Honey Lemon Soda Manga Volumes: Collecting Guide (2026)

Honey Lemon Soda Has 31 Japanese Manga Volumes and 11 English Volumes So Far

Here’s the big-picture number you came for: Honey Lemon Soda ran for 123 chapters across 31 volumes in Japan. The series was serialized — meaning its chapters were published one at a time in a magazine before being collected into book form — in Ribon, a manga magazine published by Shueisha (one of Japan’s largest manga publishers). The first collected volume released on May 30, 2016. Serialization wrapped up on April 3, 2026, making this a completed series — no cliffhangers, no indefinite hiatuses, just a full story from start to finish.

On the English side, Yen Press — the company that holds the English-language publishing rights — has released 11 volumes so far, with Vol. 11 arriving on April 28, 2026. That means about a third of the series is available in English, and the remaining 20 volumes are on their way.

So what does that mean for you as a collector? You’ve got a clear runway. The Japanese edition is done, Yen Press is actively releasing volumes, and you can start building your shelf right now with Volumes 1 through 11 knowing exactly how long the full series will be: 31 volumes total.

For a shoujo romance, that’s on the longer side — many popular titles wrap up in 10 to 15 volumes. But Honey Lemon Soda uses that length to develop its characters and their relationships at a gentle, unhurried pace that fans genuinely love.

If you discovered this series through the anime adaptation, you’re in good company — the anime has brought a wave of new readers to the manga. This guide will help you figure out exactly where to start and what to expect from the volumes.

How to Start Collecting — Formats and the Most Practical Approach

English Paperback Volumes

The main way most English-speaking readers collect Honey Lemon Soda is through the Yen Press paperback editions. These are standard manga-sized paperbacks, widely available at bookstores and online retailers. They read right-to-left — meaning you open the book from what would normally be the “back” cover in a Western book, and read panels from right to left across each page. This is the traditional Japanese reading direction, and it becomes second nature after a few pages.

The translation quality has been well-received by readers, and these physical volumes look lovely on a shelf. If you’re brand new to manga collecting, they’re a great starting point. There’s something really satisfying about watching a long-running series grow volume by volume in your collection.

Digital Editions

If shelf space or budget is a concern, digital editions are worth considering. Digital manga tends to be priced lower than physical copies, and you get instant access without waiting for shipping. You can find Honey Lemon Soda digitally on platforms like Kindle, Kobo, and BookWalker, among others.

Digital is also handy if you want to sample the series before committing to a physical collection. Grab the first volume or two digitally, see if the story clicks with you, and then decide whether you want to go all-in on paperbacks.

Buying in Bulk

One practical tip: if you’re starting from scratch and want to pick up multiple volumes at once, buying several together can sometimes save on shipping costs compared to ordering one at a time. With 11 English volumes currently available, picking up a batch of the first several volumes in a single order makes logistical sense.

As of now, no official box set has been announced for the English edition. That’s not unusual — box sets for English releases tend to come later, sometimes after the full run is complete. For the time being, individual volumes are the way to go.

Japanese Volumes for Import

If you read Japanese, the complete 31-volume set is available for import through various retailers. Just keep in mind these are untranslated. For most English-speaking collectors, the Yen Press editions are the practical choice.

Volume-by-Volume Guide to the Honey Lemon Soda Manga

Here’s a look at the English volumes available so far. Rather than spoil specific plot points, these descriptions focus on the general story progression and emotional beats so you can gauge where the story goes and decide how deep you want to commit.

Volume 1 — Where It All Begins

This is the foundation. We meet Uka Ishimori, a painfully shy girl who was bullied at her previous school. Starting fresh at a new high school, she crosses paths with Kai Miura, a bright and popular boy who’s everything she isn’t. His warmth starts to crack open the shell she’s built around herself. Volume 1 establishes the core dynamic of the entire series: Uka finding the courage to change, with Kai as the catalyst. If you read one volume to decide whether this series is for you, this is it.

Volume 2 — Finding Her Footing

Uka begins to settle into her new school life and form her first real friendships. The supporting cast gets more fleshed out here, and you start to see that Honey Lemon Soda isn’t just about romance — it’s about a girl learning to exist in the world without shrinking. The relationship between Uka and Kai deepens, though at the gentle pace that defines this series.

Volume 3 — Growing Connections

The friend group continues to develop, and Uka faces new situations that test the confidence she’s slowly building. There are genuinely sweet moments between Uka and Kai that make this volume a turning point for readers who are still deciding whether to keep going. If you’re hooked by this point, you’ll likely stay hooked.

Volume 4 — Emotional Stakes Rise

By Volume 4, the emotional stakes start to ratchet up. Uka’s growth becomes more visible — not just to the reader, but to the characters around her. New challenges arise that push both Uka and Kai to be more honest about their feelings. This is the stretch where many readers report going from “this is nice” to “I need the next volume immediately.”

Volume 5 — Relationship Turning Point

Without giving too much away, Volume 5 marks a significant shift in how Uka and Kai relate to each other. The romance in this series takes its time — what fans call a slow burn, meaning the relationship builds gradually through many small moments rather than rushing into dramatic confessions. When emotional progress happens, it really lands. This is one of those volumes that fans tend to highlight as a standout.

Volume 6 — New Pressures

As Uka’s world expands, she faces pressures that come from outside her immediate friend circle. The story begins exploring how her growing confidence gets tested by people and situations she can’t control, and Kai’s presence takes on new significance.

Volume 7 — Deepening Trust

This volume focuses on the trust between Uka and Kai, and what it means to rely on someone without losing the independence you’ve fought to build. The emotional writing here is some of Murata’s strongest.

Volume 8 — School Events and Shifting Relationships

School events bring the cast closer together and create new friction at the same time. Uka’s relationships with her friends evolve in ways that feel natural and earned, and the romance continues its steady forward progress.

Volume 9 — Facing the Past

Elements of Uka’s past resurface, forcing her to confront feelings she’d rather leave behind. This volume is heavier in tone than some of the earlier entries, but it deepens the emotional stakes in ways that pay off going forward.

Volume 10 — First Love Complexities

The complexities of first love take center stage. Both Uka and Kai grapple with what their feelings mean and how to act on them, and the supporting cast faces their own romantic uncertainties.

Volume 11 — The Latest English Release

The most recent English volume, released on April 28, 2026, continues to build on the momentum of the previous volumes. The story is firmly in its middle stretch at this point, with the characters more developed and the emotional stakes higher than ever.

If you’re the type of reader who likes to sample before committing to a long series, Volumes 1 through 3 will give you a solid sense of whether Honey Lemon Soda is your kind of story. By Volume 5, most readers know whether they’re in for the full 31-volume journey.

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Will Your Collection Stay Complete?

This is one of the best things about collecting Honey Lemon Soda right now: the series is finished. Mayu Murata brought the story to a close on April 3, 2026, wrapping everything up in 123 chapters across 31 volumes. There are no surprise sequels or continuations expected — the story has a definitive ending.

On the English side, Yen Press still has 20 volumes left to translate and publish after Vol. 11. That’s a significant number. Yen Press has been releasing Honey Lemon Soda volumes at a pace of roughly 4 to 5 per year, so at that rate, the complete English collection would be available sometime around 2030 or 2031. The publisher has been consistent with releases, so there’s no sign of the English edition stalling out.

What does this mean practically?

  • No risk of cancellation mid-story. The Japanese source material is complete, so even if the English release takes time, you know the full story exists and will eventually be available.
  • No waiting in limbo. Unlike collecting an ongoing series where the creator might take a break or the magazine might restructure, Honey Lemon Soda’s story is locked in.
  • Patience required. If you’re the kind of reader who likes to read a complete series all at once, you’ll either need to wait a few more years for the full English run, or read digitally in Japanese if that’s an option for you. Starting now means you’ll be waiting for new English volumes to release — but many collectors enjoy the anticipation and treat each new volume as an event.

For collectors, the completed status is honestly a selling point. You know exactly how many volumes you’re budgeting for (31), you know the series has a proper ending, and you can collect at your own pace without worrying about whether the publisher will drop the series before finishing.

Who Honey Lemon Soda Is For

Honey Lemon Soda is a shoujo romance — a story aimed at a young female readership that centers on emotional connections, personal growth, and first love. If you love stories about a shy protagonist finding courage and falling in love along the way, this is going to feel like it was written specifically for you.

The series ran in Ribon, one of Japan’s longest-running shoujo manga magazines. Ribon titles tend to feature gentle school-life settings, age-appropriate romance, and themes of friendship and self-discovery. That gives you a good sense of Honey Lemon Soda’s tone: warm, sincere, and accessible to younger teens while still being engaging for older readers who appreciate a heartfelt coming-of-age story.

Here’s who will love it most:

  • Slow-burn romance fans. This series takes its time. Uka and Kai’s relationship develops gradually and naturally over dozens of volumes, with small moments of progress that feel earned rather than rushed. If you’re the type who savors every small step forward, you’ll be in heaven.
  • Readers who love personal growth stories. Uka’s transformation from a withdrawn, bullied girl into someone who can stand on her own is the backbone of the series. The romance is woven into that journey, not separate from it.
  • Shy-protagonist enthusiasts. If you’ve ever loved a story where the quiet character slowly finds their voice, this is one of the best examples the genre has to offer.
  • Collectors who want a complete series. At 31 volumes with a definitive ending, you’re investing in a story that actually goes somewhere and wraps up properly.

The length is worth considering. Thirty-one volumes is a real commitment — both in terms of time and shelf space. But the completed status means you’re guaranteed a full, satisfying story. There’s no risk of the series being cancelled or dragging on past its welcome. Mayu Murata told the story she wanted to tell, and it has a beginning, middle, and end.

If you enjoy stories where a reserved heroine gradually opens up through the power of genuine human connection — series like Kimi ni Todoke (another long-running shoujo romance about a shy girl learning to connect with the people around her) — Honey Lemon Soda belongs on your radar. It’s sweet without being saccharine, emotional without being melodramatic, and it earns every one of its 31 volumes.

Grab Volume 1, give it a read, and see if Uka and Kai’s story captures your heart. There’s a very good chance it will.

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