Rating: 5 out of 5

Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley + in exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

I read this in the morning and I'M FUCKING SOBBING IN THE VERY FIRST CHAPTER
This is what I like about comics or graphic novels that the romance in it has stakes and omg the slow-burn and the pain. Both Natsumi and Togo slowly fall for each other after Haru died and they feel guilty especially Natsumi. The way Togo just fall for Natsumi is such a fluff. The story is so gloomy and dark. I thought the ending will be a sad ending where Natsumi or Togo ended up dying.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the chance to read this comics.

I already knew about Asuka Konishi’s other works and I enjoyed it thoroughly so when I got the opportunity to read their other work like this, I was very thankful. I already knew there was going to be some emotions flying about and complicated ones at that. Overall I enjoyed the journey we went through with Natsumi, a dedicated older sister who took care of her younger sister to the point of calling her overbearing, and Togo, the ex fiancé who cared, but heart wasn’t in the the marriage proposal.

If you want a short, but emotional ride, please go ahead and read this story. The art is pretty and the explanation overall is very much their with complexed human emotions that one reader can understand.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this aRC in exchange for my honest review.

I have to say that this story started strong and got better by the end. It's a story about lost, grief but also about second chances in life, new starts and the discovery of oneself.
I loved everything about this book and I never loved mangas with tragedy but this book made me change my mind because it was so well written. Asuka Konishi is a discovery for me and after this story I want to read her other books.

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.

3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4)

I received an ARC of this manga in exchange for an honest review.

When Natsumi's younger sister dies, she's devastated. Haru was Natsumi's whole world, and her loss is hard to deal with. Haru had been dating Togo, a man from a wealthy family. In a strange twist of events, Natsumi reluctantly agrees to date him. As the two continue to see each other, the memory of Haru hangs over them, making them question if what they're doing is right.

I have mixed feelings about this manga. I liked the art style and I liked the way that grief, loss, and guilt were portrayed. I never really connected to the two main characters, and their relationship seemed a bit strange.

Ultimately, the art was beautiful and the story was okay. I'm not sure if I would recommend this--I guess it depends on the reader.

After Natsumi's younger sister and best friend Haru dies at the age of 19, she begins dating Haru's fiancee Togo - on the condition that he take her only to places he had taken her sister. Their relationship deepens as the seasons pass, but Haru's curse lies between them...
Will there be happiness after Haru's curse is broken?- Goodreads

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wish it was longer to see what happens.

The story is simple enough but it is the complex emotions that keeps me hanging on. The unfortunate and unexpected death of Haru keeps the book going but it isn't exactly the main story until the end. I liked it that way; it allowed Natsumi and Togo to grow on me as a reader and it made me feel for them.

The overall story gave a different perspective to some very hard choices. Moving on to the artwork, I thought I wouldn't like it but it fit the overall story perfectly. Although blocky, it was detailed and the artist showed a lot of intense emotions through the book.

I really wish there was another book as I really want to see what happens. This is not to say that the ending was crappy or that it keeps you on a cliff hanger; its to say that the I was so moved by the story and how it was written, how it was drawn that I want more of it.

Overall,

This manga isn't for the faint of heart in regards to emotions but overall, I loved it.

Holy heck, this manga was quite a ride. I had just finished reading a cute shojo manga before starting this one, so it was quite a switch. The story is about a young woman named Natsumi who is super close to her younger sister Haru. After her sister falls ill and dies, Natsumi begins dating her sister's fiancé Togo in order to go on the dates they went on and try to cling to the memories of her. The art style is nice and the story was captivatingly sad. The only big downside to this read for me were the references to consanguineous dating/marriage, as Togo belongs to a prestigious family and is expected to keep the bloodline "pure." Other than that it was engaging and I enjoyed it.

This is not the story I expected, it is much darker than I thought, and I was fascinated by it.
It deals with the issues of loss and guilt in a way that I had not seen in a while, without the need to offer complete redemption, which gives more truth to the feelings of our protagonists.

I'm a little sad because it's such a short story, but it provides the closure that is needed
The drawing style reminded me of CLMP's style on XHolic! Loved it.

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Esta no es la historia que esperaba, es bastante mas oscura y me fascinó por ello.
Trata los temas de perdida y culpa de una manera que no había visto en un tiempo, sin necesidad de brindar redención completa, lo que le da mas veracidad a los sentimientos de nuestros protagonistas.

Estoy un poco triste porque es una historia tan corta, pero brinda el cierre que se necesita
El estilo de dibujo me agradó mucho, me recordó bastante a CLAMP en XHolic

Rating: 3.5

I always enjoy finding new mangas to read and was excited to see this one on Netgalley. It also has both volumes included so I could finish it right away!

Haru’s Curse follows the life of Natsumi after her younger sister dies. The book is filled with grief and what people do to deal with it. It also follows her relationship with Togo (The fiancée of her younger sister), who she has agreed to date on one condition.

There are a couple times where the point-of-view switches as to better understand both characters, Natsumi and Togo as they find themselves in this weird relationship. There are also past tense scenes to help bridge the gap of how they all interacted with Haru (the sister). It all added to the plot and helped bridge the gap.

Natsumi is definitely a wreck as she doted on her sister who was the only one really there for her growing up. They didn’t have the best childhood and it was easy to understand why such a loss would cause her to spiral at times.

Togo has been living under his mother’s thumb since they day he was born. He hasn’t ever had to make any choices of his own but he does come out of his shell when he is around Natsumi. I did like seeing that side of him.

Both of them have a lot in common and it is easy to understand why they would find themselves in such a predicament. Although it isn’t easy on their conscious as they struggle to come to terms with grief and learning to move on when you don’t want to hurt the one who is no longer living.

Overall, I liked this one. The ending was a bit on the meh side as I don’t like open-ended but I still am happy I gave this one a chance.

This was my first Manga and seriously, I'm addicted. It was darker than I was expecting, I don't know why that it is, though. Comics are often dark, using the beautiful artwork to draw readers. I loved this angsty, second chance romance/manga. Definitely going to rec to my young adult students.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I liked the art style, but didn’t expect the story to be quite this sad and dark. Plus, the characters had serious issues and should probably seek professional help.

A poignant story about sisterly love, grief, and the painful process of moving on.

In Haru's Curse, Konishi creates an emotional story centered on Natsumi's and Togo's budding relationship after the death of Haru. While I initially had some doubts on how such a story could be tastefully done, Konishi completely exceeded my expectations.

The story is beautifully written and the art perfectly matches the story.

The relationship between Natsumi and Haru is imperfect, but one filled with love and respect. Meanwhile Natsumi's and Togo's relationship is one that slowly grows and flourishes throughout the story. You witness Natsumi and Togo bond over their shared affection for Haru. You watch them find solace in each other's presence and rediscover joy.

As the story progresses you learn that Natsumi's and Togo's families have their flaws. And it's those flaws that have prevented both Natsumi and Togo from being truly happy their entire lives. It isn't until the both of them pursue a relationship with each other that they realize that they have the power to chart their own path.

Haru's Curse is a slice-of-life manga that I completely recommend. It's a moving story filled with sadness, joy, grief, humor, guilt, and hope. A testament that life is complex and that the path toward happiness is rarely an easy one.

This story is short, only 8 chapters, although the electronic version is a solid 362 pages. I have very slight problems with art. These noses are just awful! And the characters are thinner than the thinnest ones I remember seeing, it's scary xD In general - this can't boast of any more beautiful art, at least in my eyes.
The story reminds me more of a Korean drama - one in which there was not a single kiss, but the story is strange and captivating, even if you don't expect it to be.
Tougo is a wealthy heir whose family wants to marry him to a good party - a girl from a good family who no longer has money but has "pure" blood. The heirs of the Tachibana family with two. Tougo's family chooses the younger one. But she dies young and it is said that Tougo has always had feelings for the older one ... and it seems that she also has feelings for him. Haru's shadow is still above them ...
Crazy story, but very well presented. I like that it develops in so few chapters because it keeps the baseline straight, doesn't blur it. To some extent, things are a little sweetened, but that's not a bad thing at all, because it gives you the feeling that you're just reading a non-standard show, and not something that should be out of your sight and heavy for months on end.
I recommend it for older readers, the practice of this is pure josei, all again.

The original review is in Bulgarian. I apologize for a possible wrong translation into English. The link to the Bulgarian review is below.

Natsumi's little sister Haru means the world to her. They do everything together until they both go to meet bachelor Togo and his family to arrange a marriage between families. Haru hits it off with Togo's mom right away and she is ultimately selected for Togo. Haru falls ill and eventually dies leaving Natsumi utterly wrecked. She and Togo work through their grief together. Will Natsumi let her guilt and fear of being labeled a bad sister stop her from admitting her feeling for Togo?

I went into this book skeptical. Sisters before misters, right? This book holds our hand through Natsumi and Togo's experience and how it's easy to judge people instead of looking at the situation in a compassionate way.

My favorite quote and great characterization of Togo came after he was given a candy apple by Natsumi:
"He didn't know how to eat it, so he took it home and broke off the candy coating, then cut it up and ate it like a normal apple."

Trigger warning: suicide

I was not expecting this, but art style was good and plot was really interesting too. It is worth reading.

What happens when you start dating your dead sister’s fiancee?Natsumi has always loved her sister, a definite sister complex, and hated her sister’s fiancee Togo, as she thought he was taking her sister away from her. Her sister is dies of cancer, and Togo comes up with an offer, to date him to appease his family and Natsumi agrees on one condition, he takes her to all the places he took her sister while they were dating. The story is told from both of their perspectives. Togo is distant, cold, and a but emotionless, he follows whatever his family wants and when he is arranged to marry Haru he doesn’t question it, yet he finds himself feeling for the first time whenever he encounters Natsumi, and thinks that he has the chance to get to know her by lying and saying that they have to date. Natsumi is a hardworking and racked with guilt over dating Togo, to the point she feels like she might be cursed from Haru, yet she can’t stop coming back to Togo. It’s a complicated love story and it was an amazing read. I absolutely loved this!!!

*Thanks Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*