Plus-Sized Misadventures in Love!

Positivity conquers all in mamakari’s feather-light comedy manga debut about a heavyset heroine who’s given the gift of indefatigable confidence. Yumeko Koda, a plump young woman suffering from depression, wakes up from an apparent suicide attempt with amnesia and a new optimistic attitude. “I’m super cute!!” she gasps upon seeing herself in the mirror. She’s baffled by evidence that the old Koda had low self-esteem; even when people insult her to her face, she interprets it as jealousy and assures them, “My stunning body and face are simply gifts from God.” The plot focuses less on love than on workplace dramedy, as Koda resumes her job at a snack food company and takes it by storm. But there’s romance, too, as she gets close to a handsome, troubled man her old self admired (and semi-stalked) from a distance. Meanwhile, the police find evidence that her suicide attempt might really have been attempted murder, leaving Koda to wonder who could possibly have such a grudge against her. Mamakari’s simple shojo-style artwork is cute and funny, though Koda is inconsistently drawn throughout the volume. The potentially fatphobic premise develops into a cheeky paean to self-acceptance, with Koda encouraging and uplifting those around her as much as she talks herself up. Readers looking for a plus-size serotonin boost will find it here. (June)