This is a modern, kawaii, Romeo and Juliet styled story, but instead of feuding families we have feuding schools! Also I love that we finally let a girl eat! I appreciate that Kaoruko was able to genuinely enjoy eating all those cakes and Rintaro really is just a big softy. This manga was charming and cute and so adorable. Kaoruko and Rintaro are so cute together–eeeeh. The character profiles and cultural explanations at the end were super fascinating too! I can’t wait for more from this series. Thank you to Kodansha Comics, Saka Mikami, and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC for review!

This was such a cute intro to the story and I really enjoyed the (presumably) inspiration from stories like Romeo & Juliet where they’re at odds as a whole but still want to be together.

I love that the FMC is a foodie and can hold her weight, while the MMC looks mean to everyone (but her) and is a true softy. The added element of his family owning the shop was adorable and I hope to see them interacting there even more now. Volume 1 had all of the makings of a good story and it ended on a pretty good cliff hanger that keeps you on edge with want to know what happens.

I hope the next volume has more cute scenes of them studying together and blushing. Thanks NetGalley and Kodansha for the DRC! I was so stoked when I saw the cover at ALA. Glad to have gotten my hands on the DRC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Saka Mikami for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Chidori High, a school for underachievers, is juxtaposed with Kikyo Girls' High, an elite institution for affluent students. Rintaro, a kind-hearted second-year student at Chidori, crosses paths with Kaoruko, a girl from Kikyo, through the bakery his family owns and her love of cake. This leads to an unexpected connection between the two. However, their budding relationship faces challenges as they navigate the social barriers between their schools. Will Rintaro and Kaoruko defy the odds and overcome the obstacles set by their peers to be together?

This is a cute manga with a bit of a Romeo & Juliet feel with the opposing schools. At least the students know the main reason behind their feud. Where the students from both sides try to keep Kaoruko and Rintaro apart for their own selfish reasons, the schools they go to respectively do not determine the type of person they are.

This manga demonstrates how stereotypes based on reputation can affect a person's judgement before they even offer a chance to get to know someone. There is opportunity for teen romance and perseverance of personal goals within this story. A great manga for teen readers.

A very wholesome and sweet romance. Rintaro is supposedly a delinquent/bad boy but really he is adorable and Kaoruko is a bit of a unintentional troublemaker which I found pretty entertaining

A beautiful, heartfelt story of a friendship and romance between a delinquent with a heart of gold and a top-of-her-class scholarship student from rival schools. It was heartwarming to read about the leads overcoming their perceived class differences and growing closer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.**
Review has been posted to Goodreads as of 7/2/2024.

4.5⭐️

This was a very cute first volume, and I am eager to continue the story. Rin and Kaoru are so cute together, and I cannot wait for love to "bloom" between them! The supporting cast also has a lot of potential, and I'm sure their stories in the coming volumes will really add to the depth of the story. The art is beautiful and the story itself is interesting (forbidden love and friendship between two people from rival schools).

This manga really threw me back to high school. It's just cute and fluffy! I also really loved the fact that this manga talks about preconstructed ideas or labels that people have to carry while they are the complete opposite of those labels. The two main character are super cute and I will be reading the next volumes because i just need to know how their friendship will evolve.

I loved the relationship between the main characters. The MMC seemed like such a genuine loving person that was stereotyped into being this big scary man even though the FMC saw him for the person he really is. Really sweet and heartwarming.

Are you into cute manga romance? This is for you.
It's absolutely adorable.
It's the perfect read if you are looking for light and fluffy feels. Everyone here is full of good intentions, and wanting to support the other, and understand the other properly. Couldn't be cuter.

4.75/5

I enjoyed this so much! It is such a cute slice of life about two people you wouldn’t expect to become friends. One is a top-class student the other is a delinquent. Throughout the story you find out some assumptions about each character aren’t what they seem. But that doesn’t stop them from becoming fast friends. I am very excited to read more of this story to see them overcome the rivalry of their schools and for more of their friends to become friends with each other.

A very sweet and interesting manga. Rin and Kaoru couldn't be more different and yet they suit each other so well.
This manga shows that no one should be judged just by looks, status and rumors. Before you talk about a person, you should talk to them forst and foremost.
Very sweet. Both of the characters are sweethearts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the e-book copy!

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity is about two high schoolers Rintaro and Kaoruko. Both go to rival schools but interact at Rintaro's family patisserie. When they learn the truth, they become friends despite the school rivalry. I am glad this is finally getting a print release. I had read some of the chapters on KManga and wanted to finally dive into the series. I enjoy Rintaro and Kaoruko's relationship and how understanding they are with each other. I look forward to seeing if this develops into romance.

This was a pretty cute story about some high schoolers. Our main character is a guy who goes to a high school for outcasts that happens to be next to a high school for rich girls. Everyone who looks at him thinks he is very scary and a delinquent. Though, he is a very nice kid who really cares about his friends. One day, while helping out at his parent's bakery, a girl is there, and he thinks he scared her away. They end up becoming friends and his mindset about himself starts to change.

tffbwd is such a beautiful and wholesome manga i am obsessed! the artwork is so beautifully sharp and unique i love the character design of rintaro especially. this is perhaps my teenage version of the american dork diaries series haha ⋆｡°•☁︎ just what i needed for the soul.

the blooming romance is peak (adorable) and the rivalry of the two schools adds another layer to the storyline, really excited for future volumes! ₊ ⊹❀

thank you saka mikami and netgalley for the ARC!

Very sweet highschool romance manga!
A young boy who's alwqys judged quickly by strabgers due to his scary appearance and a young girl from the conflicting elite highschool who's not as stuck up as she is thought to be.
As I said very sweet and lighthearted, definitely recommending for those looking for a nice romance

Cute and sweet. I expected to be Kaoruko less princess like but it's okay like this, Rintaro's really too nice to be a deliquent.

I did enjoy this one and I plan on reading volume 2 when it comes out. I had a hard time with it being on my phone and trying to read it in the right order. So I was a bit confused at times. I would have loved it if it was in color like the cover and first page but still a cute story and excited to find out what happens next. Being misunderstood is hard and seeing it in writing makes it feel like a more common thing. Thank you!

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

Very cute and quick read. Liked how Kaoruko had this quirk of eating cakes all the time and how Rintarou was so apologetic while looking threatening to everyone. Polar opposites and still they fell in love. Romance is usually not a genre I read, but this time was kinda cute especially with all these awkward moments that were just them being in love. So cute!

Might have been slow sometimes and the girls of the other school gave the expression of being sexists, but except that it was a nice read.



Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics, for the advanced reader copy of The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity 1 by Saka Mikami.



Started the book: 29. June 2024
Finished the book: 29. June 2024
Wrote the review: 29. June 2024

3.5 Stars~
A delinquent-looking boy who’s awkward but really kind x a straightforward girl who loves to eat cake.

The art style is great. The main characters are drawn as complete opposites, but they both look cute.

It’s a bit slow, but it’s very sweet, and Rintaro looks absolutely adorable in his little bakery outfit. We got to see a lot of Rintaro, and that’s why he’s my favorite. Even his fellow ‘delinquent’ friends are likable and seem to look out for him in their own way. Kaoruko is adorable too, but we didn’t get to know too much about her. I’m going to stick with this manga for at least another volume to see if it picks up.

I get the high school rivalry and Romeo and Juliet vibes, but the seething rage from the girls’ high school is way over the top. The reason wasn’t revealed, but I think it will be in the next volume.

As far as Volume 1 goes, if you’re looking for something wholesome and full of adorableness with a low-stakes plot, I would recommend it. I’m quite curious to see where this manga will go, considering it’s based on Romeo and Juliet. Are we going to keep the wholesome vibes, or is it going to turn into something else completely?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review~

* blog post scheduled for July, 8th *

giggling, squealing, kicking my feet. i've heard great things about this manga and so far i'm not disappointed! definitely need to continue this