Review: KISS & WHITE LILY FOR MY DEAREST GIRL

I'll likely be talking about this again in December, but we're getting a bounty of yuri titles this year unlike anything manga readers have seen previously.  It's not just that Seven Seas is picking up more titles, it's that other publishers are getting in on the act too, as seen with today's review.

KISS & WHITE LILY FOR MY DEAREST GIRL (Ano Ko ni Kiss to Shirayuri o), by Canno. First published in 2013 and first published in North America in 2017.

PLOT:

Ayaka Shiramine is used to being number one.  Her grades have always put her at the top of her class and she's worked hard to cultivate a cool, calm and collected demeanor.  Then she meets Yurine Kurosawa, who manages to be both a better student and better athlete than Ayaka despite refusing to join any teams and sleeping through class.  Yurine isn't interested in that stuff, but Ayaka soon discovers that Yurine is very interested in her personally.  Meanwhile, Ayaka's best friend Mizuki has problems of her own.  She's love with her friend and fellow track team member Moe, but Mizuki is afraid that she's going to get overshadowed by Moe's efforts to bring Yurine onto their team.

Review: MARIA HOLIC

Until today, I wondered to myself "why hasn't anyone made a yuri harem series?  It could be fun, or at least a different take on a very tired genre."

Then I read today's offering, and it not only manage to spoil that scenario, but managed to piss me off in the process.

MARIA HOLIC (Maria Horikku), by Minari Endou.  First published in 2006 and first published in North America in 2009.

PLOT:

Kanako couldn't be happier to be attending an all-girls' high school.  Kanako is not only a lesbian, but she fears men to the point where she gets hives if a man touches her.  Thus, she's all too ready to take in all the beauties around her, even if means constant nosebleeds.  Then she stumbles upon a terrible secret.  It seems that Mariya, the school beauty, is secretly a boy, and he will resort to all sorts of dirty tactics to keep his secret.  Things only get more complicated when Kanako's attempts at making friends end up turning into an impromptu harem of girls, all of whom want to protect her, date her, or befriend her.

Review: STRAWBERRY PANIC

They say that April showers bring May flowers, but in the case of this month it's bringing forth nothing but lilies.  That's right, it's finally time for an entire month of yuri manga!  To kick things off, let's take a look at one of the best-known yuri manga out there.

STRAWBERRY PANIC (Sutoroberi Panikku!), adapted from the light novels by Sakurako Kimino with art by Takuminamuchi.  First published in 2005, and first published in North America in 2007.

PLOT:

For Aoi Nagisa, the illustrious halls of St. Miator Girls' Academy is a chance for her to define herself as a somebody.  In short order, she catches the eye of the school's idol, Hanazono Shizuma.  Shizuma is determined to have Nagisa for herself, no matter how oblivious Nagisa may be to her overtures.  In doing so, the two become the front runners in the annual intermural contest for best couple, but not if some of the other girls from other school have anything to say about it.