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seriouslybookedup 's review for:
Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet, Vol. 1
by Mika Yamamori
Fumi Ohno is a wholesome character - she's passionate about domestic chores and maintaining a household though it's unclear whether this is out of necessity or a genuine interest. She finds herself in an unlikely predicament as a live-in housekeeper for a much older, surly novelist. Already the age gap thing is a total non-starter for me. I've seen other manga reviewers say the manga addresses the age gap in later volumes, though I'm not sure to what extent.
I loved the scene when Fumi is doing tasks around the house (laundry and replacing a ceiling bulb) while reflecting on her lack of interest in dating guys. She says "...There's nothing I can't do on my own, so it doesn't seem necessary." Then, in the very next panel, she's fighting off a panty thief in the backyard. I loved this scene and I thought it demonstrated how Fumi can find satisfaction in house chores (a "traditional" role for women) but isn't a wilting flower who is incapable of taking care of herself. Which is why I was so frustrated with the introduction of Isshin Imamura, who bullies Fumi for some perceived slight back when they were children, and she just rolls over and takes it for the sake of a dumb coupon book.
Beyond Fumi's sweet disposition and the stress involved in paying off her father's debt, there's nothing really compelling in this first volume. Kibikino is a flat character, a lifeless stand-in for the grumpy/sunshine trope. His overall character design doesn't appeal to me. Let's pretend for a second that there isn't a heinous 12-year age gap: I just can't root for male manga characters who are slobs or do the absolute bare minimum (e.g. like carry a grocery bag after they treated their love interest like shit) and we're supposed to swoon like these are grand gestures. It just feels lazy.
I loved the scene when Fumi is doing tasks around the house (laundry and replacing a ceiling bulb) while reflecting on her lack of interest in dating guys. She says "...There's nothing I can't do on my own, so it doesn't seem necessary." Then, in the very next panel, she's fighting off a panty thief in the backyard. I loved this scene and I thought it demonstrated how Fumi can find satisfaction in house chores (a "traditional" role for women) but isn't a wilting flower who is incapable of taking care of herself. Which is why I was so frustrated with the introduction of Isshin Imamura, who bullies Fumi for some perceived slight back when they were children, and she just rolls over and takes it for the sake of a dumb coupon book.
Beyond Fumi's sweet disposition and the stress involved in paying off her father's debt, there's nothing really compelling in this first volume. Kibikino is a flat character, a lifeless stand-in for the grumpy/sunshine trope. His overall character design doesn't appeal to me. Let's pretend for a second that there isn't a heinous 12-year age gap: I just can't root for male manga characters who are slobs or do the absolute bare minimum (e.g. like carry a grocery bag after they treated their love interest like shit) and we're supposed to swoon like these are grand gestures. It just feels lazy.