My Dress-Up Darling, Volume 1: 05/03/22

My Dress-Up Darling, Volume 1 by Shinichi Fukuda is the start of a manga (recently also an anime) about the friendship between two high schoolers. Wakana Gojou lives with his grandfather and sews clothes for the hina doll shop they run. Marin Kitagawa, a part time model, loves to cosplay but doesn't have the skills to make her own costumes.

A chance meeting in a rarely used home EC classroom cements their friendship. Wakana after rather rudely critiquing Marin's first attempt at a costume makes up for his gaff by agreeing to make the outfit for her. Karin will pay for the supplies and he'll provide the labor.

I'm not a cosplayer. Like Marin, I don't know how to use a sewing machine. What makes this book work for me is the friendship between the two. Marin always stands up for Wakana's right to be interested in things, even if some might perceive them as being girlie. She stands up for anyone, not just him. It is who she is, through and through.

I also like that there's a chemistry between the two but the friendship over the cosplay isn't a means to an end. Yes, both do find themselves interested and embarrassed at awkward times but when it comes to the goal of a successful cosplay for Karin, both are one hundred percent committed.

I have the second volume on hand and will read it soon.

Five stars

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