Kitchen Princess 10 [ペーパーバック]

This is the feeling I get with this manga, it made me smile a lot and I felt really happy after reading each chapter.

If I could give this beautiful manga a hundred stars I would!!!! This review is for the 10 volumes. I read all the volumes in one sitting, that's why i couldn't review one by one and each volume deserves a 5 star rating. *****

*Possible spoilers ahead*

I'm gonna be honest, I didn't have high expectations for this manga at first. I thought it would be the cliche shoujo world in which the main character is clumsy, happy-go lucky and loved by everyone for no reason at all with villains or envies just to add some drama. I was (thankfully!) proven wrong! this manga has become my favorite and I hold it dear to my heart, I'm so happy to have read it.

It is about a girl who loves to cook, she was raised in an orphanage because her parents died when she was very little. She met a boy by the river when she was sad and crying over her parents' death, this boy gave her a flan to make her happy. He told her something that touched her heart and made her look forward to fulfill her dreams but the only clue she had left from her "flan prince" was a spoon. Years later she gets accepted in a prestigious school, she longs to be there with the hopes of finding her prince since the spoon he gave her has the same emblem as the school's emblem.

The story might sound simple but don't let the description fool you, this manga has so many twists, pleasant characters and leaves you with a warm feeling in your heart!

What I liked the most is that it doesn't force the main character on you like many mangas do...in Kitchen princess we learn to love the characters little by little because of who they really are. I love Najika a lot, she's just that kind of girl I would love to meet one day. She's honest, bright, sincere but even if she's friendly and innocent, she stands up for herself. Akane is very lovely too, she looked like the villain at first and I was sad by her eating disorder problem. She evolved wonderfully along with the story. She learned how to face her problems and feelings and to accept them and grow with them in a very mature way...thanks to her friends, especially Najika who never gave up on her.

The two brothers, I was always trying to guess which one would be the flan prince or love choice for Najika but the story took a splendid twist that left me crying my heart out :( and my mouth hanging open by the wonderful and sad surprises. The characters were human, they had true emotions and changed with the time by the circumstances. I found myself crying many times and hoping, wishing the best for the characters. This manga made me so happy and sad but by the end I felt I was growing too. I have a more positive outlook in life and I see myself trying to fulfill my dreams too, working harder in College or at work, and I can see people are special in their own way.

Sometimes the simplest things can make you the happiest. Najika didn't need money or the best tools in the world in order to be the best chef, everything was in her heart...the sole reason of just liking what you do for the people you love. She certainly made many people smile with her food and this is another thing I love from this manga. Food was used in a wonderful way to show how much you care for people. I love the recipes that were given by the end of each volume :D also, the conflicts were handled very well, not too dramatic or anything, just believable leaving always a warm feeling and something to learn. You know the saying: "After the rain there's always a rainbow" signifying beauty, hope and happiness, this manga teaches us that there's always hope and happiness after any bad situation.

When i remember the end, all I can do is smile =) I can't recommend this manga enough, I hope it becomes an anime soon! I read the whole manga from the internet first but I also bought the manga because I want this precious jewel in my collection forever. If I get married and have kids one day, i would give them this manga to read. I'm 25 and I highly enjoyed it!

I sadly do not own this book but have read the whole series online and this by far the second best series ever!(first being full moon wo sagashite) I love the recipies in the back. If you like this sereis check out the light novel too!