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Title:  Boys over Flowers Hana Yori Dango Vol 17

Author:  Yoko Kamio

Publisher:  Viz

ISBN:  9781421503929

May Contain Spoilers

Yielding to the pressure from the Domyoji family, Tsukushi concludes that Shigeru will make the perfect match for Tsukasa and breaks it off with him.  Turning to Rui Hanazawa for comfort, the pair find themselves constantly thrown together with Tsukasa and Shigeru.  Tsukasa’s glowering expression makes Tsukushi uncomfortable, as do her confused feelings for him.  When Shigeru invites her and Rui to her family’s villa, Tsukushi is shocked when Rui agrees that they’ll go.  Does he only want to go because there’s an onsen, or does he have another motivation?  How will Tsukushi bear spending the holiday so close to Tsukasa and the fawning Shigeru?

Boys over Flowers always manages to deliver an absorbing, fast paced read.  Yes, sometimes I wish Tsukushi would just get over herself and just accept her feelings for Tsukasa, and that Tsukasa would act a little more human towards the girl he claims to love.  I was even extremely disturbed when Tsukasa slapped Tsukushi after she expressed her fear that Shigeru’s family was a more suitable match for the Domyoji’s than hers.  Dude, a few comforting words and maybe a tender hug would have saved the day here!  But then we wouldn’t have another 20 volumes of the story to look forward to.

Rui proved that he understands Tsukushi better than anyone else.  Witnessing an intimate moment between Shigeru and Tsukasa, Rui comprehends how troubled Tsukushi is by the sight.  He further rattles her cage, however, which sends her scurrying back to class, wondering what she ever saw in him.  Or why her heart aches so much after seeing Tsukasa with Shigeru.

I am starting to question whether Yoko Kamio is a spiteful person, because she just delights in placing poor Tsukushi in uncomfortable situations.  Even Shigeru can’t escape Kamio’s hurtful pen.  She soon learns that there are some things that money just can’t buy, and love, alas, is one of them.

Grade: B

Rated for Teen