365 Days to the Wedding #5

Volume 5 of Tamiki Wakaki's charming romantic manga arrives dressed for a special occasion — the cover presents the two leads side by side in elaborate traditional Scandinavian folk costumes, her ornate crown and richly embroidered red bodice perfectly complementing his double-breasted black coat with plaid vest and brimmer hat. There's a wonderfully awkward tension in their expressions — she looks quietly flustered, he a little stunned — that captures the series' sweet, slow-burn humor beautifully. If you've been following this countdown to matrimony, 2024's fifth volume looks like another delightful step down the aisle.