Welcome, April! Between a new strain of COVID-19 that has a threatening name (Arcturus!? But also I missed the Kraken strain??) and my springtime allergies have given me more than enough to worry about. You know other than the rising incident of gun violence over in the U.S. and the banning of anything and everything of our Trans friends and family. Also Twitter is on a whole new level of broke, AGAIN. This month sees some releases that Shojo fans will want to take a look at and also some volumes for fans of romance’s spicier side of it as well. Jump in, and take a seat as we get into it!
For The Shojo Heads:
MY GIRLFRIEND’S CHILD Vol. 1 | Mamoru Aoi | $13.99 | April 25, 2023
In this poignant and romantic #shojo drama manga, a teenage couple's lives are changed forever after a positive pregnancy test.https://t.co/lES0bmnpTr pic.twitter.com/nZ4PgTzkLB
— Seven Seas Entertainment (@gomanga) April 3, 2023
Story & Art by: Mamoru Aoi
Translation: Hana Allen
Lettering: Phil Christie
Release Date: 04/25/2023
Price: $13.99
Format: Manga
Page Count: 192
When I first heard the license announcement for My Girlfriend’s Child, I for sure put this one on my-to-read-list! I love Shojo and I love manga that presents stories about real-life issues. This new release follows Sachi and her boyfriend Takara, an average high school couple. From the preview, I took note of the soft and dreamy artwork and the super close relationship of the two teens. Takara, the boyfriend, goes out looking for his beau in the snow as she searches unsuccessfully for their missing family cat.
He comforts her by saying that the cat has probably found shelter (sounds like the feline has done this before and gets her out of the cold). Later some pillow talk reveals some very insightful and genuine conversation between the two that sounds natural, like what teens today sound like. The big reveal is that Sachi, the girlfriend, has been eating more and feeling out of sorts. After buying a pregnancy test she learns the truth and coupled with Takara, their lives are forever changed. I am looking forward to reading this critically acclaimed romantic Shojo drama and I have a feeling that the first volume will be a volume I’ll be talking about for a while to come.
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CINDERELLA CLOSET Vol. 1
Can a plain country girl win the heart of her handsome coworker with the help of an unconventional and stylish "fairy godmother"? A romantic #shojo/#josei manga series!
Out today in print/digital! See RETAILERS section:https://t.co/APiMwfioUJ pic.twitter.com/l0qS8EaCno
— Seven Seas Entertainment (@gomanga) April 4, 2023
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Story & Art by: Wakana Yanai
Release Date: 04/04/2023
Price: $13.99
Format: Manga
Page Count: 192
Translation: Faye Cozy
Adaptation: M. Lyn Hall
Lettering: Elena Pizarro
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OOOOH, yes. I also adore a good shojosei series! Cinderella Closet already looks like a fun read from the little I’ve read so far. Our darling, Haruka, is a “plain Jane” who left the countryside to start her college life in Tokyo. Upon graduating, she had such great hopes to start her adult life and live a grand romance. Real-life rears its ugly head and she’s been busting her butt working and going to school. She works hard to be able to afford to live in Tokyo yet she’s found no time to have a boyfriend or even be a fashionable “it girl” like she wanted to be, sadly.
To complicate the plot, she is head over heels in love with Kurotaki, a coworker at her part-time job. He’s a sweetheart who looks out for her and according to another coworker dropping the news–is recently single! But Haruka won’t and can’t confess–she lacks self-confidence! Enter Hikaru, a glamorous but sharp-tongued fashionista who begrudgingly agrees to play “fairy godmother” for Haruka…I do not know about you but I am getting major Princess Jellyfish vibes and that’s not a bad thing! Gap Moe is wonderful if done correctly! Make-overs are a known trope in romantic comedies, shojo manga, etc but I keep hope alive that this won’t be a tired plot device in this new series. To paraphrase someone on Twitter, “The Shojo Fans Are EATING!”
All the Yuri, PLEASE!
DOES IT COUNT IF YOU LOSE YOUR VIRGINITY TO AN ANDROID? Vol. 1
This sexy #yuri/Girls' Love comedy manga about an office lady and her lovely robot housekeeper is sure to hit all the right buttons!
Out today in print/digital! See RETAILERS section:https://t.co/I7BEbNeRFi pic.twitter.com/fT2DklUbiI
— Seven Seas Entertainment (@gomanga) April 18, 2023
Story & Art by: Yakinikuteishoku
Release Date: 04/18/2023
Price: $14.99
Format: Manga
Trim: 5.875 x 8.25in
Page Count: 172
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Older readers lend an ear! Look, I have read this one and I am telling you that you will want to buy this volume. Read this tagline/quick synopsis: “This sexy yuri comedy about an office lady and her lovely robot housekeeper is sure to hit all the right buttons.” Tsuda Akane is indispensable at the robotics manufacturer where she works, but her colleagues never saw her very sad, hot mess of a home life. High achieving, smart person with no love life or life skills to make her home a livable place. When she drunkenly orders a… *checks notes* maid to help her tidy up, the lady android who arrives is a horny hottie who’s about to give Akane more service than she bargained for! I obviously need to read more but this may be what we wanted Chobits to be. Are you ready to throw me under the bus and beat me with your CLAMP manga special editions? Read the first volume of Does it Count if You Lose Your Virginity to an Android? and get back to me!
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WRAP UP:
I love shojo and as someone who wants to lovingly pester Viz in reprinting a handful of older Shojo titles, including BASARA–I was happy to hear the Seven Seas license announcement on this title by Yumi Tamura!
I am also happy to see another tweet from the Seven Seas Union. See this thread meant to boost community aid for some of their members that need help:
Hello, fellow sailors!
We are still at the bargaining table. At the time of writing, we have yet to reach an agreement—and as such, some members are facing financial difficulties due to medical problems.
This thread is a space to boost community aid for our crew!— United Workers of Seven Seas (@_UW7S) April 18, 2023
That’s it for this month, see you all next time!
