It was the day after Christmas and all through the dojo, a lonely echo resounded, so how about some shoujo? Yes, another Christmas has passed. We hope that you were able to embrace the incredible hope of the season,...
It was the day after Christmas and all through the dojo, a lonely echo resounded, so how about some shoujo? Yes, another Christmas has passed. We hope that you were able to embrace the incredible hope of the season, dear readers! And did you receive some gifts as well, maybe a manga volume or two? Well, we have some suggestions for you if you’re looking to maybe get an after-Christmas gift for yourself, with a particular focus today on some recent shoujo classics—how appropriate, too, since manga cannot separate Christmas from romance (it’s a hard and fast rule).
Check out our reviews below for recommendations of manga and light novels to read and those you may want to skip altogether this winter season!
All My Neighbors are Convinced the Female Knight from My Rice Field Is My Wife • A Condition Called Love (Vol. 5) • The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring (Vols. 1-5) • I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness (Vol. 2) • Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love (Vol. 8) • In the Name of the Mermaid Princess (Vol. 1) • Mr. Villain’s Day Off (Vol. 2) • My Poison Princess is Still Cute (Vol. 1) • The Secret of Friendship • A Sign of Affection (Vol. 7)
All My Neighbors are Convinced the Female Knight from My Rice Field Is My Wife, Manga Simulpub, Ch. 1-17
Jin Mita quit the Tokyo salaryman grind a few years ago and moved back to his rural hometown to farm. He’s settled into a steady routine, but then life throws him a curve ball one morning when he finds a beautiful blonde woman unconscious in his rice field. She claims her name is Seraphim and that she’s a monster-slaying knight from another world, but Jin needs some convincing before he’ll buy that she’s anything other than a foreign cosplayer who is way too into her character roleplay. Just as Jin starts to believe her story, however, a new problem emerges when the neighbors get the idea that he’s tied the knot with a bombshell from overseas… Any commercially produced manga, even the all-time greats, is at least partially calculated to be marketable, but Rice Knight Wife truly feels like a product rolled off an assembly line. The premise is flimsy and the plot and characters are all cosmetic variations of things you’ve seen elsewhere. Also, the series is a little too reliant on the weekly fanservice shot to simply be a breezy slice-of-life series with a light side of cute romance (if you don’t immediately realize that Sera has a figure that would make Helen of Troy jealous, don’t worry, the art and writing will drive the point home). You can take it or leave it, but for my money, Sweetness and Lightning did the ‘foodie slice-of-life’ parts better, and A Galaxy Next Door did the ‘romcom with a beautiful but strange woman’ parts better, so just go read Gido Amagakure’s work instead. ~ WacOtaku
All My Neighbors are Convinced the Female Knight from My Rice Field Is My Wife is published by Kodansha through K-MANGA
Mr. Villain’s Day Off, Manga Vol. 2
Will pandas once again keep the Earth safe from the panda-loving villain who plans to take over the world when working, but who on his days off visits the zoo because of the pandas there? His love of pandas indeed may be the only thing keeping Earth from descending into chaos, but he quickly discovers that panda cuteness can come in all forms: steam buns, different kinds of plushies, latte art! Just what kind of “fun” will he have on his next day off, and will the Rangers find out his secret that not even his coworkers know about? This volume was even cuter than the first! I had such a great time reading and very much loved it! The chapters with the sakura tree might have left me feeling a little bit melancholy, but they weren’t bad! It was just not my favorite compared to the other chapters. Some of my favorite moments are the ones with the cat, when the lights go off, the panda steam buns, and the beach scene. Granted, I loved all of this volume, but those moments I think were the highlight! Oh, wait! The pink ranger! I absolutely loved her and desperately hope we see more of her next volume! She is amazing, and I admire her wish so much! Since Christmas is almost here, I also liked the one Christmas chapter and thought it was very heartwarming! Overall, another great volume! I can’t wait to read the next one and see what this super cool villain will do next! ~ Laura A. Grace
Mr. Villain’s Day Off is published by Square Enix.
READ: Mr. Villain’s Day Off Review Vol. 1
In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Manga Vol. 1
If you’ve been looking for a new shoujo mermaid story, let me highly recommend In the Name of the Mermaid Princess! Mio was born as an unhuman in a land where the law says not only is she cursed, but she is not a citizen, despite the fact that she was born as the princess of her kingdom. It seems her only “redeeming quality” is that she will marry Prince Chika and unite their nations, but she first must turn fully human with a medicine she takes every day. However, when an envoy comes to teach her the history of Prince Chika’s nation, everything she has believed about herself is about to be flipped on its head! This was an incredible read and made me very emotional near the end! I didn’t really know what to expect when reading this except for cute art, which I definitely got (the art is stunning!), but I really do feel I got so much more. Seeing Princess Mio have her whole world turned upside down in discovering that she can be her real self and that it can be a reality, even in a country with laws saying that could not happen, was so moving and touching. With every brave step she took, with each new happiness she felt, with the new risks she took for those who were hurting, I was more and more emotionally invested. The focus was very much on Mio, but I am very curious about the envoy, Yuri! There are just a handful of panels that show something is…off about him–not that he is suspicious, but that he is hiding his real self. For what reason, I’m not sure, but it definitely sounds like things are not normal for unhumans in his country either. I will definitely be picking this volume up physically because it very much exceeded my expectations! Highly recommend it if you enjoy stories with mermaids, embracing your real self, and a touch of danger due to standing up to injustice! ~ Laura A. Grace
In the Name of the Mermaid Princess is published by Shojo Beat, an imprint of VIZ Media, and releases on February 6th, 2024.
A Sign of Affection, Manga Vol. 7
After reading this release, I am so excited for the anime! This was a volume that, like previous volumes, I had to read twice because I loved it so much the first time! The story continues to be so beautiful and I felt tears forming at the end of this volume both times! Previously, Oushi hugged Yuki, leaving her feeling guilty even though she did nothing wrong. As Yuki and Itsuomi talk about it, he asks her a question that will massively change her life in the near future. As she is thinking over his question, Oushi gets advice from his friends on what he should do about his growing feelings for Yuki. What’s in store next for this very sweet couple? I consistently admire Yuki’s courage and how she is always steadily moving forward and looking to the future. I feel in this volume we really see her courage shine because I loved the question that Itsuomi asked, but it was hard seeing Yuki struggling with negative self-talk as she thought about his question. All I wanted to do was just bear hug her! It leaves me so thankful for Itsuomi and their relationship because he always brings the swoon (ha!), but better than that, you can really see his heart in all of his actions. There is never any doubt about how deeply he loves Yuki and he will do everything in his ability to grow closer to her and support her. Seeing his reaction at the end as Yuki shared was powerful because he saw her heart and got it. I mean, he tells her in the opening chapter he sees her, but I felt like the ending also showed how much he really does. I am crushed that we have to wait until April for the next volume because this volume was everything and more! ~ Laura A. Grace
A Sign of Affection is published by Kodansha.
READ: A Sign of Affection Reviews Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6
I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness, Manga Vol. 2
More naughty lessons are in store for the very sweet Charlotte, but Allen isn’t the only one who is teaching! This time Allen’s sister challenges him to a match for who can make Charlotte the happiest girl in the world! With a touch of magic, the three of them venture into town where Charlotte will be showered with gifts, and a few “secrets” revealed from both Charlotte and Allen’s pasts. This volume was so wonderful! I really enjoyed volume one but felt unsure whether I would want to continue the series because I didn’t know if it would become repetitive, but that was definitely not the case here! I loved how this volume introduced Allen’s sister and how it led to a battle of “naughtiness” over who could make Charlotte happier! I felt the “battle” was both funny and sad because Charlotte deserves (and needs!) to be happy and I was grateful these two siblings are coming together to make that happen, yet Charlotte really feels uncertain and believes that she doesn’t deserve all the things they are buying for her. There is one outfit specifically that was heartbreaking to see Charlotte in because we see just how far the punishment went when she made mistakes during her time with her ex-fiancé. On the flip side, I thought it was a lot of fun seeing more of Allen’s past and how he met some people he used to know–not only because it was fun to see a new side of him, but also because I will never tire of these male heroes calling their woman “my precious lady”! I only know of one other series where the hero does that, but I’ve been desperately hoping to see another male lead do the same, so thank you Allen for making my shoujo wish come true! Ha! The ending left on a cliffhanger, and as a result, I am eagerly anticipating what’s going to happen next! ~ Laura A. Grace
I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness is published by Vertical, an imprint of Kodansha.
READ: I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness Review Vol. 1
A Condition Called Love, Manga Vol. 5
“Trying new things is always scary. It always makes me nervous. But if it means I can look at the people I love and see smiles on their faces then I want to try, anyway. Change isn’t always bad, after all.” Our sweet couple has grown ever closer as they start their second year of high school, but when Yao confronts Hananoi about his “secret,” he demands that he tell Hotaru the truth. With Hananoi feeling his world might fall apart, will he and Hotaru continue to grow closer or further apart? The fear that I felt when reading this…please do not turn this series into a love triangle! I know that Yao has zero chance with Hotaru, but it’s just frustrating that someone is trying to get a chance. Bro, back up, turn around, and go after some other pretty girl who wants to be with you! Maybe that sounds heartless or mean, but I love this ship so much and really don’t want anyone with romantic intentions interfering with their growing closer to one another. Thankfully, that ending really dissipated all the angst I was feeling! Hotaru has continued to inspire me with her words and actions, especially what she tells Hananoi. I really hope these two will continue to make strides in their relationship, all the while becoming freer as individuals. Cheers to hoping the interloper will not be prevalent next volume and that our couple can continue to express their love and care for one another! Ganbatte! ~ Laura A. Grace
A Condition Called Love is published by Kodansha.
Read: A Condition Called Love Reviews Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol.4
My Poison Princess is Still Cute, Manga Vol. 1
Can a poison princess and an immortal knight really make a relationship work, even if it is just a political marriage that will help their kingdoms be at peace? My Poison Princess Is Still Cute explores just that in this 4-koma manga where the very shy princess, Raffy, keeps accidentally killing Loren, a knight who keeps “respawning” in a new pair of clothes nearby! This is a pretty cute start to a new manga series! I really liked how honorable, kind, and just super sweet Loren is! He is such a wonderful male hero and I very much hope he and Raffy continue to grow ever closer because it’s very obvious how head over heels he is for this poison princess! Speaking of whom, my heart ached a little bit at how she has suppressed her emotions for so long. It was satisfying to see how she started to express herself with Loren’s encouragement, which made the ending very sweet. Just…I really hate the butler. He really fits the role of “pervy character” because why is he pushing his fantasies onto Loren about what he (the butler) wants Raffy to wear? Loren definitely scored big time with me in his response to the imagery of Raffy wearing bikini armor (visualized at the butler’s encouragement), which was to ask who would wear such useless armor because truth! Overall, this was a fairly enjoyable read, but I’m not sure I’ll continue it. If I should keep reading, it will be purely for our main couple because they are super adorable! ~ Laura A. Grace
My Poison Princess is Still Cute is published by Yen Press.
The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring, Manga Vols. 1-5
Is there any sweeter shoujo fantasy romance manga than The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring? Not that I have come by! Aurora is attending an evening party and appreciating the embroidery (a passion of hers) on the sparkling dresses around her when suddenly a ring hits her forehead! As if that wasn’t surprising enough, a young man approaches her saying that the ring has chosen this woman to be his bride! As the two keep up their “engagement” for their own purposes, slowly but surely Aurora and Felix begin to fall in love, and so begins this beautiful love story! I adore this manga so so so much! I’ve read the first three volumes twice now and absolutely loved the chance to reread those volumes as well as two new volumes! With every volume I was giggling and kicking my feet because it’s so fun and sweet! Lord Felix is the perfect gentleman who knows how to bring all the swoon, while Aurora has to be one of the most gracious heroines! The romance is one of my favorite parts of this series, but there are also some very well-drawn-out action scenes that had me leaning in a little closer too! I definitely enjoyed the balance of both the romance and the action! Not only that, but I loved how the fantasy magical aspect is naturally woven into the story. It was nice to see how said magic helped Aurora to start to realize just how much she cares for Lord Felix because this story is very much one of the hero falling first and very hard for the heroine. Volume four starts a new arc, and I was surprised by the mystery and suspense that creates a lurking sense of danger. The first few volumes are so bound with sweetness, first love, and touching moments that I felt pretty caught off guard when the new arc wasn’t quite the same! Ha! Definitely not a bad thing though because I am so excited for volume six and hope it will be released very very soon! ~ Laura A. Grace
The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring is published by Yen Press.
Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love, Manga Vol. 8
I’m so happy Satomi and Yagyu are back! Cue happy sobbing. Don’t get me wrong! Miria and Noda rubbed off on me, especially with this volume, but I love Satomi and Yagyu and have been so looking forward to their return! The first half of this volume starts right where the previous volume ended, and that’s with Miria and Noda spending the night at his place. She fully expects things to happen and prepares herself, but she is taken aback by Noda’s response when she asks him about it. Meanwhile, Satomi and Yagyu are experiencing their first fight ever?! This volume did not disappoint! Their having their first fight was hard to see, but I loved how they grew closer as a result and truly spoke their minds about their feelings. It was wonderful and made me happy because I always wanted these two to be together and happy, and I think that with them having this kind of breakthrough in their relationship, they’ll be just that in the future: Together and happy. While I will admit that the first half of this volume was not my favorite, Noda really surprised me in a good way with his actions and words. Miria was fully prepared for them to be extremely intimate, but Noda didn’t seem to even have that in mind as they spent the night together. In fact, I really loved what he told her: “I don’t want to rush the moments we’re having. Let’s take our time enjoying it.” Whoa! Noda totally shocked me with that kind of statement! Ha! But yeah, he really came around, and I don’t dislike him anywhere near as much as I did at the beginning of the series. Even with that said, I am thrilled Satomi and Yagyu will be back as the focus! I can’t wait for the next volume even though I’m sad it’s the last! Cue sad crying. ~ Laura A. Grace
Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love is published by Shojo Beat, an imprint of VIZ Media.
READ: Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love Reviews Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7
The Secret of Friendship, Manga Standalone
“If someone asked me what I was proud of it would be that I have a best friend.” This was such a beautiful and heartfelt read and it made me feel all the emotions! Eiko and Moe are best friends and couldn’t be more different from one another. Eiko is “average,” timid, and indecisive, while Moe is gorgeous and straightforward. Since Moe is always getting hit on, she tells any guy interested in dating her that they have to date her best friend too, and treat Eiko even better than they would treat her. While this deters most guys, there is one guy who decides it’s worth it in order to date Moe. Just how will these girls navigate these new changes? I wasn’t super hooked right away, but once I saw how deep the friendship was between Eiko and Moe, I could not stop reading. I was even taken aback by how I started tearing up even before I was 50 pages in! The more I read, the more I was thankful for the special friends I have in my life who have been by my side and stood by me, and how they have loved things about me that maybe I don’t necessarily love, and have lent me their shoulders when I felt overwhelmed by life. This story really shows how amazing friendship is and how, even when someone is dating, it doesn’t mean the friendship will fall apart. These two girls put each other first and it was deeply refreshing to see, especially when I expected this to be a heavier story about romance. It was not, in fact, that, which made me a tad sad at first, but it was exactly what was needed for this story. This is a read I can see myself coming back to when I feel lonely and need a reminder that I have wonderful friends who care for me and that I am indeed not alone. Highly recommended! ~ Laura A. Grace
The Secret of Friendship is published by Seven Seas.
“Reader’s Corner” is our way of embracing the wonderful world of manga, light novels, and visual novels, creative works intimately related to anime but with a magic all their own. Each week, our writers provide their thoughts on the works they’re reading—both those recently released as we keep you informed of newly published works, and those older titles that you might find as magical (or in some cases, reprehensible) as we do.
