Comic Review: Snug: A Collection of Comics About Dating Your Best Friend (Catana Comics) by Catana Chetwynd

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Release Date: February 2020

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Why bother getting out of bed when you could stay bundled up with that special someone and a book of cozy, cute comics. From the author of the bestselling Little Moments of Love comes Snug, a collection of comics that perfectly captures the honest, playful, and relatable snapshots of romantic life.

Catana Chetwynd’s second book has the same charming and inviting style as her first and includes 50 percent new, never-before-shared comics. Snug is a celebration of the quirks and peculiarities of every one of us—and the magic that happens when we find our matching puzzle piece.

Review:

I will admit that this book didn't hit as hard for me as the first one (maybe since I read them so close?), but it's still very good. If you like the first book, or just Catana's comics from online, you'll enjoy this.

It's a comic based on the simple moments in life, the little moments of a romance. Living together, growing together, the moments that let you two just be together, and also all the silly, funny moments two people can have.

I really enjoy the art style, and the comedy used, and the heartwarming moments, too. It's relate-able and fun. I definitely recommend picking it up.

Manga Review: Ao Haru Ride, Volume 8, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2019

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The popular shojo manga series that was adapted into the Blue Spring Ride anime!

Futaba Yoshioka thought all boys were loud and obnoxious until she met Kou Tanaka in junior high. But as soon as she realized she really liked him, he had already moved away because of family issues. Now, in high school, Kou has reappeared, but is he still the same boy she fell in love with?

Futaba Yoshioka has encountered her first love again in high school, but he seems different from the boy she once knew. Wanting closure, Futaba decides to confess to Kou to hear his response. Meanwhile, Toma has decided it’s time for him pursue Futaba.

Review:

Kou is in a bit of a spiral here, because he's forced to say something to Futaba, while still trying to help his old classmate, and getting pressure from Kominato because he's being an idiot about it all and ignoring his own feelings.

Meanwhile, Kikuchi is being his sweet self, and seeing an opportunity and going for it. He's so very honest and open about his feelings, and I really appreciate that. It's definitely a contrast to Kou, too, and something that Futaba hasn't had too much of.

The last bit of the book featured a one-shot, definitely an earlier work of Sakisaka's. It was cute, with a little less finesse than her stories have now, but cute nonetheless.

We're left on a bit of a cliffhanger in this volume, and I'm curious where it's going next. Whether Kou is going to fix things or make them worse from here.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: A Capable Man by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Blu

Release Date: 2008

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. RightStuf.

Add on Goodreads.

RightStuf Synopsis:

A Capable Man features story and art by Hinako Takanaga.
Shingo has always liked guys who are exceptional. His best friend, Koji, is the smartest, fastest, and hottest guy in school. But what Shingo doesn't know is that Koji has worked hard to be so exceptional - and he's doing it to impress Shingo! Why? He's in love with Shingo of course! But all is about to be revealed, because when Shingo's just-as-impressive cousin comes into town, Koji realizes he'll have to confess everything or risk losing his one true love forever...

Review:

Because of how much I love Awkward Silence, I keep trying Takanaga's other series; the one I can get ahold of, at least. The Tyrant Falls in Love is basically impossible to find at this point, so I've given up on that one, even though it's the one everyone apparently loves.

The first couple chapters feature two childhood friends, and when one grows a little jealous during a conversation, quickly grow into more. It gets pretty steamy pretty quickly, too. No complaints here.

The rest are one-shot stories, one with chefs, another with a couple that might be making a step forward in their relationship. They're all pretty fun, but don't stand out too much. The steamy scenes are pretty good, and definitely aren't lacking in this one.

This was an easy, fun yaoi one-shot volume. Definitely an earlier work of Takanaga's, but better than some of her others.

Release Blitz: Sugarcoated (Hot Cakes, #1) by Erin Nicholas - Out March 24th!

Sugarcoated, the first book in the all-new romantic comedy series Hot Cakes Series from New York Time bestselling author Erin Nicholas is coming March 24th!

A hot, funny brother’s best friend rom com…with sugar on top! 

She's his best friend's little sister. He's known her all his life. He's practically part of the family. There is nothing either of them could do to surprise the other at this point.

Then she showed up in his bedroom in lingerie and asked him to take her V-card.

Now, that was a surprise.

Aiden is pretty sure Zoe was equally surprised when he told her no. 

To say that he didn't handle it well would be a massive understatement. Almost as massive as the amount of work he's going to have to do now to convince her that he wants her. Forever. 

Right after he tells her that he's bought the company that's her bakery’s biggest competitor. 

Maybe if he tells her he’s in love with her first, that will help sugarcoat the whole we're-rivals-in-business-now thing. 

So, first "I'm in love with you", then "take off your clothes", then "I'm now your business adversary".

Piece of cake.

Pre-order your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2tA55YB

 
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Sugarcoated

 
Apple Books: https://apple.co/36BvxzB
Nook: http://bit.ly/39UU6t5
Kobo: http://bit.ly/37Lz6Dk

 
Google Play: Coming Soon!

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/36Etef8

Manga Review: Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts, Volume 8, by Yu Tomofuji

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: December 2019

Volumes: 12+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

As Acting Queen, one of Sariphi's duties is to soothe and comfort the citizens of Ozmargo. Embarking on a journey for this purpose, Sariphi is joined by Randbert, the Captain of the Royal Bodyguards. Randbert's words and actions are anything but royal, and they shake everyone's faith in him...everyone besides Sariphi. But when Lord Brown, the local governor, is attacked, suspicion falls on Randbert. Will Sariphi's trust be enough to clear him? And after being separated from Leonhart for so long, what awaits Sariphi when they're reunited?

Review:

It's to no one's surprise that we see Lante's sad backstory in this volume. And it's, unsurprisingly, truly awful. Which makes how hard Sariphi stands up for him all the more right, as she always sees the good hidden inside people.

Once all of that wraps up, we get some sweetness between Sari and Leo. Their relationship is growing ever closer, and it's sweet and heartwarming, and necessary as their relationship gets more serious and Sari gets closer to being accepted as queen.

There's a little break at the end of the volume, as we get a chapter solely for Ilya. He's still hating on beasts, and then stumbles upon the sweetest little armadillo boy, lost and in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm not sure if this will be a recurring thing, but we do get to see him slowly becoming a better person here.

As always, these volumes are sweet and sappy and full of warm goodness. Always a must buy.

Manga Review: Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Volume 30, by Yuto Tsukuda, Shun Saeki, and Yuki Morisaki

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump Advanced (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2019

Volumes: 36.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 29. 31.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An action-packed, saucy food comedy featuring one boy’s determination to be top chef!

Soma Yukihira’s old man runs a small family restaurant in the less savory end of town. Aiming to one day surpass his father’s culinary prowess, Soma hones his skills day in and day out until one day, out of the blue, his father decides to enroll Soma in a classy culinary school! Can Soma really cut it in a place that prides itself on a 10 percent graduation rate? And can he convince the beautiful, domineering heiress of the school that he belongs there at all?!

The Régiment de Cuisine has reached its final bout! The Council sends in its two best chefs, Tsukasa and Rindo, while the resisters’ hopes ride on Soma and Erina. In this battle of true gourmet between father and daughter, who will walk away the victor—Azami or Erina?!

Review:

We're on the final bout now, which means Erina and Soma against Eishi and Rindo. Erina's father doesn't have any belief in them, as he believes they can't pull off real gourmet food.

There's a lot of food knowledge, and a lot of clothes exploding. It almost feels like the mangaka realized they'd been slacking in that department, as suddenly everyone is in their underwear. It was a bit on the nose, honestly.

It makes sense that Erina gets to make the final show, the final move in the battle. It was her battle with her father to begin with, really, her struggle with their relationship and his teachings. She needed to prove this to him.

I believe the series is ending soon, and I'm curious how it's going to wrap up. It looks like this battle is at the end, at least.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: The Promised Neverland, Volume 14, by Kaiu Shirai and Posuka Demizu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2020

Volumes: 18+

Spoilers?: Yes.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 13. 15.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The children of the Grace Field House orphanage must escape a macabre fate before it’s too late.

Life at Grace Field House is good for Emma and her fellow orphans. While the daily studying and exams they have to take are tough, their loving caretaker provides them with delicious food and plenty of playtime. But perhaps not everything is as it seems…

Review:

Finally, the reunion happens. I knew it was coming soon (that was kind of spoiled for me already), and yet I didn't quite expect this.

This answers some of the questions regarding Minerva, but it also leads to so many potential problems.

The beginning moments are very sappy, because it's so good to see them together again, and their parting was so heartbreaking so many volumes ago. But then it's very bittersweet, because this should be absolutely a good thing, and yet there's a turn of events that changes some things. I understand where each side is coming from, and it's not surprising at all where Emma stands. We're also not fully sure what Norman's plans are, and I don't trust that.

This was a very big volume. It was sweet and potentially awful, and I'm not sure which direction is more prominent just yet.

Still an absolute must-follow series. I highly recommend it and I can't wait to see what happens next.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Comic Review: Herding Cats (Sarah's Scribbles, #3) by Sarah Anderson

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Release Date: 2018

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Adjusting to life as a world-famous cartoonist isn't easy. Terrifying deadlines, piles of junk-food wrappers under a glowing computer screen, and an ever-growing horde of pets....umm, never mind--it's pretty much the same.

With characteristic wit and charm, Sarah Andersen's third collection of comics and illustrated personal essays offers a survival guide for frantic modern life: from the importance of avoiding morning people, to Internet troll defense 101, to the not-so-life-changing futility of tidying up. But when all else fails and the world around you is collapsing, make a hot chocolate, count the days until Halloween, and snuggle up next to your furry beacon of hope.

Review:

I have only just recently started expanding my comedy comics collection, and I've read a bit of the Sarah Scribbles stuff online, so picked this up when it was on sale. Not realizing that it was the third and final book in the set, of course. Thankfully none of it necessarily has to go in order, so not too big of a deal. I could tell it was her more recent work, though, more polished, than some of her earlier stuff.

The protag here is an introvert and a cat lover, and this is mainly comedic strips featuring the struggles regarding the everyday life, only she's also a famous cartoonist. It's all very fun, really. Very relate-able and funny.

About a quarter of the book, at the end, features some advice from a cartoonist to potential artists out there. It's actually a really sweet bit of the book, with heartfelt advice and encouragement. I definitely recommend picking this up, or gifting this book in particular, to the artistically inclined people out there.

Manga Review: Anonymous Noise, Volume 16, by Ryoko Fukuyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2019

Volumes: 18.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 15. 17.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Music and longing collide in this ballad of unrequited love!

Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Luckily, Nino reunites with Momo and Yuzu in high school, but things haven’t played out the way anyone expected…

During day two of Rock Horizon, Yuzu’s concentration is shattered when he spots his mother in the audience. After a quick save from Nino, he leaps from the stage to confront her! Later, after reevaluating his life and the role In No Hurry plays in it, Yuzu gathers the band to make a shocking announcement!

Review:

The concert ends with a bang, surprisingly for Yuzu and not Nino this time. Yuzu has reached a point where he must confront his mother in order to move forward, and he's finally ready to do that.

In the meantime, Nino has finally felt the rush of performing for an audience. And now Momo is realizing that, while he was ahead of her before, she's now trying more things than he is.

It feels like things are finally starting to even-up between the characters and the bands, and thus each character gets to deal with that now.

For a surprise plot, we got to see a romance for their manager, Yana. I hadn't seen that coming, as we haven't gotten much attention from them (or at least I hadn't paid them any real attention), but it was a cute little scene. It was a little scene-stealer, honestly.

I really like all of the characters at this point. I want Nino and Yuzu to reach their potential and do the things they want to do; and I just want Momo to do good and be happy with it. Plus there's all the side characters.

I'm excited to see how this series goes from here.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Seven Days: Monday - Sunday by Venio Tachibana and Rihito Takarai

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2019

Volumes: 2 / 1 Omnibus.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The rules were clear: they could date for a week. But someone forgot to tell love!

On a whim, high school third-year Yuzuru Shino asks out first-year Toji Seryo, who is notorious for being a weeklong lover—he’ll date the first girl to ask him out Monday morning and then promptly dump her by the following Monday! The boys start dating, and by Tuesday, the first inklings of attraction hit. Can Seryo put words to his feelings before Monday comes, or are old dating habits too hard to break?

Review:

I never caught this series when it was released before, and after realizing it was from Takarai (of Ten Count), I was definitely intrigued. It's clearly an earlier work, but still very good, and it's nice to have it all in one volume.

Seryo has started dating a different person every week, in an attempt to get over a past love. None of the romances have worked out thus far, and yet he keeps trying. On an impulse one day, Shino decides to ask him out when the new week starts. Because Seryo doesn't reject the first person to ask, he says yes. It feels like an impulse at first, and yet Seryo takes these possibilities serious, and soon enough both of them start growing attached.

This is definitely a sweeter yaoi series. Not very steamy, and actually not too dramatic, either. Seryo handles his emotions pretty maturely and analyzes his feelings as he goes. There's some minor miscommunication, and they don't discuss with feelings very straightforwardly. But things still work out rather sweetly, and without too much drama.

This was an easy volume to read, and very sweet. I'm glad they re-released it.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!