"Gentle, Gentle" Books: Cozy Manga

This January I have been reading a lot of what I am calling "cozy manga." These are low-stakes, character-focused stories that leave you feeling good. Three of these "cozy manga" series include Cat + Gamer, I am a Cat Barista, and BL Metamorphosis.

 

Cat + Gamer is a fun series about a hardcore gamer who ends up adopting a cat and her adventures as a new cat owner. It is fun to see the main character describe raising a cat in terms of gaming (leveling up, unlocking new skills, skill stats, etc.). The best part of the story is that at the end of each chapter there is a page from the cat's point of view.

I Am a Cat Barista is a wonderful series about a cat barista who runs a cafe that can only be found by those who are worn out and tired. He is able to pick the perfect drink or meal to make any customer feel better even if they struggle to articulate exactly what is wrong. Note: There are sad moments from the cat barista's kittenhood we slowly learn about. 

BL metamorphosis is the story of the unlikely friendship that develops between Ichinoi, a 75-year-old elderly woman, and Urara, a high school student, over BL (Boy Love) manga. I find seeing Ichinoi getting fully immersed in the Boy Love fandom, aka the queer manga fandom, is adorable. I enjoy following Ichinoi from accidentally picking up her first BL manga to going to her first manga convention. There are not enough stories about multigenerational friendships between women around shared passions.