How To Melt the Ice Lady

After entering high school, “Ice Lady” Himuro Fuyuka moved to a room next door to Kagami Asahi, who started living alone in an apartment which was just a short walk away from the nearest station. She always kept her distance from everyone, never spoke to anyone beyond what was necessary, and always maintained a straight face. A lady that was as cold as ice or so Asahi thought. “..I can’t eat anymore, munyamunya…” “Where did the ‘Ice Lady’ go…?” The relationship between the two of them continued with a mysterious connection. They share dinner at night, go out together on holidays, and eventually whisper sweet things to each other. Staying beside the blunt but caring Asahi, the ice that covers Fuyuka slowly but surely melts away.

Original Publisher

futabasha

English Publisher

tentai books

Original Language

japanese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on How To Melt the Ice Lady "How to Melt the Ice Lady" is a web novel that I've been following with a mix of fascination and frustration. It's a story that has a lot of heart, but also some noticeable shortcomings that keep it from reaching its full potential. ### First Impressions Initially, I was drawn in by the premise: a caring male protagonist trying to break through the icy exterior of a beautiful, kuudere female lead. The slice-of-life elements and the promise of a cute romance were definitely appealing. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd seen this story before. ### What Works Well The core strength of this novel lies in its characters and their gradual development. I appreciated the balanced dynamic between the MC and the FL. It's satisfying to see them become closer, with the FL slowly opening up and the MC growing bolder in expressing his feelings. The official translation of the light novel is excellent, making the reading experience smooth and enjoyable. The side characters, particularly the MC's best friend and his girlfriend, add depth and provide valuable support to the main couple. I also found the small details, like the MC's cooking skills, added a unique flavor to the story. ### Areas of Concern Unfortunately, there are some significant issues that I couldn't ignore. The most glaring is the overwhelming similarity to "Otonari no Tenshi-sama" (The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten). From the character archetypes to the plot beats, the parallels are hard to miss. While some might argue that "How to Melt the Ice Lady" improves upon certain aspects of its predecessor, the lack of originality can be a major turn-off. Also, I found the MC's internal monologues repetitive and his hesitation to confess frustrating. I also noticed that the writing quality can be inconsistent, particularly in the web novel version. The shifts in narration can be jarring and the translation sometimes feels clunky. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning Some readers have pointed out that the arc leading up to the confession felt drawn out and ultimately pointless. Apparently, even after accepting their feelings for each other, the characters decide to maintain the status quo, which deflates the impact of the confession. ### Final Verdict Despite its flaws, "How to Melt the Ice Lady" has its charms. If you're a fan of slow-burn romances with cute interactions and don't mind the similarities to "Otonari no Tenshi-sama," you might find something to enjoy here. However, if you're looking for a truly original story with compelling characters and flawless writing, this might not be the novel for you. I'd give it a tentative 3/5. It's a decent read, but it could have been so much more.