Shortcake Cake, Vol. 1 (1)
Shortcake Cake, Vol. 1 (1) book cover

Shortcake Cake, Vol. 1 (1)

Paperback – August 7, 2018

Price
$8.47
Format
Paperback
Pages
176
Publisher
VIZ Media LLC
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1974700615
Dimensions
5 x 0.6 x 7.5 inches
Weight
5.9 ounces

Description

From School Library Journal Gr 5 Up-High schooler Ten Serizawa commutes two hours each way to school. With the support of her friends, she makes the hard decision to move away from her family and into a local boarding house, which introduces an awkward potential love triangle with two of her housemates. Morishita, author of "Hibi Chouchou," visually differentiates between the characters, although readers may struggle to identify which characters are speaking in some scenes. Volume 1 ends on a cliff-hanger, leaving readers excited for the second installment. VERDICT Not an essential purchase, but this sweet shojo manga provides parents and young adults an opportunity to discuss the lifestyle changes that will come with high school (particularly boarding school).-Tammy Ivins, University of North Carolina at Wilmingtonα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. suu Morishita is a creator duo. The story is by Makiro, and the art is by Nachiyan. In 2010 they debuted with the one-shot “Anote Konote.” Their works include Hibi Chouchou and Shortcake Cake .

Features & Highlights

  • An unflappable girl and a cast of lovable male roommates at a boardinghouse create bonds of friendship and romance.
  • When Ten moves out of her parents’ home in the mountains to live in a boardinghouse, she finds herself becoming fast friends with her male roommates. But can love and romance be far behind?Ten Serizawa has a two-hour commute through the mountains to high school every day, so she can’t spend much time hanging out with her friends in the afternoon. She decides to move into the local boardinghouse, where one of her friends and three other boys are living. Ten’s friends consider her to be as oblivious as a rock when it comes to noticing boys and falling in love, but will she be able to keep her calm and steady heart in her new living situation?

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(181)
★★★★
25%
(75)
★★★
15%
(45)
★★
7%
(21)
-7%
(-21)

Most Helpful Reviews

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A lot of promise

I love shoujo manga. This series has a lot of promise, but also hasn't yet quite set itself apart yet. Worth reading, and could turn into something special, but right now it's just above average even if it's not a game changer. Great lead heroine who is strong, self-determined, and a bit different. Two guys, both of whom are nice, and treat her nicely, so that's a plus considering the old shoujo tropes about bad boys. Recommended
2 people found this helpful
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Who Doesn't like Cake?! Exactly... Now's the time for Shortcake Cake!

Ten Serizawa has a two-hour commute through the mountains to high school every day, so she can’t spend much time hanging out with her friends in the afternoon. She decides to move into the local boardinghouse, where one of her friends and three other boys are living. Ten’s friends consider her to be as oblivious as a rock when it comes to noticing boys and falling in love, but will she be able to keep her calm and steady heart in her new living situation?

I really liked Ten! She is not an easily excitable girl like you normally see in manga and Asian dramas. She isn't clumsy or dim either... but she is clueless when it comes to boys! That makes sense as she has been quite sheltered in her mountain home. And best of all she's a BOOKWORM! She loves quotes and purple prose and the loveliness that is words! Because she is clueless she's also quite bold in how she deals with boys because that is just how she is with everyone girl or boy "friend" it doesn't matter!

This was quite the unusual shoujo manga though as we got the boy's POV as well as Ten's POV. Normally we see everything through the eyes of the girl as she falls in love and notices the boys. At this point Ten is just having contact with boys as her roommates and so there isn't much of the romance from her POV. I really liked this fact! It makes for a unique ride through what is romance trope story... Instead we get Riku going ballistic over his confusing feelings for Ten as well as intriguing bookworm Chiaki lurking around. And we aren't free of the girls either (which I like, YAY female friendship!)

The plot may read as on the downlow as right now the plot concentrated on moving her into the house and getting to know the residents. Doesn't sound very exciting...?! it really is quite a fascinating though for a shoujo manga and that totally captured me... Yes, I need to read more volumes, preferably volume 2 and 3 ASAP, to really understand where the story is going to be going, but I was intrigued. I WANT to read more... I got this Akira from Fruits Basket vibe from one of the later characters introduced and I REALLY want to know what is going on there...

The art is such that I really need to hit the store and see it in person. The digital version flattened all the screentones and I think that is what makes this manga's art so gorgeous... And its not being show in the best light here... But I did find the character designs STELLAR! Really for so many characters being introduced all at once I kept everyone separate and NEVER got confused as to who is who. I wish the backgrounds were a little more developed but the focus is on the characters and how can I fault that (as they are my main love anyway!)?

I have to admit I am leaning toward one particular boy at this point as I liked Ten and his natural connection... still I'm excited to read more about her awakening to boys and noticing them as more than friends. Shortcake Cake is like a delicious cake that is an unusual flavor... you know you LOVE cake and the new taste is whetting your appetite but will you enjoy it in the long run...? I'm raring to find out with the next couple of volumes!!
2 people found this helpful
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love!!!

amazing story and came in good condition
1 people found this helpful
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Super Cute

Manga arrived in great condition and on time. The story is very sweet and the art is gorgeous. I’m very happy with my purchase ♥(⸝⸝'꒳`⸝⸝)♥
1 people found this helpful
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It's a bit slow with a lot of characters but sets up the series!

This one has a lot of characters! It took me a minute to get everyone straight haha. Not too much happens in this one, but I still thought it was fun. Ten decides to go boarding school after having a night over and seeing how engaging the social life is. Before this, she commuted 2 hours each way on the bus. She meets plenty of friends and even has the beginning of a love triangle-ish feel. Not much happens relationship wise, but there's some fun tension building scenes and honestly I'm left not really know who I want to root for!

Steam: none

I plan on continuing with this one too if I can find more books in the series.
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Much better then what I was thinking

I bout this second hand, and it was in amazing condition! I loved it! The series is cute and easy to read.
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Great item

Great story line..can't wait for the next volume
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Manga lover

Great story! Highly recommend it.
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Super duper cute!

I really like this manga! It's super cute, super sweet, and there's characters in it you can't help but love. There is a crush or two that happens very quickly, not quite insta love, but quickly. The art is gorgeous, the plot feels wonderful, and I can't wait for volume 2!
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A great new addition to the shojo beat line

Decided to try Shojo Beat’s new series and it is a great addition to the name. The series dives right in with adorable characters and it’s easy to choose them all as your favorite. I love the art style too. I will definitely be collecting this series.