Cherry Juice, Vol. 01

チェリージュース [Cherry Juice] #1

by Haruka Fukushima

After five awkward years, stepsiblings Minami and Otome are finally getting along, even giving each other romantic advice. However, when Minami's best friend confesses his love for Otome, suddenly the siblings peaceful relationship takes an unpredictable turn, making them wonder with whom they are in love.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Graphic Novels, Manga Romance, Comics, Anime

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2004

About the author

Name in Japanese: フクシマハルカ
She is a Japanese shōjo manga artist. She made her manga debut in 1999 in Nakayoshi Magazine with her award-winning manga Sakuranbo Kiss. She considers Otona ni Nuts (Instant Teen: Just Add Nuts) to be her masterpiece.

Reviews

[Bibliothecat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for complete series



Otome and Minami didn't start off as the best of step-siblings but they are finally getting along. New arguments are in store though once both of them start showing romantic interest in others. Neither of them seems to want to give on the other and they have to start asking themselves if their feelings are those of siblings or more.

Cherry Juice is remarkably average. There's nothing glaringly wrong with it, although sometimes scenes jump in a weird and abrupt way and a few elements are left under-explained and therefore random (e.G. the sudden inclusion of Minami's father and other siblings). Even though there isn't much to criticize it for, there are also no particular strong points that would make this work stand out.

The art is cute and good enough but there are plenty of manga out there with a nicer style. The characters are ok but nothing remarkable. The side cast is forgettable and just kind of there. The sibling dynamics aren't as engaging as other step-sibling constellations in similarly themed stories. It was also rather odd how the majority of the cast was encouraging and almost throwing the two main characters at each other. Part of the appeal of step-sibling romances is that it's seen as a bit of a taboo - of course, they aren't blood-related, but it does come with complications and they're pretty much ignored in this story.

There's no harm in giving this manga a try, but for every single aspect of it, you can find a work that's done a better job of it. I feel like I'm giving this a reasonably high rating but that's more due to the lack of bad things rather than the presence of good.

[Starbubbles · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this series, I don't think I really ever believed she had feelings beyond a manga brother complex. Everyone around these two seemed to be pushing them into a relationship that really only half of the "couple" was hoping for. There wasn't even understanding for when Otome's family was falling apart. All Amane translated her wanting to see her stepbrother as she was attracted to him; not that she was concerned her relationship with best friend and family member was going through a difficult adjustment and in danger of crumbling. He could have cemented his relationship with her as being different than the friendship she had with Minami, and finally out of the friend's zone for good. Instead he behaved immaturally. Well, they are teenaged high schoolers, what did I really expect? Adults don't even get this right.

[Jillian -always aspiring- · Rating 2 out of 5]

2020 #565

2.5 stars

It’s been a long, long time since I read a shojo manga like this: forced kisses out of the blue, a step-sibling relationship fraught with sexual tension, and moments where you wonder why the heroine doesn’t go off into the sunset alone and leave the guys behind. But there are saving graces nonetheless. The art is cute, Minami is not creepy as Otome’s (admittedly immature and a bit rash) step-brother, and you obviously see that Otome and Minami would be a nice pairing if only they didn’t have that pesky familial-like bond. However, there are the downsides, like the fact that the other love interest (Amane) kisses Otome with no apparent regard for her consent, and the other characters are really rather forgettable. Even so, I want to see where this goes, misgivings aside.

[Margaryta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this manga. In fact, I was happy that this topic was written about because (for some odd reason though this has never happened to me) I was curious of what would happen if step siblings fell in love with each other.

highly recomend it to people who like romancy manga but ones that are more tied to normal life.

Can't wait to read the rest of this manga series - hope it doesn't dissapoint me cause I'm currently rooting for an amazing and fresh new ending, not a boring cliche one that's already been used

[Kristin ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

To put it simply this one is bad. The main heroin falls over 5+ times in one volume so that she can show her underwear to the boys. Also we are done with sibling relationships no thank you, next.

[Kenley · Rating 3 out of 5]

this would prbly b another 3 1/2 for me. it was pretty good, but in certain parts i had trouble figuring out what was going on. and i don't like Amane, he just randomly kisses her. it all seemed so pointless to me. well, mayb the next one will b better.

[David Doel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minami and Otome become siblings because their parents marry. This provides a possibility (in manga an imperative) that they will become lovers.

So far I am enjoying this story which is painted in broad strokes.

My only two complaints are that I need a magnifying glass to read some of the font (which it turns out is generally not worth the trouble) and the author keeps including blurbs to tell her story (which is of no interest to me).

[TT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a juvenile series for me. I got a couple books in and quit.

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read this many times, this time while reading it I found that I didn`t like it as much as other times. It felt like too young of a read.

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m blah over the characters but I want to see where this goes...

[B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow! Shoujo has come a long way that's for sure.

[Marie R · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art style is so cute. I can't wait to find out if they end up together (even tho I already know they do because I googled it)

[laura :* · Rating 1 out of 5]

luettiin kaverin kanssa yhdessa vähän vitsillä ja tää oli humoristisen surkea

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about the introduction to this series, but the art is cute and the collection was thrifted so I am going to read it until the end.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

No sabia q era incest😭💔

[kuristina- tabreez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Step siblings Minami and Otome fought an awful lot at first, but gradually, the two learned to get along quite well and became very close. Now, five years later and in their last year of junior high, Minami's best friend, Ayame, has just asked his big sister, Otome, out! But dating someone means pushing family to the side and spending all of your free time with your boyfriend, but it seems Otome is having trouble pushing away her brother... She tries to keep them both, she'll lie to them, and she gets jealous when Minami's with other girls (which is bad, since he's the most popular boy in school)! Now, to the observant eye, anyone can see that Minami is in love with his big sister... But might Otome be in love with her little brother too? Or are they simply too close?


This was pretty fun to read. Because the art style is cute, but half of the illustrations are poorly drawn, it was also something I had no issue skimming the art. As in, looking at the illustrations, but not admiring nearly every panel for ten seconds or more like I usually do.
The reason why I first wanted to read Cherry Juice is because... Well... I'm also guilty of having a crush on my own step brother once. But only when I was young! Brothers are good at crushing fantasies or crushes with their stupid sides anyway... But, uh, Cherry Juice seems to take sibling crushes to the extreme. I mean, circumstance-wise. What sane adult would ever allow them to sleep in the same room? I'd have one sleep with me, or have one sleep in the lounge! And all the adults in their lives urge them to date each other just like it was in my life! Oh my God! That is so wrong! Anyone would think it was only to be funny, except for the people you're telling it to!! Oh, and Ayame is so... Kyah! I can see why Otome likes him so much!! However, Minami wouldn't have been the type I'd fall for, even if he was super close to me! He's far too childish, just like my other favorite character, Naru-chan, had stated.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

The range of topics covered by manga is astonishing. This one is about a teenage boy and girl who are step-siblings and are attracted to each other. The story is held together by random and arbitrary behaviour from themselves and their friends, but as I remember it teens were a bit like that anyway. The art is very good, but the story is a bit shallow and disturbing, so I have no urge to proceed with the series.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is better than step-siblings who are secretly in love with each other? I have a small weakness for these cute things. Anyway, it was super adorable, but i cannot lie that there were some moments where I just was way too bored to keep going with reading this manga, but I managed. I can't say very much, since it seemed to me as your typical romance shoujo manga, although i liked it, but if you're into these, read it, it's very good!

[Nina {ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀᴛᴇʀ} · Rating 3 out of 5]

She's really dense, but-sigh-it makes sense! OH well, it was still an interesting read, if you like dense protag's. I don't always, but they are quite interesting sometimes doing what they do in their own ways. Hehe, sometimes they're annoying. But in this, it's just funny.

[Ilianna Vanillia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story about two teenagers and their forbidden love. :)
Read it a long time ago, but I remember that when I finished this manga, it left me with feelings of joy and satisfaction. That's exactly what I'm looking for in the books I chose read, to be entertaining.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the nominal romance here - the girl has a boy she likes, and he likes her too - is ignored in favor of throwing her at her brother as often as possible, or him throwing himself at her. It's annoying.

[Victoria LaBush · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a little weird and twisted. Its about two step sibilings and their love lives. However, they are starting to like eachother.

[Wee!wawaLAA!!! · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a super gushy, romantic manga :) but not gushy like twilight, but the comedy romance between step siblings
NO IT IS NOT GROSS, except for some parts :)
IT IS SOOOO CUTE!!!

[Vivi · Rating 5 out of 5]

cherries!!!!! ^-^

[Noora · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I would've liked the story more if I could've followed it better. Maybe I just suck at reading manga, but this was very confusing to me and I sort of gave up on it.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

looks really good! i just <3 anime so much!!

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

its a awesome book!

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

i just got this book and im done!!!!!!!! YAY its a really good book i dont really know how to say any thing eals but i would just like to say......... I LOVE IT LIKE I DO TO ALL MY OTHER BOOKS !!!!!

[river · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3

[bridg · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute story, if a bit predictable. otome is adorable and minami is awesome =)