We’ve recommended this sapphic manga series at the Lesbrary several times before, but that was when there were only a couple volumes out. I just finished volume five, and I needed to let you all know that it has only gotten better with time. She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat is my favourite manga series I’ve ever read, and I’m always counting down the days until the next volume. It’s just such a kind, comforting story, and it always makes me feel better.
The first few volumes were a little more subtle in the queer representation—it could even just been seen as subtext in the very beginning. But at this point, we’ve really gotten into the characters’ queer identities, explicitly using terms like lesbian instead of dancing around it like many yuri stories do. In fact, in this volume, they discuss the heteropatriarchal systems that make it difficult for same-sex couples in Japan to rent an apartment.
We’ve also been introduced to a few more supporting characters, and while Nomoto and Kasuga always have my heart, I’ve really enjoyed seeing them grow a supportive friend group—especially when they might not have such accepting relationships with their families. An unexpected highlight for me was seeing their friendship with Nagumo develop, who doesn’t like to eat in front of other people. Despite Nomoto and Kasuga’s relationship developing through food, they’re accepting and nonjudgmental of this, which is a big change from how Nagumo is used to people reacting.
That’s what makes this series so valuable to me: it’s kind. The characters all have healthy communication, and they extend compassion to each other. They may struggle with how they’re treated by their families or society at large, but in this bubble, they’re loved and accepted. That kindness extends to the reader, too: trigger warnings are included just prior to the section they apply to, and a fact sheet about deipnophobia is included immediately after it is mentioned in the story—instead of putting these at the beginning or end of the volume, the creator would rather interrupt the standard flow of a story to give the reader those resources when they most need them. There’s also a glossary at the back for Japanese terms (especially ingredients and meals).
Kasuga and Nomoto are both on the ace/aro spectrums, and in this volume, they navigate asking about kissing and holding hands for the first time at the same time that they’re looking for an apartment together. While these terms aren’t used on the page—though there is discussion of asexuality and there’s an ace lesbian side character—the creator has said Kasuga is demiromantic and Nomoto is demisexual. (I enjoyed watching this video from a sapphic asexual creator about the ace representation in this series: The Ace Joy in She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat.)
I could read this slice of life series forever. If you’re looking for a queer comfort read, I can’t recommend this highly enough.
