▪	RELEASED BY:		TOKYOPOP
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		HARUKA FUKUSHIMA
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / B&W
		▪	PAGES:		192
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		09/11/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		10/01/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

From the creator of Kedamono Damono comes a fun romantic dramedy. Otome and her step-brother Minami have been siblings for five years now. Since then, they have both tried to adjust to the new living arrangements. What’s helped is that Otome is head over heels for Minami’s best friend Amane. The three of them are friends and then one day Amane tells Otome he likes her. It’s a dream come true! Otome is on cloud nine, but why does she get so nervous about it whenever her dear step-brother is near? It’s a romantic comedy drama with a twist.

Otome is your average pretty girl with a tomboyish streak. She takes Kendo and can be a bit bossy. Her step-brother is all of a smidgeon younger than her and they have to share a room while their grandmother recovers. This makes things awkward between them and brings out their sibling ways. But when Minami discovers that his friend is making moves on Otome, things start happening and realizations are slow in coming but coming they are. Jealousies rise up and it’s not just on Minami’s side. When the gorgeous Kasumi expresses her romantic interest in Minami, Otome starts doing emotional cartwheels of unhappiness and stress. And she doesn’t realize why. The pangs of jealousy are harsh, but when the person doesn’t realize what they are, it makes things even more confusing for those suffering from it. The step-siblings seem to be struggling with how they feel towards each other, their wish to keep everything stable, and each likes Amane in different ways. But the boat is about to get tipped and it’s anyone’s guess how this will all turn out in this unusual romantic triangle that is growing with every chapter.

Minami’s cool guy attitude and slightly bad boy mischievous ways don’t help those simmering feelings bank, but instead ignites unknown emotions in both of them. The upcoming festival only mires their feelings and confusion when Otome can’t bring herself to break off her ‘date’ with either boy. Melodrama enters the picture quite quickly. The addition of Kasumi only adds to the triangle, perhaps making it a square of tangled feelings and possible broken hearts. But the story isn’t all soap opera. There’s a lot of fun and comedy too, especially where Minami and Otome are concerned. Their sibling-like relationship is put to the test when one risqué moment after another plagues them and their sense of right and wrong. It makes for some teasing and titillation as these two try to figure out just what they feel and for whom. The manga is accentuated by a lovely soft pencil style well suited to this new shoujo series.
 
IN SUMMARY:
Cherry Juice is a romantic dramedy about two step-siblings in love. It’s a fun, at times risqué, and often funny unusual romance.