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Title:  Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango) Vol 32

Author:  Yoko Kamio

Publisher: Viz

ISBN:  9781421517193

Contains Spoilers

As Tsukasa struggles for life, his mother berates Tsukushi for being the cause of all of this unseemly commotion. When she seems more put out about unwanted publicity that the Domyoji family has received, Tsukushi goes ballistic.  I couldn’t believe that she finally lost control and gave Tsukasa’s mother what she deserved.  While Tsukushi was quick to have a reversal of her feelings, I was slower to forgive Kaede, though without her interference, this series wouldn’t have stretched out over 32 volumes of unending melodrama.  Guess she’s not all bad, after all.

Just as things are looking up for the young couple, and Kaede grudgingly agrees to look the other way for the span of one year, you just know that something terrible is waiting in the wings to suck the happiness from Tsukushi’s sails.  This time it’s Tsukasa himself who causes no end of grief for Tsukushi.  After his near death experience, the doctors are worried that there might be some “lingering” effects.  His heart did stop, however briefly.  At this point, I just knew something unpleasant was lurking in the corridors to drag down Tsukushi, and it wasn’t such a surprise when it was revealed that Tsukasa was suffering from amnesia.  Not just any old amnesia, mind you – it seems that the only thing that he’d forgotten about was Tsukushi.  Now isn’t that a blip?

To complicate matters, Tsukushi meets the most cheerful girl on the planet, and she just happens to be confined to the hospital for an extended period of time.  She’s the kind of person who everybody is drawn to – with her sunny personality and beaming smile, everyone is helpless before her charm.  Pity Tsukushi, who quickly begins to feel like the gum stuck on the bottom of somebody’s shoe.  Her confidence evaporates, especially with Tsukasa treating her like she’s a very large fly that has dared to land on his dinner plate.  He’s the mean, sour Tsukasa from the start of the series, and I can’t say that I missed him. 

As the gang rallies behind Tsukushi, with Rui leading the charge, I couldn’t help but get caught up in Boys Over Flowers all over again. Sure, it has the life of the Energizer Bunny, dredging up one overused plot device after another, but I’m tangled helplessly in its web.  It’s just so damn much fun.

Grade:  B+

Rated for Teen

Review copy provided by Viz