Manga Review: Komomo Confiserie, Volume 4, by Maki Minami

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 7, 2016

Volumes: 5.

Spoilers?: Light.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

As a little girl, Komomo Ninomiya delighted in picking on Natsu Azumi, the son of her family's pastry chef. Ten years later, when the family fortune is lost and she has no place to live, Komomo encounters Natsu again in her hour of need. Now that Natsu is a master pastry chef in his own right, he'll help Komomo-but only if she works for him at his new confiserie!

Komomo attends her first festival by working in the Méli-Mélo food truck. But Natsu keeps snubbing her in front of Noel Étoile, an entitled rich girl who became attached to him while he was in France. Komomo realizes that Natsu must be in love with Noel, but why is Komomo so upset by it?

Review:

We officially meet Noelle in this volume. She’s in love with Natsu, and will crush anyone who gets in her way, which means she’s after Komomo. Natsu does what he can to prevent this, but his ignoring Komomo only frustrates her.

Komomo stands tall through most of this, a little bullying doesn’t really bother her. It’s when Noelle goes too far, hurting Natsu’s business, that we see Komomo at her best. She’s snaps, and she’s pissed, and she goes after the person responsible. I love this side of Komomo, when she’s tough and mean and in charge. She can handle bullying, because she knows how that works and she knows how to fight back. She also knows how to be the better person, not to stay spiteful and petty.

Komomo is strong and smart, and I love seeing this.

We also get a revelation about Komomo’s feelings for Natsu, pushed by an old friend of Natsu’s who just wants the best for him. It should be fun to see how this series wraps up. I can’t wait.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!