This week’s Reader’s Corner features reviews of two premieres: that of a “starting-over” romance, Re-Living My Life with a Boyfriend Who Doesn’t Remember Me, and a supernatural josei tale, GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST! But there’s plenty more besides, including the latest volume of Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms and the moving one-shot manhwa Your Letter. Check out our thoughts on these works and let us know yours!

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture (Vol. 4) • Bless (Vol. 2) • GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST! (Vol. 1) • I Want a Gal Gamer to Praise Me (Vol. 2) • I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness (Vol. 6) • Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms (Vol. 5) • Re-Living My Life with a Boyfriend Who Doesn’t Remember Me (Vol. 1) • Your Letter

Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms, Manga Vol. 5

Mona’s childhood friend Tomo has gone and done it now—that girl just roped her, Medaka, and several of her friends (or in the case of Asahi, her arch-rival) into a group trip to a nearby amusement park. All with the intent of pushing Mona to finally recognize that she’s absolutely in love with the class’s (seemingly) immovable stoic. As for Mona, she’s still clinging to the story that she only wants to charm Medaka because her pride as the school’s queen bee won’t tolerate a boy dismissively brushing off her advances. But that cover story is becoming so tattered and flimsy that a single incident might be all it takes to finally destroy it… Medaka is the kind of romantic protagonist I really should find annoying. It’s blatantly obvious that his Buddhist sect’s rules on romantic relationships have loopholes (his father and grandfather are clergy in that same sect), but he’s never connected the dots. He says, “Worldly desires begone! I must obey the precepts!” so often that he can sound like a broken record. And despite supposedly being in training to eventually join the clergy, we never see him doing anything remotely religious outside of obeying the one rule which conveniently creates the central conflict of the story. But even with all that, he’s still strangely likable in some ways. He genuinely wants to do the right thing in his relationships with the girls in his life and tries to balance respecting their feelings without compromising his beliefs (however awkwardly he goes about it). Maybe it’s also because, as the son of a Baptist pastor, I can’t help seeing my high school self in parts of him. Mostly in the awkward parts. Despite having every warning sign for a character who should faceplant on the ground, Medaka sticks the landing. Just to force the “fast food” analogy for one more review: as a romantic Main Character, Medaka certainly isn’t a Whataburger Patty Melt or In-N-Out Double-Double (we can’t all be Hitohito Chadano), but he does rise above the level of a completely generic Big Mac… so maybe he’s a Wendy’s Baconator?~ WacOtaku

Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms is published by Kodansha.

READ Reviews of Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms: Vol. 1 // Vol.2 // Vol.3 // Vol.4

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I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness, Manga Vol. 6

Allen and Charlotte are officially a couple, and Allen is determined to have the perfect first date! However, someone is out to get Charlotte again?! To make sure things go without a hitch, Allen ensures that Gosetsu and Lü take care of any “enemies,” while Allen keeps Charlotte oblivious and happy on their date! Excuse me as I squeal and kick my feet, because this volume was too cute! Yes, it had danger, but Allen, being the gentleman he is, makes sure no harm comes to Charlotte in any way, especially on their date! The antics he goes through to make sure she is oblivious to everything make me laugh, but also giddy because of the amount of times he gushed about her internally and outwardly! There were quite a few panels I wanted to take pictures of just because he was so adorable! (He and Charlotte together, really, because those were some of my favorite parts, seeing absolute joy on their faces!) And not just him, but Charlotte too! Oh my goodness, the way she is being brave and moving forward in courage had me almost getting teary-eyed! I am so proud of her and so very happy over how Allen has changed her life for the better! When he pointed out how she is doing “naughty” things now for fun rather than counting grains on the floorboard as “fun,” I thought the tears would flow and not stop for a little bit! Ha! It really shows how far she has come, and I honestly can’t wait to see how she will continue to grow! The parts with Lu and Gosetsu were pretty funny! I love how friendly they are with Allen, in that they will do anything for their sweet Charlotte! Ha! Plus the transformations were fun! Another exceptionally well-done volume that has lots of cute romance, fun shenanigans, and a little bit of action, but most importantly, a whole lot of heart as we watch one young woman grow and transform with the support of her boyfriend and friends. ~ Laura A. Grace

I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness is published by Vertical, an imprint of Kodansha.

READ Reviews of I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5

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GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST!, Manga Vol. 1

There simply aren’t enough josei manga on my slate, so when a new one appears, I get excited. Their portrayal of female characters is typically so far removed from what you see in shonen or shoujo fare that it feels like a breath of fresh air. And indeed, that’s the case with Akechi, the lead in GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST!, a supernatural manga released by Yen Press. She’s immediately introduced as “the other woman,” but in a layered way that is neither fully without judgment nor like a caricature. Akechi has been jilted by her lover, fired by her company, and forced to pay a settlement to her ex’s wife (which, as the manga’s notes explain, is a thing in Japan!). If that sounds both painful and mildly funny, you get the humor that this series is going for. Akechi is a mess, but it’s because of that personal chaos (and her good heart) that you pull for her as she places real curses on the mean people she encounters. Yep, that’s right, curse—the titular ghost in this series is “Big Sis” Masako, a spirit who wants to help Akechi but is as off-kilter as she is. Together, they find ways to exact a deserved sort of penalty on people who abuse dogs, take advantage of others, and do other awful things, while focusing on the grand goal of Akechi avenging herself against her ex. There’s a charm to the story (and particularly to the main characters) that keeps it from being too eye-rolling when it comes to accepting the duo’s vengeful nature; there’s also conflict on the horizon involving an exorcist (and possible love interest?). That foreshadowing aside, it’s difficult as ascertain where this series is really going or if it’ll be satisfying, but volume one is at the very least memorable and features some cool art to boot, especially when Masako goes into full-on poltergeist mode. GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST! is a series worth keeping an eye on. ~ Twwk

GOGOGOGO-GO GHOST! is published by Yen Press.

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I Want a Gal Gamer to Praise Me, Manga Vol. 2

Volume one of I Want a Gal Gamer to Praise Me was, yes, full of ecchi moments, but there were hints that the series could also convey warmth and meaning. Volume two, though, falls fully and only into “pandering to male reader mode.” It’s almost mechanical in the rise and fall of ecchi panels in each chapter; I followed this rhythm of how the sexuality lands: ecchi ecchi ecchi ECCHI ecchi. And while the fanservice is supposed to be accompanied by humor, warmth, and charm, the writing is miserable, and the pacing a mess, so all that stands out is, to be frank, Rio’s chest as it leans, pushes, busts through, etc. It’s a real shame, not only because of the hope I had after volume one but because the line work on the characters is really nice. The faces are especially pretty—that is when they’re not flushed and looking “impish” as the double entendres fly. If volume two is any indication, there’s not much to this story, but hopefully, mangaka Geshumaro can find his voice and write something worthy of his skills as an illustrator. ~ Twwk

I Want a Gal Gamer to Praise Me is published by Yen Press.

READ I Want a Gal Gamer to Praise Me: Vol. 1 Review

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Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture, Light Novel Vol. 4

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture is at times a highly captivating work and impressively written, and at times…not so much—and this Jeckle and Hyde quality typically holds true within the same chapters. Take the first of the three stories (there are two chapters and an “extra” chapter that’s more of an extension of the second) in volume four, for instance. Following the structure of previous volumes, this is the more standalone chapter in this volume, focusing on an apparent supernatural activity (the 4:44 curse in this case) and Takatsuki’s detective work in solving it. The curse is fun to read about, and the mystery once unraveled is mildly clever, but the denouement feels too cheap and too easy: the co-workers connected to the curse all end up with relatively tidy conclusions. There’s a lot of building that goes into this story and the others, but portions of each feel cashed in. The poor writing is more apparent in the second, longer story, because that chapter, which allows for a deeper dive into the mysterious professor’s past, is otherwise so involving. The good is so good that the bad sticks out like a sore thumb, with very elementary characterization of parents and children and descriptions of parental relationships, almost ruining the story for me. Other instances of poor writing likewise could have been solved with more time, more research, and more editing. Alas, we’re left with a solid mystery featuring increasingly captivating leads that could be an “A,” but is dragged down to a “B” by the failing tidbits throughout. There’s still plenty here to keep me entranced for future volumes, but I hope that the weaknesses are addressed and we’re presented an excellent series, which Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture otherwise promises to be. ~ Twwk

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture is published by Yen Press.

READ Reviews of Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3

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Bless, Manga Vol. 2

“Take the plunge, enjoy the ride, and you’ll make it through that vast and rocky ocean.” Aia and Jun both realize that they both want to pursue their dreams of becoming a makeup artist and a model for real. Having tasted victory at the school runway fashion show, both of them move forward in making those dreams a reality, but very quickly realize that achieving their dreams won’t be easy. With the nudge of a mentor, Aia even attends a class at a new school in the hopes he’ll learn more about makeup and grow his skills. Another very strong volume! I didn’t feel it was quite as gripping as the first volume for some reason, but once Aia goes to the school Mirror, I felt invested and hooked! I think there is something powerful about seeing your dream awaken, as well as seeing people who take a similar dream seriously, and as a result being able to grow because of those said people around you. It’s not like Aia is not skilled at makeup, but now that he has a new freedom that allows him to pursue his dream, it’s like pedal to the metal of learning everything he can and soaking it in. I find that very inspiring to read about and thought it incredible how he really drew out a certain character’s personality when doing their makeup! I did miss seeing Jun in this volume! I mean, we saw a little bit of her, but I don’t feel she was the focus nearly the same way as volume one. However, the ending leads me to believe we will be seeing a lot more of her again, which I’m looking forward to because she is such a fun character! I was surprised by how fast I read this volume, and know it’s because once I was caught up in Aia’s excitement and drive to learn, I had to keep reading and see how this volume would unfold! ~ Laura A. Grace

Bless is published by Kodansha.

READ Bless Vol. 1 Review

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Re-Living My Life with a Boyfriend Who Doesn’t Remember Me, Manga Vol. 1

Oriana and Vincent were a happy couple about to graduate, but somehow both ended up dying and waking up in the bodies of their seven-year-old selves?! Clinging to the fact that Oriana did live a previous life because of the memories she has, she aims for her life to unfold the same once again by enrolling at the same magic academy as Vincent so she can meet him once more. When she sees him for the first time since their deaths, she is overjoyed! However, it’s short-lived because he doesn’t remember her or even know her name! I’m not one for super angsty reads, but this was so good and I need volume two ASAP! I loved every single moment, including the times when it felt like my heart was being torn in two, which happened more often than not! Ha! But thankfully there were some humor and some really sweet moments woven throughout, so I didn’t feel like my heart was too devastated when reading! Ha! Oriana is an incredible heroine, and I deeply admire her positive attitude and her perseverance in not giving up! She really brings this first volume to life, and I found myself swept up in her emotions, especially with her expressions because she is so over the top, but not in a bad way! But goodness, though! Her heartbreak in the beginning was very real! I even felt tears about to form in my own eyes! I didn’t feel too strongly towards Vincent unless it was in Oriana’s memories. I definitely wouldn’t say I disliked him, but his best friend Miguel makes him more interesting, I think? He doesn’t seem like the previous lovestruck young man, but because he isn’t, it also made for very compelling storytelling because I wanted to know if he would change, and how and when that change would take place. The ending leads me to believe that Oriana’s affections are impacting him and that a romance between these two isn’t farfetched, which leaves me feeling happy and relieved because I need them together! Definitely will be rereading this! ~ Laura A. Grace

Re-Living My Life with a Boyfriend Who Doesn’t Remember Me is published by Seven Seas.

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Your Letter, One-Shot Manhwa

Your Letter is beautiful, meaningful, and moving—one of the very best one-shots I’ve read. This bound adaptation of the beloved webtoon is a nostalgic look at kids all trying to do the right thing but inhibited by forces outside of their control. And though magic is involved, the antagonists are not fantastical—they are more mundane, like societal pressure, sickness, and bullying. Especially bullying. In the East, where it remains as major an issue as it is in America, several excellent and nuanced stories have been put to print that really do a nice job of helping the reader feel what bullying victims are experiencing, while offering some gentle and nonjudgmental guidance. The latter is really emphasized here by two characters, in particular, who refuse to be bystanders; their story becomes equal parts encouraging and disappointing, cheerful and tearful. And though the ending is a bit abrupt (and it should be, in the flow of the story, but maybe needed a tad bit more padding), the story—from introduction to conclusion—is a most beautiful tale of how we have the power to affect others positively and profoundly, if we are brave enough to do so, and of how we need each other when making the “right choice” leads to us being torn down. The artwork also is very pretty, and the characterization has a mystical feel that connects well with Korean culture. I’m looking forward to reading more from Hyeon A Cho, who apparently has a new series out; here’s hoping that Yen Press will bring that one over to us as well. ~ Twwk

Your Letter is published by Yen Press.

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“Reader’s Corner” is our way of embracing the wonderful world of manga, light novels, and visual novels, creative works intimately related to anime but with a magic all their own. Each week, our writers provide their thoughts on the works they’re reading—both those recently released as we keep you informed of newly published works, and those older titles that you might find as magical (or in some cases, reprehensible) as we do.