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Posted Dec 16, 2019 by
Yen Press 2019 Holiday Gift Guide!
We're Proud to Present...the 2019 Yen Press Holiday Gift Guide!
Happy Holidays, lovely reader! We had such a great time with our 2018 gift guide, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to make it our festive new tradition. This updated guide will help everyone from light novel enthusiasts to new readers get some inspiration from some of our most popular titles in 2019.
BEST NOVELS OF 2019
This year has been a FANTASTIC year for novels at Yen Press, and we're so grateful to all our amazing novel fans who helped make it happen. Some of our top novels of the year included:
WEATHERING WITH YOU by Makoto Shinkai
Longing to escape his island home, a boy named Hodaka runs away during his first summer of high school to find a new life in Tokyo. As rain falls for days on end and Hodaka struggles to adjust, he meets a girl named Hina who holds a mysterious power: With a single prayer, she can part the clouds and bring back the sun. But her power comes at a price, and as the weather spirals further and further out of control, they must choose what future they truly want for themselves. Written concurrently with production of the 2019 film Weathering With You, this novel comes straight from director Makoto Shinkai, the mind behind 2016's hit your name.! Don't forget to check out the movie, being brought to you by GKids in January 2020.
THE MIRACLES OF THE NAMIYA GENERAL STORE by Keigo Higashino
When three delinquents hole up in an abandoned general store after their most recent robbery, to their great surprise, a letter drops through the mail slot in the store's shutter. This seemingly simple request for advice sets the trio on a journey of discovery as, over the course of a single night, they step into the role of the kindhearted former shopkeeper who devoted his waning years to offering thoughtful counsel to his correspondents. Through the lens of time, they share insight with those seeking guidance, and by morning, none of their lives will ever be the same.
THE HERO IS OVERPOWERED BUT OVERLY CAUTIOUS! story by Light Tuchihi, art by Saori Toyota
There's no such thing as too much preparation! The fate of the S-ranked world Gaeabrande rests with the novice goddess Ristarte. As she thumbs through the piles of duller-than-dull résumés for potential Heroes to summon, she hits the jackpot with Seiya Ryuuguuin, whose stats are so high for a level-1 Hero that he's practically cheating! (He's also pretty easy on the eyes.) But there's a catch. Seiya is cautious to a fault. If he goes to a weapons and armor shop, he asks for three sets of armor: one to wear, a spare, and a spare for the spare. Just in case. He always buys ridiculous amounts of supplies, trains like he's racing to max level, and won't hesitate to use his strongest skills even on a simple slime. With a Hero like Seiya on the job, which will run out first-the Demon Lord's forces or Ristarte's sanity...? The tale of the overpowered yet overly cautious Hero and the goddess who can't decide if she wants to kiss him or smack him begins! Check out the light novel, Vol. 1-2 available now, the manga, publishing in January, and the anime, season 1 available for streaming on FUNimation now!
PENGUIN HIGHWAY by Tomihiko Morimi
I may only be in fourth grade, but I know more than most adults. I take notes every day and read all kinds of books, so I have a solid grasp on the world around me. But suddenly, there are penguins in my town! I know it has something to do with the lady at the dentist and her weird powers, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it...and don't forget the adorable anime adaptation, brought to you by ElevenArts!
THE NIGHT IS SHORT, WALK ON GIRL by Tomihiko Morimi
In another favorite from Tomihiko Morimi, a college student spends an evening out, unwittingly attracting the attention of various men whose paths she crosses. One in particular, an upperclassman who has been nursing a crush on her for some time, has chosen this night to make his true feelings known. Will the two come together, or will this girl just keep on walking...? Check out the animated adaptation, available from GKids!
BEST MANGA OF 2019
We also had some a-MAZ-ing manga in 2019, filled with dragons, street cats and...period punches?! Check out the below for the full run down.
SEVEN LITTLE SONS OF THE DRAGON by Ryoko Kui
Ryoko Kui, the master storyteller behind the beloved manga series Delicious in Dungeon, pens seven brand-new tales that will delight fantasy fans and manga devotees equally. Covering a broad range of themes and time periods, no two stories in this collection are alike!
SKULL-FACE BOOKSELLER HONDA-SAN by Honda
Ever wonder what it's like to sell comics at a Japanese bookstore? Honda provides a hilarious firsthand account from the front lines! Whether it's handling the store, out-of-print books, or enthusiastic manga fans, Honda takes on every challenge. Don't forget to check out the wackily comedic anime on Crunchyroll!
Protecting your turf, keeping other guys from pawing at your girl, showing everyone who's boss...it's all in a day's work when you're a street thug-er, a street cat!
FOR THE KID I SAW IN MY DREAMS by Kei Sanbe
Senri Nakajou's twin brother was his everything, the one who protected him from their abusive father, the one whose pain he felt as his own. That is, until the day thirteen years ago when Senri's entire family was murdered before his eyes. He couldn't have cared less about his parents, but without his brother, his world ended. Ever since, finding the killer and making him pay has been Senri's only goal...and now-finally-he's caught a glimpse of a clue...!
It's that time of month, and you know what that means...a visit from Little Miss P! She always seems to show up at just the wrong time, generally armed with a heavy dose of fatigue and poised to deliver a barrage of beatings that leave her hosts physically and mentally exhausted. Though Little Miss P is often met with dread and resignation, the realities of a woman's period are widely misunderstood-especially by those who haven't been subjected to her gut punches on a monthly basis. Join Little Miss P-along with Mr. Libido, Mr. Virginity, and Little Miss PMS-as she visits women in a variety of circumstances, advising, harassing, comforting, and delivering more than one obligatory PERIOD PUNCH in this humorous, heartwarming collection!
BEST MIDDLE GRADE READS OF 2019
We at JY are thrilled to present our top middle grade reads of 2019, spearheaded by the return of The Berrybrook Middle School series! Have you rejoined the halls of our favorite school?
Plan your months, learn how to draw, write your journals, and read brand-new short stories! The fourth book of the Berrybrook Middle School series, Diary, is a very special journal including not only sticker sheets and "one sketch a day" pages but also brand new stories from the author set in the Berrybrook universe! Find out all about Peppi's and Jaime's project, write your own daily entries right next to Jensen's journal pages, and take a glimpse at the new life of a familiar face who's moved to a new town!
THE BERRYBROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL BOX SET by Svetlana Chmakova
Follow the Awkward tales of the students at Berrybrook Middle School as they Bravely face their everyday lives...even when they have a Crush! You can even write your own story in the Diary in this all-in-one box set!
I'm Atsuko Kagari, but you can call me Akko! It's been my lifelong dream to become. Awitch, and I came all the way from Japan to attend the prestigious Luna Nova Witchcraft Academy. But then I found out all we ever do is study, study, study! I swear! What's with this place?! Well, we finally left our desks to go on a class trip to Doras Hill, and things were going smoothly for once!...That is, until I met the guardian of the hill, Sifla. Wait, whadja say, Sifla? Did your cat and dog run away from home? Don't worry. Lotte, Sucy, and I will find them for you! After all, we're three hearts that beat as one, right?
MOST ANTICIPATED OF 2020
While we're sad to say goodbye to 2019, we're soooo excited to usher in a new decade with a thrilling new array of Yen Press books! Here are some of are most highly anticipated titles of 2020:
RASCAL DOES NOT DREAM OF BUNNY GIRL SENPAI (light novel) by Hajime Kamoshida
Bunny girls do not live in libraries. This is simply common sense. And yet, that's exactly where Sakuta runs into one. Wanting to find out more about the mystery surrounding this bunny girl and maybe get a little closer to her in the process, Sakuta launches an investigation to figure out what's causing her to be invisible to everyone around them. On sale 04/21/20!
THE WEIRN BOOKS by Svetlana Chmakova
In the Night Realm, shifters, vampires, weirns, and other night things passing for human may prowl the streets, but school is still in session—and you still have to do your homework! Hitting shelves near you Summer 2020.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GIVE BIRTH! by Ayami Kazama
The humorous and heartfelt autobiographical comic essay of an otaku manga artist! Follow her journey as she learns the ins and outs of pregnancy and childbirth. In stores everywhere 02/25/20!
CAROLE & TUESDAY by BONES and Shinichiro Watanabe, art by Morito Yamataka
Based on the hit anime directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Kids on the Slope), two girls from different worlds connect through a love of music and a desire to make it big on Mars. Check it out on 05/19/20!
HIGH SCHOOL DXD (light novel) story by Ichiei Ishibumi, art by Miyama-Zero
Most of Issei Hyoudou’s perverted life has been filled with dreams about having a harem, so it’s not a great sign when one of his dates ends with his murder! He’s fortunate enough to be revived by a beautiful girl, but his luck ends after he discovers his school is filled to the brim with deadly angels and demons! Coming in 2020.
Thank you so much for reading our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide! We hope you found inspiration for your loved ones, and look forward to seeing you in the new decade! Stay tuned to our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) for holiday giveaways, goodies, and more throughout the rest of December. Happy Holidays, everyone!
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