Treasure Box

Has some of my favourite elements of fantasy and whimsy in a real-life setting. Very delicately done.

Touching and quaint story in an old-fashioned setting, it's a bit different from anything else I've read and, though gentle, not boring.

This is an almost-perfect comedy-with-romance, I really love this one. It also has my favourite feature of a balanced couple, both with strengths and weaknesses and mutually vulnerable and supportive.

Stick with it for the first few chapters, and then fall in love with sweet and imperfect Machida-kun.

A lovely long shoujo one to sink your teeth into. I do enjoy stories showing the main character developing their talent/profession.

Another one where I enjoy reading the development of the MC's skill and profession (cooking) as she matures as a person. One thing I quite like about this MC is that she stays quite girly and feminine while being also being tough and spirited, all as a natural part of her character. (I like strong female characters but don't like it when it feels like they're strong to make a point to the exclusion of having a well-rounded character.) NB: Sloow romance.