In the previous volumes of Ani no Yome to Kurashiteimasu (兄の嫁と暮らしています。), we have met Shino, a 17-year old and her sister-in-law, Nozomi. After the death of her bother, Shino and Nozomi continue to live together as a family. However, as they grow closer, they also have begun to have decidedly unsisterly feelings for one another.
In Volume 5, Shino’s a ball of misery because she feels she cannot say or act upon her feelings. Nozomi is torturing herself, trying to act like their relationship is familial. She even goes so far as to try to just go out with a guy who has asked her out – as a friend. But in the end he confesses and Nozomi runs home, where she’s dragged into her mother’s drama.
This relationship, such as it is, is moving at a glacial pace, but in this case it suits the scenario. Anything faster would feel horribly artificial. And while we watch Shino and Nozomi dance around their feelings, they are in actual fact, opening up to one another.
Were this can or will go, I cannot guess. Well, I can, but I won’t. This story has carte blanche to pull me along for the ride.
Ratings:
Art – 8
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Yuri – 2
Service – 3
Overall – 8
I find myself treating this story rather more patiently than I might expect. I don’t know why, when it kind of feel like the end of the story is inevitable. Nonetheless, I’m just able to relax and let this story take me where it needs me to go.
I remember that you said that such a plot is quite archetypical for yuri, but I like how this story handles yuri at a time when most of the stories seem too obvious and establish a canonical couple in the first couple of volumes.
Thanks for the review, I will continue to happily follow your posts about this manga!
My reading of the series is that it’s about them growing closer as sisters. They’re working toward the intimacy of close family.
That’s certainly a valid reading. I don’t know yet where this will go. I’m interested to see where it takes us.
I like it, tho I’m not sure if it’ll ever ACTUALLY go yuri. Good series tho.
Do you know if this will be published in english?
I love the series and I want to have the mangas.
To me this is completely yuri. I love it!!!
No, I do not have any idea if this is being considered for license. You may wish to write Square Enix (which has now opened up an American arm for manga publishing) and ask them nicely to consider putting it out. I can’t guarantee that will work, but it never hurts to ask nicely. ^_^
licensing@us.square-enix.com