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When Hasumi has a chance meeting with her old high school crush, Yamato Kujo, she figures she might as well spend one night in bliss before she deals with the debt collectors that hound her steps. But when Yamato reveals he's become a yakuza member, Hasumi panics and runs away—only to have Yamato pop up again, but this time with a He'll buy her debt if she becomes his bride. But can she take the pressure and drama of becoming a yakuza wife?
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2020
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207 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
June 14, 2024
3.5
This was really promising start to a series that I think I will love. I really enjoyed the art and where the story went so far.
This was really promising start to a series that I think I will love. I really enjoyed the art and where the story went so far.
February 13, 2021
Mio is the not-so-proud owner of one of manga's enduring tropes - Debt Dad. Unfortunately for her, not only did he exit stage left immediately after her mother's death, he was in debt to the yakuza, and now Mio is at her wits' end, especially since she had to quit her corporate job to take care of her mother and hasn't had much luck getting her dream career as an illustrator to take off. She's in despair when she bumps into her high school crush Yamato in town, and she's ready to just have one night with him when he reveals something sends her fleeing from the hotel room: he's yakuza himself.
Welcome to a story that's oddly sweet and romantic despite its preponderance of creepy thugs and Mio's gentle attempts to change Yamato. (In all fairness, he desperately wants out, so she's hardly doing it unbidden.) They've never gotten over each other even though they never got together back in the day, and it's clear that they really do love each other and they're really cute together. I realize that I may have a higher tolerance for this kind of story since my favorite great-uncle wasn't...entirely on the up-and-up, but really, this is pretty adorable for what's also Kodansha's most explicit series.
3.5, rounded down because it's a good story but has some of the worst editing I've seen from this publisher. That's faint criticism because it still isn't terrible, but what can I say, I'm picky about grammar.
Welcome to a story that's oddly sweet and romantic despite its preponderance of creepy thugs and Mio's gentle attempts to change Yamato. (In all fairness, he desperately wants out, so she's hardly doing it unbidden.) They've never gotten over each other even though they never got together back in the day, and it's clear that they really do love each other and they're really cute together. I realize that I may have a higher tolerance for this kind of story since my favorite great-uncle wasn't...entirely on the up-and-up, but really, this is pretty adorable for what's also Kodansha's most explicit series.
3.5, rounded down because it's a good story but has some of the worst editing I've seen from this publisher. That's faint criticism because it still isn't terrible, but what can I say, I'm picky about grammar.
March 26, 2021
I like this trend of cinnamon roll current/former yakuza dude. It warms my heart and makes me laugh.
July 24, 2022
Living Yakuza Loco
Just as a warning to anyone that might be offended by physically intimate series this book has not only has several scenes of love making but also has depictions of nudity (though no genitalia that I recall.) In addition being a story about the Yakuza The potential for violence from any number of people is possible so use you best judgement before starting this series.
Poor Mio has always had a flair for art but bad luck with many other things in life. With her mother becoming so sick she had to quit her job to take care of her in her final moments and a dad that borrowed money from the wrong people before running away (leaving her as the receiver of the debt) it seems a small miracle that her school crush recognizes her and although rejected back then offers her a last chance at happiness before she meets her own end. What she discovers is the reason why he could not return his feelings for her in school and how her life will forever change as she is given the choice to marry him.
The art is fantastic and the occasional silly expressions that take on the more realistic depictions of faces and bodies are often amusing as well but it is obvious this series is designed for an older female audience where the charismatic and yet naïve school crush requires a wife to meet his goals and only the one girl will do. Of course the few times sexy fun time happen remind me of those old Harlequin romance novels which is fine if that is what you want in your stories. For me personally being intimate is fine but I want more world building than bed shaking in my stories so I did not like this story nearly as much as others I have read in the past that have shown intimate moments but less often to reflect the importance of the act itself. All in all this is not a bad start to a series but I have other titles I want to check out so I have no more time for this one. :)
Just as a warning to anyone that might be offended by physically intimate series this book has not only has several scenes of love making but also has depictions of nudity (though no genitalia that I recall.) In addition being a story about the Yakuza The potential for violence from any number of people is possible so use you best judgement before starting this series.
Poor Mio has always had a flair for art but bad luck with many other things in life. With her mother becoming so sick she had to quit her job to take care of her in her final moments and a dad that borrowed money from the wrong people before running away (leaving her as the receiver of the debt) it seems a small miracle that her school crush recognizes her and although rejected back then offers her a last chance at happiness before she meets her own end. What she discovers is the reason why he could not return his feelings for her in school and how her life will forever change as she is given the choice to marry him.
The art is fantastic and the occasional silly expressions that take on the more realistic depictions of faces and bodies are often amusing as well but it is obvious this series is designed for an older female audience where the charismatic and yet naïve school crush requires a wife to meet his goals and only the one girl will do. Of course the few times sexy fun time happen remind me of those old Harlequin romance novels which is fine if that is what you want in your stories. For me personally being intimate is fine but I want more world building than bed shaking in my stories so I did not like this story nearly as much as others I have read in the past that have shown intimate moments but less often to reflect the importance of the act itself. All in all this is not a bad start to a series but I have other titles I want to check out so I have no more time for this one. :)
December 4, 2022
An enjoyable manga about two high school friends(crushes) who reconnect as adults and end up married due to their personal circumstances. Good art, & enjoyable plot.
October 28, 2024
the art is fine, story interesting so i’ll keep reading to see where the plot goes. fmc is an artist (a bad one) and it made me think of the acotar fan theory that feyre is a bad artist lol
March 16, 2022
OMG
This was everything my typically arranged marriage mafia loving heart needed. It’s funny and sweet and hot as all get out. This was a whim purchase for me and I am about to go one click the rest of the series.
This was everything my typically arranged marriage mafia loving heart needed. It’s funny and sweet and hot as all get out. This was a whim purchase for me and I am about to go one click the rest of the series.
June 16, 2022
3.5 for the first three volumes. Looking forward to more!
February 23, 2022
Welcome to 1950! Gender essentialism central. Both leads are so young, they feel like teenagers. The male lead is sexy but toxic as hell. His only emotions are near-instant rage toward others and showering his new wife with so much kindness and attention that it’s setting off love bombing flags for me. This is a man child with no discipline who in real life would be a cheater and a wife beater.
In the meantime his wife who is intensely vulnerable (no family, no apparent friends, no money, no job and under attack by mobsters) is throwing herself into doing things like learning his favorite recipes and being thrilled by how much personal satisfaction she gets from making him happy. He’s now the center of and only fixture in her life. She’s also trying to get pregnant within days of marrying a man she barely knows. In real life, she would wake up a decade into this marriage, realize she’s hollowed herself out and has nothing of her own at all, and mourn her lost potential but be near-powerless to make a change.
Yuck.
In the meantime his wife who is intensely vulnerable (no family, no apparent friends, no money, no job and under attack by mobsters) is throwing herself into doing things like learning his favorite recipes and being thrilled by how much personal satisfaction she gets from making him happy. He’s now the center of and only fixture in her life. She’s also trying to get pregnant within days of marrying a man she barely knows. In real life, she would wake up a decade into this marriage, realize she’s hollowed herself out and has nothing of her own at all, and mourn her lost potential but be near-powerless to make a change.
Yuck.
May 8, 2021
Yakuza style romance. Its an adult manga for sure, but it's sex scenes show next to no detail, so if you're a fan of more modest adult manga, this will be more in your ball park. The premise is pretty good, all that said. The couple is cute together, but it's a little forced at times. How and why they get together is a bit rushed and strange to say the least, but it's still a good story. I can't really hate on it.
March 19, 2021
The art on the cover and color inserts are better than the rest of the art. The storyline is a little disappointing. It just fell short. I'm not even really sure what exactly I want more of, besides for the main characters to actually develop their relationship. I'm probably not going to continue with the series.
February 9, 2021
Reminds me of Happy Marriage, but with yakuza.
June 5, 2021
3.5/4
I liked the art, the premise was good but the story needs to develop more before i can have an actual opinion on it lol. but i DO LOVE ME SOME civilian/Yakuza tropes tho
I liked the art, the premise was good but the story needs to develop more before i can have an actual opinion on it lol. but i DO LOVE ME SOME civilian/Yakuza tropes tho
August 25, 2021
I’ve read more farfetched manga, but...I don’t know. This one bounced around a lot on top of the implausible relationship.
December 30, 2021
A lot of misspelled words and misuse of vocabulary.
January 17, 2022
Ummm, no, thanks.
January 18, 2022
This just wasn't for me.
May 4, 2022
meh. art is just okay (cover is miles better than the actual art). story is interesting but pacing is weird - they jump into things and act serious way too quickly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2023
This was not worth $10
May 5, 2023
0/10 One of the most boring stories i've ever read. Like... they start dating in the first chapter and by the third they are married... :/
4 (lr)
4 (lr)
July 3, 2023
It's all a bit rushed.
March 12, 2021
Boss Wife, Vol. 1 by Mayu Sakurai ⭐⭐⭐
Mio Hasumi is a novice illustrator whose life has hit a rough patch. Her mother passed away only three months ago, her father defaulted on his debt and ran away, leaving Mio to deal with the collectors. Not the type of collectors who call her phone incessantly - no, these collectors show up on her doorstep.
By chance one night, she runs into a man she hasn’t seen since high school, Yamato Kujo. She confessed to him back then, but he rejected her. In the present day, he admits that he’s always liked her and quickly proposes marriage. However, there’s a hitch - while Yamato has a perfectly normal career as the president and CEO of Kodan Industries, he’s also a member of the yakuza. When Mio learns of this, it leads to the one panel that actually made me chuckle - the room door standing open, still creaking, cuz sis said, “see ya!” and bolted the hell out of there. 😂
Anyway, things happen and they end up married, making a pact that in one year’s time after Yamato has taken over the role of yakuza boss, he’ll disband the group (that was always his goal) and she’ll make a living through her art, and they’ll live as a normal married couple. So that’s how we get to the series title, Boss Wife.
Overall, this was a so-so read. Not terrible, but not great either. The art is a little...cringey, I guess, in places. Mio’s and Yamato’s expressions were weirdly exaggerated multiple times. For example, both are drawn with shocked looks on their faces when nothing that out of the ordinary happened or was said. I think what bothered me was that their eyes were drawn just a bit too wide-eyed in those instances. Outside of that, the art is quite nice.
I did have a little trouble following the plot, I have to admit. Maybe it’s because it’s my first yakuza manga and I’m not used to the goings-on or ranks surrounding that type of organization. The dialogue felt a bit stilted throughout the entire volume (translation issue or just bad writing, I don’t know) and the characters felt lacking in depth at times.
While it had it’s sweet moments, I spent most of my reading time feeling bored and was quite glad when it finally ended. Ultimately, this first entry failed to pique my interest enough to try out the second volume. I won’t say that I’ll never continue the series, because maybe it’ll improve over time, but at this point in time, I’ll stop here.
Quick note: there is some nudity, but it’s tastefully drawn.
Mio Hasumi is a novice illustrator whose life has hit a rough patch. Her mother passed away only three months ago, her father defaulted on his debt and ran away, leaving Mio to deal with the collectors. Not the type of collectors who call her phone incessantly - no, these collectors show up on her doorstep.
By chance one night, she runs into a man she hasn’t seen since high school, Yamato Kujo. She confessed to him back then, but he rejected her. In the present day, he admits that he’s always liked her and quickly proposes marriage. However, there’s a hitch - while Yamato has a perfectly normal career as the president and CEO of Kodan Industries, he’s also a member of the yakuza. When Mio learns of this, it leads to the one panel that actually made me chuckle - the room door standing open, still creaking, cuz sis said, “see ya!” and bolted the hell out of there. 😂
Anyway, things happen and they end up married, making a pact that in one year’s time after Yamato has taken over the role of yakuza boss, he’ll disband the group (that was always his goal) and she’ll make a living through her art, and they’ll live as a normal married couple. So that’s how we get to the series title, Boss Wife.
Overall, this was a so-so read. Not terrible, but not great either. The art is a little...cringey, I guess, in places. Mio’s and Yamato’s expressions were weirdly exaggerated multiple times. For example, both are drawn with shocked looks on their faces when nothing that out of the ordinary happened or was said. I think what bothered me was that their eyes were drawn just a bit too wide-eyed in those instances. Outside of that, the art is quite nice.
I did have a little trouble following the plot, I have to admit. Maybe it’s because it’s my first yakuza manga and I’m not used to the goings-on or ranks surrounding that type of organization. The dialogue felt a bit stilted throughout the entire volume (translation issue or just bad writing, I don’t know) and the characters felt lacking in depth at times.
While it had it’s sweet moments, I spent most of my reading time feeling bored and was quite glad when it finally ended. Ultimately, this first entry failed to pique my interest enough to try out the second volume. I won’t say that I’ll never continue the series, because maybe it’ll improve over time, but at this point in time, I’ll stop here.
Quick note: there is some nudity, but it’s tastefully drawn.
May 31, 2021
A seriously wholesome josei manga
Wow!!!! I love this mangaka!!! She’s created quite a few of my favorite mangas and I’m really hoping that they also get an English translation too!!! But this one here is seriously wholesome. Not what one would think in regards to a josei about the yakuza. But it is! Mio is down on her luck and has a rough go at it. She’s put her dreams of working as an illustrator on hold to care for her ill mother and is stuck with her father’s massive debt after he left once his wife passed. But all that changes when out and about her high school crush Yamato sees her and professes his love to her!! Annnnd it’s a whirlwind every second after that first encounter. I love how earnest Yamato is and so cute and precious even though he was raised among tough guys all his life. And Mio, she feels like she’s living a dream by being with him every day. But is still shocked by his dual behaviors and atrocious fashion sense. They are so cute together and I’m so happy that they have found each other again. But also that this manga isn’t like typical josei where the woman is wondering where her husband is and how he truly feels about her and that there’s no cheating drama. There’s just enough drama to keep it interesting but it’s still funny and sweet with some adult time thrown in without it being overdone. So happy!!! Can’t wait for volume two!!!
Wow!!!! I love this mangaka!!! She’s created quite a few of my favorite mangas and I’m really hoping that they also get an English translation too!!! But this one here is seriously wholesome. Not what one would think in regards to a josei about the yakuza. But it is! Mio is down on her luck and has a rough go at it. She’s put her dreams of working as an illustrator on hold to care for her ill mother and is stuck with her father’s massive debt after he left once his wife passed. But all that changes when out and about her high school crush Yamato sees her and professes his love to her!! Annnnd it’s a whirlwind every second after that first encounter. I love how earnest Yamato is and so cute and precious even though he was raised among tough guys all his life. And Mio, she feels like she’s living a dream by being with him every day. But is still shocked by his dual behaviors and atrocious fashion sense. They are so cute together and I’m so happy that they have found each other again. But also that this manga isn’t like typical josei where the woman is wondering where her husband is and how he truly feels about her and that there’s no cheating drama. There’s just enough drama to keep it interesting but it’s still funny and sweet with some adult time thrown in without it being overdone. So happy!!! Can’t wait for volume two!!!
June 23, 2024
***zondag 23 juni 2024***
⭐4 - i liked it but...
The fact I read volume 1 to 7 in one day says enough about the pacing. The story is interesting and the characters feel really grounded and you are rooting for (most of) them.
Still despite my somewhat love for yakuza type stories (more yankees) I think I will forget everything about this story in about 6 months. It's not bad at all yet... there is something missing. Maybe because every thing is a bit too subtle? The humour, the story, even the love between the main characters? Which seems outrageous to say because their love is very strong. It is also based on both characters knowing in what kind of world they are living in.
But still, maybe I need some drama in these kinds of yakuza type stories. Which is a bit of a shame.
⭐4 - i liked it but...
The fact I read volume 1 to 7 in one day says enough about the pacing. The story is interesting and the characters feel really grounded and you are rooting for (most of) them.
Still despite my somewhat love for yakuza type stories (more yankees) I think I will forget everything about this story in about 6 months. It's not bad at all yet... there is something missing. Maybe because every thing is a bit too subtle? The humour, the story, even the love between the main characters? Which seems outrageous to say because their love is very strong. It is also based on both characters knowing in what kind of world they are living in.
But still, maybe I need some drama in these kinds of yakuza type stories. Which is a bit of a shame.
July 9, 2022
We have a ML talking about his feelings in the very first chapter which never happens much! And the personality switches from the sweet lover to Mio and the gang boss to the other yakuza ... not gonna lie that was kinda impressive.
That panel where Mio just bolted out of the room with no hesitation after the ML shows her his tat during the sweet moment. This manga really got me because I absolutely loved how Mío bolted out of the room with no hesitation instead of going well I've always loved him so it's okay after the ML show her his tat. He was getting serious & personal with her too. I also appreciate the male lead like not being forceful and reassuring her first.
Mature adult couple actually communicating with each other, we really need more of this this honestly.
That panel where Mio just bolted out of the room with no hesitation after the ML shows her his tat during the sweet moment. This manga really got me because I absolutely loved how Mío bolted out of the room with no hesitation instead of going well I've always loved him so it's okay after the ML show her his tat. He was getting serious & personal with her too. I also appreciate the male lead like not being forceful and reassuring her first.
Mature adult couple actually communicating with each other, we really need more of this this honestly.
June 1, 2023
4 stars
Hasumi ends up running into her old crush, Yamato Kujo. What turns into a one-night stand quickly becomes Yamato finding out that she is in debt due to her family. With his yakuza connections, he offers her a way out through marriage. I ate this up. I love over the top and dramatic manga like this. It's also josei, so it's a bit more spicy, but I was here for it. I am wanting to continue on with the rest of the series because this first volume was a lot of fun and I liked both of the leads.
Hasumi ends up running into her old crush, Yamato Kujo. What turns into a one-night stand quickly becomes Yamato finding out that she is in debt due to her family. With his yakuza connections, he offers her a way out through marriage. I ate this up. I love over the top and dramatic manga like this. It's also josei, so it's a bit more spicy, but I was here for it. I am wanting to continue on with the rest of the series because this first volume was a lot of fun and I liked both of the leads.
February 12, 2021
Sexy, in a fluffy way, if that makes sense. Both main leads meet up a few years after high school, and find out that life circumstances have almost driven them back into each other's path. Whether or not they like each other isn't even a question (spoiler: they do), but it's whether the other people in their lives (mostly his) will accept their marriage and love.
cw: sexual situations, threat of violence
cw: sexual situations, threat of violence
April 16, 2022
I think this was a good start to the manga series. We got brief introductions to the characters and outlines for future issues in future conflicts. I have mixed emotions about the characters themselves, but I’m curious to see what happens in the next volume.
February 1, 2023
This was a great start to the series. I like these characters and how they have history together. I didn't really love the conflict with the person I presume is the bad guy in this story...but withholding judgment on that until I read more.
February 16, 2021
True Rating: 3.5 stars
For my full thoughts on this, and other volumes I read recently, check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InU2a...
For my full thoughts on this, and other volumes I read recently, check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InU2a...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews