Very cute and sensitive read. I'm already attached to the characters. Really enjoyed the story and the way the author is expressing such a important theme, that is note only about gender, but is too about self knowledge. 4,5 🌟

This was so good and cute!! I adored the art style (bonus for it being coloured) and really loved the story. Would love to continue when the second volume is published.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pom for allowing me to read this before publication.

Makoto Hanaoka may seem like your ordinary high school girl. However, those who are close to them know they are anything but. When Saki Aoi confesses her feelings to Makoto, they let the cat out of the bag: they’re not a girl; they’re a boy who enjoys cross-dressing. But what’s even wilder than that is Aoi’s reaction to the news: she’s excited! Thus begins Senpai is an Otokonoko, a tale of a trio of friends interlocked into a love triangle.

At first, Makoto has no idea how to handle a person like Aoi. In the past, many boys have “confessed” their feelings to Makoto, only for it to be a cruel prank. However, Aoi’s different. Even when presented with the truth, the kouhai still wants to get close to them. It sets off alarms in the head of Makoto’s childhood friend Ryuji, who doesn’t buy the fact that she has the hots for a cross-dresser. Nevertheless, the three decide to hang out regularly, as Aoi gets to know the real Makoto outside of their high school girl garb.

You quickly get the feeling that Ryuji also has feelings for Makoto. Despite denying it, the fact that Ryuji keeps a picture of them in his wallet makes it seem like the complete opposite is true. It’s a sign that things might get complicated in the future for the two of them. But for now, the focus is on their continuing growing friendship, with a third wheel added to the mix.

As someone who watched the anime adaptation last summer, I can tell you that the first volume of Senpai is an Otokonoko barely scratches the surface of the story. Here, we’re presented with more lighthearted stuff, ranging from rooftop lunches and fireworks fun to Aoi visiting Makoto’s house for the first time. The latter, which also introduces Makoto’s mother, only gives you a hint as to what her true mentality is like when it comes to how she wants to see her son.

Don’t get me wrong: this manga is very funny. In fact, it’s one of the rare crossdressing-focused manga that laughs alongside the protagonist rather than laughs at them. With that being said, the series will often take a sharp left turn when it comes to Makoto’s relationship with their mother, Ryuji attempting to figure out his sexual orientation, and Aoi’s perspective on love and romance. Let me be perfectly clear: there’s a lot of heavy shit that’s going to happen in this manga, so it’s best to be prepared.

I say all of this because the first volume of Senpai is an Otokonoko doesn’t give the slightest hint of these future speed bumps. Yes, we may see a glimpse of Makoto’s mother trying to convince them to buy something less girly. There’s also the fact that Makoto switches out of their clothes before and after school, with the girl’s uniform and wig hidden carefully in a secret locker. Nary a sign of context can be found for why these moments occur, and — honestly — it makes for the moments when the other shoe drops to be both powerful and harrowing.

Yet here, we see Makoto, Aoi, and Ryuji acting like complete dorks with one another. Why? Because they’re in high school, and that’s exactly how high schoolers act. That dorkiness is amplified in Pom’s art style, as she switches between the gorgeous and the goofy at the drop of a hat. Surprisingly, even when the sillier visuals appear, it doesn’t take you out of the moment. Instead, it adds a warmth to the scenario, showcasing just how endearing these characters are.

Senpai is an Otokonoko doesn’t show all of its cards in its first volume. Those who watched the anime version will know the kinds of roads these characters will tread. But to those who are going to start out with the manga version, you’ll be treated to a fun and heartfelt tale of love and friendship. However, don’t say I didn’t warn you when the narrative throws a gut punch at you!

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 2.5 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

"i like both versions of you."

i meannn this was a quick and easy read, but it was not for me. the premise of the manga sounded interesting but i just didn't enjoy the execution of the story. great art though, i loved the fact that this manga was coloured!

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley and Pom for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

Quick and simple read. Basically a girl has a crush on the crossdresser in her school. They become friends. The Crossdresser also already has a best friend he grew up with who also is inlove with him. Love triangle, but it's cute overall and very accepting which is nice to see in this day in age where everyone likes to judge people based on their happiness cause their miserable.

What an adorable story!

We follow Makoto who is most comfortable being himself at school, which means for him cross-dressing.

I really loved his personnality, a reserved boy who loves cute things. I also appreciated that even thought he got bullied in the past (and something today) he didn't become a mean person and doesn't want his friends to get bullied because of him (so sad!). The addition of the eccentric girl who's head over heels for him was so cute. I thought it brought some lightness into his life, and reminded him that he can be love for who he is. And his protective childhood friend was a great inclusion. There dynamic was very sweet and fun.

I loved the freshness and freedom this book conveys. The characters aren't swayed by prejudices and accept each other as they are (although sometimes their family doesn't...)

FYI: "Otokonoko" (おとこのこ, "daughter" or "girl," also pronounced otoko no musume) is a Japanese term for men with a culturally feminine gender expression, including those with a feminine appearance or who dress as women.

I really liked it. I think it has some really cool developments that will allow our protagonist to express themselves and be who they want to be in every way. It won't be easy (or maybe it will, who knows!), but this story holds a lot of promise.

Thank you so much, Kodansha Comics, for the ARC I read through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Super fun and cute, and it's the beginning of what I imagine will be a great series. I like the added protective friend and look forward to seeing how the story develops.

I'd like to thank NetGalley & the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely adore this manga. I originally read it when it was published as a webtoon, and seeing it now traditionally published in English makes me so incredibly happy!

Honestly, I don’t think I have many meaningful things to say that wouldn’t just turn into intense fangirling—but that alone should tell you how much I love it. Senpai Is an Otokonoko is a beautiful story with amazing characters, dynamics, themes and stunning artwork.

This first volume includes the first eight chapters, along with some small bonus chapters and artwork, introducing us to the main trio and their budding friendship. It’s a wonderful start to what I know is an unforgettable series.

Final Thoughts:
I will always recommend this to anyone who’s willing to listen!

[Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for an ARC of this manga in exchange for an unbiased review.]

Makoto likes to be his true self at school, which for him means cross-dressing. Despite the target this puts on him, he has a very good friend and a very insistent potential love interest who both want to be his friend (or more).

This is my third encounter with this series; I’ve read part of the webtoon, watched a chunk of the anime, now here we are with a collected manga format. I’m not sure that third time will be the charm, but it’s a good story no matter its format (I just gave the attention span of a goldfish).

The three leads interact in such a way that this feels more than the sum of its parts. Makoto has mostly hardened his skin against the jabs and teasing from his schoolmates, though that doesn’t stop him from realizing Aoi will be subject to the same if she dates him.

Aoi, meanwhile, is wonderfully over-enthusiastic and without guile. She just accepts Makoto so completely that when she finds out he’s actually a guy she considers it a bonus if they were to date. She’s completely unflappable and unphased.

And then there’s Ryuji, whose clear homophobia is getting in the way of his equally clear Makoto-philia. He’s clearly feeling a lot more for Makoto than he’s saying and most of the grief he gives Aoi over her crush feels a lot like projecting.

One thing this manga delivers on with aplomb is genuine moments that just kill. The scene where Makoto reveals himself to Aoi for the first time, Aoi jumping from the tree, and Makoto saying goodnight to himself as he changes before going home. They’re all so well done.

It’s a great take on this subject matter. Makoto is not left alone, certainly, but he’s not so explicitly bullied that it needs a warning on it either. You can see his coping mechanisms all over the place, both at school and at home.

Still, having a friend group of one is a bit of a small number and the way Aoi expands Makoto’s world as she quietly wins over Ryuji is really something special. There’s a quiet message about the power of friendship, love, and being a good ally amidst everything.

Oh, it still has its sad moments. Everything involving Makoto’s mother is just heartbreaking, as he desperately contorts himself to be the boy that she wants him to be while he secretly embraces his true self at school. It’s a forced duality that will almost certainly come into conflict eventually.

The art is mostly okay, tending to really go for it when it counts the most. It’s a smart way to emphasize the important things while also not breaking your artist. You’d never call this the most striking manga, but it has it where it counts.

Strong stories about gender identity and acceptance are always welcome and this one is really well done. It could stand to be a bit more well drawn in the overall, but the content and characters make up for it.

4 stars - a really strong start to a very good look at people trying to find both themselves and one another. Highly recommended.

My goshhhh I absolutely loved it! It reminds me of Princess Jellyfish a bit as well but the situations are more on a reverse. And while I wouldn't mind it being all fluff thankfully it wasn't;t all just it. There's some struggle, but just enough to balance it all out!
And the art style was cute as well. Reminds be a bit of 2010s manga style.

I'd like to send my thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free pdf version of this manga in exchange for an honest review.

Senpai is an Otokonoko: My Crossdressing Classmate is about Makoto, a cross-dressing boy, Saki, a bright first year, and Ryuji, Makoto's childhood best friend. As the description of this book reveals, Saki has a crush on Makoto and Ryuji is overprotective of Makoto (possibly due to a crush, but that's not known yet). To start off with, my first thought was that it is exciting to have series on the market that deal with topics like gender, sexuality, and self image. Another series that I came to mind was I Wanna Be Your Girl when I started reading this due to the possible themes that might occur, but that comparison quickly disappeared due to the nature of this work.

Personally, I enjoyed how lighthearted this first volume felt since it is just an introduction to the work as a whole, but I don't think it was substantive enough in nature with the characters. For example, I think what we know about Aoi is that she is cheery, likes Makoto (for undisclosed reasons), and that she seems to be surprisingly open and understanding of any curveball that might normally be an issue for others with sexuality and queer identities. I wish there was a little more depth on her background or hints as to why she might be that way either due to personal hardships, family, or other possibilities. With Makoto, I appreciate not knowing too much about him yet since it is a first volume, but it would also be a bit more helpful to get some of his inner thoughts or maybe just more reflective panels. For the final major/minor character seen, Ryuji, we get probably the most information about his character due to the way he acts and speaks. He is observant, thoughtful, but a bit shy/sensitive too. Like I've said a few times, I think this is all great in a first series, but I do hope for a bit more depth and personality from all the characters going forward, but especially more from Makoto since it feels like we don't know too much as readers despite this being a story about "navigating a complicated love triangle" and "chart his own course to happiness." From this first volume, it feels like this has to be more character driven than plot and I would love to see more of the characters shine, but maybe not explicitly through dialogue but through actions, paneling, or just general presentation.

I will say that the coloring and the artwork for this works very well with being read digitally. It is all vibrant and is easy on the eyes. Each character is drawn with love and care and the styling of dialogue and text is smooth. Everything was pretty in a way that is inviting for a first manga volume and I enjoyed the read. It felt like something I wanted to see more of, especially the colors relating to when Makoto is crossdressing versus what his home life is like. Brightness/darkness are things I think think this series can use to an advantage with more subtle hints/distinctions going forward. Overall, great time.

This manga which follows a cross dressing boy in highschool and the freshman girl who falls in love with all of him is very sweet. A soft book which is an incredibly quick read.

First, while I try to keep an open mind when reading manga, the mangaka’s art style plays a huge role in my enjoyment in the story. I loved the art style in this manga, as well as all of the characters that were introduced. Makoto is a young boy who dresses as a girl during his school hours and has found himself the recipient of a first year’s crush. Through their interactions, as well as the addition to their dynamic of his childhood friend, Ryuji, the setup for a truly heartwarming story has emerged. I’m really looking forward to the continuation of this manga!!

Thank you Kodansha for the ARC

I loved the anime for this series so much and to finally see it translated is fantastic! I was also pleasantly surprised to see that it was in full color so Aoi’s expressions were just that much more hilarious and adorable. I just love seeing how this story explores gender identity so much. Easily one of my favourite queer stories I have experienced thus far.

What a cute rom-com manga!

Makoto is a boy who likes cute feminine things and cross-dressing. While his classmates know this, they make fun of him and bully him for wearing a girl’s uniform, and he hides his true self from his mom, too. One day, a girl one grade below him, Aoi, asks Makoto out, but she thinks he’s a girl. Makoto rejects Aoi and tells her he’s a boy who likes to cross-dress, but that doesn’t deter Aoi. From then on, they strike up an odd friendship, along with Ryuji, Makoto’s childhood best friend who also has a crush on Makoto.

The art style was simple without much background drawings or details, but apparently this was originally a webtoon, so that’s probably where that comes from. It didn’t bother me though, because despite its simplicity, the subtle emotions still come through and the art is pretty charming and adorable, too. I loved all the main characters, and compared to how some other Japanese manga sometimes handle queer characters, this did it without making fun of Makoto and including nuance. Makoto still takes a lot of crap for presenting in a feminine way, but there are people who see past that and like him for who he is, and it’s heartwarming to watch Makoto slowly realize that, too.

Would love to read more volumes of this! Highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha for the arc!!

How absolutely ADORABLE is this. I want to read it again right freaking now. Because it’s so darn cute!! I really like the idea of a boy who loves cute things and dressing like a girl but is reserved and doesn’t want anyone else around him to be bullied by talking to him. And the cute little eccentric girl who is head over heels for him. 💖 Plus we get a protective childhood friend?! Icing on the chocolate cake!

Love it. Will definitely read more!

"Senpai is an Otokonoko" immediately caught my attention with its intriguing premise and charming artwork. The story follows Saki, a bubbly and determined first-year high school student who is completely smitten by her cool and beautiful senpai, Makoto. Confident in her feelings, Saki wastes no time and bravely confesses her love. But things take an unexpected turn when Makoto gently rejects her, revealing that he’s actually a boy who enjoys dressing in traditionally feminine clothing - a self-described "otokonoko." Rather than giving up, Saki is undeterred by Makoto's confession and sets herself a new goal: to win Makoto’s heart, regardless of societal norms or appearances. Alongside them is Ryuji, Makoto’s childhood friend who plays the role of both protector and secret admirer, adding another layer of complexity to their budding friendship. What unfolds is a sweet, heartfelt, and sometimes bittersweet exploration of love, identity, and acceptance.

One of the things I appreciated most about this volume is how it delicately touches on themes of self-expression and the challenges that come with it. Makoto’s struggle to hide his fondness for cute things, especially from his parents who are unaware of his cross-dressing, adds a subtle sadness to the otherwise lighthearted story. It’s a reminder of how difficult it can be to stay true to oneself in the face of societal expectations.

The dynamics between the three characters are both entertaining and endearing, with each bringing their own emotional weight to the story. I especially loved Saki’s unwavering positivity and determination - she’s a refreshing character who radiates acceptance and open-mindedness.

Additionally, I want to highlight the thoughtful inclusion of word and phrase explanations at the end of the book. They provide helpful cultural context for readers who may not be familiar with Japanese terms, making the reading experience even richer and more accessible.

Overall, "Senpai is an Otokonoko" is a delightful start to what I expect will be a heartfelt and engaging series. I’m eagerly looking forward to the next volume to see how Makoto, Saki, and Ryuji’s relationships develop!

Thank you to Pom for crafting such a lovely story, and big thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the opportunity to read this wonderful manga!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

All these fruity kids, you love to see it.

First year, Aoi, has an overbearing crush on upperclassmen, Makoto, and is compelled to tell her. Makoto attempts to dissuade these overtures by revealing to Aoi that he is a boy and cross-dresses. Makoto turns down Aoi's offer to date since there is not a chance in hell that he would ever fall in love with her. This apparently does not matter to Aoi at all, and her crush only deepens.

#ThxNetGalley #Pom #SenpaiIsanOtokonoko