The Girl That Can't Get a Girlfriend

February 1, 2023
Grades 9-12 Hiranishi's debut manga memoir explores the many ups and downs she has gone through as a butch lesbian who prefers androgynous women. After a bumpy start to her dating life, Mieri eventually meets a woman, Ash, with whom she has a connection. When their relationship ends prematurely, she's left reeling. Comedic and at many points bittersweet, this manga dives into why loving oneself is essential. Hiranishi's honest examination of her past relationships and how she eventually pulled herself out of heartbreak's grasp make for a truly compelling read. The art is uniquely adept at capturing the tone of this memoir manga. Hiranishi's choice to illustrate herself as a caricature and others in a cute shojo style serves not only to frame her story in a more comedic light but also to illustrate the pedestal upon which she sets the women to whom she is attracted. Hand this to readers who enjoyed other manga memoirs, such as My Wandering Warrior Existence (2020), by Nagata Kabi.

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March 1, 2023
A story of a long-overdue Sapphic coming-of-age. Through an autobiographical graphic narrative that is at times hysterically funny and at times gut-wrenching, readers follow Mieri, a young Japanese woman living in the U.S. From the lesbian characters in anime that she crushed on to the first real girl Mieri was attracted to, she's known for a while that she likes butch girls. The fact that she sees fewer butch x butch relationships won't stop her from trying to find a girlfriend even though the path, in person and on dating apps, is fraught with challenges. After she goes to visit her grandparents, Mieri meets Ash, a White American teaching English in Japan who becomes her first girlfriend. It starts out great: College sophomore Mieri experiences the stress and rewards of making the first move and even has her first kiss. But a month later, Ash breaks up with her, Mieri's parents get divorced, and her grandparents learn about and aren't cool with her sexuality. Worst of all, she can't stop thinking about Ash. As Mieri navigates the aftershocks of the breakup, she also grows into maturity. The book has impeccable pacing and is engaging from start to finish. The humorous art enhances the narrative in a meaningful way, especially in portraying Mieri's own emotional journey. A delightful exploration of navigating the bumpy road to adulthood. (extra panels, author's note, creating a manga, Q&A, bonus gallery) (Manga. 14-adult)

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April 1, 2023

Gr 9 Up-This heartfelt autobiographical manga follows Mieri as she tries to find a hot, short-haired girl to become her girlfriend. Mieri initially despairs that such a girl is more likely attracted to a feminine girl than to her less fashion-conscious self, but, after a few years of dating and college classes, she becomes romantically involved with the girl of her dreams. In this deeply personal manga, readers travel with Mieri through her self-discovery and acceptance of her attractions and sense of worth, but also dive deep into despair and heartbreak with her. Hiranishi employs many popular sh jo elements when illustrating anything pertaining to her crushes, including styling her crushes themselves into the perfect sh jo ideals. Her own self-portrait is basic and undetailed, which adds comedic effect but also speaks volumes to the mangaka's idea of herself. Many young readers will see their struggles in Mieri and relate to her journey, regardless of the types of people to whom they find themselves attracted. This is a more high school-friendly version of the poignant memoir, "X-Gender." VERDICT Recommended for most libraries serving teens, especially where demand for more wholesome yuri is high.-Sara Smith

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