You Can't Live All on Your Own!, Vol. 2

ひとりで生きるはままならぬ [Hitori de Ikiru wa Mamanaranu] #2

by Mizoko Tsuno

A cute and quirky slice-of-life manga about four best friends and roommates discovering what happiness truly means in their late twenties.

Shuuko, Eika, Misaki, and Shio are roommates and friends making their way in the busy world of Tokyo, Japan!

Together they’ve been through thick and thin, but the pressures of adult life are beginning to take their toll. Shuuko worries that her laid-back nature is preventing her from finding love — but is romance what she really wants? Things grow fraught as career-driven Eika works herself to burnout, finding herself taking out her frustration on her friends. Despite Misaki’s best efforts to win the love of her “boyfriend,” he tells her that he’s not interested in marriage or even in deepening their two-year relationship. Meanwhile, warmhearted Shio is caught up by worries about her friends and what the future might bring for them.

Join these four roommates as they navigate the biggest question of their late What does happiness really mean?

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Josei, Fiction, Slice Of Life, Contemporary, Comics

162 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2022

Reviews

[Mark]

This looks like it might turn out to be a stealth romance story disguised as an independent women story and I don’t think I’m totally upset by it. It’d be one thing if these women didn’t want to meet anybody, but they do, so, y’know.

I say might, however, because everything that can go wrong pretty much does this volume, which largely involves our cast figuring out their romantic entanglements and then eschewing them. For now.

Misaki, the musician, is probably my favourite character, as her longstanding relationship with Kii goes under massive strain through this whole volume. The problem being, she sees a very specific life with him and he is clearly not ready to commit to anything.

Except Misaki likes him and he’s happy enough to have the benefits of that, but that eventually reaches a tipping point. Misaki’s arc of discovery and what that eventually leads to are maybe a smidgen predictable, but a cute turnaround.

Shuuko examines her passive nature and how it’s affecting her dating life. Most of her efforts are focused around a guy she eats dango with, but attempts at making this into something more (and less dango-adjacent) go nowhere.

What I really liked about Shuuko’s arc this volume is that she doesn’t berate herself for any failings. She may not feel like putting in more effort, but she does put in some, and recognizing that you maybe don’t want to date is a triumph in and of itself.

Eika mostly continues her self-destructive tendencies from the previous volume, working herself to the absolute bone in the drive to succeed. I was impressed by the way this illustrates that there is a point where working to succeed only results in failure.

She causes most of the group drama this volume, as she comes to resent the others for their inability to solve their own problems. Which is, of course, as much a statement on her frustrations as it is the others. Eika’s growth is probably the slowest, but that makes sense for her character.

One thing I really appreciate about this story is how elegantly it uses these characters and their situations to inform their actions. That may be a bit of a ‘well duh’, but I have read a lot of manga that didn’t do it quite so neatly as this one does. There’s a flow to the narrative and how people act that feels very natural.

Shio has the least to do this volume, but she is the most caring and motherly of the four of them. I wish we’d explored her financial situation and spending issues a bit more, but she’s always focused on making sure everybody is doing okay.

And it’s clear that they all need her for the moment, although the situation bubbling up at the end of the volume suggests that this will all be finished very soon (I felt this could have wrapped up this volume and been a strong two books).

Certainly not the most earth-shattering manga ever, but it looks at a set of people we rarely see covered in the medium and does it so skillfully. There’s nothing really wrong with it and I’ve enjoyed my time here.

4 stars - this is a little piece of alright. I enjoy this take on working women finding their way in the world and it has four unique viewpoints it uses pretty well. Not exemplary, but very good.

[Mehsi]

The second volume in the serie and we are back with our four girls. Each with their own worries! Mii and her band and Ki (who is just an asshole) though we also see a new guy appear (and I would love for them to try it at least). Eika who is just overworking and needs to say no and go for her own mental health. Shuuko who isn't having any luck in love (the guy was so boring btw). And Shio who we get to see the least of the 4 but who seems to be the glue to keep the group together. The art is so fun and I love following the girls on their journey through life!

And I loved the backstory on the friendship of the girls, so sweet!

[Phobean]

A very lived-in feel to this series. I appreciate how one of the main tensions is change, and the possibility that one of the four friends might move out . . . one day.

[mkhare]

3.5 stars? Like another review said, this seems like it could be heading in a direction of becoming mostly men/romance-focused which is something I’m not really interested in reading. Hopefully the potential romantic relationships remain nicely balanced with the friendship between the main characters. We shall see! For the time being however (as the author humbly requested in her closing notes), I will continue to watch over these girls!

[Othy]

I'm really liking this manga. The adult characters are refreshing, and it's nice that they have to struggle with reality a little bit before they learn a particular lesson. The four women are well-realized and compelling, too.

[isabella]

Mais uma vez slice of life vencendo no meu coração! A continuação de You can’t live all on your own foi tão singela e bela quanto a primeira parte, e eu gostei de ver a amizade das personagens e a evolução pessoal de cada uma. Que nha o terceiro volume! 🤍✨

[Shaylene]

4.5 ⭐️

[Hisgirl85]

4 stars. I like this story focusing on 20 something ladies who are friends living together

[Niche]

2.5/5 Rounding down

Love interests crop up more in this volume with every heroine in the crosshairs. I like that the women are there for eachother at the end of the day, but it's failing the Bechtel test pretty hard.

[Zian B.]

I really like the way that nearly everyone goes through a lil character arc in this volume. It was interesting getting some more insight into their separate/work lives, along with seeing how they all navigated the tension in their home. It was sweet seeing how things managed to settle down and get resolved, and it was especially sweet seeing the flashbacks to their younger years.
I’m very curious to see what can happen to everyone in the next and final volume of this series.

[Kristen]

This is book 2 in this cute and realistic Manga graphic novel series that takes place in Tokyo with four roommates, all single, and navigating work life balance, romance, and friendships.

In the second book, you get to learn a little bit more about each of the women’s personalities and difficulties they are facing in adulthood.

I think this is a unique realistic series for a manga graphic novel, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

[AP]

While I said this wasn't quite a series for me and it is a middle of the road read, and that still holds true... finding out it's only 3 volumes total I figured I would finish up the series. Now my library better get the final volume!

Just to clarify the series isn't horrible, but it is very middle of the road slice of life yapping about relationships and a few other things. And in this case it's not really my jam/doesn't work for me.

[Heather D-G]

This second volume was really fantastic. The characters really took shape and their individual challenges deepened. I’d describe it as a more wholesome Nana—not a perfect comp, but there are some similarities that made me think of that series.

[Martha]

I feel like we kind of skirt away from Shuuko's problems a bit to tackle on Eika, which was disappointing as I wanted see her try a bit more with changing herself as the narrative stated she did. Like, the aquarium date was a good first step. But girl doesn't really do anything else here.

On the other hand, Eika and Misaki's plotlines were solid. Appreciate them having good development with Eika actually letting go of the reins and Misaki finally moving on. Shio is Shio. Still not much with her here.

[T.J.]

A sweet slice-of-life about four female roommates and their troubles as twentysomethings. The musician wants commitment from her somewhat-boyfriend, the workaholic wants a better work-life balance, the loveaholic wants a good date, and the shopaholic wants to keep everyone together.

I like these 3 and 4 volume series. And I feel like everyone will somehow end up with the start of their happily-ever-after. And if they don't, they'll still be ok.

[angie]

Another lovely volume. I really liked how the friendship disagreement/argument was depicted. It was so realistic in all fronts. From the heated moment after loosing your cool and taking it out on the wrong person, to the realization of what happened and not being able to take it back, the guilt/regret felt, the internal reflection that maybe some of those words rang true even if the approach was wrong, to the need to save the friendship and how. I'm glad they worked it out the way they did. They were calm, and really listened to one another and forgave each other. This was my absolute favorite part of this volume because handling disagreements vastly differs from your teens to your adulthood.

[Sophia Paul]

THIS IS SO CUTE OMG. i love these girls so much and i hope to have these kinds of deep female connections and friendships in my late 20s. like they have such real problems and conversations and.. who would have guessed some simple COMMUNICATION would have solved some problems. rooting for all of these ladies actually <3

[Katie]

I liked this volume better than the first one. I think knowing that this actually more romance focused allowed me to adjust my expectations so I was happier with it than when I read the first volume. I like seeing these four grow together and support each other.

[Lynne]

4,5 stars!

[Wasa Mata]

Very cute and fun, can’t wait for the next one

[Amy]

2.5

[Rachel]

3.75

[Darcy Roar]

See book 1

[Solmarie]

This was a sweet short 3 volume story about 4 friends figuring out life at their own pace and taking different paths. I enjoyed reading and read all 3 volumes right away.

[Tia]

I'm really invested in this. Their lives are all so different, but they still come together as friends and support each other fully. I'm really enjoying it and can't wait to read the next one!

[Elaja]

I feel like a mix of Shuuko and Shio lol

[Viktoria]

they are all so precious

[Sarah]

Another great installment! I appreciate how the argument between the girls was handled and not quickly glossed over

[Remna M]

I love the cliffhanger at the end. This was such a good volume to read. I love seeing the girls reconnect. I think this might be my new favorite comfort short series.

[Sim]

The bonds between the girls makes me happy