The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes: Ultramarine Vol. 2

Story by Mei Hachimoku Illustrated by Koudon Translated by Alexa Frank 5 stars A fantastic second volume in the series. In this one, we learn more about the tunnel itself as Kaoru and Anzu run experiments to figure out how it works. Their unlikely friendship develops and an old rival turns out to be more…

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Ghost Roast by Shawnelle Gibbs and Shawneé Gibbs

Illustrated by Emily Cannon 3 stars An interesting blend of history and the paranormal with plenty of mystery and secrets. Chelsea has worked hard to shake her past as the “Ghost Girl”. She’s got new, popular friends at her fancy, new school and everything is going just fine. Until she’s forced to work at Ghost…

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Slumbering Beauty, Vol. 2 by Yumi Unita

Translated by Angela Liu 4 stars A fitting conclusion to the story of Yoneko, her friendship with Nerimu, and her unconventional apprenticeship as a slumber spirit. In this volume, we really see Yoneko debating whether she’d like to be a slumber spirit or not. I absolutely loved her connection with Nerimu and how it builds…

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Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith

4 stars For Halloween, Hughie volunteers at Harvest House, a haunted house fundraiser highlighting local ghost stories. But strange things start happening at the crossroads by Harvest House. With the help of his friends, Hughie investigates to determine whether something sinister is lurking at the crossroads. A cool blend of mystery, supernatural elements, and current…

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My New Life as a Cat Vol. 3 by Konomi Wagata

Translated by Molly Rabbitt 3 stars Another fun collection of slice-of-life adventures featuring human-turned-cat Nyao/Nao and his human, Chika. Funny, relatable cat moments such as getting stuck in weird places, adventures in nail trimming, and naughty nibbles. As always, the artwork is so sweet and cute. Humorous, adorable, and light-hearted fun. A nice read with…

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Slumbering Beauty, Vol. 1 by Yumi Unita

Translated by Angela Liu 4 stars An entertaining read with fun little references to Sleeping Beauty. Yaneko loves sleep. But when a sleep spirit named Nerimu gets tired of fighting to wake her up every morning, Yaneko learns there’s much more to the world of sleep. She tags along with Nerimu and finds herself helping…

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The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes: Ultramarine Vol. 1

Story by Mei Hachimoku Illustrated by Koudon Translated by Alexa Frank 5 stars Definitely grabbed this one for its gorgeous cover. I didn’t initially realize it was based on a light novel that was made into an anime. Even without background though, I thoroughly enjoyed this manga. When Kaoru overhears a legend about a tunnel…

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My New Life as a Cat Vol. 2 by Konomi Wagata

Translated by Molly Rabbitt 3 stars Another fun volume featuring Nao’s adventures as Nyao, the cat, with his human caretaker, Chika. The second volume continues Nao’s attempts to navigate life as a cat while also trying to figure out how to reconnect with his human body. Light-hearted slice-of-life story with fun humor and adorable artwork….

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My New Life as a Cat Vol. 1 by Konomi Wagata

Translated by Molly Rabbitt 3 stars After a near-death experience, Nao wakes up… as a cat. His human body is in a coma and he has no idea how he wound up in his new form. While he tries to figure it out, he’s taken in by a high school classmate, Chika, and renamed Nyao….

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Komi Can’t Communicate by Tomohito Oda

Translated by John Werry 2 stars Tadano just wants to blend in at school. But when he meets Komi and discovers her difficulty talking to people, he resolves to help her, even when it puts unwanted attention on him. For me, this one was just okay. Based on the title, I assumed the story followed…

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