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You Must Be This Tall to Propose! Vol. 1
Chitose Oki has a huge crush on his nextdoor neighbor Tomo, but there's one small problem-his height. Back as kids, when his dream girl said she wouldn't marry him until he grew up, poor Chitose took that quite literally. These days, it's not just height-one embarrassing misunderstanding after another keeps them from seeing eye to eye. The truth is, they're both head over heels for each other, but it's a tall order to confess your feelings to the one you love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 28, 2024
This was a cute and innocuous shojo. No real conflict or Big Bad, just two young teens who liked one another, but didn't have the courage to say so. The MC H was operating under the misunderstanding that she wanted him to be taller than her, so he was obsessed with doing so, despite the scientific improbability of it. I guess he ignored science because it didn't fit his world-view and what he wanted.
Hopefully he will eventually get over his feelings of height inadequacy and ask her out. I am going to keep on with this manga I think. I like the low-key angst and that it's not OTT with Drama. I need less stress in what I read, at least for the time being.
This is one I would recommend for those who want less Drama in their high-school romance manga.
3, this was cute and I enjoyed it, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC of this book to read and review.
Hopefully he will eventually get over his feelings of height inadequacy and ask her out. I am going to keep on with this manga I think. I like the low-key angst and that it's not OTT with Drama. I need less stress in what I read, at least for the time being.
This is one I would recommend for those who want less Drama in their high-school romance manga.
3, this was cute and I enjoyed it, stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2024
Soooo…..this was a little boring for me.
Nothing really happened and so it didn’t hook me in.
I initially liked the concept in the beginning but then there wasn’t much going on after.
Thank you netgalley and Kodansha for the arc. My opinions are my own.
Nothing really happened and so it didn’t hook me in.
I initially liked the concept in the beginning but then there wasn’t much going on after.
Thank you netgalley and Kodansha for the arc. My opinions are my own.
May 24, 2024
— 3 ⚝
this was kinda cute. i liked how episodic it felt where each chapter read like a short scene. while i got some good chuckles, ultimately though, this brings nothing new to the genre imo. the theme of the girl being taller and the guy shorter was interesting and would have been stronger if it was more fleshed out.
the first volume does a good job of introducing the characters, giving us the backstory and also establishing the dynamics and relationships. i loved the relationship between the male protagonist and the brothers of the female protagonist. i also loved scenes with the male protagonist's friend and his sister. this was entertaining and cute but ultimately, that's all it was. i don't feel that compelled to pick up the next volume because there's several other shoujo romance manga to read that just have MORE to them. i also didn't like that there were certain scenes where the female protagonist is sexualised in a context that doesn't fit with the rest of the vibe. there's a scene where he falls on her boobs by mistake and sure, it might be funny got some people but for me, personally, it felt very unnecessary and jarring. maybe as the series progresses, you get to see a little more depth to all of them but so far, it was very superficial and just a quick entertaining read.
thank you to kodansha comics and NetGalley for an arc of this manga. all thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.
this was kinda cute. i liked how episodic it felt where each chapter read like a short scene. while i got some good chuckles, ultimately though, this brings nothing new to the genre imo. the theme of the girl being taller and the guy shorter was interesting and would have been stronger if it was more fleshed out.
the first volume does a good job of introducing the characters, giving us the backstory and also establishing the dynamics and relationships. i loved the relationship between the male protagonist and the brothers of the female protagonist. i also loved scenes with the male protagonist's friend and his sister. this was entertaining and cute but ultimately, that's all it was. i don't feel that compelled to pick up the next volume because there's several other shoujo romance manga to read that just have MORE to them. i also didn't like that there were certain scenes where the female protagonist is sexualised in a context that doesn't fit with the rest of the vibe. there's a scene where he falls on her boobs by mistake and sure, it might be funny got some people but for me, personally, it felt very unnecessary and jarring. maybe as the series progresses, you get to see a little more depth to all of them but so far, it was very superficial and just a quick entertaining read.
thank you to kodansha comics and NetGalley for an arc of this manga. all thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.
April 11, 2024
Oki feels he is coming up short compared to his much taller neighbour, Tomo, who he has been desperate to marry since he was five. But, in a way, this manga is all about coming up short.
Apparently you must also be this boring to propose, as this book is more leaden than an x-ray clinic at the bottom of Lake Superior. It’s a bold, bold choice to bring absolutely nothing to the table of a crowded genre.
Oki wants to get taller because he (rightfully) misconstrued a comment from Tomo when they were younger to mean he has to be taller than her before he can ask her to marry him. This is already dumb, but manga has been predicated on worse.
Well, anyway, I just described Oki’s entire personality and Tomo’s is basically that she’s tall with big breasts. Hitomi-chan Is Shy With Strangers was nothing amazing when it was all said and done, but it did this exact thing but better.
For a given value of comedy, most of the jokes here involve Oki screwing up and then something happens that makes him think it isn’t bad after all. This well is thoroughly dipped into until they’re scraping the mud.
With underwhelming art and nothing by way of leads, this really does just collapse in on itself to form a singularity of ‘what’s the point?’ by the time it winds up. There are a ton of books similar to this that are actually good.
Even what little storytelling we get is borderline incomprehensible - it was the literal end of the book before it’s even made clear that Tomo is two grades higher than Oki, which would have made the height thing a little more amusing, maybe.
There are a couple of moments that do work for me, to give this some slight credit. One of Oki’s friends has an older sister who’s friends with Tomo and she is a really good ‘miserable older sister’ archetype that at least manages a chuckle.
Another similar scene involves one of Oki’s friends trying to clear up a misunderstanding with another girl in Tomo’s group and they end up hitting it off really well. The problem there is that they have more chemistry in five pages than our leads do in a whole volume.
Kudos to anybody who can write a story and get it published. Truly. Sometimes it’s not fun to just dunk on something somebody believes in, but you have to balance that with how palatable it is to the reader. In my case? Not so much.
2.5 stars - I kind of want to give this three stars, it isn’t sooooo terrible, but rewarding this incredibly bland Melba toast of a book doesn’t feel right either. Manga’s not cheap and you deserve, and should expect, better for your money.
Apparently you must also be this boring to propose, as this book is more leaden than an x-ray clinic at the bottom of Lake Superior. It’s a bold, bold choice to bring absolutely nothing to the table of a crowded genre.
Oki wants to get taller because he (rightfully) misconstrued a comment from Tomo when they were younger to mean he has to be taller than her before he can ask her to marry him. This is already dumb, but manga has been predicated on worse.
Well, anyway, I just described Oki’s entire personality and Tomo’s is basically that she’s tall with big breasts. Hitomi-chan Is Shy With Strangers was nothing amazing when it was all said and done, but it did this exact thing but better.
For a given value of comedy, most of the jokes here involve Oki screwing up and then something happens that makes him think it isn’t bad after all. This well is thoroughly dipped into until they’re scraping the mud.
With underwhelming art and nothing by way of leads, this really does just collapse in on itself to form a singularity of ‘what’s the point?’ by the time it winds up. There are a ton of books similar to this that are actually good.
Even what little storytelling we get is borderline incomprehensible - it was the literal end of the book before it’s even made clear that Tomo is two grades higher than Oki, which would have made the height thing a little more amusing, maybe.
There are a couple of moments that do work for me, to give this some slight credit. One of Oki’s friends has an older sister who’s friends with Tomo and she is a really good ‘miserable older sister’ archetype that at least manages a chuckle.
Another similar scene involves one of Oki’s friends trying to clear up a misunderstanding with another girl in Tomo’s group and they end up hitting it off really well. The problem there is that they have more chemistry in five pages than our leads do in a whole volume.
Kudos to anybody who can write a story and get it published. Truly. Sometimes it’s not fun to just dunk on something somebody believes in, but you have to balance that with how palatable it is to the reader. In my case? Not so much.
2.5 stars - I kind of want to give this three stars, it isn’t sooooo terrible, but rewarding this incredibly bland Melba toast of a book doesn’t feel right either. Manga’s not cheap and you deserve, and should expect, better for your money.
June 12, 2024
I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
This was an adorable manga of a very tall girl and a much smaller guy who like each other. They have known each other since they were very tiny. And when they were little they made a promise to marry (he proposed, so cute), but she named one requirement, he needs to be taller than her to propose. You can see on the cover how that is going, haha. But later on we learn a new fact about this requirement and that made me laugh, she should have specified that. Or maybe she should tell him? But I think she thinks that she was clear, oh my.
I love seeing him try all his best into getting taller. From stretching to drinking liters upon liters of milk. He is really trying and he is so happy with his growth spurt… but you can already see that he needs to grow A LOT more if he wants to be taller. And also pray that she stops growing, haha. I really love that despite it being seemingly impossible for him to be taller he keeps on staying close to her and keeps on trying. The man got a goal and he is not letting it go that easily. Which is just the cutest! I love that his friends try to help him out by suggesting things, which lead to some hilarious situations!
I also liked that we got to see some parts from her POV (and Tomo is such a fun character) and also saw bits of backstory (and now) from her brothers’ POV (who reminded me of certain other twins in manga and books).
This book is filled with hilarious misunderstandings + funny situations. I was just laughing so much (plus our MCs facial reactions, oh my gosh). The author did find the right balance between things. Sometimes misunderstandings don’t work for me in books, but in this one it just makes me laugh. I guess it helps that the misunderstandings don’t hurt anyone and that it just motivates the characters to try even harder.
Though I do hope that in the next volume Chitose is able to confess to Tomo, or Tomo to him. I mean, marriage may not be in the cards yet but at least start dating! I mean, both of them want that but things just didn’t work out exactly as they had planned.
All in all, I will keep on reading this one! I would recommend it if you like manga with misunderstandings and funny things happening. Oh, and a couple to root for.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This was an adorable manga of a very tall girl and a much smaller guy who like each other. They have known each other since they were very tiny. And when they were little they made a promise to marry (he proposed, so cute), but she named one requirement, he needs to be taller than her to propose. You can see on the cover how that is going, haha. But later on we learn a new fact about this requirement and that made me laugh, she should have specified that. Or maybe she should tell him? But I think she thinks that she was clear, oh my.
I love seeing him try all his best into getting taller. From stretching to drinking liters upon liters of milk. He is really trying and he is so happy with his growth spurt… but you can already see that he needs to grow A LOT more if he wants to be taller. And also pray that she stops growing, haha. I really love that despite it being seemingly impossible for him to be taller he keeps on staying close to her and keeps on trying. The man got a goal and he is not letting it go that easily. Which is just the cutest! I love that his friends try to help him out by suggesting things, which lead to some hilarious situations!
I also liked that we got to see some parts from her POV (and Tomo is such a fun character) and also saw bits of backstory (and now) from her brothers’ POV (who reminded me of certain other twins in manga and books).
This book is filled with hilarious misunderstandings + funny situations. I was just laughing so much (plus our MCs facial reactions, oh my gosh). The author did find the right balance between things. Sometimes misunderstandings don’t work for me in books, but in this one it just makes me laugh. I guess it helps that the misunderstandings don’t hurt anyone and that it just motivates the characters to try even harder.
Though I do hope that in the next volume Chitose is able to confess to Tomo, or Tomo to him. I mean, marriage may not be in the cards yet but at least start dating! I mean, both of them want that but things just didn’t work out exactly as they had planned.
All in all, I will keep on reading this one! I would recommend it if you like manga with misunderstandings and funny things happening. Oh, and a couple to root for.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 28, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Fumi Mifuyu for the opportunity to read this manga in exchange for an honest review.
This cute and quirky romantic comedy manga follows childhood friends Chitose and Tomo. Tomo has always been taller than Chitose, but that doesn't stop him from wanting to be with her. With a childhood promise, Chitose announces that he wishes to marry Tomo, once he is bigger than her. Ten years later, they still walk home together in high school, wondering if the other remembers that promise.
In a shout out to personality over appearance (in this case, height, as the stigma is often that a guy should be taller than a girl in a relationship), this manga expresses that people should appreciate and love the differences that make them stand out. It's about personality, not physicality, that should be the appeal toward someone.
Told in little mini-episodes, more like individual scenes as they are so short, this manga is a fun expression of the girl-next-door childhood romance.
This cute and quirky romantic comedy manga follows childhood friends Chitose and Tomo. Tomo has always been taller than Chitose, but that doesn't stop him from wanting to be with her. With a childhood promise, Chitose announces that he wishes to marry Tomo, once he is bigger than her. Ten years later, they still walk home together in high school, wondering if the other remembers that promise.
In a shout out to personality over appearance (in this case, height, as the stigma is often that a guy should be taller than a girl in a relationship), this manga expresses that people should appreciate and love the differences that make them stand out. It's about personality, not physicality, that should be the appeal toward someone.
Told in little mini-episodes, more like individual scenes as they are so short, this manga is a fun expression of the girl-next-door childhood romance.
May 6, 2024
Rating: 4.14 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 4/5
-Cover: 3/5
-Story: 4/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Comedy, Romance, SOL
-Comedy: 3/5
-Romance: 5/5
-SOL: 5/5
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yeah
Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Really Liked|Loved
Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.
This was so cute. I loved the that they used height differences. Chitose Oki is so adorable and funny. Worth the read!
-Characters: 4/5
-Cover: 3/5
-Story: 4/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Comedy, Romance, SOL
-Comedy: 3/5
-Romance: 5/5
-SOL: 5/5
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yeah
Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Really Liked|Loved
Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.
This was so cute. I loved the that they used height differences. Chitose Oki is so adorable and funny. Worth the read!
April 28, 2024
This first volume was pretty cute and had a lot of sweet and funny moments. There’s yet to be an overarching plot, so I don’t feel a particular pull for the next volume, but I’m still interested in reading it. I’d also like to see more personality and character growth, but for an introduction to the series I think it did well at establishing everyone’s relationships with each other.
April 30, 2024
I was given an ark to read this manga. This book was such I nice read I want to know more on what happens to the characters. I would say this would be a nice beginners manga to read, the illustrations are on point.
September 5, 2024
-- 5/5 Stars -- ★★★★★
Trigger Warnings for You Must Be This Tall to Propose 1:
You Must Be This Tall to Propose 1 is the first book in the manga series by Fumi Mifuyu. The second book comes out later this month. In You Must Be This Tall to Propose 1 we see Chitose and his long-standing adoration for his neighbor, Tomo. The big problem? Tomo is two years older and way more than two inches taller than Chitose, who promised he would marry her when he was bigger than her.
I adored this manga. Each chapter is written and illustrated in vignettes, showing each of the sweet moments between these two. At multiple points I LOL'd, especially at the moment where Tomo's breasts touch the back of Chitose's neck and he literally goes to space. Tomo's brothers also played a really fun role with attempting to get Chitose and Tomo together.
Overall, this was a sweet romance manga that did not disappoint. I look forward to the next book coming out this month. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this manga in exchange for my honest review.
Follow all of my reviews and content with LinkTree
Trigger Warnings for You Must Be This Tall to Propose 1:
You Must Be This Tall to Propose 1 is the first book in the manga series by Fumi Mifuyu. The second book comes out later this month. In You Must Be This Tall to Propose 1 we see Chitose and his long-standing adoration for his neighbor, Tomo. The big problem? Tomo is two years older and way more than two inches taller than Chitose, who promised he would marry her when he was bigger than her.
I adored this manga. Each chapter is written and illustrated in vignettes, showing each of the sweet moments between these two. At multiple points I LOL'd, especially at the moment where Tomo's breasts touch the back of Chitose's neck and he literally goes to space. Tomo's brothers also played a really fun role with attempting to get Chitose and Tomo together.
Overall, this was a sweet romance manga that did not disappoint. I look forward to the next book coming out this month. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this manga in exchange for my honest review.
Follow all of my reviews and content with LinkTree
May 5, 2024
Minor spoilers ahead.
I don’t read much slice of life manga but this looked and sounded cute so I decided to pick it up on a whim. I ended up liking this story for the most part but I do have some complaints.
I like both of the main characters to varying degrees. They are cute together and I liked how they interacted for the most part. Complaints however. Chitose’s main personality trait seemed to be “thirsty”. Most of his dialogue is about how he is in love with his female best friend Tomi and how he needs to make himself taller so that he can marry her. I didn’t mind much at first but this quickly got old as the book continued. I hope to see more character development from him in the future. Tomi was slightly more developed but her main personality trait seemed to me “tall”. She spends a lot of time being generally embarrassed and annoyed with how tall she is and the people around her point it out a lot as well. Like guys, she knows she’s tall stop reminding her. While it does show her with her friend group at points all of the conversations they had centered around Chitose. Once again, I would like to see more development from her in the future.
My one big read flag complaint is how they treat the chest of Tomi. She is a very tall girl and she is very generously gifted in that area. The book makes a point to point this fact out constantly. She’ll hug a shorter friend so that her friends face lands squarely in her chest, she plays volleyball in a way that perfectly frames it, she accident brushes it against Chitose at multiple points in the book (which I really didn’t like his reaction to but he’s a teenage boy I shouldn’t be surprised I guess). She even gets caught in the rain once and is drawn with a completely see through wet tshirt. Fan service can be a tolerable thing but she’s in high school. I don’t feel comfortable with these things happening with a minor.
Overall I’m not quite sure who I would recommend this to. I’m guessing slice of life manga fans might like this, along with people looking for a good young adult romance. I may continue with the series to see if they iron down character development issues but at this time I’m not certain I will.
I don’t read much slice of life manga but this looked and sounded cute so I decided to pick it up on a whim. I ended up liking this story for the most part but I do have some complaints.
I like both of the main characters to varying degrees. They are cute together and I liked how they interacted for the most part. Complaints however. Chitose’s main personality trait seemed to be “thirsty”. Most of his dialogue is about how he is in love with his female best friend Tomi and how he needs to make himself taller so that he can marry her. I didn’t mind much at first but this quickly got old as the book continued. I hope to see more character development from him in the future. Tomi was slightly more developed but her main personality trait seemed to me “tall”. She spends a lot of time being generally embarrassed and annoyed with how tall she is and the people around her point it out a lot as well. Like guys, she knows she’s tall stop reminding her. While it does show her with her friend group at points all of the conversations they had centered around Chitose. Once again, I would like to see more development from her in the future.
My one big read flag complaint is how they treat the chest of Tomi. She is a very tall girl and she is very generously gifted in that area. The book makes a point to point this fact out constantly. She’ll hug a shorter friend so that her friends face lands squarely in her chest, she plays volleyball in a way that perfectly frames it, she accident brushes it against Chitose at multiple points in the book (which I really didn’t like his reaction to but he’s a teenage boy I shouldn’t be surprised I guess). She even gets caught in the rain once and is drawn with a completely see through wet tshirt. Fan service can be a tolerable thing but she’s in high school. I don’t feel comfortable with these things happening with a minor.
Overall I’m not quite sure who I would recommend this to. I’m guessing slice of life manga fans might like this, along with people looking for a good young adult romance. I may continue with the series to see if they iron down character development issues but at this time I’m not certain I will.
May 6, 2024
Short and easy read I would recommend as a palate cleanser.
This slice-of-life manga by Fumi Mifuyu is composed of a series of short comedic chapters centering on Oki and Tomo pinning for each other. Chitose Oki has been Tomo's neighbor since they were children and has had a massive crush on her since…always? As a kid, he promised to her: He'll marry her when he was bigger than she!
Sadly for him, he is quite a short guy, she is a really tall girl, and he thinks that he must fulfill his promise…literally.
(That's the premise to these short, funny, and cute snippets of Tomo and Oki's life and the chapter built around Oki's plotting to be noticed by her.)
You must be this tall to propose was not exactly what I was expecting, but I had a fun time even so.
I gave this manga 4 out of 5 stars because it was a light read, and I get through it superfast, but since there's no plot I fail to see the appeal to the story and stick around. I wasn't expecting this format, and that influenced my rating, I think. But not in a bad way, exactly, because I consider that the manga managed to entertain me even when I found something different from what I expected.
It is a well-curated manga with a nice art style, and the quality and work behind it are obvious.
--------------------
Star rating: 4/5
General Rating: 7/10
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
April 25, 2024
"You must be this tall to propose" follows Tomo an Chitose who have been friends since childhood and live next door to each other. Chitose decided when he was young that he was going to marry Tomo, and she said "Sure, when you are bigger than me", which has proved to be an issue because she is super tall as a teenager! The story follows the 2 through their daily lives and focuses on Chitose's inner thoughts on how he can get bigger so Tomo will marry him, and eventually just how he can get her to like him. We don't really get much insight from Tomo, but presumably she likes him back.
While the story was cute, I can't imagine reading any more volumes. This seems like the story should have wrapped up in one volume, as it was very repetitive (Chitose likes Tomo, situation where he could tell her that but doesn't, rinse and repeat). It got boring after a while, and I've read the same story in other mangas with characters the same age and the same plot.
I liked the artwork and it was very clear that Tomo was much taller than Chitose, which enhanced the plot of the story. I think teens would enjoy this seeing as the characters are teens and they probably have similar experiences with first time dating and crushes. For me it was just average, as the story was nothing exciting or new, something I've read many times before. I'd still encourage a younger audience to give it a try!
3/5 stars
Thank you so much to netgalley and kodansha comics for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!
While the story was cute, I can't imagine reading any more volumes. This seems like the story should have wrapped up in one volume, as it was very repetitive (Chitose likes Tomo, situation where he could tell her that but doesn't, rinse and repeat). It got boring after a while, and I've read the same story in other mangas with characters the same age and the same plot.
I liked the artwork and it was very clear that Tomo was much taller than Chitose, which enhanced the plot of the story. I think teens would enjoy this seeing as the characters are teens and they probably have similar experiences with first time dating and crushes. For me it was just average, as the story was nothing exciting or new, something I've read many times before. I'd still encourage a younger audience to give it a try!
3/5 stars
Thank you so much to netgalley and kodansha comics for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!
April 25, 2024
I am very thankful for being able to read this adorable story. Thank you to the Publishing company Kodansha comics for letting me read this.
Now going in the story we learn about Chitose and from a very young age he announced that he will marry Tomo but he has a problem with that because she is taller than him and promised when he got bigger he would marry her. throughout the story, we see chitose keeping his promise about wanting to marry Tomo. But I have a couple of problem with the plot don't get me wrong I think it wonderful about how boy loves his next door neighbor and want to get her but when there is no character development on how he wanted to impress her with being taller than her. It doesn't really bring anything to the table, all the characters are very beautifully drawn but I want to learn about Tomo and Chitose how they both met as kids and what made chitose like her more beside being beautiful and tall. Yes, I understand she is very smart and nice to everyone, but what else does she have other than that. I know she has a hard time getting other guys to like her because of her height. I do wish to get to see more of them together and not when other characters literally did something in order for them to be in the same room. There was little character development between the two main leads, and I just wanted more with them. I do think that chitose and tomo would be a beautiful couple together in that they get to hang out more with other hanging to come with a plan for them. Otherwise, the story was good.
Now going in the story we learn about Chitose and from a very young age he announced that he will marry Tomo but he has a problem with that because she is taller than him and promised when he got bigger he would marry her. throughout the story, we see chitose keeping his promise about wanting to marry Tomo. But I have a couple of problem with the plot don't get me wrong I think it wonderful about how boy loves his next door neighbor and want to get her but when there is no character development on how he wanted to impress her with being taller than her. It doesn't really bring anything to the table, all the characters are very beautifully drawn but I want to learn about Tomo and Chitose how they both met as kids and what made chitose like her more beside being beautiful and tall. Yes, I understand she is very smart and nice to everyone, but what else does she have other than that. I know she has a hard time getting other guys to like her because of her height. I do wish to get to see more of them together and not when other characters literally did something in order for them to be in the same room. There was little character development between the two main leads, and I just wanted more with them. I do think that chitose and tomo would be a beautiful couple together in that they get to hang out more with other hanging to come with a plan for them. Otherwise, the story was good.
April 26, 2024
*Received as an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was so lighthearted and sweet! I've been wanting to dip into manga a little more and I'm so happy I got to check this one out. Our main character is Chitose, who's been nursing a crush on his best friend Tomo since the age of 5. He tells her he's going to marry her someday and she agrees on the condition that he must be taller than her when her when he proposes - ten years later she's still towering above him and he's too busy obsessing over how induce a growth-spurt to realise that his feelings are reciprocated.
This volume is split into twenty (!!!!) tiny chapters, just funny little snippets of the various mishaps and misunderstandings between our oblivious pair. Favourite element so far is Chitose's relationship with Tomo's brothers who have treated him like an extension of their family since meeting him as children, but who are also supportive of his crush on Tomo and try not-so-subtly to steer the two together.
Least favourite element is that while the story is so innocent and fluffy for the most part, sometimes Chitose gets sidetracked by Tomo's more *developed* body - I suppose forgivable to an extent because he is a 15 year old boy and I guess they're just *like that* but get it together lil guy u do not need to be panic-stumbling into her cleavage so often surely
Anyway I had a good time, I'd be happy reading more of this as it comes out!
This was so lighthearted and sweet! I've been wanting to dip into manga a little more and I'm so happy I got to check this one out. Our main character is Chitose, who's been nursing a crush on his best friend Tomo since the age of 5. He tells her he's going to marry her someday and she agrees on the condition that he must be taller than her when her when he proposes - ten years later she's still towering above him and he's too busy obsessing over how induce a growth-spurt to realise that his feelings are reciprocated.
This volume is split into twenty (!!!!) tiny chapters, just funny little snippets of the various mishaps and misunderstandings between our oblivious pair. Favourite element so far is Chitose's relationship with Tomo's brothers who have treated him like an extension of their family since meeting him as children, but who are also supportive of his crush on Tomo and try not-so-subtly to steer the two together.
Least favourite element is that while the story is so innocent and fluffy for the most part, sometimes Chitose gets sidetracked by Tomo's more *developed* body - I suppose forgivable to an extent because he is a 15 year old boy and I guess they're just *like that* but get it together lil guy u do not need to be panic-stumbling into her cleavage so often surely
Anyway I had a good time, I'd be happy reading more of this as it comes out!
May 7, 2024
I read an ARC from Netgalley.
When Chitose was 5-years-old, he decided that when he is finally taller than Tomo-nee, he will propose to her. At 15-years-old he is still shorter than Tomo-nee. He still believes that he will become taller than her. The hilarious part is that she only expects him to propose when he exceeds the height that she was when he asked ten years ago. He took it as him needing to be taller than Tomo-nee. Talk about miscommunication. The good part is that they both like each other. They just have to communicate a little more. Clear up some of the misunderstandings, even though they seem to be fine going at the pace they are going.
This was a fairly cute volume. I enjoyed most of the interactions between Chitose and Tomo-nee. You can tell that they both like each other and do want to be together. It is funny that Chitose has a whole plan to become big. He first has to become tall enough and then he will work out to get muscle. I’m not sure why he does not feel the need to work out already, but his plan is his plan. It’s also nice that the brothers are fine with Chitose wanting to marry Tomo-nee, which probably has to do with him calling them brother, which they really wanted someone to do so.
I will most likely continue reading this series, but it is another that I do not feel the need to read immediately. This would be one that I would end up picking up when I’m in the mood for.
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When Chitose was 5-years-old, he decided that when he is finally taller than Tomo-nee, he will propose to her. At 15-years-old he is still shorter than Tomo-nee. He still believes that he will become taller than her. The hilarious part is that she only expects him to propose when he exceeds the height that she was when he asked ten years ago. He took it as him needing to be taller than Tomo-nee. Talk about miscommunication. The good part is that they both like each other. They just have to communicate a little more. Clear up some of the misunderstandings, even though they seem to be fine going at the pace they are going.
This was a fairly cute volume. I enjoyed most of the interactions between Chitose and Tomo-nee. You can tell that they both like each other and do want to be together. It is funny that Chitose has a whole plan to become big. He first has to become tall enough and then he will work out to get muscle. I’m not sure why he does not feel the need to work out already, but his plan is his plan. It’s also nice that the brothers are fine with Chitose wanting to marry Tomo-nee, which probably has to do with him calling them brother, which they really wanted someone to do so.
I will most likely continue reading this series, but it is another that I do not feel the need to read immediately. This would be one that I would end up picking up when I’m in the mood for.
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April 23, 2024
You Must Be This Tall To Propose Vol. 1 by Fumi Mifuyu is the first manga I read again since I was introduced to them like 10 years ago.
I don't know... the cover got my attention and when I read the blurb it sounded like something I'd definitely enjoy.
And oh my! How much I enjoyed it!
First I had to remember how to read a manga correctly, but then I couldn't read it fast enough. 😊🙏
Chitose and Tomo are neighbours. He likes her since he was a little boy, and he also promised Tomo to marry her once he's taller than her. 10 years later he's still not taller than Tomo... But is the height really that important when you like each other?!
Awwwww! This first volume was sooooo cuuuuute! 😍🥰
I devoured it and loved the beginning of the story of Chitose and Tomo!
How they treat each other and what they think about each other. Awwwww...
I definitely want more! 🙏😊❤️
It was soooooo entertaining and made me smile and swoon the whole time.
And her brothers are sooo cute too! 😍
Thanks a lot to Fumi Mifuyu and Kondansha Comics for this ARC via NetGalley (Read Now).
This is my honest review in my own words.
I don't know... the cover got my attention and when I read the blurb it sounded like something I'd definitely enjoy.
And oh my! How much I enjoyed it!
First I had to remember how to read a manga correctly, but then I couldn't read it fast enough. 😊🙏
Chitose and Tomo are neighbours. He likes her since he was a little boy, and he also promised Tomo to marry her once he's taller than her. 10 years later he's still not taller than Tomo... But is the height really that important when you like each other?!
Awwwww! This first volume was sooooo cuuuuute! 😍🥰
I devoured it and loved the beginning of the story of Chitose and Tomo!
How they treat each other and what they think about each other. Awwwww...
I definitely want more! 🙏😊❤️
It was soooooo entertaining and made me smile and swoon the whole time.
And her brothers are sooo cute too! 😍
Thanks a lot to Fumi Mifuyu and Kondansha Comics for this ARC via NetGalley (Read Now).
This is my honest review in my own words.
April 29, 2024
I was unsure about this manga at first due to the plot description, as I assumed it'd be your typical "cringey" highschool romance. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this one!
If you're looking for a light-hearted and humorous romance manga, this one will be perfect for you.
The main male character's grand pursuit is his effort to grow, so he can fulfil a promise he made to his neighbor as a young boy. The storyline is wholesome and the characters are so loveable. I really enjoyed reading this one, and will definitely be checking out the second.
The only reason I'm giving this 4 stars instead of 5, is because I felt a little lost over halfway through the story when they started introducing more characters. There wasn't much information given about these other characters other than their names, so it's hard to remember why they were included in the first place. I'm mindful that this could have been done to expand on them later on in the series, and the story is still loveable despite this.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this for an honest review!
If you're looking for a light-hearted and humorous romance manga, this one will be perfect for you.
The main male character's grand pursuit is his effort to grow, so he can fulfil a promise he made to his neighbor as a young boy. The storyline is wholesome and the characters are so loveable. I really enjoyed reading this one, and will definitely be checking out the second.
The only reason I'm giving this 4 stars instead of 5, is because I felt a little lost over halfway through the story when they started introducing more characters. There wasn't much information given about these other characters other than their names, so it's hard to remember why they were included in the first place. I'm mindful that this could have been done to expand on them later on in the series, and the story is still loveable despite this.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this for an honest review!
May 4, 2024
A very sweet and wholesome slice of life manga. While the premise and cover seems Shojo at first glance, this definitely reads more Shonen focused. A first-year student is short for his age but has a crush on his older, and much taller, next door neighbor who he’s been friends with since childhood. I love the tall girl, short guy dynamic as we don’t see much of it in romance mangas. It’s so wholesome how everyone around them knows they like each other and cheers them on. I usually dislike miscommunication tropes, but it’s very sweet how he thinks he can’t ask her out until he’s taller than her and tries everything he can do to grow, but she actually likes him back. It’s silly and sweet and I’m looking forward to the next volume.
My one criticism is that the female lead lacks a little bit of depth and personality. She’s tall, gorgeous, and has big boobs (that become the main character of a few moments) but she seems to lack much depth outside of just being kind and motherly. She’s written as a bit dense and uncoordinated, so I’m hoping to see come character development in future volumes.
My one criticism is that the female lead lacks a little bit of depth and personality. She’s tall, gorgeous, and has big boobs (that become the main character of a few moments) but she seems to lack much depth outside of just being kind and motherly. She’s written as a bit dense and uncoordinated, so I’m hoping to see come character development in future volumes.
May 14, 2024
You Must Be This Tall to Propose! is an utter joy to read. It’s such a sweet, funny manga. Its short chapters lend it the intimacy of glimpses into the everyday lives of its characters rather than a fast pace. Its cast is charming and Mifuyu instantly endears the reader by introducing us to little Chitose and Tomo the day they make their agreement. They’re so cute and sweet.
Its wider cast are introduced simply, but clearly. Some tertiary characters remain one note but most already being expanded upon. This isn’t a criticism. I know exactly which character is which. Their personalities and dynamics with others. If anything, there was a bit more development than I’d expected, for instance, with Akito and Haruka.
I love the comedy. Miscommunication can be hilarious and I especially enjoyed it here. Chitose has a very defined view of manhood that he strives for that drives some of the comedy. It’s not taken seriously by the manga – but not at Chitose’s expense. It could easily be mean-spirited but it’s not at all. The miscommunication is also much subtler than I’d expected from the description. I thought it would oppose Tomo and Chitose but they’re very sweet, both generally and with one another. You really root for them through their mishaps.
There has been criticism that it doesn’t have an overarching plot. That’s both true and not. The manga is clearly invested in Chitose and Tomo’s relationship and their becoming a couple. It could do a more typical and obvious overarching plot well but I think that it’s made what it is very obvious and it excels at it. You Must Be This Tall to Propose! is a perfect lighthearted, feel-good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for this review copy. I leave this review voluntarily.
Its wider cast are introduced simply, but clearly. Some tertiary characters remain one note but most already being expanded upon. This isn’t a criticism. I know exactly which character is which. Their personalities and dynamics with others. If anything, there was a bit more development than I’d expected, for instance, with Akito and Haruka.
I love the comedy. Miscommunication can be hilarious and I especially enjoyed it here. Chitose has a very defined view of manhood that he strives for that drives some of the comedy. It’s not taken seriously by the manga – but not at Chitose’s expense. It could easily be mean-spirited but it’s not at all. The miscommunication is also much subtler than I’d expected from the description. I thought it would oppose Tomo and Chitose but they’re very sweet, both generally and with one another. You really root for them through their mishaps.
There has been criticism that it doesn’t have an overarching plot. That’s both true and not. The manga is clearly invested in Chitose and Tomo’s relationship and their becoming a couple. It could do a more typical and obvious overarching plot well but I think that it’s made what it is very obvious and it excels at it. You Must Be This Tall to Propose! is a perfect lighthearted, feel-good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for this review copy. I leave this review voluntarily.
July 31, 2024
You Must Be This Tall to Propose! is actually a romantic seinen manga. Chitose Oki has had a crush on her childhood friend Tomo since forever and he even promised to marry her. Her condition was that the boy needed to outgrow her to do that and well, Chitose is short and Tomo immensely tall. We get to follow their sweet but dumb romance that goes nowhere, but the best part of the series is surely the side characters. I loved Tomo's brothers and how they try to set these two up and created opportunities for them. Chitose is happy with everything he gets out of Tomo and Tomo is like a mom in a sense? Oddly enough the manga is credible and funny even and not creepy. I'm saying this because romantic seinen tends to be the latter. The series is three books long, which is good, since you cannot push to joke farther than that really.
The art is cute and funny, nothing spectacular, but works. The side characters are interesting and they actually have their own personas. This is one of the better romantic series in my opinion. Let's hope it doesn't fall from high and end up being like every other...
The art is cute and funny, nothing spectacular, but works. The side characters are interesting and they actually have their own personas. This is one of the better romantic series in my opinion. Let's hope it doesn't fall from high and end up being like every other...
July 30, 2024
This is a cute wholesome series about childhood friends. My first thought was “oh, this is going to be one where it is a one sided love”; however, it is and personally I think it’s cute. When Chitose was young his mother showed him his neighbors Shichigosan pictures and went on saying how she’ll have a prince come for her, shocked he ran over and proposed to her. She agreed but made a comment where he had to be bigger than her- you can probably see where this goes… We skip 10 years later to him checking his height and still wanting to marry his childhood friend. Chitose attempts to make Tomo-nee's heart beat faster for him by making moves, although these attempts result in her making his beat faster instead.
It is known among Chitose and Tomo-nee’s friend groups that they both have feelings for the other. Tomo-nee’s friends already see Chitose as her boyfriend and her brothers, although scare other boys who might be interested in her, help create situations for the two to make progress. At one point, they did reconfirm that the other remembers the promise.
It is known among Chitose and Tomo-nee’s friend groups that they both have feelings for the other. Tomo-nee’s friends already see Chitose as her boyfriend and her brothers, although scare other boys who might be interested in her, help create situations for the two to make progress. At one point, they did reconfirm that the other remembers the promise.
April 23, 2024
thank you in advance to Netgalley & Kodansha for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
stop. this was so adorable!!! this is actually one of my favourite types of couples (and it heavily reminds me of lovely complex which is one of my all-time favourite manga series). i feel like this series was more fluffy and cute as there isn't too much romantic moments! however i still really enjoyed it and Chitose & Tomo are both such loveable characters!
also really enjoyed the rest of the characters, they were all memorable in their own way and had a bit to add to the story.
i can't wait to read the second volume & honestly i want this series on my shelf!
**please note that the formatting of the chapters/story is not your usual manga (there's 17 chapters if i remember correctly)! it's more of those small snippets/short glimpses of the character's day (i enjoy these types of stories but it may not be everyone's cup of tea).
stop. this was so adorable!!! this is actually one of my favourite types of couples (and it heavily reminds me of lovely complex which is one of my all-time favourite manga series). i feel like this series was more fluffy and cute as there isn't too much romantic moments! however i still really enjoyed it and Chitose & Tomo are both such loveable characters!
also really enjoyed the rest of the characters, they were all memorable in their own way and had a bit to add to the story.
i can't wait to read the second volume & honestly i want this series on my shelf!
**please note that the formatting of the chapters/story is not your usual manga (there's 17 chapters if i remember correctly)! it's more of those small snippets/short glimpses of the character's day (i enjoy these types of stories but it may not be everyone's cup of tea).
April 24, 2024
You Must Be This Tall to Propose (volume 1) is a series of really short comics (only about 5-ish pages long) detailing a small dude Chitose who's head over heels for his childhood best friend Tomo. The only problem is, their childhood promise to marry once he got taller than her is pretty impossible with their heights? But with some missed communication and mutual, though unknown, interest, will they ever get together?
I think for me it's been a while since I ready anything with fan service so the focus on Tomo's breasts and Chitose falling into them not once, but twice! in this single volume was tiring for me. It's cute, with a bunch of cute characters who are friends/relatives, so I do hope there's less objectification of Tomo's body in the future (also they could have gone all out and made her more midsized/plus sized too?). I probably won't keep up with this series, although it was a cute read.
Thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!
I think for me it's been a while since I ready anything with fan service so the focus on Tomo's breasts and Chitose falling into them not once, but twice! in this single volume was tiring for me. It's cute, with a bunch of cute characters who are friends/relatives, so I do hope there's less objectification of Tomo's body in the future (also they could have gone all out and made her more midsized/plus sized too?). I probably won't keep up with this series, although it was a cute read.
Thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!
April 26, 2024
The plot is very simple and straightforward. As kids, Chi asked Tomo to marry him, she said 'okay, but not until you're bigger than me'. It became his life's goal to grow tall. Now they're both in high school and Tomo is way taller than Chi. I thought the idea was really cute, but the execution was mediocre. It was pretty sweet but also pretty boring. There isn't really any buildup of tension, and both characters are very bland. Their personalities revolve around wanting to marry each other. It also felt like we were being dropped in the middle of the story rather than at the beginning, maybe because there is no buildup or character development. Though, that might be because the mangaka has no idea whether this will become popular enough to continue the story or not, as I often see volume 1s of manga being pretty rushed like this. In any case, this was a sweet enough appetizer, but it definitely left something to be desired
May 2, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for this earc in echange for review.
This was SO cute... like cute, 'kick your legs in the air' cute. Chitose and Tomo grow up together as neighbors and best friends. The only thing is- Chitose confessed to Tomo at only 5 years old! However, Tomo agreed to marry Chitose when they were older on one condition: if Chitose grew taller than her! Of course, Tomo only meant taller than her childhood self, but Chitose took that literally- and he's become obsessed with getting bigger and taller for his Tomo!
We meet Tomo's tall family and see how they already treat Chitose like one of their own. Reader's will love the warm love and friendships in this first installment, and unlike any other romance Shojo- the main characters know they're going to end up together! How cute! It was a breath of fresh air to see such supportive friends and familial characters, and I love how much of a SIMP Chitose is for Tomo. 4/5 solid stars.
This was SO cute... like cute, 'kick your legs in the air' cute. Chitose and Tomo grow up together as neighbors and best friends. The only thing is- Chitose confessed to Tomo at only 5 years old! However, Tomo agreed to marry Chitose when they were older on one condition: if Chitose grew taller than her! Of course, Tomo only meant taller than her childhood self, but Chitose took that literally- and he's become obsessed with getting bigger and taller for his Tomo!
We meet Tomo's tall family and see how they already treat Chitose like one of their own. Reader's will love the warm love and friendships in this first installment, and unlike any other romance Shojo- the main characters know they're going to end up together! How cute! It was a breath of fresh air to see such supportive friends and familial characters, and I love how much of a SIMP Chitose is for Tomo. 4/5 solid stars.
May 5, 2024
*I received a free digital copy of the manga for review from NetGalley.*
3.25 stars! As a tall girl, I was super excited to read this manga and see myself represented in this story through Tomo. However, after reading volume 1, I was left a bit disappointed. I'd categorize this as a high school slice-of-life story with a "will they, won't they" romance. The characters are likable and the artwork is beautiful but the story is lacking. My 2 biggest complaints are 1) the situations the characters find themselves in have been done over and over again in other mangas and 2) I don't see how the romance is going to push the MCs to grow since they both seem to have pretty normal lives with plenty friends and family that love and support them and their relationship.
I will most likely pick up volume 2 to see if the relationship between Tomo and Chitose picks up or maybe the story introduces something that will make it more compelling and help it stand out from other romance mangas.
3.25 stars! As a tall girl, I was super excited to read this manga and see myself represented in this story through Tomo. However, after reading volume 1, I was left a bit disappointed. I'd categorize this as a high school slice-of-life story with a "will they, won't they" romance. The characters are likable and the artwork is beautiful but the story is lacking. My 2 biggest complaints are 1) the situations the characters find themselves in have been done over and over again in other mangas and 2) I don't see how the romance is going to push the MCs to grow since they both seem to have pretty normal lives with plenty friends and family that love and support them and their relationship.
I will most likely pick up volume 2 to see if the relationship between Tomo and Chitose picks up or maybe the story introduces something that will make it more compelling and help it stand out from other romance mangas.
October 11, 2024
Rating:⭐️3/5
Spice:🌶️1/5
Read in October 2024: 👻12/20
Goodreads Challenge:📚227/240
🇺🇸You Must Be This Tall to Propose by Fumi Miyufu was an utterly sweet and charming manga that had me smiling from start to finish. The humor was on point, and the lightheartedness of the story really made for an enjoyable, feel-good read. The interactions between the characters were delightful.
If you're looking for a quick and cute escape with some laugh-out-loud moments, this is definitely worth picking up.
_____________________________________
🇫🇷 You Must Be This Tall to Propose par Fumi Miyufu était un manga absolument doux et charmant qui m'a fait sourire du début à la fin. Rigolote et légère, l'histoire a vraiment rendu la lecture agréable. Les interactions entre les personnages étaient délicieuses.
Si vous êtes à la recherche d'une évasion rapide et mignonne avec quelques moments de rire, cela vaut vraiment la peine d'être lu.
Spice:🌶️1/5
Read in October 2024: 👻12/20
Goodreads Challenge:📚227/240
🇺🇸You Must Be This Tall to Propose by Fumi Miyufu was an utterly sweet and charming manga that had me smiling from start to finish. The humor was on point, and the lightheartedness of the story really made for an enjoyable, feel-good read. The interactions between the characters were delightful.
If you're looking for a quick and cute escape with some laugh-out-loud moments, this is definitely worth picking up.
_____________________________________
🇫🇷 You Must Be This Tall to Propose par Fumi Miyufu était un manga absolument doux et charmant qui m'a fait sourire du début à la fin. Rigolote et légère, l'histoire a vraiment rendu la lecture agréable. Les interactions entre les personnages étaient délicieuses.
Si vous êtes à la recherche d'une évasion rapide et mignonne avec quelques moments de rire, cela vaut vraiment la peine d'être lu.
May 3, 2024
A received a copy from NetGalley for review.
A cute story of childhood friends to maybe lovers??? Our main character, Chitose, promised to marry his neighbor Tomo...but only when he was taller than her. A taller gal with a shorter guy very much gives nostalgic Lovely Complex vibes and I loved that manga. This is very much a low-key cozy comedy. It's more wholesome and cute, but still roiling with hormonal angst.
The art is nice. It's a very simple, no frills layout. It adds the wholesomeness. Also, the chibis are absolutely adorable and I'm living for the childhood flashbacks. What is the point of a childhood friends to lovers trope if you don't have the cute babies in the flashbacks. I'm crying from the cuteness.
This is a complete three volume series. I definitely need to more after this first volume.
A cute story of childhood friends to maybe lovers??? Our main character, Chitose, promised to marry his neighbor Tomo...but only when he was taller than her. A taller gal with a shorter guy very much gives nostalgic Lovely Complex vibes and I loved that manga. This is very much a low-key cozy comedy. It's more wholesome and cute, but still roiling with hormonal angst.
The art is nice. It's a very simple, no frills layout. It adds the wholesomeness. Also, the chibis are absolutely adorable and I'm living for the childhood flashbacks. What is the point of a childhood friends to lovers trope if you don't have the cute babies in the flashbacks. I'm crying from the cuteness.
This is a complete three volume series. I definitely need to more after this first volume.
May 5, 2024
Actual rating: 2.5
This story had a very promising set up, but I’ll admit, stories with short guys can be a total win OR they can fall really flat if they don’t get over the height difference. Like dude, the girl likes you as you are - you’re making this over complicated by not bothering to communicate and making assumptions for her.
Unfortunately, this story did fall into that worry of mine.Chitose treats Tomo as more like an idea and a s3xual-light object. And so while I really enjoyed the character design, I would need more character development and MUCH better communication before I continue the series.
Also the boob pressing gags got old pretty swiftly. I’d prefer them replaced with better communication. I always have hope for this trope, but for this one, it didn’t pan out.
*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*
This story had a very promising set up, but I’ll admit, stories with short guys can be a total win OR they can fall really flat if they don’t get over the height difference. Like dude, the girl likes you as you are - you’re making this over complicated by not bothering to communicate and making assumptions for her.
Unfortunately, this story did fall into that worry of mine.Chitose treats Tomo as more like an idea and a s3xual-light object. And so while I really enjoyed the character design, I would need more character development and MUCH better communication before I continue the series.
Also the boob pressing gags got old pretty swiftly. I’d prefer them replaced with better communication. I always have hope for this trope, but for this one, it didn’t pan out.
*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*
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