Starting our list today is Aoi Uroko Se Suna no Machi (City of Mermaid Scales and Sand), a moving drama about whimsical mystery and growing up. After her parents’ divorce, Tokiko and her father move from the city to a sleepy seaside town as soon as she starts the sixth grade. In this strange coastal town, the townspeople hold an annual festival to honor the Sea People – and soon, Tokiko is recalling the distant memory of drowning at sea and being saved by a mermaid. Are there really mermaids in the ocean, or is it just a fantasy…? A beautiful tale about the boundary between childhood fantasy and coming of age, Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand is a duology with the first volume coming February 2023.

Ibite konai gibo se gishi (My stepmother and stepsisters are not evil) is a Cinderella-inspired tale that breaks tradition and upends all tropes! Mia is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family, and when her mother dies, she is forced to live with her father and stepmother. She’s convinced she’s about to endure a life of slavery and misery at the hands of her evil stepsisters – wait, her new family is actually that cute?! A hilarious and heartwarming comedy about looking back at past performances and finding family happiness, My Stepmother and Stepsisters Aren’t Evil is set to release in May 2023.

A poignant standalone volume about scented asexuality and the societal pressures of romance, Kimi no Sekai ni Koi Wanai (Is Love the Answer?) explores the concept of asexuality through the lens of youth. Amidst all her friends talking about crushes and boyfriends, high schooler Chika feels like an alien. He has never felt anything romantic nor does he have any desire for physical intimacy. When Chika enters college, she learns that there is one word that best describes her – asexual. After years of battling with the concept of love and attraction, can Chika find peace with her own definition of normal? This thoughtful exploration of sexual identity is completed in a single volume and will be heading to your local bookstore in January 2023.

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To meet your fantasy needs, we have the manga adaptation of the web novel, Ryuuou Heika no Gekirin-sama ~Hon Suki Nezumi Himedesuga, Naze ka Ryuuou no Saiai ni Narimashita~ (The Dragon King’s Imperial Wrath: Falling in Love with The Bookish Princess) of the Rat Dynasty). The Rat Clan, the weakest of all the Thirteen Animal Clans, has been summoned to the palace of the terrifying and powerful Dragon Clan. The Dragon King seeks a new bride, but the book princess Ruying doesn’t show up in the running – she’s banished to the Dragon Clan’s library and nearly forgotten. But seven days after her arrival, her future changes when a handsome man from the Dragon Clan finds her and professes his love! Can the infamous Rat Dynasty princess find true love? Imperial Wrath of the Dragon King: Falling in Love with the Bookish Princess of the Rat Clan is complete in 3 volumes in Japanese, and the first English volume will arrive in May 2023!

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An engaging, full color story about a man doing a very different job! Our top pick for josei manga in 2023 is Shokuba to Jitaku de Gap no Aru Papa (Gap Papa: Daddy at Work and at Home). A frosty looking salaryman whose co-workers think he’s handsome and distant… and has no idea he’s a loving father and husband at home! From being cool and icy at work to showering his wife with kisses and playing silly games with his daughter, this “gap” dad has a beautiful, fulfilling family life that will put a smile on your face! Coming to spectacular full color, this heartwarming tale about married life and a loving father will be arriving in February 2023 at all good bookstores near you.

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