History YMMV / HotGimmick

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: One of the few shoujo manga that fits this trope. Every character is a [[JerkAss jerk]] or a idiot, and nobody receives any major character development (in fact the opposite seems to happen). The EsotericHappyEnding doesn't help, [[spoiler:not even when the novel ended up fixing it]].

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the outcry when it was revealed that Hatsumi decided to [[spoiler:stay by Ryoki's side despite his abuse]], a Hot Gimmick S novel was released (though not by the mangaka) soon after in which Hatsumi actually [[spoiler: thinks twice about it, breaks up with Ryoki and goes to Shinogu.]]

* DeaderThanDisco: This was actually [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff fairly popular in the US when it was new]]. Now [[AmericansHateTingle it's one of the most hated shoujo manga]] ''ever''.

* LoveItOrHateIt: '''Boy Howdy'''.

* BaseBreaker: Ryoki

* WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack: And ultimately, [[spoiler:she doesn't]].

* UnfortunateImplications: Aihara is notorious for accidentally falling into this trap in several of her works, but this is perhaps the most infamous case. A portion of readers cite reasons ranging from dated gender roles to obvious sexism to backwards messages such as "abusive and dominating relationships are okay as long as the person in question has moments where it looks like he actually cares."

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the outcry when it was revealed that Hatsumi decided to [[spoiler: [[LoveMartyr stay by Ryoki's side despite his abuse]]]], a Hot Gimmick S novel was released (though not by the mangaka) soon after in which Hatsumi actually [[spoiler: thinks twice about it, breaks up with Ryoki and goes to [[FanPreferredCouple Shinogu]].]]

* DeaderThanDisco: This was actually [[GermansLoveDavidHasslehoff fairly popular in the US when it was new]]. Now [[AmericansHateTingle it's one of the most hated shoujo manga]] ''ever''.
* DieForOurShip:
** In contrast with the below trope, not a few people would love Ryoki to drop dead...
** Though it's not always because they want him to [[DieForOurShip die for their ship.]] Sometimes, they really just want him to drop dead ''[[BastardBoyfriend because he's an asshole]]''. Even people who don't ship Hatsumi with ''any'' of the characters still think that she could find someone better than [[{{Yandere}} Ryoki]]. [[WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack Who can blame them?]]

* EsotericHappyEnding:
** So Hatsumi [[spoiler:decides to stay with Ryoki in spite of his verbal and emotional abuse of her because she thinks that marriage will make him nicer to her?]] Azusa [[spoiler:goes back to being a vengeful bastard after learning that Ryoki's father was responsible for his mother's woes?]] Shinogu [[spoiler:abruptly decides to go off and become a monk after realizing that he'll never get Hatsumi?]] And we're supposed to believe that all ''this'' makes for a happy ending?
** The real happy ending, however, happens in AuthorsSavingThrow.

* TheWoobie: Does '''anything''' go right in Hatsumi's life?

* DeaderThanDisco: This was actually fairly popular in the US when it was new. Now it's one of the most hated shoujo manga ''ever''.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: One of the few shoujo manga that fits this trope.
* DieForOurShip: In contrast with the below trope, not a few people would love Ryoki to drop dead...
** Though it's not always because they want him to [[DieForOurShip die for their ship.]] Sometimes, they really just want him to drop dead ''[[BastardBoyfriend because]] [[{{Jerkass}} he's]] [[AttemptedRape an]] [[CrazyJealousGuy ass]] [[ItsAllAboutMe hole]]''. Even people who don't ship Hatsumi with ''any'' of the characters still think that she could find someone better than [[{{Yandere}} Ryoki]]. [[WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack Who can blame them?]]

* EsotericHappyEnding: So Hatsumi [[spoiler:decides to stay with Ryoki in spite of his verbal and emotional abuse of her because she thinks that marriage will make him nicer to her?]] Azusa [[spoiler:goes back to being a vengeful bastard after learning that Ryoki's father was responsible for his mother's woes?]] Shinogu [[spoiler:abruptly decides to go off and become a monk after realizing that he'll never get Hatsumi?]] And we're supposed to believe that all ''this'' makes for a happy ending?

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the outcry when it was revealed that Hatsumi decided to [[spoiler: [[LoveMartyr stay by Ryoki's side despite his abuse]]]], a Hot Gimmick S novel was released soon after in which Hatsumi actually [[spoiler: thinks twice about it, breaks up with Ryoki and goes to [[FanPreferredCouple Shinogu]].]]

* UnfortunateImplications: Aihara is notorious for accidentally falling into this trap in several of her works, but this is perhaps the most infamous case. A portion of readers cite reasons ranging from dated gender roles to backwards messages such as "abusive and dominating relationships are okay as long as the person in question has moments where it looks like he actually cares."

* DoubleStandard: Some people pin ALL the blame of how fucked up the manga is on Hatsumi, while being much lighter on Ryoki. To the point of being experts on ''victim-blaming Hatsumi for her own abuse and saying she's oh so responsible for Ryoki mistreating her''. [[FemaleMisogynist I wonder why.]]

* WhyWouldAnyoneTakeHimBack

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: A common criticism of the manga.

* DoubleStandard: Some people pin ALL the blame of how fucked up the manga is on Hatsumi, while being much lighter on Ryoki. To the point of being experts on ''victim-blaming Hatsumi for her own abuse and saying she's oh so responsible for Ryoki mistrating her''. [[FemaleMisogynist I wonder why.]]

* UnfortunateImplications: Aihara is notorious for accidentally falling into this trap in several of her works, but this is perhaps the most infamous case. A portion of readers cite reasons ranging from dated gender roles to backwards messages such as "abusive and dominating relationships are okay as long as the person in question has moments where it looks like he actually cares." Especially troubling coming from a ''female'' mangaka.

* UnfortunateImplications: Aihara is notorious for accidentally falling into this trap in several of her works, but this is perhaps the most infamous case. A portion of readers cite reasons ranging from dated gender roles to backwards messages such as "abusive and dominating relationships are okay as long as the person in question has moments where it looks like he actually cares."

* AuthorsSavingThrow - After the outcry when it was revealed that Hatsumi decided to [[spoiler: [[LoveMartyr stay by Ryoki's side despite his abuse]]]], a Hot Gimmick S novel was released soon after in which Hatsumi actually [[spoiler: thinks twice about it, breaks up with Ryoki and goes to [[FanPreferredCouple Shinogu]].]]
* DieForOurShip - In contrast with the below trope, not a few people would love Ryoki to drop dead...

* DracoInLeatherPants - A lot of fangirls are willing to overlook Ryoki's near-sociopathic behavior because of his good looks. Azusa, as well - no matter what "DarkAndTroubledPast" he had, it's disturbing to [[spoiler: justify his manipulation and attempt at having Hatsumi violently gang raped]].
* EsotericHappyEnding - So Hatsumi [[spoiler:decides to stay with Ryoki in spite of his verbal and emotional abuse of her because she thinks that marriage will make him nicer to her?]] Azusa [[spoiler:goes back to being a vengeful bastard after learning that Ryoki's father was responsible for his mother's woes?]] Shinogu [[spoiler:abruptly decides to go off and become a monk after realizing that he'll never get Hatsumi?]] And we're supposed to believe that all ''this'' makes for a happy ending?

* FanPreferredCouple - Some fans prefer Hatsumi to have ended up with [[spoiler:Shinogu]], who was sensitive and gentle and wanted the best for her, instead of the possessive and often abusive [[spoiler:Ryoki]]. And in the novel, they do.
* UnfortunateImplications

* TheWoobie - Does '''anything''' go right in Hatsumi's life?

* DoubleStandard: Some people pin ALL the blame of how fucked up the manga is on Hatsumi, while being much lighter on Ryoki. To the point of being experts on ''victim-blaming Hatsumi for her own abuse and saying she'soh so responsible for Ryoki's abuse of her''. [[FemaleMisogynist I wonder why.]]

* YourMileageMayVary - There is no middle ground with Ryoki. Either you love him with a passion or you hate him to death.
** The series itself falls into this trope as well. Either it's a twisted, yet addictive romance manga or trash you wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.