Name: Marmalade Boy
Mangaka: Yoshizumi, Wataru
Volumes: 8 (Complete)
Licensed: Tokyopop (8V Print)-(Out of Print)
2nd License: Seven Seas Entertainment
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Age Group: Teen
Summary:
All Miki Koishikawa wanted was an ordinary family and that’s exactly what she had until her parents decided to move in with another couple (as in switching spouses!) and turned Miki’s world upside down. Now she lives in a house with four parents and her totally cute stepbrother, Yuu. It’s bad enough being brought into her parents’ strange soap opera, but Miki will star in a soap of her own as she deals with friends having affairs, trying to survive in school and ending up torn between her long-time crush, Ginta, and her new stepbrother!
–Manga Updates
Graphics Rating: 4/5
Plot Rating: 3/5
Opinion: I continue to re-read stuff in my personal library and NEEDED to write a review. It’s one of the first manga I owned and I’m definitely nostalgic.
So I’ll start by saying I love the art. It’s very sparkly and popular for the 90’s but it feels refreshing after reading mostly modern series recently. I also really love the cute outfits Miki wears!
The characters are kinda boring. They are interesting in the first few volumes but too many characters are introduced and there just wasn’t enough time to make them interesting. The heroine and male lead are a bit vanilla as well, I found their parents’ plot way more interesting. I’d love a “prequel” going over the parents’ earlier love life in detail!
The plot is great for the first few volumes. As a comedic high school romance between step-siblings, it does great. But then there is a huge “plot twist” for the second half of the series where the male lead is trying to find out who his father is, and it’s boring. Things eventually take a totally dramatic turn for the final two volumes and I was kind of over it.
Overall I’d say it’s ok. If you like the whole cohabitation/step-siblings or unrequited love genres this is an ok read.
Final Rating: 3/5
Extra: There is an anime with over 70 episodes… hope it’s better!
Purchase:
Seven Seas Entertainment (Physical)