⚤ sʟ

An office romance in a dystopian city, complicated by amnesia, clones, and evil corporations.
Confusing at times, especially if read in multiple sittings, but very captivating. I could see this as a movie.

Art: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

A doujinka patiently and lovingly builds a relationship with a fan of his work, a neurodivergent young woman traumatized by her past.

It’s heartwarming to see their little victories.

Art: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Read this when I was younger and it still hits. The granddaughter of a yakuza boss chooses to teach rather than follow in her family’s footsteps. She takes the school’s delinquents under her wing, tries to keep her true identity a secret, and finds love in the process.

Art: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

A mysterious man, Rob, is released from prison after serving a 100-year sentence. With nowhere to go, he is taken in by a young waitress named Shelly. The pair become partners in crime while slowly unraveling Rob’s past.

Art: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

A Japanese criminal, Goro, was asked by his superiors to marry a Chinese woman, Kai Pan Lan, so that she could get a visa to work as a prostitute in Japan. The two had never met. This short yet poignant manga takes place after her untimely death.

While on the way to settle her affairs, Goro discovers the tragic letters Kai Pan Lan had written to him.

*read left to right
*better quality scans on mangadex: https://mangadex.org/title/2124/poppoya-love-letter

Art: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

A suicidal teacher and a convict on death row manage to find hope and love at the end of their ropes.

I’d put off reading this for too long. It’s highly acclaimed for a reason.

Art: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

A cute, slow-paced slice of life manga about a salaryman, Takuma, and his robot wife, Mina.

(minor spoilers ahead)
What really sold me on this manga is when Mina went to get upgrades to her body. She had the option to get human facial expressions a more conventionally attractive body.
Takuma
-preferred her as she was,
-left the choice entirely up to her, and
-would support her either way.

Art: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Office romance set at a bath product/cosmetics company. A developer with a secret smell fetish finds inspiration for soaps by smelling his shy, self-conscious coworker’s body.

As strange as their meeting may be, they eventually have the healthiest relationship with the best communication that I’ve ever seen in a manga.

Art: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

A refreshingly realistic and humble romance between two blue collar workers.

Art: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

A love triangle: a woman with two jobs, her lessor, and an older doctor.

A relatively mundane premise made extraordinary by its expressive art and willingness to show the ugly side of relationships, working, and adulthood.

Art: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★