Manga

Aqua/Aria

Version owned: The Masterpiece
Volumes owned: 7/7
Finished reading? Yes

Akari arrives in the city of Neo-Venezia on the planet Aqua to achieve her life-long dream of becoming an undine - a graceful, fairy-like gondola paddler who guides the citizens and tourists of the city along its watery paths.

Aria is one of my all-time favorite cozy reads. I can count on the art style, the story, the characters, and even the anime version with its animation and music to put me in a good mood or whisk me away for a brief stint of time.

Atelier Marie and Elie: Zarlburg Alchemist

Version owned: Tokyopop
Volumes owned: 4/5
Finished reading? Yes (and no)

Taking place after the first two games that started the iconic Atelier series, Marie returns from adventuring and teams up with Elie, who is wanting to leave school and gain real-world alchemy experience. Follow the pair as they go about their daily lives teaching elves alchemy, reconnecting with old party members, and forming unexpected bonds with demons...?

Fun fact: the final volume of this never came out in English - and I sort of understand why. While I enjoyed most of it, and I always appreciate a piece of Atelier media, there were quite a few parts that slogged, and the story was a bit all over the place. The art style is sooo nice though - very late 90's/early 2000's classic look. It's a cool thing to have in your collection if you're an Atelier fan, but otherwise, I would proabbly skip this one.

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout

Version owned: Udon
Volumes owned: 1/1
Finished reading? No

Reisalin Stout, known to her friends and family as Ryza, is a simple farm girl with a simple life on the quiet island of Kurken. One day, after venturing off the island for a summer adventure, she encounters two mysterious people who introduce her to the world of alchemy, and her life changes forever!

Review coming soon!

Cardcaptor Sakura

Version owned: Collector's Edition
Volumes owned: 3/9
Finished reading? No

After accidentally setting a magical set of cards called the Clow cards into the world, elementary school girl Sakura takes on the job of finding, capturing, and harnessing the power of each.

Review coming soon!

Cat Massage Therapy

Version owned: Seven Seas
Volumes owned: 3/3
Finished reading? Yes

Salaryman Nekoyama stumbles upon a massage parlor after a long day at work - but! It's not just any parlor - it's a massage parlor run by the cutest cats you'll ever meet! These cats warm the heart of Nekoyama and his fellow colleagues during their random, fun adventures.

As a fellow cat lover, this is such a fun read. It's so cute to see the cats interact with the humans. Very easy and quick read if you're looking for something to bring you out of a funk.

Clover

Version owned: Hardcover Collector's Edition
Volumes owned: 1/1
Finished reading? Yes

Kazuhiko is tasked to free and transport Su, a mysterious "Clover" child - a child born with magic and kept close watch by the military. Not only that, but Su is the most powerful Clover known, with a 4-leaf clover tattooed on her. As the two travel together, they realize they share more in common than previously thought.

This summary was super hard to write, because Clover is so avant garde, and there's so much more to it than what I've wrriten. I believe this is the closest CLAMP has gotten to writing science fiction, and I am so sad that it was never fully realized, because it is absolutely beautiful. What is written has a somewhat satisfying conclusion for how out there the story is, but I did find myself wanting to stay in the world of Clover a little bit longer.

A Condition Called Love

Version owned: Kodansha
Volumes owned: 9/? (Ongoing)
Finished reading? No

16-year-old Hotaru witnesses the most popular boy in school get broken up with, and comforts him during one snowy evening. Little does she know, this boy, Hananoi, finds this act of kindness so romantic that he asks her out the next day! Unfortunately, Hotaru doesn't understand what love is, so she is hesitant to say yes. These two help each other discover what love is truly meant to be.

Review coming soon!

Full Moon O Sagashite

Version owned: Shoujo Beat
Volumes owned: 1/7
Finished reading? Yes

Mitsuki's lifelong dream of becoming a pop star is threatened at the discovery of throat cancer at the young age of 12. She meets two shinigami who warn her that her life will end in a year, and Mitsuki uses this - along with shinigami magic - to finally pursue her dream, along with the motivation she has held on to from her childhood friend, who she hopes she will one day meet again.

I read this online, but I would love to get the physical manga, as I'm a big Tanemura fangirl. It's a sweet, touching story, though I did find myself wishing throughout the story that Mitsuki was a little older (her pop idol form is 16, but her original form is only 12). Nevertheless, I was caught by the twists and turns, and I felt it had a satisfying conclusion. It's one of Tanemura's most popular works for a reason.

A Galaxy Next Door

Version owned: Kodansha
Volumes owned: 1/6
Finished reading? No

"Ichiro Kuga, a struggling shōjo manga artist, unexpectedly becomes the guardian of his younger siblings after their father's death. To support them, he rents out rooms in his apartment complex and works tirelessly on his manga. Facing low sales and looming deadlines, his situation seems dire until Shiori Goshiki, a talented novice artist, becomes his assistant. Together, they navigate the challenges of the industry. However, their lives take a strange turn when a supernatural incident leads Shiori to declare them engaged. Now, Ichiro must balance his new relationship with Shiori while managing his responsibilities and pursuing his passion for manga."— Wikipedia

Review coming soon!

The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl

Version owned: Square Enix
Volumes owned: 5/9
Finished reading? No

In an world where descendants of mythical creatures live among normal humans, Himuro heads to his first day at his new job, hoping his powers from being a descendant of a snow god don't ruin it! What he didn't expect, however, is to meet cool-in-her-own-way Fuyutsuki, also starting her first day. She and Himuro share many days in and out of the office together, along with their new co-worker friends, Komori - a descent of a fox god, Saejima, Katori - a descent of a phoenix, and Otonashi.

Review coming soon!

Idol Dreams

Version owned: Shoujo Beat
Volumes owned: 2/7
Finished reading? No

31-year-old office worker Chikage Deguchi longs for her life at 15. After seeing her high school crush and being humiliated at their reunion, she is offered a drug that allows her to become 15 for 6 hours at a time. While in this form, she is scouted to become an idol, and she begins to live a double life.

Review coming soon!

I.O.N.

Version owned: Shoujo Beat
Volumes owned: 1/1
Finished reading? Yes

High schooler Ion believes that a jinx she has chanted since childhood brings her good luck. When she meets Mikado, president of the school's unofficial psychic powers research club, she examines one of the club's special objects, chants her jinx, and flies into the air! Mikado now believes Ion has psychic powers and continues to study her and her skills as the two become closer.

I believe I.O.N. is Tanemura's first work, and it's a great introduction to her, though it is definitely the weakest of her work. It's short, not super memorable, but it's still very pretty. I probably need to re-read it again to be honest, the last time I read it was over a year ago.

Kimi Ni Todoke

Version owned: Shoujo Beat
Volumes owned: 4/30
Finished reading? Yes

Sawako Kuronuma - known by her classmates as "Sadako" due to her long hair and aloof demeanor - wants to become more outgoing and make friends. Inspired by her popular classmate, Kazehaya, Sawako vows to become more friendly, and less "ghostly".

Classic shoujo, I'm sure most of you have at least heard of this. If you're not a fan of slow-burn romance, this is definitely not for you. Some points I found myself getting incredibly frustrated at the miscommunication and pace, and honestly, the side characters saved this story for me. Yes, of course I loved that Sawako was able to come out of her shell and be admired by her class by the end - a complete 180 from the start - but truthfully, Ayane's and Chizu's storylines were way more compelling. I was also shocked at how little yet how quickly Kurumi and Sawako's friendship developed - with what I had heard about the way people talked about them, I was expecting to see a lot more of Kurumi. That being said, I still enjoyed my time with the series - it's like a warm hug, a comfort that you can go back to whenever life is feeling a bit too real. They really felt like my friends by the end, and I'm going to miss my time with them and wonder what they're doing now.

Magic Knight Rayearth

Version owned: 25th Anniversary Box Set
Volumes owned: 3/6 (1/2 boxes)
Finished reading? No

Three girls are whisked away from Tokyo tower to the land of Cephiro to save a captured princess by using elemental-based magic, weapons, and mechs.

Review coming soon!

Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland

Version owned: Tokyopop
Volumes owned: 1/1
Finished reading? Yes

A series of short stories about the titular Miyuki, who finds herself in various magical situations with a plethora of very beautiful women who all have one thing in common - their desire for Miyuki.

Oh my gosh this book is so weird, haha. From what I remember it's very sexual, and all towards a possible minor, which made me a bit uncomfortable. One of the few works of CLAMP that makes it hard for me to recommend them to anyone. I guess you'll enjoy it if you like vulgar yuri comedy? ^^;

Ne Ne Ne

Version owned: Yen Press
Volumes owned: 1/1
Finished reading? Yes

Koyuki is married off to Shin, a much older man, in order to help her family. However, much like Koyuki, Shin is very inexperienced in love, and he has vowed to not be physical with her until she turns 20. The two learn what it means to be husband and wife platonically, as well as help each other with showing their feelings more.

This manga was suprisingly cute and wholesome, despite the plot. Shin treats Koyuki with the utmost respect, including respecting her boundaries. I have a hard time getting past the trope of adults not having any romantic/intimate experience (especially when they're seen as conventionally attractive) - but it worked here.

The One I Love

Version owned: Tokyopop
Volumes owned: 1/1
Finished reading? No

A collection of short stories on how love and romantic relationships are different for all kinds of people.

Review coming soon!

Paradise Kiss

Version owned: 20th Anniversary Omnibus
Volumes owned: 1/1
Finished reading? Yes

Yukari, a high school girl unsure of what she wants to do with her future, stumbles upon a group of fashionable creatives working under the name of Paradise Kiss. In order to help them get ready for their school's final fashion show, Yukari is recruited as a model, and her life is suddenly taken on a whirlwind of romance, drama, and dreams.

This book was so dramatic, and it had a lot of heart. Ai Yazawa's character designs are so unique and mesmerizing to look at. I can understand why Nana overshadows it, but a fan of any of Yazawa's work should definitely give this a read. I'd love to read the manga that started it all as well - Neighborhood Story.

Phantom Thief Jeanne

Version owned: Shoujo Beat
Volumes owned: 1/5
Finished reading? No

By day, Maron is a regular high school girl. By night? She is Phantom Thief Jeanne, tasked to steal paintings where demons like to hide. After Phantom Sinbad appears on the scene, she now has to make sure that she is the first to steal the paintings!

Review coming soon!

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

Version owned: Eternal Edition
Volumes owned: 2/10
Finished reading? No

After helping a cat with a bandaid on her head, 14-year-old Usagi Tsukino is told by said cat, Luna, that she is Sailor Moon, one of the guardians of space. She, along with other awakened teenaged girls, is tasked on finding and awakening the moon princess in order to save the future of the world and the kingdom she rules.

Review coming soon!

Revolutionary Girl Utena: After the Revolution

Version owned: Shoujo Beat
Volumes owned: 1/1
Finished reading? Yes

A collection of short stories set 20 years after the events of Revolutionary Girl Utena. We catch up with former members of the student council as they reflect on their time at Ohtori Academy. They all share a nagging feeling that there was someone very important there who they once knew....

This was an interesting way to revisit the Utena series, but I'm not sure if it was necessary? It feels more like fanservice than anything susbtantial. Chiho Saito has even gone to say that these stories were written as a celebration of the 20-year-anniversary, rather than a meaningful attempt at continuing the story. It's a fine read, and Saito's art is stunning, but you aren't missing anything crucial to the world of Utena by skipping it, imo.

Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura

Version owned: Shoujo Beat
Volumes owned: 12/12
Finished reading? Yes

Sakura, a young teen in the Heian era arranged to be married to a prince she doesn't love, discovers that she is the granddaughter of Kaguya, princess of the moon. Using her newfound abilities, Sakura fights demons and enemies by transforming into a magical girl with the power of the moon on her side.

Magical girls + Arina Tanemua = something I'll automatically like. It's not her most popular work, and I don't really understand why. I personally think her art and paneling is at its best here, and the story is exciting and dramatic, yet still easy to follow. Writing up this summary and review makes me want to re-read it honestly, haha.

She and Her Cat

Version owned: Vertical Comics
Volumes owned: 1/1
Finished reading? Yes

Miyu navigates the world of adulthood with her sweet cat, Chobi, by her side, narrating and musing about their time together.

Just typing out the summary makes me tear up, lmao. It's so sweet. If you're a cat lover, you need to read this. The bond one has with their cat is honestly unmatched.

A Sign of Affection

Version owned: Kodansha
Volumes owned: 9/? (Ongoing)
Finished reading? No

Yuki, a deaf girl, enters her first year of college, out on her own for the first time. There she meets Itsuomi, a lover of travel and learning languages. The two bond over their desire to discover different worlds - Yuki, the outside world, and Itsuomi, the world of Yuki.

Review coming soon!

Takane and Hana

Version owned: Shoujo Beat
Volumes owned: 18/18
Finished reading? Yes

Stepping in for her sister, Hana attends an arranged marriage meeting for Takane, the heir of a highly-profitable company. Takane attempts to play mind games and manipulate Hana, but quickly realizes he has found his match, and she's not so quick to put up with his shenanigans!

I'll be straight up about it - this is an age gap romance (Hana is 16 at the start, and Takane is 25). However, they do not officially date until near the end of the series, and they only kiss maybe twice? It's very wholesome, innocent, and fun. Also, the age gap is discussed a few times between the leads and others, so it isn't completely ignored, which is nice. If you want a lighthearted comedy romance, give this a try.

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku

Version owned: Kodansha
Volumes owned: 6/6
Finished reading? Yes

On her first day at her new job, Narumi runs into her childhood friend, Hirotaka, and immediately panics - she left her last job due to her secret of being an otaku coming out, and now her secret is threatened again! This time, however, things seem different, as now she has co-workers - including her superior, shoujo-loving Kabakura, and the beautiful Kyonagi, who moonlights as a famous cosplayer - who can relate to her. Not to mention Hirotaka, the aloof video-gamer who seems to harbor some unresolved feelings for Narumi....

This is one of the best slice of life manga I've ever read. It's funny, it has great art, the characters are super relatable, the situation is also relatable (saying this as a person who works a corporate job and being...well, who I am)...it just has all the ingredients to make a classic.

Japanese Volumes

These are physical manga I have in Japanese. I...can't read them (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞

Wishlist

Physical manga on my radar that I have no volumes of yet.

• Ao Haru Ride
• Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card
• Chobits
• The Gentleman's Alliance Cross
• Kimi Ni Todoke: Soulmate
• Kitchen Princess
• Neighborhood Story
• Sailor V
• Time Stranger Kyoko