Honey Hunt: 2

When her absent father, an award-winning composer, and her cruel mother, a beautiful actress, announced their impending divorce, shy 17-year-old Yura surprised everyone by telling the media that her parents could go to hell. But when even that fails to dent her much-admired mother's reputation, Yura decides to beat her mother at her own game and pursues an acting career. She is helped by two estranged twin brothers: kind songwriter Q-ta, whom she falls for, and blunt pop idol Haruka, who falls for her. Faced with multiple betrayals, catty costars, and her own confusion and uncertainty, Yura develops the resourcefulness and strength to keep her resolve. VERDICT There are some plot issues: it makes no sense, for example, that though Yura wants to keep her parentage a secret while beginning a career, she doesn't change her look or even her name. Regardless, the series' soap-opera drama-given edge by mean behavior, the amorality of show business, and Yura's questionable choices-is, like Aihara's earlier Hot Gimmick, addicting. So far, only one sexual situation (involving adults) justifies the "older teen" rating.-S.R. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When her absent father, an award-winning composer, and her cruel mother, a beautiful actress, announced their impending divorce, shy 17-year-old Yura surprised everyone by telling the media that her parents could go to hell. But when even that fails to dent her much-admired mother's reputation, Yura decides to beat her mother at her own game and pursues an acting career. She is helped by two estranged twin brothers: kind songwriter Q-ta, whom she falls for, and blunt pop idol Haruka, who falls for her. Faced with multiple betrayals, catty costars, and her own confusion and uncertainty, Yura develops the resourcefulness and strength to keep her resolve. VERDICT There are some plot issues: it makes no sense, for example, that though Yura wants to keep her parentage a secret while beginning a career, she doesn't change her look or even her name. Regardless, the series' soap-opera drama—given edge by mean behavior, the amorality of show business, and Yura's questionable choices—is, like Aihara's earlier Hot Gimmick, addicting. So far, only one sexual situation (involving adults) justifies the "older teen" rating.—S.R.