3 stars because non-consent. Anyone who’s been following my reviews, knows how much I despise that trope. Worse, when it’s used as comedy.
Non-consent may work sometimes for certain characters, but not when it involves sexual-like activities AND the non-consenting person clearly is uncomfortable (+ has done nothing to deserve it). Which was the case here.

Could’ve rated it 5 stars without it, because everything else is really good. Unfortunately, the sexual harassment was used as a running gag in each chapter, one time he was even forced to have sex; while he may have agreed to it, for once, he pretty much had no real choice. (Positive Spoiler: <spoiler> they manage to resolve it without sex. </spoiler>)

The art is great, the characters are (aside from the non-consent) fun to follow around and I loved the slice of life. The latter makes it seem like it’s very slow-paced, showing ‘boring’ day tasks like cooking, cleaning, shopping etc. (which I’m a fan of). On the other hand, everything is resolved very quickly and jumps from one adventure to the next.

I would’ve wished to see more of Ume and Pequeño (cool name btw). They were such a cute duo and so much more interesting to read than the grown-ups.
Although grandpa was really sweet too, for his few appearances.
The older teens were mostly annoying tho, they’re (short) dramas were meant to be funny but not for me. Such basic, on a low level, humor that is nothing new and really could’ve been better.

Queer casualty but no queer plot – Luka mentions that demons don’t bother with gender roles or differences, also when it comes to sex or romance etc. It may be new for Sakura, who’s a human and interprets it as BL, the tropes are also very commonly Yaoi, but it isn’t really BL. Not that I minded though; I’m glad it focused on the daily life and the non-consent was just a (useless) side remark, so the book does end up having at least some charm.
There might’ve been a drag queen or trans person as a side character. I’m not sure cause she didn’t use a label, but it’s cool either way. Men being or looking feminine is normal here. (It still pulls a lot of heteronormative tropes, such as a photo shooting where they’re dressed up as a husband & wife for a wedding theme.)

~

Thank you to Kodansha on Netgalley for providing an eARC.

-06.04.25

This manga offers comfort and happiness as I read it because the them of this manga is a mix of slice of life and fantasy because of the vampires. The relationship between Luka and Sakura is adorable and funny because Luka always pisses Sakura off and his reaction is cute. It's like Luka is the troublemaker while Sakura tries to fix the mess or rather just scream.

This manga also has the usual type of 12 episode anime themes like the sports day chapter, night market with Kimono, and many more that were really cute and fun! If you're looking for a light book to read, this would be perfect for you because it was fast-paced and just wholesome!

This is an enjoyable collection of slice-of-life stories about the titular vampire and his adventures in a family-run bathhouse. I like how Luka the vampire integrates himself into the human Sakura's family, quickly establishing himself as well-intentioned fish out of water. Sakura provides contrast (and well-needed guidance) as the deadpan "straight man" to Luka's campy clown.

The manga gets cheeky at times, though a lot of focus is given to the family set-up, where Luka takes responsibility for Sakura's adorable little brother Umenosuke as well as the magical little creature called Pequeño. It gets much more interesting with the introduction of new characters, one of whom plays a more significant and intriguing role than the rest, but the promise of more information as well as more of a juicy plot unfortunately gets little to no follow-through. (It is in fact through this specific figure and a couple of side characters that we learn the most about the demon world, so I would have loved to spend more time with them on the page and see more weighty conflicts involving them play out.) There's definitely a lot of potential for developing the story, especially considering how much contact Sakura gets with Luka's world. Overall, this standalone volume is light entertainment that left me wanting more.

The art style is pleasing to the eye, and the character designs are well done. The translation felt very natural to me as an English speaker with minimal Japanese skills. I can imagine that the humor is snappier in Japanese.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Kodansha for the eARC!

Such a cute cozy, low stakes, found family, magical vibe. I read this in one sitting and enjoyed it. The art is beautifully done and made the story so appealing.

Thank you NetGalley for the E-Arc

This was a super cute & funny found family story about a vampire, who on a whim, decides to visit a bathhouse in the human world. I had a great time reading this slice-of-life manga! Luka (the vamp in question) is such a fish out of water in this situation he has procured for himself, but he decides on an extended stay with Sakura and his family at their bathhouse because he likes belonging somewhere. I thought I would probably like this one just based on the synopsis alone, but I really did fall in love with Luka, Sakura, and the rest of the gang! Every slice of life should have a dramatic vampire king like Luka, honestly. Beautiful art style and a super fun story to boot. I'm honestly just so sad it's only one volume. I would have loved to read & collect this one as a series 🥺 Instead, I'll just pick up the physical copy for my collection when it comes out later this month.

For fans of Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits (for similar bathhouse & found family vibes) and Blood and Love (a vampire BL) if you read this and were looking for a more canon gay romance.

Such a heartwarming and fun story!!! And Pequeño was the cutest little thing☺️
It's the perfect book to read in one sitting!

Absolutely delightful, laugh-out-loud funny, and brimming with charm! A vampire steps into the human world for a simple visit to a bath house—and suddenly, a whole new chapter of his life begins. Watching the characters bond was genuinely heartwarming, and the cheeky innuendos had me cracking up. Luka’s transition into the human realm was both flawless and hilarious. I’d love to see more of this story, but even as a standalone, it was pure magic. And the artwork? Stunning. Every panel was a visual treat.

I picked this up on a whim and had such a good time with it! It’s a heartwarming and hilarious standalone manga about a bougie, dramatic vampire who crashes at a family-run Japanese bathhouse—and somehow ends up finding a bit of peace (and a found family) along the way.

I am a sucker—get it, get it?—for the vain and very clueless archetype, which Luka totally is. Each chapter has its own little story, and while it’s very lighthearted and had quite a few LOL moments, I do wish there were a few scenes with more emotional depth so I could really connect with the characters.

The art is super charming too—reminds me a lot of manga styles from the 2010s in the best way. Overall, a cute, cozy read that’s perfect if you want something funny, low-stakes, and a little bit silly.

I absolutely loved this manga!

Heartwarming, hilarious , and a magical good time. A vampire travels to the human world to visit a bath house and his new life unfolds. While watching some of the characters grow closer was really touching, the sexual innuendos were also quite hilarious. Luka’s crossover to the human world was executed perfectly (and hilariously). I really hope this story would continue, but it was a magical ride regardless. I also REALLY loved the artwork, as it was beautifully done.

This was such a cute one-shot! The banter between Luka and Sakura made me giggle a lot, and Little Ume was the cutest. All the characters were charming and funny. I loved the story about the bathhouse and how they created a community with their customers. The drawings are so pretty, I can't wait to read more by this author !!!

I really liked the casual insertion of Luka's bisexuality and his flirty but sweet and caring personality. and especially because there was no actual physical contact besides the biting.

Overall, just a cute and cozy story !

<i> Thank you to NetGalley and the author Niko Izuki for the free ebook of this manga </i>

Such a cute and fun read. The characters were likable and well drawn. I enjoyed how the relationships between characters were built up, while feeling natural and not forced.

A Vampire in the Bathhouse was an adorable read. It was lighthearted and fun with enough stakes that it felt grounded. My favorite story in this collection was A Vampire at the Summer Festival. The characters really drive the story, which is something that I appreciate. Pequeno was my favorite as he was just adorable and willing to help even though he was meant to be spying, which is another thing I loved about this. All of the aspects that could have turned it into a serious and sinister story wound up being resolved through the demons' love for the bath house and the community surrounding it. I highly recommend it to someone who would like to read a lighthearted and fun story.

"A Vampire in the Bathhouse" is a lighthearted slice of life manga with very sweet found family vibes and a beautiful art style! I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know these characters and reading their story. This manga is sweet, funny, charming, and emotionally deep! Pequeño was also a very cute and fun character. Some of my favorite moments were the festival and sports day scenes! So much fun! I would like to see an anime adaptation of this!

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the great opportunity of reading and reviewing this manga honestly.

Super cozy vampire comic manga. An ancient hungover vampire visits a bathhouse to relax & meets the caretaker’s oldest son who he makes a blood pact with. Hilarity ensues. Luka, the vampire, is both trouble-maker & solver in one which drives Sakura, the oldest son, insane. Really great found family trope. Very sweet. The characters are very likeable, the story is cozy & cute, the humor is light, the illustrations are amazing. Luka is over the top in the best vampire demon way imaginable. The supporting characters all play a role in the storyline & they are all equally heartwarming.
Not your typical vampire trope with gothic tones and bloodlust. There is a blood pact, but this is more hot vampire on vacation than that. Definitely pick it up for a fun read, a palate cleanser, or for a new series to put on your dopamine menu!

This was gorgeously drawn and such a fun and heartwarming manga. It's silly, whimsical and camp, yet very grounded in community and found family. While there's some flirtatious posturing, there really isn't a heavy handed romance in this. So come to the bathhouse for the vibes, and stay for the hilarious interactions with quirky demons and humans, big and small.

A Vampire in the Bathhouse gives you exactly what it says on the tin. Luka decides to visit the mortal world and decides to visit a Bathhouse run by Sakura and his family. Luka is definitely a surprise but Sakura and the Bathhouse family are more than happy to roll with it. Luka is very much and very casually bisexual and is quite content to make a blood pack with Sakura to keep him in the mortal world for as long as possible.

Some of the best humour comes from Sakura’s absolute deadpan rejections of Luka whenever he suggests something even remotely intimate - from drinking blood to proposing sex. There are a few moments to suggest that Sakura might be warming up to Luka but nothing truly comes of it and I enjoyed what their relationship was as is.

The story becomes a bit of a mix of drama and slice of life, with Luka joining in on family activities, hosting another noble demon and taking him to the market for supplies, and the family supporting Sakura’s younger brother during a school game.

The story is wholesome and has a dry humour that works so great with the material. I wouldn’t exactly call this BL but I think BL enjoyers would also have a very good time with this manga.

*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*

So so so adorable and silly! Finished in one sitting. The artwork is beautiful! Luka is absolutely delish!

Cozy and sweet! I really loved Sakura and his found family. Of course the men were gorgeous, fun and lovable right from the beginning. I really hope there is more to the series in the future! Would love to see more of their adventures!

Thanks NetGalley for providing me with this manga!

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for giving me this full Yaoi-bait manga for free!

Well I’m gonna say the art is gorgeous with the bois looking pretty and do bits of silly shenanigans in a bathhouse (I did chuckle at the wedding cosplay). Although that’s all it offers tbh like all of it is mostly meh…

What first attracted me to this manga was the cover and the title—it’s just hilarious to imagine why a vampire would need to go to a bathhouse in the first place! But honestly, I could relate to the reason.

The story was funny and light-hearted. I really enjoyed Sakura and his family’s adventures with their supernatural and unexpected new friends, all centered around their family-owned bathhouse and how hardworking he is.

The only sad part is that it’s a single volume—I would have loved to see more of their adventures!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha comics for providing a digital copy.

Representation: queer Japanese protagonist, queer secondary and tertiary characters.

Content Warning: none.

I really enjoyed this first tome and I am sad there is not going to be a continuation. Bad decision making on the Japanese publisher.

Anyhow, I especially appreciated that Luka and Sakura had no physical contacts (except for the biting) in spite of all the carnal allusions, because I particularly enjoy slow-burn relationships. The drawing style, as well, is very enthralling.