Skip-Beat!, Vol. 10

This is one of the best shoujo manga out there and if you have not read this far in the series, what are you waiting for?! There is a lot of tension in this volume yet the grudge Kyokos don't make much of an appearance. (Does this mean Kyoko is maturing?!) With the challenge of a new drama, Kyoko has yet another hurdle to jump. And she's not the only one who faces challenges -- we get to know more about director Ogata and where he's coming from. The relationship between Ren and Kyoko also grows a little stronger (though there is very little romantic implication. *sigh*). And we see a bit of Sho near the end of the volume. Yay! So hopefully he gets to exercise his villainy muscles in volume 11!

This volume begins what is surely to be one of the best arcs in the series. Kyoko has been cast in the year's biggest drama, Tsukigomori, but she feels no connection to the character she'll be playing. Kyoko has a lot of personal development in this volume as she struggles to understand the motivations and personality of the character, Mio. Ren has also been cast in the drama, and he shows a lot of trust in Kyoko's ability and dedication to her work. You can really see a mutual respect building between them. All in all, this wasn't one of the funnier volumes of "Skip Beat," but I was completely wrapped up in it. The story of this arc is really good, and I think it's only going to get better from here.