Need to cool off in the summertime? Looking for the perfect beach read? I’m sharing a round of recommendations for Summertime manga you can read by the poolside or at an outdoor picnic. From Slice of Life to Romance here are five recommendations for summer manga reads.
I Hear The Sunspot
Kohei is used to being misunderstood and labeled because of his hearing disability. Taichi is the first person to really see him as a human being and not judge him by his labels and treats him with great care. It was heartwarming to read this manga and I liked how it deals with some heavier topics laced within the story. There were a lot of nice tender moments, and I liked the characters so much! This was a definite cozy romance read and it’s a story about self-discovery and understanding.
Recommended For Readers That Enjoy: Drama, Romance
Spy x Family
The story follows a spy who must “build a family” to execute a mission, not realizing that the girl he adopts as a daughter and the woman he agrees to be in a marriage with are a mind reader and an assassin. The manga and anime adaptation of this series has been a blockbuster hit and the hype is totally deserved. The mixture of elements: thriller, action, comedy, and a bit of slice of life mixed in means there’s something for every reader to enjoy. The true charm of this story is that the characters are the heart of the story.
Recommended For Readers That Enjoy: Action, Comedy
Phantom of the Idol
This musical comedy series follows an upcoming idol singer, Yuya Niyodo, and his anything but “idol” persona. He originally joined the idol career scene because he thought it was easy money and in reality, it turns out that he actually has to put in the hard work. On the brink of giving up due to the stress of the job, Yuya meets the ghost of Asahi Mogami. At the core of the story when you put the glitz and glamor aside, this story has a lot of heart. It’s a series about fulfilling dreams and finding your path.
Recommended For Readers That Enjoy: Music Themes, Comedy
Flying Witch
Flying Witch gave me instant Kiki’s Delivery Service vibes while reading this series. The story follows Makoto, a witch-in-training, and her daily adventures of trying to hone her skills. It’s a simple slice-of-life manga where fantasy and magic meet a mundane routine. From her daily interactions with family, to unsuccessfully crafting spells, it’s entertaining to follow Makoto as the main character. She’s got a lot of charm and there’s just something about her that makes her likable and easygoing to others.
Recommended For Readers That Enjoy: Slice of Life, Cozy Reads
Oto-Men
This is a series that is lighthearted but also talks about gender stereotypes. The main character, Asuka, is expected to act very masculine by his peers and family, but he’s a softie at heart. He loves to bake along with other hobbies but feels as if he has to keep things a secret. The conversation of stereotypes plays a big role in the story and eventually, things shift to a more positive outlook. I will say this series has a refreshing take on the Shojo genre with a very positive narrative.
Recommended For Readers That Enjoy: Shojo, Romance, Comedy
What manga do you recommend reading for the summertime?