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nexusgoblin's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wish this were better. It's decent enough but it felt very sterile at times and then other times it would be weirdly negative. The MC is not out yet except to his family and he has a lot of internalized shit he needs to work through, and his boyfriend has this weird fixation on his past relationships like they even matter. He also brings up the possibility of the MC's clients being attractive, and I can't tell if it's meant to be a little in-joke between them or if he's that insecure. They need therapy...
The food is fantastic though.
Be warned there is some fatphobia and what felt like biphobia (and a bit of 'gold star gay' thrown into the same sentence)
The food is fantastic though.
Be warned there is some fatphobia and what felt like biphobia (and a bit of 'gold star gay' thrown into the same sentence)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Biphobia
irl_bookworms's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Slice of life mangas are my fave. Slice of life mangas with food? It’s a match made in heaven.
What Did You Eat Yesterday? is the story of Shiro, a cheap, narcissistic in-the-closet lawyer who loves to cook, and his boyfriend Kenji, a laidback hairstylist who is out at his place of work.
What I really enjoyed in this novel was how it addressed different expectations for different characters, like when it discussed the difference between Eastern and Western Culture when it comes to the experience of being gay, and also when it examined the strain of a relationship between someone who is out and someone who is in the closet. While it did tackle some heavier topics, this manga also really highlighted the lovely and soft parts of being a couple - specifically with Shiro taking the time to make food everyday and Kenji sitting down to cut Shiro’s hair.
It’s not a perfect relationship by any means, lots of internalized homophobia, biophobia, and fatphobia are present but not addressed - however, this is the toxic culture that a lot of gay men do face and it does reflect the age of the characters and the year this manga was originally published. There are also a few moments that hit very hard as a queer person and the one that stands out is when Shiro’s friend admitted that she’s okay with him being gay, but that she’s not sure she would feel the same if it was her own daughter. Yoshinaga summed it up in one really impactful line near the end of the manga:
“Just because they know, doesn’t mean they understand.”
I’ve read some of Yoshinaga’s series before and this first volume has most certainly made me want to continue this one as well.
CW: Homophobia, internalized homophobia, biphobia, outing, mentions of sexual assualt, fatphobia, eating disorders, & graphic depictions of domestic violence.
*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
What Did You Eat Yesterday? is the story of Shiro, a cheap, narcissistic in-the-closet lawyer who loves to cook, and his boyfriend Kenji, a laidback hairstylist who is out at his place of work.
What I really enjoyed in this novel was how it addressed different expectations for different characters, like when it discussed the difference between Eastern and Western Culture when it comes to the experience of being gay, and also when it examined the strain of a relationship between someone who is out and someone who is in the closet. While it did tackle some heavier topics, this manga also really highlighted the lovely and soft parts of being a couple - specifically with Shiro taking the time to make food everyday and Kenji sitting down to cut Shiro’s hair.
It’s not a perfect relationship by any means, lots of internalized homophobia, biophobia, and fatphobia are present but not addressed - however, this is the toxic culture that a lot of gay men do face and it does reflect the age of the characters and the year this manga was originally published. There are also a few moments that hit very hard as a queer person and the one that stands out is when Shiro’s friend admitted that she’s okay with him being gay, but that she’s not sure she would feel the same if it was her own daughter. Yoshinaga summed it up in one really impactful line near the end of the manga:
“Just because they know, doesn’t mean they understand.”
I’ve read some of Yoshinaga’s series before and this first volume has most certainly made me want to continue this one as well.
CW: Homophobia, internalized homophobia, biphobia, outing, mentions of sexual assualt, fatphobia, eating disorders, & graphic depictions of domestic violence.
*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Homophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Fatphobia, and Outing
Minor: Eating disorder and Sexual assault
mablayy's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Biphobia
ashlikes's review
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Biphobia and Transphobia
seawarrior's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I have somewhat ambivalent feelings about this manga... On one hand it's rewarding to read a story about an older gay couple in a serious relationship enjoying their evening routine of sharing homemade meals. However neither character really appealed to me, as they're both sort of shallow and made multiple comments causally disparaging bisexual and fat people. Most people they know direct homophobic microaggressions towards them in nearly every chapter, which was similarly uncomfortable to read, though I assume it was just the reality of what it was like to be gay in Japan at the time of the book's original publication. I'm not sure if I'll continue to read the next volumes. People who can look past elements of the story that were off-putting to me, and also those who take pleasure in cooking, may enjoy the series more though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Biphobia
Minor: Infidelity and Lesbophobia
blynecessity's review
funny
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
(4.5 stars) Kiiiiiiiind of dated, but also funny and fun! I really enjoyed this, and will def be getting the next volumes!
EDIT: (2.25 stars) Okay, this came out in 2007?? Unacceptable. Y'all, I really thought this was like a early 90s book, because the story felt so woman-author-who-doesn't-really-get-mlm-relationships-beyond-yaoi-stuff-but-at-least-its-queer-rep and just sort of figured this was from back when that was considered cutting-edge representation? (Also because the art looks old af.) But, like, this came out 13 years ago, not 30 years ago which makes me much less forgiving of some pretty squick stereotypes and depictions throughout the series.
EDIT: (2.25 stars) Okay, this came out in 2007?? Unacceptable. Y'all, I really thought this was like a early 90s book, because the story felt so woman-author-who-doesn't-really-get-mlm-relationships-beyond-yaoi-stuff-but-at-least-its-queer-rep and just sort of figured this was from back when that was considered cutting-edge representation? (Also because the art looks old af.) But, like, this came out 13 years ago, not 30 years ago which makes me much less forgiving of some pretty squick stereotypes and depictions throughout the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Biphobia and Pedophilia
Minor: Rape
caramiaculpa's review
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Infidelity and Transphobia
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