▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		YOSHINIKI NAKAMURA
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / BW
		▪	PAGES:		200
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		07/03/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		06/27/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

Ren has seen a different side of Kyoko and it has changed things between the two. He’s now protective and gentle towards her. However, when she lands a job with none other than her ex-boyfriend Sho’s new video, her desire for revenge may again drown out the gentle spirit Ren has come to care for so much. What will happen when Kyoko again faces the man who ruined her life? It’s a face-off like none other in this latest volume of Skip Beat!

First though, Kyoko has to deal with school. Excited at this missed opportunity regained, she’s happy to be able to go back to school while still pursing her acting career. But school is proving to be not so ideal an environment. The star of the school, Mimori, constantly picks on Kyoko who does her best to ignore the mean girl. Then both are slated to be in the fantasy video with Sho as the devil and they’re to play the two angels. Will Sho recognizes her?  When things evolve in manic fashion (as they so often do in Skip Beat), her impressive acting skills shine. In fact, she may be even better than a top star like Sho! Determined not to be outdone, Sho raises the stakes and plans to give it his all. Their showdown will happen when the cameras roll!

Seven volumes already of this fantastic series and if anything, it keeps getting better. For a manga, it’s outstanding, for a shojo series specifically, it’s fantastic. The comedy is unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s hilarious and often occurs with a spontaneous spirit. It blends incredibly well with the very moving story about Kyoko losing herself to rediscover who she is all over again and in such creatively unique ways. Instead of wilting after being used and abused by Sho, she completely remade herself to rise the talent charts and stomp him into dust. What she could never have expected was that this road, initially leading away from the caring and sweet girl she was, would prove to be the path to finding out who she really is and how to stand up for herself. It is quite the balancing act though. She seems to not want to be reminded of her time with Sho. She flips out into a demonic wrathful figure that’s hilarious. But as she gets to know the people around her at the talent agency, her true self slowly emerges and shines. And it’s that core heart of her that wins people over along with the reader.

Sip Beat’s art maintains it’s highly appealing style. This particular manga volume holds some wonderful fantasy illustrations with Sho as the devil and Kyoko as a fallen angel.

IN SUMMARY:
Skip Beat! is a story that captivates and entertains all at once. It’s a shojo rich with romantic angst that reaches into the heart and doesn’t let go. It keeps the laughs with all the crazy revenge stuff and this volume has Kyoko finally facing Sho again at last!