Sunday 4 September 2016

My Month in Manga - August

I've not been reading as much manga lately, but I've been introduced to some new mangaka.

Idol Dreams #1

 
I read part 1 of Idol Dreams, a manga with echoes of Big where 31 year old virgin Chikage wishes she could go back to her teens.  When her wish comes true, she finds herself thrust into a world of fame and sharing her first kiss with a teen idol. 

I liked Tanemura's art style and found this an easy, entertaining read - I'll definitely be continuing this series.

Kisses, Sighs and Cherry Blossom Pink
 


This f/f manga collection is set at Sakuraki High, an all girls' school and follows the relationships of the pupils and staff based there.  Nana and Hitomi's relationship is the main focus of the collection, and in many ways I felt the other couples were surplus to requirements.  I loved the bond between the two girls and especially that it had the ups and downs of any partnership.  Full of angst, romance and emotional turmoil, I couldn't read this book fast enough! 

Milk Morinaga's art is absolutely beautiful and exactly the style I find most visually appealing.  I will definitely be looking out for more of her manga. 

Saturday 3 September 2016

Recently I've Read - August 2016

Searching for a Silver Lining - Miranda Dickinson
 
 
The Blurb
It began with a promise . . .

Matilda Bell is left heartbroken when she falls out with her beloved grandfather just before he dies. Haunted by regret, she makes a promise that will soon change everything . . .

When spirited former singing star Reenie Silver enters her life, Mattie seizes the opportunity to make amends. Together, Mattie and Reenie embark on an incredible journey that will find lost friends, uncover secrets from the glamorous 1950s and put right a sixty-year wrong.

Touchingly funny, warm and life-affirming, this is a sparkling story of second chances. Perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern, Searching for a Silver Lining will take you on a trip you'll never forget.

My review of this book will be posted on publication day on October 20th...but I loved it!

 
 
Aimee and the Heartthrob - Ophelia London
 
 
The Blurb
This Entangled Teen Crush book contains references to drug use, drinking, some sexual content, and lots and lots of kissing. Its swoonworthy hero may ruin all others for you. He never noticed her before, but now she's all he can see…
 
 Miles Carlisle is every teen girl’s fantasy. His rugged good looks and exotic British accent have helped catapult his boy band, Seconds to Juliet, to super-stardom. But after two disastrous and very public breakups, Miles isn’t interested in dating just any girl; he wants The One. And the only girl he’s interested in is not only his best friend’s little sister - and off-limits - but won’t even give him the time of day…
 
As a kid, Aimee Bingham had a huge thing for Miles…until he made fun of her for always tagging along. Now that she’s outgrown both him and her pigtails, the prospect of spending two weeks on tour with the childhood crush who broke her heart isn’t exactly enticing. Except now Miles seems interested. Very interested. And no matter how hard Aimee tries to resist him, her crush is definitely making a comeback.
 
But everyone knows that falling for a heartthrob is a backstage pass to heartbreak…
 
I blogged about this book in my post #Boybandlit which you can find here.
 
#PleaseRetweet - Emily Benet
 
 
The Blurb
Social media whizz kid, May Sparks has landed her dream job. Well, not quite, but the salary is great and all May has to do is handle the online profiles of C – list celebrities who have the tendency to say inappropriate things. Easy, right? #wrong

May’s clients include an ex big brother star (who she's definitely not going to sleep with #neversaynever), a disgraced TV presenter (who wants May to sort out his marriage as well as his Twitter account), and a woman who once flashed her boobs on X-factor. They're all relying on her to turn them into stars. But they're not going to make her job easy.

Sucked in to her virtual world, May loses grip on her real life. Friendships suffer and romance looks increasingly unlikely. If she doesn't log off soon, will there be any one real left?

I read this book as part of the #SummerImpulse reading challenge.  You can read my full review of it here.

 
A Library of Lemons - Jo Cotterill
 
 
The Blurb
A poignant story about dealing with grief through the magic of reading and friendship.
 
Calypso's mum died a few years ago and her emotionally incompetent Dad can't, or won't, talk about Mum at all. Instead he throws himself into writing his book A History of the Lemon. Meanwhile the house is dusty, there's never any food in the fridge, and Calypso retreats into her own world of books and fiction.
 
 When a new girl, Mae, arrives at school, the girls' shared love of reading and writing stories draws them together. Mae's friendship and her lively and chaotic home - where people argue and hug each other - make Calypso feel more normal than she has for a long time. But when Calypso finally plucks up the courage to invite Mae over to her own house, the girls discover the truth about her dad and his magnum opus - and Calypso's happiness starts to unravel.
 
My review of A Library of Lemons will be online soon.
 
Idol Dreams - Arina Tanemura*
 
 
The Blurb
At age 31, office worker Chikage Deguchi feels she missed her chances at love and success. When word gets out that she's a virgin, Chikage is humiliated and wishes she could turn back time to when she was still young and popular. She takes an experimental drug that changes her appearance back to when she was 15. Now Chikage is determined to pursue everything she missed out on all those years ago--including becoming a star!
 
For teen audiences.
 
You can read my thoughts on Idol Dreams in my post My Month in Manga - August, coming soon.
 
What have you been reading recently?  I'd love to know!