This was cute but very basic. I’m not really into the trope of the guy being all stupid and not wanting to be friends and the girl being overly like aggressive. It just makes the bond seemed forced. The guy MC is annoying and is lowkey just a jerk to her even though she’s nothing but a sweetheart to him.

Summary:

Keisuke Shizuki was burned once by a popular and pretty girl, and he swore to himself that it would never happen again. He used his transition into high school as an excuse to overhaul his life.

First, he changed his looks and style, and last, he worked hard to come off as “normal” and “average” (and not nerdy) as possible. Everything was going according to plan until he bumped into Kusunoki, a girl from his old school. It seems like she had a similar plan but needs some help to achieve her goals.

Review:

Hooray, it's time for another manga with a long title! But seriously, Kusunoki's Flunking Her High School Glow-Up Vol. 1 is not what I expected. First, there's the obvious - I thought that Kusunoki would have been the main POV (the title and cover indicate that), but it's actually Keisuke Shizuki.

There's a reason for it, and the sort of twist works out. It's not the deepest manga out there, plus it has fun with the whole romantic comedy meets coming-of-age trope, with a high school overhaul twist.

I think I would have liked the story more if more of the characters felt…real or human? Keisuke Shizuki learns to hate women/girls because of one bad experience (which, okay, it was pretty bad, but still). This is one of many examples of girls behaving badly or just not acting like people. It's not the best look/take. Even Kusunoki seems helpless without a male lead. I don't know; maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Highlights:
Romantic Comedy
Coming-of-Age
High School Drama

Will I continue the series? Maybe

This was cute, with a SUPER evil villainess and bullying trauma, so be aware. I'm always one to root for the underdog, so I hope to see our MCs beating the bad guy and realizing that they are stronger than they know.

3, solid and interested in the next volume, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC of this book to read and review.

This is good fun. Two nerdy students were unpopular in their junior high and practically invisible unless they were being made fun of. In high school, having worked on their outward appearance they are seen as normal and one of them has raced to the top of the popularity charts with the boys.

Keisuke Shizuki has successfully remade himself although he is on alert because two people from his old school are at his new school. Shizuka Kusunoki was his fellow nerd but has remade herself and is seeking his help because the outside is good but her inner self still lacks confidence. She wants Keisuke to help her with her social skills but he just wants to fit in and be anonymous and Shizuka has become far too popular for his liking. Can he help her and remain anonymous? Meanwhile, another former classmate who is spiteful decides she wants to be Shizuka’s friend.

This is a good story about inner values and outward appearance. I enjoyed this book, because this is a school setting it is also a story about life, and the race to be seen as successful whether you have integrity or not. It is an engaging story and I definitely want to read more from this series.

Copy provided by Kodansha Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

A cute high school glow up story that stays fairly light in the first novel, just introducing us to the characters and showing us some surface level insecurities but hinting at deeper story lines. Two outcasts who know of each other from hiding away in the library but never spoke to each other, now are becoming a mentor of sorts for each other, helping to navigate social situations in fun awkward ways. The hints of a budding romance (if only they get over their ineptitudes!) for the two will keep readers anticipating what other social missteps they will make. Art is neat and straightforward for the genre, playing up the nerdiness angle of the middle school versions of themselves. Will be a hit for realistic romance manga readers.

Interesting concept for a story, a little odd but easy to get past. A little slow at the start, but I am interested in seeing where it goes.

This is a light high school drama about 2 former nerds that each have a high school glow up and end up in the same new school where only they know the other's secret. That is until Keisuke runs into someone from his past...

Keisuke and Kusunoki may have had external glow ups but they're both still pretty nerdy at heart and Kusunoki struggles with confidence. I loved how awkward they both were because it felt very realistic and innocent. Kusunoki was easily my favorite character because she's so genuine and just wants to be friends with Keisuke, while he struggles with what others will think. I think it's a good representation of the insecurities people have that don't just magically disappear because they've changed they way they look. There's a little bit of drama, some funny and embarrassing moments, miscommunication, and an ending that leads us to believe there will be bigger drama headed Keisuke's way in volume 2. I hope there's a bit more of a romantic connection between the two MCs too! Overall, it's a cute read and definitely a great manga to start with if you're new to this type of book.

Thank you Kodansha Comics for the DRC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

tl;dr
A cute slice of life for fans of the high school glow-up and sweet nerds finding each other. A classic mean girl character promises future drama, but this volume remains light.

Thoughts
The high school glow-up plot isn't new by any means, but there's a reason people keep returning to it. It's fun! In this case, we have two bookish children doing their best to reinvent themselves for high school. The twist here is that they both knew each other before the makeover. While they never interacted in middle school, they did spend their hours reading beside each other in the library. That tenuous shared history is enough for Kusunoki to seek out Keisuke's help. She may have picked a new look for herself, but getting the courage to speak to people is bigger hurdle, and one that only he can help with. Shockingly, he discovers that his own phobia of girls doesn't activate when he's around her. Maybe they'll both be good for each other? (Of course they will.) There are very few surprises to be had in here. Keisuke starts out with a predictably dim view on girls as a whole due how he's been hurt, but his time with Kusunoki makes him reevaluate his stance. Meanwhile, Kusunoki's reasons for changing are little more hidden, with some hints towards bullying, but she's warming up quite a bit around Keisuke. Attractive artwork with clean lines and some exceptionally cute expressions pulls the whole thing together making for a mostly endearing read. The only plot point that keeps this from being entirely saccharine sweet is the girl who hurt Keisuke is also here, and... well, that's about it so far. Her presence and almost cartoonishly villainous name promise complications in the future, but so far she's done very little beyond stand around ominously.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this arc!

5/5 stars!

This was a sweet manga, and a great first installment to this series! I liked seeing how Keisuke and Shizuka are so similar and I'm excited to see how their friendship - or something more?? - will progress through the series. The art was really lovely as well. I'm looking forward to reading more of the series, especially with that surprise ending, I wasn't expecting that!

3.5/5

A story about Shizuki Keisuke, a nerdy boy, wanting to reinvent himself in highscool because in junior high he was bullied and looked down upon. So he puts in the work, gets a makeover, and enters a school with a notoriously hard entrance exam so he could escape his junior high classmates. But what will happen when he not only runs into the female equivalent of himself, a shy girl named Shizuka Kusonoki, but also the main girl bully who made Keisuke’s life horrible in the first place?

Great start to the series. It’s a fun concept to have 2 secret high school makeover debuts unexpectedly meet. They’re both really interesting characters and seemingly have different goals than each other.

I was surprised to find out that the main perspective isn’t even Kusonoki, but the MMC pov instead. I don’t hate it, but I do hope to get more of the FMC pov in the future.

The extra story at the end really added to the plot. It’s a cute and intriguing story so far. I will definitely look out for volume 2.

This was a sweet and charming manga about two former middle school loners finding friendship in one another later on in high school. I found this style of high school glow up to be a refreshing take on the trope. The premise though a little simplistic or basic has a lot of potential, I think, and I look forward to seeing how Keisuke and Shizuka friendship/relationship progresses in future volumes.

I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, and now I can't wait to read more! I laughed so much, too >.<

Funny, but also surprisingly realistic. I'd say it's a shojo that feels like a shonen, perfectly in the middle of both genres.

A funny romantic comedy about two high school nerds who went to a new school where they both had their “glow-up” debut.

When Shizuki was rejected by his heartthrob, he was not only left with a broken heart, but also became pretty-girl-phobic on top of it. He decides to opt for a fresh start: new school, new looks, new friends and a healthy portion of confidence as the icing on the cake. Shizuki selects a school where no one knows his secret former self, allowing him to start anew as a blank canvas. To avoid any incidents and not trigger his phobia, he strictly avoids having eye contact with all the popular girls… until one day, when the prettiest and most sought-after girl in school asks him for help!

The cute blonde turns out to be his dreadfully nerdy and totally unpopular former library “companion” with whom he never spoke a word. Not much has changed at least in that respect; fellow ex-outcast Kusunoki is still as shy and socially awkward as she used to be and only managed to upgrade her appearance, not her social skills – when it comes to looks she definitely reached max level. Unable to speak to her peers, she’s not able to put her looks to good use and begs none other than the seemingly confident Shizuki for help.

Shizuki however, wants to decline instantly. Not only does the cute Kusunoki challenge his deepest fears, but she also knows what an unpopular boy he used to be and could threaten his newly accomplished status. But due to Kusunoki’s clumsy cute demeanour, Shizuki gets roped into helping her overcome her social anxiety. From now on Shizuki has to navigate both his phobia and the extra level of attention he receives as he spends a lot of time with the school’s most popular girl…

My Reading Experience
I had a great time reading Kusunoki’s Flunking Her High School Glow-Up. It’s funny, cute and features clumsy nerds who try to become popular kids – ever since I read Wotakoi, Love Is Hard For Otaku, “nerds trying to be normies” has become one of my favourite tropes. Apart from that, I also loved the art style. The drawings are pretty and the character’s emotions are nicely developed. A bit over the top, yes, but that makes it extra fun in my opinion.

Who Would Enjoy This Manga?
Kusunoki’s Flunking Her High School Glow-Up is great for readers who enjoy a cute and funny rom-com with pretty artwork. Otakus and nerds who like the genre will be able to empathise with the former-ducklings-now-turned-swans and might enjoy it even more – at least I do, hehe! If you love Wotakoi, Love Is Hard For Otaku or Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible, you will definitely have a great time with this manga.

Rating
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
Story: ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I think this is my favourite manga set in high school I’ve read so far (admittedly I haven’t read many). I really liked the art as it wasn’t too over stylised which is something I’m personally not a fan of amd there was a good balance of art panels too speech. The characters felt very relatable and fleshed out, their problems and reactions seemed genuine. The whole premise of the book just felt realistic which isn’t something I’ve come across before and I’m looking forward to seeing how the story develops if I can get a hold of Volume 2.

3.5⭐

Kusunoki's Flunking Her High School Glow-Up Vol. 1 by Mitsuki Mii has an undeniably adorable art style that really draws you in. The characters are cute, and the light, slice-of-life tone gives it a relaxing vibe. However, the story is a bit thin, and by the end of the volume, it feels like not much has actually happened in terms of plot development. Despite this, I found myself enjoying the simple charm, and I’d still love to see where it goes in future volumes. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the mood for something light and cozy!

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Kusunoki's Flunking Her High School Glow-Up by Mitsuki Mii is a high school romance manga about two former middle school classmates trying to reinvent themselves and make friends. The only problem is, the girl doesn't socialize well and the guy has trauma with girls. He reluctantly agrees to help her out, and they slowly start to become friends. This was a pretty cute manga volume, but it looks like there's gonna be a mean girl involved, so I might not continue this one. May be worth a try if you're a fan of school based manga though.

A sweet and funny manga about two former middle school loners finding friendship and guidance in each other following their respective high school glow ups is a plot that is both fresh and yet familiar. Who hasn’t tried to reinvent themselves when in a new environment and found that a familiar face can bring it all tumbling down. This manga is fun and sweet and beautifully illustrated.

A fun beginning to a new manga. There's a girl who's tried her hardest to "glow-up" now that she's in high school, and while it does seem to be working for the most part, she encounters new friends and foes alike who threaten to disrupt her scheme. There's plenty of humor and of course some wild shenanigans, so I think this could be a funny, adventurous romance manga!

It was a cute read!

Volume 1 left me wanting to see their relationship develop from their friendship!

The cover art and title is what drew me to this, I'll go to war for a cute pink-haired main character, but not much stood out about this for me. The premise so far is very basic, not much happened plot-wise in this volume which I guess is to be expected, but I don't feel drawn enough to any particular character to want to find out more. I thought the bonus chapter was quite sweet, the glimpse into their past sitting in the library together but by themselves, and Kusunoki being so nervous she was holding the manga upside down while pretending to read made me smile.