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焼いてるふたり [Yaiteru Futari] #1
焼いてるふたり 1 [Yaiteru Futari 1]
肉、ビール、隣に好きなひと。「幸せ」は単純だ！
マッチングアプリで運命の出会いを果たした、健太と千尋。
奥手すぎて最初の一歩を踏み出せずにいるふたりが、健太の浜松への転勤をきっかけに急進展。
なんと…交際ゼロ日で結婚することに！
お互いをよく知らないまま夫婦になったふたりは、
毎週末のBBQでじっくり仲を深めていく――。
じっくり育てるスローな週末新婚BBQライフ、始めます！
初出『モーニング』２０２０年４３号～４７号、４９号、５０号
マッチングアプリで運命の出会いを果たした、健太と千尋。
奥手すぎて最初の一歩を踏み出せずにいるふたりが、健太の浜松への転勤をきっかけに急進展。
なんと…交際ゼロ日で結婚することに！
お互いをよく知らないまま夫婦になったふたりは、
毎週末のBBQでじっくり仲を深めていく――。
じっくり育てるスローな週末新婚BBQライフ、始めます！
初出『モーニング』２０２０年４３号～４７号、４９号、５０号
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2020
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66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
May 10, 2023
[Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for a copy of this in exchange for an unbiased review]
A blind date mishap leads Kenta to sharing yakiniku with Chihiro and he goes a little overboard with the grilling exposition. This somehow turns to them getting married and they cook a lot and interact a little and they are definitely making the meat the star of the show.
Oh my lord, this is so boring. The story’s heart is in the right place - this is a template that has borne fruit in such places as Beauty & the Feast and She Loves to Cook, She Loves to Eat - and there’s lots of technique and recipe sharing…
…but the human element is nonsensical. It reads like a high school romance between adults and the whole thing glosses over their relationship developing in favour of this smash cut to the idea of marriage and long distance so they can grill more stuff.
And the grilling is well explained, but it feels dry and overcooked, with neither the art nor writing able to sell what should be incredibly exciting. The level it’s written at is something akin to a cookbook and about as enticing. Yes, please, explain cumin to me.
So you have a stodgy textbook on grilling mixed with a tiresome romance of two married people who haven’t apparently had a wedding ceremony or sex and whom we never see actually dating. Chihiro just shows up and they cook something and Kenta explains stuff.
The marriage angle is so silly that it knocks the whole thing off kilter and, while our leads are nice, they are absolutely bland with no palpable chemistry. It’s ironic that they’re so concerned about seasoning the meat that they forgot to spice up the relationship. And the inevitable ‘hear a male voice and get super suspicious’ chapter? Utterly dire.
What flat-out kills me here is that the perfect version of this story is right there in the afterword, describing the gestation of the manga as the author and editor decide to go from zero to pit boss in the name of the story.
Hearing about them destroying slabs of meat and haranguing a beleaguered store employee is so much better than what we got in the main book and I wanted the whole thing to be about their journey. Missed opportunity.
2 stars - look, it didn’t sear my eyeballs or anything, but the lack of meat on this bone means, ironically, that it is all steak and no sizzle. So, not to be a jerk, and please don’t think me chicken, but I’ll take it on the lamb when the next volume drops.
A blind date mishap leads Kenta to sharing yakiniku with Chihiro and he goes a little overboard with the grilling exposition. This somehow turns to them getting married and they cook a lot and interact a little and they are definitely making the meat the star of the show.
Oh my lord, this is so boring. The story’s heart is in the right place - this is a template that has borne fruit in such places as Beauty & the Feast and She Loves to Cook, She Loves to Eat - and there’s lots of technique and recipe sharing…
…but the human element is nonsensical. It reads like a high school romance between adults and the whole thing glosses over their relationship developing in favour of this smash cut to the idea of marriage and long distance so they can grill more stuff.
And the grilling is well explained, but it feels dry and overcooked, with neither the art nor writing able to sell what should be incredibly exciting. The level it’s written at is something akin to a cookbook and about as enticing. Yes, please, explain cumin to me.
So you have a stodgy textbook on grilling mixed with a tiresome romance of two married people who haven’t apparently had a wedding ceremony or sex and whom we never see actually dating. Chihiro just shows up and they cook something and Kenta explains stuff.
The marriage angle is so silly that it knocks the whole thing off kilter and, while our leads are nice, they are absolutely bland with no palpable chemistry. It’s ironic that they’re so concerned about seasoning the meat that they forgot to spice up the relationship. And the inevitable ‘hear a male voice and get super suspicious’ chapter? Utterly dire.
What flat-out kills me here is that the perfect version of this story is right there in the afterword, describing the gestation of the manga as the author and editor decide to go from zero to pit boss in the name of the story.
Hearing about them destroying slabs of meat and haranguing a beleaguered store employee is so much better than what we got in the main book and I wanted the whole thing to be about their journey. Missed opportunity.
2 stars - look, it didn’t sear my eyeballs or anything, but the lack of meat on this bone means, ironically, that it is all steak and no sizzle. So, not to be a jerk, and please don’t think me chicken, but I’ll take it on the lamb when the next volume drops.
May 8, 2023
As I was reading the manga I wondered why there was so much focus on food and then when I got to the end I realized that this is the reason why they made the story.
And there I understood why it did not entertain me as much as I expected. Because I expected a little more PLOT and not so much KITCHEN.
However, it was an entertaining and slightly wacky story that made me giggle a lot.
Thanks Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC.
And there I understood why it did not entertain me as much as I expected. Because I expected a little more PLOT and not so much KITCHEN.
However, it was an entertaining and slightly wacky story that made me giggle a lot.
Thanks Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC.
March 5, 2024
This was so cute! I loved their romance it was so cute and sweet. The food art also got me so hungry
June 12, 2023
I received this manga from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I just love a good food manga, especially if there is romance involved, so when I saw this one up on Netgalley… well of course I had to request it. Sadly, I did enjoy it but there were things that just didn’t work for me.
The food was great, well OK, it was a bit meat centred for me, but I did love seeing him think of fun ways to make food. And boy, the food did look good. I just love it when food manga make food seem so fantastic, in most manga food is nice and all that, but in food manga you really get a feel that it is the most wonderful and magical thing and even get some fun expressions to go along with it (though the faces here were relatively normal in comparison to other manga about food, haha, I have seen some faces that would belong rather in a hentai).
The art was also quite pretty. The food was obviously the best part, but I also did like the character designs.
I would have also loved to see them go on dates a bit more, and not see them grill all the time. Maybe that would have helped me with the point mentioned below this one.
And I seriously didn’t get why these two had to get married? I mean, they are doing the long distance thing anyway for most of this book, so why not just start with a normal relationship and build up to marriage. I think it also didn’t help that I just didn’t get a hint of chemistry between the two. They felt more like friends/colleagues rather than lovers. So I think it would have helped for me if they just started slow and I could see them get together and click more.
For instance, I found the obsession (as I would call it because this dude even takes meat with him on his travels) with meat a bit too much. Especially in the times we live now. I am no vegetarian/vegan, I cannot be because of allergies/how my body is, but I am trying to limit my intake of meat and so seeing someone just stuff two big steaks in their mouths, or get so excited about meat and hype it so much, just feels a bit off. For most of the grilling he is using meat, only once do we see him use the grill in a different way, to make pancakes! I would have loved to see just a bit more variety in what he grilled, you can still do meat, but maybe also do moments without. And please, don’t take meat with you. That is just fucking weird.
As you can see, I am a bit on the fence about this one. I will definitely give it another volume just to see if there is any chemistry and see what food they grill next, but I may just DNF it halfway or sooner if it is just more of the same/no chemistry is appearing.
Review first posted https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I just love a good food manga, especially if there is romance involved, so when I saw this one up on Netgalley… well of course I had to request it. Sadly, I did enjoy it but there were things that just didn’t work for me.
The food was great, well OK, it was a bit meat centred for me, but I did love seeing him think of fun ways to make food. And boy, the food did look good. I just love it when food manga make food seem so fantastic, in most manga food is nice and all that, but in food manga you really get a feel that it is the most wonderful and magical thing and even get some fun expressions to go along with it (though the faces here were relatively normal in comparison to other manga about food, haha, I have seen some faces that would belong rather in a hentai).
The art was also quite pretty. The food was obviously the best part, but I also did like the character designs.
I would have also loved to see them go on dates a bit more, and not see them grill all the time. Maybe that would have helped me with the point mentioned below this one.
And I seriously didn’t get why these two had to get married? I mean, they are doing the long distance thing anyway for most of this book, so why not just start with a normal relationship and build up to marriage. I think it also didn’t help that I just didn’t get a hint of chemistry between the two. They felt more like friends/colleagues rather than lovers. So I think it would have helped for me if they just started slow and I could see them get together and click more.
For instance, I found the obsession (as I would call it because this dude even takes meat with him on his travels) with meat a bit too much. Especially in the times we live now. I am no vegetarian/vegan, I cannot be because of allergies/how my body is, but I am trying to limit my intake of meat and so seeing someone just stuff two big steaks in their mouths, or get so excited about meat and hype it so much, just feels a bit off. For most of the grilling he is using meat, only once do we see him use the grill in a different way, to make pancakes! I would have loved to see just a bit more variety in what he grilled, you can still do meat, but maybe also do moments without. And please, don’t take meat with you. That is just fucking weird.
As you can see, I am a bit on the fence about this one. I will definitely give it another volume just to see if there is any chemistry and see what food they grill next, but I may just DNF it halfway or sooner if it is just more of the same/no chemistry is appearing.
Review first posted https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
May 1, 2023
This was adorable and there better be more!
“When in doubt, eat some meat!” - well said.
“When in doubt, eat some meat!” - well said.
May 1, 2023
This book is just a slice of yummy slowly blossoming romance with good grilled treats. Kenta is our adorably grill happy guy and our beautiful busy gal Chihiro meet up through a dating app. The cute moments ensue when they decide to get married after Kenta gets a chance to transfer to a better position and so begins their long distance marriage. This story is off to a strong start for me. I love how they are trying to learn what each other likes and feeling their way through their unique relationship. They are so cute together and I look forward to more cute adventures with them. 5/5 for me for sure. Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the opportunity to enjoy this delicious cut of manga goodness.
May 9, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for this ARC!
I thought this was absolutely delightful. I’m a sucker for an over enthusiastic, earnest character, and Kenta is a great MC with an incredible passion for barbecuing (and food in general). I also loved that there were actual recipes within the story even though I’m a) not much of a meat eater and b) much of a cook - I think it’s a great way for readers to connect with the story and encourage experimenting with food. Since this is only the first volume it was all about Kenta, so I’m hoping as the story progresses we get more regarding Chihiro and her passions. This was such a sweet, fun romance and I can’t wait to continue!!
I thought this was absolutely delightful. I’m a sucker for an over enthusiastic, earnest character, and Kenta is a great MC with an incredible passion for barbecuing (and food in general). I also loved that there were actual recipes within the story even though I’m a) not much of a meat eater and b) much of a cook - I think it’s a great way for readers to connect with the story and encourage experimenting with food. Since this is only the first volume it was all about Kenta, so I’m hoping as the story progresses we get more regarding Chihiro and her passions. This was such a sweet, fun romance and I can’t wait to continue!!
May 14, 2023
I don't know what it is with me and cooking manga, but I really love it! This adorable young marriage relationship is brought together by authenticity and bbq grilling. I'm really loving the direction of it, and the development pace of the relationship. I adore stories like this, and am very excited for the next volume!
October 19, 2025
Lol this was more recipe book than story, but I'm not mad about it.
RECAP: blind date, hot woman, they eat bbq, and then keep meeting, MMC transfers because of work so FMC says they should marry. Start of long distance marriage, they eat together every weekend. Last chapter is her not being able to come back so he decides to go to Tokyo to be with her for the weekend, she shares she's thinking of freelancing so that she can move in with him hehe.
RECAP: blind date, hot woman, they eat bbq, and then keep meeting, MMC transfers because of work so FMC says they should marry. Start of long distance marriage, they eat together every weekend. Last chapter is her not being able to come back so he decides to go to Tokyo to be with her for the weekend, she shares she's thinking of freelancing so that she can move in with him hehe.
May 1, 2023
Loved this glimpse into two busy professionals trying to find love in Japan. The added emphasis on cooking/grilling made this even more fun. Both characters are awkward but loveable and I can’t wait to read more and see how their relationship develops.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
May 18, 2023
3.5/5
- Huge thanks to the author and publisher for approving me a copy of this manga through NetGalley -
Well, well well, this was a new one.
I just love how it's possible to write about literally anything.
I found the story super original and very promising. I really liked how there's a mix of the bbq which was totally new for me but it work perfectly and this relationship between these two people who are afraid of never finding the person who accepts them for what they are so decide to get married to have finally someone who is able to understand that feeling.
In this first volume apart for the whole meeting and wedding we start seeing how they try to make things work without having this deep feeling for each other (yet), we see them in various occasions were they are scared to act because afraid to lose the other one and in the end we have an amazing first progression in their relationship. Definitely a good start for this story that revolves around the world of bbq that looks will have a good love story as well!
- Huge thanks to the author and publisher for approving me a copy of this manga through NetGalley -
Well, well well, this was a new one.
I just love how it's possible to write about literally anything.
I found the story super original and very promising. I really liked how there's a mix of the bbq which was totally new for me but it work perfectly and this relationship between these two people who are afraid of never finding the person who accepts them for what they are so decide to get married to have finally someone who is able to understand that feeling.
In this first volume apart for the whole meeting and wedding we start seeing how they try to make things work without having this deep feeling for each other (yet), we see them in various occasions were they are scared to act because afraid to lose the other one and in the end we have an amazing first progression in their relationship. Definitely a good start for this story that revolves around the world of bbq that looks will have a good love story as well!
May 1, 2023
This was so wholesome and had such a relatable pair of main characters - though we focus mainly on Kenta in this volume, I expect to get a lot more development from Chihiro as the series continues.
In the first few pages, we already get the kind of “social pressure to date/marry/settle down” and how traditional dating (and even online dating) can be really difficult for a lot of people. I think this beginning part went a little quickly, with Kenta and Chihiro only spending a few pages together before the marriage, but I really appreciate their mutual respect and how they bonded over good food. We always love a food manga!
{Thank you Kodansha Comics for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
In the first few pages, we already get the kind of “social pressure to date/marry/settle down” and how traditional dating (and even online dating) can be really difficult for a lot of people. I think this beginning part went a little quickly, with Kenta and Chihiro only spending a few pages together before the marriage, but I really appreciate their mutual respect and how they bonded over good food. We always love a food manga!
{Thank you Kodansha Comics for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
May 10, 2023
A pretty cute manga about two people not having much luck in the dating world, and meeting people, and decide screw it...let's get married. LOL. Very Fly me to the moon vibes at first but the great focus is on food. And I do love me food. Some of the things described here and how to cook actually made my list of to try and that's a + in my book. Casual easy romance, funny at times, solid art, and great meal ideas? A 3.5 out of 5 for this cute one. I'll bump it to a 4.
(Thank you Netgallery for supplying a ARC for a fair and honest review)
(Thank you Netgallery for supplying a ARC for a fair and honest review)
May 11, 2023
A pretty cute manga about two people not having much luck in the dating world, and meeting people, and decide screw it...let's get married. LOL. Very Fly me to the moon vibes at first but the great focus is on food. And I do love me food. Some of the things described here and how to cook actually made my list of to try and that's a + in my book. Casual easy romance, funny at times, solid art, and great meal ideas? A 3.5 out of 5 for this cute one. I'll bump it to a 4.
(Thank you Netgallery for supplying a ARC for a fair and honest review)
(Thank you Netgallery for supplying a ARC for a fair and honest review)
May 16, 2023
This foody romance manga is for all the BBQ enthusiasts out there! Where are you?
Kenta wants someone to share his life and love of barbequeing with and ends up on a blind date with serious hardworking Chihiro. The development of their relationship, along with a few trials is interspersed with grilling recipes and techniques. The artstyle is solid, as is the storytelling!
For fans of food and slice-of-life stories, I would recommend to anyone who already enjoys What did you eat yesterday? and expecially likes meat!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC so that I could give an honest review!
Kenta wants someone to share his life and love of barbequeing with and ends up on a blind date with serious hardworking Chihiro. The development of their relationship, along with a few trials is interspersed with grilling recipes and techniques. The artstyle is solid, as is the storytelling!
For fans of food and slice-of-life stories, I would recommend to anyone who already enjoys What did you eat yesterday? and expecially likes meat!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC so that I could give an honest review!
May 1, 2023
This one was pure and cute. And if you're a foodie, you will love the detailed descriptions/recipes. As well as the pure joy the characters took in cooking and eating.
I did have a slight cultural disconnect because the concept of a long-distance marriage with someone you barely knew is so absolutely foreign to me. Again, it makes for a very pure storyline (they're married and they've barely held each other's hands), but if you can get past that, their romance is a sweet, very slow burn.
I did have a slight cultural disconnect because the concept of a long-distance marriage with someone you barely knew is so absolutely foreign to me. Again, it makes for a very pure storyline (they're married and they've barely held each other's hands), but if you can get past that, their romance is a sweet, very slow burn.
May 12, 2023
Very cute. Don't read on an empty stomach because it will make you hungry. These two characters are sweet and earnest. They got married quick but they are slowly coming to understand each other. Getting to know each other while grilling. It's so fun and cute. Definitely want to read more.
August 20, 2024
The concept is interesting but it's also one that'll tire out easily so I'm curious how long I'll like it until I get bored lol
May 16, 2023
⤷‧₊˚ 2⭑
i really liked the idea, but i don't like the end product. it was just okay, nothing special, nothing i’ll think about for a while.
the relationship between them was really weird, i liked all the focus on the food and the passion he had for it, but unfortunately everything else was bad.
i really liked the idea, but i don't like the end product. it was just okay, nothing special, nothing i’ll think about for a while.
the relationship between them was really weird, i liked all the focus on the food and the passion he had for it, but unfortunately everything else was bad.
December 30, 2023
Cute slice of life manga. I enjoyed the art and the story. It is a little slow, but it works for being a slice of life. It does give you ideas on how to grill and is way less fan servicy than Food Wars. Definitely more focused on the food than the characters.
4 stars
4 stars
August 19, 2024
very adorable. feels like i’m reading about my bf
February 9, 2024
3 1/2 stars rounded up.
Summary:
Dating can be tough – especially when you're not great at meeting new people. Kenta finally met a girl he liked. It was perfect. She's kind and cute and even likes trying the food he loves so much. So what's the problem?
Mostly, he's about to get transferred. Can a long-distance relationship work? Even when it is so new and sweet? Meanwhile, Chihiro seems to know a good thing when she sees it because she has an idea of how to handle this news.
Review:
How to Grill Our Love Vol. 1 is probably one of the calmest and sweetest series I've checked out, at least in recent times. It's the perfect slow-burn romance for readers who love a lot of food talk.
Yeah, I should probably mention that bit! Kenta and Chihiro really bond over food – grilling food, specifically. I think it's super cute that this series emphasizes the need to find something to share with your loved ones.
That said, if grilling isn't your cup of tea, you might find the details to be a bit on the drier side. Having never really experienced this myself, I found a lot of the flavor profile talk going over my head. Still, I'm happy that I gave it a try!
Highlights:
Manga
Slice-of-life
Romance
Foodie
Will I continue the series? No
Thanks to Kodansha Comics and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Summary:
Dating can be tough – especially when you're not great at meeting new people. Kenta finally met a girl he liked. It was perfect. She's kind and cute and even likes trying the food he loves so much. So what's the problem?
Mostly, he's about to get transferred. Can a long-distance relationship work? Even when it is so new and sweet? Meanwhile, Chihiro seems to know a good thing when she sees it because she has an idea of how to handle this news.
Review:
How to Grill Our Love Vol. 1 is probably one of the calmest and sweetest series I've checked out, at least in recent times. It's the perfect slow-burn romance for readers who love a lot of food talk.
Yeah, I should probably mention that bit! Kenta and Chihiro really bond over food – grilling food, specifically. I think it's super cute that this series emphasizes the need to find something to share with your loved ones.
That said, if grilling isn't your cup of tea, you might find the details to be a bit on the drier side. Having never really experienced this myself, I found a lot of the flavor profile talk going over my head. Still, I'm happy that I gave it a try!
Highlights:
Manga
Slice-of-life
Romance
Foodie
Will I continue the series? No
Thanks to Kodansha Comics and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
May 23, 2023
I was given a review copy by Netgalley and Kodansha Comics in return for an unbiased review.
The premise is that Kenta meets Chihiro on a dating site and they start to hit it off after a night at a Yakiniku restaurant. Just as things seem to be going well Kenta has to transfer due to his job and it's a fair distance away. So Chihiro proposes they get married. So now the two must develop their relationship long distance. They do so while bonding over grilling.
I think overall this is a pretty cute story. The premise is a little out there since Kenta and Chihiro have gone on like one or two dates when they get married but it's a manga so I let things like this slide. The fact that even though they are married they are basically just starting out dating is an interesting aspect because they now have to learn all about one another still. They have trouble holding hands and watching them progress is just cute and squeal-worthy.
I've read so many romance, cooking, and just slice-of-life manga in general but haven't come across one that focuses solely on grilling so kudos to the writer for coming up with a unique premise. I think the cooking is well done and enjoyable to read. I didn't know anything about grilling other than the bare basics so I learned quite a bit from this. The bit about rainbow peppercorns was especially fascinating.
My only complaint is I think the story needs to focus on the characters a little more. Since Kenta and Chihiro are split due to long distance it doesn't feel like we get to focus on their lives apart as much and their time together is mostly relaxed and focused on the grilling. The last chapter in the volume gave me hope of it going in an even stronger direction as they focus on Kenta's insecurities more and promise more of the two spending time together.
I'd definitely recommend checking this out if you're looking for a nice light read with some laughs, love, and food.
The premise is that Kenta meets Chihiro on a dating site and they start to hit it off after a night at a Yakiniku restaurant. Just as things seem to be going well Kenta has to transfer due to his job and it's a fair distance away. So Chihiro proposes they get married. So now the two must develop their relationship long distance. They do so while bonding over grilling.
I think overall this is a pretty cute story. The premise is a little out there since Kenta and Chihiro have gone on like one or two dates when they get married but it's a manga so I let things like this slide. The fact that even though they are married they are basically just starting out dating is an interesting aspect because they now have to learn all about one another still. They have trouble holding hands and watching them progress is just cute and squeal-worthy.
I've read so many romance, cooking, and just slice-of-life manga in general but haven't come across one that focuses solely on grilling so kudos to the writer for coming up with a unique premise. I think the cooking is well done and enjoyable to read. I didn't know anything about grilling other than the bare basics so I learned quite a bit from this. The bit about rainbow peppercorns was especially fascinating.
My only complaint is I think the story needs to focus on the characters a little more. Since Kenta and Chihiro are split due to long distance it doesn't feel like we get to focus on their lives apart as much and their time together is mostly relaxed and focused on the grilling. The last chapter in the volume gave me hope of it going in an even stronger direction as they focus on Kenta's insecurities more and promise more of the two spending time together.
I'd definitely recommend checking this out if you're looking for a nice light read with some laughs, love, and food.
May 1, 2023
Actual rating: 3.25
Fukuyama is a man who has not had the best of luck with the ladies. When he thinks a date has ghosted him, only to run into her as she was arriving late, he panics and brings her to his favourite bbq spot. There, he reveals just how much he’s into food and shows off a passion that intrigues his date, Chihiro.
They are dating only briefly before Fukuyama is forced to move for work. When Chihiro discovers this, her first thought is that they should get married so that they can have an excuse to see each other. This getting married plot line is incredibly sudden and clumsy and honestly doesn’t fit with the rest of the story and just forces the two to keep interacting.
The rest of the story is more about them taking their time to get to know one another, spending weekends together. There was some miscommunication, but it was understandable and easily cleared up .
My biggest issue with this story was that I wanted to see Chihiro much, much, much better developed. In this first volume, she felt very much like a stand-in puppet and I wanted her to have her own complexities and to know what drives her character. Knowing more about Chihiro’s own drive would have also made the marriage plotline, that was shoved in so awkwardly, make a lot more sense.
How to Grill Our Love is cute, but the lack of development with regards to Chihiro actually concerned me and raised a red flag. And I’m not overly intrigued to continue just to see if she eventually does develop - I feel like we would have gotten more of hints in this first volume if that was going to be the case.
The art is very clean though and the food scenes are mouth-watering - so that is always a plus in a cooking manga.
*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
Fukuyama is a man who has not had the best of luck with the ladies. When he thinks a date has ghosted him, only to run into her as she was arriving late, he panics and brings her to his favourite bbq spot. There, he reveals just how much he’s into food and shows off a passion that intrigues his date, Chihiro.
They are dating only briefly before Fukuyama is forced to move for work. When Chihiro discovers this, her first thought is that they should get married so that they can have an excuse to see each other. This getting married plot line is incredibly sudden and clumsy and honestly doesn’t fit with the rest of the story and just forces the two to keep interacting.
The rest of the story is more about them taking their time to get to know one another, spending weekends together. There was some miscommunication, but it was understandable and easily cleared up .
My biggest issue with this story was that I wanted to see Chihiro much, much, much better developed. In this first volume, she felt very much like a stand-in puppet and I wanted her to have her own complexities and to know what drives her character. Knowing more about Chihiro’s own drive would have also made the marriage plotline, that was shoved in so awkwardly, make a lot more sense.
How to Grill Our Love is cute, but the lack of development with regards to Chihiro actually concerned me and raised a red flag. And I’m not overly intrigued to continue just to see if she eventually does develop - I feel like we would have gotten more of hints in this first volume if that was going to be the case.
The art is very clean though and the food scenes are mouth-watering - so that is always a plus in a cooking manga.
*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
August 23, 2023
How to Grill Our Love follows Fukuyama and Yamaguchi and their blooming relationship.
I recommend this book for readers who enjoy slice of life, food/cooking, and a little bit of romance. This manga reminds me of WOTAKOI and how relationships grow and take on a different path for different people.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for giving me the opportunity to read this manga in exchange of an honest review.
How to Grill Our Love starts with a blind date between Fukuyama and Yamaguchi. Both individuals struggle to find themselves in a relationship until they met one another. Fukuyama is a shy person and often times, finds himself "stood up" by his prospective dates. Yamaguchi informed Fukuyama that she was running late, however, due to previous experiences, Fukuyama decided to leave their meeting place, thinking that he got stood up again. On his way out, he meets Yamaguchi and he embarrassingly takes her to a yakuniku (a Japanese BBQ) spot that he goes with his friends to continue their date. The comfortable and casual location allowed Yamaguchi to loosen up and open up... and so begins their relationship with each other and with food.
I found this book super cute and very wholesome. The characters were relatable, both of them being socially awkward and found comaraderie with each other's awkwardness. A part of the story may seem very unrealistic to American culture but seems to be part of Japanese culture. With that in mind, it can put their relationship in a very questionable opinion to some people. However, I really am looking forward to reading more of their story and how they each grow as a couple and as individuals.
I recommend this book for readers who enjoy slice of life, food/cooking, and a little bit of romance. This manga reminds me of WOTAKOI and how relationships grow and take on a different path for different people.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for giving me the opportunity to read this manga in exchange of an honest review.
How to Grill Our Love starts with a blind date between Fukuyama and Yamaguchi. Both individuals struggle to find themselves in a relationship until they met one another. Fukuyama is a shy person and often times, finds himself "stood up" by his prospective dates. Yamaguchi informed Fukuyama that she was running late, however, due to previous experiences, Fukuyama decided to leave their meeting place, thinking that he got stood up again. On his way out, he meets Yamaguchi and he embarrassingly takes her to a yakuniku (a Japanese BBQ) spot that he goes with his friends to continue their date. The comfortable and casual location allowed Yamaguchi to loosen up and open up... and so begins their relationship with each other and with food.
I found this book super cute and very wholesome. The characters were relatable, both of them being socially awkward and found comaraderie with each other's awkwardness. A part of the story may seem very unrealistic to American culture but seems to be part of Japanese culture. With that in mind, it can put their relationship in a very questionable opinion to some people. However, I really am looking forward to reading more of their story and how they each grow as a couple and as individuals.
May 22, 2023
How to Grill Our Love, Volume 1, by Shiori Hanatsuka is a manga style graphic novel. Dating can be tough when you nerd out over barbecue. Kenta, a practical pitmaster, looks for a grill-friend in Chihiro, an aloof and faultless business babe…or is she? Scared of being rejected for who they really are, the two of them find comfort in food and each other…and all is well until Kenta must transfer away. With their developing relationship at steak, Chihiro proposes they tie the knot and they marry for better or wurst. Winging a long-distance marriage is one thing, but here’s the rub—they barely know each other! It’s a rare marriage where all the awkwardness of dating meets a sizzling passion for grilling!
How to Grill Our Love is a fun and enjoyable read. I liked the story- and getting some recipes along the way. I liked the set up and I thought it was a very cute read. My only complaint is that at the end of the book I had a pretty good understanding of Kenta as a character and I really liked him. However, I have no more of an understanding of Chihiro than Kenta does. I understand doing a slow reveal, but I think her personality is completely left of the page, and while it might get explored in later volumes I am not sure that everyone will stick around to figure out who she is. I did enjoy the read, and I liked it overall, I just wish I knew more about Chihiro when the first volume ended.
How to Grill Our Love is a fun and enjoyable read. I liked the story- and getting some recipes along the way. I liked the set up and I thought it was a very cute read. My only complaint is that at the end of the book I had a pretty good understanding of Kenta as a character and I really liked him. However, I have no more of an understanding of Chihiro than Kenta does. I understand doing a slow reveal, but I think her personality is completely left of the page, and while it might get explored in later volumes I am not sure that everyone will stick around to figure out who she is. I did enjoy the read, and I liked it overall, I just wish I knew more about Chihiro when the first volume ended.
June 1, 2023
This was just really adorable. I love the characters, the storyline, the passion the MC H had for grilling and how the MC H and MC h got along and the artwork.
Gentle storyline, with a little bit of misunderstandings that were dealt with appropriately with communication. They didn't find it easy to communicate, more from shyness in expressing feelings then in pride, but they DID communicate in a timeframe that was reasonable for rational, if shy, adults.
I like how they made the long distance thing work and how the MC h was working to change it. She didn't tell the MC H, but not to keep it from him, but not to get his hopes up in case it didn't work. So the reason wasn't horrible, but it's always better to be open in a relationship and make sure the other person is on the same page as you, just sayin'.
Super sweet couple and gentle storyline. It went SLIGHTLY overboard in the descriptions of "how-to" cook XYZ, which made me skip to the next interesting to me part, but I know some people enjoy the cooking how-to's in some manga. If that is you, then this is your series for sure!
4, I wasn't fond of the cooking instructions but the rest worked for me, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
Gentle storyline, with a little bit of misunderstandings that were dealt with appropriately with communication. They didn't find it easy to communicate, more from shyness in expressing feelings then in pride, but they DID communicate in a timeframe that was reasonable for rational, if shy, adults.
I like how they made the long distance thing work and how the MC h was working to change it. She didn't tell the MC H, but not to keep it from him, but not to get his hopes up in case it didn't work. So the reason wasn't horrible, but it's always better to be open in a relationship and make sure the other person is on the same page as you, just sayin'.
Super sweet couple and gentle storyline. It went SLIGHTLY overboard in the descriptions of "how-to" cook XYZ, which made me skip to the next interesting to me part, but I know some people enjoy the cooking how-to's in some manga. If that is you, then this is your series for sure!
4, I wasn't fond of the cooking instructions but the rest worked for me, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2023
”How To Grill Our Love, Vol 1” by Shiori Hanatsuka is a lovely slow-paced, heartwarming slice-of-life and full of delicious-looking drawings. I really want bbq ribs now!
Fans of Yuru Camp and any cooking show/manga will enjoy this story.
Kenta is on the brink of giving up on finding love. The last three dates have ghosted him, but then he meets Chihiro.
Nervous he ends up bringing her to his favorite place – the local yakiniku place, where he tells all about his love of grilling meat. It's nerdy and he's embarrassed, but Chihiro likes his passion, and in return, they create together a safe place, where they can lose their masks, and finally be themself with someone else.
But their love story is over too soon when Kenta is getting a job offer which means he has to move to another city. When Chihiro hears of this, she proposes marriage, and so begins their adventure of happily-ever-after love and exciting food adventures by the grill.
I can never really explain in words how much I enjoy stories about people that connect via food. It's just so lovely, watching these two awkward people finding a place where they can talk and be passionate about food together.
Fans of Yuru Camp and any cooking show/manga will enjoy this story.
Kenta is on the brink of giving up on finding love. The last three dates have ghosted him, but then he meets Chihiro.
Nervous he ends up bringing her to his favorite place – the local yakiniku place, where he tells all about his love of grilling meat. It's nerdy and he's embarrassed, but Chihiro likes his passion, and in return, they create together a safe place, where they can lose their masks, and finally be themself with someone else.
But their love story is over too soon when Kenta is getting a job offer which means he has to move to another city. When Chihiro hears of this, she proposes marriage, and so begins their adventure of happily-ever-after love and exciting food adventures by the grill.
I can never really explain in words how much I enjoy stories about people that connect via food. It's just so lovely, watching these two awkward people finding a place where they can talk and be passionate about food together.
May 27, 2023
First, I would like to thank Netgalley for providing the opportunity for me to read this manga before it was released.
This manga is very cute. The main male character is charming and quirky. He thinks he's going to be alone forever before he meets the female lead. They start by going on one date. She's just as awkward as he is, which is adorable. They want to get to know one another. So, they make a decision to get married. The rest of the manga is them cooking together, eating together, and trying to get to know each other. It's very reminiscent of early stages of dating when it can be a little uncomfortable but exciting. The art is very typical of a manga, which means it's stunning. This manga is different from most I've read recently. It goes into great detail about everything being cooked, and the art from those sections make one hungry. Overall, this is a sweet, quick manga about food and growing love in the early stages. When students ask me for a recommendation, I will throw this one out to them, as long as they are into this genre of manga. I will read the next mangas to see where this relationship goes.
This manga is very cute. The main male character is charming and quirky. He thinks he's going to be alone forever before he meets the female lead. They start by going on one date. She's just as awkward as he is, which is adorable. They want to get to know one another. So, they make a decision to get married. The rest of the manga is them cooking together, eating together, and trying to get to know each other. It's very reminiscent of early stages of dating when it can be a little uncomfortable but exciting. The art is very typical of a manga, which means it's stunning. This manga is different from most I've read recently. It goes into great detail about everything being cooked, and the art from those sections make one hungry. Overall, this is a sweet, quick manga about food and growing love in the early stages. When students ask me for a recommendation, I will throw this one out to them, as long as they are into this genre of manga. I will read the next mangas to see where this relationship goes.
May 6, 2023
How to Grill Our Love is about cooking or more like, barbecuing. Kentaro ends up on a date with Chihiro and they end up grilling food together. Soon they meet up like this often until Kenta gets transferred to Hamamatsu, but instead of not seeing anymore they decide to get married. It's a long distance marriage though as Chihiro lives in Tokyo. She comes for the weekends and they grill and try to learn to be a husband and wife. This is very Japanese on many levels and thus quite foreign to me. The series is extremely slow and we get to learn about cooking or more like grilling. Perhaps this was a bit too much when it comes to teaching. Kenta even talks instructions for himself out loud. This feels superimposed even though it's the style used in manga like this.
The art is quite simple and laid back. This is your basic cooking manga in more ways than one, but it's great it's about grilling, so there's a twist to it. Otherwise this doesn't offer all that much, but it's a cute slice of life series and there's meat. Lots of meat.
The art is quite simple and laid back. This is your basic cooking manga in more ways than one, but it's great it's about grilling, so there's a twist to it. Otherwise this doesn't offer all that much, but it's a cute slice of life series and there's meat. Lots of meat.
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