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森山實栗（25歲），沒男友。研究所畢業，但沒獲得企業內定，成為派遣社員但契約因故中止，目前正在找工作。她的父親看不下去，就安排她一週一次，去單身上班族．津崎平匡（36歲）家裡做家事代勞。雙方共事愉快，建立了舒服自在的僱傭關係，但實栗因為家裡的因素要辭職。想維持現狀的他們做出的結論是，當成就業來處理的婚姻──契約結婚！
165 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2013
17 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 31, 2020
Reread 2020:
My previous rating still stand as I love the series dearly. Tho, this time around I was able to see the differences between the live-action and the original manga. The author wrote this series as if it's a TV series with the element of popular TV shows parodies which I love. Appreciate the translator's note at the back as it explains a lot the modern Japanese culture and reference that was made in the dialogues.
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My first 5 🌟 read for 2018!
Life is a hassle. That's true whether you're married or not.
If you always try to do things the easy way, before you know it, your time is almost up.
-page 152
My previous rating still stand as I love the series dearly. Tho, this time around I was able to see the differences between the live-action and the original manga. The author wrote this series as if it's a TV series with the element of popular TV shows parodies which I love. Appreciate the translator's note at the back as it explains a lot the modern Japanese culture and reference that was made in the dialogues.
--------------------
My first 5 🌟 read for 2018!
It's an interesting story about Mikuri who can't seem to find a permanent job after grad school and start to work as a part-time housekeeper. Cornered with a situation she can't avoid, a crazy idea pop-up & rest are hilarious.
I love how every time she was daydreaming, it was represented in a form of parody. This part of the storytelling that charmed me when I first watched the adaptation and because I love the adaptation so much that I seek this out.
Unbeknown to me, this is another work of the same mangaka who also did my other favorite; Daisy Luck. There's nothing amazing or extravagant about her artwork but her story always near to real life. There's a lot of details that was left out by the adaptation and parts that was changed but I still love, love both.
Life is a hassle. That's true whether you're married or not.
If you always try to do things the easy way, before you know it, your time is almost up.
-page 152
Read
March 21, 2022看完日劇這麼久終於打開原作漫畫，
確實不是我會喜歡的畫風但討論的細節身為已婚者讀來真是頗有意思。
確實不是我會喜歡的畫風但討論的細節身為已婚者讀來真是頗有意思。
March 8, 2022
20220308 2nd read
說好的文字書進度呢
--
20210530 1st read
不忍說要不是星野結衣橫空出世，我應該不會一個手滑買了整套
跟好事多磨一樣是個畫風略不喜歡但劇情挺喜歡的作品。
雖然劇情感覺十分之日本，但同為東亞儒家文化圈，還是可以看出跟台灣的相似之處，是個可以動動腦的作品，希望十集都是這種水準就好了
東立應該會繼續出後面吧，看官網文案寫十卷完可是有十一集是怎麼回事，四天王有五人的概念嗎？
因為畫風減一星哈哈哈
說好的文字書進度呢
--
20210530 1st read
不忍說要不是星野結衣橫空出世，我應該不會一個手滑買了整套
跟好事多磨一樣是個畫風略不喜歡但劇情挺喜歡的作品。
雖然劇情感覺十分之日本，但同為東亞儒家文化圈，還是可以看出跟台灣的相似之處，是個可以動動腦的作品，希望十集都是這種水準就好了
東立應該會繼續出後面吧，看官網文案寫十卷完可是有十一集是怎麼回事，四天王有五人的概念嗎？
因為畫風減一星哈哈哈
August 31, 2018
This series is about a lot of things, but mostly, it's about what we become AFTER we are officially "adults."
Have you moved out of your parents' house/ tried running a household yet? Isn't it a ball? You have to vacuum and dust, mop the bathroom (don't forget to wash the tub, the sink, the mirror, the toilet, etc.), and do the laundry (properly, so that means knowing which items go with the right wash setting, which ones to iron, which ones to air-dry). Oh, and don't forget the groceries. That's easy, right? WRONG. You don't just make a list and go to the market. You need to know what you're going to make. Sure, milk, eggs, and butter are (often but not always) good staples, but what's for dinner tonight? And tomorrow? How often can you afford the time and money necessary to go grocery shopping? And you have a job. Or worse, you're LOOKING for a job. Every job wants experience and no one is willing to give it (unless you want to work for free... which every day seems increasingly tempting...).
This is where the Full-Time Wife Escapist comes in. Mikuri is a young woman in her early twenties. She has a graduate degree, has just lost her temp job and is looking to break into a permanent career. She has no clue what she wants to do but she needs to convince job interviewers that she fits the bill. It's like standing in a ring and offering to wrestle any shlub who is willing to fight you (and you need to look super confident no matter who volunteers).
To make ends meet and keep herself busy, Mikuri starts doing housework for a guy recommended by her parents: Hiromasa. He is... not hot. Like, he is a normal looking person. I forgot to mention that detail: everyone in this series looks like a normal person. No super models here, just regular folk. Anyway, Mikuri begins to appreciate how much work goes into keeping a house on a tight and responsible budget, but she also worries about having a life and how hard it is to meet people (whether romantic interests or friends) after you leave school. And then she proposes something unorthodox: what if she and Hiromasa got married?
WAIT COME BACK. This isn't that kind of story. No fetishes, no "oh no he walked in on me in the shower HOW EMBARRASSING" scenarios. This is strictly practical. Mikuri and Hiromasa pretend to be in a relationship and continue an employee-employer relationship under the guise of a marriage (the idea being that it's kind of crazy to expect super high-quality housework from your spouse FOR FREE just because they're your spouse). And that last point is kind of true. Spouses who keep house do a lot of work but, in many cultures, the bread-winner is seen as the more valuable person.
Anyway, that's the "inciting incident": these two very, very awkward but practical-minded people get a paper-marriage so they can share health benefits and live their own adult lives. It's not super sexy, which is great because otherwise this would be one gross set-up. (Disclaimer: your spouse is not your employee. Please don't call them that?)
Other characters include Hiromasa's co-workers (one who is openly gay and is very sad at the state of his dating life, and another who is the local playboy with nothing to hide but his cynicism at the existence of true love or even halfway-intimate human relationships) and Mikuri's single aunt Yuri who is a sophisticated, international career lady who is hitting 50 and having trouble explaining to people that yes, she is single and she is ok with that.
Everyone gets character development as they navigate adult life and try to reconcile what they want with what others expect. They want to be happy and try to be honest about their needs and desires.
I didn't think I'd love this series, and that's no to say it doesn't have flaws, but I really loved following it with every release, and it's one of Kodansha USA's best offerings to date. few series are so honest about what it's like to grow into adult life without bemoaning the good-old-days of being a kid. These characters aren't afraid to question why society pushes things that don't make much sense or don't fir every kind of lifestyle. "The Full-Time Wife Escapist" isn't about escaping married life (the title is still a mystery to me) Instead, it's about 4 adults and several supporting characters who decide to actively look at what they do and stop taking things for granted: why am I living my life like this, and is there a way I could do it differently?
Recommended for anyone, regardless of whether they usually read manga.
Have you moved out of your parents' house/ tried running a household yet? Isn't it a ball? You have to vacuum and dust, mop the bathroom (don't forget to wash the tub, the sink, the mirror, the toilet, etc.), and do the laundry (properly, so that means knowing which items go with the right wash setting, which ones to iron, which ones to air-dry). Oh, and don't forget the groceries. That's easy, right? WRONG. You don't just make a list and go to the market. You need to know what you're going to make. Sure, milk, eggs, and butter are (often but not always) good staples, but what's for dinner tonight? And tomorrow? How often can you afford the time and money necessary to go grocery shopping? And you have a job. Or worse, you're LOOKING for a job. Every job wants experience and no one is willing to give it (unless you want to work for free... which every day seems increasingly tempting...).
This is where the Full-Time Wife Escapist comes in. Mikuri is a young woman in her early twenties. She has a graduate degree, has just lost her temp job and is looking to break into a permanent career. She has no clue what she wants to do but she needs to convince job interviewers that she fits the bill. It's like standing in a ring and offering to wrestle any shlub who is willing to fight you (and you need to look super confident no matter who volunteers).
To make ends meet and keep herself busy, Mikuri starts doing housework for a guy recommended by her parents: Hiromasa. He is... not hot. Like, he is a normal looking person. I forgot to mention that detail: everyone in this series looks like a normal person. No super models here, just regular folk. Anyway, Mikuri begins to appreciate how much work goes into keeping a house on a tight and responsible budget, but she also worries about having a life and how hard it is to meet people (whether romantic interests or friends) after you leave school. And then she proposes something unorthodox: what if she and Hiromasa got married?
WAIT COME BACK. This isn't that kind of story. No fetishes, no "oh no he walked in on me in the shower HOW EMBARRASSING" scenarios. This is strictly practical. Mikuri and Hiromasa pretend to be in a relationship and continue an employee-employer relationship under the guise of a marriage (the idea being that it's kind of crazy to expect super high-quality housework from your spouse FOR FREE just because they're your spouse). And that last point is kind of true. Spouses who keep house do a lot of work but, in many cultures, the bread-winner is seen as the more valuable person.
Anyway, that's the "inciting incident": these two very, very awkward but practical-minded people get a paper-marriage so they can share health benefits and live their own adult lives. It's not super sexy, which is great because otherwise this would be one gross set-up. (Disclaimer: your spouse is not your employee. Please don't call them that?)
Other characters include Hiromasa's co-workers (one who is openly gay and is very sad at the state of his dating life, and another who is the local playboy with nothing to hide but his cynicism at the existence of true love or even halfway-intimate human relationships) and Mikuri's single aunt Yuri who is a sophisticated, international career lady who is hitting 50 and having trouble explaining to people that yes, she is single and she is ok with that.
Everyone gets character development as they navigate adult life and try to reconcile what they want with what others expect. They want to be happy and try to be honest about their needs and desires.
I didn't think I'd love this series, and that's no to say it doesn't have flaws, but I really loved following it with every release, and it's one of Kodansha USA's best offerings to date. few series are so honest about what it's like to grow into adult life without bemoaning the good-old-days of being a kid. These characters aren't afraid to question why society pushes things that don't make much sense or don't fir every kind of lifestyle. "The Full-Time Wife Escapist" isn't about escaping married life (the title is still a mystery to me) Instead, it's about 4 adults and several supporting characters who decide to actively look at what they do and stop taking things for granted: why am I living my life like this, and is there a way I could do it differently?
Recommended for anyone, regardless of whether they usually read manga.
July 18, 2017
A really enjoyable first volume. This josei series has a lot of potential
April 8, 2021
when she writes you a manga about how domestic labor is real labor and merits compensation:
4 stars
4 stars
December 27, 2019
4 stars. Cute set-up
July 25, 2019
Actually finished the whole series but counting it as one book. This manga was much more adult-oriented than the description would have you believe, and went surprisingly deep into the themes of treating housework as the actual work it is, how to work up confidence about yourself in an economy that doesn't value you, and dating at older ages. While the art work was a little too simple for my liking, I appreciate a well thought out manga that's about adulting and manages to bring a fresh view to so many tropes.
July 21, 2019
The live-action TV drama version was much better.
July 25, 2024
Wife for Hire
Honestly with a title like this you might think this was about a woman trying to escape her married life but once you read the description it seems the escape is from the burdens of joblessness which I can assure you is a bad time all around. However with her transferable skills Mikuri does a bang up job as a housekeeper just to discover she may have to give everything up if she doesn't want to be either homeless or jobless.
This is an amusing story about keeping up appearances while potentially actually getting closer in the process. The characters are relatively interesting and I see at least one potential rival possible in the future but the artistic style of the manga was off putting for some reason to me though I can tell you I certainly could not do better myself. The thing I rather enjoyed was being a slice of life type of story we see a lot of Japanese references that get explained at the end of the book so I was able to learn some interesting things in the end. :)
Honestly with a title like this you might think this was about a woman trying to escape her married life but once you read the description it seems the escape is from the burdens of joblessness which I can assure you is a bad time all around. However with her transferable skills Mikuri does a bang up job as a housekeeper just to discover she may have to give everything up if she doesn't want to be either homeless or jobless.
This is an amusing story about keeping up appearances while potentially actually getting closer in the process. The characters are relatively interesting and I see at least one potential rival possible in the future but the artistic style of the manga was off putting for some reason to me though I can tell you I certainly could not do better myself. The thing I rather enjoyed was being a slice of life type of story we see a lot of Japanese references that get explained at the end of the book so I was able to learn some interesting things in the end. :)
June 23, 2019
This was really interesting! I appreciated the discussions about marriage as viewed in modern Japanese culture, especially in how the characters’ own perceptions of marriage are topics of conversation. I like Mikuri, but my favorite so far has to be Kazami (probably because I view marriage similarly to how he does). The male lead, however, seems to be a typical tsundere-esque megane character, so I don’t really think much of him right now (though that could change in further volumes). I view this as a josei title and would recommend it to older readers who can appreciate the nuance of the topics of marriage and companionship in the story. There is also this quirkiness to the humor/comedy in the series that I appreciate as well. Hopefully more people will read this title!
February 28, 2021
Mikuri is a recent graduate school grad who can't seem to find any work. Her father helps her find temporary work being the housekeeper for a friend. They strike-up a deal to get a common-law marriage after Mikuri asks if she can move in (since she won't be able to live with her parents anymore). Of course, the challenges they face are all related to the fact that they don't actually love each other and it's a marriage of convenience.
This is a cute first volume! It's a slow build, and there are definitely moments where you think something other than friendly feelings might just be blossoming between this unlikely couple. I'm excited to see what kind of challenges they might face in the next one!
This is a cute first volume! It's a slow build, and there are definitely moments where you think something other than friendly feelings might just be blossoming between this unlikely couple. I'm excited to see what kind of challenges they might face in the next one!
April 3, 2021
This manga is fun. It also has a unique take on the story. giving me an insight that being a wife is actually a job that people should be getting paid for. I like that she is paid overtime for those stuff.
The story has a lot to say and it has perspective which can be more appreciated by the older audience. I loved it so much perhaps precisely because I am already in an age that can greatly relate to the characters thoughts. It resonates so much to me.
The story has a lot to say and it has perspective which can be more appreciated by the older audience. I loved it so much perhaps precisely because I am already in an age that can greatly relate to the characters thoughts. It resonates so much to me.
December 16, 2020
Series review (9 volumes)
Solid 3.5 stars, I liked how the author handled all the themes present in the story (marriage, work, age-gap relationships, balancing both private and work lives, self-worth, etc), the dialogue between all characters was interesting and the progression of the story was really well done.
Solid 3.5 stars, I liked how the author handled all the themes present in the story (marriage, work, age-gap relationships, balancing both private and work lives, self-worth, etc), the dialogue between all characters was interesting and the progression of the story was really well done.
July 12, 2025
This series is discusses themes of marriage, job hunting, being a housewife, and understanding what you're worth. While a lot of it is Japan-centric, a lot of these themes do have some overlap with a Western capitalist culture. I watched the drama first and loved it, but I enjoyed the manga a lot more. The characters were adorable.
December 19, 2017
So far I have read through volume 6, and find this josei manga series is worth reading, I enjoy the characters and the story. The artwork has a minimalist style which helps make it a very quick read. If you want a story that is about adults working through life issues this is a good choice.
May 17, 2018
♪Let's go beyond husband and wife
Let's go beyond a couple ♪
Definitely the best plot for a josei manga ever. I laugh so hard at the characters but my favorite is Yuri-san. I think I see my future self in here or... I don't know LOL
Let's go beyond a couple ♪
Definitely the best plot for a josei manga ever. I laugh so hard at the characters but my favorite is Yuri-san. I think I see my future self in here or... I don't know LOL
July 25, 2019
Oh wow, what an overlooked manga! The phrase "Marriage is a social contract" is taken literally here. I like the author's commentary on relationship and marriage through many viewpoints. The viewpoints are portrayed believably too.
Reading vol 2 now as I type this.
Reading vol 2 now as I type this.
December 27, 2023
A very cute story about a woman who can't get a job, and then is hired by the man she cleans house for, and of course they fall in love. This is also on Netflix under the name full-time Wife Escapists and a different model in K-drama called, Because this is our First Life--excellent.
July 31, 2017
อ่านแล้วจิกหมอนข้างทำร้ายคนโสดชัดๆ
สนุกมาก อ่านแล้วอมยิ้มตลอดเวลา มีความสุขโดยเฉพาะเวลา มิคุริ มุ๊งมิ้งกับ ฮิรามาสะเนี่ย
สนุกมาก อ่านแล้วอมยิ้มตลอดเวลา มีความสุขโดยเฉพาะเวลา มิคุริ มุ๊งมิ้งกับ ฮิรามาสะเนี่ย
July 4, 2018
I am enjoying these so much !
they are very addictive
I so much hope that they end up loving each other :D
they are very addictive
I so much hope that they end up loving each other :D
February 1, 2019
Wonderful read.
September 10, 2020
Something about marriages of convenience do me some sort of way....been reading A LOT of manga during quarantine. ALSO--THE TENSION. THE SLOW BURN. THE MISCOMMUNICATION. ALL. THE. THINGS. yes.
April 8, 2021
Good set up for a josei story, interested enough to read the next one.
November 16, 2021
I wasn't in love with the art style at first, but it grew on me, and I'm enjoying the narrative around emotional work, relationship labour, etc. Also, it's cute.
September 4, 2019
何年か前にドラマ化されたのは知ってた。
ので、名前も知ってたが、「タラレバ」とごっちゃにしてた。
いずれも、結婚適齢期の女性のあり方に焦点を当てた作品という事かな。
予想に反して興味深い内容だった。
続きが知りたいが、漫画をわざわざ書いたいとは思わないな...マン喫行くか。
ので、名前も知ってたが、「タラレバ」とごっちゃにしてた。
いずれも、結婚適齢期の女性のあり方に焦点を当てた作品という事かな。
予想に反して興味深い内容だった。
続きが知りたいが、漫画をわざわざ書いたいとは思わないな...マン喫行くか。
May 25, 2017
This was so much fun! And one of the few times that I have purchased a book almost immediately after reading through the excerpt.
July 7, 2018
Re-read July 2018 after watching the Japanese drama based on this story.
July 10, 2023
It has potential, but there was no real catch. I will give Vol 2 a chance, but if it stays this platonic, I will just get board and move on.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews