REVIEW: ‘An Incurable Case of Love,’ Vol. 3 

Self-quarantine has put me in a manga binge, and one of my favorite finds is An Incurable Case of Love, published in English by VIZ Media and created by mangaka Maki Enjojo The series follows Sakura, who, after witnessing a handsome and charming young doctor save a stranger’s life five years ago, trained to become a nurse. But the training wasn’t just out of wanting to save lives, no. Instead, it was to get closer to the man she met. When she begins her training at his hospital, things don’t quite go as she expects when her long-time love, Tendo, ends up being a Dark Lord with a mean streak towards his co-workers.

The last volume ended with Sakura being grabbed by a stalker, her and Tendo’s relationship still in limbo, and a lot of questions as to where they would go. Now, An Incurable Case of Love Volume 3, which encompasses chapters 11 to 15, we hit the ground running as Tendo shows up to save Sakura from the stalker. Only, she jumps in between them, getting injured along the way. Her injury, which leads to hospitalization, also prompts her to spill her true feelings to Tendo, to which he promises to become her boyfriend.

On the other side of injury, Tendo keeps up his promise, and the rest of the volume revolves around how their romantic relationship intersects with their jobs. While Tendo pushes Sakura to keep it secret, a new nurse with her eyes set on the Dark Lord enters the story and pushes the two to decide. Additionally, Tendo sees his competition in the form of Tendo, who has been offering Sakura advice and friendship when she needs it – even at night. While the typical tropes of a josei are here, stalker, love triangles around both main characters, and of course, the boss-employee dynamic, An Incurable Case of Love executes them well and uniquely.

Beyond that, the way the adult romance between Tendo and Sakura is showcased is both humorous and slightly relatable. Who do you talk to when things aren’t moving as fast as you want in a new relationship? How do you approach sex when you haven’t done it before, and how do you turn down advances that aren’t genuine? It’s a complicated dance that Enjoji maps out extremely well in this volume. But beyond that, there is a growing understanding of their relationship that comes off as genuine – even in their miscommunication. The only thing I didn’t like was the inclusion of chapter 15, which shows the two going on a small trip together. I’m used to seeing traveling confined to their own arcs, so it felt slightly out of place.

Overall, the typical josei romance beats work in An Incurable Face of Love‘s favor. Instead of making you roll your eyes, it’s charming, and the hospital setting puts you in a hospital drama frame of mind, which gives this title an edge over other boss-employee stories. With the end of Volume 3, it’s clear that things are about to heat up, and if this story is anything like Enjoji’s Happy Marriage?!, then I’m looking forward to the intimacy that’s to come.

An Incurable Case of Love Volume 3 is available through online booksellers now.