If you’re a student approaching finals week or someone looking to unwind and lift your spirits, wholesome mangas can be the perfect way to de-stress! Filled with adorable illustrations and less text than a lengthy novel, mangas offer a great reading experience if you want something you can enjoy and finish in one sitting. That said, we’ve compiled a list of mangas that will boost your mood and make you laugh with these lovable characters!
A Man and His Cat by Umi Sakurai
An unwanted kitten lies in the pet shop each day, watching as his price drops and no customer spares a glance at him unless to tease his appearance. But to the kitten’s utter shock, one day everything changes; an older gentleman appears in the store and wants to take him home! Having found one another, will the man and kitten find what they’re looking for in each other? As it won the hearts of Japan in their rated charts when it was first released, this adorable manga is perfect for cat lovers; it will melt your heart as you read about these two lonely characters finding happiness in one another’s company.
Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma
Featuring an adorable and happy five-year-old girl named Yotsuba, this manga shares her story as she moves with her father, Yotsuke, to a new neighborhood! As she makes new friends, you’ll follow along Yotsuba on her grand adventures as she learns more about the world around her with her neighbors. Said to be a refreshing and joyful story by readers, Yotsuba&! is a great story for all ages to enjoy and smile along with each page turn.
Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori
Considered a classic for shojo manga — a personal or romantic genre directed toward female audiences — Ouran High School Host Club is a stellar romantic comedy. Haruhi, a poor girl attending a rich kid’s school, accidentally breaks a vase worth $80,000, and now has to repay her debt by disguising herself as a boy and working for their club! As she keeps her real identity secret, Haruhi starts to realize just how different they are compared to her original characterization of rich kids as she grows closer to them. This is a perfect feel-good manga for those who enjoy hilarious characters and a friends-to-lovers narrative
Horimiya by Hero, Illustrated by Daisuke Hagiwara
A sweet and inspiring story of school life, Kyouko Hori is known as a popular and academically successful smart girl. However, her classmate, Izumi Miyamura, is instead seen as boring, gloomy, and a “loser fanboy.” Two completely opposite characters, Miyamura ends up stumbling to Hori’s doorstep and begins an unexpected friendship. As the two learn more about one another, they slowly realize there are multiple sides to every story…and person.
Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo
While the cover and overall theme of this story may suggest otherwise, it truly is a heartwarming and comical read! Twilight, a masterful spy, is incredible when it comes to dangerous missions and going undercover. However, when it comes to his next assignment consisting of a fake marriage and adopting a child, he may finally be over his head. Planning on infiltrating an elite private school, alas, he must go on with the plan. What he doesn’t know though is that the wife he found is actually a highly trained assassin, and his new adopted daughter is secretly a telepath! This fake family of secrecy unexpectedly includes heartfelt and comedic interactions as they begin to grow genuine bonds and care for one another.
As you check out these reads, we hope they do well in lifting your spirit or leaving a happy lasting memory of them. Whichever genre of manga you prefer, loveable and humorous characters seal the deal when looking for a delightful read.
For more superb manga recommendations, read our article here.
Check out our Illustrious Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels list on bookshop.org!
