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Kuragehime/Princess Jellyfish has for many years now been one of my all time favourite series. Whenever someone peruses my manga shelves and asks for a recommendation Kuragehime is without a doubt one of the first I will suggest. Its over the top, irreverent, intelligent, incredibly charming and beautifully written.

All whom inhabit Amamizukan, the Amars, are so autism/neurodiverse coded in their own unique ways. I see myself and my friend group in these clumsy, awkward, obsessive girls. They each have a hobby they're intensely, unashamedly, dedicated to- much in the way of special interests. The extreme social anxiety, particularly when dealing with those you deem ... to be so far above you or intimidating, is so incredibly relatable. The girls are seen as failures in society or they at least perceive themselves to be that way- I personally have battled with this a lot. I adore how the series encourages loving and embracing these quirks rather than othering the characters and making them play fool just for a joke.

I adore the series messaging so much, "every girl is a princess." It sounds so silly but its about self worth and self love, being comfortable in your own skin and inner beauty. Like Kuranosuke giving the girls make overs- not to improve them to an acceptable level in societies eyes but so they have the confidence to stand equal with those around them.

Buna no Mori no Aria/Aria of the Beech Forest is a really sweet wholesome series following a young witch cloistered away in the woods, slowly learning about the world around her and those whom inhabit it. I really adored it and its quite a good quick read so I suggest giving it a go!

You watch Aria take her first steps from the comfort of the forest, make her first friends, learn about modern technology and figure out what her aspirations for the future are. The series has gorgeous art and some really cute instructive cooking scenes. There's also a very ambiguous sort of GL aspect ... slightly to the story in brief moments.

I went into this series knowing practically nothing about it- more or less that it was about a boy reincarnated as his favourite idols child. This series is such a gut punch of unexpected turns. I honestly wasn't expecting much, a silly light hearted story of growing up in the lime light, the trials of a young mother stumbling through life. I was really surprised constantly when my expectations were exceeded at every turn.

I will warn this series, whilst beautiful, sweet and wholesome at times, is generally kinda messed up. it's not the heaviest manga, but it's far from the lightest. This series deals ... with death, murder, suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, cyber bullying and pedophilia

The story starts with meeting who the children are before reincarnation. A tragic young girl doomed to an early grave by terminal illness, and the doctor who tended to both her and later on Ai, the idol who gives birth to them. Knowing what the premise of the story was I wasn't surprised when they died. I was however absolutely not expecting Ai to be brutally murdered in front of her kids only a few chapters later. She has one of the saddest and hardest death scenes I've ever seen in manga to date.

Its then realised that whilst a random fan stalker was the one who stabbed her, her death was orchestrated by the childrens father whom they've never met. The kids grow up, now 16. The daughter, Ruby, aiming to become an idol and continue her mothers dream. Aqua, the son, becoming an actor purely to find his father and avenge Ai.

This series does not have a happily ever after. I think in some way every character is marred by the events at the conclusion, some more than others. I'm a sucker for series that end in big beautiful flowery weddings and sunshine and daisies but some series, this being a perfect example, are better in a strange way without them.