Those Not-So-Sweet Boys, Vol. 2

甘くない彼らの日常は。 [Amakunai Karera no Nichijō wa.] #2

by Yoko Nogiri

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?

After working hard to get Rei, Chihiro, and Yukinojo to come to school and even convincing them to take part in Sports Day, Midori realizes just how much she cares for Rei. But when Yukinojo informs her that her efforts are no longer needed, she starts to worry that all three boys have hated her all along…

Genres: Manga, Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Shojo, Fiction, Graphic Novels

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 2019

About the author

野切耀子 (Nogiri Youko)

Reviews

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is alil different still the same plot with growing friendships and maybe some cute romance but there seems to be a block and that's from Ieiri and he sorta pointing out stuff that can break up this new friendship... he's being a jerk right now and I'm not feeling him.

I also love the sister brother bond ❤❤❤

Drama, slight secondary character

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When you tell me about your memories, it feels like I get to experience a part of your life, and that makes me happy."

Yukinojo tells Midori in no uncertain terms that her interference with their group of three--and with Rei in particular--is no longer necessary. He then starts physically interposing himself between her and Rei, forming a sort of wall. At the class camping trip, the reasons behind Yuki's behavior come to light. Midori gets a little closer to each of the boys over the course of this volume, each in a different way and in different circumstances.

I can't fault this manga, or any relatively straightforward "school days" story, for not coming up with original situations to put their characters into. There's only so much a writer can do with relatively sheltered teenagers. With that in mind, the characterization and character interactions have to be spot on for the story to not come across as plain, uninspired, by the numbers.

As I'd expected, that aspect of this story is improving, and some of the tensions between the boys and Midori are becoming more complex. Yuki in particular had a star turn this time around. I can completely understand him not wanting their band of brothers to get destabilized by one of them getting into a love relationship. That could well be a lost cause, for a couple of different reasons.

I'd like to get a better idea about each of the trio's family background, and why they stick together so strongly. Since Midori's home life is shown frequently, this can't be a mistaken omission, and I'm sure we'll learn more about that, and about what makes the guys tick, as we go along.

[Kadi P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much more of the same but with the added bonus of some unexpected confrontation. It wasn’t much of a roadblock, more like a bump in the road to friendship and love but it was welcome and added some much needed harshness to oppose all those soft edges.

The whole confrontation suggested there were more layers to some of the characters than they were previously portrayed as having which is great. Character depth can never come too late!

The change of setting in this vol worked in it’s favour and created new opportunities and connections between the characters. It also left some things up in the air so I’ll be glad to see that addressed in Those Not-So-Sweet Boys, Vol. 3!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOOOO GOOD!!!! Next one is due out Tuesday I think?? I hope!!! 5, MOR MONSTER WANT MOR, stars.

[Tabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yukiojo kinda looks like hyunjin from stray kids to me lol

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars

This story is cute and wholesome! I adore these characters so much! I would strongly, strongly recommend this to shojo fans, especially those who love a sweet/adorable romance!

Content: clean!

[Pernille · Rating 4 out of 5]

another cute, although sometimes frustrating volume (miscommunication trope ugh). the camping part was so fun!! chihiro is so precious, rei is amazing and i love yuki too but him almost screwing up the friendship between nanami and the boys was so frustrating, but i’m still calling it that he has a crush and tries to hide it by pushing her away. the amount of love interests is dizzying but i can’t wait to see how it develops :)

[Muzmuz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love a manga with a reverse harem when all the boys in the group stars to have some sort of feelings for the girl…
It’s the perfect recipe for chaos and the beginning of a beautiful friendship and love

[Alice4170 🌙 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/8EyhhnfVQaQ

SQUEALS! This volume was SO good!

I will be the first to admit that I don't like love triangles because it brings me A LOT of angst, but with how this ended, I can totally get behind this love triangle! I'm definitely still cheering for one certain guy, but I also like the other dude involved, but Ieiri…UGHHHHH!

I'm sure he has a really great backstory, that if shared, will change my mind about him, BUT! I SUPER disliked him at the end of volume one and still dislike him this volume. I don't want any "walls" to come down between him and Midori because even if he has his reasons, I just don't like it. This has been such a great series so far of friendship and blooming first love that I don't want anyone or anything coming between that. There is NOTHING wrong with Midori befriending these guys and LOVED when Midori tells him later on that nothing will change between him and his friends whether she is in the picture or not. Like YOU TELL HIM GIRL!!

Which leads me to say that I have loved all of Nogiri's heroines, but I think Midori is my favorite. She is VERY down to earth (more so than the other heroines who have already been super down to earth) and absolutely adore how much she loves her brother! I really appreciate that Nogiri usually has strong themes of family and this one is no exception.

So far, this has definitely been my favorite work from Nogiri! It's been a fun and easy-going story that has left me feeling happy, on edge at certain characters' actions, but most of all, a fun and sweet time. Very eager to see where things will go next!

[D E N Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

#TeamGoshima #TeamIchijou DEFINITELY NOT #TeamIeri

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nanami is confronted by Ieiri over her involvement with the trio (especially Ichijo) and he turns out to be not-so-sweeter than either of the other two boys. You can’t stop fate, or shojo, however, and between family matters and class trips, our leads grow ever closer...

Hey, this was an interesting instalment and I might be going slightly mad, but it was an above average turn this time out. Sure, it doesn’t seem like much - the boys are back at school, presumably invalidating the entire premise of the book, Nanami and Ichijo get closer, a camping trip happens... but it’s the details, y’know?

It feels unusual for a shojo to have a rival for the male love interest rather than the female lead (gotta have all that bishonen) and rarer still for it to be... another guy? That’s possibly stretching it a bit, but possibly not. This is where most of this review is focused because it fascinates me.

Ieiri is wonderfully complicated and even if he’s being a jerk, you see how loyal he is to his friends. Now the real question is how he actually feels about Ichijo and that’s... really nebulous. Seriously, there’s more subtext here than a paperback written on the Nautilus.

There’s a scene where Nanami uses information she gained from a very sweet supper meeting with Ichijo (this whole section is fun, Kon is the voice of reason in this book) and is trying to make nice with Ieiri, but the context of that message (and Ieiri’s incredibly inscrutable reaction to it) suggest that there is much more going on than we think. It feels like she is absolutely destroying him in this section without even realizing it.

So this is a very different kind of roadblock than I’m used to seeing and we’ll see how it develops, but the way Ieiri’s clearly manipulating the situation by the end of the book is subtle and crafty. It feels like Nanami might be the catalyst that blows the boys apart, while Ieiri tries to control the explosion. The two are at each other for the entire book and it adds a nice counterpart to all the romance.

Everything else is fine - Nanami’s great; I really like her bond with her brother and she’s still such a nice character. Ichijo is your standard pretty boy with home life issues, but he does have some great moments and they’re not a bad pairing (his one flash of jealousy is cute). If it was all just the fluff it would be a good, if standard, read. Just a little extra is all it takes sometimes.

3.5 stars, rounded up because the potential of what’s going on with Ieiri suggests that we have a very different rival situation developing and I’m really interested to see where it’s heading. A good book, elevated to a great one by some excellent character dynamics. This feels like it’s really going to get messy before it gets better...

[Namratha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Midori Nanami has been successful in the task assigned to her by her school’s Chairman. She has managed to bring the haughty, rich truant trio of Rei, Chihiro and Yukinojo back to school and get them to participate more actively in school events. She has also begun to consider them as her friends and is specially drawn towards the kind nature of the quiet and seemingly snobbish Rei. So, she is in for a shock when Yukinojo informs her that her “babysitting duties” are no longer needed and she should stay away from the three friends.

So yes, this is very much more of the same ebb and flow that happened in the first volume and am guessing that it is going to follow this pattern for some time. And yet, I do enjoy the steady developments as Midori’s transparent and genuinely decent personality brings about slight shifts in the three boys. I also adore Midori’s interactions with her younger brother and especially the scene when Rei lands up at Midori’s home and has to share a meal with him.

Sweet, predictable and with a hint of drama.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Series Thoughts:
I didn't realize the series wasn't finished (in English), so I guess I'll be waiting for the rest of the series! The first four books were cute and just easy, pleasant reads. (I think I still like the author's other series, Love in Focus, more, but that's the photographer in me.)

(I don’t feel like much happened in this second volume compared to the first, but it was still really cute, regardless.)

Content:
Crushes; Mentions of fighting.

[Britney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one shorter than the first, but still enjoyable! I'm liking the complication of Yukinojo being worried about Midori throwing off the vibes of the friend group. The ending hinted at a love triangle situation, and I'm not usually a fan of those, so I'm hoping that gets resolved super quickly in book three.

[Leila ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

CHIHIROOOO CINNAMON ROLL TE AMO

I mean, es un shoujo. Convengamos que la historia es lo menos original que existe jsjja. Nevertheless, el dibujo me gusta, y la historia me está entreteniendo. Y Chihiro es in bbto hermoso. So all’s good.

3.75 de 5 estrellas.

[Rebecca Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[givememycheetos · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

[Sylwia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author owns my soul and is kicking my ass and I love/hate it so much.

[Kris Mauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love it so much <3

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a crush on all 3 of them

[Erika Sarutobi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Celestria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ½ stars

[Manon「マノン」 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yuki is at war with Midori, he won’t let her talk to Rei. For once, it’s not another girl who is in conflict with the main character over a boy in order to create some kind of rivalry. Chihiro could see right through it, therefore there was no misunderstanding. I like that even though they are friends, Rei and Chihiro don’t mind confronting Yuki when they think he has done something wrong. Although Yuki treated her so badly, Midori doesn’t try to tear the guys apart or create drama between them.

Not gonna lie, I’m not usually a big fan of anti-social characters like Rei, but I found him cute and honestly. I didn’t find him annoying at all.

The only thing that I find disappointing, is that the author had to make Chihiro fall in love with Midori too. It’s unnecessary, and I’m sure it won’t bring anything new to the story.

[Lissa Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still adorable.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is your typical shoujo love story for sure. The main lead Nanami is always super sweet and it’s nice watching how she reacts to Ieiri’s behavior. I’m curious in what ways they’re rivals but it’s currently being built up. It’s quite slow but I’m going to read volume 3. I actually prefer Chihiro over Rei, but it’s painfully obvious that he is NOT the main lead. I’m setting myself up at this point lol.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one more than the first, I liked the character development and am interested to see how this friendship changes

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 ⭐. It's a great read after waiting for spring.