I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

Sadly. This didn't work for me. Mainly because of Kusunoki.
I loved the art. Loved the transformations both characters went through. See Shizuki make the best of his high school years. Some people may call him a dick and yes he had some moments but I actually found it refreshing how he tried to set boundaries because Kusunoki DOESN'T get it. I loved that both Kusunoki and Shizuki were big book lovers and found solace in the library.

Kusunoki was just WAY too irritating to me. She just didn't even get the most basic of basic social cues. When Shizuki tells her he wants to help her and be her friend... she immediately stalks him both inside and outside of school. When he doesn't want that she proposes they call EACH NIGHT, which thankfully Shizuki is able to get down to less. Oh and also during that talk about the friendship toning down in school (for good reasons as we can see that people are turning sour) she doesn't just tone it down, oh no she just completely ignores him at school and when he asks she states that this is what he wanted right? NO, girl. He just wanted you to not stalk him and be with him 24/7. I wouldn't mind if she was just a shy girl who has some issues with communicating, because that would be cute and I would root for her, but she is just empty inside. There is nothing in her brain. I am sorry to say. I just wanted to slap her at times to hope it instilled some sense of common sense. Oh, at one point there was a competition and afterwards she was surrounded by people and apparently EXPECTED our MC to save her because OMG people and she was about to faint. WHAT?

Not in the mood to write much more. So I will keep it at this.

Shizuki and Kusunoki were antisocial, introverted, bottom-of-the-social-scene middle schoolers together. Unexpectedly, they find themselves in the same class in high school where they both had a glow-up. While Shizuki has worked on becoming more social and staying socially in the middle of the hierarchy, Kusunoki still can't speak to anyone yet has found herself dubbed the cutest girl in school. Kusunoki asks Shizuki to help her get better at speaking, and despite not wanting the attention she brings, he can't help but say yes.

It was so cute to see them learn how much they have in common, and how they are fine with each other while she is otherwise anxious around boys and he is nauseated by cute girls. They have so much potential and I can't wait to read more!

This definitely gave "Komi Can't Communicate" vibes, but these introverted sweethearts will have their own challenges to overcome (I'm worried about that one girl!). Definitely a great read for those a fan of two introverts finding each other with lovely artwork.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

4 stars

Cute story about two introverts who have glow ups when entering highschool. The FMC kind of annoyed me and feel like her character was done a bit too over the top in a pick me girl kind of way. Interested to see what happens to the two.

This was a fun, lighthearted coming of age manga. It reminded me a lot of Komi Can’t Communicate, but with a less likeable male lead. Shizuki was not very likeable to me, but that actually made the story feel more real for me. He seemed like a real middle school/high school boy.

Kusunoki was adorable and easily the best part of the story. She is cute and awkward, without ever playing it like she was dumb.

I’m looking forward to reading the next volume and seeing what happens next!

Kusunoki did not really understand social cues at times, but I feel like this is characteristic of really shy high schoolers or individuals who don't really socialize often. Overall, I really enjoyed the story. It was cute and I can't wait to see more of Kusunoki and Shizuki's budding friendship/relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Mitsuki Mii for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion.

Such a cute manga about teenagers trying to find their way in high school. Bullies and teen angst are obstacles to overcome. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was SUPER cute! I really love Kusunoki's character. She's awkward, trying to overcome her fears and have friends while she's in high school. Its a cute book about the struggles of making friends and realizing you're not alone. I'm really looking forward to volume 2.


Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!

Kusunoki's Flunking Her High School Glow-Up is actually josei, which makes sense when you read this. Keisuke Shizuki was a nerd and an outcast in middle school and now he has changed himself for high school. He finally has friends, but still has hard time looking girls in the eyes because of a trauma. Shizuka Kusunoki used to be like that too and the two were in the same class in middle school. Now Shizuka wants to be friends with Keisuke. This all sounds quite cliched, but the best part is that Keisuke is actually a really interesting character! We get inside his head and he doesn't want to have anything to do with Shizuka and then there's the girl that caused the trauma too. His friends are jealous of course and this is an interesting situation. Many of the characters have an actual persona, there's humor and Keisuke is really relatable.

The art looks great and works well with the story. I still need to know more about where this is going and such to give it more stars, but this felt different in a weird and sarcastic way. Such a good choice and finally not too many feelings!

Kusunoki is Flunking Her High School Glow-Up
Release Aug 20
Volume 2 release oct 22
Volume 3 release December

Another cute manga Kodansha is releasing in August. It is a high school setting with both the ML and FL wanting to change their library lurking middle school self to someone more popular. Personally I’m not huge into the mindset of completely changing oneself and hiding their interests for others to like them, but I get it and I still enjoy the trope of it in manga/anime. I liked how their first phone call went and Kusunoki was super talkative about her favorite series resulting in Shizuki staying on longer. I feel this since I'm super quiet around others until someone starts talking about something like anime/manga. Kusunoki is so adorable and love how she unknowingly causes misunderstandings from her classmates.

Summary:
Shizuki was determined to change himself in high school and never trust a cute girl again. He decided on a high school no one knew his past self and on the outside it looks like he was successful. There is a small ripple in his plan. Kusunoki, someone he used to be fellow library lurkers with, attends the same school and is said to be the cutest in their grade.  However, he learns she is having difficulty making friends and approaches him for help. Unable to say no to her, Shizuki becomes her temporary friend. Not long after there are already misunderstandings with his classmates based on what Kusunoki says and does. Shizuki tries to draw a line between them, but Kusunoki doesn't quite understand where that balance should be. On top of that, someone appears that Shizuki wishes never to see again.

I enjoyed this story and will be looking forward to vol 2 releasing. Both MC are navigating life after changing their outward appearance, yet still being the same internally. I’m excited to see how they progress as characters.

This was a cute premise. I liked the characters and the idea behind it. It didn't have a big romance feel to it to me. It was very focused on popularity and friendships. I'm not sure if I will continue with this series but I would probably pick up more if I came across them. The illustrations were great!

This was a cute manga about two high schoolers who get a 'glow up' to make sure they fit in. The MMC is a bit annoying at times because he believes all beautiful girls are inherently evil, meanwhile, our FMC is literally adorable. They are, in the end very fleshed out characters, who behave according to their ages.
The art is simply beautiful, the story a bit predictive, but a fun read overall.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a wonderful light read, I will be looking forward for the next volume.
Thanks to the author, Kodansha Publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC.

It seems like a cute story, high schoolers who were bullied as kids now trying to change their lives even if they have to fight back against the bullies they find in high school.

interesting

Okay, this was a fast read too. So, I'm not good with names. Lol. But, FL and ML are both in same Junior High. When they were in JH, they are what you can call nerds, the Otakus. The outcast. They also look physically like an outcast. When they get to High School (Senior High) they glowed up. Like literally from ugly duckling vibes to a beautiful swan. However, the FL and ML both can't communicate to the opposite sex, respectively.

ML got traumatized by this female classmate so when a girl talks to him he can't looked them in the eye and he always feels like vomiting. FL also got bullied by male classmates. BUT since they knew each other from Junior high they kinda formed a camaraderie. Which is the whole thing for the volume one. It's so nice to see them be friends even though the FL is just pushing him at first to be her friend. They ended up with lots of things in common.

I liked that it tackled bullying (this is actually a very common thing in Japan schools), how to engage to the other people. How they try to get to know each other and finding out they have lots of common hobbies. However, sometimes I'm a bit stressed out on how the FL is so innocent in a way she doesn't even know that most girls and boys don't really associate with one another like what she's trying to do. LOL. And it stresses the ML out but always ends up doing whatever the FL wants because he (I know and feels this) cares about what she thinks and her feelings. Definitely one for the books! I would like to read the next volume for this manga too.

Thank you for the chance of reading this manga! <3

I loved this book. The story is so fantastic.
I love how the characters decided to do what they want and change accordingly, trying hard and showing their determination, but inside they remain the same. And this little connection between them is so touching.
Even more so with her need for help, and him seeing himself in her. It's so sweet.
I really liked them both and I really want to see how things will evolve between them.
The drawings are fantastic, they let the story breathe and the reader feel and understand the characters.
I really want to get the second volume.
I loved it.

This was one of the most adorable things ever! Two highschool students, who used to be loners and introverts in junior high, have undergone a make-over in order to better fit in. The FMC, who has a lot of difficulty making friends, asks the MMC to become her first friend and help her practise talking to other people. She is the cutest and kindest creature ever and he is just so befuddled that she has approached him. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this eARC to review!

4.25🌟
This was so fun.
Probably one of the best manga i have read (i haven't read that many though)
It was a simple, sweet and entertaining high school manga about two characters who have glow up and want to start a new school life without being bullied.
They become friends and honestly, i am loving them together.
I definitely want to read the next parts.

Thank you Net Galley for letting me read this manga. I liked the main character, he would worry about the girl and did not become friends with her just because he liked her or wanted something from her. The main girl I would have liked to see her perspective more, and it seems like she is being written to be viewed by guys as a middle school girl which is a little worrisome. I would like to have more characterization of the guys two main friends, but then again it is the first volume so it is understandable that they are not as dimensional as they would be in later volumes. But overall I thought the manga was cute and I plan to read the second volume whenever it comes out.

The art was lovely, the front cover is beautiful, and the facial expressions were just *chef's kiss*

A story revolving around two kid's high school glow-up.. I liked this a lot more than I expected.
The female MC wasn't stupid, she just hadn't been in enough social situations to understand certain things!
The male MC could be a little irritating on occasion:
Exhibit A : One cute girl screwed me over, they're all the same.
Exhibit B : Therefore, I will be rude to this one who is actively trying to be friends with me.

This didn't affect my overall review though as this does seem to resolve itself by the end of this first volume (though I can't speak for the ones that come after).

Sometimes stories that take place within a high school can be written in a way that isn't believable for that setting- I think this one did a good job of that, even Male MC and his friends were very 'typical high school boy'. The way other girl's talked about Kusunoki was sad but again, realistic for a high school setting while not being overdone.

From the start I predicted what would happen to be the ending of the first volume- but again this doesn't take away from my overall view of the story because sometimes manga and stories can be somewhat predictable and it definitely didn't take away from my experience.

Overall I really enjoyed this and became very invested in the story and characters- I will definitely be looking out for the next volume in this series !



Thanks to NetGalley, The publisher, author, and illustrator for the ARC.

Recommended: yep!
for cute character interactions, for a lot of wholesomeness, for silly moments that felt instantly familiar from high school

Thoughts:
I worried this might be a story where the main character is too stupid and oblivious, and it would frustrate the heck out of me. THANKFULLY, that is not the case! Kusunoki is unbelievably sincere, and I really love that angle. She's not great at socializing because she doesn't have context for things (like innuendoes and implications of certain phrases 😅) but she means it all very genuinely, and I loved that.

She's awkward, but she's not an idiot. She is passionate about what matters to her, and honest about what she does and doesn't want without shame. She can see when someone is pushing her away or doesn't actually want to be around her, so she does get those general social cues.

There were enough misunderstandings and double meanings that this made me laugh a lot. They were definitely not always sexual or suggestive, but sometimes they were just enough that it being said in a high school setting was perfect to let it escalate in a natural and believable way. The way others react to their friendship is a delight, even as it's inevitably a bit of a pain because "boys and girls can't just be friends" and all that.

The art did a great job at having lots of dynamic expressions. A lot of the humor came from those alone, as their faces would often tell a whole story of their own!

Overall this was really cute and I loved both of the main characters immediately. I can't wait to read more in the series!

Thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for a free advanced copy! This is my honest review.