Honey Lemon Soda Manga Reading Order for Beginners

Honey Lemon Soda Reading Order — Start with Volume 1 and Read Straight Through

Here’s the full picture: start at Volume 1 and read in published order through Volume 31. Honey Lemon Soda is a single, linear story with no prequels or companion series in English that you need to track down. Side story volumes exist in Japanese but have not been released in English and are not required to follow the main narrative. Mayu Murata wrote and completed the entire series in Ribon, a monthly manga magazine aimed at younger female readers (published by Shueisha). The series wraps up neatly at 123 chapters across 31 Japanese volumes. If you’re new to manga, think of chapters like individual episodes and volumes like collected seasons — each volume gathers roughly four chapters into one book.

The English edition is published by Yen Press, a publisher that specializes in translating manga and light novels into English. As of April 2026, 11 volumes are available in English. The series is still being translated and released, so if you’re reading in English, you’ll eventually hit a point where you’re waiting for the next volume to drop. More on that in the buying section below.

For now, here’s a quick-reference table showing volume numbers, a brief (spoiler-light) description of what’s covered, and English availability:

Volume	What It Covers	English Available?
1	Uka transfers to a new school, meets Kai, and takes her first steps toward changing	Yes
2	Uka begins opening up — early friendships and growing trust with Kai	Yes
3	The friend group starts to form; relationships deepen	Yes
4	Bonds solidify and new emotional challenges appear	Yes
5	Key turning points — honesty between Uka and Kai	Yes
6	Major emotional milestones that define the direction of the story	Yes
7	The supporting cast gets more spotlight; friendships face their own tests	Yes
8	School events bring the group closer while stirring up new feelings	Yes
9	Uka and Kai confront what their relationship means as they mature	Yes
10	The stakes feel bigger as characters face choices about their futures	Yes
11	Relationships evolve and the story sets up its next phase	Yes
12–31	The story continues through later high school life, facing challenges together, and reaches a satisfying conclusion	Not yet in English

Because the manga is complete in Japan, you have the comfort of knowing the full story exists and has an ending. No cancellation cliffhangers, no indefinite hiatuses. When you start, you’re picking up a finished story — you just might need to wait for Yen Press to catch up on the English side.

How long does it take to read? Each volume runs about 180–200 pages and takes most readers roughly 30–45 minutes. So the 11 English volumes currently available represent around 6–8 hours of reading — a satisfying weekend binge if you’re in the mood.

What Each Volume Covers — A Spoiler-Light Story Guide

One of Honey Lemon Soda’s greatest strengths is how naturally the story flows. There aren’t hard chapter breaks between major story sections the way you might see in action manga. Instead, the emotional beats build gradually, layering on top of each other. That said, here’s a spoiler-light look at what you can expect from the early volumes — enough to get you excited, not enough to ruin anything.

Volumes 1–2: Uka’s World Cracks Open

The series begins with Uka Ishimori transferring to a new high school. She’s been bullied in middle school to the point where she’s internalized the nickname “Stone” — she barely speaks, keeps her head down, and has convinced herself she’s invisible. Then she meets Kai Miura, a boy whose warmth and energy are basically the human equivalent of sunlight through a glass of lemon soda.

These first two volumes are about the very beginning of Uka’s transformation. Not a dramatic overnight change — this is more like watching someone realize, for the first time, that they’re allowed to want things. Allowed to smile. Allowed to take up space. The pacing is gentle and deliberate, and that’s by design. Murata is laying emotional groundwork that will pay off across the entire series.

Volumes 3–4: Finding Your People

Once Uka starts to open up, the world around her responds. Volumes 3 and 4 are where the core friend group takes shape — the supporting cast fills in, each character bringing their own personality and warmth to the story. The relationship between Uka and Kai also deepens here, moving beyond “the boy who was nice to me” into something more textured and mutual.

These volumes are where a lot of readers go from “this is nice” to “okay, I’m invested.” The friendships feel earned, not manufactured, and Murata has a real gift for writing group dynamics that feel like actual friend groups — messy, funny, and genuinely caring.

Volumes 5–6: The Emotional Turning Point

Without spoiling specifics, Volumes 5 and 6 contain some of the most emotionally honest moments in the early part of the series. There are conversations between Uka and Kai here that are quiet but powerful — the kind of scenes where characters say what they actually mean, and you feel the weight of it.

If you’ve been on the fence about whether the slow buildup is worth it, this is where you’ll get your answer. (It is.)

What Comes After

The later volumes — from Volume 7 through the series finale at Volume 31 — continue building on everything established in those first six books. Uka and Kai face new challenges as they grow up, the supporting cast gets their own moments to shine, and the story evolves from “finding the courage to change” into something broader about what it means to hold onto that courage when life gets harder.

Murata brings the series to a satisfying conclusion that honors the characters’ growth. It’s a complete, well-rounded story from beginning to end.

Where to Buy Honey Lemon Soda in English

Yen Press is the official English publisher for Honey Lemon Soda, and as of April 2026, they’ve released 11 volumes. The most recent English volume came out on April 28, 2026.

Physical Copies

You can find physical volumes through major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and independent bookstores. If you have a local manga shop or comic store, they can usually order volumes for you too.

Volume 11 is the latest English release, and it’s a great time to start collecting since you can grab a solid stack of books right away without waiting months between releases.

Digital Options

If you prefer reading on a screen, the English edition is available digitally through Kindle, BookWalker (a digital storefront specifically built for manga and light novels), and Kobo. Digital editions typically become available on the same day as physical releases.

The Japanese-to-English Gap

Here’s something to be aware of: the Japanese edition is complete at 31 volumes, but the English edition currently sits at 11 volumes. That’s a 20-volume gap. Yen Press is steadily releasing new volumes, but if you’re reading exclusively in English, you will reach a point where you’re caught up and waiting.

This isn’t unusual for manga — English translations almost always trail behind their Japanese counterparts. The good news is that the series is finished in Japan, so there’s no risk of the source material stalling out. Yen Press just needs time to translate and publish the remaining volumes.

Supporting the Official Release

Every official copy of Honey Lemon Soda you buy helps signal to publishers that English-speaking readers want more romance manga like this — which directly influences which titles get translated next.

Common Mistakes New Readers Make

Honey Lemon Soda is beginner-friendly and easy to pick up, but there are a few things that trip people up. Here’s what to watch out for.

Skipping Early Volumes Because the Pacing Feels Slow

This is the most common mistake, and it’s understandable — if you’re used to stories that hook you with a dramatic first chapter, Honey Lemon Soda’s quiet opening might feel like it’s taking its time. It is. On purpose.

The slow, careful pacing of the early volumes is what makes the emotional moments later in the series hit so hard. Uka’s growth only resonates because you’ve watched her struggle with the smallest things — making eye contact, speaking up in class, believing a compliment is sincere. If you skip ahead, you lose the foundation that makes everything else meaningful.

Give it at least through Volume 3 before you decide whether it’s for you. By then, the friend group is forming, the relationship dynamics are clicking into place, and the tone of the series is fully established.

Confusing the Manga with Adaptation Storylines

Honey Lemon Soda has been adapted beyond the manga — there’s a live-action film and an anime adaptation. If you’ve seen clips, trailers, or discussions about these, be aware that adaptations sometimes condense, rearrange, or adjust story elements to fit their format.

The manga is the original and most complete version of the story. Read it on its own terms rather than expecting it to match scene-for-scene with something you may have watched. Each version has its own strengths, but the manga is where Murata’s full vision lives.

If you’ve already watched the anime or film and want to know whether the manga is worth reading too: yes. The manga covers the entire story across all 31 volumes, goes deeper into character development and inner monologue, and includes storylines that adaptations may have trimmed. You don’t need to skip ahead — starting from Volume 1 is still the best approach, since even familiar scenes will feel different on the page with Murata’s artwork and pacing.

Not Realizing the English Edition Is Still in Progress

This one catches people off guard. You’ll see references to 31 volumes online, get excited about having a complete series to read straight through, and then discover that only 11 volumes are available in English so far. It’s not a dealbreaker — 11 volumes is a substantial amount of reading — but it helps to know going in so you can plan accordingly.

Keep an eye on Yen Press’s release schedule for upcoming volume dates. That way you won’t be blindsided when you finish Volume 11 and realize the next one isn’t out yet.

Expecting Big Plot Twists and Drama Bombs

If you’re coming from stories with elaborate plot twists, love triangles that stretch on endlessly, or dramatic misunderstandings that could be solved with a single conversation — recalibrate your expectations. Honey Lemon Soda is a gentle, character-driven romance. That’s its identity and its strength.

The tension comes from internal struggles — Uka fighting against her own self-doubt, Kai dealing with things beneath his sunny exterior, friends navigating the awkwardness of growing up. The “drama” is quiet and real, not manufactured for shock value. If that sounds appealing, you’re going to love this series.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many volumes of Honey Lemon Soda are there?

The series has 31 volumes in Japanese and 11 volumes in English as of April 2026. The English edition from Yen Press is ongoing and still being released.

Is the manga finished?

Yes. Honey Lemon Soda is complete at 123 chapters across 31 Japanese volumes. The story has a definitive ending — no cliffhangers, no ongoing publication. The English translation is still catching up, but the full story exists.

Do I need to read anything before starting?

Nope. There are no prequels, no required side stories, and no companion manga you need to read first. Volume 1 is designed to be your entry point, and it gives you everything you need to understand the characters and setting.

Who is the author?

Mayu Murata (村田真優) wrote and illustrated Honey Lemon Soda. The series was published chapter by chapter in Ribon, a monthly manga magazine for younger female readers put out by Shueisha, one of Japan’s largest manga publishers.

Is there an anime or other adaptation?

Yes — Honey Lemon Soda has a live-action film and an anime adaptation. For the anime, check streaming platforms like Crunchyroll for availability, as licensing can vary by region. The manga remains the most complete telling of the story and is the best place to start if you want the full experience.

What order should I read the manga in?

Published order, Volume 1 through Volume 31. There are no alternate reading orders, no chronological rearrangements needed, and no side materials that slot in between volumes. Just start at the beginning and go.