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Happy Sugar Life #1
Happy Sugar Life, Vol. 1
Satou Matsuzaka doesn't seem to care about much, moving through boys and casting them aside like so used candy wrappers. All that changes, though, when she meets Shio. The little girl changes everything for Matsuzaka. Is this love...? If it is, then it's love through a very warped prism as the high schooler demonstrates there's no atrocity beyond her when it comes to protecting the object of her deranged affection.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2015
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496 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
February 17, 2021
Yo, wtf is this? I'm hooked.
So this starts off with a teenager taking care of a kid in a random apartment building. Almost like a big sister, though gets weird at points, I'll get to that later. Either way our main character, Seto, decides to start a job to help her pay for the bills. About 1/3rd of the way in you start to unravel everything and let's just say...shit goes sideways quick. Blackmail, murder, and more all begins to pile up quickly.
To say this series is dark would be downplaying it. Every character seems to have a hidden agenda, every character a motive that is pretty sickening, and the "cutesy" parts to break it up are both jarring yet work to help push the series. The pacing is like a train wreck, quick and viscous, and then slows down just enough. The art solid and works.
I didn't love the weird romantic feel the two main characters have. For one is a way too young and feels weird. I don't know if that's what is going on but it came across that way.
Anyway, I'll be reading more for sure. A 4 out of 5.
So this starts off with a teenager taking care of a kid in a random apartment building. Almost like a big sister, though gets weird at points, I'll get to that later. Either way our main character, Seto, decides to start a job to help her pay for the bills. About 1/3rd of the way in you start to unravel everything and let's just say...shit goes sideways quick. Blackmail, murder, and more all begins to pile up quickly.
To say this series is dark would be downplaying it. Every character seems to have a hidden agenda, every character a motive that is pretty sickening, and the "cutesy" parts to break it up are both jarring yet work to help push the series. The pacing is like a train wreck, quick and viscous, and then slows down just enough. The art solid and works.
I didn't love the weird romantic feel the two main characters have. For one is a way too young and feels weird. I don't know if that's what is going on but it came across that way.
Anyway, I'll be reading more for sure. A 4 out of 5.
May 10, 2019
It would be too easy to say these characters were "broken." It's more like they've been twisted just to the breaking point and then left to survive as best they can, whatever that may mean.
February 2, 2020
Torn between 3 or 4 on this one because I don’t know if I could handle the stress of another volume and some of it was a bit much to take, but there’s no denying that this is well written.
Also, this is straight psychological horror. There’s pretty much nobody in this book with pure intentions or who isn’t messed up in some fundamental way for whatever reason (wait for the whiplash towards the end as a character I thought would never show up again reappears and seems like they might have a redemption arc for about, oh, four pages until it goes right out the window).
Our lead has obviously gone through something crazy that has totally messed her up and she seeks solace in a very, very unstable situation that deliberately seems less and less tenable the more the story goes on. It has that aura of not if but when in terms of a pending implosion.
Thus far, it’s a story about having a safe space, however unrealistic, and the lengths one would go to protect it, however extreme, all while surrounded by awful people. And not a bad one, it just comes down to how much awful you can take in a single story.
Also, this is straight psychological horror. There’s pretty much nobody in this book with pure intentions or who isn’t messed up in some fundamental way for whatever reason (wait for the whiplash towards the end as a character I thought would never show up again reappears and seems like they might have a redemption arc for about, oh, four pages until it goes right out the window).
Our lead has obviously gone through something crazy that has totally messed her up and she seeks solace in a very, very unstable situation that deliberately seems less and less tenable the more the story goes on. It has that aura of not if but when in terms of a pending implosion.
Thus far, it’s a story about having a safe space, however unrealistic, and the lengths one would go to protect it, however extreme, all while surrounded by awful people. And not a bad one, it just comes down to how much awful you can take in a single story.
March 20, 2025
Everyone deserves a happy sugar life? Right? Right?
I mostly started this one as there is an anime coming for this manga and the art looked interesting, however I am not sure if I am comfortable watching it or even reading the manga further. I did understand slightly what I was going in for, a teenage girl loving a young girl and going so far to protect their "happy" life that she will commit murder.
However, I definitely hadn't expected it to get so disturbing and creepy. Not only do we have our overprotective MC who goes full yandere in milliseconds, but we also have several other characters that make me wonder if there is anyone in this world who is normal/not yandere/not a creep. So far, it only seems that the MC's best friend is one of those.
Other than that... Well, let's summarise.
Yup the world here is pretty effed up.
Not to mention I am not feeling all too well seeing Shio and our MC get lovey dovey all the time. Even once kissing on the lips. Or that wedding ceremony...
Then there is that one locked room. Oh boy, I could have expected it, but it still came as a surprise.
The art is pretty great though, especially kudos to the very yandere, ohhhh she is going to do some batshit stuff parts. I really got some goosebumps from those.
So yeah, creepfactor is over 9000 and I just don't feel comfortable reading this one. While I do love a good Yandere girl, this is just not the manga for me.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I mostly started this one as there is an anime coming for this manga and the art looked interesting, however I am not sure if I am comfortable watching it or even reading the manga further. I did understand slightly what I was going in for, a teenage girl loving a young girl and going so far to protect their "happy" life that she will commit murder.
However, I definitely hadn't expected it to get so disturbing and creepy. Not only do we have our overprotective MC who goes full yandere in milliseconds, but we also have several other characters that make me wonder if there is anyone in this world who is normal/not yandere/not a creep. So far, it only seems that the MC's best friend is one of those.
Other than that... Well, let's summarise.
Yup the world here is pretty effed up.
Not to mention I am not feeling all too well seeing Shio and our MC get lovey dovey all the time. Even once kissing on the lips. Or that wedding ceremony...
Then there is that one locked room. Oh boy, I could have expected it, but it still came as a surprise.
The art is pretty great though, especially kudos to the very yandere, ohhhh she is going to do some batshit stuff parts. I really got some goosebumps from those.
So yeah, creepfactor is over 9000 and I just don't feel comfortable reading this one. While I do love a good Yandere girl, this is just not the manga for me.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
November 19, 2021
This is a review of the entire series!
Raised by a severely disturbed aunt with a twisted definition of 'love', Satou Matsuzaka tries to find a sense of belonging in the world by giving up her body to every guy she meets in hopes of receiving true love from them. After countless unfulfilling sexual encounters, Satou believes she has discovered true love from an abandoned little girl named Shio she found on the street one day. Leaving her life of sexual deviancy behind, Satou 'kidnaps' the little girl and raises her as if she were her real mother. The two girls have been hurt and abandoned all their life, but they find a warped sense of comfort and affection in each other's companionship. Shio has no idea what type of person Satou truly is, however. Does she genuinely love her, or is she being emotionally groomed as an object by an unstable predator that's capable of murder?
This series begins with a lot of subversive shocks. The bubbly cute girl is a deranged murderer. The popular girl at work is an obsessive stalker. The strong-headed female employer is abusing her underage male staff. The lovable school teacher is sexually blackmailing his female students. The handsome classmate only has eyes for a homeless little girl. Everyone is putting up a happy, sugary facade while being utterly rotten and twisted on the inside. Such is the nature of this manga. It shows that people are rarely what they seem to be in public and how different they are behind the privacy of closed doors. It's depressing and even scary at times.
Happy Sugar Life plays around with a lot of great subversive horror elements, making you believe something is bubbly and cute at first glance but then showing you it's actually extremely toxic and unstable. The series has interesting themes, but it is often dragged down from being drawn out way too long, going in circles and dialogue that feels a bit immature given the disturbing subject matter. If the narrative was a bit tighter, maybe 3 or 4 volumes instead of 10, it would've been more impactful and gotten the message through much more effectively. It repeated itself too many times, some chapters felt like identical clones of each other that were made just to pad out the length.
A good series overall, but it has some glaring weaknesses that prevent it from being as good as it could've been.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
Raised by a severely disturbed aunt with a twisted definition of 'love', Satou Matsuzaka tries to find a sense of belonging in the world by giving up her body to every guy she meets in hopes of receiving true love from them. After countless unfulfilling sexual encounters, Satou believes she has discovered true love from an abandoned little girl named Shio she found on the street one day. Leaving her life of sexual deviancy behind, Satou 'kidnaps' the little girl and raises her as if she were her real mother. The two girls have been hurt and abandoned all their life, but they find a warped sense of comfort and affection in each other's companionship. Shio has no idea what type of person Satou truly is, however. Does she genuinely love her, or is she being emotionally groomed as an object by an unstable predator that's capable of murder?
This series begins with a lot of subversive shocks. The bubbly cute girl is a deranged murderer. The popular girl at work is an obsessive stalker. The strong-headed female employer is abusing her underage male staff. The lovable school teacher is sexually blackmailing his female students. The handsome classmate only has eyes for a homeless little girl. Everyone is putting up a happy, sugary facade while being utterly rotten and twisted on the inside. Such is the nature of this manga. It shows that people are rarely what they seem to be in public and how different they are behind the privacy of closed doors. It's depressing and even scary at times.
Happy Sugar Life plays around with a lot of great subversive horror elements, making you believe something is bubbly and cute at first glance but then showing you it's actually extremely toxic and unstable. The series has interesting themes, but it is often dragged down from being drawn out way too long, going in circles and dialogue that feels a bit immature given the disturbing subject matter. If the narrative was a bit tighter, maybe 3 or 4 volumes instead of 10, it would've been more impactful and gotten the message through much more effectively. It repeated itself too many times, some chapters felt like identical clones of each other that were made just to pad out the length.
A good series overall, but it has some glaring weaknesses that prevent it from being as good as it could've been.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
September 10, 2021
Happy Sugar Life puts the kowai in kawaii and I really dk how to feel about it.
There's an extremely problematic thing in it, and I am not sure if the yandere is worth the yikes.
There's an extremely problematic thing in it, and I am not sure if the yandere is worth the yikes.
October 13, 2023
A psychological thriller that centres on Satou and Shio's relationship is Happy Sugar Life. My first impressions are a little mixed; although I like reading about female villains, especially those who stand up for their adorable little love interest, this seems a touch repetitive at points. In any case, I'm hoping I'll enjoy it and I want to read it through to the end.
October 23, 2023
This Dazzling Emotion must be...
...what they call Love—
16 year old Satou Matsuzaka was once known as the girl who goes through boys like cake, "A New Guy Every 3 Days." That is, until she gave up that life for her "true love"... 8 year old child, Shio Koube.
Satou now works hard in order to continue living alone together with Shio, to maintain and protect the "love" they share. However, the world around her is filled with people working for their own "love," and the bitterness of these people threatens the sweetness of Satou and Shio's "Happy Sugar Life"...
Everyone in Happy Sugar Life is not okay: it is a cast of incredibly broken, twisted people. Every character is either warped, or becomes warped by those around them. And that's what the appeal of the story is. That's what the thrill is. You do know what the thriller genre is, don't you?
Anticipation, suspense, excitement, even anxiety—good thriller makes you feel it all. And Happy Sugar Life keeps the reader on edge, not knowing how this tangled mess is going to end up.
I absolutely love Kagisora's artstyle and character designs. The whiplash between sickly cute and sickly tense is amazing, similar to Higurashi, and only enhances the suspense. I originally watched the anime before reading the manga, but I can safely say that the manga's pacing/direction/art stands apart, and I find myself enjoying it more.
★★★★☆ 4/5. If you enjoy your anime thriller cast having cute anime girls rather than grizzled adults, and don't mind fucked up story turns, this is up your alley! Do not read if you are squeamish about topics such as sexual assault, rape, kidnapping, murder, etc, because, as a thriller, it has a lot of those.
...what they call Love—
16 year old Satou Matsuzaka was once known as the girl who goes through boys like cake, "A New Guy Every 3 Days." That is, until she gave up that life for her "true love"... 8 year old child, Shio Koube.
Satou now works hard in order to continue living alone together with Shio, to maintain and protect the "love" they share. However, the world around her is filled with people working for their own "love," and the bitterness of these people threatens the sweetness of Satou and Shio's "Happy Sugar Life"...
Everyone in Happy Sugar Life is not okay: it is a cast of incredibly broken, twisted people. Every character is either warped, or becomes warped by those around them. And that's what the appeal of the story is. That's what the thrill is. You do know what the thriller genre is, don't you?
Anticipation, suspense, excitement, even anxiety—good thriller makes you feel it all. And Happy Sugar Life keeps the reader on edge, not knowing how this tangled mess is going to end up.
I absolutely love Kagisora's artstyle and character designs. The whiplash between sickly cute and sickly tense is amazing, similar to Higurashi, and only enhances the suspense. I originally watched the anime before reading the manga, but I can safely say that the manga's pacing/direction/art stands apart, and I find myself enjoying it more.
★★★★☆ 4/5. If you enjoy your anime thriller cast having cute anime girls rather than grizzled adults, and don't mind fucked up story turns, this is up your alley! Do not read if you are squeamish about topics such as sexual assault, rape, kidnapping, murder, etc, because, as a thriller, it has a lot of those.
November 24, 2022
Wow, this was way more SVU than I expected. I'm guessing there aren't any really "good" characters in this, they're all just different kinds of messed up...?
Content warnings for pedophilia, murder, sexual abuse, some blood (there are no graphic depictions of violence or abuse, it's all kind of just... implied? But in a really vague way that leaves you with, "Wait, are they actually...???")
I think this is probably one of those "this is how the cycle of abuse can continue if left unchecked" storylines, so likely very bleak & not for everyone. The bright cover is misleading af, lol. I guess that's the point of the series - the juxtaposition between the "happy sugar life" & the actual reality of what's going on.
Onto book 2!
Content warnings for pedophilia, murder, sexual abuse, some blood (there are no graphic depictions of violence or abuse, it's all kind of just... implied? But in a really vague way that leaves you with, "Wait, are they actually...???")
I think this is probably one of those "this is how the cycle of abuse can continue if left unchecked" storylines, so likely very bleak & not for everyone. The bright cover is misleading af, lol. I guess that's the point of the series - the juxtaposition between the "happy sugar life" & the actual reality of what's going on.
Onto book 2!
September 6, 2019
This does not read like it was described when I ordered it. I was expecting the murder, but I was not expecting all of the sexual violence. It also didn't express that she had kidnapped the child. I don't think I will be reading any more of this.
August 18, 2020
this book was going to be 3 stars wen i first started reading it because it has a love relationship between a 8 year old and a 15 year old and a first they didnt really explain why the main character is supposed to be bad and is a murderous yandere
November 20, 2023
Everyone is kawaii and a terrible person ( ੭˙ᗜ˙)੭✧˖° ♡
July 4, 2024
After making my way through volume one, I’m shown a rather disturbing story with strange twists and dark turns. Is this enough to get me to read volume 2? Yes. I’m curious where the story goes and I’ve heard it doesn’t become too depraved which works for what they’re trying to accomplish here. Do I enjoy our main characters? Yes as their motives are unclear but what they do show us is bad ass in its own right. It’s confusing to want to have them win but also have them lose.
March 22, 2024
.... noo
September 17, 2024
Wtf is this absolute rollercoaster of a book
January 17, 2025
3.5, great setup for the series
March 20, 2025
I- I don’t know how to feel about this one😭 and all those weird quotes about love
July 1, 2025
Read it in one day!!, so interesting!, unsettling but nice!! Loved it ✨
November 6, 2021
It was OK, but the characters were really two dimensional and the 'twisted and dark' aspects seemed really forced. i've read a fair amount of psychological stuff and this is by far one of the worst and most boring
it's annoying because they could have made it sm better
well i suppose the character design is cute LMAO
it's annoying because they could have made it sm better
well i suppose the character design is cute LMAO
November 4, 2021
So unsettling
October 27, 2021
I went into this blind, but got a little spoiled by the tags. Overall very solid first volume, super cute art. Ends off on a huge cliffhanger with a lot of things about to hit the fan. Definitely a page turner. Not very realistic, with just about everyone that Sato meets being a complete villain (hope this doesn't stay a trend throughout the whole series).
Probably best not to think too deeply on a lot of stuff in this manga as it will really draw out the nauseous feeling. Everything is powdered in a coat of sweet, cute sugary goodness, but the core is extremely rotten. One of those stories that puts a lump in your throat throughout, but I think that's the selling point here.
Probably best not to think too deeply on a lot of stuff in this manga as it will really draw out the nauseous feeling. Everything is powdered in a coat of sweet, cute sugary goodness, but the core is extremely rotten. One of those stories that puts a lump in your throat throughout, but I think that's the selling point here.
August 12, 2020
Happy Sugar Life is a psychological horror story about a girl named Sato who seems to be a nice and innocent girl, but we soon find out that's not the case. Sato has convinced herself that she has fallen in love with a little girl named Shio, who she found on the street and is hiding her in her apartment.
The story has an intriguing plot, and it's interesting to see how far Sato goes for Shio, which mostly includes murder. It blends the horror genre well with cute moments.
The art manages to depict the cute side of Sato as well as her psychopathic side. You can definitely tell when her personality shifts into a more murderous and intimidating one.
The book is certainly enjoyable but it does include some uncomfortable topics like sexual assault and pedophilia, so I wouldn't recommend it if you don't wish to see that.
The story has an intriguing plot, and it's interesting to see how far Sato goes for Shio, which mostly includes murder. It blends the horror genre well with cute moments.
The art manages to depict the cute side of Sato as well as her psychopathic side. You can definitely tell when her personality shifts into a more murderous and intimidating one.
The book is certainly enjoyable but it does include some uncomfortable topics like sexual assault and pedophilia, so I wouldn't recommend it if you don't wish to see that.
March 2, 2021
This is one of my favorite horror manga's.
The story is well written and I love the characters as well. Having you first think that Satuo is a sweet innocent girl taking care of a tiny kid you soon learn that she isn't as sweet as she looks.
Although i will say I don't lie the little girl Shio, she kinda got on my nerves and was a bit annoying sometimes, but still a great character. I'll say almost everyone in this story is in fact, broken, and or hurt in some way.
Also...
SHE ISN'T IN LOVE WITH SHIO IN A ROMANTIC WAY
Her feelings towards Shio is in fact as a pose of a mother if that makes sense. She loves Shio that love was just how mother would love their child. Except she'd kill-
Anymeows~
great story totally recommend!!! :D
The story is well written and I love the characters as well. Having you first think that Satuo is a sweet innocent girl taking care of a tiny kid you soon learn that she isn't as sweet as she looks.
Although i will say I don't lie the little girl Shio, she kinda got on my nerves and was a bit annoying sometimes, but still a great character. I'll say almost everyone in this story is in fact, broken, and or hurt in some way.
Also...
SHE ISN'T IN LOVE WITH SHIO IN A ROMANTIC WAY
Her feelings towards Shio is in fact as a pose of a mother if that makes sense. She loves Shio that love was just how mother would love their child. Except she'd kill-
Anymeows~
great story totally recommend!!! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2025
intial review: Wow this shit cray. Love it.
--
Final volume, full series review
cw - rape, trauma, gore/violence, domestic violence, pedophilia
Woooooow. So Happy Sugar Life is ultimately about love and what love is supposed to look like. Family doesn't automatically mean love. Loving everyone doesn't mean loving anyone. Love involves communication and authenticity. And above all love is not forced, but chosen.
Happy Sugar Life gives a problematic pair and asks us to decide if that's what love in its purest form looks like by then comparing that to the worst people ever. A damaged young woman and damaged young girl come together to build something safe.
I don't know how I feel about a lolicon situation but definitely an interesting story to ponder.
--
Final volume, full series review
cw - rape, trauma, gore/violence, domestic violence, pedophilia
Woooooow. So Happy Sugar Life is ultimately about love and what love is supposed to look like. Family doesn't automatically mean love. Loving everyone doesn't mean loving anyone. Love involves communication and authenticity. And above all love is not forced, but chosen.
Happy Sugar Life gives a problematic pair and asks us to decide if that's what love in its purest form looks like by then comparing that to the worst people ever. A damaged young woman and damaged young girl come together to build something safe.
I don't know how I feel about a lolicon situation but definitely an interesting story to ponder.
July 20, 2019
What a deceiving title to people who never looked at the genres it’s categorized as. It’s a horror—it’s about a high school girl trying to prevent her happy sugar life from crumbling even if it means hurting people.
Every character in this manga seems to be “abused” in some way and are trying to figure out their life. I like how everything is developing in the first volume; the readers discover things that weren’t explained initially and can make assumptions to what exactly before the story began. I hope it pans out as the series progresses.
Every character in this manga seems to be “abused” in some way and are trying to figure out their life. I like how everything is developing in the first volume; the readers discover things that weren’t explained initially and can make assumptions to what exactly before the story began. I hope it pans out as the series progresses.
November 1, 2020
I had the hardest time deciding on a rating for this one. The story is so dark it's uncomfortable but I honestly that's the point. Does the mangaka getting their point across make this a good story or even more disturbing? Honestly, that's something you would have to decide for yourself. The first volume barely scratched the surface of what I feel is to come with this series. Happy Sugar Life isn't a series I would recommend to anyone but I'm interested in see how the rest of the store is handled.
January 2, 2023
I've read the entire manga online, but I love it so much that I want to collect the physical copies, too. The first volume is a strong start to the series and does a great job of establishing Satou and Shio's personalities and relationship. This series deals with some heavy topics, but still has lighthearted moments that keep things from getting too dark. I also really really love the art style. Looking forward to collecting the rest of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2021
This was wonderfully creepy and unsettling, a really interesting concept. I'm still not sure what ages the main character are, or type of love they share (romantic love? how old is Shio-chan??) so I ended up mentally projecting a number that made me feel more comfortable with their relationship.
I'll be very interested to see where the story goes and if I will be able to stick with it, or if my pesky moral compass will get in the way.
I'll be very interested to see where the story goes and if I will be able to stick with it, or if my pesky moral compass will get in the way.
April 1, 2021
My first reaction to the manga was "what the hell is this?". I was so hooked on this story I wouldn't mind reading the whole series. However, It's extremely creepy and only a bit disturbing. The protagonist in this manga is almost mentally ill and unstable yet, she has a little missing girl named Shio under her household and provides her food, shelter, and bonds with her.
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