Intriguing Secrets by Rize Shinba
Publisher: DMP June
Price: $12.95
Genre: Drama, Contemporary Romance, Yaoi
Themes: Class mates, first love
Rating: Mature 16+
Volumes: 1 Volume
ISBN: 978-1-56970-596-4
Note: Picture taken with my iphone camera from my manga library.
Basice Premise:
Umehara is quiet and a loner. Mizue is the center of attention and the class clown. They don’t get along… or so they thought. Both boys find a new friendship when they share detention together. For Umehara that friendship is starting to grow into something more but Umehara is sure there’s no way Mizue feels the same.
Sex shown:
Kissing, hugging, allusions to groping.
Review:
Umehara is insecure. Mizue doesn’t know how to get his feelings across without playing them off as a joke. Both boys are innocent and clumsy in their first attempts at love. That made this story poignant. It’s an innocent, stumbling first love that makes you give a soft smile when you finish the story.
The story is mostly from Umehara’s point of view, so the reader struggles along with him during his awkward moments. That added a good deal of depth to the story. I would love to see this same story presented from Mizue’s point of view just to see how it would change. But I’m really happy with what was offered.