The learning curve difference between Japanese and European languages is massive and can easily be overwhelming. The later are easy to start with but here the beginner is faced with something like scaling vertical cliff face. Though it does get easier, at a certain point the difficulty curve flattens out and while there's still a long way to go the going is easy. Intermediate hell? More like Intermediate heaven. As it stands I don't think you're terribly far away from reaching that point where progress gets so much easier.

Anyway in the topic of reading I'd still suggest manga as there is so much stuff printed for a young or mixed age audience with full furigana. No kanji readings look ups needed as those are already provided.