"If you don't know me, that's okay. There were many days I didn't know who I was either..." My name is Chiharu Morita. Of course, that is the name on this blog, so that is who I am. The Chiharu you know is only a shadow. Yes, I was in a group called Butterfly Tops. Now I am a composer, the person responsible for some of the pop songs you hear on the radio. Those aren't the reasons you know me, though. You know me because of YUMI. The woman who comes into your living room every night on dramas, music shows, and radio request lines. The most famous woman in the country. Yumi, as you may know, is my childhood friend. We graduated high school and went to audition for a new girl group they were creating. The rest is history. For you, anyway. For me, I still breathe this every day. Because I love Yumi. I have since I was a young girl too stupid to know the words for what I felt. This is my confession. This is the story of not only me, but Yumi too. Of how we left our town and became household names. Of how I fell in love with her and did everything in my power to protect her from the evil in this world. I did not always succeed. I will not rest until you know the truth. All the lies the agencies and labels tried to make us spew will be known. Maybe this will mean the end of what career I have left. But if I don't tell this story, I won't know who I am anymore. I want to be more than "the girl who loved Yumi," and yet it's the only identity I can ever remember having. For better or worse, let us begin. Set in contemporary Japan, "LOVE, YUMI" is the epic journey one woman embarks on to complete the impossible: to save her best friend and the woman she loves from a brutal, all-consuming pop culture world. Contains every situation that entails.

Through a confessional letter, comic book artist Yumi Sakugawa illustrates the deep, however platonic, nature of friend-love.

Ladies, We Need To Talk breaks the stigma around everything women are thinking but not saying. Yumi Stynes and Claudine Ryan cover all the trickiest taboo topics from their hit podcast, from bodies and mental health to sex and relationships. The ABC podcast Ladies, We Need To Talk has been tearing open the sealed section on life for years, but host Yumi Stynes and co-creator Claudine Ryan know there’s still way more to say. In this book, they dive further into the podcast topics that resonated most with sensitivity, hilarity and serious smarts, and open the conversation further to include personal stories from listeners. Want to discover the wonders of your vagina or know how to close the orgasm gap? Are you riding your hormonal rollercoaster blindfolded or feeling a bit weird about your period? Do you want to kick your mental load to the kerb or consider the alternatives to monogamy? You're not the only one – and there’s no need to go it alone. Ladies, We Need To Talk is a book for all women who feel the squeeze between their private life and their pelvic floor.

The Untold Story of Lesbian Love in Japanese Anime and Comics... "By Your Side is the complete Yuri resource I only ever dreamed could exist. Decades in the making, this glorious collection surveys, analyzes, and contextualizes Yuri with unparalleled detail and enthusiasm. Friedman graces readers with illuminating insights as they follow her through a century of the genre's evolution and revolution. By sharing her extraordinary knowledge, she provides inquirers, scholars, and aficionados alike with a deeper appreciation and understanding of lesbian anime and manga while galvanizing them towards the next era of Yuri." -Nicki Bauman, Yurimother

Sometimes all you need is a leap of faith... When her husband's recent infidelities are exposed, Kate Hensley does what any sensible woman would; she kicks him out of the house and pursues a younger man. Could her snowboarding instructor, Evan Randall — blue-eyed, blonde, and gorgeous — be the solution to her problems? If only love were that simple. Gossip travels fast in the high-country, and while Kate's new BFF supports her romantic endeavours, it seems no one else does. With opposition to her amorous adventure mounting, Kate learns that Newton's third law applies to love as it does to motion, and she must decide whether the price of being true to herself is one she's prepared to pay...

Annabelle has tamed the wild boys, mastered the social hierarchy of catty mean girls, and bugged out over her first school dance. But now it's time for the school talent show. Annabelle's been asked to be a judge. Which is perfect . . . until her friends accuse Annabelle of playing favorites because her boyfriend Oliver asked for special treatment. Can Annabelle remain an impartial judge without hurting anyone's feelings? The trials and tribulations of middle school that make this series so relatable (and fun!) are back in full force in this book.

One of the biggest challenges facing America today is an epidemic of obesity. Americans' diets are bulking them up, yet starving them nutritionally. Japan has the greatest life expectancy in the world, mostly due to diet. In Yumi's Yummies, many nutritious Japanese ingredients have been fused with those from America to create a unique cuisine that is both tasty and healthful. For example, Miso is most often thought of as a type of Japanese soup. However, when mixed with ground turkey and American spices it provides a taste that makes family and guests sit up and take notice, taking them on an adventurous culinary journey that is nutritious, somehow familiar yet like nothing they ever tasted. Yumi's Yummies has a little of everything, from appetizers, soups, and salads to main entrees, side dishes, and desserts. Once you and your family get hooked, you'll start experimenting on your own with this whole new world of tastes.