Paradise Kiss, Vol. 5 Paperback – January 1, 2004

Very good quality of the book

The story of Paradise Kiss is very interesting. Its a great love story. It will appeal to an age group starting at around age 15+. This is the story of a young girl torn between two paths in life. The life she wants and the life she is made to feel she should live. Very enjoyable.

Tokyopop finally releases the final volume of Paradise Kiss (Parakiss for short)! Do you know how long I've been waiting for this, it's been torturous since I am a huge fan of Yazawa-san. *bows down*. Here is what the back says from Tokyopop:Fashion, glamour, divas and designers put on their best threads and put on a show-stopping catwalk, featuring Yukari in the creations by the always stylish and aloof George. George's unusual and gorgeous creations receive mixed reactions, with more attention going to Yukari's good looks than the clothes she modeled.With his future uncertain, his and Yukari's relationship comes to a crossroads. He has never found himself so enamored with one woman, yet his career might not unfold as he has always planned. Was the somewhat cold reception at the fashion show a preview to the reaction he can expect to his future designs?As George wrestles with his next step following graduation from design school, the rest of the Paradise Kiss crew debate their next moves. Yukari wants to go to school but also pursue modeling, and with exams coming up, it's hard to concentrate with George seeming so distant and upset. As the crew struggles with their post-graduation plans, the New Year approaches. Major decisions will be made and lives will be altered ... forever.What will become of Paradise Kiss?!** SPOILERS **As hinted in TKP's synopsis, "Major decisions will be made and lives will be altered ... forever. What will become of Paradise Kiss?!" we learn that Parakiss is no more. v_vKaori, George's gal-friend that studies in England visits him at his apartment. Yukari and George are there celebrating Christmas Eve together which is interrupted by Kaori. Yukari becomes jealous of Kaori's relationship towards George and starts to cry. George has told Kaori a lot of personal feelings on designing clothes and whether or not he should switch his interests towards make up. Everything he does is all talented and amazing =P! Kaori urges him to study in England with her because his 'style' will be favoured there than Japan. We see that George wishes to go there but has a 'burden' in which he cares for his mother. Since his mother is not married to his father, they are not entitled in the "will" so if anything were to happen to George's father, who would support them? With George's talent, he knows he can support himself but not live in such luxury but for his mother...?Yukari listens the conversation between George and Kaori and feels left out. Thinking that she's only a "doll" whose only purpose is too look pretty and wear clothes. This is when Yukari discovers George's close-bond to Kaori and worries about her relationship between George. George has never slept with Kaori, instead he considers her a special friend that understands him.George has not told the gang (Miwako, Arashi, and Isabella) about his decision to leave Parakiss so they continue working hard to make more new pieces to their brand name. Yukari was about to tell Miwako but realizes that it's something George must tell to them. She doesn't "chicken-out" okay! =PKaori visits George's father at his work and convinces him to allow George to study in England, but to keep herself out as a secret. George meets up with his father at the expensive Japanese restaurant where he first took Yukari on their first date. His father accidentally slips that it was Kaori who had visited him about George's problem. His father has talked to lawyers and have changed his will to insure the security of his mother and his son. *aww* ^^; Of course, George tells Kaori but hides the secret that he knew it was her who had convinced his dad to change the will.As we all know, the frienship between Arashi and Hiro is not good. Their friendship has been ruined because Arashi has 'stole' Miwako away from Hiro. At Arashi's place, Miwako sends a sms message to Hiro's cell phone and sends back messages while Arashi is sleeping. She falls asleep but awakens when she sees Arashi reading her messages! Angry from the messages, Arashi throws her cellphone and breaks it. Miwako cries and Arashi feels guilty for his actions.Miwako goes shopping with Yukari to both buy the same cellphones. They decide on a flip-phone with digicam capabilities so they can share pictures with each other! (It's not fair, I want a cellcam... *sobs* v-v). Arashi offers to pay for Miwako's cellphone and they are interrupted from George's excitemend of selling one of their designs to a store.* END OF SPOILERS *There's is more but I currently do not have the time so I will be back to update this review in the next few days. ^_^;

The plot of this manga feels like reality in the sense that the characters are forced to make decisions, and with every decision they make they lose something they didn't want to...in order to keep something else precious. I know this SOUNDS very typical of a romance manga but you'll have to see for yourself what I mean. This type of romance manga is for those who have a more mature view. Ai protrays how deeply Hikari and George love one another very well, it doesn't feel like a silly high school crush at all.

Compare to the first 4 volumes, vol. 5 is a letdown. Not so much b'cos of the ending, it seems the author was out of time, squeezing the story should have a couple more volumes into one volume. At times, it seems abrupt and a bit far-fetched, probably just haven't been given enough time to adjust to it.The author sometimes have a bizzare way to put things together, there are parts in the last volume, I find it a bit strange for my taste, it could well possibly due to the translation (since I don't read Japanese). In short, it's a bit anti-climatic.

Great.". This is one of my favorite mangas of ALL TIME! Great art, wonderful characterization. Just plain good work. Would recommend!

I want to write a review without spoiling anything for someone who hasn't read it yet. Let's just say that this book has a happy ending, but not the ending you expected. Not the kind Disney would feed you. Let's just say Arashi has issues with Hiroyuki, George & Yukari are still questioning their relationship over their couriers,Everyone makes fun of George's committment issues like dating more than one person at a time, & Isabella runs away with someone he loves. Lots of gay jokes like in book one & many appearences by sexy Seiji. Ths book does a beautiful job of softly bouncing back & forth between humor & drama. It seems like I've told you a lot, but I haven't really told you anything.

Pretty good manga.I'm in my twenties and this is one of the mangas I've really enjoyed.Its not like MARS :(But still good!