What do you think?
二人一組になってください
卒業式直前に始まったデスゲーム（特別授業）
あなたに本当の友達はいる？
誰かと手を繋がないと死ぬ――。
女子高のクラス内カーストが崩壊し、裏切り、嫉妬、憧れ、真実が手を取り合う。
『みんな蛍を殺したかった』の著者が青春と友情の極致を描く最高傑作！
【ルール】
・二人一組になってください。
・誰とも組むことができなかった者は、失格になります。その回の失格者が確定したら、次の回へと続きます。
・一度組んだ相手と、再び組むことはできません。
・残り人数が偶数になった場合、一人が待機となります。
・特定の生徒が余った場合は、特定の生徒以外全員が失格になります。
・最後まで残った二人、及び一人の者が、卒業式に出席できます。
・授業時間は60分です。
《あらすじ》
「このクラスには『いじめ』がありました。それは赦されるべきことではないし、いじめをした人間は死刑になるべきです」
とある女子高の卒業式直前、担任教師による【特別授業（ゲーム）】が始まった。突如開始されたデスゲームに27人全員が半信半疑だったが、余った生徒は左胸のコサージュの仕掛けにより無惨な死を遂げる。
自分が生き残るべき存在だと疑わない一軍、虚実の友情が入り混じる二軍、教室の最下層に生息し発言権のない三軍――。
本当の友情とは？
無自覚の罪によるいじめとは何か？
生き残って卒業できるのは果たして誰か？
あなたに本当の友達はいる？
誰かと手を繋がないと死ぬ――。
女子高のクラス内カーストが崩壊し、裏切り、嫉妬、憧れ、真実が手を取り合う。
『みんな蛍を殺したかった』の著者が青春と友情の極致を描く最高傑作！
【ルール】
・二人一組になってください。
・誰とも組むことができなかった者は、失格になります。その回の失格者が確定したら、次の回へと続きます。
・一度組んだ相手と、再び組むことはできません。
・残り人数が偶数になった場合、一人が待機となります。
・特定の生徒が余った場合は、特定の生徒以外全員が失格になります。
・最後まで残った二人、及び一人の者が、卒業式に出席できます。
・授業時間は60分です。
《あらすじ》
「このクラスには『いじめ』がありました。それは赦されるべきことではないし、いじめをした人間は死刑になるべきです」
とある女子高の卒業式直前、担任教師による【特別授業（ゲーム）】が始まった。突如開始されたデスゲームに27人全員が半信半疑だったが、余った生徒は左胸のコサージュの仕掛けにより無惨な死を遂げる。
自分が生き残るべき存在だと疑わない一軍、虚実の友情が入り混じる二軍、教室の最下層に生息し発言権のない三軍――。
本当の友情とは？
無自覚の罪によるいじめとは何か？
生き残って卒業できるのは果たして誰か？
Audible Audio
First published September 17, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 15, 2026
Mieko Kawakami's Heaven meets Battle Royale, and absolutely smashes my emotions into tiny pieces in just 230 pages.
A big problem I have with books with the Death Game concept is that I often don't have enough time to care about the characters before they're killed off. But in Please Form Pairs, the author chooses to focus each chapter on a different student, who may or may not be killed off that round, giving us a snapshot of their life, desires, and connections to the other students.
I was completely emotionally invested in every single student that was part of this game, and finding out their dynamics with the other students and seeing how that played out during the pairings was so interesting. Finding their names on the list of the disqualified was level of pain I've not felt since The Hunger Games. I really loved that there was lesbian and trans rep, which I really didn't expect to see in this story.
A big problem I have with books with the Death Game concept is that I often don't have enough time to care about the characters before they're killed off. But in Please Form Pairs, the author chooses to focus each chapter on a different student, who may or may not be killed off that round, giving us a snapshot of their life, desires, and connections to the other students.
I was completely emotionally invested in every single student that was part of this game, and finding out their dynamics with the other students and seeing how that played out during the pairings was so interesting. Finding their names on the list of the disqualified was level of pain I've not felt since The Hunger Games. I really loved that there was lesbian and trans rep, which I really didn't expect to see in this story.
September 13, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw this book described as a cross between Squid Game and Mean Girls, I was immediately all over it. Battle Royale is one of those films that stayed with me for ages, and I always seem to be drawn to these kinds of scenarios.
Please Form Pairs was a shorter read, and I actually had to read the whole thing on my phone, which would usually put me off, but I was hooked!
The overall premise isn’t hugely different from other stories in the genre, but what made this one stand out for me was the bullying aspect and the way the games were centred around the dynamics within the class and how people had treated each other.
Everyone in the class had a part to play, which I found really interesting, and I enjoyed gradually getting to know the different characters … even Lisa, who I wanted to slap on more than one occasion!
Overall, this was a quick, fun and addictive little read. If you enjoy things like The Hunger Games, Battle Royale or Squid Game, this is definitely one to pick up!
When I saw this book described as a cross between Squid Game and Mean Girls, I was immediately all over it. Battle Royale is one of those films that stayed with me for ages, and I always seem to be drawn to these kinds of scenarios.
Please Form Pairs was a shorter read, and I actually had to read the whole thing on my phone, which would usually put me off, but I was hooked!
The overall premise isn’t hugely different from other stories in the genre, but what made this one stand out for me was the bullying aspect and the way the games were centred around the dynamics within the class and how people had treated each other.
Everyone in the class had a part to play, which I found really interesting, and I enjoyed gradually getting to know the different characters … even Lisa, who I wanted to slap on more than one occasion!
Overall, this was a quick, fun and addictive little read. If you enjoy things like The Hunger Games, Battle Royale or Squid Game, this is definitely one to pick up!
September 3, 2026
On the surface, this book sounded like it was made in a lab specifically for me, yet the execution felt like giving me a vape if I were a chain smoker.
September 27, 2026
"I wish for your death."
Chiren Kina's novel begins with Mishin Mizushima. She is not one of the poplular girls at her school and at home she lives along because her mother chose to live with her lover. There is a hierarchy at her school, there are the alpha girls who hold a lot of power, the betas who play it safe and the rest beneath them. However one day a teacher initiates a new game for this classroom of girls to play where they have to play by specific rules or else they run the risk of being disqualified...permanently.
The description alone gives you an idea of what this story is similiar to and I love a couple references that do prop up if you pick up on them. This is a twisted game that punishes those that are the bully and teach the heavy lesson of how it can affect the lives of everyone wether they are involved or not.
It was such an easy one to devour, I was constantly waiting for the twist to reveal itself and when it did I loudly went "WTF" 🙈
This story is dark and unnerving, it reminded me of familiar stories like Battle Royale, Squid Games and Confessions.
Overall a wildly messed up story that I did enjoy reading.
Chiren Kina's novel begins with Mishin Mizushima. She is not one of the poplular girls at her school and at home she lives along because her mother chose to live with her lover. There is a hierarchy at her school, there are the alpha girls who hold a lot of power, the betas who play it safe and the rest beneath them. However one day a teacher initiates a new game for this classroom of girls to play where they have to play by specific rules or else they run the risk of being disqualified...permanently.
The description alone gives you an idea of what this story is similiar to and I love a couple references that do prop up if you pick up on them. This is a twisted game that punishes those that are the bully and teach the heavy lesson of how it can affect the lives of everyone wether they are involved or not.
It was such an easy one to devour, I was constantly waiting for the twist to reveal itself and when it did I loudly went "WTF" 🙈
This story is dark and unnerving, it reminded me of familiar stories like Battle Royale, Squid Games and Confessions.
Overall a wildly messed up story that I did enjoy reading.
September 14, 2026
2.5.
Concept seems to fall a bit flat. A bit repetitive and predictable. Already knew the outcome before it even started. Nevertheless, entertaining and easy reading. Maybe would’ve worked better as a short story.
Concept seems to fall a bit flat. A bit repetitive and predictable. Already knew the outcome before it even started. Nevertheless, entertaining and easy reading. Maybe would’ve worked better as a short story.
September 2, 2026
An easy, quick read that I absolutely HAD to get through as soon as I started it. I loved the little glimpses into every student's life and the vicious competition and mind games between the girls.
The only issue I had is (despite obviously knowing that the book isn't advocating for this kind of game or anything) that I did bristle at the idea that the girl who lost her parents in a car crash and the girl who was taken away from her abusive family didn't deserve some leeway.
The only issue I had is (despite obviously knowing that the book isn't advocating for this kind of game or anything) that I did bristle at the idea that the girl who lost her parents in a car crash and the girl who was taken away from her abusive family didn't deserve some leeway.
August 31, 2026
Finally a 5 star read.
My absolute favourite genre is Battle Royale remakes. This is battle royale at an all girls school to stop bullying. It also has good lesbian rep.
The only downside is that there are barely any descriptions of the deaths. I want descriptive gore in my murderous novels, but alas. Still an excellent read ⭐
My absolute favourite genre is Battle Royale remakes. This is battle royale at an all girls school to stop bullying. It also has good lesbian rep.
The only downside is that there are barely any descriptions of the deaths. I want descriptive gore in my murderous novels, but alas. Still an excellent read ⭐
September 11, 2026
A fantastic concept! This was so creative and unlike anything I had read before. I really enjoyed the glimpses into the students lives we got, it was the perfect amount to humanise them. The commentary on bullying felt a little over emphasised at points, but the story still drove the message home. A great new story, from a new writer who I will be keeping an eye on in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #PleaseFormPairs #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #PleaseFormPairs #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 11, 2026
wow. an absolute masterpiece.
super DUPER hooking and veeeerrryyy sad. i cried three times, and i don't really cry reading books.
i don't know if that says something about me or the book. you decide.
characters are all super detailed, plot is excellent, ending gave me goosebumps.
definitely recommend if you're into thrillers, gore and tension.
super DUPER hooking and veeeerrryyy sad. i cried three times, and i don't really cry reading books.
i don't know if that says something about me or the book. you decide.
characters are all super detailed, plot is excellent, ending gave me goosebumps.
definitely recommend if you're into thrillers, gore and tension.
September 17, 2026
I think the epilogue actually took away from it a little, but it was still whiplash-inducing all the way through.
September 6, 2026
A nice little mix of Squid Game and Battle Royale.
Please Form Pairs approaches the subject of bullying, even if you’re not the one doing the bullying but do nothing to stop it.
Mishin Mizushima is always the odd one out in class, she never has a partner during gym class, so has to partner with the teacher. None of her class mates ever choose to partner with her, until Karen transfers to their school.
We meet a handful of characters, all with their own relationships and feelings, and all want to survive the game. All they must do is form a pair with a fellow classmate to survive. What happens when they’re the odd one out?
This book was disturbing and brutal. We see friendships tested and school hierarchy break down. It was an enjoyable read and I’d love to see more books about different schools!
Please Form Pairs approaches the subject of bullying, even if you’re not the one doing the bullying but do nothing to stop it.
Mishin Mizushima is always the odd one out in class, she never has a partner during gym class, so has to partner with the teacher. None of her class mates ever choose to partner with her, until Karen transfers to their school.
We meet a handful of characters, all with their own relationships and feelings, and all want to survive the game. All they must do is form a pair with a fellow classmate to survive. What happens when they’re the odd one out?
This book was disturbing and brutal. We see friendships tested and school hierarchy break down. It was an enjoyable read and I’d love to see more books about different schools!
September 11, 2026
A bit like battle royale but more about bullying and how mean girls are to eachother.
September 11, 2026
This book is a mirror that forces you to reflect on your own actions as the characters do the same. Amazing.
September 7, 2026
The words "Please form pairs" are already a horror story in themselves for every high school loser out there, even without the threat of murder
May 9, 2026
抱著「死亡遊戲」的期待來讀，結果遠遠超乎想像。故事的前半段，作者顯然沒有要隱瞞下一個死的會是誰，反而以此帶來人格（善良、自私、正義、惡意）、能力（才能）、價值觀（理想）、社會條件（外貌、性別、獨特性、刻板印象）的探索，並巧妙融進故事內核的「霸凌」與「階級」之中，交織出一幅「高中少女的人際浮世繪」。
雖然故事是因此少了點刺激，卻也讓人思考起「為什麼沒人牽起她的手（她為什麼死）？」是班上的階級掌控、還是平時對待他人不慎所遭到的反噬、或者自己其實也身處在霸凌之中？
當故事發展到後半段，結構有所轉變。即使在兩、三章內，情節的縝密程度有因此出現小小瑕疵，不過尾段對存活角色的背景填補，則再添內核層次。最後，「霸凌」進一步延伸到「無心的惡意」的階段，故事進而成為對人性的思考及諷刺。
雖然故事是因此少了點刺激，卻也讓人思考起「為什麼沒人牽起她的手（她為什麼死）？」是班上的階級掌控、還是平時對待他人不慎所遭到的反噬、或者自己其實也身處在霸凌之中？
當故事發展到後半段，結構有所轉變。即使在兩、三章內，情節的縝密程度有因此出現小小瑕疵，不過尾段對存活角色的背景填補，則再添內核層次。最後，「霸凌」進一步延伸到「無心的惡意」的階段，故事進而成為對人性的思考及諷刺。
September 25, 2026
I don't have much to say about this rote cliche repetitive and flat story. The prose is completely flat which is often the case with Japanese translations. Japanese translators really need to add a literary flair to their translations when switching to English and should know better than to just do direct translation, the absolute bare minimum. Each chapter focuses on the next student to die and gives a couple paragraphs of background that I suppose is supposed to make us feel something for each of them. I didn't care about any of these characters and a snippet of background just isn't enough. There's just too many named characters (at least 30) and I couldn't bother keeping their names straight because it just doesn't matter. Even the ones we're supposed to root for are just as guilty and annoying as anyone else so trying to make a distinction between them didn't work for me. The plot is filled with cliches and there's nothing new here. 100% predictable. Apathy is a form of bullying is the point but it's crammed down your throat in such a shallow and repetitive way I just simply can't make myself care about any of this. Don't read this unless you're 13 years old. I think this should have just stayed in Japanese where this might be more culturally relevant. This is such a blatant rehashing of the same story told 100 times before that I don't know how she didn't get sued for plagiarism.
September 20, 2026
This book is marketed as squid game meets Mean Girls, and it makes sense!
You’re really thrown straight into it, and I liked the description of the social hierarchy. However, I didn’t feel we knew enough about the girls to understand their motivations, be shocked by their actions or mourn their deaths. Instead we were just presented with vignettes about each girl, showing how fragile (or not) their friendships were.
Overall this wasn’t bad, but felt like an extremely thinly veiled commentary on bullying and the “fakeness” of teenage (female) friendships rather than really contributing to anything approaching emotional impact or shock.
You’re really thrown straight into it, and I liked the description of the social hierarchy. However, I didn’t feel we knew enough about the girls to understand their motivations, be shocked by their actions or mourn their deaths. Instead we were just presented with vignettes about each girl, showing how fragile (or not) their friendships were.
Overall this wasn’t bad, but felt like an extremely thinly veiled commentary on bullying and the “fakeness” of teenage (female) friendships rather than really contributing to anything approaching emotional impact or shock.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
On paper, it was made for me, but i think i only really enjoyed it promptly because of that, otherwise i have to admit it got repetitive pretty quickly, and i didn't completely enjoy the end but otherwise, a fun and short ride.
Also this is my annual propaganda message to tell everyone to read Battle Royale k thanks.
Also this is my annual propaganda message to tell everyone to read Battle Royale k thanks.
Review of advance copy
Fun time, trochę nastoletniej dramy, ale liczyłam na więcej odkrywania tajemnic i niuansów dziewczyńskich przyjaźni? Książka taka pisana typowo pod ekranizację, ale dwa wieczory spędziłam przyklejona do niej
September 8, 2026
a rip-roaring ride - if battle royale was set in an all-girls school with a hint of squid game + escape room. wish it was a tad more literary but it delivered on the concept + the characters were immaculately drawn out given its small extent.
June 18, 2026
Libro partito bene per poi diventare una ciofega.secondo la scrittrice il modo migliori per risolvere il “bullismo invisibile “è fare una strage di studenti.
September 3, 2026
Deliciously dark. And clever. Loved it!
September 4, 2026
This was overbearingly about bullying the same way YuGiOh is about friendship. Really fast and addictive to read, but the message was beating me over the head with a mallet on every single page
September 18, 2026
Actual trash.
September 27, 2026
it's a bit repetitive, but worth it to stay for the mini plot twist. i didn't catch it because there was a lot going on, but it made me go "oh, yeah, right, it said THAT in the start"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews