Summer and Soda

Summertime at the Friday Bookshop, a charming bookstore in Japan where you'll find the perfect book, is busier than ever for its quirky employees as they revisit an old friend and make new ones who enter the cozy shop.

The warm and cheerful haze of summer is settling over the town of Nohara, and Friday Bookshop employee Fumiya is excited for what he hopes is a season of change. He’s quickly becoming a solid member of the bookshop team, but much of the history behind the shop’s owners—Makino, Yasu, and Sugawa, whose long friendship began in high school with their Friday Book Club—remains a mystery to him. So he’s shocked to learn that this tight-knit trio used to be a quartet, but the fourth founding member of the book club had passed years ago.

When a young girl shows up to the Friday Bookshop with the desire to revive the Friday Book Club at her school—the same school that the store owners attended—the trio finds itself confronted with the melancholy of their past. Amidst buried secrets, bonds in need of mending, and shared moments gathered around Sugawa’s culinary creations at the bookstore’s café, a luminous and comforting tale unfolds—one that celebrates love, the ties that bind us together, and the healing power of books.

With vibrant characters and threads of connections woven between the characters’ lives, their recommended books, and the shop’s customers, Summer and Soda will tug at your heartstrings in surprising ways while inspiring you to revel in the magic of reading.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs