The Art of Being a Stepmother

The Art of Being a Stepmother
First light novel volume cover
継母の心得
(Mamahaha no Kokoroe)
GenreFantasy, isekai, romance[1][2]
Novel series
Written byToru
Published byAlphaPolis
Original runAugust 1, 2022 – present
Light novel
Written byToru
Illustrated byNozu
Published byAlphaPolis
ImprintRegina Books
Original runMarch 5, 2023 – present
Volumes8
Manga
Written by
  • Toru
  • Mamenosuke Fujimaru
Illustrated bySora Honooki
Published byAlphaPolis
English publisher
  • NA: Alpha Manga
ImprintRegina Comics
MagazineRegina
Original runApril 16, 2024 – present
Volumes3

The Art of Being a Stepmother (継母の心得, Mamahaha no Kokoroe) is a Japanese light novel series written by Toru and illustrated by Nozu. It began serialization as a web novel published on AlphaPolis' website in August 2022. It later began publication under AlphaPolis' Regina Books imprint in March 2023. A manga adaptation illustrated by Sora Honooki and with storyboards by Mamenosuke Fujimaru began serialization on AlphaPolis' website in April 2024.

Synopsis

After passing away from an illness, Misaki Yamazaki is reincarnated as Isabelle Dora Simmons, a character in manga that she used to read in her former life. Misaki who died aged 38, regretted not having children, and hoped that in the next life she would become a mother. As Isabelle, she regains her memories as Misaki just a day before the wedding, and remembers that she was an abusive stepmother to the main protagonist, Noah Kimberly Devine, and that she can't undo her wedding as it is too late. After meeting Noah, she ultimately decides to be a devoted parent, raising her child using her experiences from her previous life.

Media

Light novel

Written by Toru, The Art of Being a Stepmother began serialization as a web novel published on AlphaPolis' website on August 1, 2022.[3] It later began publication under AlphaPolis' Regina Books light novel imprint on March 5, 2023. Eight volumes have been released as of March 15, 2026.[4]

No. Release date ISBN
1March 5, 2023[5]978-4-434-31671-5
2August 5, 2023[6]978-4-434-32336-2
3December 31, 2023[7]978-4-434-33144-2
4June 5, 2024[8]978-4-434-33942-4
5December 5, 2024[9]978-4-434-34884-6
6April 5, 2025[10]978-4-434-35510-3
7October 10, 2025[11]978-4-434-36450-1
8March 15, 2026[4]978-4-434-37352-7

Manga

A manga adaptation illustrated by Sora Honooki with storyboards by Mamenosuke Fujimaru began serialization on AlphaPolis' website on April 16, 2024.[12] The manga's chapters have been compiled into three tankōbon volumes as of March 2026.[13] The manga is published in English on AlphaPolis' Alpha Manga website.[2]

No. Release date ISBN
1December 5, 2024[14]978-4-434-34321-6
2September 2, 2025[15]978-4-434-34894-5
3March 15, 2026[13]978-4-434-35680-3

Reception

The manga adaptation won the grand prize at the 2025 Renta Manga Awards.[16] The manga adaptation was also ranked sixth in the Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics list of 2026.[17] The manga adaptation also won the grand prize at the 2026 Digital Comic Awards.[18]

References

  1. ↑ 異世界で育児事情を改革！マンガ版「継母の心得」1巻 原作小説も同発、プレゼントも. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 26, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "The Art of Being a Stepmother". Alpha Manga. AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  3. ↑ 継母の心得. AlphaPolis (in Japanese). Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  4. 1 2 継母の心得8 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  5. ↑ 継母の心得 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  6. ↑ 継母の心得2 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  7. ↑ 継母の心得3 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  8. ↑ 継母の心得4 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  9. ↑ 継母の心得5 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  10. ↑ 継母の心得6 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  11. ↑ 継母の心得7 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  12. ↑ 継母の心得. AlphaPolis (in Japanese). Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  13. 1 2 継母の心得3 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  14. ↑ 継母の心得1 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  15. ↑ 継母の心得2 (in Japanese). AlphaPolis. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  16. ↑ 【Renta!】『Renta!マンガ大賞2025』『Renta!ショートドラマ・アニメ大賞2025』結果発表！ (in Japanese). Papyless. December 1, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2026 – via PR Times.
  17. ↑ 第1位は『ベル・プペーのスパダリ婚約』！今年で21回目の「全国書店員が選んだおすすめコミック」ランキングが発表！ (in Japanese). Nippon Shuppan Hanbai. January 29, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  18. ↑ 『電子コミック大賞 2026』発表、大賞は『継母の心得』 310万票超の頂点は異色の子育てファンタジー. Oricon (in Japanese). February 4, 2026. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
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