Nicole. Volumes 1 through 50 of Skip Beat! arranged on a table.
Skip Beat! – Information
Author of Story: Yoshiki Nakamura
Chapter Count: 51 volumes, 300+ chapters
Status: Ongoing
Content Warnings
These content warnings do not reflect the contents of the review below; only the literary work itself.
- SA
- Stalking
- Abandonment
- Trauma
- Injury, blood, death
- Violence, bullying
- Vehicle accidents
- Racism, xenophobia
- Nudity, partial nudity
- Topics of pregnancy and ending pregnancy
- Mental health
- Mentioning of SI, SH
Spoiler Disclaimer
This recommendation post may contain small plot spoilers for review purposes. Any major spoilers are hidden by default and are able to be revealed via click or tap.
The time has come for me to review one of my absolute favorite romance manga series ever!
Skip Beat! is a series that has been going on since 2002, and has accumulated 51 volumes with more to come. The story and the characters in this series quickly and easily captured my heart (way back when I was a teen and new to manga), and has still stuck with me throughout each volume.
I started reading this during my earliest manga years, and I still enjoy this series as an adult (although I am now much older than the protagonist, and I was younger than her when I started the series, haha).
I have so much to say about Skip Beat, as I really, really like this series. I’ve re-read it multiple times, and I have a habit of watching the anime over and over (it has become my favorite background show that I put on while I work from home). So, if this blog turns into just a giant rant or feels like never-ending fan-girling, I apologize. Anyway, let’s jump in!
Skip Beat – Plot Summary
Skip Beat follows the story of the cheerful and dedicated 16 year old Kyoko Mogami, who works multiple jobs instead of attending high school. This is because she provides an apartment and supports a lifestyle for Shotaro Fuwa (a.k.a. “Sho”), her childhood friend and crush who moved to Tokyo to become a famous musical artist. He asked Kyoko to come with him, and she agreed.
Kyoko wholeheartedly supports Sho’s journey to fame, working tirelessly and endlessly, even giving up her own chances at school or luxuries. She buys nothing for herself, and devotes all her energy to supporting Sho… that is, until she overhears him saying he was tired of using her and would send her packing soon.
He states that he only used her to support his lifestyle and journey to fame, and is no longer in need of such a plain girl.
The audacity of Sho’s behavior breaks something in Kyoko, and she vows to take revenge on him for what he’s done to her. Sho laughs in her face and says she’d have to win at showbiz in order to even come close to him—and so Kyoko makes it her goal to become famous and rub it in Sho’s face.
However, this journey to fame does not come easy!
Nakamura. Volume 37 Cover Art, Skip Beat!, Viz Media.
Why You Should Read Skip Beat
Plot:
The plot of Skip Beat is so incredibly fun, exciting, suspenseful, and unique. It isn’t solely romance-focused, and actually follows the lovely growth and character development of Kyoko and many other characters. It’s a series full of very well thought-out subtopics and events, as it explores the entertainment industry and dives into the intricacies and creativity of the world of acting.
I’ll stop here to say that I know absolutely nothing about acting or showbiz—or if any part of this manga represents those industries accurately in the slightest—but regardless, I loved every bit of the topic. Seeing the characters get into…well, character, was super fun and exciting. The plot just draws you in, and makes you want to see more and know more about the unique personas the characters take on throughout the story.
This manga just has a very fun and incredibly creative style of storytelling that makes the plot super memorable and engaging!
And I can’t possibly review Skip Beat without mentioning the comedy in this series. This manga has an incredibly unique style of comedy that I feel no other romance shoujo series can compare to.
Very often it contains exaggerated facial expressions, actions, or depictions of the characters, as well as literal depictions of idioms or metaphors. I would say the humor is often slapstick too, but in very creative ways that feel entirely unique from the shoujo humor I’m used to.
Kyoko’s character is especially comedic, as she can get extremely hyped or determined about something and will do anything to achieve her goal. This results in some very exaggerated actions or expressions from her character. Her character really stands out from the typical romance shoujo female lead, and that’s really why I adore her so much. Kyoko is super cool, yet also hilarious because of her weirdness and explosive energy.
So, we’ve talked about the general plot and humor in Skip Beat… Now, let’s talk romance!
The romance in this series is the slowest of slow burns. It is very slowly developed over many, many, mannnyy chapters—but I enjoyed every bit of it. I personally prefer slow burns, as I really like to see the characters grow individually and develop feelings for each other very slowly. Skip Beat is like the queen of slow burn romances.
The plot pulls you through unique character stories, a variety of conflicts and engaging portrayals of acting—and then from time to time, the romance will show up and make things even more exciting. The main relationship takes time to truly form, but the author still brings the suspense and excitement of romance here and there!
The romantic dynamic, setting, and detail found throughout this manga is just incredible to me. I have never enjoyed a romance more than the romance in Skip Beat. Something about it feels unique from other manga. It feels both mature and playful. Slow-paced, but super exciting.
It’s not superficial at all, never feels overdone, and isn’t what I would call gimmicky, either (although maybe a bit cliché with the whole acting theme involved). The writing makes me believe that the characters actually like each other, and clearly shows the reasons why.
Some people may call Skip Beat a love triangle, but I strongly disagree. While the third contender plays a large role in the story, I don’t think they actually count as a love interest.
Major spoiler warning: If Kyoko fell in love with Sho again, that would be a reversal of her personal growth and, to be completely honest, be a super lame ending to the story. Part of what makes the romance so exciting is that Kyoko is so vehemently against falling in love for so long because of Sho, but eventually cannot deny her feelings for Ren!
Overall I think that Skip Beat is just a perfect mix of plot, humor, and romance. It features really amazing character growth and super fun dynamics. In fact, one of the biggest differences that sets the story, romance, and overall vibe of Skip Beat apart from other shoujo mangas is the characters—which I’ll discuss next!
Nakamura. Volume 23 Cover Art, Skip Beat!, Viz Media.
Characters:
As mentioned earlier, I adore the characters in Skip Beat. Each and every character in this series is complex, and never ever feel one-dimensional. You’ll come to love these characters as you slowly discover more about each one and see them grow as people. There are many flaws for each character, as well as good sides to each of them, too.
If you are the type of person who sees a flaw in a character and writes it off as a “red flag” or something to drop a manga over, this may not be the series for you. T
he characters all have their negative points, but this manga really focuses on the character growth throughout the plot, which is one of the really enjoyable parts of reading the series. If you’re someone who really enjoyed A Condition Called Love, but haven’t tried Skip Beat yet, maybe try it out! Skip Beat has a much different vibe, but plenty of character growth to enjoy!
Starting with Kyoko, she is probably my most favorite manga protagonist ever. She’s got such an engaging personality that shines through in every volume of this manga. She’s hardworking, determined, and capable, but also has other qualities of being very considerate, thoughtful, and imaginative. I absolutely adore that the author gave her such a thorough personality and didn’t stick to one main trait.
And well, frankly, Kyoko is just plain weird. She’s a weird character, and that’s why she’s my favorite, haha. Her personality is so memorable and hilarious, and really easy to root for!
Unlike many other shoujo protagonists, Kyoko has some personality traits that I feel are often avoided for female leads, but are actually very relatable and hilarious. You can think of her different personas as “pure Kyoko” and “grudge Kyoko,” which is how she’s referred to in the manga sometimes.
Pure Kyoko is the sweet, kind, earnest, and slightly naïve part of herself that loves fairytales, dreams of attending school, and adores cute things. Evil Kyoko is the side of her that gets angry, will do crazy things to meet her goals, holds grudges, and loses to NOBODY.
She’s really so different than your usual soft and innocent FL—she’s the best. The best part is that these two sides to her personality are what make Kyoko who she is, and ultimately lead to her growth throughout the story.
Next up is Tsuruga Ren. When I first read this series, I was younger than Ren, and thought that he was a very cool, mature, experienced “adult” that Kyoko was just too inexperienced to handle. Now that I am older than him, I can better understand his childish traits and the complexity of his character. I really like Ren’s character and the exploration of his past and present self.
Some readers say he is too childish or even manipulative, and I sort of agree, but I think these parts of his personality are indicative of his mysterious past and his true nature. He may be a talented actor who everyone sees as a kind and reliable coworker, but Ren surprisingly has a more blunt and sassy attitude, and often finds joy in teasing Kyoko.
He’s a bit mean, but not like actually mean (most of the time). He’s very stubborn and prideful, but can have a rather calm and mature attitude at times, too. I especially love that only a handful of people, such as Kyoko, can see through to his true character. I hope you enjoy the fun dynamic between Ren and Kyoko, if you haven’t already!
Lastly we have Fuwa Sho—the arrogant, self-centered fool that used Kyoko. He’s perfectly set up to be hated, not just because of what he did to our beloved protagonist, but also because of how grossly big-headed he acts. However, regardless of how unlikable his character is (especially at the beginning), he too has some pretty decent character growth.
He’s still a jerk, but his character grows in his own way and helps keep the story even more interesting. Plus, his arguments with Kyoko are so amusing.
Art:
Ok, I’ll have to be honest here, there are both pros and cons of the art style in this series. I’m a Skip Beat fan through and through, but I worry the earlier styles may prevent new readers from starting the series.
For example, if you jump into Skip Beat for the first time and think, “Why is everyone is so tall, long, and pointy?” I beg you to continue reading. As mentioned earlier, this series started in 2002.
While much of the earlier art style is sort of “sharp” and heavily reminiscent of early 2000s manga styles, it does slowly round out later. Plus, even at the start, all other aspects of the art (environments, character designs, clothing, facial expressions) look great.
I personally really love the art style of this series even from volume 1, but I’ll admit that the body proportions and sometimes the facial shapes (particularly for the men) might look a little funny in the earlier half of the series—especially for readers who are rather new to manga and have only enjoyed modern series.
Regardless of my nostalgia for the series, I still grew to love the design changes that occur as you progress towards more recent volumes. Not only is it a more modern stylistic improvement, but I also just find it fun to see a manga’s style evolve. The characters look so gorgeous!
And for the sake of this review, I can try and step outside of my bias and see this manga series from a modern perspective. So if the art isn’t your thing when you first start the series, I can understand that.
Do give it a chance past the earlier volumes, though. Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on a fantastic story. Plus, you may like the more rounded versions of the characters in the more recent volumes. They look so pretty, and the proportions improve a bit, too. I’ll include some early to late art comparisons here:
Kyoko in volumes 1 and 36, Ren in volumes 2 and 43, Sho in volumes 2 and 39.
As I said before, I love the art in this series from start to finish. It could be that I have a nostalgia for my favorite series (and series from the 90s – 2K era in general), but I just think the details are nice. The detail in the hair, the eyes, the facial expressions, and the outfits impressed me even at a young age.
I especially enjoyed all the different personas that Kyoko takes on while somehow appearing both different and recognizable simultaneously. The author is so good at making Kyoko look so different, yet still so… Kyoko!
Additionally, the creator of this series is so incredibly talented at drawing a very wide range of faces. These characters don’t just cry beautifully or have that recognizable shoujo blush every chapter.
Instead, they hold all sorts of emotions and even hide their true emotions behind acting, yet you as a reader are still able to interpret their true thoughts. They’ll cry softly, laugh maliciously, smirk confidently, smile genuinely, hold surprise or laughter behind a calm look, sob sorrowfully, and much, much more.
I am so incredibly impressed by the skills of the mangaka, and her ability to draw her characters with such realistic expressions that are never, ever boring! Her characters feel so alive, and that gives Skip Beat a special sort of charm.
Nakamura. Volume 41 Cover Art, Skip Beat!, Viz Media.
Any Cons?
While I would love to say something like “Skip Beat is perfect, no cons to be found here,” I do unfortunately have cons for this series. The glaring con in this series, at least for me, is the age gap. Kyoko is 16, and Ren is 20 in the beginning of the series. While that isn’t a major age gap or anything, it still pins an adult with a high school aged girl, which is generally just uncomfortable.
On the bright side, the story does acknowledge their age difference, and because it’s such a slow burn, they do get a little older before anything “official” happens relationship-wise.
Another aspect closely related to the age gap is the workplace hierarchy, which sort of puts Ren up on a pedestal and makes Kyoko seem much lesser. Personally, I didn’t mind this as much, as I think it was part of the comedic aspect of the series—and it isn’t exactly weird to look up to talented superiors. However, I know some readers may not like that aspect.
Next, as I said before, this series is like the queen of slow burns. Those who hate slow burns may want to simply not read this series for the romance.
It is truly the slowest of slow burns, teasing romantic interest and tension for literally hundreds of chapters. That is partially why I enjoyed it so much, in addition to the engaging plot and amazing characters. I really, really liked the slow burn romance. All the fun of a romance manga, at least to me, is the slow build-up and blooming of feelings. So, Skip Beat was the perfect pacing for me.
Ironically enough, I have read some other super slow burn romance mangas that irritated me with the pacing. I think it is because many stories tend to frame the story in a way that makes a relationship extremely plausible, but for stupid reasons like embarrassment or miscommunication, it is constantly and repeatedly put off and pushed to a later point.
Skip Beat isn’t a slow burn for superficial reasons like this—instead, the author allows both characters to grow as people individually and become closer slowly. There is tons of other story and plot developments outside of the romance.
And technically, the relationship between the two characters plays major role in these other parts of the plot, even if they aren’t necessary interacting romantically, if that makes sense. Therefore, I wasn’t bothered at all by the romantic pacing. The slow burn was incredibly exciting for me, and I hope you will enjoy it, too.
Another small point I wanted to mention is that if you haven’t noticed already, this series has 50+ volumes and has been going on since 2002… and is still ongoing. The releases (in English) can be quite slow, so if you are very impatient, I’m unsure if you will enjoy this series while it’s unfinished.
Many people in the Skip Beat community say the series should just end already, but honestly I’d continue reading it even if I aged into an elderly woman by the time it finished, haha. Really though, this series is such a favorite of mine, I think the ending will feel very bittersweet to me.
Lastly, I have to warn that this story has so many characters with not just their actual names, but also aliases and names used for roles they act as in multiple movies. The same characters often look different while simultaneously being referred to by alternate names because of this. It can be difficult to remember all of these details throughout the story and who’s who if you don’t pay attention.
I would recommend, if possible, reading all of the volumes as closely together as you can, because forgetting these names and certain details when they are brought up again many volumes later can be more confusing if you are reading them months apart. Unless you have an amazing memory (unlike me).
More In-Depth Review (Warning: Spoilers!)
I have a lot I want to say about Skip Beat in this section, so buckle in! This section is mostly about the romance and characters’ relationships…
I think one of the reasons I love Skip Beat so much is because it doesn’t just portray a lovely, meaningful slow burn between two individuals who overcome darkness thanks to each other (combined with individual efforts)—it also demonstrates such an ideal and adorable type of love.
I especially enjoy Ren’s affection for Kyoko. He understands her to a T. He actually loves her. He plays along with her lalaland charades, takes things at a slow pace for her sake, and even gives her gifts that are perfectly curated to her interests. He goes out of his way to create experiences for her that will make her happy. When Kyoko is happy, he feels happy.
Ren’s affection and love for Kyoko is so apparent throughout this series, it just hits different than any other romance I’ve read. He’s such a thoughtful and genuine male lead, yet he’s also capable of showing his more “casanova” side which Kyoko hilariously refers to as “King of the Night.”
This side of him is exciting too, because he seems to primarily bring it out when his desires start to overflow or when he wants to tease Kyoko for a reaction. Perhaps I love this side of him because I love cheesy romance, haha.
Because of Ren’s incredibly well written character, Skip Beat is such a good “he falls first” story. However, Kyoko’s growth is fun too. She struggles quite a bit with her romantic feelings as she hates the side of herself that falls in love. She vows to never fall in love again, yet can’t seem to avoid Ren’s advances as the story progresses.
Because of her dark past experiences, she reacts to Ren very differently than you’d expect a cute high school shoujo protagonist to. She’s so hilariously dense, often ignoring or misinterpreting obvious flirting, freezing up, going into a panic, or just changes to a look of total shock.
I honestly think this is a really unique and fun characterization for the female lead, because she’s just so different from what I’m used to in shoujo romances. Her lack of a normal response sort of makes the more cutesy and sincere reactions even more impactful.
I like their relationship so much. The romance doesn’t feel superficial, and their slow growth is so exciting and wonderful. I’m truly a Skip Beat fanatic, I apologize for fan-girling so much.
Next, I wanted to talk about the Ren vs Sho discussion.
In other words, some people ship Kyoko with Sho. I don’t personally think they make a good match (although you’re allowed to ship as you please). My reasoning for choosing Ren instead is simple: I don’t think Kyoko should be with someone who gave her so much trouble in the early years of her life, and Sho simply doesn’t deserve her.
He shows no romantic interest in Kyoko until she 1. Gains traction as an actor / changes her look, and 2. Gains the attention of another, more successful man.
If he couldn’t accept Kyoko for who she was before (what he described as plain and boring), he doesn’t deserve this newer version of her, either. He may be young, which I’ll give him some slack for, but he still knowingly took advantage of a girl who obviously had feelings for him.
Sho is spoiled and incredibly immature, and not a good fit for Kyoko (who is also a bit immature). He doesn’t own up to his mistakes, and he isn’t the caring type. I think Ren is a much better fit because he’s able to be mature and support Kyoko in the way she needs. Ren helped bring out the best version of Kyoko.
But that doesn’t mean Sho doesn’t get any growth whatsoever. I do enjoy his character growth and how he treats Kyoko differently after some time.
For example, he does slowly begin to see Kyoko as an actual threat business-wise, and still seems to value their relationship even as they bicker and compete. I especially liked when Vie Ghoul is introduced in the story and we get to see a different, slightly more caring side to Sho (although he was arrogantly protective, haha). He even makes an effort to check on her after the TV incident with Kyoko’s mother.
Kyoko and Sho may be enemies, but the author still skillfully portrays their history together and their ability to understand each other on a rather deep level. The author is so talented!
Buuuuuut, Ren is the better romantic fit!
Ren and Kyoko are great at supporting each other, and each have their own individual struggles or “dark sides.” For example, Ren hides his true self (Kuon) from others on purpose. “Ren Tsuruga” is a persona he invented when he came to Japan to escape his situation. His “situation” being that he was involved in brutal fights and a dark past.
Ren tries to suppress this dark past, and struggles to accept that he can change and is allowed to be happy. I think that this dramatic background really makes Ren perfect for Kyoko. She too has an uncontrollable dark side, and while it may not be as bloodthirsty as Ren’s, she still struggled with who she once was and her ability to desire love from others.
They bring out the good in each other, too. Kyoko is able to bring Ren back to his good side by being her true, kind, and dedicated self. Ren gives Kyoko the love she deserves and kept her from being revenge-hungry.
Immaculate writing if you ask me. They are meant for each other. Two innocent youths who were wronged by others and were overcome by hatred and anger because of it. Yet they still fight to maintain their goodness and achieve the better versions of themselves because of each other.
( ´ ▽ ).｡ｏ♡
I know what you may be thinking… “Do you not have ANY qualms with Ren?” Well the answer is maybe just one thing. Ren is sometimes a little too manipulative or childish, too often.
He often gets his way by intimidating Kyoko or making up ridiculous excuses, but most of the time it doesn’t really bother me since the other characters have flaws, too (and this aspect of Ren’s is sort of comedic).
He’s just super jealous and a beginner at love, haha. I actually liked how jealous he was, as I feel like the FL is the jealous one more often in shoujo manga. The frequency at which this personality trait appeared was just a little odd to me.
For example, I didn’t like how often he felt the need to question Kyoko or her relationship with Sho. They may be coworkers but it’s not really his business. Even though his feelings for her makes him do this, it just feels a bit unnatural. His desperation to make Kyoko his sometimes made him act a little crazy.
He especially gave me major second hand embarrassment in volume 35 when he was Kuon, and begged Kyoko for a kiss, haha. Regardless, I still think Ren is a better fit for Kyoko.
Plus, the story makes more sense with her falling for Ren. The whole point of the Love Me section and Kyoko’s growth in the acting industry is that she learns to love and value relationships with others. I think the romance aspect sort of adds to this. It shows that not only does Kyoko improve from her “condition” from the beginning of the series, but she’s also able to enjoy a loving relationship, too. It’s a win for Kyoko, us readers, and the plot.
Overall, Skip Beat has a fantastic portrayal of an exciting romance between two unique characters. However, I must talk about one other thing relating to the plot’s romance: The Heel siblings arc.
The Heel siblings arc is one of the most exciting arcs in the story, yet also the most conflicting. Kyoko and Ren are forced to spend time very close together, there’s plenty of developments and romantic tension, and we even get to see a lot of Ren’s dark side. It’s an exhilarating arc, and yet it’s ruined by the fact that they are acting as siblings (and of course the age gap).
Why!? The director could have just made Setsu a clingy girlfriend or something instead. The only reassurance I have while reading this arc is that they aren’t actually siblings, haha. Plus, Ren’s development and Kyoko’s role in keeping him sane is sooo interesting.
Although realistically, it’s really creepy and wrong for the director of a company to make a teenage girl stay in a hotel alone with a man.
This arc is really conflicting for me because of those reasons—age gap, pretending to be siblings, and the staying in one hotel room together as coworkers—but the author makes the Heel siblings arc so exciting, you can’t help but enjoy it regardless of the weirdness. Especially with this super slow burn romance where us readers crave more interactions between the main two… the author finally gives it to us, while Kyoko and Ren look super cool at that, so we just eat it up anyway, haha.
At the very least, the manga acknowledges that their “sibling relationship” is weird multiple times. (￣ω￣;) I hope we get to see the other characters’ reactions if/when they find out the true identities of the Heel siblings!
Okay, enough about romance. There’s actually another aspect to this manga series that I HAVE to mention in this in-depth review.
I wanted to briefly mention how Skip Beat surprisingly takes on many deep, dark topics that I would never have expected from the series, mostly considering the time period it started and because much of the story is so positive. But the author really does a good job at portraying topics like bullying, racism, and the dark side of motherhood.
I especially enjoyed the topics surrounding Kyoko’s mother’s experiences, as I rarely see mangas portray women with a dislike for children so clearly. Saena had very unique circumstances that made her hate Kyoko, but it still shows the reality of some people’s lives—that not all women can be good mothers or even want to be mothers.
It was such an impactful topic that not only deepened Kyoko’s character, but also just added a stronger level of maturity and realism to the series. It just reminds me how great of an author Yoshiki Nakamura truly is, as she is talented in portraying unique characters, dark backstories, realistic emotions, and mature plot topics.
I’m especially excited to see how she writes this next arc, particularly involving Ren and Cedric. With how the American crew is acting, it seems like the next few volumes will be crazy.
Overall, Skip Beat is such an amazing and fun read. I never get bored of it, even after having read it multiple times. I really love this series, and I can’t wait to see how it progresses from this point on! If you’re a fellow fan of the mangaka, be sure to check out my review for her other work, Tokyo Crazy Paradise!
Final Thoughts
As you can probably tell, I really love the Skip Beat manga series as a whole, and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a manga with depth, a fantastic plot, a romantic subplot, and amazing characters. Even though the series has been ongoing for quite some time now, I still think it is a super fun and worthy read.
Skip Beat really captures both your attention and your heart, pulling you through an exciting story with lovable character designs and a unique premise. I hope that if you haven’t tried reading it yet, maybe you will now—and if you’ve read it already and love it as much as I do, feel free to leave your thoughts about the series in the comments!
Disclaimer: Any images used for this blog are for illustrative purposes only, are not owned by me, and are under ownership of the artist or publisher.
Images Credit: Nakamura, Yoshiki. Skip Beat!, Viz Media, 2006.
