My Mother Has Been Possessed

So good!  Such a good story line.

I like the story line

Guys, this is such a fantastic shoujo ai girls' love story featuring two idols, and it's genuinely delightful to discover that it's from the author of "Onegai Teacher." The storyline between the two girls is truly captivating, leaving you eager for more. However, I must point out that there were some gaps, like the side characters in the narrative — the hot-tempered manager and her flirtatious former classmate, as well as another couple who seemed to appear out of nowhere. It felt like they were just thrown in without proper context, which is unfortunate because I was really curious about their own GL dynamics!

I'm not saying I didn't adore our main couple, Julia and Ran, but I also wanted everyone else to fall in love at the same pace xD.

By the way, if it weren't for Will Heath from the Books and Bao website, I might never have considered reading this old-school manga! Give it a try, folks; it's incredibly wholesome and funny GL content 🥰😃

Story  
The story is entirely yuri-focused, featuring only a few male characters with minimal roles, and almost all the girls are interested in other girls. However, the theme is approached in a gentle and natural manner. That said, this is primarily a comedy, and an excellent one at that—I found myself laughing consistently while reading it. The narrative centers on specific characters and their emotions, without delving too deeply into heavier themes. It's a light-hearted tale and a highly amusing comedy about people and their relationships.  

Art  
The art is clean and visually appealing—it's truly stunning. In fact, it ranks among my personal favorites.  

Characters  
Each character is memorable. Their personalities are straightforward and easy to grasp, encompassing a wide variety of types. They interact seamlessly, contributing significantly to the humor and charm of the story.  

Enjoyment  
This series is one of my absolute favorites. I've read the available chapters numerous times, and I still laugh through every single one. I eagerly anticipate more installments. It's uncommon to come across a good yuri manga that avoids fanservice, panty shots, and tired clichés.  

Overall  
If you're searching for a quality yuri story or simply a delightful comedy, I highly recommend this manga. I can't identify any flaws. You'll undoubtedly remember both the story and its characters for a long time.

Daydreaming, feeling happy, acting foolish just because "that" person is around. Doesn't being in love feel the same, regardless of gender? Just as tragic yuri stories started to irritate me, I came across this one.

Being girls doesn't seem to hinder anyone except for Julia's manager, who has a habit of smacking Julia on the head whenever she does something silly. There are some mushy moments here and there, but mostly it's purely comedic—a manga about that awkward, cute love story between "an incompetent and an airhead," as they're called multiple times.

The art was pleasant, though a bit old-fashioned, with big eyes and shiny hair. As models, everyone dresses very stylishly. I appreciated how easily recognizable the girls were: in such a large cast for its length, I never accidentally confused two characters.

When it comes to comedies, characters are certainly the most important element. The characters in Strawberry Shake Sweet are funny, goofy, and adorable. No matter how many times Julia gets a nosebleed fantasizing about Ran, or the beauty salon owner stirs up trouble for her amusement, or Zlay's antics begin anew, I found it just as hilarious as at first.

Julia is the hardworking, lovesick baka protagonist who fell (hard) for her kouhai Ran. Ran is honest, goofy, and dense, completely unaware of being the subject of Julia's thoughts.

What I liked is that the roles the two of them had weren't those of the stereotypical "male/female" characters as seen in much of the yuri (and yaoi, for that matter) I've watched/read. There isn't the line of seme/uke; these girls are simply teenagers in love. A little confused and inexperienced, sure, a little foolish, and most of the time outright hilarious, their misunderstandings made me laugh out loud at several points.

Isn't love, at first, always like that? Awkward, cute, and kind of complicated. Before we make it even more complicated.

:)

Strawberry Shake Sweet stands as a remarkable testament to the potential of romance comedy. It showcases what might be the best and funniest character I've encountered in manga so far. The real pity is that this excellent series remains largely unknown. The theme of Strawberry Shake Sweet revolves around yuri, with the entire cast comprising lesbian characters—there isn't a single male character that I can recall. If these themes offend you, then this may not be the book for you. However, even if yuri isn't usually your genre, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by missing out on this one if you have any interest in romance-comedy.

The narrative centers around Julia, a young idol who has achieved moderate success in her career. She's tasked with mentoring Ran, an emerging idol star. It doesn't take long for Julia to find herself secretly in love with Ran, and this forms the crux of the comedy that ensues. The book is hilariously funny, with moments that had me wiping tears of laughter from my eyes. While it includes a significant amount of adult-themed humor and sexual comedy, it never crosses into vulgarity, making it potentially suitable for younger audiences as well. There are numerous "inside jokes" related to lesbian culture; some you might understand, while others might leave you puzzled. As someone who isn't a lesbian, I probably missed certain nuances or didn't find them as amusing as intended. Nevertheless, this story can be enjoyed by both straight and gay readers alike.

That said, the story isn't flawless and does have its flaws. The most notable issue lies in the ending. It's not one of those dreadful romance conclusions; plot-wise, it's quite good, but the series feels like it ends rather abruptly. It's almost as if the mangaka decided to wrap it up in a single chapter. Consequently, the final chapter is packed with too much content and lacks the humor present in the other chapters. However, the special chapter at the end somewhat compensates for this. I was genuinely disappointed when this series concluded.

When it comes to characters, "wow" is the first word that comes to mind. Julia is extraordinary. While her personality echoes traits seen in anime and manga, the way these elements are delivered and combined is uniquely distinctive. She's perverted, a stalker, and undeniably stupid. Her antics and delusions drive the comedy in Strawberry Shake Sweet. Yet, it's her sincere nature, insecurities, and unwavering determination that make her such a lovable and compelling character. Ran, for much of the early part of the series, seems relatively unknown. Since we primarily view the story through Julia's perspective, Ran initially appears plain and unremarkable. Thankfully, she evolves, developing her own personality and delusions. She matches Julia's level of idiocy and cluelessness, making their interactions incredibly entertaining.

Among the supporting cast, only one character truly stands out: Julia's manager, Saeki. She's the sole rational character in the book and the one with any semblance of intelligence. At times, she functions as a narrator, providing a pillar of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic world. Saeki frequently interferes with Julia and Ran's dynamics, prioritizing damage control and career considerations. Her sharp wit and dry commentary are just as humorous as Julia's absurdities and nosebleeds. The other characters, while less prominent, still play crucial roles at various points in the story.

The artwork in the books is consistently solid. Julia, Ran, and Saeki are all charmingly and skillfully drawn. Although there aren't many elaborate backgrounds or settings, the artist excels at capturing "emotions." The art does become slightly inconsistent towards the end, which the mangaka attributes to the substantial time gap between chapters 16 and 17.

Overall, this is the best manga I've ever read. It's exceptionally funny and irresistibly cute. Despite some disappointments regarding the ending and the overall length of the story, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. It might not appeal to everyone, but it deserves a wider audience than it currently has. For fans of romance-comedy and yuri, I wholeheartedly recommend Strawberry Shake Sweet. Don't let the yuri label deter you! Even straight readers are bound to adore this manga!

interesting

I've been working on a book review, but it disappeared before I could publish it, so I'll keep it brief. Initially, I was about to give this novel a full 10 stars due to its captivating plot and well-developed characters. However, since I couldn't wait for it to be available here, I went straight to the original author's platform and read ahead to Chapter 115.

Unfortunately, the story took a disappointing turn, particularly the ending, which failed to provide the satisfaction I expected. Despite my efforts to finish, I had to stop. The novel doesn't feature much romance or a typical regretful reunion. Instead, it focuses more on healing and their relationship with their daughter, rather than a conventional love story. While the plot itself is strong, it didn't quite meet my expectations in terms of a romantic narrative.

If you're looking for a heartwarming, non-romantic tale with a focus on personal growth, this might be a good choice for you. In terms of translation, the Transatlantic version is excellent, and the editing deserves a solid 5-star rating.

Please excuse any confusion, as English is my fourth language, not my first.