Kusunoki's Flunking Her High School Glow-Up 3

楠木さんは高校デビューに失敗している [Kusunoki-san wa Koukou Debut ni Shippaishiteiru] #3

by Mitsuki Mii, みいみつき

Two ex-ugly ducklings struggle towards swandom in this cute and funny rom-com manga from the editorial team that brought you Life Lessons With Uramichi Oniisan. Two strivers debut their "new yous," but will their dread--or feelings for each other--drag them back down?! Perfect for fans of Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible and True Beauty.

Despite getting off to a rocky start, Kusunoki's friendship with Ririsa Hebikawa is going relatively well. Now that she's made her first female friend and her social skills are improving, high school swandom might really be within reach for this ex-ugly duckling. If only she were better at school--and a little less clueless... She invites Shizuki over for an at-home study session, which takes a bit more of a dramatic turn than she expected. All the while, Shizuki's high school dream life is facing ups and downs of its own. He runs into a combative new face…who claims to be Kusunoki's childhood friend

Genres: Manga, Romance

192 pages, Paperback

Published December 24, 2024

Reviews

[Paige Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 cuz the end got better with Ririsa reappearing finally. Kusunoki is tutored by her guy friend and it’s more tropey accidental flirting. Lil tomboy Moe comes into the picture, saying Kusunoki used to be the popular girl in elementary school she had a crush on and they were besties. This would be fine but I don’t like that K kept lying she never had friends before and isn’t exactly called out for it.

Yeah, I’m interested in her radical shift but it makes me think this series that’s still not done is just sloppily made up as it goes along. I mean it’s the premise of the series Kusunoki is crazy shy and it seems hard to believe she’s always genuinely flip-flopping extremes. Likewise, I coulda swore Ririsa made ref to knowing the boy before, unless she’s just speaking loud to throw him off.

Anyway, I don’t think this story needs anymore characters for a while. There’s enough to resolve and tiny things w/ Moe (who I don’t like or dislike) drag out for too many pages/get repetitive.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm still don’t love Shizuki but he is getting better. This volume was nice though. I like the new friend, seems like a good person. But why is everyone into him and I get why Otobe might but the popular girl and kusunoki too? I actually ish we got deeper conversations between the two of them. She seems like his manic pixie dream girl right now maybe that is why I like Otobe as a love interest more.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was super entertaining! Kusunoki and Shizuki had a study session, and then Kusunoki saw one of her elementary school friends and they became friends again. Now maybe Otobe is interested in Shizuki? I love that Kusunoki wants to spend more time with Shizuki!
Now we know Hebikawa remembered Shizuki is from his junior high, what will happen next?

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great volume. The super awkward fall into his arms. But I like Moe-chan and once the girls have settled and they start hanging out, I feel like this will be good for Kusunoki. And then they decide to go hunting for bugs during summer break, that's hilarious. And a cliffhanger end! What's going to happen!?

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moe is a literal cute addition to the cast, lol. I do like how we are introducing more of a mystery surrounding how Kusunoki the way she is. And, the cliffhanger actually is making this decent story more appealing.

[Lissa Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sweet and charming. Nice artwork. Likable characters.

Definitely recommended if you like sweet high school romance manga.

[Sheepy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looks like it's clicked!

[Jourdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

😒

[Ray Rappisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moe has changed everything about this series. If she’s in the mix, you got me. This may be one of those series that improves as it goes along.