Hirayasumi vol 1 by keigo shinzo

Hiroto is a pretty carefree 29-year-old, except he finds it difficult to talk to attractive women around his own age. He has no problem befriending older ladies, including an 81-year-old former lunch lady he affectionately calls Granny. He has dinner at her house twice a week until she suddenly dies of a heart attack and leaves her two-bedroom house to him. When Hiroto’s cousin Nat comes to live with him as she attends art school, the two learn to live together and figure out what it means to be adults in their various stages of life - Nat as a struggling college student with social anxiety, and Hiroto trying to figure out his purpose in life.

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This mostly slice-of-life is sweet and affirming for anyone who has ever felt lost as an adult, had difficulty making friends, or has suffered from anxiety. Nat and Hiroto are both very grounded and relatable characters, and their problems and presented with authenticity and without judgment. The illustration style is a little looser and more relaxed. Much of the narration and exposition is given without text boxes or word balloons, which can present a slight challenge in determining what is Hiroto's inner monologue and what is narration. This might have limited appeal to teen readers since the main characters are both adults, but as the emotional situations Nat and Hiroto experience are not unfamiliar to teens, this might be a good title for social-emotional learning tie-ins.

Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-Adult

Publisher: VIZ Media
Publication Date: May 21, 2024
ISBN: 9781974746910 (Paperback)

​Tags: Rating: 8/10, Suitability: High School, Suitability: Adult, Manga, Family, Mental Health, Grief, ​VIZ Media