Best of
Slice-Of-Life

2019

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 1


Suu Morishita - 2019
    But when a chance encounter on a train leads to her meeting friend-of-a-friend and fellow student Itsuomi-san, her world starts to widen. But even though Itsuomi-kun can speak three languages, sign language isn't one of them. Can the two learn to communicate the budding feelings between them?

The Hands of the Emperor


Victoria Goddard - 2019
    An impulsive word can start a war.A timely word can stop one.A simple act of friendship can change the course of history.Cliopher Mdang is the personal secretary of the Last Emperor of Astandalas, the Lord of Rising Stars, the Lord Magus of Zunidh, the Sun-on-Earth, the god.He has spent more time with the Emperor of Astandalas than any other person.He has never once touched his lord.He has never called him by name.He has never initiated a conversation.One day Cliopher invites the Sun-on-Earth home to the proverbially remote Vangavaye-ve for a holiday.The mere invitation could have seen Cliopher executed for blasphemy.The acceptance upends the world.

The Savior's Book Cafe Story in Another World (Manga) Vol. 1


Kyouka Izumi - 2019
    As a bookish thirty-something, she has zero desire to go on some big adventure...so when she arrives in the strange new land, she decides to use her magical powers to create a cozy little book cafe instead. But when a fellow savior starts causing trouble, Tsukina might just have to play the hero, after all!

See These Bones


Chris Tullbane - 2019
    Damian is just hoping to save himself.In the post-Break world of superpowers, necromancy is the one gift nobody wants. Everyone knows what happens to Crows; they go mad and they go bad. That's the story of infamous mass murderers like Crimson Death, Gravedigger, and Sally Cemetery. It's also the story of David Jameson, an otherwise unremarkable man who came home one day and killed his wife, orphaning their five-year-old son, Damian.Thirteen years later, Damian has inherited more than just grey eyes and a beak of a nose from his father. He too is a Crow, doomed to become a killer unless he can find a way to avoid the violent madness endemic to his powers. When a Finder offers enrollment at Los Angeles' Academy of Superheroes, he jumps at the chance, believing training could be the key to changing his fate. His classmates despise him, the majority of his teachers want him expelled, and his mom's ghost hasn't said a word since reappearing when he was nine, but Damian isn't the kind to give up. He's going to take control of his destiny or die in the process.It's that or end up like his father. See These Bones is a post-apocalyptic, superhero, coming-of-age ghost story... with expletives.

Inso's Law


Yuhan - 2019
    But even in the world of fantasy novels, her role is no different. Stuck as the childhood friend of the heroine, her normal everyday life comes to an end, becoming more twisted by her strong character.

I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 1


Okura - 2019
    While he's away at work, mom Tomoko and her two beloved sons Hiroki and Yuri go about their everyday lives--going to school, making dinner, doing homework, etc. But now that Hiroki's in his first year of high school, his thoughts are turning ever so slightly to sex and romance...and his mom can't help but notice his slips of the tongue when he's talking about who he likes. Supportive Tomoko has an inkling Hiroki might be gay, but she's going to let him figure it out for himself. Unfortunately, Hiroki has little talent for keeping his "secret," so he might die of embarassment before all is said and done!

The Chronicles of Amberdrake


Loren K. Jones - 2019
     Drake Standralson is granted a gift by the Chaos god as a reward. Drake rashly says, "I want to be a Mage. The most powerful Mage that ever was." His wish is granted. The catch -- the most powerful mage that ever was happened to be the dragon Dandarshandrake. Join Amberdrake as he explores his world on dragon wings. Cheer his triumphs. Cry for his failures. See the boy grow into a man as the world changes around him. After all, now that his lifespan was measured in centuries, he could do anything. Or could he?

Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay


Ali McNamara - 2019
    When she first hears that she is the last descendent of the Chesterford family and that she has inherited a Real-Life Castle by the sea, Amelia can't quite believe her ears. But it's true!She soon finds that owning a castle isn't quite the ticket to sorting out her money problems that she'd first hoped: she can't sell, because the terms of the ancient bequest state that any Chesterford who inherits the castle, must live there and work towards the upkeep and maintenance of the family home. So ever-practical Amelia decides to uproot her little family and move to this magnificent castle by the sea.Living in a castle on the beautiful Northumberland coast is fun at first, but organising the day-to-day running is a lot more complicated than Amelia first imagined. Luckily she has help from the small band of eccentric and unconventional staff that are already employed there - and a mysterious unseen hand that often gives her a push in the right direction just when she needs it most. It's only when she meets Tom, a furniture restorer who comes to the castle to help repair some antique furniture, that Amelia realises she might get the fairy-tale ending that she and Charlie truly deserve..

Skip and Loafer, Vol. 1


Misaki Takamatsu - 2019
    But she’s so focused on reaching her goals that she’s not prepared for the very different (and overwhelming) city life that awaits her in a Tokyo high school. Luckily, she makes fast friends with Shima Sousuke, a handsome classmate who’s as laid-back as she is over-prepared. Can this naive country girl make it big in Tokyo with Sousuke by her side? This charming manga was nominated for the 2020 Manga Taisho Award and is sure to skip its way into your heart.

The Havoc of Choice


Wanjiru Koinange - 2019
    When her husband decides to run in the next election, these shadows threaten to consume her home. Unable to bear this darkness,Kavata plots to escape. As her family falls apart, so too does her country. In the wake of Kenya’s post-election turmoil, Kavata and her family must find their way back to each other across a landscape of wide-spread confusion, desperation, and heartrending loss. Koinange explores the long reaching effects of colonisation and corruption within the context of a singular household and the disparate experiences of class and clan they encapsulate.

겨울 지나 벚꽃 [Cherry Blossoms After Winter S3]


Bamwoo - 2019
    And now, being a 12th grader, he enters the same class as Taesung, which makes the whole situation way more awkward. Living together 24/7, Taesung and Haebom's relationship is bound to change.

某某 A Certain Someone


木苏里 - 2019
    盛望搬进了白马弄堂的祖屋院子,一并搬进来的还有他爸正在交往的女人。他爸指着那个女人的儿子对他说:叫哥。桀骜不驯吃软不吃硬的制冷机(攻)x自认很金贵的懒蛋小少爷(受)盛望:我笔直。江添:我恐同。校园文,1v1+heSheng Wang moved into his ancestral home at White Horse Lane, along with the woman that his father was presently seeing.His dad pointed at that woman’s son and said to him: Call him ge (older brother).Unyielding, amenable to coaxing but not coercion cold generator Gong x Regards himself as something precious lazy young master ShouSheng Wang: I’m super straightJiang Tian: I’m homophobic

Leonard and Hungry Paul


Ronan Hession - 2019
    Who like to read. Who take satisfaction in their work. Who are resolutely kind. Leonard and Hungry Paul is the story of two friends trying to find their place in the world. It is about the uncelebrated people of this world. And it asks a surprisingly enthralling question: Can kind people change the world?

Fushi no Kami: Rebuilding Civilization Starts With a Village #1


Mizuumi Amakawa - 2019
    As he remembers leading a bountiful life, he can’t bear living in a world akin to the Dark Ages, where not even the internal combustion engine exists. Ash envisions the rebirth of a civilization where housing with proper sanitation is the norm and the world is connected via a means of transportation faster than horses. For that reason, he is eager to consult books containing knowledge from a highly-developed ancient culture that is rumored to have existed far in the past.Ash makes use of the church’s resources, learning how to read and obtaining the knowledge that he seeks. In addition, he enlists the help of the people around him, including Maika, the village chief’s daughter. Together, they aim to develop their own village.This is only the beginning of the story about a young boy who sets out to revolutionize the world in order to rebuild civilization and create his ideal life!

Falling in Love with a Police Officer (Rich & Rugged: a Hawkins Brothers Romance #4)


Ellie Hall - 2019
    He believes relationships can ruin lives. Brynn Powell had a tough childhood and after her husband died in the line of duty, she leaves the city for the small-town of Hawk Ridge Hollow to start over as a teacher. Aside from her lively classroom, she leads a quiet life fixing up an old house and would like to keep it that way. Owen Hawkins, former Olympian, cop, and single father moves to the town where he grew up to give his daughter a sense of belonging even though he’d turned his back on his brothers. He isn’t looking for anyone to replace his ex-wife, especially not the pretty kindergarten teacher. She needs a room parent and he’s perfect. He needs someone to look after his little girl because he works the night shift. The arrangement suits them just fine until they start turning to each other for laughs, for friendship, for something more... Brynn’s thankful that she has Owen in her life. He and his daughter are like the family she’s always wanted. Then she makes a mistake and oversteps a boundary. Owen isn’t sure he can forgive her. But he hasn’t told her his entire story either. They’re both keeping secrets. Can they trust each other? Can they trust themselves to love again? This is book 4 in Rich & Rugged, Hawkins Brothers Romance series. Each book stands alone but reading them in order provides a deeper, richer experience. It is a sweet, “clean and wholesome” romance without swearing or mature content and contains a HEA.

After the Rain, Vol 5


Jun Mayuzuki - 2019
    She harbors a secret crush on Masami Kondō, a 45-year-old manager of the restaurant she works at part-time.Akira Tachibana is a soft-spoken high school student who used to be a part of the track and field club but, due to an injury, she is no longer able to run as fast as she once could. Working part-time at a family restaurant as a recourse, she finds herself inexplicably falling in love with her manager, a divorced 45-year-old man with a young son.Despite the age gap, Akira wholeheartedly embraces his mannerisms and kind nature, which is seen as spinelessness by the other employees, and little by little, the two begin to understand each other. Although unable to explain why exactly she is attracted to him, Akira believes that a concrete reason is not needed to truly love someone. On a rainy day, she decides to finally tell her manager about how she feels... but just how will he react?

Let's Play, Vol. 1


Leeanne M. Krecic - 2019
    But then life throws her a one-two punch: a popular streamer gives her first game a scathing review. Even worse she finds out that same troublesome critic is now her new neighbor! A funny, sexy and all-too-real story about gaming, memes, and social anxiety. Come for the plot, stay for the doggo.

The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 1


Tôwa - 2019
    Strangely, the class he's assigned is the very ambiguously titled Rearguard. It seems weird, but Arihito soon figures out that though it isn't flashy, he's gained the ability to do just about everything in battle, from assisting attacking and defending to healing! As he begins his new life, he quickly gathers curious companions: his old supervisor who's younger than he is, a mysterious demi-human mercenary girl, and a gorgeous high-level swordswoman. With this bevvy of interesting ladies in his party, his journey as the greatest supporter that's ever lived!

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, Vol. 1


Saekisan - 2019
    Amane‚ an average guy and self-admitted slob‚ has never thought much of the divine beauty‚ despite attending the same school. Everything changes‚ however‚ when he happens to see Mahiru sitting alone in a park during a rainstorm. Thus begins the strange relationship between thisincredibly unlikely pair!

GLEEM


Freddy Carrasco - 2019
    It blinds and reveals, hurts and heals.Brace yourself for what you’ll find on the other side of. . . GLEEM!

Fan Service: Supernatural Society Omnibus


Gail Carriger - 2019
    The print run was 500 limited (numbered) editions, and 30 (lettered) leather-boxed tray case editions.It includes previously published Supernatural Society Novellas: Romancing the Inventor, Romancing the Werewolf. And an all new and never before seen novelette:Meat CuteAKAThe Hedgehog IncidentThe collection answers the three most common questions readers have after reading the Parasol Protectorate series…Will Madame Lefoux ever find love?Do Biffy and Lyall ever get back together?What exactly happened when Alexia and Conall (and a hedgehog) first met?In Romancing the Inventor Imogene Hale is a lowly parlourmaid with a soul-crushing secret. Seeking solace, she takes work at a local vampire hive, only to fall desperately in love with the amazing lady inventor imprisoned in the potting shed.In Romancing the Werewolf Professor Randolph Lyall returns home to London after twenty years abroad, afraid of what he might find. With his pack in chaos and his beloved Alpha Biffy in crisis, it will take all his Beta efficiency to set everything to rights.In Meat Cute, Alexia Tarabotti attends what seems to be a very dull party, until London’s new werewolf Alpha turns up, is unconscionably rude to her, and sits on a hedgehog.From the comedic mind of New York Times bestseller Gail Carriger come three charming love stories set in her popular steampunk Parasolverse. Featuring a long-awaited reunion, a well deserved new romance, and a very surprised hedgehog. Look out for cheeky appearances from other popular characters, not to mention the strategic application of a wicker chicken.

Healer's Wedding


M.C.A. Hogarth - 2019
    which means it's time for Jahir and Sediryl to marry, and Sediryl to kneel for the coronet of the imperial heir! All their allies are gathering to celebrate, from the expected, like the Queen Ransomed and Lisinthir, to mentors and friends from years past. But life doesn't pause for momentous events, no matter how joyous or anticipated. There are issues Jahir and Sediryl have yet to resolve, issues that reflect the greater challenges besetting their world and the Alliance. Before they can join hands for the wedding cloth, they'll have to face at least one of those challenges... and it won't be the first. Healer's Wedding, Book 1 in the Jubilee Summer duology, brings together the characters from Her Instruments, Dreamhealers, and Princes' Game for a capstone season of politics and pleasure. Return to the homeworld of the Eldritch and the company of friends!

Kageki Shojo!! The Curtain Rises


Kumiko Saiki - 2019
    Narata Ai also has a dream: the disgraced former idol wants to live in a world full of women and not have to deal with men at all. When they both get into a competitive all-girls theater school, the stage is set for Ai and Sarasa to enter the limelight and take their first step toward stardom.

Buuza!!, Vol. 1: Good morning Salwa


Shazleen Khan - 2019
    Set in a sprawling, urban fantasy Middle east, Buuza is a slice-of-life comic about found family, diasporic culture and religion...

Rare Earth


Kurt Allan - 2019
    A retired miner journeys to find out why. “There’s something out there…” Waldo Packwood has had a rough time of things lately. He’s lost his job, his friends, and finally his family. At 50 years old, he’s living alone in a small apartment wondering what’s happened to his life. He’s unexpectedly asked to travel to Hector 1, a lone asteroid in the Jupiter Trojans, to investigate the missing crew.  “That’s just it, Waldo,” sighed the director, “we don’t know what happened.” His trip is a struggle from the beginning, as he discovers more about those around him and what they’re willing to do to keep Hector 1 to themselves.  Instead of answers, he’s cast into the fight of his life as he struggles to uncover the secrets and lies that have been built around this distant world. Rare Earth is a gritty, science-fiction thriller and debut novel about an unconventional hero and second chances. “It’s going to be that kind of story, so buckle up”

Play It Cool, Guys, Vol. 1


Kokone Nata - 2019
    But let's be real-that's not the true them. They're just a bunch of dorks who've got the act down pat. So sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy watching a bunch of goofy guys try to look cool all day every day.

Mr. Mistake: A Fake Marriage Romance (Mr. Mistake Series Book 1)


Karice Bolton - 2019
    Wrong?Those were the words that shaped Tessa Berry's entire dating life the moment she vowed with her best friends in high school to never date a bad boy. Each of them took a pledge to never date a Mr. Wrong...and Morgan McKenzie was Tessa's wrong.But when her best friends bring up the pact and come up with a challenge to go after their Mr. Wrongs before they turn thirty, Tessa realizes they're all in over their heads and Tessa must teach her friends a lesson.But when Tessa's Mr. Wrong becomes her fake fiancé, she wonders if she made the biggest mistake of her life.After all, love isn't a fake emotion, even if the relationship is, right?

In the Land of Leadale, Vol. 1


Ceez - 2019
    When she wakes up in the body of her game avatar, though, Keina-now Cayna-finds that the worries of her old life appear to be a thing of the past, but somehow this new land doesn't seem to be quite the Leadale she remembers...

Love Me for Who I Am, Vol. 1


Kata Konayama - 2019
    As someone who doesn’t identify as a boy or a girl, however, finding people who really understand can be a big challenge. When fellow student Iwaoka Tetsu invites Mogumo to work at an untraditional maid café, Mogumo is hopeful that things are looking up. Will they finally find friends to call their own―or just more misunderstanding?

After the Rain, Vol 4


Jun Mayuzuki - 2019
    Akira is perplexed by this change in him. Meanwhile, Yui works up the courage to tell Yoshizawa how she feels...

I Cannot Reach You, Vol. 1


Mika - 2019
    Yamato gets good grades, while Kakeru's are less than average. And while Yamato is very attractive, Kakeru's looks are perfectly average. Not a problem-unless you're in love with your childhood best friend...How in the world can Kakeru make Yamato look at him when Yamato is completely out of his league?!

The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again, Today


Hitsuji Yamada - 2019
    But Yukichi, a giant cat who towers over Saku, is not your ordinary feline. He takes great pride in his culinary skills, and a good sale at the supermarket always gets his whiskers twitching. Saku may not have her act together yet, but at least she has Yukichi!

Joss


Erin Falligant - 2019
    When the surf’s up, she pops out her hearing aid, hops on her board, and paddles into the waves. Joss is stoked to enter a surfing video contest with her surf sister Sofia and Murph the surfing bulldog. If she can master a killer aerial like the frontside air and get her brother Dylan to catch it on video, maybe she’d even have a shot at winning. But Dylan throws her a curve: he dares her to try out for the cheer team. No way—Joss can’t see herself as a cheerleader. (What’s with those ginormous hairbows, anyway?) She’s 100% surfer girl, and Dylan knows it! Still, if she takes him up on his dare, then maybe he’ll help her with her video—it’s worth a try, right?

Reincarnated as a Sword (Light Novel) Vol. 1


Yuu Tanaka - 2019
    Fran, the cat-eared girl, becomes his wielder, and wants only to grow stronger, while the sword wants to know why he is here. Together, the strange duo’s journey has only just begun!

Redefining the META at VRMMO Academy (Light Novel) Vol. 1


Hayaken - 2019
    Like second nature to him, he quickly picks the so-called weakest job, Symbologist. Just as he’s setting about transforming it into the strongest class known to mankind, a girl walks in… “Wait, you’re Akira? You’re a girl?!” “Uh, yeah?” Thus, his new gaming life with his long-time, beautiful friend begins!

Wolf Children: Ame Yuki (light novel)


Mamoru Hosoda - 2019
    Their relationship was far from ordinary, but she wouldn't have had it any other way. Her joy only grows with the births of Ame and Yuki, who have inherited their father's unique ability to transform. But life is full of both joy and hardship, and Hana is left to bring up her little wolves on her own. Raising human children is hard enough...but how will she handle their wild side, too?In this novelization of his award-winning Wolf Children film, acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda provides a deeper look at the emotional trials and triumphs of a very unique little family.

I Swear I Won't Bother You Again! Vol. 1


Reina Soratani - 2019
    (And don't miss the manga version, also from Seven Seas!)Violette, daughter of a duke, committed a terrible, jealous crime against her half-sister. As she languishes in prison, something unexpected happens: time is rewound, sending her back to the day her problems began! Armed with the memories of her disastrous first go-round, Violette is determined to live a quiet, unobtrusive life this time…but fate has something else in store!

Sunny Side Skies 1


soaporsalad - 2019
    Sunny Side Skies is a comic about a detached barista and a bubbly college student who become friends! The plot revolves around their antics and character growth as they go through young adulthood.

The Case Files of Jeweler Richard (Manga) Vol. 1


Mika Akatsuki - 2019
    Seigi hires Richard to appraise a ring left to Seigi by his grandmother...and the adventures are just beginning. Together, they unlock the secret messages hidden in the hearts of jewels--and those who possess them.

Fruit Forbidden


Ellen-Arwen Tristram - 2019
    Being sixteen isn't easy: complex cliques, pervy teachers, A levels looming, family dramas... she can't shake the feeling she'll never fit in. What price does she have to pay to find out who she is?Abandoned by friends, Mia is lost and needs someone to guide her. Who can save her now? In the struggle to find herself, someone finds her first. A new friend, a dragon with a persistent voice, making decisions for her. He tells her who to be friends with, what to say, what to do, what to eat.As Mia's world shrinks, she shrinks with it and the Dragon fills the shell of her old life, louder and more pervasive. Can she slay him before she is lost? Or will being thin solve everything?Drawing from Rosetti's Goblin Market, Fruit Forbidden is a modern tale of growing up and self discovery. Aimed at older readers, this book deals with sensitive subjects.*TRIGGER WARNING* Novel contains reference to substance abuse, disordered eating, homophobia, sexual assault, self-harm and suicide.

Upon a Sleepless Isle


Andrew Fidel Fernando - 2019
    Civil war, political assassinations, internally displaced communities, industrial-scale corruption. All are Sri Lanka. As are smug bureaucrats, nosy neighbours, and stray dogs with serious axes to grind. Through the eyes of Andrew Fidel Fernando, cricket writer par excellence, both a local and a tourist in his home country, Sri Lanka comes alive as he hurtles down hills in Kandy, breathes in the history at the rock fortress of Sigiriya, grapples with the aftermath of war in Jaffna, and has himself evicted from restaurants near Galle. Weaving through all manner of villages, paddy fields, mountains, jungles and marshlands, and pausing for the pests at grimy guesthouses and the vacationers of luxury hotels, Fernando has the time for every genre of person and wildlife in this chaotic, exquisite, frustrating, bewitching, tumultuous and intoxicating land. Hilariously witty yet wistfully sombre, Upon a Sleepless Isle is the story of a country and a people caught between long historical traditions and global capitalism, resulting in this ingenious paradise.

After the Rain, Vol 3


Jun Mayuzuki - 2019
    She harbors a secret crush on Masami Kondō, a 45-year-old manager of the restaurant she works at part-time.Akira Tachibana is a soft-spoken high school student who used to be a part of the track and field club but, due to an injury, she is no longer able to run as fast as she once could. Working part-time at a family restaurant as a recourse, she finds herself inexplicably falling in love with her manager, a divorced 45-year-old man with a young son.Despite the age gap, Akira wholeheartedly embraces his mannerisms and kind nature, which is seen as spinelessness by the other employees, and little by little, the two begin to understand each other. Although unable to explain why exactly she is attracted to him, Akira believes that a concrete reason is not needed to truly love someone. On a rainy day, she decides to finally tell her manager about how she feels... but just how will he react?

There's no way a side character like me could be popular, right? Volume 1


Sekaiichi - 2019
    I’d say I’m a fairly normal student, save for the fact that everyone avoids me like the plague because I apparently look like I’m out for blood. Ike Haruma is the only one that doesn’t steer clear of me. He’s your typical ‘perfect guy’ in every sense; the protagonist with no real flaws that you see in any given story.Life at school was going on as usual… until one day Haruma’s super popular little sister confesses to me out of the blue?! Though she later clarifies that her feelings toward me are anything but romantic and that she has an ulterior motive, I end up accepting my new role as ‘fake boyfriend’ as a favor to Haruma.Believe it or not, the moment I start going out with her, Haruma’s idol-tier childhood friend and my super hot teacher get involved with me too!Wait a minute, this can’t be a dream rom-com scenario setting itself up for me, can it?! I mean, there’s no way a side character like me could be popular, right?

A Painting Called Sylvia


Michael J. Vaughn - 2019
    But when he becomes the patron of its creator, a semi-homeless painter named Marcello, he unsettles the balance of his family. Being the "walking wallet" for a genius daughter and her ultra-nervous mother has its rewards, but aren't parents allowed to have lives of their own? A touching family drama from the author of the award-winning novel The Popcorn Girl.

我不做人了 I'm Not Human


Jiuyi - 2019
    *实体书出版已签约,相关信息见作者微博@酒矣矣矣赶稿猝死,顾淮一睁眼穿越成了非人种族——这个种族残暴冷酷,在星际中人人畏惧且避之不及。作为这个种族新生的王,面对着一群把他当成幼崽保护的家长,顾淮表示他有点鸭梨山大。*日常向团宠文,种族全员无原则宠王*是旧文小世界的扩写,与旧文有重合部分After suddenly dying while trying to meet a deadline, Gu Huai transmigrated and became a non-human race.This race is cruel and cold, making them feared and shunned by everyone in the interstellar world.As the new king of the race and facing the group of parents who see him as a baby, Gu Huai said he was under a lot of pressure.

The Ideal Sponger Life Vol. 1


Tsunehiko Watanabe - 2019
    All he'd have to do is lounge around living the good life, freeloading off a drop-dead gorgeous monarch. Sound too good to be true? There's a catch: If he accepts, he has to kiss the Earth, his family, and the internet goodbye! Is it worth trading in everything he knows for something different... or is his bride-to-be hiding secrets about the truth of life at court?

I Shall Survive Using Potions! Volume 1


FUNA - 2019
    Not only that, but reincarnating her into a different, less culturally-advanced world is the only thing they can offer to do for her. Not one to take this turn of events sitting down, Kaoru makes a demand: the power to create potions at any time she pleases, with whatever effect she wants it to have—and it doesn’t stop there either. She asks for a magical Item Box, the ability to understand and speak every language, and the same body she had back when she was a fifteen-year-old girl. Using her newfound powers, Kaoru has to try and make a stable life for herself in a whole new world!

Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers Vol. 1


Miya Kinojo - 2019
    Fortune takes a turn when his first battle bumps him to Level 2 -- and his previously NPC-grade stats leap to infinity! Banaza is determined to live a normal life despite his god-level power, but his world is turned upside down yet again when he meets Fenrys -- a fair maiden who happens to be a fiendish demon. Kick back and chill with Banaza's tale of cheating his way to an easygoing existence in a thrilling fantasy world!

The Girl Downstairs (이두나!)


Songah Min - 2019
    Joon finds Duna strange and avoids her at first, but soon finds himself in her room without realizing what he is getting himself into. The Girl Downstairs is a new college romance story from the creator of hit series, Nano List.

Justice For Belle


Didi Oviatt - 2019
    It's scratching under the surface; dying to get out.She’s hit rock bottom. Broke and desperate to be on top again, she partners up with Mac: a man she hardly knows. He's utterly untouchable, and soon they are both in peril.Will their dangerous decision be a success, or will she find herself in the clutches of an unforgiving force, brought about by her childhood sin? In this nail biting thrill ride, no one is as they seem, and no one is truly safe with those they trust.Praise: ★★★★★ - "If you love psychological thrillers that keep you guessing, you'll love Justice For Belle." ★★★★★ - "A wild ride."

Gender Slices


Jey Pawlik - 2019
    Gender Slices is a collection of short autobiographical comics about being trans and nonbinary in a ciscentric world.Jey works through their own feelings in short, one page comics that depict real events and their day to day experiences while being out as a trans individual.Available at: https://topazcomics.com/shop/

An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride (Manga) Volume 1


Fuminori Teshima - 2019
    Both socially awkward and foulmouthed, he spends his days studying sorcery while beating down any trespassers within his domain. One day he's invited to a dark auction, and what he finds there is an elven slave girl of peerless beauty, Nephy. Having fallen in love at first sight, Zagan uses up his entire fortune to purchase her, but being a poor conversationalist, he has no idea how to properly interact with her. Thus, the awkward cohabitation of a sorcerer who has no idea how to convey his love and his slave who yearns for her master but has no idea how to appeal to him begins.

My Happy Marriage, Vol. 1


Akumi Agitogi - 2019
    With no home to return to, Miyo slowly starts to open her heart to her cold and pale husband-to-be, despite their rocky introduction... This might just be her chance at finding true love and happiness.

Live Again


Sarah Grace Grzy - 2019
    A short story prequel to Live Without You.

Beloved


Kaitlyn Krispense - 2019
    Foster teen Cara Richards is unloved. With nothing left and nowhere to go, she is determined to find peace, no matter the cost. But despite her intentions, she’s tossed into another foster family and this time, there’s no going back to who she used to be. To make matters worse, one of her five new foster brothers is a Jesus freak, and she refuses to believe that God actually cares.Her world is thrown upside down in a way she never expects. Though she prides herself on a resilient heart, her mind is lost adrift among a sea of questions: Is death really the answer? Does God care about someone as unworthy as me? Can everyone truly be loved, no matter what?

Dae


Lisa Lee - 2019
    She wasn't read for idols. When a young Canadian pop star is invited as a special guest to an awards show in Seoul, South Korea, hit songwriter Dulcie Carmichael is persuaded to go along with him. Dulcie knows nothing about K-pop, and nothing about idols, but when she meets and befriends Don Youngwon, main vocalist for worldwide sensation TiME, she is immediately drawn into his world, into his life, and soon becomes close to the other members of his popular group. Well, close to all of them except Kyo Daesuk, their leader and visual, who does not seem to care for her at all. But TiME's upcoming visit to LA might just change all of that...

I Was a Bottom-Tier Bureaucrat for 1,500 Years, and the Demon King Made Me a Minister Vol. 1


Meishi Murakami - 2019
    

Chrysalis


RinoZ - 2019
    What's with these skills? Bite? Dig?Wait....I've been reborn as a WHAT?!Follow Anthony as he attempts to adjust to his new life, to survive and grow in his new Dungeon home!

Acception (Season 1)


Colourbee - 2019
    He’s an upbeat independent thinker, proud fashionista, and like the rest of us, is just looking for a few friends to call his own. Acception may be Arcus’ story – but it’s all OUR stories too - and it is for anyone who’s ever struggled to fit in, find love, or thought that High School was pretty much the worst thing ever invented.

Rozi in the Labyrinth, Vol. 1


Shiya Totsuki - 2019
    Those who wander here from other worlds find themselves with odd powers and even odder appearances. Curious and ever-cheerful Rozi lives in the Labyrinth with her inhuman family—cat-eared Chemin, timid Mur, and Kay, the animated doll—who act as her guides and guardians in this strange and mysterious world.

Archie 1000 Page Comics Party


Archie Superstars - 2019
    This volume collects 1000 pages of iconic Archie comic stories, featuring the same mix of wild humor, awkward charm and genuine relatability that has kept Archie and the gang popular with kids and families for over 75+ years.

Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement (Manga) Vol. 1


FUNA - 2019
    She was at a loss, thinking about her future, when a mysterious entity gave her the power to jump between worlds. How will she wield it...? While at times Mitsuha can be a huge ditz, she's a tough nut to crack. She begins using all the modern tools and knowledge at her disposal to carve her own path in this money-making fantasy set in a medieval world!

Giving Is the Good Life: The Unexpected Path to Purpose and Joy


Randy Alcorn - 2019
    Each story is a practical application that can help stimulate your imagination and expand your dreams of serving Jesus in fresh ways. These real-life models give you not just words to remember but footprints to follow.Giving Is the Good Life reveals a grander view of God and generosity--one that stretches far beyond our imagination and teaches us what the good life is really all about.

Mama Akuma, Vol. 1


Kuzushiro - 2019
    Whether it’s slaughtering their enemies or obtaining wealth beyond measure, anything is possible with his powerful magic. But Seere’s latest summoner, Sakura Masuda, is unlike any he’s dealt with before. Namely, she’s only in fourth grade, and her wish is…for Seere to become her mama! Well, if that’s what she desires, then that’s what he will deliver—by becoming the greatest mama ever!

The Summer of Madness


Alexander Raphael - 2019
    But there is one that has got everyone talking. When Kurt decides to win back his ex-girlfriend with the help of a literary classic, he sets off a string of events that will build to a dramatic finale.

A Sister's Burdens


Angie Thompson - 2019
    How can she ever stay cheerful and good without Paul's help and guidance?Paul knows the answer to his sister's troubles, but convincing her is another matter. When their letters prove too slow to prevent calamity, can he lead her to his own source of help?A short story

Second Family


Angie Thompson - 2019
    Two families. One chance.Convincing onlookers that her best friend Mikyah Byrd is truly more like a brother seems like a never-ending task to Jenna Denton. But when calamity strikes the Byrd household, her family's help becomes more crucial than she ever imagined. Will the Dentons' love and commitment be enough to keep their unusual family intact? Or will a perfect storm of troubles separate them forever?A novelette (approximately 1 hour average read time)

Hymns in the Hills


Rebekah A. Morris - 2019
    As she grows to love her newly discovered family, she finds much work to be done for her Lord in this neglected field.But when danger threatens those she loves, Belle's faith and courage are tested in ways she never imagined. Will God's promises hold true even in the midst of the storm? And what can she possibly accomplish with just her one little light?

By Paths Unknown


Rebekah A. Morris - 2019
    When his dad announces that the family is moving to their grandparents' ranch in South Dakota, it's anyone's guess whether the change will bring healing or just more heartache.Back on the ranch, Austin finds hope in the familiar surroundings and help in his loving clan of relatives. But can his dad somehow overcome his grief? Will his siblings ever feel at home? And can Austin trust God to guide them all even when the path seems darkest?

Those Not-So-Sweet Boys, Vol. 1


Yoko Nogiri - 2019
    She wants to thank him, but he’s part of a tight-knit trio and none of them are ever in class! Rumor has it that they all got expelled for acting up, and studious Midori’s actually at risk of expulsion, too… In order to help support her family, she has a part-time job, which is against the school rules. When the chairman of the school board catches her leaving work, he says he’ll let it go—but only if she’s up to the task of bringing the three boys back to school. Well, why not? It’ll be a piece of cake…right?

Be The Lion: How To Overcome Big Challenges And Make It Happen


Tim Castle - 2019
    In just 2 years, I went through pretty much every life change you can imagine. I planned our wedding, got married, moved jobs, moved countries, wrote and published a book, completed an MBA, became a father to my baby son and then coped with his sudden serious illness, all whilst working full time.I had to be the lion. I created new habits and thought patterns, and reconnected with my purpose to get sh!t done. I became stronger, a master of time management, productivity and motivation. As a result my goals got closer. And there was a surprising side-effect: I became happier and more relaxed.LET ME SHOW YOU HOW TO SET THE BAR HIGH AND SUCCEED.I distilled everything I learned into my 4Cs model, which enables you to overcome any challenge.This book explains the 4Cs and teaches processes, strategies and optimisations to turbocharge your life. This system will help you to achieve more, without any of the stress, overwhelm and fear that often comes with big life changes. Taking yourself to the next level and achieving huge success should be joyful. So let’s have some fun...

Colorful Dreams


VOFAN - 2019
    From VOFAN, the star illustrator of the Monogatari series of novels written by NISIOISIN, comes a full-color artbook of his best personal works. Praised by the fans around the world as “The Magician of Light and Shadow from Taiwan”, VOFAN is famous for using a vibrant art style combined with unique camera techniques in his art. As the main illustrator for NISIOISIN’s novel series for over a decade, VOFAN has illustrated more than 30 book covers and has created dozens of original character designs. Beside his extensive illustration works for NISIOISIN, VOFAN has illustrated magazine covers such as Famitsu and Fancy Frontier Magazine. VOFAN is also the main character designer for the popular Playstation 3 RPG Time and Eternity.

Blaze: If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Don’t Walk into the Fire


Hope Bolinger - 2019
     To make matters worse (and they were about to get a lot worse), he — and his three best friends — each receive an email from the principal of their rival, King’s Academy, offering full-rides to attend the town's prestigious boarding school. Danny wants nothing to do with King’s Academy and says no. His mother has other ideas. So off he goes to be bullied and picked on for not being part of the popular and rich crowd. From day one at King’s, Danny encounters hazing, mocking insults from girls at the "popular and pretty" table, and cafeteria food that, for such a prestigious school, tastes as if it was purchased from a military surplus supply warehouse. If he survives, Danny will have to overcome his fears of failure, rejection, and loneliness—all while standing strong in his beliefs and walking into the fire.

A Very Bookish Christmas


Sarah Holman - 2019
    Grace Pennington (inspired by Anne of Green Gables)Sincerely, Jem by Kate Willis (inspired by Daddy-Long-Legs)

The Sidekick Never Gets the Girl, Let Alone the Protag’s Sister! Volume 1


Toshizo - 2019
    Now: He’s a perfectly average high-schooler with a perfectly exceptional best friend: Ayase Kaito. The living incarnation of every cheesy romcom protagonist ever written, Kaito’s charming personality and looks that could kill have earned himself the harem of quirky beauties that every protagonist deserves—and Kou is dead-set on supporting him from the shadows as the ultimate wingman extra! And it’s all going great—that is, until a wrench is thrown into the works in the form of another romcom staple: the protagonist’s little sister, Ayase Hikari, who meets Kou under the most outlandish of circumstances possible. Even worse, it kinda sorta just maybe seems like she might have a thing for him? Now it’s up to the world’s most “extra” extra to crawl his way back into the obscurity he longs for!

Saint Young Men Omnibus, Vol. 1


Hikaru Nakamura - 2019
    Buddha, the Enlightened One. Two of history's most important figures whose sagely deeds have been told and retold. After a few millennia of helping humanity, they have decided to take some time off and rent an apartment together in modern-day Tokyo. But even their saintly status hasn't fully prepared them to navigate the ups and downs of life in 21st century Japan, from theme parks, to shopping for rice cookers, to the wonderful world of manga. Follow this pair on a goofy, light-hearted, and pun-filled adventure in friendship.

A Carol in Her Heart


Rebekah A. Morris - 2019
    But when a red pickup truck stops before her house, will Miss Molly Kennedy find a new reason to celebrate Christmas?

A Brother Is Born


Angie Thompson - 2019
    So when Benny slips into the tight-knit group with barely a ripple, the family is at once surprised and delighted.But beneath the surface, deeper waters are stirred as Alex finds herself at odds with Jess over his jokes on the unsuspecting and gullible Benny. Will Jess's teasing and her own insecurities separate Alex from her brother? Or can a surprising source teach them a needed lesson in love?

As Good as My Coach


Angie Thompson - 2019
    Are the girls' suspicions true? Why won't Alexei let her compete? And how can she learn to be her best without a better coach?When her preoccupation leads her into danger, Alexei steps in, and Eva is forced to make a choice. Will she follow a fleeting dream or embrace the lessons her coach can teach?A short story

Do You Want to be Normal?


Koji Kojou - 2019
    Given the nickname "Crybaby Bill" by his peers after a sudden emotional outburst, he had accepted his fate as a friendless loser... Until he joined the Normal Club. Led by the eerily robotic Alyssa Silverstein, the gang of weirdos participates in experiments, discusses love and relationships, and scrambles to put together a talent show performance.As his fourth self-published book, "Do You Want to Be Normal?" is a return to a genre that Koji Kojou is comfortable with: school-life comedy. Inspired by Japanese light novels like Oreimo and Oregairu, Koji has crafted an oddball adventure that's sure to warm hearts, and hopefully make people think about what it truly means to be "normal."

Elevator Shaft: MM Romance


Barry Lowe - 2019
     Romance: Micky is a young guy trying to improve his life while living on a run-down high-rise public housing estate but it’s difficult when he has no qualifications and is studying part time to get his high school diploma. After he is stabbed during a homophobic: attack he wants out even though he finds himself attracted to Trig, the leader of the gang that attacked him. Blond-haired Adonis, Trig, is an enigma until the day he traps Micky in the elevator of their building. Expecting the worst, Micky is surprised by the favour Trig asks. For a few seconds there I thought I was safe. Then a hand thrust into the narrow space between the closing elevator doors, cutting the beam, and they sprang apart like startled children. I took a deep breath, and tensed my muscles, ready to flee. I never understood: he both terrified me and turned my cock hard, hard as life on this council housing estate — hard as it was for me to forget the taunts, the hard-assed graffiti scrawled across the brick wall outside my flat, hard as the steel blade that sliced me open when my tormentors got tired of my passive resistance. The passive resistance wasn’t a Gandhi-like conscious decision, it’s just I’m not very brave, not very strong. Especially when there’s a gang of them. I’d been released from hospital ten days before after two weeks flat on my back while my council flat lay at the mercy of my torturers. I knew I’d be lucky if there was anything left of it. My scrapheap furniture would be stolen or else broken up, there would be disgusting accusations scrawled across the walls, and shit smeared on the curtains and windows. Oh, yeah, they’d done it before. While I was at work as a lowly paid shelf stacker. It’s all I can get. I’m not the brightest spark in the lighter, though I’m trying to do something about it. I’m going to community college at night to try to graduate high school. That’s a major scholastic achievement on this estate. Get me: scholastic. That’s what comes of education. Normally I walk up the nine floors, but that day I had no energy. My side still hurt, the bandages tight, making walking a slow and awkward shuffle, so stairs were totally out of the question. However, I was feeling good. I’d totally nailed the exam which meant I’d caught up with all the work I’d missed while I recovered from the attack. The physical wound had just about healed but I was still a nervous wreck around the estate. The police and the counselors and the others in authority had clucked their concern like chooks in a wired enclosure, especially to the local press, but they disappeared pretty quickly once the spotlight focused on something more compelling and I slipped into the computer as just another statistic. If the condition of my flat after I’d been confined to a hospital bed had been an exam question, I would have got a High Distinction. I managed to salvage the mattress, but it stank of piss and contempt. It was all I had to sleep on until I begged, borrowed, and cajoled a few items from charitable organizations. The clean-up I did myself, determined I would never allow the bastards to drive me out of my home. Not that I had a choice in the matter. It was my home come hell or high water because there was simply not enough public housing to go around. The waiting list was years and there were unlikely to be any vacancies in the near future just to move one pathetic faggot because he was constantly harassed. I had to make the most of it – or live on the streets. Then I made the mistake of getting in the elevator again.

Over My Shoulder


D.J. Manly - 2019
    Years later, when Dax hears that Jory is in a coma, he comes back, realizing he has never stopped loving him. Jory needs rehab, but his manager boyfriend has other plans. Dax is willing to help Jory through his struggle with alcohol and drugs, but it must be Jory’s decision. Is the memory of what they once meant to each other enough to save Jory from himself, or will his status as an international star prove stronger?

A. R. Dragonfly volume 3


Joshua Piedra - 2019
    Little do they know that their rivalry pales in comparison to what awaits the two of them in the very near future.

Amazing Things Are Happening Here


Jacob M. Appel - 2019
    Meet the shy high school student with a crush on a girl dying of leukemia, the mother whale who beaches to save her offspring, the search for the VA hospital's lunatic who goes missing and never returns, and more. We are in the hands of a patient, master artist who watches the world unfolding around him, sees its protagonists' inadvertent mistakes, and observes them endeavoring to reclaim their dignity. These stories lift us far above the realm of entertainment, and instead enrich and enliven the psyche's oceanic heights and depths."--Marilyn Krysl

Grandfather's Mug


Rebekah A. Morris - 2019
    Pedro is always cheerful, thoughtful, and brimming with life--until a single accident threatens to ruin everything. Can Amber overcome her own hurt and show him the true significance of her grandfather's cherished mug?

Theatre at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019


Alan Harris - 2019
    Listener discretion is advised. For All I Care Written by Alan Harris. Performed by Hannah Daniel. Directed by Jac Ifan Moore. Clara and Nyri. Two very different women. Two complicated lives. Both having a very bad day. Mental health nurse Nyri's woken up hungover with a younger man. Meanwhile, Clara has developed a compulsive wink and can't remember if she's taken her meds. Nyri needs to get to Ebbw Vale Hospital via Greggs and Clara is dodging signs telling her - rather rudely - to kill herself, so she can get cracking with her shoplifting list for the Devil. Interweaving and unexpected connections collide in this fast-moving, touchingly funny one-woman show. The live theatre production of For All I Care was commissioned by The National Theatre Wales and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, United Kingdom, in 2019. LadybonesWritten and performed by Sorcha McCaffrey. Directed by Lucia Cox. Sound Design by Alexandre Carvalho.Archaeologist Nuala unearths a skeleton and her ordered life starts to unravel. Digging into the mystery of the bones, can she handle the chaos of what she discovers? Based on personal experience, this is an uplifting and compelling story about OCD, dungarees and being weird but not a weirdo. The live theatre production of Ladybones was performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, United Kingdom, in 2019. Cotton Fingers Written by Rachel Trezise. Performed by Amy Molloy. Directed by Julia Thomas. Sound Design by Tasha Taylor.Johnson Aoife's hungry and bored. Cillian makes a mean cheese toastie. As boredom and hunger are satisfied by half an hour in Cillian's bed, Aoife's life changes forever. As social and political upheaval grips her country, what hope does Aoife have to regain control? A timely, politically charged show written by award-winning writer Rachel Trezise at the time of the historic referendum of the eighth amendment in Ireland, Cotton Fingers takes us on a journey from Belfast to Cardiff. The live theatre production of Cotton Fingers was commissioned by The National Theatre Wales and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, United Kingdom, in 2019. LARPWritten and performed by Berri George. Directed by Adam Dattis. Additional sound design by Berri George.Lucy Salmon, an introverted lover of mythology, has 10 days to prepare for her first live action role play event. A kaleidoscopic adventure into the fantastical unleashes Lucy's inner roar! A bittersweet comedy about love, mystery and heroes explores, in all its flaws and contradictions, the existence of a woman who always finds herself on life's fringes. Sometimes the quietest people have the loudest and most exhilarating tales to tell. Additional sound design by Berri George. The live theatre production of LARP was produced by Barefaced Theatre and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, United Kingdom, in 2019. Typical Written by Ryan Calais Cameron. Performed by Richard Blackwood. Directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour. Sound Design by Duramaney Kamara.What is the cost of a typical night out? An ex-serviceman who has spent his life fighting for his country finds new battles in a society fighting against him. From the makers of 2018 hit Queens of Sheba comes this powerful new play by Ryan Calais Cameron confronting the daily tensions experienced by black men as they negotiate life, while constantly feeling like their own lives are on the line. Typical uncovers the man and the humanity behind a tragic real-life story, challenging traditional conceptions of black manhood and highlighting the crisis of identity consuming Britain today. The live theatre production of Typical was produced by Nouveau Riche in association with Soho Theatre and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, United Kingdom, in 2019.If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues mentioned in this podcast, please contact the charities below:Samaritans - 116 123Mind Infoline - 0300 123 3393Heads Together - headstogether.org.ukMental Health Foundation - mentalhealth.org.ukYoung Minds - Text 'YM' to 85258 for urgent supportBritish Pregnancy Advisory Service - 03457 30 40 30 - bpas.orgMarie Stopes - 0345 300 8090 - mariestopes.org.uk

The Lasting Heart


Roberta Ray - 2019
     But with her eyes constantly set on a faraway land to which she can make her escape and start anew, Natalya lets love pass her by; that is, until it wanders right up to her.

There Was No Secret Evil-Fighting Organization (srsly?!), So I Made One MYSELF! Volume 1


Hagane Kurodome - 2019
    However, unlike in works of fantasy, no beautiful girl barges into his life, no secret organization knocks on his door, and in fact, absolutely nothing out of the ordinary happens at all. Eventually forced to come face to face with the reality that his life would remain unremarkable, he snaps and decides to make the extraordinary happen with his own hands! Follow along as he creates it all: a secret organization filled with espers, forces of darkness that threaten the world, protagonists, heroines, rivals, action, romance, and so much more!If *you* had almighty telekinesis, what would *you* do?

Why Shouldn’t a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! Vol. 1


Nekomata Nuko - 2019
    He’s forced to spend his days in solitude until, completely out of the blue, he gets summoned to another world! The one who summons him is none other than Luina, an exceedingly poor girl who runs an orphanage. The two of them quickly fall in love, with Anima swearing to use his power to protect his newfound family!

An Old-Time Christmas


Katja H. Labonté - 2019
    Isolated and forgotten, she ekes out a meager existence for herself and her mother, but with no money for even ordinary comforts, a Christmas celebration is far beyond her reach. How can others have so much when her life is so empty?Amid the whirl of holiday preparations, Edwin Langton can't forget the face of the girl in the red cloak. Enlisting the help of his siblings, he quickly discovers the truth of her need. Can they find a way to make Christmas brighter for the lonely little family?As the Langtons prepare their surprises, Elenora resigns herself to another cold, lonely holiday. But will their presents be the greatest gift she receives on Christmas Day?

Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest: Short Stories


Ryo Shirakome - 2019
    Separated in transit, our heroes start searching for each other, and a way out. But though they don’t know it, a miraculous encounter is waiting for them at the end of this journey!