The Villainess's Stationery Shop

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

Plot overview: a young woman ends up in the body of Meldenique, a villainess from a story in which she 1) gets cheated on and 2) dies a horribly sad death with no help from her family. This new Meldenique decides to take matters into her own hands to 1) break the emotionless engagement and 2) legally separate from her family's clutches. All she has to do is hone some magic abilities and figure out how to run her cute children's shop, easy!

Overall score: 9/10; Meldenique's story is so cute and has an air of revenge that isn't too over-the-top. Her knowledge of the 'plot' ... around her offers her a leg up above her unfaithful fiancé and her neglectful family, who both seem to not want to take their claws out of her. Where the story really shines is in the relationships she crafts with the children around her. Her passion truly lives with the shop she builds for herself, and even with all the hot (HOT) men around her who seem intrigued by her, she genuinely pushes to make a simple store where children can come and have fun. The manhwa has a cute art style and Meldenique herself is gorgeous -- as are the male leads (ISAAC ARE YOU SINGLE) -- and the child characters all have their own unique storylines and connections with Mel as she hones her craft. So far, the plot has built a little slowly, but she comes across barriers here and there on her way to a life without turmoil.

TLDR; Mel is basically a Ms. Frizzle to a bunch of kids who are fully enchanted by her, deservedly so. ISAAC HIT ME UP!!!! ISAAC ARE YOU SINGLE HIT ME UP BOO XOXO

I love this manhwa. It takes the very tried and true formula of Otome Isekai and goes interesting directions with it. I especially have a soft spot for Otome Isekai where the FL opens a business and it focuses on that, which this manhwa is. And the most important thing is that I like all the main characters (and hate all the characters you are supposed to hate).

Essentially the plot starts out in a very familiar way with girl being reincarnated into novel as a character who is mistreated by her husband who is the original ML, Meldenique Babelloa. In the novel Meldenique dies ... when he gets with the original FL (who is her sister). Her family hates her so in the first chapter she decides to leave and start a business. Many Otome Isekai try to do the business thing but end up making the business all about romance instead. This story is incredibly concerned with her business as the entire plot revolves around it, which is refreshing.

In typical fashion her former fiancé, Duke Lennox Hessman (original ML) is an absolute pest and refuses to end the relationship between them despite having a lover. I love the way she uses high society frowning upon adultery to keep him in check, even turning his little sister against him.

Speaking of using things to her advantage, I love the FL in this story. She's capable of solving her own problems and frequently manipulates the people around her just enough so things go her way. Like telling partial truths to Dominick, a living spirit trapped in a sword, so they can form a contract and she can put him to work. She just has a massive amount of charm and personality and I absolutely love her. I also love how she gets back at the people who tormented her by being so successful that they can't not take notice of her. I also love how the stationary feels like this dream that she has had forever and is finally able to give children the joy that similar places gave her as a kid. It's sweet and makes all the noble children adoring her and essentially forming a fan club for her to figure out her problems all the better (they all hate Duke Lennox hahaha).

One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the male lead. Honestly, we haven't seen too much of him yet, this review is written from chapter 40 where the FL and ML (Isaac Matiyu Reinhold) have finally met for real (Isaac was hiding his identy for a while). I have a good feeling about him though, he seems to understand that the FL has agency and lets her do things her way. I also want to talk about second male lead syndrome. It's a very normal thing for me to enjoy the second male lead far more than the actual ML in these kind of stories (as the ML's tend to be very bland), and I'm not saying Isaac the pinnacle of personality but Dominick (the "second male lead") has a great brother sister like relationship with the FL that I'm glad isn't being turned into romance. I love their platonic chemistry and the fact that it isn't going to be an awkward romance where she ends up with Isaac is such a win.

Overall, I really enjoy this manhwa from the female lead's personality to the wonderfully charming shop she's opened. While it does have standard elements such as her pervious fiancé trying to get revenge for her humiliation and the overall "mysterious plot that contradicts the plot of the original book" type of thing going on I think the more unique and interesting elements far make up for it and make this a very enjoyable read.

At the time of writing this, I've only read the first 34 chapters. However, I have been reading the novel as it is updated and it's extremely good. I absolutely adore the characters and the plot is very interesting. It's one of those stories where once you start reading, you can't stop.

So far, the manhwa is sticking to the plot of the novel and it's very nice to see the characters. Not all of them are exactly as I imagined, they're better! The main characters are all very good looking, the children are drawn cutely as well. Everything looks very well drawn.

As far as ... characters go, the protagonist Mel is my absolute favorite. She's got a very strong personality, and a 'take no shit' attitude. In one of the very first chapters, she flips off her father and curses at him. She doesn't listen to his threats or demands to listen to him and come back to the family. Still, Mel also has a very sweet and caring side. She takes care of the academy's children by giving them candy and letting them hang out in her stationery store. They love her inventions and the way she always seems to know just what they want. Mel's very business-driven and she will stop at nothing to achieve her dreams in an endearing way.

All in all, this is one of my favorite manhwa of all time and I can't wait for more chapters to be made. I'll be rooting for our dear Princess Mel the whole way! I also apologize if all of this sounded weird, I wrote this at 2 am.