Translated

Cat + Crazy (Volume 2) / Wataru Nadatani, Susie Lee (Contributor), Zack Davisson (Contributor)

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Cat + Crazy (Volume 2)
By: Wataru Nadatani, Susie Lee (Contributor), Zack Davisson (Contributor)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 184
Published: November 4, 2025 (1st Published July 15, 2016)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Dates Read: November 24, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

Kensuke Fuji loves cats but can’t have any of his own. Recently, he’s become an apprentice for the local cat whisperer, Nekoya Jin. This time around, his new mission is the cat cafe!

I loved this volume more than the first because I think with this one, I fully allowed myself to embrace the silliness that’s in it. The first volume I was still getting a feel for the characters.

This one, since I read it digitally, I ended up taking a few screenshots of how they talked about cats – especially how to act around the different groups of cats. I myself have always loved being around cats, so I totally get it, but I do have a few friends who aren’t cat people and those screenshots may be helpful for them and for me to help explain maybe why my cats have no interest in them.

Overall, this is still a silly, but fun manga read for any cat lover out there.

John the Skeleton / Triinu Laan, Marja-Liisa Plats (Illustrator), Adam Cullen (Translator)

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John the Skeleton
By: Triinu Laan, Marja-Liisa Plats (Illustrator), Adam Cullen (Translator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Number of Pages: 64
Published: October 1, 2024
Publisher: Yonder
Dates Read: November 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

When he retires, John the skeleton is adopted by elderly couple Grams and Gramps. On their farm he finds himself in amazing adventures with the two and their grandchildren.

This is a playful, older children’s picture book with unique, detailed pictures with a color pallet of pink, dark gray, and white. The adventures Grams and Gramps have with John the Skeleton are funny and imaginative. 

There’s a subtext in the story of both keeping humor/fun in your life, even at an older age, and accepting death.

Overall, a fun, silly read that could open the door for more imagination.

Cat + Gamer (Volume 8) / Wataru Nadatani, Zack Davisson (Translator)

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Cat + Gamer (Volume 8)
By: Wataru Nadatani, Zack Davisson (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 160
Published: August 25, 2025 (1st Published April 18, 2022)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Dates Read: September 1, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

Riko must figure out how to manage her apartment with two cats as her company is getting ready to move.

What a fitting ending to this slice of life series! Yes, at only eight volumes, this series has come to an end – but it does so perfectly in my opinion. No crazy, twisted ending. Again, just a slice of life story about a gaming obsessed office lady who gets two cats.

I read this entire series through my public library, but I think I’m going to be going about purchasing the volumes myself down the line as I can see myself wanting to randomly read through them in an afternoon.

It’s still crazy to me how the author captures the sassy personalities of cats in just a simple panel. There are times I look at my younger cat and see Musubi’s face…

Overall, an excellent series and a wonderful ending.

Nights with a Cat (Volumes 1-5) / Kyuryu Z

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Nights with a Cat (Volume 1)
By: Kyuryu Z
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 128
Published: July 12, 2022
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: August 31, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback
Nights with a Cat (Volume 2)
By: Kyuryu Z
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 128
Published: October 18, 2022
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: September 1, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback
Nights with a Cat (Volume 3)
By: Kyuryu Z
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 128
Published: March 19, 2024
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: September 1, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback
Nights with a Cat (Volume 4)
By: Kyuryu Z
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 128
Published: December 17, 2024
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: September 1, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback
Nights with a Cat (Volume 5)
By: Kyuryu Z
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 128
Published: April 22, 2025
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: September 1, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

An adorable and sweet manga about living with a cat, even one that’s technically not even yours.

Fuuta is a bit wary of his sister’s cat when they first move in, but Kyuruga quickly establishes Fuuta as their favorite human and P-chan as the “substitute human”.

This manga talks about all the fun things that happen living with a cat: ways to pet a cat, methods a cat uses to ask for attention, places cats love to sit, toys cats love to play with, and many more.

Anyone who loves cats will love this manga and those who ever wondered what living with a cat really is like.

Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Volume 4) / Yuri Sonoda

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Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Volume 4)
By: Yuri Sonoda
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 160
Published: August 5, 2025
Publisher: Seven Seas
Dates Read: August 9, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

The street cats get moved to a larger room where they meet two kittens and an older senior cat. As the care for the felines continues, so does the readers’ understanding of everyone’s past, including Yasuo and his love for cats.

I absolutely love learning more and more about our beloved characters as we get further and further into this series. We learn about Yasuo and his past and his first cat love. We also see Hachi getting more and more comfortable with humans (which reminds me of how my cat took 3 years to really warm up to my partner). I also love his patience with the kittens – like, he’s still annoyed with them, but he doesn’t really take offense to their young craziness.

Oh, I learned a bit more about baby kittens (and their poop) than I did before, so there’s that.

Overall, another cute and adorable volume of this series. Cat lovers will still enjoy it.

Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Volume 3) / Yuri Sonoda

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Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Volume 3)
By: Yuri Sonoda
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 160
Published: April 15, 2025
Publisher: Seven Seas
Dates Read: August 2, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Stray cats Maruru and Hachi now live in the shelter where Yasuo the Catnapper works. They adjust to shelter life, but that doesn’t mean Hachi lets his guard down. They’re joined by some new (old) friends as they get a new lease on life.

Why must I get teary eyed while reading this series?! Learning Kedama’s back story was like stepping into a room full of cut onions!

I love how gentle Yasuo is with the cats and how he’s never upset with the cats, but will reevaluate and try again with a new tactic.

Overall, anyone who loves cats, will love this series; you get perspectives from both the cats and the humans in this.

Nordlys: Book One / Malin Falch

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Nordlys: Book One (Nordlys #1)
By: Malin Falch
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 320
Published: May 13, 2025 (1st Published February 15, 2018)
Publisher: Inklore
Dates Read: August 3, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

The night before her coming-of-age ceremony, Sonja gets a visit from a mysterious boy who offers to take her across the stars to a Norway she’s never seen; a Norway full of trolls, pirates, and magic. As Sonja slowly begins to fall in love with the new land, she uncovers an adventure that may bring both worlds together.

If you take Peter Pan, mix it with Norwegian folklore, and then add beautiful artwork, you’ll have Nordlys – oh, and add a dragonfly! This is also just the beginning of the series, so it very well may turn in a different direction, but you definitely get Peter Pan feels.

This is just the beginning of this series and I kind of need the translations to have happened yesterday, this is so good.

Oh, and don’t get me started on the artwork. When I first flipped through it, it reminded me of Brother Bear, which I enjoy, so anything like that already had my attention. But then everything else about the artwork and the panels is beautiful and you can practically smell the crisp mountain air between the pages!

Overall, if you’d enjoy a graphic novel with beautiful panels and a Peter Pan retelling sprinkled with Norwegian folklore, this book is for you!

Cat + Crazy (Volume 1) / Wataru Nadatani, Zack Davisson (Translated)

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Cat + Crazy (Volume 1)
By: Wataru Nadatani, Zack Davisson (Translated)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 168
Published: July 29, 2025 (1st Published March 18, 2016)
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Dates Read: July 29, 2025 - July 30, 2025
Format: Library Book / eBook

High schooler Kensuke Fuji adores cats, but has only ever watched the street cats from afar since his family members are all allergic. But then he meets —-, the ultimate cat whisperer guru. He proves himself worthy of being his student to be taught under the Cat Fist Way.

This is a rather cute, but silly look at the love people have for cats.

It did take me a moment to get into this because I thought it was going to be a bit “too silly”, but I turned out to love it and am excited for my new obsession from this mangaka. Speaking of the mangaka, I still adore how they are able to draw the cats in both realism and cartoonish at the same time.

Overall, another cute manga that all cat lovers are bound to adore and ultimately relate to as well.

My Friends / Fredrik Backman

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My Friends
By: Fredrik Backman, Neil Smith (Translator)
Genre: Fiction
Number of Pages: 436
Published: May 6, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books
Dates Read: May 8, 2025 - May 25, 2025
Format: ARC / Paperback

My Friends is a story within a story about the summer of four fourteen-year-old friends and twenty-five years later about a piece of artwork.

As usual, I cannot describe what Fredrik Backman’s writing means to me. Every time I pick up one of his books, I know I’m going to read something I didn’t know I needed. It always takes me a bit to get into Backman’s books, but that’s not a bad thing, you just have to take his writing slow and steady before it hooks you and you immerse yourself in it.

The characters are complex and I walked away from the novel feeling like Joar, Ted, Ally, and the artist were my own friends. Backman doesn’t shy away from hard topics – the kids are there for each other as an escape from their home lives, some of which are dangerous. The writing brings out realistic dialogue between the friends and shows the simple yet messiness that can come from being so close with someone.

With a story about childhood friendships and those people who help shape who you are, this book is sure to resonate with everyone who reads it – especially reminding you of your childhood ride or die.

“I love you.”

“I trust you.”

*Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Mornings Without Mii / Mayumi Inaba, Ginny Takemori (Translator)

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Mornings Without Mii
By: Mayumi Inaba, Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator)
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir
Number of Pages: 192
Published: February 25, 2025 (1st Published January 1, 1999)
Publisher: FSG Originals
Dates Read: May 4, 2025 - May 7, 2025
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Trigger Warnings: cat in distress, missing cat, aging cat

In 1977, Mayumi Inaba heard tiny cries carried by the breeze of the river. When she follows the sound she finds a small newborn kitten dangling high in the fence – clearly placed there by someone. Overcome with affection, Inaba takes the kitten back to her apartment, names her Mii, and thus the inseparable bond begins.

Over the next twenty years Inaba talked about her life as she goes through changes and compromises, but the one thing that is always there is her cat, Mii.

So, I have mixed feelings about this book. Some parts of it I absolutely loved and related to; like Inaba straight up buying a condo because finding one to rent with Mii was too hard, cause that’s something I would absolutely do, and the midnight walks through the hallway with her cat – I absolutely did that with my cat, Mushi, in college when I needed a break from homework.

Then when Inaba talked about Mii getting stuck up in a tree and how she let her be stuck there so she could hear her little cries slightly broke me, because I hear one off pitched cry from either of my cats, I’m running to them to see what’s going on. My heart also ached for Mii at the end of her life – her quality of life was horrible and as much as I desperately want my cats to be with me for as long as time allows, they shouldn’t be suffering like Mii. Oh – and not getting Mii spayed!

Overall I both enjoyed and had my heart break while reading this. I do understand this was Inada’s first cat and it’s also set in 80’s/90’s Japan, but some things I think she could have handled so much better.

*Thank you FSG Originals and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review