A Little Step, Volume 1

A Little Step, Volume 1 - 176 pages

Mimi Szeto

Summary (From Goodreads)

Yu-kiu Lau is a quiet fifth-year student who dreams of studying overseas and becoming an artist. As she prepares for college applications, though, she can't bring herself to produce new work, paralyzed by perfectionism and the fear of judgment. Everything changes the day she hears music drifting through the school halls and meets the boy behind it, Ho-yuet Lee. Ho-yuet's bad reputation clashes with his gentle presence, and Yu-kiu's fascination with his music leads to an unexpected friendship that begins to build their confidence in their own artistic aspirations.

Review

I enjoyed this one a lot more than other series where a school-age girl makes a connection with a boy in her year with a "bad reputation."  It's definitely on the slower side, as is typical of slice of life stories, but I'd still like to read the next volume if/when it's available.  

Cat Massage Therapy, Volumes 1-3

Cat Massage Therapy, Volume 1 - 128 pages

Cat Massage Therapy, Volume 2 - 128 pages

Cat Massage Therapy, Volume 3 - 128 pages

Haru Hisakawa, Ahn Kiet Ngo (Translator)

Series Summary (From Volume 1 on Goodreads)

Nekoyama, worn out after another long day at the office, stops at a therapeutic massage parlor—only to discover that it’s run by a cat! Not only that, but the cat actually does the massaging?! As the professional “meowsseur” digs soft toe beans into Nekoyama’s aching muscles, his heart warms and his worries melt away. This is only the beginning, as he and other world-weary workers are about to meet the other feline professionals who have mastered pawfully cute techniques to reduce human stress.

Review

This series was so cute and relaxing to read!  It's a purr-fect choice if you're in the mood for a light and fluffy read!  

Spacewalking With You, Vol. 1 by Inuhiko Doronoda

Spacewalking With You, Vol. 1 by Inuhiko Doronoda

Kimi to Uchū wo Aruku Tame ni #1, 224 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Kobayashi just can’t focus--not on studying, not on work--and the adults in his life think he's in danger of becoming a worthless dropout. Then, one day, a strange new presence arrives in his class: an energetic and naive kid named Uno. Kobayashi saves Uno from getting scammed, and that close encounter launches a new friendship. Uno's definitely a space cadet, but Kobayashi can't help admiring the way he floats through life, and before he knows it, he might start feeling his feet lift off the ground, too...

A Vampire in the Bathhouse

A Vampire in the Bathhouse - 208 pages

Niko Izuki, Jacqueline Fung (Translator)

Summary (From Goodreads)

A heartwarming and hilarious comedy manga about a hot vampire who just wants to unwind and the family who runs the bathhouse where he crashes. Escape to a world of steam and relaxation...and get the blood flowing! 

Luka is your picture perfect vampire--he’s good looking, he’s regal... He’s also usually incredibly hungover and exhausted, and wants nothing more than a change of pace from his routine! When he takes a peek into the human world, he finds just the cure he’s looking for--a relaxing bathhouse that will surely cure him of his hangover and rejuvenate him from head to toe. To blow his fatigue out of the water, Luka pays a visit to Mangetsu no Yu bathhouse where he meets the bathhouse’s eldest son, Sakura. But between the bathhouse being short staffed and taking care of his little brother, Sakura has enough to worry about without a bougie vampire being added to the mix!

Review

This was a funny and charming slice of life story with a relaxed pace and a relaxing atmosphere.  I honestly wish it had been made into a series, rather than left as one singular, standalone volume!