Star and Hedgehog by Nayuta Nago

[reviews_and_ramblings]

 

Outgoing college student Ikumi heads home for the summer, where he meets Harukiyo, a shy gardener with a soft spot for house plants.

Despite seeming totally resistant to Ikumi's charms, Harukiyo eventually admits his attraction to Ikumi, and Ikumi is surprised to discover he feels the same way about Harukyo! At summer's end, the pair embark on their first long-distance relationship...

Once reunited, Ikumi and Harukiyo stumble together through the early stages of their newfound romance, tripping over the stark differences in their personalities. Can a blossoming love between a shining star and a prickly hedgehog go the distance?

My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/4nVpdut)

Star and Hedgehog by Nayuta Nago is truly a cute and sweet story—much sweeter than you might expect from the manga's initial cover art (perhaps that's why they changed it in the new edition, making it a bit less sexy). The interesting thing about this story is that both characters are genuinely attractive, making them a couple with a high level of combined sexiness. The classic pair usually features the sexy type and the cute type, but here, they are both sexy and cute at the same time. Their difference, therefore, isn't in their looks but in their personalities: Ikumi is outgoing, jovial, and friendly, while Harukiyo is shy, introverted, and a bit unsocial. But when Ikumi realizes that Harukiyo's coldness isn't because he finds Ikumi annoying—quite the opposite, Harukiyo actually can't control his emotions when near Ikumi—the stage is set for a truly adorable love story. Great artwork and interesting characters that feel more original than most yaoi manga make this a standout read.