Tramps Like Us, Vol. 2

きみはペット [Kimi wa Pet] #2

by Yayoi Ogawa

Ogawa Yayoi offre avec cette série une vision humoristique des rapports amoureux dans la société japonaise, engoncés dans des carcans qu'elle tente de briser avec bon sens et un humour parfois grinçant.
Rien ne va plus pour Sumire ! Alors qu'elle découvre à quel point il est difficile d'arrêter de fumer quand on est une accroc notoire au petit bâton de nicotine, elle doit de surcroit materner deux "grands enfants" (son petit ami et son "animal de compagnie) au soir de Noël, stupide tradition qu'elle avait pourtant bien l'intention d'oublier ! Momo l'aide cependant à prendre conscience que la parole est parfois plus importante que le reste, et que c'est seulement quand on est privé de quelque chose que l'on se rend compte de sa valeur...

Genres: Manga, Romance, Josei, Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Contemporary

181 pages, Comic

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Associated names : 小川弥生

Name (in native language) : 小川彌生

Birth date : December 1

Zodiac : Sagittarius

Reviews

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series <3 Gah and the drawings are so great ^.^

This book wasn't assssssss good as the first volume but it's still the same premise the series is playing around with. I think real true feelings are really stating to happen between the two of them now and there's no going back.

I don't own the rest of the series so I'll have to run to Indigo :P

[Starbubbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is surprisingly good. It holds better than a lot of other manga I have read from this time period. How can you not love Sumire and Momo? This should be a creepy relationship, and somehow it remains endearing. I have to request this from out of state, so it will take a while to finish, but I believe it will be totally worth it.

[Sarah D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

si continua la storia di Sumire e del suo "animale domestico".
in questo volume non succede niente di sconvolgente, è piuttosto piatto, ma continuerò con piacere questa storia.

[Flan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh, I hate manga addictions. They stop me from getting any work done.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two volumes in and I have some relatively mixed feelings on You’re My Pet. I like the characters, especially Sumire. For all her maturity publicly, Sumire is still pretty naieve in matters of the heart, and I like the complexity of her character.

As for the romance? Right now I’m not a fan of either of the male love interests. She understandably doesn’t see Momo as a romantic option, but rather a mutually codependent friendship. Meanwhile Hasumi checks all of the boyfriend boxes, but it is increasingly clear that Sumire is not ready for a relationship emotionally.

I understand her desire to date someone that she doesn’t have to worry about intimidating like her ex-fiancé. Having someone that you’re on par with in terms of education, career, and finance is understandable. The exploration of these themes especially during the time period in which the manga was written makes it stand out. The manga was clearly ahead of it’s time given the current climate of dating worldwide.

The story starts planting the seeds of incompatibility between Sumire and Hasumi, partially because she keeps things like important memories or hobbies a secret because they don’t match her public image. She can’t, because she’s engaging in an emotional affair with Momo. Of course she doesn’t appear to realize this. Emotional cheating was only coined in the late 80s to early 90s, so at the time that this was written the concept was less understood.

So far though, I’m not impressed with Sumire and Momo’s relationship. Out of jealousy he gives her the silent treatment for weeks to make her appreciate him more as a person rather than a pet which is toxic and incredibly manipulative. I won’t dismiss the series yet and will see where it goes.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better.

I enjoyed this volume much better than the first volume. I think the flow was a lot better and I really enjoyed some insights about the main character and Momo. This didn’t have as much misogynistic comments as the first two but it still had enough that if you can’t ignore it then you’ll most likely still hate this. Either way I am continuing the series so wish me luck.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep, yep, yep just as funny and adorable as ever.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

While still good, Momo is kinda a brat in this one and I wish Sumire would just tell her boyfriend at least about him. I get she has conflicting feelings, but she left their romantic weekend to check on Momo.... Ummm not right at all... Overall though, it's still pretty enjoyable.

[Darcy Strode · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised by how much I've been liking this series. I was a bit put off by the plot summary, it seems like something that could go weird/creepy really easily, but somehow the mangaka manages to make it sweet and endearing. I'm amazed. I'm glad I decided to pick it up and give it a try. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Miss Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

*__________*

i just want to declare that i have and always have had excellent taste

(no that's a lie, i still read house of night)

but i read tramps like us very early on my headlong dive into the joy of manga and thought it was amazing

flashforward five years and what do you know! STILL AMAZING

all i want to do is read stories about working women in workplaces that feel real and the difficulty of finding someone who will let you be yourself while also supporting you

because it is hard and like. sumire is basically my role model! i want to be good at work and able to take care of myself and survive on my own but i also want to have someone who will be there for me to help without trying to make me smaller than i am

basically i adore sumire and momo and i will throw a party as soon as i can find a place that will sell me the rest of this series

internet you're all invited. i will make apple cookies and tea and we can collectively squee over the glory of sumire and momo

5 stars

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Definitely leaning towards 4.5 stars, but has bits that make me want to throw the book like, "these days even perverts have to be careful" after the crime punches a guy for touching her. *fumes*

[Phantomº · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is slowly getting me out of my reading slump I think. It's wonderful, funny also heavy themed sometimes, this story of the pet dancer and successful office lady. They are much much more than their appearances.

[Vee]

Series continues solid..

[Vanessa Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for the series as a whole with 4 out of 5 stars
You can also read my review here: https://blushinggeek.com/2022/01/mang...

WARNING: This review contains some spoilers so read at your own risk.

I first heard of this story when I stumbled upon a jdrama which was based on this manga a few years ago. I really find the idea of a person being someone else’s pet amusing. I know what you’re thinking, wahahaha. This one isn’t kinky at all, it was actually pretty wholesome.

Kimi wa pet is a story of Sumire who stumbled upon a box containing a young Takeshi. She fed him and found out that he had nowhere to go. Takeshi wants to stay, but he can only stay if he becomes her pet. Thinking that saying such preposterous things would discourage Takeshi, Sumire was surprised he agreed. Both of their lives after that encounter changed forever. Was it for good or bad?

This story started with introducing Sumire who I would say is a perfect example of a “strong independent woman”. That would have been a great thing right? Unfortunately because of it, her boyfriend of 5 years cheated on her and made her feel that it was all because of her that it had happened. She is also not that well liked in their office because she looks really stiff and strict. But her life took a turn after taking in Takeshi whom she’d named Momo, which was her dead pet’s name.

Kimi wa pet is quite a lengthy read for a josei so it includes a lot of scenes not only focusing about the relationship between the main characters but also about some of the side characters as well. And speaking of characters, this story has a lot of them so I find it hard to keep track of them sometimes. Just like most manga that I’ve read, Kimi wa pet has a lot of very funny scenes that left me laughing my heart out. Maannn! I still can’t stop myself from laughing just thinking about those scenes, lol.

Aside from the happy ones, Kimi wa pet had a lot of scenes that I really hated. Unfortunately this story contains one of the things I hate in romance, which is the third party. I just keep on hating the other girl that I also ended up hating the other love interest of Sumire as well. He was actually a pretty ideal guy and I love how he reacts to Sumire. You can really see how he adores her, plus they really look good together. He can be pretty funny too lol, just too bad he wasn’t able to keep that image for me until the end. Although I kind of pity him a little in the end.

As for the main character Sumire, I really liked my first impression of her. She’s a really tough chick and she doesn’t accept b*llsh*t. She can be really harsh at times but I guess that’s just how she is. Little by little, I’ve got to really see the real her and why she’s like that. She looks really tough but she can be fragile too. I really like her character, but I just hated how she can’t always voice out her real feelings and how she always delays informing her boyfriend about her pet, that in the end, I don’t think he ever found out. I also liked Momo’s influence on her, ever since they were living together as master and pet, Sumire was finally able to create connections with other people and express herself. I just find it really interesting getting to know her character in each chapter.

Momo on the other hand is very fun to read. I usually don’t like childish characters, but his childishness is not in an annoying way. He is also very outgoing so it’s hard to imagine those hardships he experienced in the past and in the present too. When he’s with Sumire, he’s very childish and playful which makes him look like a real pet dog, lol. He ran away from home. That’s why he doesn’t have a place of his own, so despite his age you could say that he knows a lot about life. I guess he also has this promiscuous side to him, but I think it was only seen around 2 times while I was reading this story. He’s years younger than Sumire but he taught her a lot of things. I also LOVE how he loves Sumire so much, I just can’t imagine how he’s been feeling all those times while Sumire is still in a relationship with her boyfriend, who is also her first love.

As for the romance, I guess it’s already pretty obvious who’s going to be the main couple right? There were a lot of annoying characters who really irritated me but I guess that just helps Sumire realize whom she really wants to be with. The hint is actually there in its early chapters, but I like how the mangaka transitioned her feelings until she finally realized that she’s in love. Their official relationship started in a long distance romance, but I love how the two of them made it work. I particularly like their virtual date, it was really cute. I also love the fact that the two of them didn’t sacrifice anything in their life just to make their relationship work, even though it could mean that they’ll be in a long distance relationship.

I also love the fact that this manga didn’t just end after the two of them were finally in a relationship but we’ve got to read more! It didn’t just focus on the relationship between the two but also the friendship between Sumire and her best friend. Actually, this manga didn’t just show me romance, but it also gave me life lessons and realizations that we could apply in our daily life. We’ve also got to read about friendships between the characters and work life (especially about relationships between coworkers). Isn’t that nice?

Kimi wa pet is highly recommended for every romance lover. I am certain that this will really entertain you, *wink.

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[brightredglow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 2 of Kimi Wa Petto (aka Tramps like Us in the US) opens with Momo narrating. It is Christmas Eve and Sumire is not in the mood. Her reasons for not being into Christmas are valid for her. She's got a new boyfriend in an old flame by the name of Hasumi. He works at the paper but in another department.

This volume can grate a bit on the "Pet" aspect but at the same time, the plot point is actually there to make points and that becomes clear towards the end of the volume when Sumire faces her former fiance, the guy who cheated on her, got the other girl pregnant and is now married to her because it was easier to be with that girl. It is an interesting way to close out that opening plot thread.

The other change is that Momo's actual occupation, dancing, gets more screen time. In fact, we even get his first name of Takeshi and I like the touch that Sumire realizes that he's different outside of the condo. That aspect is much needed because he needs to be more than a pet.

It needs more Yuri, the best friend, because the friendship between Sumire and Yuri is one of the things that I love best about this series. Hasumi is pretty much kept bland for this volume although his role does expand as the series progresses.

This is a re-read and I realized that the last time I read it, there was a lot that I missed (or had forgotten) and those details (like the encounter with Yoshida, the former fiance) illuminates Sumire's emotional scar build-up. So this was almost like reading it anew and it makes me excited for the next volume.

[Heidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s just start by saying that I like the 2nd book better than the first. I have so many feelings reading this manga, mainly because I really like Sumire. I remember how the series began with her misunderstood by everyone, cheated by her boyfriend, feeling like there was no man for her, that measured to her height and career success. But in this manga, all of that is in the past, or is it? There is man that checks all the boxes and then some…but guess what? …. When she is out on a date with him, (very handsome by the way) she really cannot enjoy the date or correspond to him because she is thinking about her Pet. No, is not a cat or a dog, but an actual human being. A 19- to 21-year-old young man. Ahhhhh… I feel enraged when I see her sabotaging a potential serious relationship with a man that is her match… I really want to enter the book and have pep talk with her. Now don’t get me wrong, I do understand the reason why her ‘pet’ pulls so hard on her heart strings and no matter how many boxes this handsome man checks, her heart runs towards her pet. Because at the end of the day, this young man fulfills an emotionally side of her while the handsome man fulfills the earthly list, we are told we need. That is huge conflict and when you read this manga, you will feel conflicted too. 5 🌟s.

[Efsane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gittikçe daha hoşuma gitmeye başlıyor. Momo’yu evimde beslemek istiyorum ama Sumire-chan gibi sadece pet olarak değil... ;) Sumire umarım yavaş yavaş Momo yanındayken sadece gerçekten “kendisi” gibi davranabildiğini fark eder. Sadece onun yanındayken rahatlıyorken nasıl onun için doğru kişi Momo olmasın ki?

Alıntılar.
“Bana ‘git’ diyene kadar burada kalacağım tamam mı? Yaşlı bir nineye dönsen bile.”

“İnsanlar yalnız oldukları için birbirlerine yardım ediyorlar.”

*Sumire ve Momo el ele tutuşurlar*
“Bu çok garip. Kısa boylu olmana rağmen büyük ellerin var Momo.”
“Bunun neresi garip?”
“Bilmiyorum garip işte”

[Almelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I just finished volume 2, and it's a lot more enjoyable to me than the first volume.

I just love Sumire in this volume. I found myself tearing up at her monologues about loneliness. It just hits so hard. Especially when you grow up with the aftermath of the trauma of not being able to rely on other people. Thankfully, Momo is there as a companion. Though I still think that their relationship is weird, gradually, it's becoming more natural and touching to me.

Two lonely people finding and comforting each other.

[Summer Song · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love this series! I wasn't sure what to expect as I began reading but I was soon very pleasantly surprised with the depth of the characters, sweetness of the story, and the originality of this manga. Yes, the premise of the story is unusual and seems a bit weird at first but it's actually very sweet and full of heart. Read this manga series! 5 stars

Do be aware that this series is Josei and is kind of open door. It contains some language and generalizations that are wrong. But. . . overall this is a very sweet, emotionally deep, and cute story that I really enjoyed.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sumire and Momo start to get used to each other, and Sumire begins to realise that she relies on Momo more than she thought she did.

I really enjoyed this volume, particularly when Momo proves his value by not talking t Sumire,and when Sumire contemplates how challenging it can be to be a strong self-sufficient woman when society says she should act weak.

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sumire hiding her feelings, always trying to be “strong” makes me hurt for her. She should be able to cry…especially to that boyfriend of 6 months!!! But she’s comfortable venting to Momo and showing her sweet side to him. Can’t she see that? Not yet of course… we need to drag out 10 more volumes lol

[bug · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok the premise of a woman taking in a young man as her pet does sound super weird, but somehow this book really makes it adorable and not as creepy as it sounds. this volume was cute and i really enjoyed seeing how much sumire is strong but still needs someone even though she doesn’t want to admit it to herself.

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @64 pages

I knew this series wasn't for me, but I had hope. I didn't love volume 1, but I was hoping since rereading volume 1 I could continue and finally finish this series. I just really am not vibing with the story at all. It puts a weird taste in my mouth and I feel constantly annoyed by each new subplot. I think I am breaking up with this series.

[bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought Momo and Sumire's relationship gonna get weird and creepy but no it's cute and endearing somehow hahaha. I quite enjoy reading this. And if I may add, Takeshi is such a cute, pure, innocent, and endearing name too... i like it! He's kinda reminded me of someone tho (an artist to be more precise), but i can't remember who his name is hhhh (I lack of brain-cells, pardon me).

[CJ - It's only a Paper Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, you can tell this is an older manga (with its older attitudes toward women, men, LGBTQ+, and the concept of what is acceptable and not in terms of male/female relationships) but it's still a really good manga.

[C Fine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the concept of love is blind

Being love by someone is better than no one..that is what this book is seems to be saying. My first Japanese, seen the movie and was so addicted to this idea I watch all 3 edition of this book.

[Elliot Alonzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving this story line

This book is definitely from females or males that need to be gentle with themselves. Take in multiple perspectives and better understand different point a voews .

[Ami 乁⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠o⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠ㄏ (written by Jane Austen) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strangely addictive story. Even with the borderline creepy content, I still love the main characters, Takeshi and Sumire, especially how they're both helping each other grow. And even the love triangle is way more relaxed than normal mangas.

Anyways, gonna start on volume 3 right away!

[Keara Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

im starting to like this series a lot more. the fmc feels like an actual main character compared to other romance manga i’ve read where i feel like the male love interest is more the focus/more complex. i’m hoping that there’s more romance soon tho i’m impatient

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean they are very good and nice to one another. This is a pet/owner dub/sub relationship while she just lives her life wanting to have sex with her boyfriend and really I love this for her. He brings her joy just like the cat/dog everyone thinks she has would.