My New Wife's Fake Smile

Age: 📚 16+ | 3 Volumes (Ongoing - Vol. 4 July 2026) | Paperback | Creator: Kengo Matsumoto

My New Wife's Fake Smile is a tender, slow-burn historical romance from creator Kengo Matsumoto about two newlyweds navigating the gap between propriety and passion in Edo-era Japan. Published under TOKYOPOP's LoveLove imprint, this 16+ series proves that sometimes the biggest obstacle to love is simply learning to show it.

Sojiro and Chiyo have been married for exactly one month. It should be the beginning of their happily ever after. Instead, it's the beginning of Sojiro's spiral into self-doubt.

Every day, Chiyo greets him with a smile—polite, pleasant, and utterly fake. At least, that's what Sojiro sees. As an insecure second-son samurai, he's convinced his new wife regrets their arranged match. She deserves better. She must be disappointed. He vows to become the husband she deserves, even as every forced smile confirms his fears.

What Sojiro doesn't know is that Chiyo is head-over-heels in love with him.

Her restrained smiles aren't dissatisfaction—they're propriety. Raised to suppress strong emotions, Chiyo is desperately trying to hide just how much she adores her new husband, terrified that showing her true feelings would be improper. The more she holds back, the more Sojiro worries. The more he worries, the harder she tries to seem composed.

My New Wife's Fake Smile is a beautifully frustrating dance of miscommunication, where two people who want the same thing keep missing each other by inches.

My New Wife's Fake Smile is a love story about learning to drop the mask—and trust that what's underneath is enough.

Perfect for readers who love: Historical romance, Edo-era/samurai settings, arranged marriage tropes, slow-burn relationship development, miscommunication drama, tender emotional storytelling.