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Beauty is the Beast #2
Beauty is the Beast, Vol. 2
Happily ever after comes with a curfew!
When bubbly eleventh-grader Eimi Yamashita finds out that her parents are relocating for work, she decides to strike out on her own and move into a dormitory for girls. Little does Eimi suspect the exciting romantic adventures that await her there!
It's Eimi's second term in her new home, and she's feeling homesick. Her friends try and help, but even food doesn't work this time. Leave it to the scariest guy in the dorms to cheer Eimi up! Wanibuchi takes her mind off her misery with a bunch of flowers and some tales of his hidden past. But can her newfound happiness withstand the trauma of a broken TV and a dark army of cockroaches?
When bubbly eleventh-grader Eimi Yamashita finds out that her parents are relocating for work, she decides to strike out on her own and move into a dormitory for girls. Little does Eimi suspect the exciting romantic adventures that await her there!
It's Eimi's second term in her new home, and she's feeling homesick. Her friends try and help, but even food doesn't work this time. Leave it to the scariest guy in the dorms to cheer Eimi up! Wanibuchi takes her mind off her misery with a bunch of flowers and some tales of his hidden past. But can her newfound happiness withstand the trauma of a broken TV and a dark army of cockroaches?
192 pages, Paperback
Published February 7, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 4, 2020
I found this a little more interesting than the first book, which was more like 2.5 for me. Some of the secondary characters are becoming a little less flat -- although interestingly, not the MC who is pretty boring. I wonder at the reasons for this choice on the author's part? It's certainly possible to have a naive and innocent character with an interesting personality.
The author has started adding anecdotes from readers about their dorm experiences. This is a cute idea, although the stories are so far dull ("curfew was at 9:45, but we had a free hour before that!"), or mildly depressing if one is a feminist. And I went to a pretty retrogressive school! Anyway, I'm guessing that women who are nostalgic for their dorm days is a major audience here.
The author has started adding anecdotes from readers about their dorm experiences. This is a cute idea, although the stories are so far dull ("curfew was at 9:45, but we had a free hour before that!"), or mildly depressing if one is a feminist. And I went to a pretty retrogressive school! Anyway, I'm guessing that women who are nostalgic for their dorm days is a major audience here.
April 24, 2018
Actual Rating: 4.25
This was an enjoyable manga. The second volume was much better than the first in my opinion. I really liked getting more progression in Wanibuchi and Eimi's relationship. I also really thought that there was more to Wanibuchi than I realized, and it was interesting to see more of who he was. I do hope that the rest of the manga does get better because this volume showed a lot of potential to where the manga could go. I did enjoy it, but I thought that there could have been more done to the story. I thought the story was slow at the beginning, but picked up during the last few chapters of the manga. I hope there will be more of a backstory for the other characters now. I thought the characters were great. I cannot wait to read volume 3. Overall, a great read.
This was an enjoyable manga. The second volume was much better than the first in my opinion. I really liked getting more progression in Wanibuchi and Eimi's relationship. I also really thought that there was more to Wanibuchi than I realized, and it was interesting to see more of who he was. I do hope that the rest of the manga does get better because this volume showed a lot of potential to where the manga could go. I did enjoy it, but I thought that there could have been more done to the story. I thought the story was slow at the beginning, but picked up during the last few chapters of the manga. I hope there will be more of a backstory for the other characters now. I thought the characters were great. I cannot wait to read volume 3. Overall, a great read.
July 1, 2015
This one part in the book... Made the wholeeeee entire book for me:
I love the main characters still. And I like how their relationship is slowly progressing. The secondary characters Suzu and Nuinui are getting better- the rest can be written out please. Lol. I still think Nuinui and Suzu look to much alike.
I love the main characters still. And I like how their relationship is slowly progressing. The secondary characters Suzu and Nuinui are getting better- the rest can be written out please. Lol. I still think Nuinui and Suzu look to much alike.
April 21, 2020
I'm torn. There are bits and pieces that I like (mostly scenes and characters) but the art is so.... Dull. The eyes are just so empty looking that it brings no emotion. They rarely change in moments of emotion. The story is good though. I suggest that if you don't mind a few cliche tropes. But there are new tropes in this, so that's another good point.
June 28, 2015
Eimi is the absolute best. She is so freaking adorable.
Really the only downside to Beauty is the Beast for me is that for some reason I just can't remember who is who. There are so many names flying around and I forget who is who and who has what quirk.
This volume specifically had a lot to do with side characters. This isn't necessarily bad, because I like most of them, but I just like Eimi and Wanichubi so much more. I want to see more of them.
Really the only downside to Beauty is the Beast for me is that for some reason I just can't remember who is who. There are so many names flying around and I forget who is who and who has what quirk.
This volume specifically had a lot to do with side characters. This isn't necessarily bad, because I like most of them, but I just like Eimi and Wanichubi so much more. I want to see more of them.
December 25, 2017
Barely 3 stars...
Overall a bit better than the first book but still not impressed. Many characters have this "lost" look that makes them too similar. Eimi still has an impressionable character and she is the main protagonist! The first couple chapters were the best but the last two were extremely dull. For such a short series, I wish there was less focus on the secondary characters. Especially when none of them are being developed well.
Overall a bit better than the first book but still not impressed. Many characters have this "lost" look that makes them too similar. Eimi still has an impressionable character and she is the main protagonist! The first couple chapters were the best but the last two were extremely dull. For such a short series, I wish there was less focus on the secondary characters. Especially when none of them are being developed well.
June 10, 2017
I was unsure about this series when I read the first volume, but after reading the second I'm starting to really enjoy it. The humor is really good and the characters are just starting to drag me into the story. I'm excited to see what will happen in future volumes!
September 10, 2019
I love the artwork, and the story is really different, in a good way.
December 12, 2020
Just a nice confusing 'who am I supposed to ship?' story 🤣
August 30, 2022
I feel like the first volume set rules and then volume two just completely ignored them. The story can be hard to follow and seems to jump a lot
September 7, 2024
I am still caught up on the electronic tragedy...did the television thing ever get resolved?
Read
April 24, 2025nostalgia re-read
September 30, 2017
I can see the slow progress of Eimi and Wanibuchi in this volume.
The younger sister in chapter 8 was really cute in an extremely naive way. lol.
I was really interesting to learn about Wanibuchi's past in chapter 9.
I love how the girls were disappointed to ONLY win a 14 day trip to Turkey instead of a tv. :P
The younger sister in chapter 8 was really cute in an extremely naive way. lol.
I was really interesting to learn about Wanibuchi's past in chapter 9.
I love how the girls were disappointed to ONLY win a 14 day trip to Turkey instead of a tv. :P
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2013
This volume has a first chapter with Wanichin being made male dorm president and organising the dorm festival (to benefit the very rundown girls' dorm, even) and people starting to realise that he may have an aura of a troublemaker but actually means well and knows how to lead.
The second chapter has the absolutely hysterical one-off side-story of how Misao's younger sister Yutaka, who is a shoujo romance manga freak, imagined herself into love with the female dorm superintendent Sawaguchi (in his 20s, inveterate gambler and all).
Now, the cliché situation that lead to it could have been played totally for laughs at her expense, but I admire that Matsumoto-sensei decided to have her follow Sawaguchi along on things he enjoys and then make a full out confession actually approaching him on that level - basically making him dare gamble on the fact she promised to make him be happy that he is her boyfriend.
The fact that usually callous Sawaguchi bothers about Yutaka's short bout of teenage despair makes me hopeful that this relationship might eventually have some sort of equality. But maybe I'm a dreamer. We certainly don't focus on these two in the rest of the series.
The third chapter of a supposedly home-sick Eimi, gives Matsumoto-Sensei the chance to explore Wanibuchi's time with his grandfather in Brasil in detail, which is nicely done (but of course means that Eimi is only used as a frame - she's the one who points out to Wanibuchi that he has things in his past that he enjoyed). That Chapter 9 painting of Misao, Eimi and Suzu as they would look if they were real life Japanese girls somehow grounds the series in more realism for me.
The chapter after that deals with the Eimi breaking the girls dorm TV and the desperate attempts to get finances to buy one from all the girls. It also introduces Wanibuchi's current girlfriend, whom Eimi massively admires. She's a huge Wanibuchi fan and at this time can't think of him returning any more than affection as if for a favourite dog, or a younger sister (even though he called her princess at the dorm festival).
The last chapter is a Suzu and Inui (Wanibuchi's roommate) chapter, which hints at possible attraction from both sides (that never goes anywhere in the rest of the series - I get the feeling that the series was cut short from what the mangaka intended. Kiss had 9 volumes I believe). All while fumigating the cockroach-infested girls' dorm, heh.
The second chapter has the absolutely hysterical one-off side-story of how Misao's younger sister Yutaka, who is a shoujo romance manga freak, imagined herself into love with the female dorm superintendent Sawaguchi (in his 20s, inveterate gambler and all).
Now, the cliché situation that lead to it could have been played totally for laughs at her expense, but I admire that Matsumoto-sensei decided to have her follow Sawaguchi along on things he enjoys and then make a full out confession actually approaching him on that level - basically making him dare gamble on the fact she promised to make him be happy that he is her boyfriend.
The fact that usually callous Sawaguchi bothers about Yutaka's short bout of teenage despair makes me hopeful that this relationship might eventually have some sort of equality. But maybe I'm a dreamer. We certainly don't focus on these two in the rest of the series.
The third chapter of a supposedly home-sick Eimi, gives Matsumoto-Sensei the chance to explore Wanibuchi's time with his grandfather in Brasil in detail, which is nicely done (but of course means that Eimi is only used as a frame - she's the one who points out to Wanibuchi that he has things in his past that he enjoyed). That Chapter 9 painting of Misao, Eimi and Suzu as they would look if they were real life Japanese girls somehow grounds the series in more realism for me.
The chapter after that deals with the Eimi breaking the girls dorm TV and the desperate attempts to get finances to buy one from all the girls. It also introduces Wanibuchi's current girlfriend, whom Eimi massively admires. She's a huge Wanibuchi fan and at this time can't think of him returning any more than affection as if for a favourite dog, or a younger sister (even though he called her princess at the dorm festival).
The last chapter is a Suzu and Inui (Wanibuchi's roommate) chapter, which hints at possible attraction from both sides (that never goes anywhere in the rest of the series - I get the feeling that the series was cut short from what the mangaka intended. Kiss had 9 volumes I believe). All while fumigating the cockroach-infested girls' dorm, heh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2008
More dorm shenanigans in volume 2. First they throw a festival involving sexy outfits to raise money for the dorms. Wanibuchi has been made dorm president (because the dorm presidents always have to be male?? and are appointed, not elected??) as punishment for staying out all night and tending bar and walking around with his shirt off too much.
Then Misao's younger sister, Yutaka, shows up and we go into a tangent about her unrequited love issues with a dorm superintendent, who is old and also an asshole and a degenerate gambler. for some reason he agrees to sit tight until Yutaka becomes legal. (??)
THEN Eimi becomes homesick and refuses to leave her bed. not even for snacks. Wanibuchi comes by and cheers her up with flowers and by telling stories about his childhood in Mexico with his grandfather, and also taking his shirt off. (just kidding.) Having gotten out of bed with a greater understanding for Wanibuchi's character, Eimi accidentally dumps a vat of beverage over the already unreliable dorm television set, and for some reason brings it to the bar where Wanibuchi works, arriving just in time to...see him with his shirt off!
And then the dorm gets cockroaches. can't wait for volume 3!
Then Misao's younger sister, Yutaka, shows up and we go into a tangent about her unrequited love issues with a dorm superintendent, who is old and also an asshole and a degenerate gambler. for some reason he agrees to sit tight until Yutaka becomes legal. (??)
THEN Eimi becomes homesick and refuses to leave her bed. not even for snacks. Wanibuchi comes by and cheers her up with flowers and by telling stories about his childhood in Mexico with his grandfather, and also taking his shirt off. (just kidding.) Having gotten out of bed with a greater understanding for Wanibuchi's character, Eimi accidentally dumps a vat of beverage over the already unreliable dorm television set, and for some reason brings it to the bar where Wanibuchi works, arriving just in time to...see him with his shirt off!
And then the dorm gets cockroaches. can't wait for volume 3!
April 25, 2009
It was ok
November 11, 2010
This is a weird one and I don't know how I feel about the main character...but I'm hooked now.
October 13, 2011
Love the series
May 31, 2013
Not as good as the first one.
May 21, 2015
Okay volume. Kind of like it. Interesting at times I guess.
April 20, 2016
Eimi's adorable and in this volume she's homesick (which just makes her more adorable). It's up to Wanibuchi to cheer her up!!!
July 4, 2020
Really just middle of the road - not bad, but not fantastic. If I didn’t own the whole series already (book sale!) I don’t think I would bother reading it...
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews