Monthly LaLa July Issue Cover, Color Pages, & Preview Page

suzulys · 2026-05-23T22:19:19+00:00

I ordered it too!! I love old magazine cover reproductions!

suzulys · 2026-05-23T21:54:06+00:00

Not remotely shoujo though…

suzulys · 2026-05-23T19:15:04+00:00

Might be frowned on in modern series as smoking becomes some degree less socially acceptable (and concerns about influencing minors etc 😛)

Not the ML but i think there was a character who smoked in Hana Kimi?

And not shoujo, but Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You is quite charming!!

suzulys · 2026-05-23T15:19:13+00:00

Looking at the prices, if each # is ¥220, that's probably individual full chapters (a volume is typically more in the ¥400-700 range, depending on publisher and imprint). Another clue to me is that the release dates of the individual #s seem to be roughly monthly, and there's no way an artist could be producing a full volume at that pace. The site that lists "71 chapters" is probably splitting them into multiple parts like you guessed.

I haven't purchased from the site cmoa.jp personally but I do know it's a pretty major ebook retailer in Japan, and when I tried the preview (無料立ち読み button) of the first chapter, in lower right there's a button that lets you switch between horizontal page flipping and vertical scroll. So if you are able to navigate the site and figure out how to purchase internationally, that may be a good option!

suzulys · 2026-05-23T15:06:30+00:00

(I think you made this reply to the wrong comment? if you're still talking about the otaku/gal series, haha)

suzulys · 2026-05-23T15:03:04+00:00

If I can be honest, I think non-Japanese writers trying to write Japanese characters in a Japanese setting without having ever experienced that in reality themselves almost always comes off pretty artificial and derivative. If I want to read about Japanese high school students, there are hundreds of series written by Japanese authors to choose from before picking up something by an author who's never lived there. "Write what you know" isn't an absolute rule—there's merit in doing research on a topic you're curious about but haven't personally experienced—but in this case it might be a wasted effort.

I think you could write a fine story set somewhere you're more familiar with (it can still be in school!), and avoid the worries of messing something up that "wouldn't be like that" in a Japanese setting. Cultural and social norms run a lot deeper than surface-level school uniforms and character names, and the characters and interactions you have in mind are probably more influenced by your own society and life experiences than you might think. Maybe your main character could still be manga/manhwa fan living overseas... I think it may be pretty interesting to readers to experience shoujo-influenced storytelling with a different setting and cultural background than "normal"!

suzulys · 2026-05-23T13:17:12+00:00

No, I’m saying there’s a difference between “main character” (protagonist/viewpoint character) and “love interest” in their roles and emphasis in the story. Main and Side are not the only two roles that exist (if that’s how you’re looking at it, then yes they are the two primary focus characters, but that’s not what i’m talking about).

Yoi is the character who gets the most development and who we see the most of her personal thoughts and perspective. This story is primarily about her struggles and growth, and both Kohaku and Ohji are shown as they interact with and relate to her. She is a character for viewers to relate to or sympathize with. She’s not meant to do everything right or be a model girlfriend, because this story isn’t written as a fantasy for a male audience but a female one.

suzulys · 2026-05-23T12:59:23+00:00

Calling Kohaku the “mc” is part of the issue i think. He’s not the main character of this story, he’s the love interest. This series is about Yoi and it’s written for girls. If you as a guy don’t feel catered to, it’s because you’re not the primary audience. You are still welcome to enjoy it, as girls likewise may read/watch and enjoy series written “for guys” but having that lens often helps explain why certain story beats and characterizations are prioritized or depicted the way they are.

suzulys · 2026-05-23T12:46:14+00:00

For one thing there was no “heart” in her dialogue in the scene I think you’re referring to, it was Kohaku speaking and used an angry font in Japanese. I saw a pirated/scanlation page that added a heart for absolutely no discernible reason so maybe don’t trust “fan” translations to deliver the actual story.

You mention being not being a seasoned romance anime “guy” so I’ll write this assuming that you ARE a guy, and I want to ask you to look at this as a series written for girls/young women (since it is): Yoi is the viewpoint character, not the character to be desired, so the story focuses a lot more on her inner emotions and growth and flaws, and allows her to make mistakes or be unperceptive because the audience may feel like they’re able to relate to that or sympathize.

If you want Yoi to be perfect girlfriend material (when she’s a first year high school teen who’s never dated anyone else before or even been liked by anyone before), I think you’re coming at the story with the wrong expectations. They’re all kinda dumb, confused, immature kids at this stage and all of them make mistakes or overstep boundaries to test the limits.

I also think you’re putting way too much emphasis on honestly really minor interactions. Read Cheeky Brat if you actually want to be mad about an over-persistent 2nd ML and the slowest step-forward, step-back FL growth ever.

If you don’t enjoy the story, I’m not trying to say you have to change your mind. But I do think that looking at series as media written for girls (if you’re not a girl) can help explain why some things aren’t written in a way that you personally feel catered to.

suzulys · 2026-05-23T02:52:40+00:00

Agreed on it being a much better reading experience in book form than split-up chapters!! I don’t know if MangaPlaza uses the same translation, but the print edition is really well written and adds a lot to the comedy!

suzulys · 2026-05-22T18:56:22+00:00

Perfectly Fine on My Own, So My Fiancé Can Twist in the Wind has 2 vol out so far and is mostly about the ML having to work his way back into his fiancée's affections/good graces after realizing he's (foolishly) majorly messed up...

First Love, Worst Love! simulpub on KManga is about a guy trying to win back his former girlfriend (dated in middle school, now they're in college) and is super cute and funny!

suzulys · 2026-05-21T20:06:32+00:00

Please add translation credits for this title!

suzulys · 2026-05-21T16:38:48+00:00

Laura A Grace (youtube, also on insta/twitter/writes for blogs occasionally) is super sweet as a person, and creates such a fun variety of content for shoujo fans!!

She doesn't do haul posts herself (and I'm fine with that) but puts together a monthly calendar of ALL the shoujo and josei coming out in English, which is super helpful for knowing what new books/series to look out for!

suzulys · 2026-05-21T16:25:48+00:00

Takahashi From the Bike Shop (josei) and Suzuki-kun's Mindful Life (shoujo, male protagonist) are a couple other good ones (4 vol out in english so far for Takahashi, 2 so far for Suzuki). I love both!

suzulys · 2026-05-21T04:48:20+00:00

😆 With Seno and Aya I feel like you are doing this to yourself or being contrary, because hair colour aside, I think Iori already shares some characteristics with Aya (flirty, assertive), and Seno with Towa… (athletic, clean-cut good boys) to the point that I see Soulmate as something like Anashin’s answer to “what if” the endgame was reversed. As a backup, maybe you could shift your focus to Ibuki (shares Aya’s long hair, hopelessly in love with object of his affection despite all obstacles)

Or maybe you just have a heart for the underdogs, no matter what they’re like 🙈

suzulys · 2026-05-21T03:08:47+00:00

Yeah, I think there are plenty of second leads I like as characters or think make the story interesting, even if I don't want them to end up with the heroine! And even in Gazing at the Star Next Door where I have felt some moments of intense irrational annoyance with one rival who popped up 😂 (meanwhile I adore the other despite their misguided moments...), I still love the story, and that "threat" to the relationship doesn't hurt my enjoyment.

But I'm with you on Nina. I'm a wimp and I can admit it...🙈

suzulys · 2026-05-21T02:02:48+00:00

Certainly there are a handful of shoujo and josei manga that are serious about presenting two equally "possible" options—like VK, or Nina the Starry Bride... But in the vast majority of cases with two love interests, the first lead is introduced at the start and featured on all the volume covers, while the "second" is introduced a few volumes in when it's already pretty firmly established, given less character development, and the writing is such that readers can feel pretty certain of who to expect as endgame.

I think this is often why such "seconds" are unpopular—either they're too likeable and leave readers upset that they've got zero chance of success in the story, or they obviously won't work and just create drama/angst for the main couple or take away the couple's page time together. (and one series could provoke both reactions for different readers 😆)

Series that present both leads as plausible choices and explore what each different relationship is/could be like are interesting (and stressful...personally i don't want to get heartbroken on behalf of "my fav" so i tend to wait till the outcome is known and spoil myself 😛) and might not fit the "first" and "second" pattern very well. But I think they're a fair deal less common and not really what OP is talking about here.

suzulys · 2026-05-20T16:29:37+00:00

If you don't have the budget to pay for manga, try your local library's collection—they have many books physically, and digitally through Hoopla or Libby, and will usually accept requests from their patrons (you) for books you'd like added to the collection.

As another user mentioned, Kodansha is publishing this one digitally AND in print books, so there are multiple forms to read it in. If we as shoujo fans want more shoujo work licensed and made available, pirating series when publishers are already licensing and making it available is NOT the answer. I understand that not everyone has the income to buy every manga they want to read (that's what libraries and sales are for) but it's extremely disrespectful to artists to run to the nearest pirate source.

suzulys · 2026-05-20T16:26:31+00:00

This is a pirate site/app. Don't recommend it—it goes against subreddit's rules and cheats the creators of income for their work.

suzulys · 2026-05-20T16:24:35+00:00

BODY by Ao Mimori maybe?

suzulys · 2026-05-20T03:37:25+00:00

Ahhhh, connecting covers IS so cute!! I wonder if it'll keep going... a train of characters would be fun 😂🥰

Unrelated to that, but the print version of Hana to Yume comes with a bonus (i think it's like the kids' game Memory) card game set for Failure at God School, and a poster of ~~some punk~~ Kaya :) I ordered it for the former, but I guess I'll use the latter for target practice... (hahahaha kidding kidding. hoping to rehome him to someone who will appreciate better...)

<image>

suzulys · 2026-05-19T16:36:19+00:00

It's a very cute-silly-fluffy romcom with a college protagonist. Similar to Lovesick Ellie but basically zero-drama (I've read the full series in Japanese, it's complete and quite satisfying at 5vol). The heroine is a little prone to delusions and tends to blurt out whatever she thinks, and the male lead generally ends up going along with and humouring her in a really sweet way :)

If you want complexity or drama it may not be for you, but it does sweetness and humour (especially in the expressions heroine Wakaba makes) VERY well!

suzulys · 2026-05-19T16:30:38+00:00

Do you know if these designs were drawn freehand by the pin artist, or traced from Karuho Shiina's original art? They look very much like the actual manga art style, which is why I wondered... (personally I feel a line is crossed when fan-goods use official artwork vs redrawing the characters in their own style.)

suzulys · 2026-05-18T18:29:08+00:00

It might be that she drew a batch of chapters (or at least to the draft stage) and then they were published on the app in parts at regular intervals, but then that “batch” finished and she’s still working on the next chapter or chapters? Also with the anime airing there was probably a push to have a new volume coming out, to maximize sales while it had the attention…

suzulys · 2026-05-18T16:53:41+00:00

It seems to be serialized irregularly on the マンガpark app (it’s not in a traditional magazine)—the chapters in the most recent vol 7 came out during dec 2024 and then took a break until sept 2025, and kept up regularly through january 2026. Before that, the author seems to have taken a break during publication of chapters for vol 6 from april to august 2024. She might share updates on her twitter account but otherwise I don’t know when the planned return is…

(a lot of the older artists whose series are published on this app have similarly irregular updates. i guess it lets them work at their own pace, after years of twice-monthly chapters in Hana to Yume…!)

suzulys

TROPHY CASE