Skip Beat is my favorite manga, but I waited quite awhile before reading the latest volume. Just as well. Now I have less time to wait before the next volume comes out (September, I think).In some ways, each volume of Skip Beat lately has been more of the same. Basically tons of romantic tension. This is somewhat frustrating. It's annoying that I'm reading the same plot over and over with a few details changed, but on the other hand, books/tv shows/movies are almost always better before the happy couple gets together. The romantic tension is what moves things. So I'm also not in too much of a hurry for things to change.The basic plot of this volume is Sho snatching Kyoko from school and hassling her. Ren sees them together in a car and is both curious and jealous about whatever it is they're doing. Every time that Sho hints that he might not be a terrible person is short-lived; soon enough he does something skeevy. His watchfulness of Kyoko is much more possession than protection. Ren too has a jealous side and there's a possession element to it as well, but it just doesn't feel as slimy.Kyoko has started to figure out that she "likes" Ren, but is still convinced that he has no interest in her. This is the plot element that really irritates me. I hate that she is so blind. That she doesn't have the self confidence to think that Ren might be interested in her. For a girl that is very strong in so many ways, she is remarkably weak when it comes to self-perception. I hope that changes soon. What a volume! This has to be one of the most tension-filled volumes of the series so far! So much happens in this volume in such a short time!*WARNING: SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT READ PREVIOUS VOLUMES! STOP NOW.In this volume we get a lot of Sho once again. GAH, I hate him! Arrogant jerk! so Sho actually has the nerve to 'kidnap' Kyoko and goes off on here and questions her (big surprise right?) then he pushes her to say that she has no feelings for Ren. He then tries to use this information to get a rise out of Ren. But with Ren's mood swings it may not be the wisest of ideas....Meanwhile Sho's questioning about Ren has Kyoko wondering what she does feel. After all volumes up until recently it must be quite the internal battle. And Kijima! What is his game? I don't think he is bad but I just don't trust him either, yet something about him reminds me of a boy with a crush. Then there is Ren. Ren who is in such an internal dilemma. I love his character! In this volume he not only witnesses Kyoko with Sho, he gets ambushes by Sho and then gets a third rude interruption! With all this tension, I am surprised he keeps (mostly) holding things together!This book is not as dark as the last volume but the tensions more than make up for it. And the end! How can it stop where id does?! Major cliffie! So many drastic turning points can now happen! This is one of my favorite series! I love it!**I got this as an eBook in exchange for a fair, honest review from Viz Media via Edelweiss. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.**
What do You think about Skip Beat!, Vol. 32 (2013)?
I like the stories between the sibling set up. Looking forward to more.
—tajeera0203
