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Haru no Noroi #1-2
Haru's Curse
Natsumi’s little sister Haru was her whole world—and now she’s gone.
After the funeral, Natsumi reluctantly agrees to date her sister’s fiancé Togo. But as their relationship develops with the passing seasons, Haru’s memory lingers over them like a curse.
Asuka Konishi’s English-language debut is a nuanced and affecting portrait of the conflict between romantic and familial love, and of the hard choices that face us all in making our lives our own.
After the funeral, Natsumi reluctantly agrees to date her sister’s fiancé Togo. But as their relationship develops with the passing seasons, Haru’s memory lingers over them like a curse.
Asuka Konishi’s English-language debut is a nuanced and affecting portrait of the conflict between romantic and familial love, and of the hard choices that face us all in making our lives our own.
358 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2016
23 people are currently reading
654 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 276 reviews
February 18, 2021
3.5
"Haru's Curse" talks about the grief -and guilt- after the departure of a loved one.
The manga begins with the funeral of Haru, a cancer victim. Her older sister, Natsumi, adored her and considered her as her only family, despite living with her father, stepmother, and a younger brother.
Haru was engaged to Togo and although it is an arranged marriage, she seems to have had feelings for the young man, although we soon realize that Togo did not. He simply follows the path determined for him according to his mother and family legacy. So Natsumi is not too surprised when Togo asks her to continue seeing each other, as a continuation of the family contract, and it is then that she agrees on the condition that they go to the places where he went with Haru. So you can see that it is not a healthy relationship. Haru is a ghost between them, and the feelings of sadness that Natsumi expresses reveal an unhappy family life, and even she wants to commit suicide.
So Natsumi is not too surprised when Togo asks her to continue seeing each other, as a continuation of the family contract, and it is then that she agrees on the condition that they go to the places where he went with Haru. So you can see that it is not a healthy relationship. Haru is a ghost between them, and the feelings of sadness that Natsumi expresses reveal an unhappy family life, and even she wants to commit suicide.
What seems to be left over in this story is that shot in the air that Natsumi even believes she is in love with her sister ... I believe that she loves her, and want to die because it is something that people often express in moments of anguish, but the rest is strange, doubting her gender because she has not had a boyfriend. And then the digital diary with the "sweet" Haru saying that she wants to take her sister to hell ... uh, kind of too selfish.
They say that pain causes people to mature, and that seems to be the case in this case; although a little more development was needed in the relationship to reach that end.
The art? Nice.
https://kodanshacomics.com/series/har...
Here we have that which is often seen in dramas where the rich boy follows the dictates of the family. And that idea that the sister can't be with her dead sister's boyfriend, I don't really see the problem, because they never had a relationship before, and it seems like it's a big no-no with families.
I like that both seek their independence.
---------------------------
[Ahora en castellano:]
"Haru's Curse" habla sobre el dolor -y la culpa- tras la partida de un ser querido.
El manga comienza con el funeral de Haru, víctima de cáncer. Su hermana mayor, Natsumi, la adoraba y la consideraba su única familia, a pesar de vivir con su padre, su madrastra y un hermano menor.
Haru estaba comprometida con Togo y, aunque se trata de un matrimonio concertado, parece haber sentido algo por el joven, aunque pronto nos damos cuenta de que Togo no. Simplemente sigue el camino que le ha sido determinado según su legado familiar y su madre. Así que Natsumi no se sorprende demasiado cuando Togo le pide que se sigan viendo, como continuación del contrato familiar, y es entonces cuando ella acepta con la condición de que vayan a los lugares a los que él fue con Haru. Entonces puedes ver que no se trata precisamente de una relación saludable. Haru es un fantasma entre ellos, y los sentimientos de tristeza que expresa Natsumi revelan una vida familiar infeliz, e incluso ella quiere suicidarse.
Así que Natsumi no se sorprende demasiado cuando Togo le pide que se sigan viendo, como continuación del contrato familiar, y es entonces cuando ella acepta con la condición de que vayan a los lugares a los que él fue con Haru. Entonces puedes ver que no es una relación saludable. Haru es un fantasma entre ellos, y los sentimientos de tristeza que expresa Natsumi revelan una vida familiar infeliz, e incluso ella quiere suicidarse.
Lo que parece sobrar en esta historia es ese tiro al aire que Natsumi incluso cree que está enamorada de su hermana ... creo que la ama, y quiere morir porque es algo que la gente suele expresar en momentos de angustia, pero el resto es extraño, hasta dudando de su género porque no ha tenido novio . Y luego el diario digital con la "dulce" Haru diciendo que quiere llevar a su hermana al infierno ... uh, un poco egoísta.
Dicen que el dolor hace que las personas maduren, y ese parece ser el caso en este caso; aunque se necesitaba un poco más de desarrollo en la relación para alcanzar ese fin.
¿El arte? Lindo.
https://kodanshacomics.com/series/har...
Aquí tenemos lo que se ve a menudo en los dramas donde el niño rico sigue los dictados de la familia. Y esa idea de que la hermana no puede estar con el novio de su hermana muerta, realmente no veo el problema, porque nunca antes habían tenido una relación, y parece que es un gran no-no con las familias.
Me gusta que ambos busquen su independencia.
+Digital ARC gently provided by Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review+
"Haru's Curse" talks about the grief -and guilt- after the departure of a loved one.
The manga begins with the funeral of Haru, a cancer victim. Her older sister, Natsumi, adored her and considered her as her only family, despite living with her father, stepmother, and a younger brother.
Haru was engaged to Togo and although it is an arranged marriage, she seems to have had feelings for the young man, although we soon realize that Togo did not. He simply follows the path determined for him according to his mother and family legacy. So Natsumi is not too surprised when Togo asks her to continue seeing each other, as a continuation of the family contract, and it is then that she agrees on the condition that they go to the places where he went with Haru. So you can see that it is not a healthy relationship. Haru is a ghost between them, and the feelings of sadness that Natsumi expresses reveal an unhappy family life, and even she wants to commit suicide.
So Natsumi is not too surprised when Togo asks her to continue seeing each other, as a continuation of the family contract, and it is then that she agrees on the condition that they go to the places where he went with Haru. So you can see that it is not a healthy relationship. Haru is a ghost between them, and the feelings of sadness that Natsumi expresses reveal an unhappy family life, and even she wants to commit suicide.
What seems to be left over in this story is that shot in the air that Natsumi even believes she is in love with her sister ... I believe that she loves her, and want to die because it is something that people often express in moments of anguish, but the rest is strange, doubting her gender because she has not had a boyfriend. And then the digital diary with the "sweet" Haru saying that she wants to take her sister to hell ... uh, kind of too selfish.
They say that pain causes people to mature, and that seems to be the case in this case; although a little more development was needed in the relationship to reach that end.
The art? Nice.
https://kodanshacomics.com/series/har...
Here we have that which is often seen in dramas where the rich boy follows the dictates of the family. And that idea that the sister can't be with her dead sister's boyfriend, I don't really see the problem, because they never had a relationship before, and it seems like it's a big no-no with families.
I like that both seek their independence.
---------------------------
[Ahora en castellano:]
"Haru's Curse" habla sobre el dolor -y la culpa- tras la partida de un ser querido.
El manga comienza con el funeral de Haru, víctima de cáncer. Su hermana mayor, Natsumi, la adoraba y la consideraba su única familia, a pesar de vivir con su padre, su madrastra y un hermano menor.
Haru estaba comprometida con Togo y, aunque se trata de un matrimonio concertado, parece haber sentido algo por el joven, aunque pronto nos damos cuenta de que Togo no. Simplemente sigue el camino que le ha sido determinado según su legado familiar y su madre. Así que Natsumi no se sorprende demasiado cuando Togo le pide que se sigan viendo, como continuación del contrato familiar, y es entonces cuando ella acepta con la condición de que vayan a los lugares a los que él fue con Haru. Entonces puedes ver que no se trata precisamente de una relación saludable. Haru es un fantasma entre ellos, y los sentimientos de tristeza que expresa Natsumi revelan una vida familiar infeliz, e incluso ella quiere suicidarse.
Así que Natsumi no se sorprende demasiado cuando Togo le pide que se sigan viendo, como continuación del contrato familiar, y es entonces cuando ella acepta con la condición de que vayan a los lugares a los que él fue con Haru. Entonces puedes ver que no es una relación saludable. Haru es un fantasma entre ellos, y los sentimientos de tristeza que expresa Natsumi revelan una vida familiar infeliz, e incluso ella quiere suicidarse.
Lo que parece sobrar en esta historia es ese tiro al aire que Natsumi incluso cree que está enamorada de su hermana ... creo que la ama, y quiere morir porque es algo que la gente suele expresar en momentos de angustia, pero el resto es extraño, hasta dudando de su género porque no ha tenido novio . Y luego el diario digital con la "dulce" Haru diciendo que quiere llevar a su hermana al infierno ... uh, un poco egoísta.
Dicen que el dolor hace que las personas maduren, y ese parece ser el caso en este caso; aunque se necesitaba un poco más de desarrollo en la relación para alcanzar ese fin.
¿El arte? Lindo.
https://kodanshacomics.com/series/har...
Aquí tenemos lo que se ve a menudo en los dramas donde el niño rico sigue los dictados de la familia. Y esa idea de que la hermana no puede estar con el novio de su hermana muerta, realmente no veo el problema, porque nunca antes habían tenido una relación, y parece que es un gran no-no con las familias.
Me gusta que ambos busquen su independencia.
+Digital ARC gently provided by Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review+
April 12, 2023
For some reason, I really love this book. It tugs at your heartstrings while breaking it effectively too. It would have been a perfect combination if it wasn't for me not loving that combination but for some unknown reason, I really love this one. I have read this multiple times online and have been contemplating buying it too and finally gave in to my inner desires and bought it. Did I read it one go? Yes. Am I regretting reading it in one go? Yes. Will I go back to this in a few days and re-read? Yes.
April 28, 2022
This was VERY good!
I honestly didn't know what to expect going in because I only picked this up for a manga book club my friend hosts and hadn't really considered picking it up on my own. However, I am SO glad I did because this was a very moving story!
I am unsure of even what to say because the depth of these characters, especially Natsumi's heartbreak, was SO real and transparent to the reader. Even Togo and his "lack" of struggle was deeply moving!
As I continued reading, I felt myself getting pulled deeper and deeper into this story. There came a point that I just had to close the book momentarily and take a breather as I was nervous that this book would end on a sad note (which I REALLY did not want).
Overall, this was an excellent read! I really love the art style and the storytelling and would definitely be curious about this mangaka's other works. Haru's Curse was a thought-provoking, heart-ripping, and healing worthy read.
As a side note, Natsumi's "looking back" was VERY on point. I felt her asking Togo the question she did at the end was 100% similar to my own season of grief and literally asked my mom the same question. I appreciated the "realness" and rawness of that scene as someone who has been in her shoes in that exact moment.
I honestly didn't know what to expect going in because I only picked this up for a manga book club my friend hosts and hadn't really considered picking it up on my own. However, I am SO glad I did because this was a very moving story!
I am unsure of even what to say because the depth of these characters, especially Natsumi's heartbreak, was SO real and transparent to the reader. Even Togo and his "lack" of struggle was deeply moving!
As I continued reading, I felt myself getting pulled deeper and deeper into this story. There came a point that I just had to close the book momentarily and take a breather as I was nervous that this book would end on a sad note (which I REALLY did not want).
Overall, this was an excellent read! I really love the art style and the storytelling and would definitely be curious about this mangaka's other works. Haru's Curse was a thought-provoking, heart-ripping, and healing worthy read.
As a side note, Natsumi's "looking back" was VERY on point. I felt her asking Togo the question she did at the end was 100% similar to my own season of grief and literally asked my mom the same question. I appreciated the "realness" and rawness of that scene as someone who has been in her shoes in that exact moment.
February 9, 2021
After the death of her sister Haru, Natsumi starts dating Haru's fiance Togo. They both have feelings for each other but they also feel an incredible amount of guilt. Will their love be enough for them to move on with their lives or will they get stuck in Haru's curse?
The synopsis was very interesting to me but I didn't know what to expect going in. And I ended up really liking this. Natsumi was adorable. Awkward, loud but ultimately very kind and caring. Her father is an idiot though, somehow her stepmother loves her more than her own dad. Togo is also quite interesting. His life has been planned for him from the very beginning and he always did what his parents wanted him to do. Togo's mother wanted him to marry Haru and Togo was going to and probably would have, but he found himself drawn more and more to Natsumi. Her personality is a polar opposite of his and they balance each other really well. It didn't take long for me to start rooting for this romance, I wanted these two characters to be happy. The arstyle was interesting, particularly in the way faces and bodies were drawn but I liked it a lot, it was unique.
My only criticism is that I wanted more character development. Natsumi mentioned once that she wasn't sure about her sexual orientation and that she might have been in love with her sister. And then it is not explored further. I mean, it definitely should have been a topic of some discussion, right? I think this book should have been a little longer so that more time could have been spent on the characters. But overall it is a good book and would definitely recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis was very interesting to me but I didn't know what to expect going in. And I ended up really liking this. Natsumi was adorable. Awkward, loud but ultimately very kind and caring. Her father is an idiot though, somehow her stepmother loves her more than her own dad. Togo is also quite interesting. His life has been planned for him from the very beginning and he always did what his parents wanted him to do. Togo's mother wanted him to marry Haru and Togo was going to and probably would have, but he found himself drawn more and more to Natsumi. Her personality is a polar opposite of his and they balance each other really well. It didn't take long for me to start rooting for this romance, I wanted these two characters to be happy. The arstyle was interesting, particularly in the way faces and bodies were drawn but I liked it a lot, it was unique.
My only criticism is that I wanted more character development. Natsumi mentioned once that she wasn't sure about her sexual orientation and that she might have been in love with her sister. And then it is not explored further. I mean, it definitely should have been a topic of some discussion, right? I think this book should have been a little longer so that more time could have been spent on the characters. But overall it is a good book and would definitely recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2022
This was a beautifully written story about loss and love. I enjoyed the peek inside the main characters’ lives. The art was equally as beautiful as the story. I really enjoyed my time reading it and I’m so happy that it gave it a go!!
Second time reading it… still so good! Such a good story. I’m so happy that this mangaka is getting another series translated and published this fall!! I cannot wait to have more stories from this mangaka in my collection!!
This was selected for April pick for a manga reading club that is hosted by yours truly!! Here’s the link to the livestream meeting: https://youtu.be/VQAukIZ441k
Second time reading it… still so good! Such a good story. I’m so happy that this mangaka is getting another series translated and published this fall!! I cannot wait to have more stories from this mangaka in my collection!!
This was selected for April pick for a manga reading club that is hosted by yours truly!! Here’s the link to the livestream meeting: https://youtu.be/VQAukIZ441k
Read
February 8, 2021So I got this on Netgalley today and I'm excited, bc if there is another trope I lluurrvvee (besides cheating H) it's the dead ex. Dead sisters ex?
Even better
!!!! BELOVED dead sisters ex?????
Heaven!!!!!
Yes, I know I used too many exclamation points. Yes, I know in Grammatical English 101 that's a sign of a deranged persons equivalent of shouting on paper. Do I care? Anywho, I'll get back to this review soonish.
2/8/21
LOVED !!
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
2/8/21
LOVED !!
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
May 31, 2025
1.5* bc it was an easy read buttttt this was definitely interesting.
Tbh I didn’t like any of the characters…I mean I felt bad for Haru but even then we didn’t get much of her ofc bc she had passed away before the story even started. I thought the premise was interesting which is why I picked it up but the way it was executed was so………bad. Personally I would have taken it in a completely different direction and it would have been so much better if the characters actually had personalities especially Togo he was just like 🧍 the whole time. Also I kinda thought this was gonna be about grief & love but the love story was kinda flimsy (and just odd) and I felt like nobody was even grieving???? EVEN THO THE MC SAID SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS IN LOVE W HARU oh my god don’t even get me started on that bc that was messed up like WHY ma’am that is your sister. And Togo couldn’t care less about her dying because he was in love w the mc while HIS FIANCÉE WAS DYING
anyway…I will probably sell this because I don’t rlly want to own a copy of it anymore…I will link my pango books profile in my bio (I wouldn’t recommend this one but I have other books listed 😉)
Tbh I didn’t like any of the characters…I mean I felt bad for Haru but even then we didn’t get much of her ofc bc she had passed away before the story even started. I thought the premise was interesting which is why I picked it up but the way it was executed was so………bad. Personally I would have taken it in a completely different direction and it would have been so much better if the characters actually had personalities especially Togo he was just like 🧍 the whole time. Also I kinda thought this was gonna be about grief & love but the love story was kinda flimsy (and just odd) and I felt like nobody was even grieving???? EVEN THO THE MC SAID SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS IN LOVE W HARU oh my god don’t even get me started on that bc that was messed up like WHY ma’am that is your sister. And Togo couldn’t care less about her dying because he was in love w the mc while HIS FIANCÉE WAS DYING
anyway…I will probably sell this because I don’t rlly want to own a copy of it anymore…I will link my pango books profile in my bio (I wouldn’t recommend this one but I have other books listed 😉)
January 23, 2022
Es una linda historia para leer en una tarde. Me gustó muchísimo empezar a leerlo sin saber casi nada y recomiendo que el que quiera leerlo empiece así.
February 5, 2021
Английското издание за 21-ва година, което получавам... отново като предварителен читател, ихаа xD
Тази история е кратка, само 8 чаптъра, макар че в електронната си версия е солидните 362 страници. Имах съвсем леки проблеми с арта. Тези носове са направо ужасни! И героите са по-тънки и от най-тънките, ко��то си спомням да съм виждала, чак е страшно xD Като цяло - мангата не може да се похвали особено с някакъв по-красив арт, поне в моите очи.
Историята ми напомня по-скоро на корейска драма - от онези, в к��ито дори няма и една целувка, но затова пък историята е странна и увличаща, дори и да не очакваш да е така.
Того е богат наследник, чието семейство иска да му уреди брак с добра партия - момиче от добро семейство, което вече няма пари, но има "чиста" кръв. Наследничките на фамилията Тачибана са две. Семейството на Того му избира по-малката. Само че тя умира млада и се оказва, че Того всъщност винаги е имал чувства към по-голямата... а и като че ли и тя към него. Сянката на Хару обаче бди все още над тях...
Шантав разказ, но представен много добре. Харесва ми, че се развива в толкова малко чаптъри, защото това поддържа основната линия права, не я размива. До известна степен нещата са леко подсладени, но това не е никак лошо, защото ти дава чувството, че четеш просто нестандартно шоуджо, а не нещо, от което трябва задължително да си изревеш очите и да ти е тежко с месеци наред от спомена.
Препоръчвам я за по-пораснали читатели, на практика това си е чист джосей, все пак.
Тази история е кратка, само 8 чаптъра, макар че в електронната си версия е солидните 362 страници. Имах съвсем леки проблеми с арта. Тези носове са направо ужасни! И героите са по-тънки и от най-тънките, ко��то си спомням да съм виждала, чак е страшно xD Като цяло - мангата не може да се похвали особено с някакъв по-красив арт, поне в моите очи.
Историята ми напомня по-скоро на корейска драма - от онези, в к��ито дори няма и една целувка, но затова пък историята е странна и увличаща, дори и да не очакваш да е така.
Того е богат наследник, чието семейство иска да му уреди брак с добра партия - момиче от добро семейство, което вече няма пари, но има "чиста" кръв. Наследничките на фамилията Тачибана са две. Семейството на Того му избира по-малката. Само че тя умира млада и се оказва, че Того всъщност винаги е имал чувства към по-голямата... а и като че ли и тя към него. Сянката на Хару обаче бди все още над тях...
Шантав разказ, но представен много добре. Харесва ми, че се развива в толкова малко чаптъри, защото това поддържа основната линия права, не я размива. До известна степен нещата са леко подсладени, но това не е никак лошо, защото ти дава чувството, че четеш просто нестандартно шоуджо, а не нещо, от което трябва задължително да си изревеш очите и да ти е тежко с месеци наред от спомена.
Препоръчвам я за по-пораснали читатели, на практика това си е чист джосей, все пак.
February 21, 2021
Togo and Haru are dating and plan to get married. Then Haru gets sick and passes away, leaving behind not just Togo but Haru’s devoted older sister Natsumi to pick up the pieces of their lives. What do you owe yourself in life and what do you owe your family? And, for that matter, what do you owe somebody who’s already dead?
I love a book that gives you a lot to think about and this one is top notch. It has a very clear point of view on the struggle of familial expectation versus one’s own desires and is also an unflinching look at the long shadow that the death of a loved one can cast across the lives of those still living.
What I don’t mention up in the preamble is that Togo and Natsumi end up dating pretty much immediately after Haru’s funeral, ostensibly at the behest of Togo’s family. Natsumi agrees to this only if Togo takes her where he went with Haru. It gets complicated.
While Togo is a bit too robotic for my tastes, although that’s largely due to his utter lack of choice in his own life, there’s nothing to worry about because Natsumi carries this book on her own. She’s a study in contrasts - a put-together mess who might be in love with her sister - and she’s absolutely fascinating. Her desire to see her sister again by any means necessary - yes, trigger warning for suicide - is often at odds with exploring whatever she has with Togo.
Haru is our third character and she appropriately hangs over this book like a shroud. We learn more than our characters bargain for about her and in many ways this is a relationship between three people because, as Natsumi’s mom puts it, they’ll never get away from Haru’s memory (there are literally five seconds at the end where this feels like it might turn into a full-on horror movie and they’re great).
It’s crazy how interesting this gets even with Togo stuck in neutral for so much of it, but we get some very important sections from his viewpoint and the few times we do see him crack underline how important they are. I love the way this story has so many subtle points, but one that doesn’t come through until the bonus pages is how you might think you have a “type”, but sometimes love is just love and you can’t do much about it.
I could go on; there’s so much to ruminate on here. Family is the key to this whole story and almost all of its major moments revolve around it. Some parts are obvious, some are more subtle. The art is a little odd at first and then grows on you so fast you barely notice it. Other characters are used just enough.
Five stars. Probably a 4.5 because of Togo, but I round up on this one quite happily. A large, single volume of a nuanced portrayal of grief, love and the problems you find when they collide in the middle. Sad, heart-breaking, and ultimately uplifting, it is a great, great read.
I love a book that gives you a lot to think about and this one is top notch. It has a very clear point of view on the struggle of familial expectation versus one’s own desires and is also an unflinching look at the long shadow that the death of a loved one can cast across the lives of those still living.
What I don’t mention up in the preamble is that Togo and Natsumi end up dating pretty much immediately after Haru’s funeral, ostensibly at the behest of Togo’s family. Natsumi agrees to this only if Togo takes her where he went with Haru. It gets complicated.
While Togo is a bit too robotic for my tastes, although that’s largely due to his utter lack of choice in his own life, there’s nothing to worry about because Natsumi carries this book on her own. She’s a study in contrasts - a put-together mess who might be in love with her sister - and she’s absolutely fascinating. Her desire to see her sister again by any means necessary - yes, trigger warning for suicide - is often at odds with exploring whatever she has with Togo.
Haru is our third character and she appropriately hangs over this book like a shroud. We learn more than our characters bargain for about her and in many ways this is a relationship between three people because, as Natsumi’s mom puts it, they’ll never get away from Haru’s memory (there are literally five seconds at the end where this feels like it might turn into a full-on horror movie and they’re great).
It’s crazy how interesting this gets even with Togo stuck in neutral for so much of it, but we get some very important sections from his viewpoint and the few times we do see him crack underline how important they are. I love the way this story has so many subtle points, but one that doesn’t come through until the bonus pages is how you might think you have a “type”, but sometimes love is just love and you can’t do much about it.
I could go on; there’s so much to ruminate on here. Family is the key to this whole story and almost all of its major moments revolve around it. Some parts are obvious, some are more subtle. The art is a little odd at first and then grows on you so fast you barely notice it. Other characters are used just enough.
Five stars. Probably a 4.5 because of Togo, but I round up on this one quite happily. A large, single volume of a nuanced portrayal of grief, love and the problems you find when they collide in the middle. Sad, heart-breaking, and ultimately uplifting, it is a great, great read.
March 14, 2021
Guilt and Love war with each other in Konishi’s ‘Haru’s Curse’. Guilt over starting to love your deceased younger sister’s fiancée; over always having feelings for your fiancee’s elder sister rather than your own would-be wife.
Konishi weaves the melancholy tale with her somber and sharp art style. The general idea is that the pain and self-guilt one’s left with after losing a loved one never ceases. The best one could do is try to live and love again no matter how much undeserved it may feel.
It is not usually the case but despite being a first volume, this one wrapped up nicely. Although the MCs have just stepped on the path together and have a long way to go, it feels satisfactory that they have acknowledged and decided to move forward in their life. So, I may pick up its next volume but if not, then I am content still.
Konishi weaves the melancholy tale with her somber and sharp art style. The general idea is that the pain and self-guilt one’s left with after losing a loved one never ceases. The best one could do is try to live and love again no matter how much undeserved it may feel.
It is not usually the case but despite being a first volume, this one wrapped up nicely. Although the MCs have just stepped on the path together and have a long way to go, it feels satisfactory that they have acknowledged and decided to move forward in their life. So, I may pick up its next volume but if not, then I am content still.
April 21, 2021
* I was given the english translation off NetGalley for an honest review*
I am very sad that my first ARC is a dnf :( The synopsis and reviews had me incredibly excited for this as it seemed like exactly the kind of story I would love. I just could not get behind the relationship that was blossoming between Togo and Natsumi. Togo came off very robotic, toxic, and just generally unlikable. I liked Natsumi's character a lot more, however I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she agreed to date her dead sister's ex boyfriend (a proposition which he presented to her at her sister's funeral no less). I think the story could have benefitted from placing larger emphasis on dealing with personal grief (the death of a sister and fiancee) before introducing a coupling between these two characters. I will admit that the art style was absolutely breathtaking! Had I found the story slightly more captivating, i would have stuck with it.
I am very sad that my first ARC is a dnf :( The synopsis and reviews had me incredibly excited for this as it seemed like exactly the kind of story I would love. I just could not get behind the relationship that was blossoming between Togo and Natsumi. Togo came off very robotic, toxic, and just generally unlikable. I liked Natsumi's character a lot more, however I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she agreed to date her dead sister's ex boyfriend (a proposition which he presented to her at her sister's funeral no less). I think the story could have benefitted from placing larger emphasis on dealing with personal grief (the death of a sister and fiancee) before introducing a coupling between these two characters. I will admit that the art style was absolutely breathtaking! Had I found the story slightly more captivating, i would have stuck with it.
May 8, 2021
After the death of younger sister Haru, Natsumi feels devastated. she has lost her only friend and the person who was closest to her. When Togo, Haru's boyfriend asks her out, Natsumi agrees on the condition that they go together to the same places he used to visit with Haru. However, as they go out more both Natsumi and Togo become tormented by this relationship. Natsumi starts to think that she is somehow under Haru's curse.
Natsumi was very kind to her younger sister, Haru and that is why she keeps feeling guilty for her.
Togo is a very passive person. He acts according to the choices made by his family for him.
The art in this book was the strongest point. However, I didn't feel connected to the characters and the plot was not so strong. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Natsumi was very kind to her younger sister, Haru and that is why she keeps feeling guilty for her.
Togo is a very passive person. He acts according to the choices made by his family for him.
The art in this book was the strongest point. However, I didn't feel connected to the characters and the plot was not so strong. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2021
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
This book combines volumes 1 and 2 and is completed, I think. It deals with grief and guilt, so is a bit sadder than most manga I read. I wasn't sure how I felt about the book at first, but once we see the past from their different views and their thoughts on situations, I got into it. It pulled on my heartstrings and made me feel for the couple. Truly liked the couple and how the story progressed.
I won't be buying it for my teen collection, but do think this would do well in an adult one.
This book combines volumes 1 and 2 and is completed, I think. It deals with grief and guilt, so is a bit sadder than most manga I read. I wasn't sure how I felt about the book at first, but once we see the past from their different views and their thoughts on situations, I got into it. It pulled on my heartstrings and made me feel for the couple. Truly liked the couple and how the story progressed.
I won't be buying it for my teen collection, but do think this would do well in an adult one.
August 8, 2022
What do we owe the dead? Can they really curse us, or is that only our own projections upon them? I'm not sure that this manga truly answers those questions, but it ultimately suggests that the best thing we can do in life is simply to live, and the way it approaches that is excellent.
February 17, 2021
Thanks to #Netgalley for making this book available to me.
Since I have been trying to read more graphic novels or mangas, this one almost called to me. I thought it was going to be mystically and it wasn't but it was so much more.
Haru's Curse follows Haru Tachibana, her sister (Natsumi Tachibana) and Togo Hiragi. At the start of the story, Haru was betrothed to Togo and they were going to get married as soon as she was finished with university. Unfortunately, she died of cancer before she could achieve any of her dreams. Her death throws her sister Natsumi into depression because she believed that she was in love with her sister (this part confused me a bit but...). So when Togo came to her, asking her to date him, she decided to go with him, only if he promised to take her to all the places he went with Haru.
Togo is the (third)son of the extremely wealthy and well connected Hiragi family, he has never really taken life too seriously, he has never really smiled, he lacks ambition and drive to do anything, he is very stoic and just goes with the flow. Since he doesn't really have any ambition of his own he allows his mother to smother him with Haru during the family introduction. Even then he noticed Natsumi, the older sister who was quiet and withdrawn with really no sign of life like him. After he started dating Haru he found out that she was more than that, she was lively and connected with people. Anyways with the agreement between Togo and Natsumi after Haru's death, they start going out and soon enough, they begin to have feelings for each other. This is where the 'curse' comes into play. With the love growing between them, Natsumi begins to feel guilty for loving her dead sister's fiance. To compound on that, she found Haru's online diary and things just went darker from there.
I have spoiled this story a lot but I just felt like it was powerful and sad. One thing that Togo said that I think would stay with me a long time is "Dead people cannot be sad". It is the same way that they cannot want things or change things, people living just have to keep living.
I really loved this book and I will be looking forward to more of Asuka Konishi's work.
Since I have been trying to read more graphic novels or mangas, this one almost called to me. I thought it was going to be mystically and it wasn't but it was so much more.
Haru's Curse follows Haru Tachibana, her sister (Natsumi Tachibana) and Togo Hiragi. At the start of the story, Haru was betrothed to Togo and they were going to get married as soon as she was finished with university. Unfortunately, she died of cancer before she could achieve any of her dreams. Her death throws her sister Natsumi into depression because she believed that she was in love with her sister (this part confused me a bit but...). So when Togo came to her, asking her to date him, she decided to go with him, only if he promised to take her to all the places he went with Haru.
Togo is the (third)son of the extremely wealthy and well connected Hiragi family, he has never really taken life too seriously, he has never really smiled, he lacks ambition and drive to do anything, he is very stoic and just goes with the flow. Since he doesn't really have any ambition of his own he allows his mother to smother him with Haru during the family introduction. Even then he noticed Natsumi, the older sister who was quiet and withdrawn with really no sign of life like him. After he started dating Haru he found out that she was more than that, she was lively and connected with people. Anyways with the agreement between Togo and Natsumi after Haru's death, they start going out and soon enough, they begin to have feelings for each other. This is where the 'curse' comes into play. With the love growing between them, Natsumi begins to feel guilty for loving her dead sister's fiance. To compound on that, she found Haru's online diary and things just went darker from there.
I have spoiled this story a lot but I just felt like it was powerful and sad. One thing that Togo said that I think would stay with me a long time is "Dead people cannot be sad". It is the same way that they cannot want things or change things, people living just have to keep living.
I really loved this book and I will be looking forward to more of Asuka Konishi's work.
February 27, 2021
88% ★★★★☆
Plot
After Natsumi's younger sister dies, she starts a relationship with her Haru's ex-fiancee. The problem is that Natsumi is still grieving and she feels that her sister will curse her if she keeps with this relationship, although she really enjoys his company.
Execution
Sad, but in a great way. The grieve is hard, this is not a funny comic. Is intense, the sisterhood relationship is intense, they love each other more then everything else and this hurts a lot. This is also not the only issue that the protagonists are suffering, both have their family and professional issues, they question their life, they change their mind. That is a lot, and is awesome. It could have more pages to develop better the ending I admit, so I'll take of one star because of that.
Characters
They are a lot, and this makes everything more real. The human behavior is really well portrayed and the fear that they fell is also really concrete. Their behaviors are well justified, they don't have a usual Romeu and Juliet relationship, they have a baggage that make their relationship a problem that is way more believable.
Romance
They don't have a usual Romeu and Juliet relationship, they have a baggage that make their relationship a problem that is way more believable. I liked this a lot, and it gets better because they have their own problems and they have to deal with them while are learning how to deal with their feelings and themselves.
Trigger Warnings
Grieve, anxiety and death of a loved one.
Thanks to NetGalley that gave me the chance of reading this book in exchange of an honest review.
Plot
After Natsumi's younger sister dies, she starts a relationship with her Haru's ex-fiancee. The problem is that Natsumi is still grieving and she feels that her sister will curse her if she keeps with this relationship, although she really enjoys his company.
Execution
Sad, but in a great way. The grieve is hard, this is not a funny comic. Is intense, the sisterhood relationship is intense, they love each other more then everything else and this hurts a lot. This is also not the only issue that the protagonists are suffering, both have their family and professional issues, they question their life, they change their mind. That is a lot, and is awesome. It could have more pages to develop better the ending I admit, so I'll take of one star because of that.
Characters
They are a lot, and this makes everything more real. The human behavior is really well portrayed and the fear that they fell is also really concrete. Their behaviors are well justified, they don't have a usual Romeu and Juliet relationship, they have a baggage that make their relationship a problem that is way more believable.
Romance
They don't have a usual Romeu and Juliet relationship, they have a baggage that make their relationship a problem that is way more believable. I liked this a lot, and it gets better because they have their own problems and they have to deal with them while are learning how to deal with their feelings and themselves.
Trigger Warnings
Grieve, anxiety and death of a loved one.
Thanks to NetGalley that gave me the chance of reading this book in exchange of an honest review.
May 21, 2024
5 stars
This is a bind-up of two volumes and it follows Natsumi in the aftermath of her sister, Haru's death. Haru was engaged to Togo who is now Natsumi's boyfriend. This manga explores grief, guilt, sister relationships, familial pressures and obligations, cultural expectations, upper and middle-class barriers in Japan, and a romance that is considered taboo by all. It's a shockingly heartfelt, sweet, and sometimes funny manga. I will say that Asuka Konishi should consider writing horror manga her panels of Natsumi feeling haunted and having Haru's ghost following her down the street were terrifying and added to the fear of Natsumi potentially committing suicide again. This is a manga I have never heard anyone talk about, which seems to be where I have a ton of success. I adored this. It was painful and beautifully honest and real about love and the fact that sometimes people love you, but you don't feel the same. It's a painful, but honest realization and Haru's understanding and realization of it is painful and hard to reconcile with as she is on the cusp of death. An absolutely well-done manga series that's only 2 volumes and 100% worth picking up!
This is a bind-up of two volumes and it follows Natsumi in the aftermath of her sister, Haru's death. Haru was engaged to Togo who is now Natsumi's boyfriend. This manga explores grief, guilt, sister relationships, familial pressures and obligations, cultural expectations, upper and middle-class barriers in Japan, and a romance that is considered taboo by all. It's a shockingly heartfelt, sweet, and sometimes funny manga. I will say that Asuka Konishi should consider writing horror manga her panels of Natsumi feeling haunted and having Haru's ghost following her down the street were terrifying and added to the fear of Natsumi potentially committing suicide again. This is a manga I have never heard anyone talk about, which seems to be where I have a ton of success. I adored this. It was painful and beautifully honest and real about love and the fact that sometimes people love you, but you don't feel the same. It's a painful, but honest realization and Haru's understanding and realization of it is painful and hard to reconcile with as she is on the cusp of death. An absolutely well-done manga series that's only 2 volumes and 100% worth picking up!
August 13, 2021
OMFGGGG this book!!!!
quick summery: Natsumi is a bubbly older sister who'd do anything for her younger sister, the only one she's ever cared for and ever loved. But what happens when her sweet younger sister, Haru, dies prematurely leaving her and her boyfriend, Toga, behind. And what will come from Natsumi's and Toga's relationship?
akjkjkjhk i think asian books are BEST in character narrative (idk if that made sense but), they portray human emotion and conflict so beautifully and it's masterful how affected i am by all of these characters. Even though this is a manga of barely 150 pages, I CRIED !!!! like no novel has ever made me cry and this freaking book had my heart torn and wrenched out of my chest halfway through!
I blindly started this manga on a whim without KNOWING THAT IT WAS A ONE VOLUME STORY!!!!!
MY HEART YEARNS FOR MORE! give me moreeeeee!!!!! I WANNA DIE (no jkkkkk) WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF? best random read everrrr
quick summery: Natsumi is a bubbly older sister who'd do anything for her younger sister, the only one she's ever cared for and ever loved. But what happens when her sweet younger sister, Haru, dies prematurely leaving her and her boyfriend, Toga, behind. And what will come from Natsumi's and Toga's relationship?
akjkjkjhk i think asian books are BEST in character narrative (idk if that made sense but), they portray human emotion and conflict so beautifully and it's masterful how affected i am by all of these characters. Even though this is a manga of barely 150 pages, I CRIED !!!! like no novel has ever made me cry and this freaking book had my heart torn and wrenched out of my chest halfway through!
I blindly started this manga on a whim without KNOWING THAT IT WAS A ONE VOLUME STORY!!!!!
MY HEART YEARNS FOR MORE! give me moreeeeee!!!!! I WANNA DIE (no jkkkkk) WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF? best random read everrrr
September 27, 2021
An analysis on grief, guilt and family, and how we find ourselves in the spaces between, Haru's Curse is a nice romance manga that is genuine and different from your costumary happy go-lucky boy meets girls, but that, maybe for that same reason, impacts the reader more. Even though the art is not my favorite, it tackles difficult topics in a less aggressive light, with the understanding of adults that still don't know there place in the world, but are trying to find it. Enjoyable.
February 16, 2021
True Rating: 4.5 stars
This is a beautiful story diving into the facets of grief, loss, and overcoming the death of a loved one. This volume can be very triggering, so please tread with caution. (grief, loss of a loved one, suicide attempts, etc. kind of triggers. Please be safe!)
With that said, I honestly found this volume also hopeful, where we see these two people who think they shouldn't be together find healing through their interactions. They also understand one another's grief, and truly come to help each other.
For more details about this particular volume, please check out this video, where I go into detail about it, and some other volumes I read recently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etfX4...
This is a beautiful story diving into the facets of grief, loss, and overcoming the death of a loved one. This volume can be very triggering, so please tread with caution. (grief, loss of a loved one, suicide attempts, etc. kind of triggers. Please be safe!)
With that said, I honestly found this volume also hopeful, where we see these two people who think they shouldn't be together find healing through their interactions. They also understand one another's grief, and truly come to help each other.
For more details about this particular volume, please check out this video, where I go into detail about it, and some other volumes I read recently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etfX4...
March 17, 2021
I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
I was definitely intrigued by the premise of the book, what kind of curse is Haru’s curse? And why start dating after someone dies? The cover also seemed intriguing, her holding an urn (I am guessing it is that) and both of them looking pretty grim.
Also worth noting this is the two volumes of the series combined into one big bundle!
I will be splitting the review into two parts as it just got way too long with just the first volume. Haha. I just got so many thoughts and sorry if the review gets a bit cluttered/chaotic, but I am just going to go with this as my review.
FIRST VOLUME PART
I loved that we get both POV on things. In the first chapter we meet Natsumi, the older sister. We read about her sister’s death, see Natsumi dating Togo (who dated Haru), we see how Togo and Haru got to dating (arranged), and some other things. While I knew from the blurb that Togo and Natsumi would be dating I was oddly weirded out by it as it just seemed to come out of nowhere and it felt kind of disrespectful. HOWEVER, in the second chapter we get the POV of Togo and we see that he has always been fascinated by Natsumi and not Haru. We see how he gets more and more intrigued as he sees more of her when they are both meeting up at the hospital to visit Haru. We see also the other side of him asking Natsumi to date him and it just made more sense. Still a bit weird, but then again given things were arranged for Togo and he always had an eye for Natsumi it felt different. More fitting. Though I still would have liked him to at least wait a bit, because sorry, just after the funeral.. Mmmmmm..
I liked that her condition was that he takes her to places he had taken her sister. OK, it was again a bit weird, but given her love for her sister it also made sense. Plus, I was definitely curious to see where Togo took Haru.
I loved seeing how both Togo and Natsumi get closer to each other, learn more about each other, but also learn more about Haru. I really loved those conversations and loved seeing both of them learn something about Haru. Plus, they are both showing each other a different side of the world. He is a rich isolated/sheltered guy who has missed out on a lot and Natsumi is a normal girl. I loved seeing them both go to the festival (though sadly we never got to see it for real) which Togo doesn’t know about, and he taking her to a fancy cafe. And so there are other things! Yep, that is right they deviated from their plans, at least for a bit. I also love seeing them both talk about all sorts of things, not just fun things but also serious things like jobs and moving out. About Haru.
We see that both are dealing with guilt. Guilt towards Haru. However, I could easily see that both didn’t per se only feel guilt but also quite liked each other. I guess Natsumi knows and is trying to stop it, while Togo on the other hand never experienced a lot of emotions and doesn’t know that the feelings he has, the little sparks he feels, the way he feels when Natsumi laughs or does something silly, is love or like. I was waiting for him to notice. To find out.
WOW, what a way to end the first volume of this bundle. Not just the conversation that Natsumi and Togo had, which I saw coming but still shocked me. And then what Natsumi finds online. WOW. This could mean a lot of things, it depends on what is mentioned online. Will Natsumi find answers?
————————–
VOLUME 2 PART
OK, that was an interesting way to start, we see more on Haru’s thoughts and that it was Togo who moved her to get to the doctor. Can you imagine if he hadn’t pushed? What would have happened then? I thought this part would be Haru only, but it is actually Natsumi reading the diary! We see that even Haru saw that Natsumi and Togo had something special (though both didn’t know at the time, or well at least Natsumi didn’t haha). While I understand Haru’s feelings on the matter, I did think it was just a bit too much? I mean, I get that you want to be with Togo forever… but it just seems harsh to think the way she did. So you wanted Togo to be yours forever? Never to find a girl? Never marry anyone? That is a bit selfish right? I mean, if I was on my deathbed, or very sick, all I would want is for my husband to find someone else after I died, I wouldn’t want him to be lonely. Of course, it is his choice in the end, but I would definitely make it clear I would be fine with it. I would be sad of course that I can’t be with him forever… but I cannot forbid him or force him or whatever else to never be with someone. That is just harmful.
And we see the effects of how Natsumi feels after reading the diary, her guilt has intensified and my heart just broke for her. She seemed to be doing pretty fine, not wanting to die anymore, and now she was back in that. I just wanted to give her a hug. Tell her not to feel so guilty. To tell her please don’t commit suicide. Please, just find Togo.
In the mean time we see two POV at the same time. Togo who has to start dating again with a girl by the law of his mom (come on just move out already) and we see how he keeps thinking of Natsumi. Keeps thinking that he really lived for those weekends which had me totally swooning and squeeing. My heart broke though what happens not much later. OH MY GOSH. In the mean time Natsumi is doing what she can and trying to continue with her things. We see she is working hard, but that she misses Togo so much.
Oh gosh, I was just crying so much around page 285 to further. That was so emotional, I don’t want to say anything, but this whole book is already emotional, but this definitely broke the dam. I was so sad, but also happy. Because it was a big big thing that was just waiting to happen and holy wow that was so well written.
The ending was just fantastic and boy I am proud of both characters and how far they have come. Together.
I loved that we got some bonus comics and they were really fun and cute to read!
The art of the manga was pretty OK, I liked the style, but the eyes/faces were just a bit too derpy at times for me and distracted from certain scenes were you don’t want to be distracted.
This was an emotional rollercoaster. Loss and love, mourning and guilt, connecting and finding the one for you. It was beautifully written, with fantastic characters who you will root for. I would consider it one of my favourite manga. Highly recommended.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was definitely intrigued by the premise of the book, what kind of curse is Haru’s curse? And why start dating after someone dies? The cover also seemed intriguing, her holding an urn (I am guessing it is that) and both of them looking pretty grim.
Also worth noting this is the two volumes of the series combined into one big bundle!
I will be splitting the review into two parts as it just got way too long with just the first volume. Haha. I just got so many thoughts and sorry if the review gets a bit cluttered/chaotic, but I am just going to go with this as my review.
FIRST VOLUME PART
I loved that we get both POV on things. In the first chapter we meet Natsumi, the older sister. We read about her sister’s death, see Natsumi dating Togo (who dated Haru), we see how Togo and Haru got to dating (arranged), and some other things. While I knew from the blurb that Togo and Natsumi would be dating I was oddly weirded out by it as it just seemed to come out of nowhere and it felt kind of disrespectful. HOWEVER, in the second chapter we get the POV of Togo and we see that he has always been fascinated by Natsumi and not Haru. We see how he gets more and more intrigued as he sees more of her when they are both meeting up at the hospital to visit Haru. We see also the other side of him asking Natsumi to date him and it just made more sense. Still a bit weird, but then again given things were arranged for Togo and he always had an eye for Natsumi it felt different. More fitting. Though I still would have liked him to at least wait a bit, because sorry, just after the funeral.. Mmmmmm..
I liked that her condition was that he takes her to places he had taken her sister. OK, it was again a bit weird, but given her love for her sister it also made sense. Plus, I was definitely curious to see where Togo took Haru.
I loved seeing how both Togo and Natsumi get closer to each other, learn more about each other, but also learn more about Haru. I really loved those conversations and loved seeing both of them learn something about Haru. Plus, they are both showing each other a different side of the world. He is a rich isolated/sheltered guy who has missed out on a lot and Natsumi is a normal girl. I loved seeing them both go to the festival (though sadly we never got to see it for real) which Togo doesn’t know about, and he taking her to a fancy cafe. And so there are other things! Yep, that is right they deviated from their plans, at least for a bit. I also love seeing them both talk about all sorts of things, not just fun things but also serious things like jobs and moving out. About Haru.
We see that both are dealing with guilt. Guilt towards Haru. However, I could easily see that both didn’t per se only feel guilt but also quite liked each other. I guess Natsumi knows and is trying to stop it, while Togo on the other hand never experienced a lot of emotions and doesn’t know that the feelings he has, the little sparks he feels, the way he feels when Natsumi laughs or does something silly, is love or like. I was waiting for him to notice. To find out.
WOW, what a way to end the first volume of this bundle. Not just the conversation that Natsumi and Togo had, which I saw coming but still shocked me. And then what Natsumi finds online. WOW. This could mean a lot of things, it depends on what is mentioned online. Will Natsumi find answers?
————————–
VOLUME 2 PART
OK, that was an interesting way to start, we see more on Haru’s thoughts and that it was Togo who moved her to get to the doctor. Can you imagine if he hadn’t pushed? What would have happened then? I thought this part would be Haru only, but it is actually Natsumi reading the diary! We see that even Haru saw that Natsumi and Togo had something special (though both didn’t know at the time, or well at least Natsumi didn’t haha). While I understand Haru’s feelings on the matter, I did think it was just a bit too much? I mean, I get that you want to be with Togo forever… but it just seems harsh to think the way she did. So you wanted Togo to be yours forever? Never to find a girl? Never marry anyone? That is a bit selfish right? I mean, if I was on my deathbed, or very sick, all I would want is for my husband to find someone else after I died, I wouldn’t want him to be lonely. Of course, it is his choice in the end, but I would definitely make it clear I would be fine with it. I would be sad of course that I can’t be with him forever… but I cannot forbid him or force him or whatever else to never be with someone. That is just harmful.
And we see the effects of how Natsumi feels after reading the diary, her guilt has intensified and my heart just broke for her. She seemed to be doing pretty fine, not wanting to die anymore, and now she was back in that. I just wanted to give her a hug. Tell her not to feel so guilty. To tell her please don’t commit suicide. Please, just find Togo.
In the mean time we see two POV at the same time. Togo who has to start dating again with a girl by the law of his mom (come on just move out already) and we see how he keeps thinking of Natsumi. Keeps thinking that he really lived for those weekends which had me totally swooning and squeeing. My heart broke though what happens not much later. OH MY GOSH. In the mean time Natsumi is doing what she can and trying to continue with her things. We see she is working hard, but that she misses Togo so much.
Oh gosh, I was just crying so much around page 285 to further. That was so emotional, I don’t want to say anything, but this whole book is already emotional, but this definitely broke the dam. I was so sad, but also happy. Because it was a big big thing that was just waiting to happen and holy wow that was so well written.
The ending was just fantastic and boy I am proud of both characters and how far they have come. Together.
I loved that we got some bonus comics and they were really fun and cute to read!
The art of the manga was pretty OK, I liked the style, but the eyes/faces were just a bit too derpy at times for me and distracted from certain scenes were you don’t want to be distracted.
This was an emotional rollercoaster. Loss and love, mourning and guilt, connecting and finding the one for you. It was beautifully written, with fantastic characters who you will root for. I would consider it one of my favourite manga. Highly recommended.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
June 5, 2022
lowered from 4 to 3 stars. cute and enjoyable but not memorable.
September 2, 2021
Creo que es la tercera o cuarta vez que leo este manga y joder, que buena es Konishi. Y como me alegro de tener una versión en físico, aunque no se haya publicado aquí :(
October 23, 2023
I feel like the story could’ve been a bit more fleshed out but I did enjoy it overall.
March 1, 2021
(Digital ARC was kindly provided by the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Haru's Curse follows Natsumi after her younger sister dies, leaving behind her fiance from an arranged marriage who seems to move right on to Natsumi. She only agrees to date him if he takes her to places he's taken Haru, but as the seasons pass and their bond grows, Togo realizes that his time with Natsumi has a limit of all the places he's been with Haru.
This manga was juicy in the best way. The concept of a woman dating her dead sister's fiance is pretty taboo, but I love that this manga didn't shy away from the complicated feelings surrounding their circumstances. Natsumi's guilt and shame push her almost to the breaking point, while Togo is torn between the path his family has laid out for him and where his heart wants to go. Their grief was messy, and in turn, their actions and motivations were complicated and not always "good." Their emotions aren't sugarcoated or held back to be palatable, and it was interesting to see the way Natsumi and Togo dealt with the burden of their relationship through the passing seasons.
I wasn't expecting a neat ending, given both the circumstances and the fact that I didn't realize this was a standalone manga, so without sharing too many spoilers I will say that the conclusion both satisfied the arcs and development of the characters in a very pleasing way while leaving wiggle room for the "what ifs" of their future with each other and other side characters that my reader's heart desires.
The only thing I'm torn on my opinion about is the obsession Natsumi seems to have with Haru, to the point of saying she's not sure if she's straight, and might be in love with Haru. While I know that grief can be complicated, the comment about being straight or not seemed like an unnecessary throwaway line when Natsumi never explores or confirms her sexuality on-page. Her almost incestuous love for Haru was also a bit... well. Grief does strange things to the mind, I guess.
Haru's Curse follows Natsumi after her younger sister dies, leaving behind her fiance from an arranged marriage who seems to move right on to Natsumi. She only agrees to date him if he takes her to places he's taken Haru, but as the seasons pass and their bond grows, Togo realizes that his time with Natsumi has a limit of all the places he's been with Haru.
This manga was juicy in the best way. The concept of a woman dating her dead sister's fiance is pretty taboo, but I love that this manga didn't shy away from the complicated feelings surrounding their circumstances. Natsumi's guilt and shame push her almost to the breaking point, while Togo is torn between the path his family has laid out for him and where his heart wants to go. Their grief was messy, and in turn, their actions and motivations were complicated and not always "good." Their emotions aren't sugarcoated or held back to be palatable, and it was interesting to see the way Natsumi and Togo dealt with the burden of their relationship through the passing seasons.
I wasn't expecting a neat ending, given both the circumstances and the fact that I didn't realize this was a standalone manga, so without sharing too many spoilers I will say that the conclusion both satisfied the arcs and development of the characters in a very pleasing way while leaving wiggle room for the "what ifs" of their future with each other and other side characters that my reader's heart desires.
The only thing I'm torn on my opinion about is the obsession Natsumi seems to have with Haru, to the point of saying she's not sure if she's straight, and might be in love with Haru. While I know that grief can be complicated, the comment about being straight or not seemed like an unnecessary throwaway line when Natsumi never explores or confirms her sexuality on-page. Her almost incestuous love for Haru was also a bit... well. Grief does strange things to the mind, I guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2025
Meh. This was pretty melodramatic & the story didn’t feel very fleshed out for me. There was also a particular part that really weirded me out. The main character talks about her deceased sister like she had romantic feelings for her. She even says something along the lines of “I don’t even know if I’m straight”, as in she may like women? Nothing wrong with that but it is incredibly weird when a character is being low key incestuous. I looked past it and kept reading because I figured something was just lost in the Japanese to English translation. I can’t confirm if that’s true though since I can’t read Japanese. Lastly, I really wasn’t crazy about the art style. I probably won’t be keeping this manga in my collection.
April 17, 2021
My rating: 4.5 / 5 ★
TW: depression, suicide
At the start of this manga, Natsumi was attending the funeral of her younger sister, Haru. She was seen discreetly slipping a picture of Haru with her fiancé, Togo, into the casket with Haru's body before the funeral ended. Natsumi later started dating Togo after he asked her out after the funeral ended, and she accepted with the condition that they visit the places he visted with Haru during their dates. Sounds horrible, right? I wholeheartedly agree, but Haru's Curse is more than just a story about a sister "stealing" her dead sister's fiancé.
Haru's Curse is a story about Natsumi and Togo, the closest people to Haru and how they dealt with grief and guilt after Haru's death. Haru and Togo were engaged for an arranged marriage, and while Haru helplessly fell in love with Togo, it seemed that it was not the same case for him. He ends up asking Natsumi out after the funeral, using his parents as an excuse. Shockingly, Natsumi agreed right away, giving him a condition for agreeing to it. Their relationship stayed as a secret between them, and while their feelings start to bloom towards each other, the guilt of betraying Haru continued gnawing at their hearts.
I saw a few other readers saying that Togo is toxic for asking Natsumi out, and not reciprocating Haru's feelings at all despite dating her for more than two years. While I agree to a certain level that that behaviour is toxic (I mean, how could you even ask your dead fiancée's sister to date you right after your fiancée's funeral?), I would not say that Togo is a bad person. For a start, he got engaged to Haru because of his parents, and he was kind towards Haru during their two years of relationship. Despite catching feelings for Natsumi, Togo did not acknowledge it and was ready to marry Haru. He only approached Natsumi when Haru was gone. Not exactly something applaudable, but Togo should not be blamed for wanting someone that he truly loves. And if Togo is toxic for asking Natsumi out after the funeral, who's to say that Natsumi is not toxic as well, for accepting to be in a relationship with him?
The original manga in Japanese consisted of two books, but the English version is combined into a single book, in two parts. In the first part, the story is told from the perspective of Natsumi and Togo. From just a few pages, it was obvious how much they both wanted to care and love each other, yet the guilt held them back. In the second part, readers are exposed to Haru's perspective, which I really appreciate. I love Asuka Konoshi's artwork; not only are they beautiful, but the expressions for each character are so vivid and clear that you can easily understand their emotions.
Natsumi's character is easily likeable. She is attentive towards those around her, and she tries her best to be cheerful and happy around her family, despite knowing that her father doted more on Haru. She loves Haru a lot; she even confessed to Togo that she was probably in love with her sister, because Haru was the only real family to her. This caring part of her was what drew Togo towards her, without both of them realising it. While Togo may seem rather emotionless most of the time, I rather believe that he is just not good at expressing himself. Growing up following whatever his mother wanted, he never had any dreams of his own—and this changed when Natsumi entered his life.
I like that Haru's character is present too, although she was no longer alive. Her character is portrayed realistically, which is proven in one of the online journals she left behind: she mentioned that she would not willingly witness Natsumi and Togo marrying each other. Perhaps she noticed earlier, the small accidental interactions between Natsumi and Togo, and she knew that she would never experience the same thing. My heart broke for her, but feelings are something that is very complicated.
I do not think that either Natsumi or Togo are at fault for accepting their feelings for each other. They respected Haru and only acknowledged their feelings after Haru's death, although the timing is still not great. It may be considered as a betrayal to Haru for some people, but Natsumi and Togo deserve their happiness as well. It's a very complicated matter, and both of them will carry the guilt for a long time. Despite Haru saying that she could never accept Natsumi and Togo to be with each other, if Haru lived, I am rather sure that eventually she would learn to accept it. Sure, she will resent Natsumi for it, but their sisterly bond is stronger than that and it would not easily be broken just because of a man.
The story has a rather open-ended ending; though readers will know that Natsumi and Togo are trying their best to make things work, there's no saying that another hurdle would be coming right at them soon. It is also clear that they still carry the guilt, or as they called it: Haru's curse. The story focuses a lot on their grief and guilt, and the romance are not strongly shown. I ended up liking this story more than I expected, because the topic of "stealing your dead sister's fiancé" is actually something I am uncomfortable with. But the way Asuka Konishi presented the story made me able to easily empathise with both of the main characters.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.
TW: depression, suicide
At the start of this manga, Natsumi was attending the funeral of her younger sister, Haru. She was seen discreetly slipping a picture of Haru with her fiancé, Togo, into the casket with Haru's body before the funeral ended. Natsumi later started dating Togo after he asked her out after the funeral ended, and she accepted with the condition that they visit the places he visted with Haru during their dates. Sounds horrible, right? I wholeheartedly agree, but Haru's Curse is more than just a story about a sister "stealing" her dead sister's fiancé.
Haru's Curse is a story about Natsumi and Togo, the closest people to Haru and how they dealt with grief and guilt after Haru's death. Haru and Togo were engaged for an arranged marriage, and while Haru helplessly fell in love with Togo, it seemed that it was not the same case for him. He ends up asking Natsumi out after the funeral, using his parents as an excuse. Shockingly, Natsumi agreed right away, giving him a condition for agreeing to it. Their relationship stayed as a secret between them, and while their feelings start to bloom towards each other, the guilt of betraying Haru continued gnawing at their hearts.
I saw a few other readers saying that Togo is toxic for asking Natsumi out, and not reciprocating Haru's feelings at all despite dating her for more than two years. While I agree to a certain level that that behaviour is toxic (I mean, how could you even ask your dead fiancée's sister to date you right after your fiancée's funeral?), I would not say that Togo is a bad person. For a start, he got engaged to Haru because of his parents, and he was kind towards Haru during their two years of relationship. Despite catching feelings for Natsumi, Togo did not acknowledge it and was ready to marry Haru. He only approached Natsumi when Haru was gone. Not exactly something applaudable, but Togo should not be blamed for wanting someone that he truly loves. And if Togo is toxic for asking Natsumi out after the funeral, who's to say that Natsumi is not toxic as well, for accepting to be in a relationship with him?
The original manga in Japanese consisted of two books, but the English version is combined into a single book, in two parts. In the first part, the story is told from the perspective of Natsumi and Togo. From just a few pages, it was obvious how much they both wanted to care and love each other, yet the guilt held them back. In the second part, readers are exposed to Haru's perspective, which I really appreciate. I love Asuka Konoshi's artwork; not only are they beautiful, but the expressions for each character are so vivid and clear that you can easily understand their emotions.
Natsumi's character is easily likeable. She is attentive towards those around her, and she tries her best to be cheerful and happy around her family, despite knowing that her father doted more on Haru. She loves Haru a lot; she even confessed to Togo that she was probably in love with her sister, because Haru was the only real family to her. This caring part of her was what drew Togo towards her, without both of them realising it. While Togo may seem rather emotionless most of the time, I rather believe that he is just not good at expressing himself. Growing up following whatever his mother wanted, he never had any dreams of his own—and this changed when Natsumi entered his life.
I like that Haru's character is present too, although she was no longer alive. Her character is portrayed realistically, which is proven in one of the online journals she left behind: she mentioned that she would not willingly witness Natsumi and Togo marrying each other. Perhaps she noticed earlier, the small accidental interactions between Natsumi and Togo, and she knew that she would never experience the same thing. My heart broke for her, but feelings are something that is very complicated.
I do not think that either Natsumi or Togo are at fault for accepting their feelings for each other. They respected Haru and only acknowledged their feelings after Haru's death, although the timing is still not great. It may be considered as a betrayal to Haru for some people, but Natsumi and Togo deserve their happiness as well. It's a very complicated matter, and both of them will carry the guilt for a long time. Despite Haru saying that she could never accept Natsumi and Togo to be with each other, if Haru lived, I am rather sure that eventually she would learn to accept it. Sure, she will resent Natsumi for it, but their sisterly bond is stronger than that and it would not easily be broken just because of a man.
The story has a rather open-ended ending; though readers will know that Natsumi and Togo are trying their best to make things work, there's no saying that another hurdle would be coming right at them soon. It is also clear that they still carry the guilt, or as they called it: Haru's curse. The story focuses a lot on their grief and guilt, and the romance are not strongly shown. I ended up liking this story more than I expected, because the topic of "stealing your dead sister's fiancé" is actually something I am uncomfortable with. But the way Asuka Konishi presented the story made me able to easily empathise with both of the main characters.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 15, 2021
This reaches into the soul. Trigers for suicide and depression be warned.
August 25, 2022
Not sure what possessed me to pick up this sad story but it was good!
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