings of two successful hosts at a popular host club. Akatsuki, wishing to become the top host, decides to get close to Juri (also known as Juliet) in order to learn his secrets and knock Juri out of top spot. What seems like an easy task becomes more complicated when Akatsuki finds himself drawn in by Juri’s charm. One night together soon becomes the beginning of what seems to be a darker story full of secrets and arrangements kept behind closed doors.

To be honest, this wasn’t really what I was expecting, but that’s honestly because I didn’t really go into this volume knowing what I was going to get into. I think the premise is interesting, but I felt like the pace was very fast for just the first volume. Maybe that’s what’s required for the story to get where it needs to go, but it gave me a bit of whiplash. Keep in mind, though, I’m a fan of slow burn.

If you’re looking for a fast pace manga oozing with lust and mystery, you will probably be interested in this BL manga. Will I continue on to the next volume? Maybe, but I will most likely use a library service to continue instead of paying for the next installment.

⭐️ 2.5/5 stars ⭐️

[Lucy Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would first like to start this review by thanking Netgalley and Kodansha comics for providing a copy of this eARC for me in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely need the next volume immediately. When I first started reading it I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the art style. I’ve read several manga in this art style before, and they haven’t always been my favorite. But I decided to give it a try anyway and I am glad that I continued reading.

I would like to warn readers that I think this story needs a bit of a trigger warning. I was a little surprised as I was reading to suddenly by reading a r4pe scene. It shocked and jumped out at me, and I wasn’t expecting it. I think the storyline up to that point was super interesting, and I was kind of expecting some pimping to happen just based on the storyline, but that scene itself felt very abrupt. This lack of warning is what dropped it from a 5 to 4 star for me.

However, the understanding of Juri doing and experiencing things like this and comparing them to his relationship with Akatsuki just made me more interested in learning more about his backstory. I want to know how he got here, what caused this to happen – things like that. The spicy rating was a level 4.

Overall, I would rate this first volume a 4 out of 5 star rating. It was good, could have used some warnings, but still made me interested in the next volume.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Komachi Katsura for a copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review.

Final verdict: 4.5 stars!

Manga can sometimes have an odd pace to it, and this felt a little fast for me until I realized that there would be a second volume, and the pacing made sense. I have to say I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, but there is a pretty deep story here when it comes to relationships, masks, and the underground life of sex work. I think that this manga has so far showcased how women can be predators as much as they can be victims, and that men can be assaulted in unconventional ways by them. I hope that in the next volume, we take a little bit more time to truly explore our main characters and give them the space to develop a little more depth. I think that they have great chemistry, but I felt the author fell into the "get them in bed as fast as possible" trap, and the romantic side of the story suffered a little bit for it. There seems to be a lot more to these characters, and I'm really curious to see how they develop. That said, there is plenty of room for their relationship to grow and deepen, and I will excitedly pick up the next volume to see how that happens! Overall, contains mature themes, but highly recommend it to anyone who can handle them!

Thank you again for a copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review!

[Audrey S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hoping for something dark and messed up when I picked up this manga and I was not let down one bit. The art is gorgeous and haunting, lending to the twisted mess this story unravels.
.
I adore how this examines the seedier underbelly of host clubs, especially high end ones. Akatsuki is a newer host at the club but already doing incredibly well - but he is still leagues behind the top earner, Juri. His eyes are initially set on taking Juri down and surpassing him, but Akatsuki naivete becomes more and more apparent the closer he gets to Juri. And as we see more and more of Juri’s story, we realize the true price of being at the top.
.
I am absolutely fascinated by Juri’s character, his tough, blasé exterior covers a deeply traumatized and abused person who is desperate for genuine connection. (His dark and twisted relationship with Mari - his top “customer” - is a heartbreaking mirror of this). Juri even begins to reach out to Akatsuki, even if we the reader know that Akatsuki is in no way capable of providing the support and care that Juri truly needs.
.
This is a story that punches you in the gut and you know it will only get worse before it gets better.
.
Consider me absolutely hooked on this series. If you like dark and messed up stories, this one will be for you too.
.
*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*

[Madeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.

I received an eARC for my honest review, thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me this opportunity.

This just didn't work really well for me personally. I generally don't find myself reading a lot of yaoi, so my gripes could just stem from popular tropes or more common things that I'm just not aware of.

Now it did feel very insta-lust, which I generally don't mind too much as long as it's followed up by some sort of genuine connection, but I just didn't feel it. Especially when it comes from the main POV character, Akatsuki's side.

I didn't really find him super compelling anyways, he felt kind of bland. I don't care that he was being toxic towards the end, I find that in the few yaois that I have read that it's fairly common, but compared to Juri he felt a bit like a nothing sandwich.

Speaking of Juri, I would have loved to get more scenes from his POV. I understand that his lack of scenes were probably to keep some mystery and to keep him compelling but I feel like that could be still be done well even with a few more scenes or panels. And while I am interested in finding out Juri's storyline, I personally don't think it's enough for me to continue on with volume two.

While I got drawn in by the cover specifically I didn't super care for the art style either, but I understand that is personal preference.

[Julesy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Juri (aka Juliet) is known as the Prince host at club Velvet Kiss. He is admired by everyone who crosses his path, males and females alike. Akatsuki is in training to become a host and looks to Juliet as his mentor. Little did Akatsuki know was how he would learn how to be the prince of hosts like Juliet.

The topic was very disturbing to me with the excessive amount of drinking, promiscuous sex, the goal to have sex just for the sake of sex, calling women “fugly”, profanity, etc. I am not a prude by any means but I found this graphic novel just downright crude.

I only read almost half of his graphic novel. I would have read further if the art was captivating – it was not. I could not tell the difference between the characters Juliet and Akatsuki. They had identical faces with long pointy noses and chins and anime spiky hair styles that hung in their faces. The only slight difference was one has a bit darker hair than the other (illustrations were in black and white).



I would not recommend this graphic novel to anyone. I am so disappointed I wasted a few precious minutes of my reading life. Does not deserve even a 1 star rating in my book.

Warnings: Promiscuous sex, excessive drinking

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing read. Set in a host club, it's a rivals-to-lovers story that ended up darker and faster than I anticipated. Under the insta-love/lust and the spice and very pretty art, there is commentary on host clubs, sex work and the cycle of abuse which I found both totally unexpected and very interesting.

As the main protagonist, Akatsuki is still a work-in-progress for me - I don't find him very compelling yet. Juri, however, definitely grabbed my attention. He seems like he's full of contradictions - delicate but strong, cold but sensitive, and the volume 2 teaser at the end hints that his backstory will be explored more next, which definitely means that I will be reading.

The main drawback for me was the speed at which things happen. I understand why - it is manga after all, and the space is limited. But it did leave me wanting more of a build-up for the relationship, which would (I guess) give more satisfaction to the moment things eventually get resolved.

Was it a perfect read? No. Did it sometimes make me uncomfortable? Yes. Will I continue reading when the next volume comes out? Definitely.

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Katharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This is a very dramatic and downright "messy drama" story. I enjoyed it, and though some of the pacing was a little off. Akatsuki is the Velvet Kiss Club's new rising star and the current number two host. The number one spot is held by Juri, a beauty known for being a cool and collected beauty, whom the ladies are willing to drop thousands on just to share a drink. In trying to learn how to become even better than Juri, Akatsuki slowly learns why Juri holds that top spot within the club. I appreciated that none of the drama is stupid; there's miscommunication at points, but it's not dumb assumptions. I appreciate how subtle the drama is with some characters, but how bold it is with others. The last chapter hints at there being an even deeper plot line that's going to run throughout the entire series, however long that may be. This story does include some heavy stuff, like sexual violence or going into the intricacies of some darker things that one of the sex worker characters endures. You should heed the content warning tags before reading this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Lanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juri and Akatsuki are the number one and number two hosts at the host club, Velvet's Kiss. Juri is quiet and reserved and holds the number one spot while Akatsuki is loud, boisterous, and determined to steal the number one spot from Juri. One evening he decides to just point-blank ask Juri to train him on becoming a better host. Juri however is much better at his job than Akatsuki first guessed as he immediately falls for his exceedingly handsome co-worker and while Akatsuki knows he should keep it casual as he spends more time with Juri he realizes he's losing his heart to him.

This was a promising start to a drama centered around these two hosts. It's not just Juri and Akatsuki's relationship here but the demands of their job, including women who are truly no more than stalkers, and a shady past on Juri's end. We've also got a blatant lack of communication plot here that seems like it may resolve itself next volume and far from being trope-ish it's an understandable reality for these two.

I'll definitely be checking out volume two!

As always thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eArc!

[Shiritaku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, hab was ganz anderes erwartet, haha. Da gab's gefühlt zur Hälfte explizite Szenen.. 👀 hat mich hier aber weniger gestört.. 🤔 der Plot dreht sich um den Host Club »Velvet Kiss« und dessen Hosts Yuri und Akatsuki. Letzterer ist genervt, dass er einfach nicht an Yuris Erfolg rankommt.. daher bittet er ihn, ihn zu unterweisen.. und schon beginnt das Liebesdrama. Die Story ist anfangs nicht so spektakulär, aber mit der Zeit merkt man immer mehr, dass da viel mehr dahintersteckt, als es zunächst scheint. Auch die Charaktere bekommen immer mehr Tiefe - und einige beginnt man immer mehr zu hassen, haha. Ich find die beiden Protagonisten bisher sehr interessant und der Verlauf verspricht noch sehr spannend zu werden.. 👀 das Artwork ist auch richtig nice, so hübsche Personen (ebenso die Nebencharaktere wie die Hauptprotas), so viele Details und tolle Face Close Ups.. 💖 also - für Boys Love Lovers sowieso ein absolutes Muss, aber auch für andere, die mit Spice keine Probleme haben und eine Story mit Tiefgang mögen.
Erscheinungstermin ist der 04.11.2025

P.S.: Würde sicher auch gut bei uns im deutschsprachigen Raum ankommen.. 😌

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

[I received an ARC of this title from Kodansha via NetGalley.] Shoot Juliet Down would appeal to people who a) want to read about adult characters, b) want manga set in the mizu shobai (gig culture that requires more personality if not sex work), or c) have faith in the promises teased by a smile and some smut in the first volume. I don't think I'm the target audience for this, but since I'm at least more than old enough that I could have been the target audience: Please do not buy this for someone just because they liked Ouran Host Club. The art and the storyline are both decent enough but there's a weird gap between the story and the art style that is putting me off. If you're thinking, oh, one of those host club shenanigans manga, the cliches presented are actually played straight. Volume 1 also does not shy away from touching upon the seedier side of mizu shobai since the characters include a sugar baby and a porn star, not to mention the topic of hosts sleeping with their clients is spoken of as an actual possibility. I feel a little bamboozled by the blurb, but I did get a free ARC, so I can't complain.

[InfiniteLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Komachi Katsura, Kodansha, and Netgalley for a complimentary e-arc of this manga volume in exchange for an honest review.

We follow two male hosts in this series, the 'perfect' Juri or 'Juliet', and the number Two at the club. Akatsuki initially sees Juri as a rival, but grows increasingly more entranced with the mysterious Juri and it seems the feeling is mutual...

Volume One is pretty fast paced and we got a good sense of the two characters, their fledgeling relationship and the world of the host club they live in. The art is reasonably nice, and the artist draws all the characters in an attractive way. It was nice to see positive representation of the sex industry in this book, and despite the subject matter there was surprisingly little in terms of heavy smut. The female characters are unfortunately perceived in quite a negative light however, particularly in terms of the girls who sponsor both our two protagonists. That left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, and the theme of miscommunication, blackmail, and infidelity was pretty present throughout so I don't think this will be a series I'll be continuing.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have recieved an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

So this had a very promising premise but ultimately wasn't for me. I had a hard time sticking to the story and stopped reading it a few times before picking it back up, which almost never happens with my manga arcs. I felt the characters lacked personality and didn't feel very distinct from each other. Design-wise it was also difficult to tell them apart. Juri's "secret" personality also felt rather jarring and it wasn't show enough for it not to feel like some sort of gimmick.

Another thing that bothered me was the way women were portrayed. While I am aware most of them are the clients who know what they are buying, the ones who got more screen time were extremely creepy in their behavior towards the male characters. It felt like those big bad women trying to separate poor boys who just want love. It kind of left bad taste in my mouth.

I feel there are better BLs out there that have characters that are hosts or some sort of similar profession. This one really didn't work for me.

[Siina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shoot Juliet Down is an interesting BL, since the story is set in the entertainment industry. Well, it's about host clubs and they are of course a weird but fascinating thing in Japan. The club is Velvet Kiss and our main character is Akatsuki, who's number two in popularity hierarchy. He envies Juri, or Juliet, who's the most popular. He wants Juri to lose, but seems to lose himself in a sense as he begins to develop feelings for him. The best part is that only we see Juri pining after Akatsuki, but the guy himself doesn't know about that. The approach is awesome, since otherwise the characters are stoic and calm. There are two volumes already and the story continues, which in itself is interesting. How long can Katsura keep this up?

The art looks clean and simple. It works with the sleek imagery of the series and all in all the panels, looks and everything are good. Perhaps I wanted more persona as the guys are one-dimensional. Also, the depiction of the customers is slightly nasty, which is a letdown. I hope there's more to the plot in the long run!

[SpicyReadingWitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to wait for the next one? I was able to read this arc from #NetGalley and wasnt sure what I was getting myself into. Two male hosts sitting at number one and two spot in the club of Velvet Kiss. Host one dominates and Host two obviously wants the top spot. He is at first jealous because Host one, Juliet or Juri, makes a lot of money. Host two, Akatsuki, asks Juri for lessons on being better to make money like him. The story accelerates in the romantic scene very quickly and it did through me off. I feel there was a sequel I missed where the feelings developed. It took until night two of lessons to immediately get "going". The spiciness was fairly mild for what the whole story is with Hosts and sxx workers. Juri is taken away to work with somebody important. There is definitely more to the story than Juri is saying. Will Akatsuki understand when he finds out and will they ever get to become exclusive?

I need the second story already. 4.75 stars 🌟 Slightly less than 5 because the love/feelings were very quick and I couldnt feel how the connection was so strong so quickly.