Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle, Vol. 1

Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle Light Novel #1

by hiromu, Raemz (Artist)

Being popular isn’t easy. It’s hard to beat Saku Chitose. The most popular kid in his high school? Check. An ironclad reputation that can weather even vicious online attacks? Check. A group of friends as attractive on the outside as they are inside? Check. But when a teacher asks for his help bringing back a student who has been shut away in his room for months, Saku’s perfect world will never be the same. What is this, some kind of normie harem story...?

Genres: Light Novel, Manga, Japan, Romance, Slice Of Life, Comedy, Indonesian Literature

280 pages, Paperback

First published June 18, 2019

Reviews

[Zevitjoss · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a harem romcom, romance and character interactions are obviously important allures of said genre but I have to say the romance is pretty weak in this book. All the characters are pretty basic archetypes that you would see in your regular old harem series and none of the interactions or dynamics they have with the main character is particularly interesting in my opinion. Honestly the best ship that came into my head as I was reading was the main character with Kenta, the otaku he helps. In the end of the day none of the character really charmed enough to want to read more about them with exception of Asuka senpai. Despite her low page count of appearances I thought she was inserted to the story really and provided a somewhat interesting dynamic to the main character. Though maybe I'm just saying that cause I always like the cool intellectual senpai type character.

In terms of comedy I cant really say its all that strong either. I dont mind immature crass humor but the jokes in this series dont really do it for me. Though its not all that unfunny. I would say a rough estimate to be something along the lines of 60% unfunny and 40% somewhat funny.

The main character is a little too perfect. Depending on the person you could probably also see him as annoying. He doesnt have any real flaws and the ones he technically does have isnt really something the book really tackles or resolves. It is somewhat satisfying though to have a harem protagonist that you can conceivably imagine be surrounded by a bunch of hot and popular girls.

The strongest aspect of the book is without a doubt the story. While the main character has no real development or journey in this book I thought the story and journey of the otaku he decides to help interesting in a few different ways. It tackled a few common incel believes that otakus might have about popular kids really well. The book provides interesting themes of self improvement that plays of the classic stereotypical loser mc self insert fantasies of other harem romcom light novels. Its not really a subversion on the harem romcom genre(its definitely a harem romcom) but it does a great job of standing out. The story of the otaku the main character decides to help serves as a nice simple story of self-improvement thats somewhat inspiring and wholesome.

[Benjamin Frediani · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to read a light novel that has a novel concept.
The translation was well done, the pacing was constant and there was a nice clear start, middle and end to the book that didn't feel like it was just trying to lead you on to the next of a never ending story. In fact it makes me want to know what the next book will be about because this one wrapped up it's story so well.

The characters felt fairly flat and shallow - like the author was trying really hard for them to look effortlessly cool. I feel if there was less effort and emphasis on that it would of come across as more natural.
There was some character development between the two MCs but that was it and the scenes were very generic (I felt like the whole book could of taken place in 3 locations without feeling any different what I think made the book feel a little flat and.

I liked elements of the book but found the overall experience lacking and often found myself speed-reading to the point of skimming.

Worth a read if you're after a slice of life novel that's a bit different from the rest (Tomozaki is close but they're told from different perspectives and in very different ways).

PS, I think I read the 'romance' genre thrown around in comments or in association with this book but this first entry in the series had nothing remotely romantic in it - I can't comment about later on.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all my anime books but this has got to be the best one yet although I did not like that is sweared

[Pakapak Sankhasundara · Rating 4 out of 5]

เออมันดีกว่าที่คาดไว้พอสมควรเลยนะตอนแรกคิดว่าเป็นไลท์โนเวลทีก็เป็นชีวิตประจำวันธรรมดาของหนุ่มสาวมัธยมปลาย แต่ว่าเออพอมานั่งอ่านจนหมดเล่มแล้วก็ให้ข้อคิดแล้วก็อะไรที่ดีเยอะกว่าที่เราคาดการณ์เอาไว้ค่อนข้างเยอะทีเดียวอาทิ การที่เราชอบไปพูดจาเหน็บแนมคนอื่นหรือว่าเพราะอะไรเราถึงคิดว่าคนที่เขาดีกว่าเราสง่างามกว่าเรามันเป็นสิ่งที่ผิดทั้งทั้งที่จริงๆแล้วเค้าก็ไม่ได้ผิดอะไรเลยเรื่องนี้ก็แฝงปรัชญาแล้วก็แนวคิดอะไรทำนองนี้ไว้

[Evan Hockings · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt like a caricature of itself, and in a distinctly unpleasant way—it’s substantially weaker than the rest of the series. While I can concede that there’s somewhat of a point to the protagonist’s commentary on the attractiveness of his female friends, and also a point to how meta it gets, it’s way too much. Perhaps I would judge the book a little more kindly on a reread, but I think this rating is kind enough already.

[Sarul Sakulthong · Rating 5 out of 5]

ใครสนใจนิยายแนวชีวิตวัยรุ่นที่พระเอกไม่เป็นไอ้ขี้แพ้ (ต้องเรียกว่าไอ้หนุ่มชีวิตดีกันเลยด้วยซ้ำ) คุณจะต้องชอบเรื่องนี้ ทุกตัวละครมีมิติบุคลิคหลากหลาย เรื่องราวดำเนินในลักษณะมุมมองบุคคลที่ 1 ผ่านพระเอกอย่างจิโตเสะ ซากุเป็นหลัก เราจึงได้เห็นความคิดในหัวพระเอกตลอดทั้งเรื่อง ซึ่งแน่นอนว่าอ่านเพลินมาก แต่เล่ม 1 ทั้งเล่มนี้เอาจริงๆยังเป็นเหมือนการเกริ่นนำเฉยๆ พล็อตหลักของเรื่องยังไม่ชัดว่าจะมุ่งไปในแนวทางไหน ดราม่าก็ไม่เชิง รอมคอมก็ยังไม่ใช่ Coming of age ไหมก็ยังต้องรอดู คงต้องตามอ่านเล่ม 2 ต่อถึงจะเข้าพล็อตเรื่องหลัก (ผมเดานะ)

[Ghostea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I generally don't mind the Harem genre and how absurd-childish it can be, but the internal musings of kids being horny was a big deterrent in enjoying this one. It is really well written and funny, I can see this having a fanbase and people touting it, but it just did not work for me.

[WA. Prakosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aku membaca novel ringan ini gegara animenya. Versi novel ringan lebih rinci dibandingkan anime. Banyak pelajaran yang dapat diambil dari cerita ini. Aku makin tidak sabar untuk lanjut membaca volume 2.

[Bear Mcbearington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rare for anything in the otaku sphere to have banter that feels like it comes from real people, and not some weebs warped idea of what being sociable and cool is like.

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got as a blind date book from an anime store. This isn't my type of story and I won't continue it. I can see why others would like it and the art was pretty, but it's not for me.

[Carter Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Namelessfox · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars (paperback)

A blind buy when visiting a friend. The cover caught my eye. I liked that the story was told from the POV of a popular kid rather than from a nerd’s POV. The story had good messages about changing yourself for you, being a better person, and the power of friendship. Definitely looking forward to reading more!

[CB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda slow I don’t read much manga but this one was ok. It was suggestive at times and used bad language. I don’t really understand the title but hopefully that shows up later in the series. I liked the popular and outcast characters dynamic! And, if anything, it was funny and entertaining but it is not my favorite manga I’ve read I’d say.