Volumes: 4/4 (Complete), OOP but not hard to find
Shoujo/Josei
Genre: Slice of Life, Food
Summary: What do an ex-Boxer, a rich Heir to a famous company, a gay man of “demonic charm” and a guy who wears sunglasses even indoors have in common? The most amazing French pastries you have ever set your eyes on! This manga is a series of interconnected short stories all following the lives of those who work at a very unique bakery, and sometimes their customers too. What’s more, the owner has a surprising reason for starting a bakery, even though he doesn’t even like sweets.
Review: So this series is notable for not being Yaoi (but does have a few BL scenes) but has a popular following among Yaoi readers because the mangaka is most famous for her BL work, and also has self published a bunch of popular Yaoi doujinshi based off her own Antique Bakery series.
I have read this manga several times and even though I enjoyed it every time, for a while I couldn’t remember anything about the story aside from cake and pastries that sounded so delicious, that I always finished the series hungry. In hindsight I can see why. While I enjoyed the stories about their pasts and such, the stories all seem weirdly disconnected from the present, they barely ever mention anything again past the first time it was revealed. And the manga basically ends at what would be the end of a first arc in other series.
I saw one review which said frustratingly, that nothing gets resolved. Without spoiling anything, I don’t think that’s entirely fair, because there is some resolution for some of the characters. But the central plot line does ends in a deliberately open ended way for sure.
Recommended: if reading a story about four good looking guys who run a pastry shop appeals to you, then this is the manga. That being said these days mostly BL readers looking to get into the mangaka’s Yaoi doujinshi are the ones who read this.
I think it stands on its own fine as Shoujo/Josei, but be aware most of the stories are about living life and there isn’t much romance, and maybe just a touch of drama, and occasional light comedy.
Other Works from this Mangaka (from Most to Least Popular):
- Gerard and Jacques (Yaoi)
- Ichigenme - The First Class is Civil Law (Yaoi)
- Ooku (Josei)
- What Did You Eat Yesterday? (Yaoi)
- Lovers in the Night (Yaoi)
- Moon and Sandals (Yaoi)
- Don't Say Anything More, Darling (Yaoi)
- Truly, Kindly (Yaoi)
- Solfege (Yaoi)
- Flower of Life (Shoujo/Josei)
- All My Darling Daughters (Josei)
- Garden Dreams (Josei)
- Not Love But Delicious Foods Make Me So Happy! (Josei)
No comments:
Post a Comment