Mint Chocolate, Vol. 2

ミントチョコレート [Mint Chocolate] #2

by Mami Orikasa

After all this time — you can’t say it first!

​Despite the almost-kiss incident, the sleeping-on-Nanami-at-lunch incident, and the waking-up-in-the-same-bed incident, Nanami still has no idea if Kyouhei has a thing for her—or not. And it’s driving Nanami crazy! But since they’re alone together for the weekend…this may just be the perfect chance for Nanami to find out how Kyouhei really feels…!

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Young Adult, Graphic Novels Manga, Comics

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2019

Reviews

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can’t just end like that??? I need the next one right now Ah! I’m loving this so much

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, though the MC h is rather neurotic and over thinks EVERYthing and doesn’t really communicate properly. But she is trying and is getting a little better, so 4, there is hope, stars.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH *trying to breath*

okey i'm calm, i think-
I just can't get over this! I feel like this serie is going to get even more spicy in the next volumes- MY HEART CAN'T HANDLE THIS!

I love how "that one friend" knows about both of their feelings about the relationship but decides to not say anything and just let everything go with the flow.
Everything Nanami and Kyouhei do just brings them together even more and the fact that both of them can't handle their feelings at some point in the story just makes things even better.
(sorry for my bad english)

ANYWAYYSSS I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT VOLUME!!!

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

By the end of this volume, we know that Kyouhei has reciprocated Nanami's feelings from well before they were living together. What we're left with then, is Kyouhei acting hot and cold because of his abandonment issues, and Nanami waffling back and forth about giving up on him, over and over.

The scenarios in this volume are straight off of the shoujo assembly line. A school friend comes by while Nanami is outside, and asks to use the toilet, which leads to Nanami scrambling to conceal Kyouhei's existence from her. Nanami faints in the bath and Kyouhei sees her naked. Oh my! Kyouhei catches a cold because he was out in the rain for a few minutes in the episode with the friend, and Nanami cooks for him and nurses him back to health. Kyouhei's best bud apparently has nothing else to think about than the central love relationship, and freely offers love advice to both of these clueless dim bulbs. Woo, a Christmas episode!

There are a few sequences that had a decent emotional effect, just as in the first volume. I rather liked the part about the missing Christmas ornament, as stagey and predictable as it was. But there are far too many pages with sketchy chibi art, and there hasn't been any real development of either character, or their relationship, since the first episode. I feel like Nanami's love declaration, and Kyouhei thinking he ought to have been the one to confess first, was rather pre-emptive.

It's also one of those manga that laser focuses on a single love relationship to the exclusion of everything else. Those kind of stories always make me feel claustrophobic unless there's salacious melodrama, or a training arc, etc. to provide a change of focus now and then.

If you have access to Marmalade Boy, whether the manga or the anime, pursue that instead of this. It's basically a better version of the very same story (from nearly 30 years ago!), the art is better, and there is a larger, more appealing and sympathetic cast of characters. Two and a half stars, rounded down.

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

WILL THEY?!?WONT THEY??!?! They will bc it’s a shoujo but w/e I’m sold on it

[Booksofnina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Daniy ♠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute cute cute cute

nanami is so dramatic, I love her

[Ardin Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you read my last review of this series, you will know that I found it very similar to Marmalade Boy, and felt that the pacing was a little off. If you haven't read that review, that's okay, to summarize one of the things I liked was that readers were offered insight into Nanami's thoughts throughout the book, however I did notice that readers who had already been exposed to Marmalade Boy, seemed less likely to enjoy volume one.

Unfortunately, I found that volume 2 of Mint Chocolate also had the same awkward pacing as volume 1. The pace, really doesn't allow for the reader to fully grasp where the characters are at in their development. Certain scenes felt very rushed, to the point where sometimes it felt like I had missed a panel or a page, but I didn't. It mentions Kyouhei going to the hospital, and I don't remember that at all. In fact, all I remember is him getting sick, and Nanami caring for him at home.

Another thing I found was I that I was getting bored during certain scenes. It tended to be the ones that were recycling material from other "and they were roommates" type manga's. Truthfully the "and they were roommates" trope is one of my favourites but in order for it to work, the characters need to develop naturally, as does their relationship. Here, it seemed like Nanami and Kyouhei were being thrown into different scenarios like, being home alone together, someone having a cold, and Christmas and meanwhile the two of them remained in the same state. I could actually, relate more to Andou, Kyouhei's friend thinking, "What is wrong with you two?"

In both the first and second volumes the seasons changed so frequently, that it's nearly impossible to figure out how much time has passed. As a reader it seems bizarre that these large amounts of time keep going by but the characters still seem to be at the same stage they were in volume one. There just wasn't any real character growth or development. The only thing that we were given was insight into Nanami's dad dying and more reasoning about Kyouhei being hesitant about being in a relationship after his parents divorce. This insight was good, but it could have been executed better...and possibly not given to us so quickly?

By the end of the second volume, I was still debating on whether or not I wanted to continue this series. I have other series that I absolutely adored but am still trying to track down because of the manga shortage, which is why I decided to try some new ones, but...I can't tell if this series is worth giving another shot.

That fact is, that I don't dislike the characters. There are times when I find Kyouhei is unnecessarily mean to Nanami, and I can't understand why she would have a crush on him, but I wouldn't say I dislike Kyouhei. Out of all the characters, I actually prefer the oblivious parents and Andou. My only comment on Nanami's friends is that two of them look like her, and it gets confusing in the panels they're in. Her one nosy classmate from volume one seemed interesting, and I think it would have been nice to see her make a reappearance but it seems like many of the ther characters were brushed aside in order to squeeze in these different, fast paced scenarios during this volume.

Strangely enough, my favourite scenes were between Kyouhei and Andou. It was more interesting seeing the two of them discussing Nanami, versus following Nanami around while she got lost in her head thinking about whether or not Kyouhei liked her.

The very end of the Christmas scene was cute, but again it felt very rushed. I'm not going to give away any spoilers about the details of this scene, other than the fact that this portion was done well. The rest of the manga made me think of a poorly done retelling of Marmalade Boy and for the vast majority I was bored.

I honestly hoped the second volume would surprise me, and that the story would pick up but it just felt flat until that final chapter. There was no sense of urgency, or any tension between the characters, and when it comes to the many categories within the forbidden love trope, I feel that having that it is necessary.

Read the rest on my blog: https://ardinpatterson.wordpress.com/...

[Joe Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things are starting to get interesting...

Right now, Spring of 2021, there are two main manga series ongoing in English that involve romantic love between step-siblings. The other, "We Must Never Fall In Love" is several volumes ahead of this series, and overall, that series has a lot more taboo moments than "Mint Chocolate", however, I suspect that will soon change, as I feel things are just starting to warm up here. Nanami is your typical love-striken, temperamental, indecisive high school girl, and Suzumura is your typical dark, brooding, brash, and unsure high school boy. They have fallen in love with each other, except, there's one tiny little problem - they're step-siblings! They both are unsure of what exactly to do about this. Both have internally recognized and accepted their love for each other, but now being related, it makes things difficult for both of them. Now, this series doesn't hold a candle to the gold standard of taboo step-sibling romance, "Dome X Girl" (AKA "Domestic Girlfriend"), but this series shows some real promise. Hopefully things continue on the path they're on now, maybe minus a good portion of Nanami's drama and fits. I eagerly await the next volume.

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is nothing new story wise but it’s shojo and I want to read more!!!!
It reminds me of LDK in a way but I hope it’s not nearly as drawn out like it... I can’t take a secret relationship that takes way to long to come out and takes 20+ volumes for the characters to consummate their relationship.. blehhh not for me!

Anyway, I thought it was really cute that Kyouhei had a dream about his mother leaving and wakes up thinking he’s alone. But then Nanami comes into the room and he just sees that she’s there for him. She didn’t leave him alone like his mother had... And then it was followed by a very sweet moment that I won’t ruin!

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's some repeat content here as they rehash the beginning of this odd family and relationship between the step siblings, but we get a big of new content each time with some glimpse into either Nanami or Kyouhei's point of view at the time and how they see each other. They have a few awkward situations along the way, but at least they seem to be somewhat on the same page now regarding their feelings.

[Lady of Fantasy (Blue Dragonfly) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it I got it right in time at Barnes and noble and is even more adorable and is funny they both got sick in the same time and I hope they get together it is wired that they are step-slibing so I can't wait for volume 3

[Carrie Whitacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's super cute! And they finally kiss even though he cant seem to really remember it, and all the countless misunderstandings!

[Mosley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Something needs to happen already because this is getting boring and the main characters aren't very likeable.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a cute read.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Still seeing where it goes.

[Azbaqiyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot - 3🌟
Character - 3🌟
Writing Style - 3 🌟
World Building - 3🌟
Art - 3🌟
Cover - 3🌟

Overall - 3🌟 / 5🌟

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

[Mary Traylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It only got better

[Chelcie-Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[ReadingFrog · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars.

[scarlettraces · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Solid. I love the observational way Kyouhei is drawn too. The teenage boys look like teenage boys [faces aside, let's not forget this is shojo].

[ChelseaFace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so addicted to this manga already❤️ It's exactly what I needed to relieve some stress😊

[Shelby (bookshelfworthy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[veebs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cliffhanger 👀👀😩

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Sammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this series is getting so good ,i am loving it and i can not wait to read the next volume asap :)

[Aqua · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manga is so cute.

[Sequoia Cron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baah cliffhangers!

4 stars