Let me preface this review by saying that I love romances that focus on adult narratives, and Our Bodies Entwining, Entwined really delivers on that front! Okamoto Misuzu is a 29 year old who, after having been told that "sex with her is boring," has given up on relationships and sex altogether. That is until her coworker, Takuma Mikage, confesses to her. They end up at his house, where it is revealed that Mikage himself has a hang-up with sex - he finds it hard to become erect when he's with someone he likes. The two of them, with some help from their friends (and coworkers) Anri and Eiji, decide to face these problems together and begin dating.

Relationship Dynamics and Communication This manga focuses on two relationships - the budding romance between Misuzu and Mikage, and Anri and Eiji's friends-with-benefits arrangement. At no point does the author make light of either of these dynamics, which for the sake of brevity I will refer to as "serious" and "casual." In fact, Anri and Eiji's relationship serves as a sort of foil for Misuzu and Mikage's - where the casual relationship has no problem with sex (and in fact, relies on it, as most casual relationships do), they struggle with communication. Both relationships develop over the course of the story (which as of the time of this review, spans five volumes). I'll dive more into Anri and Eiji's situation later on in the review.

So what is it about Misuzu and Mikage's dynamic that is so refreshing? In my opinion, I often find that romance manga treat sex as a solution to a number of problems, including miscommunications and grievances in the central relationship. Here, communication and affection are the solution to sex. In real life, healthy sexual relationships require a lot of talking, a lot of openness, and as Misuzu puts it, "brutal honesty."

After the pair's first date and second unsuccessful attempt at being intimate, they decide that they need to be open with one another and talk about the sex they want to have. Even if it feels unromantic in the moment, it lays the foundation for a theme that runs through their entire relationship - strong communication. The two of them set out to try and learn more about each others' bodies - and sex in general - and while this doesn't solve the issues they have, it further cements this tenet of honesty with one another that makes their relationship so satisfying to read.

Shouldn't Sex be Fun? While their communication strengthens, these clumsy two still find it difficult to relax and enjoy being able to have sex. The turning point happens when Misuzu confides in Anri, and Mikage does the same with Eiji. Here is where the casual couple's wisdom becomes helpful. The question "why not just enjoy things more?" is posed to our main love interests, which makes them realize that even with the strongest communication skills, the best thing that they can do for themselves is learn to not take things so seriously. This is another place where I feel that this manga does a good job of representing real relationships.

Sex is a two way street, a form of communication, and in the end it is important for it to be a fun act for it to be truly healthy. Up until this turning point, both Misuzu and Mikage have this sort of ‘do it for the other person’ mentality. They both feel that there is a certain standard that they need to work to fit, which is what adds so much to the discomfort and unhappiness that they both feel. When they realize that they should worry less about those imagined standards, and just enjoy being with one another as they are, in the present, they’re finally able to have sex.

What is enjoyable about this plot progression is that the sex is not the endgame. Rather, it serves to signify that their relationship is strengthening, and the two grow closer and spend more time together. It is here in the plot where we begin to see more about the cast’s work life, which is the main backdrop for this story. Because all four work on the same team, we get to see how they all navigate both interpersonal relationships and their own personal and professional goals. In my opinion, this actually makes them feel really fleshed out, in the sense that neither of the relationships exist in a vacuum.

Having an adult relationship is more than just sex, living together, marriage… It's about support, about being able to live your life with your partner in your corner. Our Bodies Entwining, Entwined really stresses that. The intimate relationships act so much as catalysts for success and happiness, which paints this really wonderful, realistic picture of relationships that I feel can be underrepresented in manga as a whole. The intimacy - and problems with it - is not an escape from the main characters’ lives but rather an integral part of it.

Anri and Eiji It would be a disservice to not give these two their own section in this review. Anri is a romance-obsessed, commitment-averse woman who loves to have sex. Eiji is in love with Anri. Their relationship is interesting because the two clearly get along very well, enjoy one another’s company, and, at first, seem to not need more than that. As the two watch Misuzu and Mikage’s relationship blossom, they both realize that their arrangement isn’t as satisfying as it once was.

I want to stress again that at no point is their relationship made fun of, and it doesn’t seem shoehorned into the story for the sake of sex scenes. It is complicated, layered, and interesting to watch unfold. It is equally important as the main pair’s love story, and I personally think it’s nice to see a less traditional relationship being portrayed with this much grace.

Additionally, Anri is never portrayed as wrong or fetishized for being a woman who enjoys sex, which in my opinion is lovely to read. She has her own reasons for the way she navigates relationships and her feelings for Eiji. In turn, Eiji expresses a number of emotions around their relationship, both negative and positive. He has to grapple with his feelings for her in tandem with his respect for her desire to not have a committed relationship. When the main pair finds out about their situation, there’s no disgust, just surprise and concern for their friends’ hearts.

Again, I think their situation is an excellent way of showing how communication is necessary in any kind of relationship - serious or not. While I am rooting for these two to fall in love, I think it would also be satisfying to watch them resolve their issues and part on friendly terms, as well.

Conclusion I really wish to see more people fall in love with this Manga, as I have. The characters are lovable and complex, and outside of the points I have made here, I find that it has really excellent comedic timing and is visually gorgeous. As of right now, there are only five volumes, and I think they’re well worth a read if you’re looking for a manga that treats these dynamics in such a unique way.

Thank you for reading!