Review: MY HAPPY MARRIAGE

It's January again, which means once more it's Dealer's Choice Month.  That means there's no theme tying together this month's review beyond the fact that I want to talk about them...or in this case, that the second season of the anime adaptation of this work is currently airing. 

MY HAPPY MARRIAGE (Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon), based on the light novels by Akumi Agitogi and illustrations by Tsukiho Tsukioka, with art by Rito Kohsaka.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2022.

PLOT:

For almost as long as Miyo Saimori can remember, her life has been nothing but misery.  She was the product of a loveless arranged marriage, lacking in the hereditary magical powers that noble families like hers are supposed to possess.  When her mother died and her father remarried, her life became nothing but an endless wave of drudgery, abuse, neglect, and depression.  Miyo has no reason to believe her life could be anything different, even when her father sends her off to be married to the notoriously icy Lord Kiyoka Kudo.

With the help of Kiyoka's kindly housekeeper Yumie, Miyo slowly begins to open up to others and piece together her sense of self-worth.  In turn, Kiyoka finds himself drawn to this strange, sad, lonely young woman, even as outside forces conspire to sabotage their romance before it can properly begin.

Holiday Review #9: THE ANGEL NEXT DOOR SPOILS ME ROTTEN

As far as straight romance manga goes, there was unfortunately plenty of light novel-based wish-fulfillment fodder like this one.

THE ANGEL NEXT DOOR SPOILS ME ROTTEN (Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsu no Ma ni ka Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken), based on the light novels by Saekisan and illustrations by Hanekoto, with art by Wan Shibata and storyboards by Suzu Yuki.  First published in 2022 and first published in North America in 2024.

PLOT:

Amane is your average Japanese high school kid, the kind who lives in a messy apartment, subsists entirely off of take-out, and generally goes through life unnoticed.  He certainly could never compare to the likes of Miharu, the "angel" of their class and his next-door neighbor.  That's why he's so surprised to see her sitting alone in a rainy playground without so much as an umbrella.  What begins as a simple kind gesture to her leads to Miharu taking it upon herself to regularly feed him and clean his place.  Is this the beginning of a romance or merely a relationship of convenience?

Holiday Review #3: DAEMONS OF THE SHADOW REALM

 This year saw the return of many a mangaka who haven't had a new series on shelves for a number of years.  Hiromu Arakawa hasn't been away as long as some, but anytime a new series of hers comes out I have to check it out.

DAEMONS OF THE SHADOW REALM (Yomi no Tsugai), by Hiromu Arakawa.  First published in 2021 and first published in North America in 2023.

PLOT:

For Yuru, everyday was the same in his remote mountain village.  He hunts to provide food for the village, all while staying close to his twin sister Asa.  Then one day their village is attacked by soldiers and people wielding strange creatures called daemons with equally strange powers, and he learn that the Asa he knew is not all that she seems.  On that day, Yuru unseals his own daemons and begins a dangerous quest to discover the truth about the wider world, the disappearance of his parents, and Asa.

Review: THE APOTHECARY DIARIES

 As this 10th edition of the Merry Month of Manga comes to an end, it's time to cover one last oversight.  This has been one of my favorites for the last two years.  If not for the fact that its first volume came out so late in the year, it absolutely would have been in my 2020 Holiday Reviews.  Now it's time to finally give it its due.

THE APOTHECARY DIARIES (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto), based on the light novel series by Natsu Hyuga and character designs by Touko Shino, with story by Itsuki Nanao and art by Nekokurage.  First published in 2017 and first published in North America in 2020.

PLOT:

Maomao didn't ask to be kidnapped and sold to the imperial palace as a servant, but it happened anyway.  She hoped to just work off her two-year contract and return to her father's apothecary in the pleasure district.  Unfortunately her curious nature and knowledge of herbs and medicine lead to her getting elevated to food taster for one of the imperial consorts.  Now when she's not fending off the attention of the handsome court eunuch Jinshi, she's dealing with all sorts of potentially deadly palace intrigue.

Holiday Review: I THINK OUR SON IS GAY

After another awful year, we could all use a good laugh.  Thankfully, Square Enix provided us with a fine comedy about family, understanding, and really poor attempts at staying in the closet.

I THINK OUR SON IS GAY (Uchi no Musuko wa Tabun Gay), by Okura.  First published in 2019 and first published in North America in 2021.

PLOT:

Tomoko suspects something about her eldest son Hiroki.  He keeps talking about guys in his class and the prospect of getting a boyfriend, only to get flustered and try to babble his way out of it.  She suspects he's gay but she's willing to give him the space and support he needs to eventually come out on his own.

Holiday Review: BEAUTY AND THE FEAST

Of course, not every story aimed at young men from this year was so action-packed.  Sometimes it was about more cozy fantasy, like a hot widow who only wants to feed you good home cooking.

BEAUTY AND THE FEAST (Yakumo-san wa Eduke ga Shitai), by Satomi U.  First published in 2016 and first published in North America in 2021.

PLOT:

Yakumo Shuko was a young widow with little to occupy her days until Shohei moved in next door.  He's a high school boy living on his own while attending a local school on a baseball scholarship, largely subsisting off school lunches and convienence food.  Yakumo starts inviting Shohei to her apartment for dinner, something that reignites her love of cooking and eases both their loneliness.  As Yakumo learns more about Shohei, the more their unlikely friendship starts to change...

Holiday Review: MY DRESS-UP DARLING

Thankfully, shonen romances from this year weren't all as bad as Rent-A-Girlfriend.  Square Enix made their debut this year as a manga publisher and among their first titles was a really charming, underrated example of just such a thing.

MY DRESS-UP DARLING (Sono Kisekae Ningyou wa Koi wo Suru), by Shinichi Fukuda.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2020.

PLOT:

Wakana Gojo grew up obsessed with the hina dolls his grandfather makes, but he prefers to keep it secret.  After all, he has no friends as-is.  The last thing he needs to do is open himself up for mockery as a guy who likes old-fashioned dolls.  You can imagine his surprise when his popular, fashionable classmate Marin Kitagawa discovers him working on doll clothes and asks for his help.  It turns out she's got a secret interest in cosplay and she needs someone with sewing skills to make her dream happen.  Thus, Wakana finds himself getting close to Marin in more ways than one.