Last summer it was my genuine pleasure to read and review a series of short Pixiv webcomics by Kurukuruhime-sensei about couples living together and sharing their lives. Yurigurashi was a fun read, that served as a nice intro to several couples’ lives. Today it is my even greater pleasure to review the English-language edition of this book, fresh from Yen Press, Yuri Life.
Each story in this collection is a short slice-of-a-couple’s-life together. We learn enough about the women to get a sense of their personalities, their foibles and the nature of their relationship. There’s little complication in the chapters, and almost no conflict beyond communication misfires and personality clashes. But that doesn’t meant there isn’t room for whimsicality and weirdness. ^_^
There is no lesbian identity here, and I’m not entirely sure there’d be a place for it, as the scenes tend to focus on domestic moments…and it’s not like an established couple has to reaffirm their queerness to one another all that often outside bed. ^_^
Taylor Engel’s translation is comfortable and enhances the ease of reading, Likewise, letting by Alexis Eckerman helps ensure this volumes is the authentic manga reading experience fans are looking for. The color palette of this manga is very appealing and adult. Kurkuruhime-sensei’s art is likewise appealing, with that slight sketchiness I quite like. I consider Kurkuruhime to be an artist worth following. I’m looking forward to future work from them – and indeed, have something new on my to-read pile!
Ratings:
Art – 7
Story – N/A
Characters – 8 Are all presented as likable, even the grouchy OL
Service – 3 some nudity, but nothing salacious or sleazy
Yuri – 10
Overall – 8
As a series of entertaining slice-of-life webcomics that feature adult women living lives with the women they love, you can’t really beat Yuri Life. (Actually, as an enteritaining life, you can’t really beat living the Yuri life, but that’s a whole other story…. ^_^)
Thanks to Yen Press for the review copy! This was a book I’ve looked forward to for a year and it was everything I hoped it would be. ^_^
Despite the stories being so short, the relationship dynamics are well presented in each case through cute, little slice-of-life pieces. It’s just so easy to feel good reading this book, which is by the way exceptionally pretty with the color palette and all.
One thing I’d advise is to read it in two or three short sittings – I think doing it at one go may somehow lessen the impact as the stories can lose their individuality then.
Anyhow, something different with a bit of an indie vibe to it. A really well-deserved 8.