You Can't Live All on Your Own!, Volume 1

You Can't Live All on Your Own! (ひとりで生きるはままならぬ) #1

by Mizoko Tsuno

What is considered "normal" for a 30 year old? Should she be married, have a carreer, live independently...?

A cute and quirky slice-of-life manga about four women who are roommates.

Shuuko, Eika, Misaki, and Shio are roommates and friends making their way in the busy world of Tokyo, Japan!

Though they share an apartment and a friendship, each faces her own unique problems. Shuuko is feeling the pressure of those around her getting married and has no idea whether she'll truly be happy on her own for the rest of her life. Eika, a hardworking career woman, wants to prove herself to the judgmental men in her office. Romantic and idealistic Misaki is spurred into action when it turns out her "boyfriend" of two years didn't know she thought they were dating. Nurturing and good-spirited Shio struggles to set a work–life balance while paying her many bills.

Join these four roommates as they navigate the biggest question of their late twenties: What does happiness really mean?

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Slice Of Life, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2021

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

so so so cute oh my gosh. I had heard some people earlier this year talking about the translation coming out, and I knew I had to get my hands on it! The art is so cute, and all of the different women have such unique personalities!! This is really such a treat, and everyone should check it out when it gets released later this year!

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

FIRST IMPRESSION VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/p9fBezKiIxI

"Even when I'm frustrated…I can come home to you all and some warm food. That and your guys' compliments are what keep me going."

My expectations for this manga missed the mark a little bit in the sense that I saw someone hype this up as a non-romantic josei manga, and feel that is not fully true?

The manga reminds me a lot of Play It Cool, Guys but without the humor element as this first volume was very soft and relaxing to read. I deeply enjoyed how the story centered around four different women who have different goals and passions as I think it really brought the manga to life in a way where I felt attached to ALL the women and what they were going through.

I think I was just a little disappointed that one of the ladies who was the main focus unexpectedly started looking for romance? I honestly was hoping more for the ladies to be together and it center more on their time at home, which it DOES still do, but not quite the way I thought it would?

However, I still enjoyed what I read and very much loved the art! It's an easygoing slice-of-life where you can feel a little bit of relatability with each woman and deeply appreciate that. I was caught off guard in feeling that way because again, each woman is so different and has a different lifestyle that I expected myself to only relate to maybe one or two of the women, not all of them! So that was really nice!

I am interested in getting volume two because I feel this is a series you can read at the end of the day to unwind! I also want to see what unfolds in each person's life because everyone has a goal and working towards it, leaving me wanting to see how they reach that said goal!

Cheers to all these women's success!!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four women coming to the end of their twenties live together in Tokyo and try to navigate life while figuring out what they want from it. Not a bad premise, as it turns out.

Our lead is probably Shuuko, whose friends are all getting married around her and who feels self-inflicted pressure that she should follow suit. This dives into the art/nightmare of dating in the modern day and the way her narrative arc plays out this volume is solid.

Second best is probably Misaki, an aspiring musician who has a boyfriend until she suddenly doesn’t (but not in the way you’re thinking) and is forced to grapple with her own dreams and what she can do to achieve them.

Eika is the dedicated career woman who is hellbent on climbing the corporate ladder, even if it means working herself to death in the process. She is the prototypical salary person and I’m interested to see if that’s about to get knocked out from under her going forward.

And the house mom, Shio, has excellent work-life balance, but an unfortunate spending habit that is just barely kept under control. Her budgeting failures are something new for this sort of thing and I was pleased to see something unique in her character.

They’re all interesting enough and they hang out and support one another like a much younger version of The Golden Girls (kids, ask your parents).

It’s rather terribly charming, as they both share the joys and soothe the failures. You can tell the four of them all get along and know one another well enough that they’re both great friends AND roomies. They cheer for each other, even if that might eventually lead to the end of their living arrangement.

It’s slice of life, sure, but not being mired in the high school scenarios of most of these series makes it a relatively nice breath of fresh air. It also has an art style very similar to How Do We Relationship?, which I personally love, so bonus points there.

This is a believable scenario with a nice cross-section of working women who want different things, yet are friends. It’s not high drama, but there’s enough plot and enough character work to make it enjoyable. And the romance that does crop up is executed well to boot.

4 stars - lower if you aren’t big on slice of life, but this has a really unusual setting and makes the most of it. Very worthwhile new series.

[Larakaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's nice that they got each others back, but the story focuses a bit too much on the love stories for my personal taste.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a cute manga! I really like how it focuses on each individual woman's story. I think it's a great breath of fresh air from some of the more high school related stories I typically tend to read. It's mature but also really relatable, as someone entering the last half of her twenties. I feel far removed from it because 1. I live at home still and 2. I'm in grad school surrounded by younger students (granted only by a couple of years- but still) and also 3. I just don't have any friends who are the same age as me (or friends at all, really...) Reading this makes me want to make a ton of female friends and then live in the same house as them. That really is the dream for me! I hope that in the future not every single of the characters stories revolve around love. I couldn't find any other volumes available in English other than the first, so I'm afraid for now this is the end for this story.

I totally empathize with (sorry I'm awful at character names) the woman who didn't know that she wasn't actually in a relationship with her boyfriend of two years. That's just awful, and then of course he's treating her coldly after she realizes. She's so insistent on making him her husband that she doesn't see how he's treating her. I hope that she find someone better in the future. I also really like the main woman's story and her hope of finding love. I really like her love interest so far. He's more reserved than her but he does genuinely seem to like her. I wish we had more of the woman who stays at home and her story.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

todas son bastante relatables tbh

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comforting and relatable - would love to read more of this series (less so for the plot but more to see the different ways the girls navigate their lives).

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet! Fingers crossed they learn about polyamory and lesbianism in volume 2 🫡

[Snail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on the title of this book and the brief summary I thought I skimmed, I went in thinking this would be a story about women enjoying living on their own… and when it wasn’t, I at least hoped for lesbians or something queer based on some of the character’s interactions, but so far it’s just about women feeling like they need to date men before they get “too old” , and that they have to stick with shitty boyfriends who can’t communicate….

Now that my misguided hopes have been smashed and I know what to expect, I might be able to enjoy future volumes better, but…. At least right now, I feel pretty deflated having read this one… and I don’t think the future volumes will align with my interests, unless something changes.

[Paige (pagebypaigebooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 Stars

This was such a cute slice of life read! Each of the characters had such different personalities and life goals. They were all relatable in their own ways, and I was constantly rooting for them all! I also thought the art style was very cute and fit the vibe of the story well. I'm excited to continue the series!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute! I loved the concept of four women living together under one roof and navigating life. What do you do when everyone around you is getting married and you've never even been on a date? What do you do when your boyfriend says you two aren't together? How do you balance your professional and personal lives?

The art is so cute too! I want Volume 2 now, please!

[Othy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice slice-of-life story. It's nothing special, but the characters are good and the concept is compelling.

[Giorgia Pascali · Rating 3 out of 5]

buon volume di presentazione di tutti i personaggi, sono curiosa riguardo come si svilupperanno tutte. shio-san sta vivendo letteralmente il mio sogno

[Vanessa]

siiiiigh another story about women that's mainly just about boring romances siiiiiiiiiiigh

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's cute, and with the variety of characters, you're sure to relate to at least one of them. I don't think I'll become obsessed, but I'd read more.

[karissa✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

really cute!

[Astrophel R · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5
Thank you to Edelweiss for a digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

This is such a fun story and the art is so cute!! I love seeing more manga with protagonists in their late 20s, dealing with all sorts of late 20s things. I really loved how different the 4 main friends are and how their priorities in life differ so drastically, but they’re all still there for each other. I think I could read one million billion volumes of this and never get tired of it.

[Emily✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this concept, of four nearly-30 friends living together and navigating their lives in different ways. Each character is distinct, with her own personality, goals, and passions. However, the plot is a little too light for my taste. I would recommend for fans of Hirayasumi.

My thanks to the publisher for providing this eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!

[AP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice middle of the road manga but not my jam in the end.

[Lucsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially passed on "You Can't Live All on Your Own!" because the other manga I had tried, where we followed a group of women, was deeply underwhelming. I'm glad I gave it a second chance because this was one of the most enjoyable manga I have ever read.

Considering Japan's current political landscape and its natality issues, I feared a certain level of marriage and reproductive propaganda, but this reminded me more of "Golden Girls", following a group of four Japanese women in their late 20s/ early 30s as they juggle their jobs with their personal lives.

I loved how complex the story and character were. All these women are full of personality and have their own arcs and lives.

Eika is the overworked, ambitious career woman, dealing with the glass ceiling, bad management and sexist colleagues. Misaki is the romantic, dealing with an uncommitted man and hoping that acting like the perfect partner will convince him to act like a proper man and make them official (Misaki baby, move on!). Shio is a very direct but sweet shopping addict, struggling with balancing her bills with her freelancing from home. I could identify with all of these women, but my absolute favourite was Shuuko, someone who realises that, unlike her friends, she is not passionate about anything. While she is stagnant, everyone else in her life is dating and settling down, moving on to a new stage of their lives. That makes her want to try something different to see if she is missing out on something.

While these characters have busy and different lives, when they do meet at home, the space is full of warmth, support and companionship. I couldn't understand what it was that the characters who were dating or wanting to, were doing that for. The men in their lives and the ones they met couldn't do a third of what their friends did for them in the little time they had together. It reminded me of those female communities in China, where a group of friends buy a house together and live and age together.

This would be amazing if it were ever adapted.

I loved the art and this story so much that I hope I can read the sequels. This book left me hungry for more manga focused on women and their experiences.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Tokyopop for this DRC.

[Bexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of women all of similar age and nearing their 30s are realizing that maybe their life's direction isn't exactly where they want it to be. One woman has been with a man for two years, only to find out that he doesn't think they've been in a relationship at all leaving her angry and confused. Another woman is realizing that all the friends and family around her are in relationships and getting married so she thinks she needs to also. She joins a dating app, but realizes quickly that it is really hard to get to know someone through text messages. One of the women is focused on her career, she has no interest in relationships. She is constantly over working herself and dealing with condescending male coworkers. The final woman is the mother of the group, always cooking food for the women and making sure they are taking care of themselves. She hopes for a loving marriage, but is also just enjoying her job as a freelancer.

Lots of contemporary feelings of not accomplishing everything in life by 25 and discussions of whether or not a relationship is worth it. A lot of comparing yourself to others leads to sadness and disappointment. And a lot of how important communication is in all aspects. A fun read and looking forward to reading the rest.

[T.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this might be similar to the excellent 'Since I Could Die Tomorrow' (also previously released by Tokyopop). It is and it isn't. But if you liked SICDT, I think you'll like this too. Tokyopop is finding some unique slice-of-life josei series. And while the problems of the four twentysomethings in this book aren't as existential as the 40-year-old lead character in SICDT, by the end of volume 1 I found myself wanting to know what happens next. For example, when the girl in the band (the only artsy one in this group of yuppies) finds out her boyfriend of 2 years doesn't actually consider himself her boyfriend, she pledges to do whatever it takes to capture his heart. I feel like someone with more life experience would cut him loose because... who has the time for that nonsense? I think the workaholic is my favorite character at the moment. Her cynicism gives her a unique contrast to her more naive roommates. The shopaholic makes me nervous as she avoids her impending credit card debt. There's nothing remarkable about their problems, but they're relatable.

[Zephorah Dove · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute! It’s rare for me to read a story where I’m the same age as the characters, so a lot of the happenings felt really relatable. (Why do people put such an emphasis on marriage before 30?! It’s not like we’re going to shrivel up).

This story honestly made me wonder what it’d be like to live with some of my closest friends. Probably not as easygoing as those 4 seem but the idea of having a rough day and going home to be validated by my friends sounds epic.

Since the story focuses four individuals, I was worried that they wouldn’t all get a chance to shine but I think there was a nice balance in volume 1. I’m for sure going to grab a copy this July and continue this series going forward.

Thanks so much to TokyoPop for the DRC!

[Breanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to the publisher for the DRC!
So, when can I move in with these ladies? What a cute story so far. I was worried that having four main characters to focus on and meet in this volume would be too much or that they would start to blur together, but they all have such distinct personalities and motivations that it didn't feel that way at all. It's also so refreshing to have a story that's centered around women who are adults approaching their thirties and still figuring things out. The home and support that they've created for each other is really heart-warming and making me wish that I could share a home with my friends, haha! Looking forward to the next volumes to see where things go and how they continue to uplift and support one another!

[Logan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I reached the latter half of my 20's this year and, unsurprisingly, I can relate to these characters. The cast is a bit too large and everyone's development suffers greatly. It'll get better as the story expands, but it's pretty tough to care about most of the people in this series...

One of the ladies was 'with' a guy for two years and, in all that time, they somehow never went over what they were to each other or had it come up in conversation with friends/family. These two spend almost all of their time together... they regularly have sex, kiss, hang out, and so on. She's been cooking the guy's favorite meals for all that time too... How did she let two anniversaries slip by without addressing this situation? It's too unrealistic!!

[Rhiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss for the E-copy! This E-copy was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.

Healthy female friendships for the win! These women had genuine, loving relationships with one another with no animosity or jealousy which is sometimes rare to see in manga. It was refreshing! I loved how real their lives and anxieties around marriage, work and the future were portrayed. Each one of them had their own personality, traits, and hobbies. They all had their own goals and wants in life, and they even questioned a few times if that's what they truly wanted and it shows that people are not linear beings. Though marriage and love were a big topic for the book, the main focus was the female friendships and that was what kept me reading and really drawled me in.
I loved this!

[Niche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of the josei series, Will I Be Single Forever. It's about women approaching their 30s and mostly single. This one had more of a comedic tone, which I liked. You have four female roommates: the "mom" of the group, the career woman, the lovey-dovey one with a boyfriend, and the late starter thinking about dating because.

It's thankfully pretty light on the romance, I'd categorize more in line with shojo than josei, even down to the art style. I enjoyed it for the friendship and light tone, but I really hope the title involves the support and friendship the women have rather than the "'I'm happy single', author goes 'nope'" trope where women are considered not worth a story if they don't have romance in it.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute and realistic Manga graphic novel that takes place in Tokyo with four roommates, all single, and navigating work life balance, romance, and friendships. Another reviewer said it reminded her of the golden girls but a younger generation and she’s so right! I loved the friendships and getting to know a little bit about each of their personalities and challenges as they are figuring out what they want at this stage in life in their late 20s.
It looks like this is going to be a series with a couple more versions coming later in the year. I’m looking forward to seeing where each of their stories go.

[Katharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very cute manga, but it doesn't really compel me to read more. This story felt weirdly similar to Tokyo Tareba Girls, but not as funny or emotionally impactful. This story follows 4 roommates who are struggling with their romantic lives and worrying about turning 30. This manga tries to follow each girl's plot line, but it doesn't do it that well. Also, none of their plotlines are particularly compelling. This is nice if you want something low stakes and doesn't make you think. The art style is so pretty, though, it's the best thing about this manga!

[Emma (littledollreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute little manga. I thought this story did such a good job of introducing us to each of the ladies and establishing them within the world and the dynamics they are struggling with as they move through life. They each have their own things to deal with but they have each other as a strong support network so I'm excited to see where this story goes and how they each choose to deal with their problems or what they perceive to be problems.