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作りたい女と食べたい女 [Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna] #4
She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat, Vol. 4
Kasuga has realized she’s in love with Nomoto―and after the blast they had at their curry party, the two grow closer than ever! With Valentine’s Day approaching, Nomoto bakes up a storm and Kasuga hits the shops as they prepare the perfect treats to give each other, and they both turn to a friend for advice on expressing their feelings. But when they finally meet up to celebrate, Kasuga catches Nomoto off guard with a surprising revelation… With their chocolates successfully exchanged, are their feelings soon to follow?
189 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2023
26 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
February 14, 2025
THIS SERIES IS SO FREAKING CUTE! I love how it's diving into some of complicated and logistical realities of being queer in Japan. I also love how supportive the friend group is. Yuri fans you need to pick this up!
June 8, 2024
So sad that this is on hiatus! I absolutely love and adore all the characters. It was great to see Kasuga and Nomoto make the next step to developing their relationship. I won’t spoil it, but this is such a beautiful, heartfelt and carefully crafted series.
June 12, 2024
I love them 🥺
July 7, 2024
This continues to be my favourite manga series!
May 21, 2024
This series just keeps getting better. I love that we get a canon ace lesbian character, and I really love Nagumo - the interaction and support between the four leads is really charming and lovely. It's a good manga, but it's also a manga about being able to be yourself and being accepted, and it really succeeds. Highly recommended.
June 3, 2024
She loves to cook, she also loves to confess in the moment too. Yes, things are shifting for our leads and they’re tilting in the direction of cohabitation. But, a crash course in the Japanese rental market shows that it might not be as easy as all that.
This is not my favourite series, I think it’s a little too sedate, but I have all the respect for what it’s actually doing and the amount of work that went into it. The slew of cited sources shows that this story cares to get the details right.
We get a deep dive into the perils of coming out, the rental system’s typical erasure of homosexual couples in Japan (this is mind-blowingly regressive and a reminder that manga and anime seldom reflect society), and lots of family trauma.
It’s all very real, possibly a little too research-oriented (I prefer Even Though We’re Adults, which better splits the difference between entertainment and realism), and has one of the best representations of gal pals that I’ve seen. These four get along so well, it’s often enough just watching them hang out.
Even more importantly, we get an asexual character, Yuki, who identifies as such and see her background and eventual acceptance of self. It’s always nice to have strong ace representation in stories now and then and this one is real good.
Elsewhere, Nomoto and Kasuga’s acknowledgment of their feelings is quite adorable. Nomoto having just sorted out her sexual orientation means the awkward stepping around everything and slow speed she moves at is well supported by the narrative, which is a nice touch.
Kasuga continues to have her family lurking in the background, which precipitates the need to move when they learn her address. It’s wild how incredibly awful they all are to her, really, and you can see why she wants to completely cut ties with them (Kasuga’s anxiety over expressing this to Nomoto is very culturally based, it feels).
Nagumo explores her eating disorder further and this is one particular story that I find fascinating, but also very superfluous. If it vanished from the series I don’t think I would miss it, even if blending it with the food scenes is a smart play. It’s well done, but would arguably do better in its own series.
As far as the food goes, it’s okay, but not remarkable. There are definitely better manga out there with a food focus for my money, but this gets the job done. It’s fine, but never sets things off like you want great manga food to do.
But that’s very secondary to how good the writing is with expressing the trials and triumphs of these characters. They’re all distinct and make for a great quartet of people to follow. Even things that I don’t love I acknowledge the skill behind.
5 stars - probably a four, personally, but I recognize that this is unquestionably well done and takes a far more realistic approach to things than most yuri. Actual representation handled with care deserves a big thumbs up.
This is not my favourite series, I think it’s a little too sedate, but I have all the respect for what it’s actually doing and the amount of work that went into it. The slew of cited sources shows that this story cares to get the details right.
We get a deep dive into the perils of coming out, the rental system’s typical erasure of homosexual couples in Japan (this is mind-blowingly regressive and a reminder that manga and anime seldom reflect society), and lots of family trauma.
It’s all very real, possibly a little too research-oriented (I prefer Even Though We’re Adults, which better splits the difference between entertainment and realism), and has one of the best representations of gal pals that I’ve seen. These four get along so well, it’s often enough just watching them hang out.
Even more importantly, we get an asexual character, Yuki, who identifies as such and see her background and eventual acceptance of self. It’s always nice to have strong ace representation in stories now and then and this one is real good.
Elsewhere, Nomoto and Kasuga’s acknowledgment of their feelings is quite adorable. Nomoto having just sorted out her sexual orientation means the awkward stepping around everything and slow speed she moves at is well supported by the narrative, which is a nice touch.
Kasuga continues to have her family lurking in the background, which precipitates the need to move when they learn her address. It’s wild how incredibly awful they all are to her, really, and you can see why she wants to completely cut ties with them (Kasuga’s anxiety over expressing this to Nomoto is very culturally based, it feels).
Nagumo explores her eating disorder further and this is one particular story that I find fascinating, but also very superfluous. If it vanished from the series I don’t think I would miss it, even if blending it with the food scenes is a smart play. It’s well done, but would arguably do better in its own series.
As far as the food goes, it’s okay, but not remarkable. There are definitely better manga out there with a food focus for my money, but this gets the job done. It’s fine, but never sets things off like you want great manga food to do.
But that’s very secondary to how good the writing is with expressing the trials and triumphs of these characters. They’re all distinct and make for a great quartet of people to follow. Even things that I don’t love I acknowledge the skill behind.
5 stars - probably a four, personally, but I recognize that this is unquestionably well done and takes a far more realistic approach to things than most yuri. Actual representation handled with care deserves a big thumbs up.
May 25, 2024
After three volumes of slow development, Valentine's Day brings an impetus for the central relationship to finally start leveling up. [Insert your favorite U-Haul joke here.]
It's a sweet and gentle story. And since this is half-and-half romance and cooking, it is also filled with lots of sweet and savory dishes.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 28. At Dawn -- Chapter 29. Pre-Valentine's Day, Part 1 -- Chapter 30. Pre-Valentine's Day, Part 2 -- Chapter 31. Valentine's Day, Part 1 -- Chapter 32. Valentine's Day, Part 2 -- Chapter 33. Changes -- Chapter 34. When I'm with Them -- Chapter 35. The Night Goes On and On -- Chapter 36. Anko and Rental Hunt -- Chapter 37. Takoyaki Party --Resources Consulted -- Profile Pics -- Haircut Time -- Translation Notes
It's a sweet and gentle story. And since this is half-and-half romance and cooking, it is also filled with lots of sweet and savory dishes.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 28. At Dawn -- Chapter 29. Pre-Valentine's Day, Part 1 -- Chapter 30. Pre-Valentine's Day, Part 2 -- Chapter 31. Valentine's Day, Part 1 -- Chapter 32. Valentine's Day, Part 2 -- Chapter 33. Changes -- Chapter 34. When I'm with Them -- Chapter 35. The Night Goes On and On -- Chapter 36. Anko and Rental Hunt -- Chapter 37. Takoyaki Party --Resources Consulted -- Profile Pics -- Haircut Time -- Translation Notes
September 4, 2024
This series is my roman empire
y'all better love these women as much as I do
y'all better love these women as much as I do
November 30, 2024
Un manga que no tiene miedo a usar la palabra lesbiana y, además, con representación ace?? LEEDLO
June 16, 2024
AH! Love confession!
I love this group of friends so much. They give me all the warm fuzzies. This series has such great representation, and it tackles some heavy topics with respect.
I can’t wait for vol 5!
I love this group of friends so much. They give me all the warm fuzzies. This series has such great representation, and it tackles some heavy topics with respect.
I can’t wait for vol 5!
April 15, 2025
KASUGA E NOMOTO SI SONO DICHIARATE ED ORA STANNO CERCANDO CASA ASSIEME WHAT IF I KILL MYSELF🥺🩷
May 24, 2024
GAH! I LOVED it so much! I am so happy for Nomoto and Kasuga. I also enjoyed getting to know more about the besties. Can’t wait for the next volume.
July 16, 2024
me and who 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
May 24, 2024
I really like the representation we’re getting in this series. It’s still rare I stumble across asexual rep and it’s still controversial for children to go no contact with their parents, no matter how toxic the parents are. This book not only shows those concepts, it shows the characters coming to those realizations and I appreciate seeing the journey.
Anyway, I still really like the relationship between these two. They’re really sweet and I love the sharing of food as a bonding mechanism in just about any book.
Anyway, I still really like the relationship between these two. They’re really sweet and I love the sharing of food as a bonding mechanism in just about any book.
March 16, 2025
Totally adore this friend group and the much needed acceptance and safety of being yourself they gift each other. The challenges of moving in together for the MCs was overshadowed by me saying - but wait you haven't even kissed yet! Lovely story that unfolds ever so gently.
January 2, 2025
Me da mucha pena no tener ningún tomo pendiente más ay 😭😭😭
(Also oficialmente mi yuri favoritísimo!!!!!)
(Also oficialmente mi yuri favoritísimo!!!!!)
March 2, 2025
Not to be that person but… OMG KISS ALREADY.
May 17, 2025
Adoro muy fuerte
February 7, 2025
Huge developments🥰 i love being able to read these volumes around the same time as the manga is happening
July 13, 2025
Je fonds tel le chocolat de leur fondue. C'est si bien. ☀️
October 20, 2024
Oh, how I adore each volume of this manga! I can't even put into words how much I love it!
December 7, 2023
I wasn't impressed with Yako or Nagumo from the last volume but I think I like them so much more in Vol4 🥹 I guess getting to know them better is the ticket.
I like that Yako doesn’t give up hope re: finding a partner even after a particularly bad breakup. She knew from a young age that she's a lesbian, but the asexual bit took longer to figure out and this created a lot of tension with her ex. Yako had to do tons of research to figure out she wasn't alone and there's a community of people like her.
Also like that Nagumo is trying hard. She wants so much to keep connections and form bonds with people but her anxieties and inability to eat in front of others give her a hard time. I guess I was too harsh on her last time, but I think part of the issue is the expectations people have from girls/women: she needs to grow her hair out, she needs to act like this and that, and eating in front of others is another part of it.
She doesn't hate food and is slowly repairing her relationship with the act of eating food... It has to do with the pressures of socialising. It can be especially alienating because of how much food serves as a way to interact with people.
Actually Kasuga says a very nice thing about food later, but I'll talk about that after the plot stuff:
We have Valentine's Day this time! And Kasuga tells Nomoto that she's thinking of moving. This is because her family has started sending letters and demanding that she pay for the expense of bringing her up (such as school fees etc). This prompted Kasuga to think that it's better to cut things off with her family entirely.
Nomoto is supportive at the start but then starts crying because she doesn't want Kasuga to leave and confesses her feelings. This is when Kasuga tells her that she (Kasuga) wants Nomoto to move in with her.
Wah they're dating and moving in together 🥹💕💕💕
But this opens up a whole lot of other things to worry about: moving means they need guarrantors and usually these are parents. Kasuga can't list her parents her her guarrantors for obvious reasons and Nomoto would have to explain to her mother that she'll be moving in with her girlfriend if she asks her mum to be a guarrantor so they're in something of a bind.
Aside from this, there's the issue of wanting to live as a family and that maybe means coming out to a stranger (the real estate agent). The everyday things that are easy for straight couples are more complicated....
At some point the two of them stop their apartment search and eat the azuki beans that Nomoto had been cooking. Nomoto was all 'Now I can think more clearly' and Kasuga says 'Food can't solve all problems, but it gives us the strength to think and look forward' 🥹
The rest is the 4 friends having a takoyaki party + Kasuga and Nomoto telling Nagumo and Yako that they're dating. I look forward to further developments 🥺🥺
I like that Yako doesn’t give up hope re: finding a partner even after a particularly bad breakup. She knew from a young age that she's a lesbian, but the asexual bit took longer to figure out and this created a lot of tension with her ex. Yako had to do tons of research to figure out she wasn't alone and there's a community of people like her.
Also like that Nagumo is trying hard. She wants so much to keep connections and form bonds with people but her anxieties and inability to eat in front of others give her a hard time. I guess I was too harsh on her last time, but I think part of the issue is the expectations people have from girls/women: she needs to grow her hair out, she needs to act like this and that, and eating in front of others is another part of it.
She doesn't hate food and is slowly repairing her relationship with the act of eating food... It has to do with the pressures of socialising. It can be especially alienating because of how much food serves as a way to interact with people.
Actually Kasuga says a very nice thing about food later, but I'll talk about that after the plot stuff:
We have Valentine's Day this time! And Kasuga tells Nomoto that she's thinking of moving. This is because her family has started sending letters and demanding that she pay for the expense of bringing her up (such as school fees etc). This prompted Kasuga to think that it's better to cut things off with her family entirely.
Nomoto is supportive at the start but then starts crying because she doesn't want Kasuga to leave and confesses her feelings. This is when Kasuga tells her that she (Kasuga) wants Nomoto to move in with her.
Wah they're dating and moving in together 🥹💕💕💕
But this opens up a whole lot of other things to worry about: moving means they need guarrantors and usually these are parents. Kasuga can't list her parents her her guarrantors for obvious reasons and Nomoto would have to explain to her mother that she'll be moving in with her girlfriend if she asks her mum to be a guarrantor so they're in something of a bind.
Aside from this, there's the issue of wanting to live as a family and that maybe means coming out to a stranger (the real estate agent). The everyday things that are easy for straight couples are more complicated....
At some point the two of them stop their apartment search and eat the azuki beans that Nomoto had been cooking. Nomoto was all 'Now I can think more clearly' and Kasuga says 'Food can't solve all problems, but it gives us the strength to think and look forward' 🥹
The rest is the 4 friends having a takoyaki party + Kasuga and Nomoto telling Nagumo and Yako that they're dating. I look forward to further developments 🥺🥺
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2024
I really enjoyed this volume. Kasuga and Nomoto move forward in their relationship, yay! They’re so awkward and I love them.
Lots of good meals here! I was especially interested to see that in Japan, or at least these characters, eat ritz crackers instead of graham crackers with their s'mores. More a savory mix than how we eat them. Also their Takoyaki party with Sena and Yako looked so much fun. Kind of like abelskiivers which I totally spelled wrong.
Anyway this continues to be a cute food manga with LGBTQIA representation of several kinds.
TW for character who has a hard time eating in front of other characters.
Lots of good meals here! I was especially interested to see that in Japan, or at least these characters, eat ritz crackers instead of graham crackers with their s'mores. More a savory mix than how we eat them. Also their Takoyaki party with Sena and Yako looked so much fun. Kind of like abelskiivers which I totally spelled wrong.
Anyway this continues to be a cute food manga with LGBTQIA representation of several kinds.
TW for character who has a hard time eating in front of other characters.
August 23, 2024
Yay! They’ve confessed and are moving in together! I’m so excited. The exploration of some of the challenges that queer people face, with family and societal acceptance along with basic essentials for living, like getting housing, was well done. The food depictions made me drool as usually and I’m loving how this group of 4 is developing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2024
Let’s go, lesbians!
A warm, safe space of a manga.
A warm, safe space of a manga.
July 13, 2025
I know I keep repeating this in all my reviews for the previous volumes but THIS GOTTA BE ONE OF THE BEST MANGAS OUT THERE!!
Thanks to the author who have put so much research for this manga to have some of the best queer representation ever.
A character with deipnophobia, one ace lesbian character, and the main sapphic couple — you have no idea how much all this representation means to me. Besides, the story is so good and wholesome while also representing the patriarchal stereotypes, queer struggles in the society, gender politics, and everything in between.
I don’t know if I will ever find a manga that makes me feel this way. I love this so much!!!
Thanks to the author who have put so much research for this manga to have some of the best queer representation ever.
A character with deipnophobia, one ace lesbian character, and the main sapphic couple — you have no idea how much all this representation means to me. Besides, the story is so good and wholesome while also representing the patriarchal stereotypes, queer struggles in the society, gender politics, and everything in between.
I don’t know if I will ever find a manga that makes me feel this way. I love this so much!!!
August 23, 2024
Waahhhh it’s so adorable! The ‘ok I’ve finally figured out I like her like that but what if she doesn’t like me like that’ is so relatable and sweet, and I love the giggly blushy kicky feet cuteness happening for each of them. More pleeeeeeease.
July 14, 2025
Cette série est décidément un beau petit bijou plein de douceur et de bienveillance !
J’ai beaucoup aimé ce tome dans lequel la romance fait un bon en avant 💞 mais qui n’oublie pas de rappeler les difficultés que peuvent rencontrer les couples queer au Japon.
J’ai beaucoup aimé ce tome dans lequel la romance fait un bon en avant 💞 mais qui n’oublie pas de rappeler les difficultés que peuvent rencontrer les couples queer au Japon.
May 24, 2024
So cute! I love seeing how their relationship develops as well as the backstories of the side characters.
May 31, 2024
Once or twice a year a new volume of this work comes out and I get a serotonin boost for about an hour, and then get sad knowing I’ve got another 6-12 month wait for the next instalment. An excellent volume as always. Without wanting to spoil anything, the plot took a turn I wasn’t expecting and I absolutely loved this. Can’t wait for volume 5.
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