*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

This was a super cute book. I love how Rintaro and Kaoruko are from two rivaling schools to get this Romeo and Juliet retelling. I think the two of them are extremely cute characters that will surely make readers smile and root for them. You can feel the tension between the two school with the interactions between the students as well as the way they speak about one another when alone. I like how we are already seeing Kaoruko's classmates try to pull her away from Rintaro but I do wish there was more of that to provide some more tension and obstacles for them but I do understand this is only the first volume and there will hopefully be more of that in future ones. I think this was a good first volume, I got to learn about the characters and the basics of the relationship between the school and it was paced well that kept the story moving.

"The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity" is pitched as a modern Romeo and Juliet story about a guy (Rintaro) who attends a "delinquent" type school, and a girl (Kaoruko), a girl who attends the upper class school next door. When they become meet, Rintaro and Kaoruko must learn how to traverse the tension between their 2 schools so they can stay friends.

This was a very cute modern teen/romance manga. I felt like the 2 characters had a lot of respect for each other and I enjoyed seeing them become closer as friends. The artwork was stunning, exceptionally detailed, with clear paneling so that the reader could understand the story easily. I would highly recommend this for the teen audience and would definitely try another volume.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Kodansha comics for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

a cute and decent manga about how appearance deceives! the mangaka's artstyle is simply lovely; i wasn't as engaged with the story as i hoped but the art kept sucking me back in. the comparison to romeo & juliet was apt to a certain extend -- the leads are 'polar opposite' from 'rival' schools who hate each other, but beyond that, there was surprisingly low level of conflict. i wonder if the story is going to escalate from there. i could tell that Kaoruko was the author's favourite because every panel with her in it was a delight, the supporting characters were good as well. even with the slow development, i'm not buying the central romance so far (it's a cute friendship, don't get me wrong!). hopefully, the next few volumes will rectify that.

all in all, this was fun! thanks to Negalley and Kodansha Comics for the E-ARC!

Thanks for letting me read the arc of this manga.

A story you don't expect: Rintaro is a boy who is misjudged by his menacing appearance and one day meet Waguri, a super cheerful girl who eats a lot in his family's restaurant.
And for the first time she's not afraid of Kentaro, it just seems like a very sweet story.

I'm curious to read the sequel.

Thank you netgalley and Kodansha comics for providing the earc.

I'm really intrigued by the set up in this volume, the characters seem pretty interesting and I can't wait to get to know them.

The artstyle is very cute & I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next volumes.

This Manga was so cute! I was squealing and I loved how awkward they both are. This volume is the beginning of a love story. I am obsessed. The are is stunning and the pacing is great. I'm obsessed.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

**The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity** kicks off with a charming twist on the classic Romeo and Juliet tale, set between two rival schools: Chidori High for boys with low grades and Kikyo Girls' High for elite ladies. This manga introduces Rintaro, a kind-hearted boy with a fierce face, and Kaoruko, an open-minded girl from Kikyo, whose chance meeting at Rintaro's family's patisserie sparks an unexpected connection. As they navigate the social barriers and traps set by their classmates, this delightful story offers humor, romance, and heartwarming moments. Perfect for fans of teen romance and school drama. #TheFragrantFlowerBloomsWithDignity1 #NetGalley