Manga Review: Dear Friends: Rina & Maki by Yoshi & Ayu Watanabe

Title: Dear Friends: Rina & Maki

Original Title: Dear Friends

Author: Yoshi

Artist: Ayu Watanabe

Year of Release: 2005

Genres: Drama, Mature, Psychological, Shoujo, Slice of Life, Tragedy

Status: Completed

Chapters (Translated in English): 4

Volumes & Chapters: 

1 Volume in total

Mangafox – Goodreads

Summary

There's the affectionless father and the overly affectionate mother, and then there's the beautiful 18 year old high schooler Rina.
"Friends are just meant to be used," is what Rina says when she is caught having sex with one of her friends' boyfriends. Rina has such a low opinion of friends, but when she is hospitalized her classmate from elementary school, Maki, appears before her, wanting to continue their free-of-charge friendship from long ago. In this day and age, just what is the meaning of friendship? A tale of friendship based on a true story, as retold by Yoshi (the same author as Deep Love).

My Thoughts

Review covers 4 chapters 

To say the truth, I do not really remember why I haven’t read this story the first time I was reading Yoshi’s works. As always the story explores the human’s deepest desires and emotions. You should be prepared to face the reality in its harshest and cruelest form available out there. In these four chapters, the author explores death and illness without my second thought. And if you are not ready to have your sanity questioned numerous times just do not take up this work. It might really break you.

The story is 4 chapters long and you’ll think how can someone actually encompass anything in such a short time? You have Yoshi here! An author that shows the ugliness of human nature without any second thought! Is it ugly? Yes, but it is also fascinating, how it makes you wonder if it might have been you in the place of protagonist! So, what’s the story about? Imagine a teenager a very pretty and popular with boys teenager, who lives her life, however, she seems fit: she parties, drinks, smokes, and fools around. But everything changes when one day she faints and is told that she has breast cancer. Yes, that’s how the story starts. What's our heroine going to do? Remember, I described her pretty well. Yes, the denial doesn’t even cover it!

Go through a journey with Rina to find herself and look at the word friendship. Yes, at the very end this story is not about cancer or life and death matter, though it sure is, but it’s about real friendship. How well do you know your friends? Or an even better question: are you sure they are your friends? Explore the tragic life or Rina and Maki, and once you do, ask yourself what would you have done? I hope you’ll find some time to read this fantastic story. Do not take it lightly as it has some issues worth reading carefully! Enjoy it to its fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don’t miss your favourite book or manga! Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

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