Life lessons with Uramichi san screencap. The male lead is smoking a cigarette while staring at his friends in disbelief. One is holding a fish in the air.

Life Lessons with Uramichi Onii-san

Name: Life Lessons with Uramichi Onii-san
Mangaka:Kuze, Gaku

Volumes: 11 (Ongoing)
Licensed: Kodansha (Digital and Print)
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy/Slice of Life/Psychological
Age Group: Older Teen

Summary:  
How did the cynical Uramichi end up hosting a TV show for small children? And how long is the studio going to let him keep teaching the kids the sorrow and exhaustion of life instead of, say, the ABCs? This dark comedy manga started as a webcomic and became a bestseller across Japan.
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 4/5
Plot Rating: 4/5

Opinion: When it’s discussed how Josei and Shoujo are so much more than just romance series like Uramichi Onii-san stand out.

The art is fantastic and super modern. Amazing job using the art for comedic effect.

I’m a sucker for slice of life and comedy, and a dark comedy at that? Sign me up! Urumichi is more comic strip or vignette style where each chapter has it’s own plot rather than relying on the over arching plot. There are long term plots and lots of different characters but still very entertaining.

The older I get the more relatable the series is. If you are a fan of absurdism you will love this series. I don’t know how else to describe it, it’s so unique and whatever it is, it does it well.

Final Rating: 4/5

Extra: There is an anime I highly recommend!

Purchase:
Book Walker
iBooks
Kindle
Kobo
Google Play
Nook

Screengrab of Tamons B-Side manga. The male lead leans on the heroins back falling asleep as she is surprised.

Tamon’s B-Side

Name: Tamon’s B-Side
Mangaka: Shiwasu Yuki

Volumes: 9 (Ongoing)
Licensed: Viz (8 Volumes: Digital (App) / Paperback)
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy
Age Group: Teen

Summary:  
High schooler Utage Kinoshita works part-time as a housekeeper so that she can afford her fangirl obsession with Tamon Fukuhara, her favorite member of boy band F/ACE. When work serendipitously sends her to the home of her idol, she discovers that the real Tamon couldn’t be more different from his wild and sexy onstage persona.
Tamon is an insecure mess in real life, and what’s worse, he’s threatening to quit! Utage refuses to let anyone stand in Tamon’s way – least of all himself. What’s a fangirl to do but roll up her sleeves and support her favorite singer with everything she’s got?

–Mangaupdates

Graphics Rating: 3/5
Plot Rating: 3/5

Opinion: I’m gonna be honest I have only read a couple of volumes but I couldn’t not take the very weak male lead. It was very grating for me. But I know shoujo needs variety and the plot is kind of interesting!

Another confession: I guess good art would have pushed it over the edge for me but I really didn’t like the style. It felt retro and plain at the same time very sketchy. It feels like it was trying to emulate the late 90s and early 2000s but it just doesn’t land well. It’s super BUSY as well which is annoying.

The male lead is an annoying loser and that’s the main plot point which is interesting. The heroine is kind of annoying as well. The whole thing is just not my style which is why I’m going to be very gentle with my rating.

The plot is new and it is interesting. That said I will probably sell the volumes I own. I would read this on the Viz Subscription app but it’s not on there so I’m just jumping ship.

Final Rating: 3/5

Extra: n/a

Purchase:
Kindle
Kobo
Google Play
iBook

The heroine looks up at the male lead with worry in her eyes, He is surprised. This is a screenshot from Tonari no Stella

Gazing at the Star Next Door (Tonari no Stella)

Name: Gazing at the Star Next Door (Tonari no Stella)
Mangaka: Ammitsu

Volumes: 7 (Ongoing)
Licensed: Kodansha (Digital and Print)
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy/Slice of Life
Age Group: Teen

Summary:  
Chiaki is a pretty normal teenage girl. Since they were kids, she’s had a thing for her best friend Subaru. Who’s fast becoming the hottest young actor in Japan! With Subaru threatening to slip away, Chiaki has a decision to make: Will she finally take her shot, or give Subaru up to his adoring public?
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 4/5
Plot Rating: 4/5

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screenshot from Veil by Kotteri. The heroine leans on the male lead as he light a cigarette.

Veil

Name: Veil
Mangaka: Kotteri

Volumes: 6 (Ongoing)
Licensed: Udon Entertainment (Print)
Type: Manga
Genre: Vingette, Slice of Life
Age Group: Everyone

Summary:  
Like a classic film, he and she encountered each other by chance. He was an on-duty police officer in the city. She was a runaway heiress. When he learned that she is looking for work, he decided to welcome her as the police station’s telephone operator. This was the beginning of the everyday lives of he and she and the delicate distance between them.
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 5/5
Plot Rating: 5/5

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Screencap of Fall in Love you False Angels. The male lead glances at the heroine as she grins mischievously.

Fall in Love you False Angels

Name: Fall in Love you False Angels
Mangaka: Coco, Uzuki

Volumes: 4 (Ongoing)
Licensed: Kodansha (Digital and Print)
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy
Age Group: Teen

Summary:  
Otogi Katsura has had a reputation for being a beautiful girl at school since she entered the school. She is also named president of the class committee, but the vice president, Ichi (Ninomae), is also reputed to be a pretty boy. Unlike her public face, Otogi Katsura is an outspoken character and a martial artist in her own right. She is attracted to the perfect Ichi, who is also perfect on the inside, but she wonders if he also has a dark side.
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 4/5
Plot Rating: 4/5

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