The Delinquent Housewife!, 1

The Delinquent Housewife! #1

by Yōko Nemu, David Musto (Translator)

A family comedy manga about a high school boy and his sister in law who moves in, who has a BIG secret from her past.

Tohru Komukai and his bride-to-be, Komugi, move in with his family just until they find a place of their own. Or, that was the plan, until Tohru suddenly leaves for a long-term business trip overseas, leaving Komugi to fend for herself on her in-laws’ turf. While Komugi is pretty, considerate and appears to be an ideal housewife, the truth is she doesn’t know how to do a lick of housework, and can’t cook at all. Also, she has a secret past as a member of an all-girls bosozoku biker gang! The only member of the family to learn these secrets is Dai, Tohru’s younger brother, and he helps Komugi keep up appearances until she can learn how to hold her own as a domestic goddess...

Genres: Manga, Slice Of Life, Graphic Novels, Contemporary, Comics, Humor, Seinen

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2016

About the author

ねむようこ debuted on November 2004 in Feel Young. Nemu began her first series "3 am Dangerous Zone" in 2008, which used many actual observations to create episodes through cute, pop art. The series became a big hit.

Reviews

[⛅ Sunny (sunnysidereviews) ⛅ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this series, but the humor just wasn't for me.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it funny because of the fish out of water idea of a former girl gang member trying to be a housewife, but I didn't find it that funny. The art is good, and I liked the girl gang designs and squat postures. The information on Japanese domestic life was interesting, but not enough to continue writing.

[haven ⋄ f (hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

silly and endearing! unfortunately has a bunch of perverts which is annoying but the overall plot is promising

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and the jokes in here made me laugh so hard lmao. Komugi is such a bad ass I love her. That cliffhanger at the end tho killed me 😱 now I have to wait a month and a half for the next one 😢

[Raki Oddbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was really fun to read.

[Laura Sanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this!! Gotta run out and get volume 2! CLIFFHANGER!!!


Such a great series!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a reformed delinquent story. The plot to get the husband out of the story for a while is needless complex and baffling though which kinda threw off my enjoyment.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A realistic comedy-drama following a teenaged boy whose older brother brings his new wife home to live with his family while he leaves on a business trip. The boy notices that the pretty new wife tends to disappear a lot and worries that she might be cheating on his brother, but soon finds out something that's almost as scandalous in Japanese society: the new wife is a reformed delinquent (*gasp*) with none of the household skills expected of a wife (*GASP*)! He's quickly pulled into helping her keep her secret from the rest of the family, especially from the younger teen sister-in-law who is determined to get rid of her, and shenanigans ensue.
Although this is a domestic comedy, it has realistic portrayals of family ties and rivalries, and also an undercurrent of serious emotional depth--the boy's concern for his elder brother's well-being, and the wife's genuine desire to integrate into the family of the husband she loves, despite her less-than-respectable past (and her girlfriends from that past who still love and support her). This added depth makes me respect this story more, and keeps me interested to see how things develop. I will definitely pick up the next volume!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh

I liked the idea of this, but the execution not so much. A couple go to live with their in-laws before getting married, but the garbage dude goes off to work overseas WITHOUT TELLING ANYONE BEFOREHAND INCLUDING HIS FIANCEE, leaving her to cope with the in-laws on her own. She's hiding the fact that she's unemployed, useless, and used to be in a gang. Her brother in law helps cover for her, and her sister in law tries to trip her up.

What I really didn't like was the horrible dude running off in the beginning, his horrible sister with a brother complex, and how frankly useless the titular main character is. It seems like she doesn't know how to do anything, and that's pretty pathetic. She doesn't work, cook, clean, or anything but play cards, it feels like. Why does she even exist?

There were moments where I kinda liked this, but they passed quickly. Did not enjoy, do not recommend.

[Amihan · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty much what you get on the tin - budding bride-to-be komugi tries to keep her delinquent ways a secret from her future in-laws, only to be discovered and then helped by her fiance's younger brother, tohru. both the art style and plot make it feel like smth straight out of the 2000s shoujo scene. i checked and was surprised to see this was published in 2016; it's reminiscent of stuff like switch girl!! and maid-sama! both in the good and the bad. definitely nothing new here, but if you love both delinquents and shoujo manga then this will be a fun read

[Jennifer]

I find it hard to like the characters - Komugi is not all that sympathetic, considering she’s not even trying to learn how to be a useful adult. If she and Tohru move out, who is taking care of the household chores at that point? If he was guiding her through cooking before, that should have taught her something, but she just seems dumb. She could easily confess that she’s not good at chores because she never did them in her family, but would love to learn from her MIL.

Then there’s Tohru, who is an asshole that ran off to another country for an unknown length of time (thanks to grandpa) without telling his family, because he knew they would object. He is completely out of contact, which makes zero sense. He leaves his new wife - that he hasn’t even married! - to cope with his family on her own, underdone theory that it will make them accept each other faster. No. Besides being a lame theory, it’s selfish and no one would accept being abandoned like that.

[Ris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josei Manga Recommendation #1~

The Delinquent Housewife is such fun! The storyline is wonderfully unique -- Komugi has moved in with her future parents-in-law and must hide the fact that she knows nothing about being a housewife because she was a member of an all-girls bosozoku biker gang! As Komugi both learns a little and fools a lot, the concept of "a traditional housewife" is turned completely on its head and becomes a modern message for adulting! Anyone who's struggled with being an "adult" will both relate and enjoy immensely. So very excited for the continued character development in Volume 2~

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for all 4 volumes. (Some spoilers)

Overall a decent yet very safe feeling family drama/comedy. Some of the jokes felt very dated despite the series only being a few years old. The pervy grandpa can be left in the past, thanks.

The ending feels rushed, like more was planned but the story got cut off. I am both relieved yet mildly disappointed the romance with the main character's future bro-in-law never took off. I am trash after all.

The part where the lead's fiance was unable to reach her for months because he was in Singapore despite the existience of cell phones and computers was very dumb and never explained. Kept waiting for the twist. Never came.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cute premise - former biker-gang young woman finds herself in her soon-to-be husband's family home... And needs to hide the fact from these people that she doesn't even know to do her own laundry, much less basic housework or cooking

Of course because 'comedy shenanigans' - her future husband straight up abandons her to get to know his family, the younger sister is an absolute hostile brat (because reasons?) and the younger brother is ...honestly a precious cinamonroll of helpfulness

[Sydnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I started this because it looked similar to Way of the Househusband and in comedy terms, it's almost there. And I will say that the manga definitely has potential, but after doing some digging on it (spoilers don't really bother me so much) but I don't know how I feel about where it's going. I'll probably keep reading this eventually but idk yet.

[T.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this 4-volume series because the art reminded me of Moyoco Anno and the premise seemed sort of kooky. But it's more cliche than risque. I thought I would like it better... but it's not as delinquent as it sounds

[sliceofmini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got intrigued because I loved "the way of the house husband" and was expecting some genderbend situation here.

It sorta is. But it isn't funny .
And where's my drama ?
Overall pretty meh about this.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5
'The Delinquent Housewife!' by Yoko Nemu is a cute manga about a woman and her brother-in-law connecting over a shared secret. It's relatively light and quick to read. I'm interested to see if the story progresses or stays one note in future volumes.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fun comedy manga. Looking forward to seeing where it goes.

[David Doel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review applies to the complete 4-volume set. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the characters in it. I would recommend it to anyone who does not mind a little coarse language.

[Bee (BacchusVines) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, and I'll continue, so hopefully I'll grow more attach to the characters c:

[Mark Schiffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute, likeable/grounded characters, can’t wait for the next one!

[Deeny · Rating 5 out of 5]

so much fun can’t wait to start vol 2

[Thetillybird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute fluffy story about a wife getting stuck at her inlaws while her husband is on a business trip.

[Loz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun irreverence.

[kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute concept. Really lovely swoopy art style. I think fans of The Way of the Househusband would enjoy this.

[Kate -MontglaneChess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing enough premise, but I'm just not personally into the drama of what's going on. Although it's an interesting look at family dynamics in Japan.

[scarlettraces · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ozma]

Reminded I had read it. Solid okay. Light hearted. Would likely read the second volume.

[Merenwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really funny! I'll be eagerly awaiting the next volume.