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ネバギバ！[Never Give Up!] #1
Never Give Up Volume 1
"Kiri's fashion-model dad passed on his stunningly attractive masculine looks to his only child-- unfortunately, Kiri is a girl! Tohya is the love of Kiri's life-- in order to protect him as he enters the world of male modeling, Kiri becomes a male model herself. But things get a bit complicated on the catwalk when others start to fall for Kiri's male alter ego"--Cover.Kiri's fashion-model father passed on his attractive masculine looks to her, so Kiri decides to become a teen male model herself, but things get complicated on the catwalk when others start falling for Kiri's male alter ego.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2001
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124 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 1, 2019
Never give up is a good book, i won't say it was amazing but i will say it's good. The characters are pretty good and the plot is kinda confusing but after reading the book for 2 times, i understand it better then the first.
The main Character is a little crazy for her childhood crush and will not give up until she's with him.
The main character's crush is a little cold headed, he really is a bit mean to other people but except the main character.
The main Character's friend is helper for the main character, she's always there for her when she needs it.
I won't spoil anything more but if your reading this book, pay attention to these characters really closely or not you will get lost.
The main Character is a little crazy for her childhood crush and will not give up until she's with him.
The main character's crush is a little cold headed, he really is a bit mean to other people but except the main character.
The main Character's friend is helper for the main character, she's always there for her when she needs it.
I won't spoil anything more but if your reading this book, pay attention to these characters really closely or not you will get lost.
January 24, 2018
3.5 stars, I rather liked this series! Neat idea for something different!
November 12, 2021
Sounds better than it really is.
October 1, 2022
This is pretty much exactly what I expected; lots of 'quick, hide your identity!' and 'oh no, my big romantic chance to say how I feel was interrupted!' scenes.
June 16, 2007
Kiri is in love with Tohya. The problem: Kiri is a handsome girl, and Tohya is a beautiful boy. As a little girl, Kiri swore that she would some day become a princess worthy of Tohya. Unfortunately for Kiri, all the wishing in the world won't change her height, her broad shoulders, and her stubbornly short hair. Cue much angst and pining on Kiri's part.
Things might have remained unchanged forever, if not for Kiri's mother. The woman owns a modeling agency, and one of her clients has expressed an interest in using Tohya as a model for his very important shoot. Kiri can't "let her send Tohya into that hive of princesses and queens!" by himself, and so she offers herself up as a model as well. Kiri's mother isn't interested. . . not unless Kiri is willing to pose as a *male* model.
Kiri is horrified: she wants to become a princess, not even more manly than she already is! But she can't leave innocent, helpless Tohya in the grasping clutches of a gay photographer--and so, she agrees to her mother's scheme.
I like gender-bending manga, and have greatly enjoyed stories with even more ridiculous plots than this one. Kiri simply isn't a strong enough heroine to support the story, such as it is. Other shoujo heroines can be creepy and stalkerish--for example, Hana-Kimi's Mizuki--but Kiri lacks the charm and bullheaded cheerfulness that make Mizuki a likable character. Her devotion to Tohya comes across as pathetic: "I remember every little thing when it comes to you, Tohya. No matter how small." Her strength deserts her every time Tohya so much as looks irritated with her, to the point that Kiri tries to throw herself out of a window, and later, from the roof.
Kiri's extreme devotion to Tohya is especially perplexing as he does nothing to warrant it. Tohya knows of Kiri's feelings for him, and her attempts to become a "princess" for him, but he leaves her to suffer with the thought that he is unaware of, and can never return her feelings. While volume one doesn't offer much insight into Tohya's character, there are hints that he is interested in Kiri, and refusing to admit his own feelings because of his own body-image issues. There wouldn't be much of a story if Tohya did admit to his own feelings and accept Kiri's, but that doesn't mean that I didn't want to whap him across the back of the head for his stubborn silence.
The best part of volume one would have to be Natsu, Kiri's best friend. She, at least, knows that she's surrounded by the melodramatic and the mad: "Jeez, you and Kiri both. You two sure are stubborn kids."
Despite my criticism, this isn't a *horrible* manga; others have simply gone there before, and done it better.
Things might have remained unchanged forever, if not for Kiri's mother. The woman owns a modeling agency, and one of her clients has expressed an interest in using Tohya as a model for his very important shoot. Kiri can't "let her send Tohya into that hive of princesses and queens!" by himself, and so she offers herself up as a model as well. Kiri's mother isn't interested. . . not unless Kiri is willing to pose as a *male* model.
Kiri is horrified: she wants to become a princess, not even more manly than she already is! But she can't leave innocent, helpless Tohya in the grasping clutches of a gay photographer--and so, she agrees to her mother's scheme.
I like gender-bending manga, and have greatly enjoyed stories with even more ridiculous plots than this one. Kiri simply isn't a strong enough heroine to support the story, such as it is. Other shoujo heroines can be creepy and stalkerish--for example, Hana-Kimi's Mizuki--but Kiri lacks the charm and bullheaded cheerfulness that make Mizuki a likable character. Her devotion to Tohya comes across as pathetic: "I remember every little thing when it comes to you, Tohya. No matter how small." Her strength deserts her every time Tohya so much as looks irritated with her, to the point that Kiri tries to throw herself out of a window, and later, from the roof.
Kiri's extreme devotion to Tohya is especially perplexing as he does nothing to warrant it. Tohya knows of Kiri's feelings for him, and her attempts to become a "princess" for him, but he leaves her to suffer with the thought that he is unaware of, and can never return her feelings. While volume one doesn't offer much insight into Tohya's character, there are hints that he is interested in Kiri, and refusing to admit his own feelings because of his own body-image issues. There wouldn't be much of a story if Tohya did admit to his own feelings and accept Kiri's, but that doesn't mean that I didn't want to whap him across the back of the head for his stubborn silence.
The best part of volume one would have to be Natsu, Kiri's best friend. She, at least, knows that she's surrounded by the melodramatic and the mad: "Jeez, you and Kiri both. You two sure are stubborn kids."
Despite my criticism, this isn't a *horrible* manga; others have simply gone there before, and done it better.
July 14, 2021
Salvaged from my long-gone manga site (circa 2002):
Never give up! is a shoujo manga about 'a prince's dream to become a princess'. Four-year old Kiri loves her neighbor, Tooya (just the mere sight of little Tooya's smile gives her a nosebleed). Tooya is such a beautiful boy, he could pass for a girl --- a 'princess'. Because of his looks, he is always surrounded by people. Wanting Tooya all to herself, Kiri asks for his hand in marriage. Tooya's older sister shows up at that moment and tells Kiri to stop kidding around; someone like her could never marry Tooya. Apparently, while Kiri is not ugly (she is descended from model parents, after all), her beauty just isn't feminine --- she's more suited to be a 'prince' rather than a princess. And so Kiri resolves to become a more beautiful princess than Tooya so that they could finally get married and live happily ever after.
Ten years later, Kiri loves Tooya more than ever. However, instead of blossoming into the princess she has always aspired to be, she instead sports her father's manly good looks. Kiri is always worried that some beautiful princess will take Tooya away from her. One day, Tooya tells her that he's joining her mother's modeling agency. Kiri is vehemently against this, since she thinks the fashion world is a den full of princesses and gays who will surely swarm all over Tooya. Wanting to stay by Tooya's side, she begs her mother to let her model, too. Her mother finds the idea amusing, but she agrees, with one condition: she models as a guy. Thus, 'Tatsuki' is born.
Some of you are probably going, 'Huh?' Okay, so this isn't exactly profound and earth-shattering, but I assure you, this manga is hilarious! Read this one if you're in the mood for a lot of laughs. Check out the awesome art if you're still not convinced. It's also different from most cross-dressing manga, where the love interest doesn't know that the main character is in fact of the opposite sex. And it isn't unbelievable that Kiri could pass for a guy, because she actually looks like a guy (even her own mother thinks so ^^;).
August 28, 2008
I... really wanted to like this series. The premise was cute, and the story had potential; unfortunately, the mangaka (writer/illustrator of manga) consistently fails to follow up on the interesting leads she tosses out.
[Spoiler alert! I'm on Volume 5]
For example: "girl masquerades as male model." There could have been girls with a crush on "the new guy" whom she has to fend off, or at the very least someone on-site with suspicions about her real identity. Kiri does in fact worry about the latter possibility, but the only thing to happen is that one of her (male) coworkers develops an interest in her (as the model) and a crush on her female "alter ego". As he soon treats her exactly the same in both her male and female roles, the suspicion that he may in fact know her secret dissolves into certainty that it's never going to matter anyway.
It's obvious by chapter 2 that Tohya likes Kiri just as much as she likes him, but is unwilling to speak up about it, probably for reasons similar to hers. Unfortunately, since neither of them ever really talks to the other, we're left with lots of frustrating (although understandable) negativity on Kiri's part, and lots of equally frustrating silence from Tohya, over and over again. Throw in a handful of side characters who do nothing but accentuate the already visible aspects of the main characters, plus a mother who swings randomly between being supportive and just plain sadistic, and you've got the series.
[Spoiler alert! I'm on Volume 5]
For example: "girl masquerades as male model." There could have been girls with a crush on "the new guy" whom she has to fend off, or at the very least someone on-site with suspicions about her real identity. Kiri does in fact worry about the latter possibility, but the only thing to happen is that one of her (male) coworkers develops an interest in her (as the model) and a crush on her female "alter ego". As he soon treats her exactly the same in both her male and female roles, the suspicion that he may in fact know her secret dissolves into certainty that it's never going to matter anyway.
It's obvious by chapter 2 that Tohya likes Kiri just as much as she likes him, but is unwilling to speak up about it, probably for reasons similar to hers. Unfortunately, since neither of them ever really talks to the other, we're left with lots of frustrating (although understandable) negativity on Kiri's part, and lots of equally frustrating silence from Tohya, over and over again. Throw in a handful of side characters who do nothing but accentuate the already visible aspects of the main characters, plus a mother who swings randomly between being supportive and just plain sadistic, and you've got the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2009
Never Give Up! (ネバギバ!, Neba Giba!?) is a shōjo manga by Hiromu Mutou. The story is about a girl named Kiri, who poses as a male model in order to protect her childhood love, a boy named Tohya. Kiri has always looked masculine, inheriting the looks of her fashion-model father. Tohya, on the other hand, has always been revered for his beautiful looks and delicate features. Never feeling worthy enough for Tohya because of her looks, Kiri vowed she would reveal her true feelings to Tohya once she becomes as beautiful as a "princess".
After a photographer sees a photo of him, Tohya is offered a job to be a male model. Tohya accepts, but Kiri becomes worried that Tohya wouldn't be a able to defend himself in such an environment. She begs her mother, who owns the modeling agency, to give her a job as a model to be by Tohya's side. Her mother agrees, but because the opening's only for a male model, Kiri would have to pose as a boy. Kiri reluctantly agreed, forgoing her goal of becoming a princess in order to protect Tohya. Soon enough, Kiri and Tohya are surprised by their sudden fame when they start seeing their photos in magazines, posters, and billboards. And not before long, boys and girls start falling for both Kiri and her male model identity.
After a photographer sees a photo of him, Tohya is offered a job to be a male model. Tohya accepts, but Kiri becomes worried that Tohya wouldn't be a able to defend himself in such an environment. She begs her mother, who owns the modeling agency, to give her a job as a model to be by Tohya's side. Her mother agrees, but because the opening's only for a male model, Kiri would have to pose as a boy. Kiri reluctantly agreed, forgoing her goal of becoming a princess in order to protect Tohya. Soon enough, Kiri and Tohya are surprised by their sudden fame when they start seeing their photos in magazines, posters, and billboards. And not before long, boys and girls start falling for both Kiri and her male model identity.
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September 27, 2012Oh my Goddddd. I used to be obsessed with this series! One of the few convincing girl crossdressing series, like seriously, Kiri made for a super hot dude. (Other examples of the same include Sunao of of Broken Angels which not coincidentally is another old favorite). I def have to reread this at some point
February 25, 2009
Unusual and confusing. I would give this 1.50 stars if I was able to rate it as such.
June 15, 2011
I liked it! It's a little too much of a girly drama, but very interesting. I'm a sucker for anything romance. :)
August 5, 2011
Eh. The layout makes for a bit of an awkward read at times and the title is a little too vague, but enjoyable. A nice break from the typical sqeaky bouncy heroine.
June 11, 2012
this was just okay. the artwork was okay, i've seen better. the story line is strange, but i knew that going into it. i will pick up the next volume sometime i'm sure.
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September 27, 2016I didn´t finish this book because it didn´t appeal to me.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews