The Delinquent Housewife! 1 by Nemu Yoko (translated by David Musto) – pluiedenovembre Book Review

Komugi and Tohru are young newlyweds (or about to get married? I’m not entirely sure) who move in with his family while they find their own place. Tohru’s family – mom, grandpa, brother Dai and sister Yukari – are warm and welcoming (except Yukari) and eager to make Komugi feel like part of the family. For her part, Komugi is sweet and helpful and just generally delighted to be part of the family. Just as everyone is starting to get comfortable with the new living arrangements, Tohru must leave on an unexpected business trip. He tells Komugi that she can’t accompany him and has to stay with his family. It will only be a week, so Komugi agrees. She’s only a little sad about it but once Tohru leaves, she starts acting really weird. She leaves before breakfast in the morning and returns home late in the evening, claiming she has to work very long hours. The days go by and they don’t hear from Tohru. He doesn’t answer his phone. He hasn’t called. And one day they receive a strange package addressed to the family with a tape (a tape? Like it’s the 80s or something) and when they are finally able to listen to it, they find out that Tohru’s business trip has been prolonged indefinitely…

It’s a ridiculous gimmick to get the husband out of the picture but the story is charming and fun enough that I am willing to go with it. Because it turns out that Komugi has a huge secret! She doesn’t know how to do anything. Not laundry, not breakfast, nothing. She can’t even make tea of fry an egg. Before he left, Tohru was helping her learn how to do these things. But she has been left to fend for herself and she does not want Tohru’s family to find out, she is afraid her MIL would reject her if she ever finds out. And to make things worse, Komugi has a secret past as a member of an all-girl biker gang…

You can read my full review here.