Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-book ARC!
4 stars

I really enjoyed the premise of this book, taking two characters who have high school glow-ups and tossing them together, with Shizuki succeeding but only aiming for mid-tier popularity and then Kusunoki, who appears to have nailed things to being super popular, but she is still her old self personality wise. It's overall pretty blah that they felt like they had to change so much, so it was nice that their bond really solidifies as they learn each other's true personalities under the glow ups. I hope it continues that way, because they should really be loved for who they are, not how they look. The art is very cutesy, and I'm very curious to see how stuff will develop, both with Kusunoki figuring herself out and Shizuki dealing with the girl who traumatized him. Hopefully can continue this manga at some point!

It was cute. But Kusunoki was a little extra for me. Ease into friendship. Very extreme on both ends hanging out at school, lunch, wanting to talk every night or completely ignoring him at school. The art for the other girl was weird. I felt like she was part of a different manga.

I thought this was really cute! Love the way their new friendship is opening them both up to caring about others in a different way, I reckon I’ll continue it when vol 2 comes out :)

Ich habe mich über das Buch sehr gefreut. Es ist nicht nur fließend zum lesen sondern auch sehr spannend.

Two middle school outcasts meet again in high school after putting in the work for their (separate but somehow mutual) high school glow ups! But where our MC Shizuki worked on how to talk to people (well, boys, at least), Kusunoki's still shy and can't really talk to anyone except Shizuki! Will Kusunoki learn to connect with other people? Does she even want to? Is there a little something between the two, even from the outcast era?

This is a pretty cute high school manga and the writing is more or less on the wall toward where the romance aspect is going, but that's fine because that's the point of manga like this. I'm going to keep reading because I do want to know what's up with the other girl, why her name is different but the spooky vibes are still there.......

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!

This is part one and the book delivered in all that I wished to read after reading the blurb of this book
The characters were amazing and the plotline was well written and well paced. I am excited to read next part now.

This manga was quite infesting for me. I like that they both were trying to be someone new in high school. But he needs to get over himself and she is so adorable. I want to see maybe a bit of the backstory, cause I think she always had a crush on him.

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

I'm very curious to find out what's going to happen next!
I like the characterisation of the protagonists, it's fun but also compelling. I really enjoyed watching them become actual friends almost without meaning to. The plot has started quite simple, but there's a lot of potential for intrigue, drama and character development.
A lot of the scenes were also very cute and I liked the drawing style too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for a free copy of this book.

I thought this first volume was really cute.

The premise is interesting and it was enjoyable to see the characters interactions. I would say some things happen a bit too fast but sometimes that's just the nature of a first volume and trying to get the reader hooked and everything moving to develop in later volumes.

The part where MC rings Kusunoki and they stay talking on the phone for over an hour was really really sweet.

In a lot of respects they just seem like two socially awkward kids trying to figure out high school together. Will I pick up volume 2? Probably if in the future I want something sweet and lighthearted to blast through.

It's a pretty decent slice of life, so far. I love how both the main characters have the same issue, but from opposite sides. I am interested to see what happens next.

This had all the potential to become an "a loser becomes hot in high school and wants revenge on those who teased him," kind of story. Thankfully, it's not fully about that. We have two nerds who are trying the "new you" thing in high school. The nice thing is, that these two were friends-ish before their makeovers, so, it really becomes more about Kusunoki trying to come out of her shell and genuinely make an effort to better herself where she's still lacking. He's the one with the emotional baggage. And yet, even the cool girl who gave him vomit inducing trauma, has the potential to grow and do better and or not be as bad as she first appears. I like what I'm seeing so far!

A surprisingly fun read! The story has some classic tropes you see in high school manga, but I thought it was done in a fun and modern way. I like that the characters, despite having their glow ups, didn't change in an unrealistic way since Kusunoki still feels awkward around her peers due to her experiences in middle school. The art was cute and the pacing was great. I'm excited to see what else is in store for them!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the opportunity to read this volume!

I really enjoyed this! Both FMC and MMC experience a “glow-up” and go to a new school where no one knows them! FMC has problems communicating with new people so MMC agrees to be her friend for training. Obviously there’s more on the cards here.

Reminded me a little of Komi Can’t Communicate but with a more fleshed out story. Kusunoki comes across as autistic coded in some instances (missing social cues etc) but that’s just my head canon.

All in all, a cute story with potential.

Cute story of two high-schoolers working through their insecurities together. Shizuki and Kusunoki both used to be awkward outcasts in their previous school, but both have remade themselves for the high school. Unlike Shizuki though, Kusunoki hasn’t thought to improve her people skills too, just her looks. So she asks Shizuki to help her. He’s a bit of a push-over and reluctantly agrees to help until she finds real friends. Little does he know, she wants to be friends with him.

Fun and awkward stories about high school life with good illustrations. The friendship doesn’t get far in this first volume, and it would be fun to read more.

Thank you Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the ARC. I thought overall, this is a great start to the manga! It’s looking to be quite an endearing and fun coming of age story. The art style is also very engaging and expressive, which complements the story and its characters well. I am looking forward to continuing the manga to see how the story unfolds and how the characters evolve throughout the series!

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

This was a cute story. I especially liked the designs of the female lead and the villainess. Kusunoki was charming and awkward in a way that made her endearing.

Shizuki was... less endearing to me. The way he and other male characters interacted with women was unpleasant to read, though it felt realistic to how real boys behave at that age. Despite Kusunoki being the titular character, the story is about Shizuki's desires, which does suit this kind of book. It simply wasn't for me.

In the future, I hope that these characters experience more character development. I'd like to see the villainess as a more complex character instead of a caricature.

If you want to read this, by all means, pick it up. But there are a lot of books in the same vein that you could read and enjoy more.

*Kusunoki's Flunking Her High School Glow-Up* is a charming and humorous rom-com manga that delivers both heart and hilarity. From the team behind *Life Lessons With Uramichi Oniisan*, this manga dives into the world of high school reinvention with a fresh and comedic take on personal growth and romance.

The story centers on Keisuke Shizuki, a former outcast whose painful middle school experiences have propelled him to transform his image and start anew in high school. Determined to avoid the social pitfalls of his past, Shizuki has meticulously reinvented himself, shunning interactions with the “pretty” crowd that once spurned him. However, his plans hit a snag when he discovers that the school’s most stunning girl, Shizuka Kusunoki, is none other than his former middle school classmate and fellow outcast.

Kusunoki, having undergone her own dramatic glow-up, finds herself struggling with the social complexities of her new persona. Despite her new looks, she’s still grappling with social awkwardness and turns to Shizuki for help. This request for assistance puts Shizuki in a tricky position, as he must navigate his lingering fears of pretty girls while dealing with the unintended attention that comes from being associated with Kusunoki.

The manga’s strength lies in its endearing characters and their relatable struggles. Shizuki’s journey from a phobic outcast to a more confident individual is depicted with both empathy and humor, while Kusunoki’s challenges with her newfound social status add a delightful layer of complexity. The chemistry between Shizuki and Kusunoki drives the narrative forward, providing plenty of comedic and tender moments.

The art style complements the story well, with expressive character designs and engaging visuals that enhance the comedic and emotional beats of the narrative. Fans of *Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible* and *True Beauty* will appreciate the manga’s exploration of self-improvement and social dynamics, all while enjoying a lighthearted and funny romance.

*Kusunoki's Flunking Her High School Glow-Up* is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys stories of personal transformation and romantic comedy. It’s a heartwarming reminder that even as we strive to reinvent ourselves, our past and our connections can lead us to unexpected and fulfilling outcomes.

I couldn't stop chuckling while reading this manga! Every chapter is just so entertaining that I devoured this volume so quickly. This story follows Keisuke Shizuki, an introvert and outcast in middle school, who is now determined to reinvent himself, overcome his trauma, and start fresh in high school. Unfortunately, he ended up in the same class with Shizuka Kusunoki, a former outcast that he knows from middle school. Unlike him, Kusonoki is having trouble with her high school glow-up so she turns to Shizuki for help.

I really enjoyed this book. It's so hilarious! The humor in this book definitely hits the mark. This manga series is marketed as a rom-com but the romance doesn't overshadow the story. It primarily revolves around the themes of friendships, trauma, bullying, and identity. My only issue with this manga is that the characters were lacking, I liked Shizuki because he is relatable and authentic, Kusonoki, on the other hand, could use some development. Her lack of social awareness often leads to inappropriate behavior, making her character unlikeable or frustrating to read. I don't think this was intentional though, so I hope we get to delve deeper into her character in the next volumes.

Kusunoki's Flunking Her High School Glow-Up is a delightful mix of humor and heart. It's funny, genuine, and unexpectedly sweet. If you liked Komi Can't Communicate and True Beauty, I recommend picking up this manga series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for review.

Two middle school outcasts find solace in each other when they come to realize that although they can change their looks, sometimes their personality might not match.

Shizuki is living his mediocre high school glow up dream. He's got two whole friends, average grades, and sits right in the middle of social standing in his class. It's all he's ever dreamed of since getting rejected by the mean girl in middle school. However, Shizuki finds himself catching the attention of the only other student that attended his middle school- Kusunoki! Kusinoki's glow up reflects that of his own, however as the prettiest girl in their class Kusinoki struggles with making friends! Boys swarm her, girls hate her... she feels like she can't win. She makes it her duty to befriend Shizuki, the only person to know she is more than what she is on the outside. The two soon navigate a fast and new friendship together. However, between Shizuki's jealous friends and familiar face from the past, the two find themselves struggling to adapt easily into high school life.

This was so cute! I loved the premise of the story, where two "ugly ducklings" find solace in each other. Their friendship is something I can't wait to follow in future volumes, and the humor is unmatched. 5/5 solid stars.

Short and Sweet. I'm usually not into glow-up stories but I really like this one. Its well written, it doesnt get weird at any point and the characters are relatable. It can be seen as cheesy, though I find it charming. Only "complaint" I had was that I wish there was more chapters. Wasn't quite ready to stop reading.