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さよならミニスカート [Sayonara Miniskirt] #2
Not Your Idol, Vol. 2
“This is exactly why she got herself stabbed by a fan.”
Heartbroken Nina Kamiyama is a former idol. She’s decided to keep her past identity a secret for her personal safety, but the dangerous situation intensifies when another discovers who she really is. Who can she trust?
Heartbroken Nina Kamiyama is a former idol. She’s decided to keep her past identity a secret for her personal safety, but the dangerous situation intensifies when another discovers who she really is. Who can she trust?
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2019
6 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
September 4, 2020
I don’t normally engage in spoiler-heavy reviews, but there is a dark shadow at the back of this book that colours the whole experience with its inky tendrils.
Good stuff first. Nina and Hikaru really connect this volume and all the credit to the writing for how good they are as characters. They both have real nuance and make reasonable story choices considering their pasts.
When they realize a way to confirm that Hikaru wasn’t Nina’s assailant and Nina has a meltdown because she wants to be able to simply trust him on her terms, without needing proof, it is legitimately heart wrenching.
You also see how hard Hikaru pushes himself because he feels he failed his sister years ago. I will say, however, that if Nina’s stalker turns out to be the teacher who assaulted Hikaru’s sister I will be less than impressed.
So past informs present, but, unfortunately, present informs everything else. That means this very good kernel of a story is wrapped up in the stalker storyline and it goes where angels fear to tread this time out.
Miku gets sexually assaulted this volume and while the act is not shown, the aftermath is rather brutal. The scene where she shows up at school wearing black leggings to hide the bruises is as awful a moment as it sounds.
Seeing her ways of processing this is pretty tough (Nina reaches out in a way that has me hoping their might be some character redemption possible for Miku), especially after she slut-shames Nina earlier by posting pictures of her as an idol wearing just her underwear in their classroom.
I guess my feeling is this - if you’re using a rape or sexual assault as a plot device you better be damn careful with how you go about it and I am not sure this story justifies its inclusion at all. It’s weird how the writing can be so good with some things and so... overboard... with others.
This book has a lot of trauma to work through and I don’t know that it needed more. It’s all starting to feel very misogynistic, which I recognize is part of the point, but at the same time it’s like eating four bags of salt - do you really want to take that trip just to become a desiccated, empty husk at the end?
I’d give this two stars, but what’s good about this volume is really good and it has the chance to make things better next volume. So, a very trepidatious three stars. It’s leaning too hard into what it doesn’t do well, unfortunately, and that could really hamstring its best parts going forward.
Good stuff first. Nina and Hikaru really connect this volume and all the credit to the writing for how good they are as characters. They both have real nuance and make reasonable story choices considering their pasts.
When they realize a way to confirm that Hikaru wasn’t Nina’s assailant and Nina has a meltdown because she wants to be able to simply trust him on her terms, without needing proof, it is legitimately heart wrenching.
You also see how hard Hikaru pushes himself because he feels he failed his sister years ago. I will say, however, that if Nina’s stalker turns out to be the teacher who assaulted Hikaru’s sister I will be less than impressed.
So past informs present, but, unfortunately, present informs everything else. That means this very good kernel of a story is wrapped up in the stalker storyline and it goes where angels fear to tread this time out.
Miku gets sexually assaulted this volume and while the act is not shown, the aftermath is rather brutal. The scene where she shows up at school wearing black leggings to hide the bruises is as awful a moment as it sounds.
Seeing her ways of processing this is pretty tough (Nina reaches out in a way that has me hoping their might be some character redemption possible for Miku), especially after she slut-shames Nina earlier by posting pictures of her as an idol wearing just her underwear in their classroom.
I guess my feeling is this - if you’re using a rape or sexual assault as a plot device you better be damn careful with how you go about it and I am not sure this story justifies its inclusion at all. It’s weird how the writing can be so good with some things and so... overboard... with others.
This book has a lot of trauma to work through and I don’t know that it needed more. It’s all starting to feel very misogynistic, which I recognize is part of the point, but at the same time it’s like eating four bags of salt - do you really want to take that trip just to become a desiccated, empty husk at the end?
I’d give this two stars, but what’s good about this volume is really good and it has the chance to make things better next volume. So, a very trepidatious three stars. It’s leaning too hard into what it doesn’t do well, unfortunately, and that could really hamstring its best parts going forward.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2020
Still loving the artwork and the mystery vibe, but not loving the way the story is going at the moment. It’s breaking my heart and I wasn’t expecting that to happen so early on in a series. 😭
September 23, 2020
I'm still piecing together my thoughts but at this moment, I'd say that this is what we in academia call "teen torture porn," or at least well on its way to getting there. I really respect that the author wants to take down the sexualization of girls and the whole KGOY (kids getting older younger) phenomenon, and using Miku to point out that some women buy into the whole idea of power exclusively through sexuality is an interesting choice, as is having Hikaru be so shaken in his faith in his own gender that he's beginning to hate himself. But it's not treading quite carefully enough, and volume three needs to watch how it chooses to tread.
October 16, 2022
Quick review for a very quick read. Whew. I read this in just about 30 minutes, but this volume was gut-punching to says the least.
So the second volume of "Not Your Idol" picks up where the first one left off in that Hikaru knows Nina's secret and is trying to prove that he's not the person that attacked Nina when she was an idol. There are certain details that Nina gives him to showcase that and - in fact- he does prove that he's not the person that attacked Nina (and you can tell in the panels that there's another person in the shadows that's still plotting to break poor Nina/Karen's spirit).
In the meantime, there's a bit of a rivalry between Nina and Miku Nagasu, who is vying for Hikaru's attentions and affections. Suffice to say yet another event happens in this manga that is jarring and directly affects the relationships of the characters. If I say more than that, it would be massive spoilers and potential trigger warnings. (Trigger warnings for this manga include displays of stalking, implied rape/assault, and general misogyny which gets taken down pretty quickly and explored for discussion.)
I still very much like this series and I'm eager to know where it goes. I know in Japan, this particular series is on hiatus, but the first two volumes we've gotten so far do such a stellar job of showcasing the characters and their respective struggles, internal and external. I was not expecting for the story to take the kind of twist it did. I liked most of what this story did with showcasing Nina and Hikaru's respective struggles - Nina doesn't want to return to being an idol and simply wants to get to a point where she's living a normal life and getting to the point where she can trust people again after her attack. Hikaru struggles in the aftermath of what happened to his sister and his part in her grief following what happened to her. You feel for him in that he's genuinely trying to do well by the people he's around, whether it's Nina, his sister, and even Miku.
Miku's respective character is where I had problems in terms of this volume, though admittedly, I felt for her so intensely. She has a bitter rivalry with Nina, but I'm not on board with how the story plays upon that rivalry in the aftermath of what happens. It's heartbreaking, and while even realistic in terms of how someone may act in the aftermath of what occurs, I wonder how the story will evolve from here and how Miku, Hikaru, and Nina will work through things in the midst of this horrible person that seems to be lurking in the shadows and have it out for Nina.
I hope that we are able to get another volume of this eventually, hopefully soon. I think it can still go in a direction in which it can be sympathetic to the characters and deal with its respective issues responsibly, but it definitely has some work to do given where it ends here. I still enjoyed the artwork and the overarching story despite qualms with the portrayal of certain sequences and emotions behind them.
Overall score: 4/5 stars.
So the second volume of "Not Your Idol" picks up where the first one left off in that Hikaru knows Nina's secret and is trying to prove that he's not the person that attacked Nina when she was an idol. There are certain details that Nina gives him to showcase that and - in fact- he does prove that he's not the person that attacked Nina (and you can tell in the panels that there's another person in the shadows that's still plotting to break poor Nina/Karen's spirit).
In the meantime, there's a bit of a rivalry between Nina and Miku Nagasu, who is vying for Hikaru's attentions and affections. Suffice to say yet another event happens in this manga that is jarring and directly affects the relationships of the characters. If I say more than that, it would be massive spoilers and potential trigger warnings. (Trigger warnings for this manga include displays of stalking, implied rape/assault, and general misogyny which gets taken down pretty quickly and explored for discussion.)
I still very much like this series and I'm eager to know where it goes. I know in Japan, this particular series is on hiatus, but the first two volumes we've gotten so far do such a stellar job of showcasing the characters and their respective struggles, internal and external. I was not expecting for the story to take the kind of twist it did. I liked most of what this story did with showcasing Nina and Hikaru's respective struggles - Nina doesn't want to return to being an idol and simply wants to get to a point where she's living a normal life and getting to the point where she can trust people again after her attack. Hikaru struggles in the aftermath of what happened to his sister and his part in her grief following what happened to her. You feel for him in that he's genuinely trying to do well by the people he's around, whether it's Nina, his sister, and even Miku.
Miku's respective character is where I had problems in terms of this volume, though admittedly, I felt for her so intensely. She has a bitter rivalry with Nina, but I'm not on board with how the story plays upon that rivalry in the aftermath of what happens. It's heartbreaking, and while even realistic in terms of how someone may act in the aftermath of what occurs, I wonder how the story will evolve from here and how Miku, Hikaru, and Nina will work through things in the midst of this horrible person that seems to be lurking in the shadows and have it out for Nina.
I hope that we are able to get another volume of this eventually, hopefully soon. I think it can still go in a direction in which it can be sympathetic to the characters and deal with its respective issues responsibly, but it definitely has some work to do given where it ends here. I still enjoyed the artwork and the overarching story despite qualms with the portrayal of certain sequences and emotions behind them.
Overall score: 4/5 stars.
August 17, 2020
WOW THIS VOLUME IS INCREDIBLY INTENSE!!!
This series continues to keep me on my toes, and I can't believe the way this volume ends. We see some resolutions to certain questions within the volume, and then we also see that things are not as clear cut as we think they are in the first volume.
I have some inclinations as to certain parts of our mystery, but I won't share because spoilers, and I don't want to be boo boo the fool!
This series is currently on hiatus, but I hope you will still read it!
This series continues to keep me on my toes, and I can't believe the way this volume ends. We see some resolutions to certain questions within the volume, and then we also see that things are not as clear cut as we think they are in the first volume.
I have some inclinations as to certain parts of our mystery, but I won't share because spoilers, and I don't want to be boo boo the fool!
This series is currently on hiatus, but I hope you will still read it!
January 9, 2021
So so good! I loved the storyline, the characters and the topics being covered.
From what I understand this is currently on hiatus so we don't know when we will get volume three and I regret EVERYTHING and also NOTHING!
This was so good but where it was left has broken me! BROKEN ME! How do I go on now with no idea on when we will get a resolution?! I neeeeeed more!!
This manga does deal with some heavy topics . It deals with sexual harassment, sexual assault, toxic masculinity and its affect on women.
I cannot recommend this enough, even though you will have join us in limbo, I promise it's worth it!
From what I understand this is currently on hiatus so we don't know when we will get volume three and I regret EVERYTHING and also NOTHING!
This was so good but where it was left has broken me! BROKEN ME! How do I go on now with no idea on when we will get a resolution?! I neeeeeed more!!
This manga does deal with some heavy topics . It deals with sexual harassment, sexual assault, toxic masculinity and its affect on women.
I cannot recommend this enough, even though you will have join us in limbo, I promise it's worth it!
October 3, 2020
2020 Read #613
Wow. This series keeps getting more and more deep — as if the first weren’t already pretty powerful! I cannot even guess where the next volume is going to go.
Wow. This series keeps getting more and more deep — as if the first weren’t already pretty powerful! I cannot even guess where the next volume is going to go.
September 28, 2024
In this volume we learn more of what happened to Nina when she was an idol. I feel for her, but she's not easy to sympathize with. More than once I want to shake her and tell her to look around at the people who love her, and to quit hiding who she is.
I have high hopes for the next volume of the series and hope that the author brings Nina out of hiding more. There's just so much trauma right now.
I have high hopes for the next volume of the series and hope that the author brings Nina out of hiding more. There's just so much trauma right now.
October 29, 2020
The first volume of this series really hooked me. I love a good mystery and one involving a stalker of sorts only intrigues me more. The story does a deeper dive into Nina’s past and why she left the group at the height of her popularity. Also, I enjoy that this manga is a bit darker than the ones I usually read. Although, I love something light and fluffy, I do also enjoy something a bit grittier at times.
This second volume left me with some mixed feelings. The writing is excellent as is the artwork, however, the story takes a turn at the end that I’m not sure was necessary. Possibly, it’ll come into play in the next few volumes and I hope that that’s truth. Otherwise, using that event as a way to make another character feel badly is not a good look. However, I will reserve my judgement on that until I’ve read a few more volumes.
The relationship that’s beginning to form between Nina and Hikaru is really nice. They’re both starting to open up to one another a bit, trusting where neither was able to before. It was also a lot of fun meeting the other girls that are a part of the group Nina left. I’m a big fan of large friend groups in stories, so this made me very happy to see. I hope they pop up more in the subsequent volumes.
The search for Nina’s attacker kicks up in this volume, giving us a clue as to how we can identify them later on. I was glad to see that they ruled out Hikaru finally since I like seeing him and Nina together. They can learn a lot about coping and moving on from each other, while leaning on each other as well.
Overall, I think this second installment is better than the first, digging deeper into the backstory of the characters and giving us questions in regard to some others. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes in the future.
*Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of this manga in exchange for a fair review.
This second volume left me with some mixed feelings. The writing is excellent as is the artwork, however, the story takes a turn at the end that I’m not sure was necessary. Possibly, it’ll come into play in the next few volumes and I hope that that’s truth. Otherwise, using that event as a way to make another character feel badly is not a good look. However, I will reserve my judgement on that until I’ve read a few more volumes.
The relationship that’s beginning to form between Nina and Hikaru is really nice. They’re both starting to open up to one another a bit, trusting where neither was able to before. It was also a lot of fun meeting the other girls that are a part of the group Nina left. I’m a big fan of large friend groups in stories, so this made me very happy to see. I hope they pop up more in the subsequent volumes.
The search for Nina’s attacker kicks up in this volume, giving us a clue as to how we can identify them later on. I was glad to see that they ruled out Hikaru finally since I like seeing him and Nina together. They can learn a lot about coping and moving on from each other, while leaning on each other as well.
Overall, I think this second installment is better than the first, digging deeper into the backstory of the characters and giving us questions in regard to some others. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes in the future.
*Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of this manga in exchange for a fair review.
January 20, 2021
Un second tome encore meilleur que le premier. On en apprend plus sur Hikaru. Sa personnalité est douce et pourtant il ressent tellement de culpabilité en lui. Il se sent redevable envers les femmes en général pour le fait d’être un homme et du fait qu’elles ne se sentent pas en sécurité.
Kamiyama est toujours une jeune fille forte je l’admire tellement pour son courage, je n’en reviens pas de tout ce qu’elle surmonte. Et Nagasu m’énerve toujours autant que dans le premier tome. Bon je la plains aussi mais son caractère est tellement détestable. Trop hâte de lire la suite vu la fin de ce tome !
Kamiyama est toujours une jeune fille forte je l’admire tellement pour son courage, je n’en reviens pas de tout ce qu’elle surmonte. Et Nagasu m’énerve toujours autant que dans le premier tome. Bon je la plains aussi mais son caractère est tellement détestable. Trop hâte de lire la suite vu la fin de ce tome !
November 20, 2025
*I voluntarily read and reviewed and ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Volume 2 of this suspense series continues on giving us questions. It also raises the drama. While it happens off the page, there is sexual assault. I love that victims get to speak out, but it is hard when other characters berate their decisions -- even if this is realistic. I honestly have no idea were this series is going, but I'm definitely going to keep reading.
Volume 2 of this suspense series continues on giving us questions. It also raises the drama. While it happens off the page, there is sexual assault. I love that victims get to speak out, but it is hard when other characters berate their decisions -- even if this is realistic. I honestly have no idea were this series is going, but I'm definitely going to keep reading.
December 4, 2022
"Pay attention. Why does a Halloween costume contest turn into a beauty pageant? Why do high school sports teams for boys have managers who are girls? Why do female Idols disappear before they turn 30?"
This psychological suspense manga keeps its discussion of PTSD, feminism, and femininity. It's interesting because it uses the typical shoujo manga tropes & scenarios to present real life issues girls/women face. It's scary how true it all is.
To quote Forbes' review "As an idol, Karen always navigated an undercurrent of male entitlement; she was only taken by surprise when it transformed into overt cruelty."
Another tense volume divided between the tension of ex-idol Karen/Nina's unknown assailant still being out there, of us readers knowing he's stalking her new anonymous life, and the ever present misogyny & sexism in Nina's classroom, still supported by Pick Me Girl Miku, as if that will keep her safe.
Hikaru presents not just the typical kind attractive love interest the girls swoon over, but a boy who is actually self-aware of his privilege and power, and willing to learn more (due to his sister being harassed). He stands out from the toxic masculinity around them. He particularly stood out by being understanding of how he may induce fear in women even at his best behaviour, and his willingness to let Nina take her time instead of pushing her to trust him, or having her force herself.
Again, that beginning. It makes no sense for the traumatized mc to put herself in possible danger, or worry those who care about her, when there's plenty of reasons to worry indeed! Almost cost it half a star. In the end, I decided the work done the previous & and following chapters was more important.
Does the assailant have no other clothes? I know it's mostly to help us identify this faceless evil immediately, but it also gives the vibe that he's getting pumped up into his evilsona by wearing the same outfit of the day of the crime 😬 Or that he doesn't shower 😬
TW: mentions of s*xual harassment, implied assault
August 12, 2020
Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warnings for sexual assault.
Check out my review of Not Your Idol Volume 1: https://youtu.be/B6j8Abpjv7I
I was so excited when I saw that this volume was available to request on NetGalley, and I really hoped that I would be approved because the first volume is quite literally one of the best mangas that I've read in 2020 so far. I even did a whole YouTube book review on it, which means that it's on a level higher than most of the books that I read in general because of the amount of extra time that I dedicate to promoting it. I ended up reading the manga as soon as I saw that I was approved, and finished it in one sitting!
Volume 2 continues to have the same tense, dark atmosphere of volume 1. It picks up from the cliffhanger of Volume 1 which makes the reader question Kamiyama's safety when she is with Horiuchi. The series continues to discuss sexual assault, however it starts to become more of a plot device in this volume. Hopefully I can explain this well. In the first volume it debates the idea of 'asking for it' with it being clear that the author does not believe that people ask for it. Yet, in this book sexual assault is used as a plot twist with one of the characters. I thought that this volume would have been perfect if it was edited out, because it didn't need to be in there. Apart from that, I thought that the plot was very good and made me really connect with Kamiyama's emotional pain. I liked seeing the developing friendships, and more of Kamiyama's life as an idol.
I would definitely recommend this series, but I would warn people about it's dark nature.
Trigger Warnings for sexual assault.
Check out my review of Not Your Idol Volume 1: https://youtu.be/B6j8Abpjv7I
I was so excited when I saw that this volume was available to request on NetGalley, and I really hoped that I would be approved because the first volume is quite literally one of the best mangas that I've read in 2020 so far. I even did a whole YouTube book review on it, which means that it's on a level higher than most of the books that I read in general because of the amount of extra time that I dedicate to promoting it. I ended up reading the manga as soon as I saw that I was approved, and finished it in one sitting!
Volume 2 continues to have the same tense, dark atmosphere of volume 1. It picks up from the cliffhanger of Volume 1 which makes the reader question Kamiyama's safety when she is with Horiuchi. The series continues to discuss sexual assault, however it starts to become more of a plot device in this volume. Hopefully I can explain this well. In the first volume it debates the idea of 'asking for it' with it being clear that the author does not believe that people ask for it. Yet, in this book sexual assault is used as a plot twist with one of the characters. I thought that this volume would have been perfect if it was edited out, because it didn't need to be in there. Apart from that, I thought that the plot was very good and made me really connect with Kamiyama's emotional pain. I liked seeing the developing friendships, and more of Kamiyama's life as an idol.
I would definitely recommend this series, but I would warn people about it's dark nature.
February 14, 2024
I have so many mixed feelings after reading this volume.
I LOVED volume one! I thought it was extremely well done and very well written.
However, with this second volume and the topic at hand, I am completely hating the romance. Such a weird thing to say, but I feel it is distracting from the main point. I understand that Nina wants to trust Hikaru and that they are growing closer, but the "love triangle" thrown in at the end is not something I want to see in this kind of series. I feel Nina and Hikaru could have a romance, but it's happening way too fast and way too sudden in my opinion.
Plus, I really don't want this story to center around her processing the trauma that's happened to her by having the ML be in love with her and help "fix" her. Sure, I think he is a great character and he IS helping her to heal, but I strictly don't want it in a romantic sense at all. I just don't.
I picked up this series because I felt it was less dark than Oshi no Ko, and from what I've read of that series, yes, this isn't as dark, but what I'm thankful Oshi no Ko didn't do is have a romance. There is so much heartbreak and heartache in Not Your Idol and I don't think Nina finding love is the solution. Maybe this story will be written in a way that it won't be, but feeling the thickness of the romantic plot really turned me away from reading further should this series go off hiatus.
Do I think the topics discussed in this volume are important? For sure! I just don't know if this is one I would recommend to read on those topics.
I LOVED volume one! I thought it was extremely well done and very well written.
However, with this second volume and the topic at hand, I am completely hating the romance. Such a weird thing to say, but I feel it is distracting from the main point. I understand that Nina wants to trust Hikaru and that they are growing closer, but the "love triangle" thrown in at the end is not something I want to see in this kind of series. I feel Nina and Hikaru could have a romance, but it's happening way too fast and way too sudden in my opinion.
Plus, I really don't want this story to center around her processing the trauma that's happened to her by having the ML be in love with her and help "fix" her. Sure, I think he is a great character and he IS helping her to heal, but I strictly don't want it in a romantic sense at all. I just don't.
I picked up this series because I felt it was less dark than Oshi no Ko, and from what I've read of that series, yes, this isn't as dark, but what I'm thankful Oshi no Ko didn't do is have a romance. There is so much heartbreak and heartache in Not Your Idol and I don't think Nina finding love is the solution. Maybe this story will be written in a way that it won't be, but feeling the thickness of the romantic plot really turned me away from reading further should this series go off hiatus.
Do I think the topics discussed in this volume are important? For sure! I just don't know if this is one I would recommend to read on those topics.
June 6, 2022
Le deuxième volume de Not Your Idol reprend les thèmes déjà abordés et les approfondissant (le traitement abusif réservé aux idols au Japon, le harcèlement sexuel des femmes, le "slut-shaming", le questionnement des stéréotypes et attentes de genre, les traumatismes) tout en proposant de nouvelles réflexions sur les attentes de genre (des hommes et des femmes), de l' "innocence" masculine, l'hyper-sexualisation des jeunes filles, le complexe du sauveur, de la difficulté de faire confiance après un traumatisme, etc.
Ces sujets sont abordés avec le même sérieux et réalisme du premier volume, permettant plusieurs pages pour vraiment explorer ces enjeux tout en balançant adroitement le besoin d'avancer la narration et de maintenir un certain suspense. Je ne m'attendais toutefois pas à ce que le manga ajoute des événements traumatiques à nouveau à certains personnages (pas toujours les mêmes).
La violence est heureusement aussi balancée par des moments de joie, de solidarité, d'entraide, de compréhension et d'évolution des personnages ; il y a évidemment des rechutes et des comportements blessants qui se poursuivent, mais on comprend bien pourquoi ils sont posés et l'impacent qu'ils ont.
Ce volume explore donc encore très bien la complexité des êtres humains, mais nous laisse sur une fin un peu brutale bien que trop réaliste (surtout si c'est le dernier tome de la série ce qui n'est pas clair).
Ces sujets sont abordés avec le même sérieux et réalisme du premier volume, permettant plusieurs pages pour vraiment explorer ces enjeux tout en balançant adroitement le besoin d'avancer la narration et de maintenir un certain suspense. Je ne m'attendais toutefois pas à ce que le manga ajoute des événements traumatiques à nouveau à certains personnages (pas toujours les mêmes).
La violence est heureusement aussi balancée par des moments de joie, de solidarité, d'entraide, de compréhension et d'évolution des personnages ; il y a évidemment des rechutes et des comportements blessants qui se poursuivent, mais on comprend bien pourquoi ils sont posés et l'impacent qu'ils ont.
Ce volume explore donc encore très bien la complexité des êtres humains, mais nous laisse sur une fin un peu brutale bien que trop réaliste (surtout si c'est le dernier tome de la série ce qui n'est pas clair).
November 20, 2022
3.5
"It's guys like you who make girls deceitful. We're forced to be this way. Stop toying with us. Just stop toying with us!" So true, Tsuji, so goddamn true. I really hate this world sometimes. This scene hit me square in the chest like a semi-truck. On another note, I love Kamiyama; she's so cool. I hope she can continue her life and heal from her trauma. I am terrified for her, though :( It looks like the stalker who attacked her is still watching her and made Nagasu SA happen. :(
I don't know how to feel about the ending though, I know Kamiyama likes Horiuchi so I feel for her, but also Nagasu has just gone through something so traumatizing and probably isn't in a good headspace right now so IDK.
Basically, everyone needs some therapy after this vol😭
"It's guys like you who make girls deceitful. We're forced to be this way. Stop toying with us. Just stop toying with us!" So true, Tsuji, so goddamn true. I really hate this world sometimes. This scene hit me square in the chest like a semi-truck. On another note, I love Kamiyama; she's so cool. I hope she can continue her life and heal from her trauma. I am terrified for her, though :( It looks like the stalker who attacked her is still watching her and made Nagasu SA happen. :(
I don't know how to feel about the ending though, I know Kamiyama likes Horiuchi so I feel for her, but also Nagasu has just gone through something so traumatizing and probably isn't in a good headspace right now so IDK.
Basically, everyone needs some therapy after this vol😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2021
I don't know if toxic femininity is a thing (a quick google search and, like, life experience tells me that it totally is), but being confronted with it so brazenly here was gut wrenching. This was an uncomfortable read for sure and left me wide-eyed in bed with a fractured heart. Although, I suppose addressing any important social topic should be uncomfortable in some way. I hope Vol. 3 comes out soon (i.e. now) because, while I'm not entirely pleased with how this story is going, I desperately need to know where it's going.
July 21, 2021
Un second tome qui développe un peu plus les personnages secondaires. Les sujets sont assez durs à aborder, et on peut voir que les traumatismes perdurent encore. Mais ce manga arrive à nous faire voir un peu d'espoir même si la fin a brisé mon petit cœur.
March 22, 2024
Much like Umbridge in Harry Potter, Miku Nagasu manages to make herself more disliked than the actual villain. Which is impressive because while she is an egocentric highschooler .
September 5, 2020
4 stars. I like this manga. It's different, angsty, and is questioning sexist views and media. Also, cw for sexual abuse discussions and off screen activity.
February 10, 2021
I need volume three and there’s no pub date in sight! :’(
January 31, 2021
Plot - 4.5 ☄
Character - 4 ☄
Writing Style - 4 ☄
World Building - 4.5 ☄
Art - 4.8 ☄
Cover - 4.8 ☄
Overall - 4.43 ☄
Oh my god! The story is getting better and better with add some great plot twist but the clifthanger...why...why...and why....
Character - 4 ☄
Writing Style - 4 ☄
World Building - 4.5 ☄
Art - 4.8 ☄
Cover - 4.8 ☄
Overall - 4.43 ☄
Oh my god! The story is getting better and better with add some great plot twist but the clifthanger...why...why...and why....
February 13, 2024
SPOILERS AHEAD
TW // sexual assault, physical assault
**Note: I am mainly speaking on the assaults on female characters/girls in general in this review, but I don't mean to leave out the fact that men and non-binary people are often assaulted as well, and that those events are even more underreported than those of women. But since the manga is seeking to talk about assaults on women, that's what I have primarily written about**
I felt like I needed to say this because I have seen a lot of negative reviews on this manga's representation of assault and its victims. Every feeling toward this is justified and valid, and I don't disagree with any of them. When you're writing something dealing with assault, you do have to be careful with how you go about it. But, honestly? I feel like what Not Your Idol is doing is trying to show that not only do victims process things differently, but they are also heavily influenced by the dominating ideals in our culture and allow that to dictate how they process things. What is interesting about these volumes is that they are seeking to show how different victims react and process the trauma that comes with being assaulted. Some get angry. Some try to let it slide by because 'what else is there to do?'. Some completely change themselves. Some lash out. Some hyper-fixate on celebrities or books or music to cope. Some struggle with finding any venue for coping. None of these reactions are 'wrong'; and, in fact, I found the reactions of the characters in this manga to be very real. There's no one way to react to being assaulted. I've seen girls react in such a way that they've said they were saying thankful for their assault, I've seen girls completely close in on themselves and never come out of the walls they've built, I've seen girls just try to move on with their lives. Everyone processes trauma differently, and I don't think this manga is doing a poor job of showing that.
Miku's reaction may feel wrong, and there's a reason for that. She's lashing out in a similar way to Darcy Edwards in Degrassi, manipulating things around her because she feels she can; it's the only way for her to feel control. To say this portrayal is doing a disservice to victims doesn't sit well with me, because again, people process things like this in many different ways, especially if they are someone who enjoys being well-liked by guys and have thus let the minds of men dictate how they live their lives.
I'm not going to say whether someone should read this or not, because I think we are all going to take something different away from the way sexual assault and its victims is represented in this manga series. I just wanted to throw my interpretation into the mix, because I felt like it was something not many people were saying. I don't know how this series is going to progress because it is very new, and I don't know how I feel about the direction it's going in other than that I look forward to reading the next volume.
TW // sexual assault, physical assault
**Note: I am mainly speaking on the assaults on female characters/girls in general in this review, but I don't mean to leave out the fact that men and non-binary people are often assaulted as well, and that those events are even more underreported than those of women. But since the manga is seeking to talk about assaults on women, that's what I have primarily written about**
I felt like I needed to say this because I have seen a lot of negative reviews on this manga's representation of assault and its victims. Every feeling toward this is justified and valid, and I don't disagree with any of them. When you're writing something dealing with assault, you do have to be careful with how you go about it. But, honestly? I feel like what Not Your Idol is doing is trying to show that not only do victims process things differently, but they are also heavily influenced by the dominating ideals in our culture and allow that to dictate how they process things. What is interesting about these volumes is that they are seeking to show how different victims react and process the trauma that comes with being assaulted. Some get angry. Some try to let it slide by because 'what else is there to do?'. Some completely change themselves. Some lash out. Some hyper-fixate on celebrities or books or music to cope. Some struggle with finding any venue for coping. None of these reactions are 'wrong'; and, in fact, I found the reactions of the characters in this manga to be very real. There's no one way to react to being assaulted. I've seen girls react in such a way that they've said they were saying thankful for their assault, I've seen girls completely close in on themselves and never come out of the walls they've built, I've seen girls just try to move on with their lives. Everyone processes trauma differently, and I don't think this manga is doing a poor job of showing that.
Miku's reaction may feel wrong, and there's a reason for that. She's lashing out in a similar way to Darcy Edwards in Degrassi, manipulating things around her because she feels she can; it's the only way for her to feel control. To say this portrayal is doing a disservice to victims doesn't sit well with me, because again, people process things like this in many different ways, especially if they are someone who enjoys being well-liked by guys and have thus let the minds of men dictate how they live their lives.
I'm not going to say whether someone should read this or not, because I think we are all going to take something different away from the way sexual assault and its victims is represented in this manga series. I just wanted to throw my interpretation into the mix, because I felt like it was something not many people were saying. I don't know how this series is going to progress because it is very new, and I don't know how I feel about the direction it's going in other than that I look forward to reading the next volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2023
Considering the subject material of this series, this went in a way more shoujo/teen drama direction than I was expecting... while also upping the ante on the serious topics?? Overall, not super impressed with the way this volume handled the subject material. I appreciate what I think the author is trying to do here, but the way it was handled felt weird and tonally inappropriate.
February 5, 2024
Wow this is really sad. Yikes.
April 9, 2021
J’avais eu un énorme coup de coeur pour le premier tome. Et bien je peux vous dire qu’il en est de même pour ce second tome. Je n’aurais pas cru du tout que j’aurais autant apprécié ce manga mais au final c’est un vrai coup de coeur, une vraie révélation et une incroyable découverte. L’histoire est palpitante, hyper intéressante, traite de sujet importants et fort, les personnages sont parfaitement bien travaillés et sont très intéressants à suivre.
Lors de ma lecture du premier tome, on nous laisse penser quelque chose sur un des personnages. Mais comme je l’ai dit dans ma chronique du premier opus, c’était beaucoup trop facile pour que ce soit vraiment cette personne. C’était beaucoup trop évident dès le premier tome pour que ce soit vraiment lui le coupable. Et quelle surprise de découvrir que j’avais raison haha. Découvrir le coupable aussi tôt dans le manga n’a clairement aucun interêt pour l’histoire, elle perdrait clairement tout son charme. Imaginez dans un film d’horreur dès la 15ème minute vous savez qui est le tueur, et bien c’est nul. Ici c’est pareil au final. Je suis ravie de voir que mon instinct ne m’a pas lâché pour le coup.
L’histoire est toujours aussi prenante. J’aime beaucoup le mystère qui plane autour de l’agresseur. On est là à chercher des indices, des paroles que l’on peut interpréter différemment et qui pourrait nous envoyer sur la piste du coupable. Mais je sens que lorsque l’on aura le fin mot de l’histoire on va tomber de haut, j’en ai bien l’impression.. Je me pose un milliard de question et bien évidemment je n’ai pas les réponses mais il me tarde de les avoir! La suite s’annonce clairement intéressante et puis cette fin m’a beaucoup fait de peine… J’ai vraiment eu un gros pincement au coeur..
Le message du manga est toujours aussi fort et engagé. Et rien que pour ça ce manga mérite clairement du succès. On parle de l’harcèlement que les femmes peuvent subir dans les transports en commun ou encore dans la rue. Qui n’a jamais eu peur de prendre le métro ou le train seule.. Ou encore devoir changer de tenue parce que certains mecs ne savent pas se comporter correctement et sont de véritables porcs? Je trouve que d’en parler à travers un manga est important et rien que pour ça j’aime ce manga énormément.
J’ai déjà beaucoup trop hâte de découvrir plus dans le troisième tome. Je sens que l’on n’est clairement pas au bout de nos surprises avec ce manga. C’est vraiment un vrai plaisir de découvrir chaque tome, j’attends la suite avec beaucoup d’impatience. J’espère que l’on ne devra pas attendre trop longtemps avant la prochaine sortie! Il me faut des réponses!
Lors de ma lecture du premier tome, on nous laisse penser quelque chose sur un des personnages. Mais comme je l’ai dit dans ma chronique du premier opus, c’était beaucoup trop facile pour que ce soit vraiment cette personne. C’était beaucoup trop évident dès le premier tome pour que ce soit vraiment lui le coupable. Et quelle surprise de découvrir que j’avais raison haha. Découvrir le coupable aussi tôt dans le manga n’a clairement aucun interêt pour l’histoire, elle perdrait clairement tout son charme. Imaginez dans un film d’horreur dès la 15ème minute vous savez qui est le tueur, et bien c’est nul. Ici c’est pareil au final. Je suis ravie de voir que mon instinct ne m’a pas lâché pour le coup.
L’histoire est toujours aussi prenante. J’aime beaucoup le mystère qui plane autour de l’agresseur. On est là à chercher des indices, des paroles que l’on peut interpréter différemment et qui pourrait nous envoyer sur la piste du coupable. Mais je sens que lorsque l’on aura le fin mot de l’histoire on va tomber de haut, j’en ai bien l’impression.. Je me pose un milliard de question et bien évidemment je n’ai pas les réponses mais il me tarde de les avoir! La suite s’annonce clairement intéressante et puis cette fin m’a beaucoup fait de peine… J’ai vraiment eu un gros pincement au coeur..
Le message du manga est toujours aussi fort et engagé. Et rien que pour ça ce manga mérite clairement du succès. On parle de l’harcèlement que les femmes peuvent subir dans les transports en commun ou encore dans la rue. Qui n’a jamais eu peur de prendre le métro ou le train seule.. Ou encore devoir changer de tenue parce que certains mecs ne savent pas se comporter correctement et sont de véritables porcs? Je trouve que d’en parler à travers un manga est important et rien que pour ça j’aime ce manga énormément.
J’ai déjà beaucoup trop hâte de découvrir plus dans le troisième tome. Je sens que l’on n’est clairement pas au bout de nos surprises avec ce manga. C’est vraiment un vrai plaisir de découvrir chaque tome, j’attends la suite avec beaucoup d’impatience. J’espère que l’on ne devra pas attendre trop longtemps avant la prochaine sortie! Il me faut des réponses!
August 10, 2020
Recommended: sure
For a continuation from part 1, for more exploration into side characters
Thoughts:
This followup installment was more thoughtful than the first installment, with less action. This section of chapters focuses more on the people and investigating their motivation. As is expected from a second set, we get a look into the people around Kamiyama and dig deeper into her own emotions and motivation.
Our focus is on Hariuchi (the boy you might have to hate from Volume 1) and his family, as well as Miku Nagasu (the girl you probably kind of hate from Volume 1). For some people that might sound frustrating, if you're the kind of reader who wants to stick with the MC and the MC only, but I promise it all connects together! Even when it might feel like it's unrelated to the central plot, everything weaves in eventually and tightens the web between each character that much more. Learning who is in Kamiyama's life enhances the experience of learning about her life.
The art style is familiar from the first volume, with no drastic changes. You'll recognize the characters easily! The humor is toned down a bit from Volume 1, but it still sparks up once or twice. Overall, this was a more serious and somber addition. The first page includes a brief recap on main characters and plot points as well, which was a nice touch. I went into it remembering more or less what had happened, but it reminded me of a few side points that were a useful reminder to add meaning to the upcoming events.
And yes: this one also left off on a cliffhanger, so I am again quite eager for the next installment!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
For a continuation from part 1, for more exploration into side characters
Thoughts:
This followup installment was more thoughtful than the first installment, with less action. This section of chapters focuses more on the people and investigating their motivation. As is expected from a second set, we get a look into the people around Kamiyama and dig deeper into her own emotions and motivation.
Our focus is on Hariuchi (the boy you might have to hate from Volume 1) and his family, as well as Miku Nagasu (the girl you probably kind of hate from Volume 1). For some people that might sound frustrating, if you're the kind of reader who wants to stick with the MC and the MC only, but I promise it all connects together! Even when it might feel like it's unrelated to the central plot, everything weaves in eventually and tightens the web between each character that much more. Learning who is in Kamiyama's life enhances the experience of learning about her life.
The art style is familiar from the first volume, with no drastic changes. You'll recognize the characters easily! The humor is toned down a bit from Volume 1, but it still sparks up once or twice. Overall, this was a more serious and somber addition. The first page includes a brief recap on main characters and plot points as well, which was a nice touch. I went into it remembering more or less what had happened, but it reminded me of a few side points that were a useful reminder to add meaning to the upcoming events.
And yes: this one also left off on a cliffhanger, so I am again quite eager for the next installment!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 11, 2020
Nina Kamiyama is a former pop idol, who left the group Pure Club after she was attacked by a fan. She disguised herself as a boy and started attending a regular high school. At the end of the last volume, someone threatened to reveal her identity. Her friend Hikaru had some photos of her in his bag, so Nina’s friends think he can’t be trusted. Another student at their school, Miku, is also threatened with someone sending her secret photos of her walking down the street. Miku doesn’t feel safe walking by herself, so she gets Hikaru to walk her home. However, he can’t protect her all the time.
This was an intense story. The themes of sexual assault were introduced in the first volume, but they became much more prominent in this volume. Nina is still recovering from the post traumatic stress of being attacked by a fan. Hikaru’s sister was sexually harassed by her teacher, but when she spoke up, she wasn’t taken seriously. Other students were randomly attacked as well, but they were shamed into keeping it a secret. This is a disturbing reality for many girls.
The sexual exploitation of girls was also an important part of the story. When Nina was in the pop group, Pure Club, they had to pose for lingerie photos to give out the male fans. They were young girls and it was extremely inappropriate to put them in these revealing outfits and positions. This has happened to many young female performers, and still happens today. These kinds of photos also make men think they have permission to do whatever they want to the young women. This story showed the aftermath of putting girls in these kinds of situations.
This is a great story!
Thank you Viz Media for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an intense story. The themes of sexual assault were introduced in the first volume, but they became much more prominent in this volume. Nina is still recovering from the post traumatic stress of being attacked by a fan. Hikaru’s sister was sexually harassed by her teacher, but when she spoke up, she wasn’t taken seriously. Other students were randomly attacked as well, but they were shamed into keeping it a secret. This is a disturbing reality for many girls.
The sexual exploitation of girls was also an important part of the story. When Nina was in the pop group, Pure Club, they had to pose for lingerie photos to give out the male fans. They were young girls and it was extremely inappropriate to put them in these revealing outfits and positions. This has happened to many young female performers, and still happens today. These kinds of photos also make men think they have permission to do whatever they want to the young women. This story showed the aftermath of putting girls in these kinds of situations.
This is a great story!
Thank you Viz Media for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2020
Not Your Idol vol. 2 ups the drama from the previous volume.
Nina, previous idol star Karen, has been hiding in a high school after a traumatic event with a violent fan/stalker and events are beginning to unfold as the stalker has narrowed on her location and starts to toy with her and those around her.
***
You know what I like about this series? For all the drama going on in it, it has incredibly important discussions. It talks about bodily autonomy, how girls/women tend to be disregarded when they come forward about their experiences and how even when their experience is accepted the responsibility and weight of what happened to them is put on them and not the perpetrator of the acts. Their is a lot going on, and while I was worried about that disappearing after vol. 1 I feel hopeful that these incredibly important things continue to be a salient point in the series and doesn’t go away and just gets further explored and broken down. It talks about trauma and trauma recovery, and just, the things it talks about are so important. But, this series is full of things that people need to be aware of for their own mental health. Your mileage may vary and you know yourself best.
TW: assault (possibly implied rape depending on how you view the scene), sexual harassment, injury, stalker, women’s bodies and general existence being used against them, high school boys being gross and girls being unsupportive of their fellow beings, trauma and trauma recovery
Nina, previous idol star Karen, has been hiding in a high school after a traumatic event with a violent fan/stalker and events are beginning to unfold as the stalker has narrowed on her location and starts to toy with her and those around her.
***
You know what I like about this series? For all the drama going on in it, it has incredibly important discussions. It talks about bodily autonomy, how girls/women tend to be disregarded when they come forward about their experiences and how even when their experience is accepted the responsibility and weight of what happened to them is put on them and not the perpetrator of the acts. Their is a lot going on, and while I was worried about that disappearing after vol. 1 I feel hopeful that these incredibly important things continue to be a salient point in the series and doesn’t go away and just gets further explored and broken down. It talks about trauma and trauma recovery, and just, the things it talks about are so important. But, this series is full of things that people need to be aware of for their own mental health. Your mileage may vary and you know yourself best.
TW: assault (possibly implied rape depending on how you view the scene), sexual harassment, injury, stalker, women’s bodies and general existence being used against them, high school boys being gross and girls being unsupportive of their fellow beings, trauma and trauma recovery
August 31, 2024
While this volume’s start took a little for me to be hooked, I couldn’t stop myself from finishing it once I reached past its halfway point.
I love how Nina and Hikaru’s bond is growing stronger, and I find them navigating their relationship with their own gender interesting; Nina rejecting her feminine traits as a coping mechanism, and Hikaru struggling with being a guy due to its implications. Both characters mirror each other that way, and it makes for an fascinating dynamic.
Hikaru surprising his sister with Pure Club’s autograph, as well as Nina initiating a handshake with a man (Hikaru) for the first time since the incident were my favorite moments of this volume. You can tell the characters are growing by learning from each other/their experiences, and it’s beautiful to see.
However, Miku… I would have given this volume four ☆‘s like the previous one if it wasn’t for most of her confusing scenes. I’m still conflicted as to how the reader is expected to feel towards her character, or what the message being conveyed through her currently is? She’s so often painted as an antagonist with how she directly (intentionally? unsure) harms our protagonist, yet her trauma tells a different story. Hating her feels wrong, but so does loving her currently. I hope the next volume will bring clarity (and growth!) to her character.
I love how Nina and Hikaru’s bond is growing stronger, and I find them navigating their relationship with their own gender interesting; Nina rejecting her feminine traits as a coping mechanism, and Hikaru struggling with being a guy due to its implications. Both characters mirror each other that way, and it makes for an fascinating dynamic.
Hikaru surprising his sister with Pure Club’s autograph, as well as Nina initiating a handshake with a man (Hikaru) for the first time since the incident were my favorite moments of this volume. You can tell the characters are growing by learning from each other/their experiences, and it’s beautiful to see.
However, Miku… I would have given this volume four ☆‘s like the previous one if it wasn’t for most of her confusing scenes. I’m still conflicted as to how the reader is expected to feel towards her character, or what the message being conveyed through her currently is? She’s so often painted as an antagonist with how she directly (intentionally? unsure) harms our protagonist, yet her trauma tells a different story. Hating her feels wrong, but so does loving her currently. I hope the next volume will bring clarity (and growth!) to her character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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