This book was about a girl, Natsumi who fell for her sister's boyfriend, Togo. Natsumi's sister, Haru recently died because of cancer. She was in a relationship with Togo which was arranged by their family of course. But Togo was in interested in Natsumi from the moment he saw her; before he even started dating Haru. Natsumi and Togo both felt guilty for dating and loving each other but both learned to live with their guilt and be happy with each other.

Would you be okay with dating your dead sister's fiance? The fiance of sister you loved more than anything else in the world? Haru's Curse explores the grief of the protagonist after the death of her beloved sister. Things get more complicated when the protagonist realizes that she's actually in love with her sister's fiance and what's more, this love is reciprocated. This manga explores dark topics but they is handled well. The drawing style was not my favorite but the scenes were the characters were reacting to something with shock conveyed that emotion well. It is by no means a fun and light read, so be aware of that when going in.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange of a review.

**NetGalley provided an ARC copy for honest review**

Wow, I gotta say, this was a truly deep and moving piece of art. Very thought provoking, unique, and emotional, but still had hints of goofiness. A story of a traumatized girl and her sister's ex falling in love sounds like it would be taboo, but the author handled it with such respect, care, and heart. I especially appreciated the optimistic ending. Very well done and well worth the read.

A nicely illustrated and well written manga. A controversial love story of loss, grief, guilt, letting go and starting fresh. The emotional tension and changes of the characters were well presented. It was so emotional that I cried. It was a quick read and I liked it.
Thanks Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the manga in exchange of honest review.

Haru's Curse is about a pair of sisters, the younger of the two, Haru, is engaged to Togo but incurs an illness and dies. Her older sister, Natsumi, seems to be about the same age as her fiancee, Togo, and when Haru dies they begin seeing each other. Both of them feel remorse over the circumstances but find themselves attracted to the other. Ultimately, this is a story about a pair of people learning to live with their guilt upon finding love through each other. It's sad, I think it ends on a high note, and would recommend it.

What caught my interest was the cover. The lady looked so sad on the cover and I wanted to know what the curse was.

After the death of her younger sister to cancer, Natsumi starts dating her sister’s fiance, Tougo in secret, but harbors feelings of guilt and wonders what her sister would say or think.

Tougo and Haru start dating from a marriage of convenience but Haru genuinely liked Tougo. However Tougo was only doing what his mother and family expected of him, not having any goals or dreams of his own.

Once Haru dies, Tougo starts dating her older sister to continue the contract. The feelings of shame and guilt are on both sides as they continue to see each other on her condition that he take her to all the places he took her sister. Because of her feelings of shame and guilt, she sometimes contemplates suicude to see her sister again.

I wish this manga was longer. There were a few funny scenes but this manga is mostly about grieving and wondering what your loved one would think or feel about certain situations because they are no longer there to tell you themselves.

The ending made me want more of how life will be for them. There were a few things that mentioned such as Natsumi's supposed feelings for her sister. I felt that could have explored more.

The pacing was good as you get the sense of the months passing and members of the family are coping. We see Natsumi’s mother but we don’t see much of her father. It is implied that they do not get along.

For people who read manga, I highly recommend this. It looks long but it is a fast read that they will fly through to see the progression of the characters.

Now, I want to read this author’s other work.

When Natsumi’s sister dies from cancer, her life loses meaning. Haru was everything to her and now that she’s gone, Natsumi wants nothing more than to join her sister as soon as possible. It’s why she agreed to start dating Haru’s fiancé, Togo. Natsumi wants to visit the places they went together and try to become closer to her sister before she joins her. What she didn’t expect was to develop her own romantic feelings for her sister’s fiancé.

I picked up this book knowing it’d be a sad one, and I was not surprised. Having lost a close family member to cancer not long ago, I completely understood what Natsumi and her family were going through in the present as well as the flashback scenes. It was quite heartbreaking to follow Natsumi as she watched her sister deteriorate and eventually pass away from cancer. The rest of the book is the aftermath where we see that Natsumi has a cheerful personality while being depressed underneath it all. It was interesting seeing her character development as well as her struggles with coming to terms with her feelings for Togo.

The only thing that confused me is that it occasionally seemed like Natsumi and Haru had different biological mothers, but then it’d turn out that wasn’t the case. I’m not sure if that’s a me thing or if that has something to do with the translation of those panels, but it did throw me through a loop the first two times it came up. Otherwise, I quite enjoyed this book and wish there was more, but the open ending makes complete sense.

Guilt and Love war with each other in Konishi’s ‘Haru’s Curse’. Guilt over starting to love your deceased younger sister’s fiancée; over always having feelings for your fiancee’s elder sister rather than your own would-be wife.
Konishi weaves the melancholy tale with her somber and sharp art style. The general idea is that the pain and self-guilt one’s left with after losing a loved one never ceases. The best one could do is try to live and love again no matter how much undeserved it may feel.
It is not usually the case but despite being a first volume, this one wrapped up nicely. Although the MCs have just stepped on the path together and have a long way to go, it feels satisfactory that they have acknowledged and decided to move forward in their life. So, I may pick up its next volume but if not, then I am content still.

Book: Haru's Curse
Author: Asuka Konishi
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
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Blurb:
Natsumi’s little sister Haru was her whole world—and now she’s gone.

After the funeral, Natsumi reluctantly agrees to date her sister’s fiancé Togo. But as their relationship develops with the passing seasons, Haru’s memory lingers over them like a curse.
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🌼 This book was a rollercoaster ride of emotions like feeling of loss, mourning, love, jealousy, etc.
🌼 Natsumi was an awkward yet relatable character. Her bond with her sister Haru was beautiful. Togo was a cold character but later in the story we come to know the reason for it.
🌼 The thing which I really liked about it was that the story was told from all the three character's perspective.
🌼 It was able to show the harsh realities as well. At first I really disliked Natsumi's character but as the story progressed I was able to understand her better.
🌼 At the middle of the story I expected to have mixed feelings for the book but by the ending it was all sorted. Haru remained in both their memories irrespective of their choices and decisions.
P. S- I didn't like Haru's character 🥴
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It was a book with different storyline so recommended to everyone who would like to try something different.

Well this story was just really freaking weird. Togo is some kind of weird, emotionless zombie with a side of toxicity (you can't kill yourself because I'll die too? That's toxic AF, friends). He secretly has the hots for his girlfriend's sister, gf dies, he asks the sister out AT THE FUNERAL, sister says YES but only if we only go to all the places you went with my sister. WHAT?? At one point the main character says she might have been romantically in love with her sister, like EXCUSE ME? I don't even know what to say about this. Weird. Not for me.

This manga took me by surprise, but I think that is because I allowed my understanding of the plot to be swayed by Chapter One's "Title page" illustration, which was a mistake. After all, this manga is definitely not violent. And while the image gives off some distinct Enemies to Lovers vibes. That isn't this Manga.

This manga is a lovely romance. That addresses the grief of a loved one and coming to terms with the fact that you can never know how they would have felt about something else. Paired with some beautiful character growth.

Would Recommend If: You want a sweet but somewhat sad manga that is encompassed within one volume.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Asuka Konishi and the publisher for providing an e-ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. All the views expressed are my own.
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This was my first foray into a story of these genres and themes. The blurb definitely attracted me and the contents more than lived up to my expectations.

This story is bittersweet and deeply moving. Konishi has created memorable and well-rounded characters and an atmosphere that pulls you into the story.

The dialogue was beautifully written and evocative. I only wish that the ending could have been smoother as it felt somewhat abrupt, however this did not detract from the story much.

I also think this story has all the elements that would make it an absolutely amazing anime!

Overall, I'm very much glad I tried out something different from what I usually read and will definitely be checking out Konishi's other works.

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars

( I was kindly given eARC of the English translation of this via Netgalley)

This was a very interesting one. I knew that it would be slightly weird from the blurb, I mean not many romances are built around the premise of dating the lover of your now-dead sibling and not many stories would handle the taboo quite as well as Haru's Curse did.

I think Asuka Konishi brought this story to life quite well. Though this sort of premise is not something I am usually drawn to as I prefer more upbeat stories but I zoomed through this story, I simply could not put it down. I could not help but be caught up in the dilemma of Haru, Togo and Natsumi and heavily invested in how the affair would conclude.

I think my only chagrin was that the ending felt rather abrupt to me. Though we got bonus content, [ I felt that after the intense scenes of emotional outpouring and struggle, I would have absolutely adored to see more of the domestic day to day challenges of the Natsumi and Togo in this new reality they live in. (hide spoiler)] I also get as though some of the conflict wasn't properly fleshed out and so never truly resolved. I remain so curious about the relationships between Natsumi and her father [ and her runaway mother (hide spoiler)].

Despite that, I found it refreshing and a great pick me up read in the middle of the workweek. I would be interested to see more of the work of Asuka Konishi and I would especially like a follow-up or expansion to the tales of Natsumi and Togo. Also, side note, I truly believe this would translate into film or tv media very well and I would LOVE to see an anime adaptation if possible.

Damn, this was heavy.

I’m not usually a romance lover, but this had drama, grief, and a relationship I actually rooted for. Following Natsumi and Togo, who start a relationship after the death of Natsumi’s sister Haru. What makes matters complicated was that Togo had been engaged to Haru that had been set up by their parents, and now with her gone, he and Natsumi tentatively date, even if it was just a way of keeping Haru’s memory alive.

This story packs all the punches when it comes to dealing with grief, and the messy situation Togo and Natsumi find themselves in. Her grief over losing her beloved sister, and her complicated feelings in regard to dating the man she loved made me really feel for her, and how hopeless she feels at having lost her. Then there’s Togo, who spent his entire life following his family expectations and never having the chance to follow his own wants, only to fall for Natsumi even though he’s engaged to her sister. It’s just an incredibly sad situation where you understand where their struggles come from, and the obstacles in their way.

There’s a lot to make you think, but I loved the characters and their struggles to find their own wants and desires with the ghosts that loom over them. I wanted there to be a happy ending, or as happy as they could get. The art is interesting and beautiful, and the story takes you away.

Loved it.

This was a super hard hitting story that I wasn't expecting to love this much. This manga dove deep into grief and how a sibling carries this weight especially when they have a tight bond. As an older sister, I really related to our heroine and her decisions. I loved getting to not only explore the romance between our two characters, but also the feelings she has about her sister and feeling close to her after she has passed. I'm definitely going to be recommending this story to others in the future.

This story is both incredibly sad and incredibly uplifting.
Natsumi's little sister tragically dies at 19, leaving behind a broken sister who feels all alone in the world and a fiance, Togo, from an arranged marriage that seems to not have any personality at all. It all begins when Togo convinces Natsumi to date him in her sister's stead and Natsumi only agrees as long as they do only whatever he had done with Haru. So begins a story that delves into survivor's guilt, personal agency, family obligations, self-acceptance, and, most importantly, love.
Haru isn't even the main character but she certainly is a presence in everything that Natsumi and Togo do. It felt realistic to what someone who lost their most important person would react to the situation.
The pace is great. I loved how each chapter revealed a little bit more about each character and showed that, despite everything, they are in fact perfect for each other.
The art is very simple, but what Konishi excels at is expressions. The characters come alive when they react to things. It's a great thing to see expressions so well done that a tiny smile from the seemingly stone-faced Togo shines from the panel.

Overall, it's a fantastic self-contained story that touches on hard topics but manages to keep things light. Definitely something I'd recommend.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the read!

What a uniquely painful story... This focuses on three people, Haru who has recently passed away, Natsumi the older sister, and Touga, the love interest. Touga was engaged to Haru and now is dating the older sister Natsumi. We see different parts of the story from each perspective, and I can easily say all of these characters were complex and nuanced. The author did a great job of painting a picture of love during a very painful, sad time in their lives. While this story is morally gray, you can’t help but feel for Haru who was robbed of her young life and root for the new couple despite that.

While I enjoyed the story I found it was a bit rushed, especially towards the end. However I do think a lot of people will be surprised by how much they like this story, as I was too. Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC.

What a bittersweet story.

The setup alone was enough to get me interested. Complex emotions, an unlikely relationship, and a dead sister/fiancé? I was ready for emotional turmoil and some dark themes.
Natsumi was the perfect character to start the story with - she seems to be straightforward and utterly devoted to her sister. Following and unraveling her through the chapters was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. You can see her struggle with so much and her family does nothing to help her.
It is a similar situation for Togo. From the very first time we meet him, it is clear that he is not truly fulfilled with his life but unwilling to change it.

The story takes a turn halfway through in an unexpected direction. The author really did not go the easy route when it came to the question of how and if dead people should influence the way we live our lives and I commend them for it.


I could have done without some of the more over-the-top funny expressions since I felt they didn't fit the mood. The artist was less expressive when it came to straight-on faces but her body language and composition talent really moved me.

Natsumi younger sister died and begins to date her sisters fiance the only thing is he must take her where he and her sister used to go. As they get to know eachother thier feeling for eachother grows.

This was such a conflicting story. So the whole thing was that the younger sister, Haru or Natsumi were going to be in an arranged marriage Togo just had to pick a sister. Disintersted in the situation he ended up with the younger sister feeling bleh about it but it seems the older one is stirring something inside of him I thought it was interesting seeing this. Then there was the whole grief that surrounded the book and the two. The curse was the grief these two were going though and they just had so much conflict and confusion about the whole thing. I mean they are going on dates where Togo and her sister which is pretty much opening old wounds when Natsumi was either trying to heal from getting this glimpse into her sister and his life but it was also causing alot of hurt knowing they may have enjoyed themselves. Theres just so much to unpack with this book and I have to say that I really did enjoy it.

Review to come March 10 on blog/goodreads.

I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

I was definitely intrigued by the premise of the book, what kind of curse is Haru's curse? And why start dating after someone dies? The cover also seemed intriguing, her holding an urn (I am guessing it is that) and both of them looking pretty grim.

Also worth noting this is the two volumes of the series combined into one big bundle!

I will be splitting the review into two parts as it just got way too long with just the first volume. Haha. I just got so many thoughts and sorry if the review gets a bit cluttered/chaotic, but I am just going to go with this as my review.

FIRST VOLUME PART

I loved that we get both POV on things. In the first chapter we meet Natsumi, the older sister. We read about her sister's death, see Natsumi dating Togo (who dated Haru), we see how Togo and Haru got to dating (arranged), and some other things. While I knew from the blurb that Togo and Natsumi would be dating I was oddly weirded out by it as it just seemed to come out of nowhere and it felt kind of disrespectful. HOWEVER, in the second chapter we get the POV of Togo and we see that he has always been fascinated by Natsumi and not Haru. We see how he gets more and more intrigued as he sees more of her when they are both meeting up at the hospital to visit Haru. We see also the other side of him asking Natsumi to date him and it just made more sense. Still a bit weird, but then again given things were arranged for Togo and he always had an eye for Natsumi it felt different. More fitting. Though I still would have liked him to at least wait a bit, because sorry, just after the funeral.. Mmmmmm..

I liked that her condition was that he takes her to places he had taken her sister. OK, it was again a bit weird, but given her love for her sister it also made sense. Plus, I was definitely curious to see where Togo took Haru.

I loved seeing how both Togo and Natsumi get closer to each other, learn more about each other, but also learn more about Haru. I really loved those conversations and loved seeing both of them learn something about Haru. Plus, they are both showing each other a different side of the world. He is a rich isolated/sheltered guy who has missed out on a lot and Natsumi is a normal girl. I loved seeing them both go to the festival (though sadly we never got to see it for real) which Togo doesn't know about, and he taking her to a fancy cafe. And so there are other things! Yep, that is right they deviated from their plans, at least for a bit. I also love seeing them both talk about all sorts of things, not just fun things but also serious things like jobs and moving out. About Haru.

We see that both are dealing with guilt. Guilt towards Haru. However, I could easily see that both didn't per se only feel guilt but also quite liked each other. I guess Natsumi knows and is trying to stop it, while Togo on the other hand never experienced a lot of emotions and doesn't know that the feelings he has, the little sparks he feels, the way he feels when Natsumi laughs or does something silly, is love or like. I was waiting for him to notice. To find out. 

WOW, what a way to end the first volume of this bundle. Not just the conversation that Natsumi and Togo had, which I saw coming but still shocked me. And then what Natsumi finds online. WOW. This could mean a lot of things, it depends on what is mentioned online. Will Natsumi find answers?

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VOLUME 2 PART

OK, that was an interesting way to start, we see more on Haru's thoughts and that it was Togo who moved her to get to the doctor. Can you imagine if he hadn't pushed? What would have happened then? I thought this part would be Haru only, but it is actually Natsumi reading the diary! We see that even Haru saw that Natsumi and Togo had something special (though both didn't know at the time, or well at least Natsumi didn't haha). While I understand Haru's feelings on the matter, I did think it was just a bit too much? I mean, I get that you want to be with Togo forever... but it just seems harsh to think the way she did. So you wanted Togo to be yours forever? Never to find a girl? Never marry anyone? That is a bit selfish right? I mean, if I was on my deathbed, or very sick, all I would want is for my husband to find someone else after I died, I wouldn't want him to be lonely. Of course, it is his choice in the end, but I would definitely make it clear I would be fine with it. I would be sad of course that I can't be with him forever... but I cannot forbid him or force him or whatever else to never be with someone. That is just harmful.

And we see the effects of how Natsumi feels after reading the diary, her guilt has intensified and my heart just broke for her. She seemed to be doing pretty fine, not wanting to die anymore, and now she was back in that. I just wanted to give her a hug. Tell her not to feel so guilty. To tell her please don't commit suicide. Please, just find Togo.

In the mean time we see two POV at the same time. Togo who has to start dating again with a girl by the law of his mom (come on just move out already) and we see how he keeps thinking of Natsumi. Keeps thinking that he really lived for those weekends which had me totally swooning and squeeing. My heart broke though what happens not much later. OH MY GOSH. In the mean time Natsumi is doing what she can and trying to continue with her things. We see she is working hard, but that she misses Togo so much.
Oh gosh, I was just crying so much around page 285 to further. That was so emotional, I don't want to say anything, but this whole book is already emotional, but this definitely broke the dam. I was so sad, but also happy. Because it was a big big thing that was just waiting to happen and holy wow that was so well written.

The ending was just fantastic and boy I am proud of both characters and how far they have come. Together.

I loved that we got some bonus comics and they were really fun and cute to read!

The art of the manga was pretty OK, I liked the style, but the eyes/faces were just a bit too derpy at times for me and distracted from certain scenes were you don't want to be distracted.

This was an emotional rollercoaster. Loss and love, mourning and guilt, connecting and finding the one for you. It was beautifully written, with fantastic characters who you will root for. I would consider it one of my favourite manga. Highly recommended.