Two Kingston High School seniors take first steps toward love in this volume of entries from a popular WEBTOON series.
Bright, bubbly Marcus (he/him) loves to cook. Fortunately, his quiet, nerdy crush, Cog (he/they), loves to eat. Emboldened by Cog’s inhaling his homemade cornets, Marcus offers to make them lunch the next day—and soon, he’s making them lunch every Thursday. The two start spending more time together. Clueless about Marcus’ interest, candid, sincere Cog inadvertently stokes his affection. Cog’s best friend, Toma, however, is not so clueless and encourages Cog to set a firm boundary. But it turns out that Cog doesn’t really mind Marcus’ attention. This slice-of-life rom-com explores the feeling of being in the throes of a first crush. The fun, colorful, and dynamic artistic style suits the lighthearted vibe. However, the plot consists of a series of cute, loosely connected moments, resulting in underdeveloped characters and thin worldbuilding; the latter is exemplified by the book’s unclear setting. The Black-presenting leads are surrounded by a racially diverse cast at a school that has Japanese influences, but without a cultural anchor, some of the characters’ behavior and reactions feel unclear. Rather than the characters themselves driving the narrative, the need to maintain the tension of their unrevealed feelings is central, making the story sometimes feels contrived. Nevertheless, those seeking a straightforward, queer cotton-candy romance likely won’t mind. Readers familiar with manga iconography will notice clues to the leads’ feelings.
Light and sweet.
(Graphic romance. 13-18)