Monthly in the Garden with My Landlord, Vol. 3

Maitsuki, Niwatsuki, Ooyatsuki [ Monthly in the Garden with My Landlord] #3

by Yodokawa, ヨドカワ

Miyako’s confession at karaoke has turned her and Asako’s relationship upside down! Because now, the ex-idol has decided to aggressively woo her housemate. However, it seems Miyako’s crush may have finally built up a resistance to her good looks―After all, none of her advances are working! Is Asako just a bit dense, or could this mark the start of a rift between the two women?

Genres: Manga, Romance, Yuri, Graphic Novels, Lesbian, LGBT, Queer

178 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2024

About the author

See also: ヨドカワ

Reviews

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the manga hasn't been formally serialized yet, I've read the chapters that have been unserialized and I enjoyed how the plot is developing. We learn more about the MC's idol group and other aspects of her life in this chapter. I'll wait for the official cover release and for it to be officially out.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet and gentle romance continues to blossom between the tenant and her live-in landlord. Highlights include asking friends for advice, celebrating a birthday, and making a shrine visit.

Warm and cozy.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Chapters 13-18 -- Translation Notes -- Special Story. Chapter 15.5

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miyako sure said that at karaoke and Asako sure heard that, but didn’t seem to understand. Well, Miyako’s going to make darn sure she understands, but Asako’s move came with a lot of baggage and not all of it was physical.

As I write this, we have three fluffier yuri adult series being released: Cheerful Amnesia, I Married My Female Friend, and this one. And I would rank them in said order from least to most interesting.

It’s down to nuance. Cheerful Amnesia doesn’t have any to speak of, IMMFF just got some, and this one? Oh, it gets some and then some this time out. And that makes what would otherwise be okay, but forgettable, anything but.

Rather than just the usual arbitrary reasons for prolonging the leads getting together, rivals and miscommunications and such, this gives actual context to things and shows some insight into its characters. Sadness and joy both have their moments here.

This is all anchored by the karaoke confession, which pretty much anybody would count as a romantic one except, apparently, Asako. And you won’t be going wrong if you let ‘apparently’ do a lot of heavy lifting there.

You could make a pretty solid claim, backed up by a conversation with her sister in law later, that Asako has never had a real relationship before and has, instead, been involved in a string of infatuations that were more one-sided than they should have been.

So her misprocessing her own feelings about Miyako to the point that she doesn’t really know if she loves her, when she clearly does, is absolutely believable. Hato and Ruri say as much during their page time (these two make an adorable double act, it must be noted).

And Miyako is struggling not only because Asako is suddenly immune to her face game, but because she feels it’s wrong for them to continue functioning as ‘landlord and tenant’ when her feelings run far deeper.

Miyako is still drifting perilously close to ‘magic pixie dream girl’, but she has actual problems of her own and, while I think Asako gets the bulk of the best development, their respective characterization makes sense given their differing ages and maturity.

Then Miyako’s birthday strikes and this goes well beyond its previous strengths to something pretty special. And it’s all because of how tortured Asako is - the way the manga dives into her massive PTSD from endless indifferent or over-enthusiastic former partners is some emotionally charged stuff and informs so, so much.

And when Miyako realizes what’s happening and steps up to save Asako from her past obsessions, it’s a moment of amazing insight and such consideration for the woman she loves. It’s one of the best delivered outbursts I’ve read in ages.

The way the story deploys its little bits of humour to lighten the mood just a touch after all the heavy stuff is quite well done. I enjoyed the first couple volumes, but this one is a step up in terms of craft.

There’s a bit of a time jump after this, which lets the story move things along. It gets the job done with minimal waiting around, but I can’t truly say if this way of advancing the plot works versus drawing it out a smidgen more. Then again, if nothing was happening it would be a little dull.

Either way, things pay off with a shouted realization from Asako over tea that I felt wasn’t really earned, but the moments afterward and the date that end this volume are rife with such strong character moments that I can let it slide.

There are some really small details that keep this from perfection, but the times when it really sings just overcome them with such ease that I’m impressed. I wasn’t sure the mangaka had it in them, but when the story needs to hit it, it almost always does.

4.5 stars - as I said, the good parts here are so good that it’s not really fair to give this less than a rounded five stars. Establish the characters and then grow the characters? It’s so crazy it just might work.

[marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vol. 1 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 2 ★★★☆☆

This volume is mostly about Asako working through her baggage about past relationships. As with previous volumes, it's sweet, grounded, and enjoyable. That said, I'm nervous about where the story will go as that last chapter is a bit ominous.

[silly_finney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, eh?
The will-they-won’t-they was fun.
Now that it’s turning into something else I just don’t really care about it. Not a bad book. Wasn’t painful to read. Wasn’t exciting either. Just meh. Don’t know if I’ll keep reading. Was a good run- nothing bad to say. But think I’m over it!

[Cherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idol was kinda annoying in this one.

[Loki Wylde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a cozy, slice of life girl love with nearly no angst at all. All the characters are ridiculously cute ranging to adorable. I loved the main couple and enjoyed them as a pair. I feel like there’s even a second relationship that manifests that’s along the line of ace? Good read. Only giving an 8/10 because there’s still some things left to be like… figured out. I don’t feel like the end really felt finished. Still definitely cute read.

[star · Rating 4 out of 5]

the pace takes up quite a bit and onee is quite time efficient with her feelings but i‘m not mad about it & again some fun things happening in this volume. i really like onee‘s mangaka friend and the idols

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love this series, it’s super cute! Very excited for the newly introduced side couple, too.

[Ada]

Only one chapter, I said. Short breaks between studying, I said. I’ve read all 3 volumes and not touched h th e question bank I had to get through today. They are so cute 😭😭😭 so precious 💖💖💖

[Chris Gernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series is completely cozy, sweet, and fun, and this is the best one yet - and manages to work in some relationship challenges without tons of drama. Such a relaxing feel-good manga!

[nelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adooooorable 🥺✨💕 my babies

I love soft and healthy and cute yuri, it warms my heart beyond worlds

[Heather D-G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume three returns us to the more intimate coziness of the first entry. This is a very sweet slice-of-life romance with very appealing characters. Two thumbs up!

[AP · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

These get cuter and cuter!

[Reuben Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was quite refreshing to see a confession be so straightforward and not all drawn out and angsty and miscommunicationy, I love Miyako’s confidence.

[Vanna Book-Mage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good outburst confession! Also love when ppl come into your life to show you how you deserve to be loved and facilitate you realizing you deserved better.

[folksread · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love them sm 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[julita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is surprisingly sweet and wholesome! I was a little freaked out by the landlord situation but somehow it works. I like that there is an actual exploration of feelings here and some genuine confessions that don’t feel overdone or inauthentic. The age gap is bad and I wish that it wasn’t like that but if I close my eyes when I read the character bios then I can pretend they’re both 26, highly recommend 👍 Actually I didn’t even read the character bios at first and thought they were both in their 20s so I was kind of devastated when that illusion was shattered. The idol angle is super random… when is my best friend going to move in with my favorite idol… anyone… I heard Lia and Yuna are looking for a new roommate…