Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. The plot and characters didn't keep me interested. I really wanted to like the book but just couldn't get into it.

I really wanted a chance to read these manga, but unfortunately the files expired before I had a chance to get to them. Based on cover design and description, a majority of the books sound interesting. Perhaps next time I will have time to read the eARC sooner.

After the Ball by Takane Yonetani (Illustrator), Catherine George is a 2019 Harlequin/ SB Creative publication.

This Manga is based on the original novel by Catherine George published by Harlequin back in 1993. At the risk of sounding redundant, I love the idea of having a Manga version of Harlequin romance novels.

However, SB Creative really should nag Harlequin about allowing them to use newer stories.
If I can possibly find the original Harlequin book the Manga version is based on, I like to read them in tandem. The original story was just god-awful. It was so bad, I didn’t bother adding it my GR list or rating it.

To be fair, I realize most people reading this Manga didn’t have a copy of the original version, and the Manga did make some changes which toned down a lot of the character’s bad behavior and added a better happily ever after. Still, despite softening the story as much as possible, the base of the story couldn’t be helped.

I think the artwork is fantastic, and I say that every time I read one of these, but in this case, it went to waste on such a bad storyline.

I’m going to keep trying to find one these Harlequin Manga’s that has a great story to match the wonderful artwork. In the meantime, I hope whoever picks which books to base the Manga on will be a little more discerning in the future.

I hate to punish the illustrator, but I can’t recommend this story to anyone.

1 star

📚I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Harlequin/SB Creative as the publisher in exchange for an honest review📚
Book title : After the Ball
Author : Catherine George; Illustrator : Takane Yonetani
Release Date : 1 January 2019

Eliza’s twin sister needs to go to her boyfriend’s party but is hospitalised. She asks Eliza to go to the party in her place. There, she meets Giles, an old acquaintance who recognises her and who has ever had a story with Eliza. As their chemistry starts to sparks, Eliza tries to deny the feelings for Giles. They later struggle to clear some understandings from the past.

I personally love the conflict which is represented with a misunderstanding. The artwork is stunning and brings the story to its spotlight as well. It makes this book as a very enjoyable sweet romantic story portrayed in manga-style.

Review is available at https://literatureisliving.wordpress.com/2018/12/06/after-the-ball-harlequin-manga-by-catherine-george/

I didn't like the main characters. They had no spark, no romance and honestly, I didn't like the drawings either.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

Review to be posted on all sources mentioned on my profile in mid-December.

I received this manga from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Twins, ah, how lovely. I still remember in high school when there were was a triplet, they loved to just change places. If one didn't like a certain subject the other would go there. It was quite hilarious at times to guess who we had sitting in our class that time. :P In this one Eliza changes places with Gemma after Gemma was stung by a wasp (OUCH, that has to hurt like hell, I don't even want to know how you get stung there). Of course the childhood friend notices, and while I did like the guy, I didn't like that he forced a kiss on her. Eww no. That is so not sexy. Never was, never will. I also wasn't that happy with how he excused himself and Eliza from the party. That is not classy. Not at all. Not a good first impression for this dude. He has a lot to make up for if he wants to woo my heart.

Wait? Eliza? You are dating a married man? That so doesn't fit with her. I never expected that from her. And I did think it was a bit weird that now she doesn't want to be him, because of Giles. Um. So, he gave up his marriage for YOU, and now you don't want him? That seems shitty.

Haha, I knew what they did at the ball was going to haunt our twins.

Uhm, Lawrence, no, bad. It is a good thing Giles had the sense to come in, I don't want to think of what would have happened otherwise. That left a bad taste in my mouth.

Giles' plan? Um, maybe you should talk to people? Then again, both Paul and Giles are creepy as hell. But still, this seems all too silly. Welcome to Harlequin world I guess. At least I am glad that we finally got a bit more romance between Giles and Eliza, that took them so long. I know, we had some fleeting moments, but I wanted more. 

More drama, dear heavens. But the ending was very sweet, I loved that both Eliza and Gemma got to marry their romantic interests and that they held a marriage together. So sweet! 

The art? I definitely liked it. It was cute and sweet, and I love the character designs.

I didn't like this one so much, too many men and too much drama and jealousy. I read better things.

Questo non mi é piaciuto molto: troppi uomini e troppi drammi della gelosia. Ho letto cose migliori.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Book Review
Title: After the Ball
Author: Catherine George & Takane Yonetani
Genre: Manga
Rating: ****
Review: So After the Ball intrigued me because it features identical twins pulling a switching act although not deliberately it seems, and I can foresee all sorts of trouble because of this. We are introduced to Eliza who agreed to take her sisters’ place at a party with Paul who doesn’t seem to know the difference. However, Eliza’s friend Giles is also in attendance and fearing that Paul wants to bed her as Gemma he agrees to help Eliza, but it seems he wants something in return.
Giles helps Eliza get out of the party, but he seems to be pursuing her despite the fact she is in a relationship with Lawrence. This makes things difficult for her as she feels a sense of loyalty to her boyfriend which clash with old feelings that she has for Giles but something in their past pushed them apart.
After some relationship drama not only with Lawrence but with Paul, Gemma’s boyfriend, Eliza and Giles end up in a sham engagement to get both men away from Eliza until everything settles down and while this does partially work, Eliza is still left with her conflicting feeling which are only getting worse as Eliza is redecorating Giles’s home and has an offer of work from Paul to renovate his restaurant.
In the end though Eliza and Giles actually manage to talk to one another and clear the air about their past allowing them to pursue a new relationship together built on the feeling they have had from childhood. While I liked after the ball, I was expecting something a little more from it especially as it touches on some darker subject but still a well-rounded, intriguing romance manga.

I'm still not entirely convinced that manga adaptations of cheesy old category romances are a good idea... that said, I'm not a big fan of cheesy old category romances, so I may just not be the target audience! As a manga, this is perfectly satisfactory; the art is clean and attractive and the story is easy to follow and wraps up neatly. There's not much in the way of character development, though, which is probably a flaw carried over from the original. All in all, it's hard to fit a very interesting story into 128 pages. I have no idea how Harlequin decides which books to turn into manga and I would be more interested in seeing longer adaptations of better-quality originals -- maybe some of the Nora Roberts juvenilia that they still have the rights to? But again, I don't know how that decision process works.

What was meant to be a temporary Exchange of identities between two identical twin sisters turns into a chance of making up for past mistakes and misunderstandings and give true love a chance. The heroine is rather dense when it comes to men's feelings, but luckily everything turns out for the best.

Eliza is surrounded by men but she only wants one. She is dating Lawrence who is waiting for his divorce so that he can marry Eliza. Eliza thinks they have a nice platonic relationship and she doesn't want anything more. (Lawrence has stalker like tendencies)

Then there is Paul who is her twin sister's boyfriend. Her twin sister Gemma is waiting for Paul to propose to her but Paul secretly wants Eliza. (Paul is a bit of a creep).

And then there is Giles. Eliza has loved Giles since she was ten (which is a bit young if you ask me) and she is surprised when Giles rescues her from a difficult situation with Paul. It is a situation that she and Gemma caused for themselves because Eliza went to Paul's party pretending to be Gemma.

Now Giles is back in Eliza's life he is determined not to leave. Instead of being up front about his feelings for her, he gets her to do some interior design for him in his new home. Of course the two of them become closer and Giles is in a prime position to see off the other men who flitter around Eliza like bees after honey (namely Paul and Lawrence).

When Giles sees how the other two men are trying to grab Eliza he decides to offer a solution which will see the pesky suitors off once and for all....an engagement! Of course it will be a false engagement but it will discourage Paul from secretly chasing Eliza and it will send Lawrence a firm message that his relationship with Eliza has ended.

Of course things do not go to plan but Giles has ulterior motives. He wants Eliza in his life.

I enjoyed this. The story is engaging and the drawings are excellent. If you like manga and romance this is definitely a really good story to get into.

Copy provided by Harlequin/SB Create in exchange for an unbiased review.

I was curious as I never read a romance in a manga format. It was lovely, I loved both the design and the story.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Harlequin Manga and Netgalley for this ARC

This was such an adorable read! Giles was so amazing. I loved how playful he was, but when things didn't go his way he quickly changed his mood. Eliza was funny. I liked how she tried to deny her feelings for Giles. The two of them together was awesome. I enjoyed how they both fell in love with one another but never didn't anything but tease the other. This was a perfect story and a great ending. I will say I did not care for the other two men interested in Eliza. One was a pervert and the other was obsessive. Team Giles! Artwork was stunning!