I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 4 by Okura

Translated by Leighann Harvey 5 stars Absolute perfection. This is such a wonderful, wholesome series. This volume focuses on friendships growing apart, stereotypical assumptions and society’s conditions on acceptance, body image, and gender norms. I love how much Tomoko has developed and learned through her interactions with Hiroki as well as her coworkers. We also…

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Cat on the Hero’s Lap Vol. 2 by Kousuke Iijima

Illustrated by Shiori Translated by Alan Cheng and Rowena Chen 4 stars Another hilarious volume of adventures with Red, Grace, Aina, and, of course, Mr. Cat. The party continues their quest to defeat the Demon King, leveling up, encountering new foes, and meeting some new cats. Includes many relatable cat ownership situations such as going…

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Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek

3 stars A Gothic fantasy with cozy Polish charm. This is an interesting read in its duality with the blending of Slavic folklore and Polish culture. On one side is baking, found family, and homemaking, and the other is magic, bargains, spirits, and demons. I didn’t particularly care for either of the main characters or…

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Voyage de Gourmet by Paul Tobin

Illustrated by Jem Milton 2 stars Layne Green wants nothing more than to secure a spot on the extreme cooking competition, Voyage de Gourmet. But when he’s finally invited on the show… his former best friend will be his partner, leaving him a little confused. Can they get past their falling out to make it…

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Nearer My Freedom: The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano by Himself

by Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge 5 stars A biography in verse using found poetry from Olaudah Equiano’s own autobiography. I absolutely adored this format. Fantastically constructed. The found verse format was done in a way that made the text and narrative more accessible to a modern reader without losing the original intent. Throughout the…

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My Sister, The Cat Vol. 2 by Senko

Translated by Liya Sultanova 5 stars Another adorable collection featuring Neneko and Nekota. Heartwarming slice-of-life comics with plenty of cute sibling antics. From cooking together to helping with a fear of the dark, this book is so sweet. I love Neneko and Nekota so much. As with the first volume, the artwork is so cute….

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I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 3 by Okura

Translated by Leighann Harvey 5 stars Another fantastic collection of comics. There are so many interesting interactions at play in this volume from secret crushes to coworkers, parents and siblings to friends. We see more dynamics between Hiroki and his father in this volume, which were well done. I loved how the family countered Akiyoshi’s…

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Mage and the Endless Unknown by SJ Miller

3 stars An odd little story filled with darkness, horrors, and unexpected light. A mostly wordless tale about a little mage who sets off into a world of mysterious monsters to help heal the cursed land. The artwork is hauntingly beautiful. Loved the blend of cuteness and horror. Great for fans of Over the Garden…

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Rainbow! Vol. 1 by Sunny and Gloomy

2.5 stars Adorable artwork, a sweet supporting cast, and plenty of trauma to go around. The adorable cover and sweet synopsis did not prepare me for what this book was actually about. Despite being reduced to a single mention of “a complicated home life” on the back cover, the bulk of this volume is actually…

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Our Dining Table by Mita Ori

Translated by Amber Tamosaitis 5 stars Absolutely adorable. A nice, slow-paced story exploring human connections and overcoming past trauma. Yutaka has a hard time eating with other people. He isn’t close with his family and he finds it difficult to connect with others. But after a chance meeting with two brothers, their cooking sessions soon…

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