Shojo Beat manga

Publishers Weekly: Nana, Japan's most popular shojo (girl's) manga, is appearing in English for the first time. Nana Komatsu is a flaky young woman who's just emerged from an emotionally devastating affair with an older, married man. She dreams of a perfect romantic love, like in the movies, but her best friend, Junko, counsels her that it might be time to try being friends with a guy instead of just falling in love with him. So when she meets Shoji, Nana is determined to be completely platonic, despite Shoji's interest. Meanwhile, Nana Osaki, a high school dropout, is rocking onstage as lead singer of a punk band and offstage with the band's guitarist, Ren. When Ren alone is offered a recording contract, Nana decides not to go to Tokyo with him. She wants to prove to herself that she can be a star without Ren. Both Nanas find their way to Tokyo, where this first issue sets them up, leaving later volumes to unfold the complexities of their entwined destinies. Despite the soap opera surface, Yazawa's art is graceful and naturalistic, portraying all of the characters, both main and supporting, with such depth and care that you cannot help being drawn in.

"Asuka Masamune is a guy who loves girly things--sewing, knitting, making cute stuffed animals and reading shojo comics. But in a world where boys are expected to act manly, Asuka must hide his beloved hobbies and play the part of a masculine jock instead. Can Asuka ever show his true self to anyone, much less to Ryo Miyakozuka, the girl that he's falling for?"--from publisher.

Ten has moved into a boardinghouse with other high school students to avoid a long commute home through the mountains. Ten accidentally overhears Riku talking to Chiaki about his feelings for her. Ten and Riku try to act as if nothing has changed between them, as Chiaki watches them with mixed feelings.

A boy from Nina's home dimension, Yuta, enrolls in her Earth school, making Nina very suspicious. Her suspicious are justified when he gives Ayu a camera that reveals true love and Ayu discovers that not even Nina's magic can control the direction love will take.

Fourteen-year-old psychic Kisaki Tachikawa and her partner, Giniro, form the team Mistress Fortune for PSI, a secret government alien-fighting organization. She falls in love with Giniro, even though it is against agency policy, and is starting to feel like she is making progresswith him when she learns she is being sent to California.

For as long as she can remember, Nina has wanted to attend the most prestigious learning institute in the Magic Kingdom. And now, finally, she getting her wish. But going awat to school means leaving all her new friends behind. Poor Nina! What will she do? Will she return to the Magic Kingdom or will she stay in Japan with her best friend, Ayu and Hiroki, the boy who love her?

Twelve-year-old Mitsuki Koyama dreams of becoming a pop star so her beloved Eiji will return to her, but a tumor in her throat prevents that. When two harbingers of death appear to Mitsuki, they agree to help her with her dream by changing her into a sixteen-year-old and placing her disease into remission.

It’s been one year since Sawako and Kazehaya confessed their love to each other. With their last high school festival approaching, Sawako gives it her all to make it the best one ever. Meanwhile, Kazehaya seems to be overworking himself…

"...Tragedy strikes as the Search Weekly team takes their snooping too far! Hounded to the limit by remorseless reporters, Ren spins his car off the icy road in a horrible accident that will change the course of everyone's future--" -- P. of cover.

Sawako and her friends dish the details of their very special Christmas Eves when everyone converges at her house for an impromptu party.