私たちはどうかしている 5

私たちはどうかしている [Watashitachi wa Dōka Shiteiru] #5

by Natsumi Andō

自分の正体を知られずに光月庵の椿と結婚した七桜は、母の死の真相を探るために従業員の城島に誘われ、かつて自分と母が住んでいた部屋を訪れる。しかし、女将と裏で手を結んでいる城島は七桜に近づいて痛めつけようとしていた。自分と同じような境遇の城島に自然と親近感を抱き、親身になっていく七桜。一方、城島の恐るべき過去を知った椿は、城島の企みを止めようするが！？

Genres: Manga, Romance, Mystery, Josei, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction

169 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2018

About the author

安藤なつみ, Andō Natsumi is a Japanese manga artist. She is best known for Zodiac P.I. as well as Kitchen Princess, for which she won the Kodansha Manga Award for children's manga in 2006.

Favorites: Donald Duck
Favourite manga: Ossu! Ichijin and Kimagure Orange Road
Favourites: meats and fruits
Hobbies: shopping, reading and watching TV

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

What in the actual f*ck was that ending?!? I did not see that coming. AT. ALL. I knew that this series was going to have me hooked but my goodness really!? There really isn't much that anyone can say about this particular volume without spoiling a whole lot. I will say that I enjoyed learning more about Jojima's past. I wasn't sure what Ando was going to continue to do with him as a character, but getting that brief glimpse definitely assisted me in understanding him better than in previous volumes. I'm not sure how much this series is going to change over the course of the next volumes, but I'm definitely in for the long haul.

[Dilushani Jayalath · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author sure knows how to cook up some good cliffhangers.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having read the same-numbered volume of Tales of the Tendo Family just a few days ago, I see a lot of similarities between the two titles. On the less complimentary side, the art for both isn't all that good. It's expressive, and the backgrounds evoke a sense of place well, but there are still a few too many panels where the character drawings feel hurried or sloppy.

And both titles have a lot of fun, poisonous melodrama. Interestingly, the lady of the house is one of the major baddies in both, too... and an in-law rather than part of the main bloodline of the house. Maybe these are elements I should look out for in future stories like this!

Jojima is the main focus of this volume. As has frequently been the case in this manga, the reader doesn't know for sure what his intentions are. He believes that Tsubaki sabotaged his family's entry at a department store exposition, and has joined the staff at Kogetsuan to do... something. He hates wagashi because they made his confectioner father neglect him, but he also seems to be disappointed when his sweets don't measure up to Kogetsuan's strict standards. He's making a play for Nao, with the prospect of starting up a cozy little love nest of a wagashi shop as bait. He could just be trying to snipe Nao away from Tsubaki.

For her part, Nao has found that Jojima is currently living in the same room that she and her mother did while her mother lived at Kogetsuan, or a room so similar to it that the difference doesn't matter. She accepts invitations to his room, oblivious to the whole "a man and a woman alone in a room" aspect to it, because she thinks seeing this setting from her past will revive lost memories. She's also doing her best to re-create the warabi mochi that Jojima's father created in his shop, because... well, I have no idea. I don't know why she's falling all over herself to please him, especially as she seems to be gaining ground in Tsubaki's affections.

As I've mentioned in reviews for other volumes of this manga, not knowing everything about the characters' intentions is one of the more interesting things about it. It isn't quite like our real-life inability to fully understand the people we know, but it evokes that idea very well, adding to the suspense.

This volume's cliffhanger may indicate movement toward something spoiler-y that I've already seen on a cover much later on. Being continually late to the party has its disadvantages, sometimes. I'm curious about how we get from here to there.

[Keiko, the manga enthusiast ♒︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, Jojima's past 😭 I thought I'm going to hate him forever lol. But I love how classy and composed Tsubaki's character is. I love that he gets jealous but he's not the possessive kind or what (which is a major turn off lol) and he's not indifferent as well, he isn't just too expressive because trust is a major thing for him. And Nao's sound judgment and determination! I love her character! Anyway, a baby on the way? I can't even imagine it happening but yea, it's only a matter of time and they did it a couple of times (with no hint of protection lol) but let's see what's about to happen on the next volume!!

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear these cliffhangers will be the death of me!!!!

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the literal heck just happened?? All I know is that I am on board hard core!!

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, we learn a lot in this volume! Still don't like the evil mother, but I can see how Nao would sympathize with Jojima. It seemed like Nao and Tsubaki step backwards from the progress made in the last volume, but maybe step back up to where they were? Either way, I wasn't expecting that last panel.

I formed a theory several issues back that Nao is actually the heir, thinking Tsubaki's "dad" had an affair with her mother, and that his wife had an affair with a man who is really Tsubaki's father. I think the old man knows this, or thought it, at least, until Tsubaki confessed what he really saw the night his father died. I'm still thinking along these lines, and that Tsubaki's mother might actually be the killer, but I still don't understand her actions.

[kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 5 proved to be another enthralling installment. It included loads of insight on Japanese culture, and more on the relationships and back stories of the characters are coming to light. Giving us a better understanding of their motivations.

I’m interested to see how the characters develop after the events of this volume. As usual, Tsubaki’s mom continues to be a horrible, self-serving wench – no surprises there.

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for vol 4: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I don't remember much about this volume, I think it's okay.

[vanessa♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

she needs to learn how to mind her own business

[Kye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five volumes in and I'm still very lukewarm about this series. The premise is extremely interesting;however, I don't think the mangaka is pulling it off. Everything just seems too surface or not really thought out enough. It's supposed to be a murder mystery/revenge deal but it's not fully hitting the mark for me. And if the big reveal at the end of this volume turned into reality I'm out. It's my biggest pet peeve in works of fiction and I will only stick around to read that if I love the story. And I just don't think I like this one enough. But we will have to wait until next volume to see for sure.

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Drama increasing and interesting developments to the soap opera

[Ａｎｔｈｏｐｈｉｌｅ 🪴 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not when i just ship them and loving them she make that foolish and impulsive attitude. I hate that traits, helping the evil just because she thinks a goodwill can change and help them. A naive girl, she didn't even plot any plans to figure out the truth, all she did is reminiscing about her mom and her love for wagashi. She only resolved without plan, girl..do something!! Although i understand Tsubaki is irresistible (😏) but pull yourself together!! Why do you have to jeopardise my enjoyment Sakura.. 😞😒 passion for wagashi only is not enough girl.. The universe (in manga) are exposing something to you yet you still with your foolish inaction on your case. Aigoo 😪😪 Tsubaki, please find another FL .. you're too hot and sensible for her. haha i'm getting emotional

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know I could be so invested in a manga about sweets yet here I am.

RECAP: they do it again, we learn Jojima is sus and trying to steal Nao. He invites her to his room, she agrees because his room is actually her old room and she’s nostalgic. Tsubaki takes her away and then threatens him. She follows Jojima and learns his family is in debt. Tsubaki learns from J’s mom in the hospital about their story. Nao tries her best to recreate J’s dad’s mochi and almost nails is. Stand off between Tsubaki and Jojima and T says he believes Nao will get it right. Ending when T and N visit a department store and when a manager comes wearing a perfume, Nao gets nauseous and the woman asks if she’s pregnant.

[sameera]

reminds me a lot of “ou-sama ni sasagu kusuriyubi” by watanabe shiho with the style of drama but with a less endearing couple.

i like that cliffhanger tho. although, i’m predicting it’ll just be a bait and switch. it’s too early for anything like that.

[mads (on hiatus from reading and reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, now stuff is really picking up!!

[crybby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad I’ve continued with this series! I wasn’t sure with the first 2 volumes but it’s definitely gotten more interesting!

[richa ⋆.˚★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to eat those sweets.

[Jemailyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆

[Reibekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm hoping against the last line of this volume.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my! Always a cliffhanger ending.

[Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PLOT TWIST

[Breshna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me patiently waiting for fl to take her revenge but instead see that she is falling in love. WTF? and most of all with the person who sent her mother to jail??????? Something is definitely wrong with them. 💀💀💀

[Hanna's Book Obsession · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My Gosh!!! Vol 5 is my favorite out of the series so far. I loved this book so much! I love Nao and Tsubaki so much. Their relationship is growing and going through some tough times. I love how real their relationship is. WE get a deeper insight into Tsubaki and his relationship with Jojima. Jojima is trying to get to Nao and Tsubaki is not going to have that. It was so interesting and captivating. I loved every minute. This is one of my favorite reads of the year. I could not put it down. I loved it. The ending has me screaming. AHH I am so excited for Vol 6. I love this series so much. They just keep getting better and better.

[Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manga threw me for a loop I won't lie. I was super stoked to get my hands on the next volume, and even more excited for vol. 6. I was glad it clarified more of the love triangle potential. But the main love interest's personality is still a bit too mysterious for my typical tastes. I just want to better understand him to figure out how he'll react when he discovers the truth!!

[Jocelynereadsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and Intriguing entry into this series. I am so excited to continue to see where this story goes and learn more about everyone's interwoven and misunderstood pasts.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content note for the SERIES: murder, death of a parent, violence, unfair loss of job/firing, domestic violence, abuse, involuntary confinement, attempted murder

Okay, I don’t wanna spoil anything, so I’m only going to give a vague-ish review of the first couple of books in the series! First, let me assure any of you who might not be interested in NSFW material (or disappoint those of you who are lol)– this isn’t that spicy of a comic. There are a few panels in each book so far that include very brief allusions to sex but don’t show anything outright.

Y’all. This series had me in a VISE GRIP!! It’s SO GOOD. It’s incredibly well written, and the art is just so beautiful and elegant, matching the subject matter perfectly. The number of kimono and wagashi illustrated in here alone is so satisfying.

This series is the kind that gets better and better with each volume, and that’s not something I can usually say about much these days, so I was so, so happy to read this. It unfolds throughout and never lets you rest on your laurels, thinking you know for sure what’s going to happen or who will be unveiled to be involved with the main plot or any number of subplots going on at the same time. Beautiful!

I love the characters, and I love how the creator develops their relationships across so many volumes. I felt so fulfilled watching these characters’ arcs unfold the way they did. I want to say more, but I would be spoiling SO MUCH if I did! Just, trust me, you need to go give this series a read, it’s fantastic. It’s no wonder they got a tv adaptation!

I disagree a bit with the jacket copy on this series, describing it as spine chilling. Maybe I’m desensitized by all the horror movies I watch (lol jk it’s a lifetime’s worth of trauma 😂), but this was actually much more of a wagashi-centric drama, romance, thriller for me than a spine chiller. And that is not a bad thing at all! I think this series is so successful in part because of how fluidly it combined so many genres into a seamless and engaging story.

My point is, the jacket copy doesn’t quite do it justice. If you like comics that introduce you to artisan crafts and what goes into making them, this is a comic you want to read. If you like enemies to lovers and/or enemies to friends, this is your comic. If you like mystery and thrillers, this is a comic for you. If you like attention to detail and well designed plots and other aspects of writing as a craft, this is definitely your comic! Odds are very good you’ll like this comic, my friend!

Now, lemme give you a couple warnings, though: there is a lot of showing of abuse, violence, and manipulative, if not gaslighting, behavior in here. There is murder, attempted murder, child neglect, the loss of parents, etc. There are some topics I wish the creator had addressed better, such as the domestic abuse aspects, especially earlier in the series. But I promise you, the story is worth it.

Overall, I love this series so much! I’m in pain waiting in line for books 17-19 from my library right now, and I can’t wait to see how it continues. Please read it so we can talk about it!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today's manga post is on Something's Wrong With Us, Vol. 5 by Natsumi Andō. It is 160 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. As it is the fifth volume in the series, you need to have read the first four volumes to understand the story. The cover has the two main characters on it. The intended reader is someone who likes mysteries with a touch forbidden romance. There is some mild foul language, sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character, Nao. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the manga- Two Fates Under One Tragic Moon
Nao may have managed to infiltrate Kogetsuan by marrying Tsubaki, but can she discover the truth behind her mother's death without her true identity being exposed? At the invitation of one of the shop's junior employees, Jojima, she pays her first visit in years to the staff quarters where her mother raised her. She feels a natural affinity for this helpful young man, but it turns out the secrets of his past are just as terrifying as her own...

Review- Nao continues to play with fire as she gets deeper into Tsubaki's life and the politics of the tea house. Even worse, she is being manipulated by a co-worker, who is being paid by her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law will stop at nothing to drive Nao from the house but Nao will not stop until she knows the truth. The mystery and the personalities of the characters are so interesting and at times very disturbing. But Tsubaki seems to really love Nao, as least as much as he can. There is be some great starting drama in the next volume and I cannot wait.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Jojima isn't actually after Nao he's actually after Tsubaki and Nao is the easiest why to get to him. Jojima is after Tsubaki's head because Jojima's family's shop and Tsubaki's family's shop both entered a contest to get a contract to have their sweets sold at in some department store for a year. Which would obviously be a big deal for a tiny struggling shop like Jojima's family's shop. But someone sabotaged the warabi mochi they intended to enter and Tsubaki's family's shop won instead. So Jojima is in cahoots with Tsubaki's mom to ruin Tsubaki by any means necessary.


Something I meant to bring up last volume is. What is driving Tsubaki's mom to go after Tsubaki like she is? She says she wants him to inherit the Kogetsuan but everything she's doing seems counterproductive to having him inherit the business. I wonder what her deal is.


Another plot twist! Is Nao expecting?!? She had a negative reaction to a women's perfume and the lady was like are you preggers?

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I said for Volume 4: “The drama just ramps up higher and higher. I want to be frustrated that nothing is getting resolved but only progressively getting more complicated. But I am loving every twist…” And, in Volume 5, we get another side-character’s backstory so the twists multiplied further. With the additional twists and the whammy reveal at the end, I will be racing to request the next volumes from my library.

I really enjoyed getting to know Jojima and having the elements of his story added to the fray. My only complaint is that I do hope a few threads are tied up soon. I do not mind further drama and I keep coming back for the mystery that led me to the series in the first place: all those years ago, did Nao’s (Sakura) mother kill Tsubaki’s father? At some point, there will be too many threads to keep track of and confusion and frustration will ensue. But I’m not there yet!