Note: This review covers the first five volumes of the manga, the only ones that have been localized as of this writing. I will consider updating it if something significant happens and I end up changing my mind on some aspect of the work
You may not have heard of Yuri Is My Job before, since it's not especially well-known, even among Yuri Genre mangas. If not, I'll share why it's worth a look if you're interested in
At a first glance, the series' premise- a girl named Hime Shiraki ends up being forced to roleplay at a host club- seems like a rehash of Ouran High School Host Club, but it's much more than that. The setting fits many of the central themes of the series, such as whether it's right to tell a lie with good intentions, and people who adopt personae for various reasons.
The cast of characters is probably the manga's strongest asset. Most of them are deeply flawed in at least one regard, and have made at least one decision they've ended up regretting (even if it was made with good intentions). They often strive to become better people, but their flaws often hold them back, even when they're making good faith efforts to change. Despite that, they do generally have redeeming qualities that make them sympathetic, even when said qualities are not always immediately evident. Their backstories are also well-written and compelling, generally revealing new layers to established characters. Unfortunately, the characters can come off as unlikeable at first, at least before their Hidden Depths are revealed, so I'd recommend sticking around until at least the end of Volume 2.
As for the apparent main couple, Hime and Mitsuki, all I can say at this point, it's a fairly slow burn; without spoiling too much, it takes them the first two volumes to get onto speaking terms. They do make progress in getting closer and working out their issues, but as stated before, their own personal problems get in the way. This sort of drama can be frustrating to some people, and may outstay its welcome if it goes on for too long, but as it is now, it's fairly realistic considering the kind of people Hime and Mitsuki are.
As of this writing, the localized version of Yuri is My Job is probably no more than halfway through the story, but it's a promising and well-written yuri series with a relatively unconventional premise, compelling characters and strong themes throughout, so it's well worth your time.
Manga Underrated Yuri
Note: This review covers the first five volumes of the manga, the only ones that have been localized as of this writing. I will consider updating it if something significant happens and I end up changing my mind on some aspect of the work
You may not have heard of Yuri Is My Job before, since it's not especially well-known, even among Yuri Genre mangas. If not, I'll share why it's worth a look if you're interested in
At a first glance, the series' premise- a girl named Hime Shiraki ends up being forced to roleplay at a host club- seems like a rehash of Ouran High School Host Club, but it's much more than that. The setting fits many of the central themes of the series, such as whether it's right to tell a lie with good intentions, and people who adopt personae for various reasons.
The cast of characters is probably the manga's strongest asset. Most of them are deeply flawed in at least one regard, and have made at least one decision they've ended up regretting (even if it was made with good intentions). They often strive to become better people, but their flaws often hold them back, even when they're making good faith efforts to change. Despite that, they do generally have redeeming qualities that make them sympathetic, even when said qualities are not always immediately evident. Their backstories are also well-written and compelling, generally revealing new layers to established characters. Unfortunately, the characters can come off as unlikeable at first, at least before their Hidden Depths are revealed, so I'd recommend sticking around until at least the end of Volume 2.
As for the apparent main couple, Hime and Mitsuki, all I can say at this point, it's a fairly slow burn; without spoiling too much, it takes them the first two volumes to get onto speaking terms. They do make progress in getting closer and working out their issues, but as stated before, their own personal problems get in the way. This sort of drama can be frustrating to some people, and may outstay its welcome if it goes on for too long, but as it is now, it's fairly realistic considering the kind of people Hime and Mitsuki are.
As of this writing, the localized version of Yuri is My Job is probably no more than halfway through the story, but it's a promising and well-written yuri series with a relatively unconventional premise, compelling characters and strong themes throughout, so it's well worth your time.