My advice: Read to chapter 30 and stop.
Chapter 1 to 30 depicts a 7-ish out of 10 story that is satisfactory for the genre, short and sweet story with some wholesome moments. The story beyond chapter 30 deviates and is a disaster not worth the time reading. In fact the only reason I'm even writing this review is to hopefully stop someone else from experiencing the regret of reading to chapter 30, seeing there are more chapters and going against your gut instinct to stop reading and regretting it. I don't even really write reviews, but if I can save one soul I'll be happy.
Beyond this point are spoilers, though I'm keeping them light and not naming anything too specific. First spoiler block relates to Chapter 1 to 30, second spoiler block relates to Chapter 31 and beyond.
Spoiler, click to view
Chapters 1 to 30 are an acceptable story of an MC growing a spine, ending their relationship with an abuser, and feeling the freedom that comes with that. It's not the best story ever written, but you'll probably enjoy the highs and the various meme-worthy panels that come from it. It's a relatively short and sweet story with some wholesome moments. The topics in the story are a bit heavy which gives a darker tone to the usual happy-go-lucky romcom slice of life manga, but it helps make those highs that much higher.Spoiler, click to view
Chapter 31 and beyond is a dumpster fire that starts off continuing on the themes we saw before, lulling you into a false sense of security. At some point, Chapter 45, the series takes a really dark turn. The story has had heavier topics introduced, but this feels like the author turned the dial up simply for shock value. There's no high that's going to eclipse the bad and make you feel good at the end of this like in the first portion of the manga. The traumatic experience still happened and you're still going to not feel great that it happened even if something good happens. Putting chapter 45 and its turn aside, the lead up from chapter 31 is equally troublesome, though the effects aren't apparent until much later at the most recent, as of this review, chapter (50). This is where the author has decided to double down on their darker themes. At this point the story has deviated away from the MC growing a spine, stopping their abuser, making friends, and navigating life post-abuse and is instead introducing new abuse like some form of cyclic thing that has to happen. In doing so the author has shot themselves, and the story, in the foot and alienated the audience they cultivated early on. For additional comparison to better see where I'm coming from, the heavier theme content in the first 30 chapters is bullying, abuse, and references to self-harm. Post-chapter 30 the themes are rape, prostitution, and drugging. Much darker themes that story-wise aren't even necessary. Deeply disappointing.
