Out of all the books I have ever read in my life, Skip Beat! will always be the series closest to my heart.

The manga (japanese graphic novel) series centers around a girl named Kyoko Mogami who seeks revenge against a popular singer called Sho Fuwa. Now you’re probably asking, what could he have possibly done for her to want this? Well, besides the fact that he took her away from continuing her education by using her feelings for him for his own personal gain, I’d say nothing.

Entertaining wise, though, it sounds like a story that would peek a lot of people’s interest. But revenge is such a petty thing. It wouldn’t grasp people’s attention for such a long time. This ongoing story is currently older than a decade with 37 volumes full of love, comedy, and feelings of retribution, but that isn’t all what Skip Beat! is about.

Readers from around the globe have been drawn to Kyoko’s life story, watching her grow stronger in personality with each passing chapter. Skip Beat! is an inspiring tale, especially good for young females who seek guidance on how to gain independence in their own lives.

“The thing about ‘Skip Beat!’ that I loved at the beginning is that Kyoko doesn’t play the typical shoujo girl who loses all confidence in front of the man she loves... That starts with a broken heart and the will to take revenge... And she shows us with all her might that you can do anything if you put your mind on it... And that was a strong message that really touched me back then.” Julie, France

Shoujo girls, which are girls that appear in romance manga, typically have their lives surrounded by one or more male characters, and it’s frustrating and annoying because it’s almost as if these girls can’t live their own lives without a man next to them.

Kyoko is different, though. While she might have been in love and then betrayed, you start to see her move on from revenge and focus on what she enjoys. For her, that is acting. During her adventure of self-discovery, though, she obtains the help of her friend Moko and Ren Tsuruga.

Ren is the male lead of the series. Tall, handsome, and talented, he is the most desired man in the country. He helps Kyoko with some of her roles, but don’t think Kyoko falls heads over heals over Japan’s number one actor instantly. They actually start off pretty much hating each other before they even obtain a decent amount of respect for one another.

The way the author develops the relationship between the two is enjoyable to read. It’s funny to see how jealous Ren gets around Kyoko and how flustered Kyoko becomes around Ren during awkward situations. However, these two also have a realistic side to their relationship which makes these two even more loved among readers. It’s a slow developing relationship, and when I say slow, I mean slow. There are over 200 chapters and they’re still not together. It almost want to make you pull your hair out.

But it’s the fact that Kyoko’s feelings for Ren don’t cloud her judgement or manipulate her actions. Kyoko is still able to think about herself and what she wants in life while Ren is a helping hand that supports her in her goals.

“I love all about the manga. The sense of humor. The lack of experience of love of a teenage girl and the first serious love of a man of 20… Even though slowly progressing, the plot is not meaningless or moraless. Enough love is shown now and then that will not marr on her innocence or his sincerity. They are striving so hard to see the same things and at the same time, so slowly, without forgetting what they came through.” Mirdy, India

Besides love, Skip Beat! revolves around issues among friends and family. It truly is a universal story that ties multiple themes into one. While slow, it is a journey that has been a part of many people’s lives. People of all ages can relate to or at least enjoy the story of a brave young girl trying to make it into the world using her own hard work and with the support of her friends and loved ones.