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Expected 3 Mar 26
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Who needs him? I’m perfectly fine on my own!

Get ready for a brand-new rom-com, perfect for Bridgerton fans and anyone who’s tired of playing second fiddle!

Young noblewoman Nicole has had her heart broken more times than she can count by her fiancé, Keios. Day after day, he overlooks her in favor of Princess Caroline, beloved queen bee of their elite academy and Keios’s childhood friend. After one too many slights, Nicole makes a bold decision: If he can do as he pleases, why shouldn’t I? Embracing her newfound independence, she begins to shine in ways that even the clueless Keios can’t ignore…

162 pages, Paperback

First published July 26, 2024

19 people want to read

About the author

Jun Hareta

5 books

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5 stars
37 (46%)
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33 (41%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
Profile Image for Logan.
239 reviews
February 11, 2026
This was so cute, so ridiculous, and so funny! Nicole can be oblivious in the best way, and watching Keios squirm as he experiences the consequences of his inadvertent actions was glorious lol. The supporting cast was also a good time (Lady Lobelia and Keios’ friends in particular).

I’m a little conflicted in terms of the pacing, as I wish some of the telling would’ve been shown instead, but that’s easy enough to look past with such a bubbly tale.

The art was beautiful, expressive, and very much gave me storybook meets high tea vibes.

I mainly read fantasy, horror, and BL, so this was a bit outside of my comfort zone, but it was such a fun and charming time. Will definitely be looking forward to volume 2!

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the ARC!
Profile Image for Amy.
905 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 4, 2026
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Oh my goodness this manga was so cute, positive, funny and sweet! (And is based on an original novel, if I'm not mistaken, so I'll be immediately going to read if so).

The story of Lady Nicole finding her independence after getting fed up of her fiancé, Keios, choosing to speak and spend time with Princess Catherine over her was so inspirational and fun.

I am not usually a fan of miscommunication, but in this case it worked fantastically, and we get to see both Nicole and Keios' reasons for the way they think and act, and thankfully it makes sense. On top of that, I'm glad Keios isn't actually the ignorant man he seems to be at first, I'm really looking forward to seeing how he redeems himself and earns Nicole's affections once more.

Nicole was such a relatable and feminine heroine, I really loved how she was the girly one who Keios was awkward with, and the Princess was actually the boyish one- it's a unusual twist in manga!

The art was beautiful, and the academy setting was so lush. I really loved this manga, this volume was such a solid start to the series and I cannot wait to read more in the future!
Profile Image for Astrophel R.
282 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an arc. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Genre: Romance
Are There Gay People in this?*: ❌

You guys I'm obsessed. Nicole is such a queen and I love how unbothered she is. I really hope that this series doesn't end up doing that trope where the very independent woman ends up needing to be rescued by a man, because adore how much she enjoys her solitude. I found the love interest to be so insufferable and stupid and I was delighted to find that every single character in this manga agrees with me. He is a loser and I want to see him grovel and beg for her forgiveness tbh.

Also, the art is lovely!

* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or supporting characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
Profile Image for Cee.
3,279 reviews165 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 3, 2026
Wow, this poor girl. I'm looking forward to him groveling and apologizing for the neglect and misunderstandings.

The artwork is cute. The story is going well and I think it is fun how the whole school is kind of getting involved in their own way. And the girls going to bully her realizing they can't make her feel worse than her fiance does, so now they try to protect her??? Absolutely golden.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Profile Image for Mehsi.
15.3k reviews457 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 10, 2026
I received this manga from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

All in all, I love how my expectations are just flipped around. How for quite a bit you think it is going X but then you learn about everything else and now you want it to go Y. LOVE it. I need more and I cannot wait to see this series continue. HIGHLY recommended!

Review to come closer to the release day!
Profile Image for selly rose.
92 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2026
thank you netgalley for sending me this!

i usually don’t care much for miscommunication but ngl it was pretty funny here lmaooo nicole deserves so much better but i liked her little protection squad. keios is so dumb he needs to do A LOT more groveling though.
Profile Image for BookForAHeart.
317 reviews25 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 11, 2026
💖 Perfectly Fine On My Own is exactly the kind of villainess-lite redemption energy I needed this week. 🌷✨ It’s a heartwarming and empowering story about realizing your true worth, finding your inner sparkle, and finally—FINALLY—letting go of a fiancé who doesn't see the diamond right in front of him. 💎👑 We follow the lovely Nicole, a young noblewoman who has spent far too long being Keios's second choice while he dotes on the academy's queen bee, Princess Caroline. After one heartbreak too many, Nicole makes the boldest decision of her life: she’s done waiting for crumbs of affection. Watching her embrace her independence and flourish into a confident, radiant woman is pure magic! Seeing her put herself first is so satisfying and honestly, such a mood. 🌈

Can we talk about the ART for a second?! 💖 Every single panel is absolutely breathtaking, the dresses are so intricate, the academy backgrounds are dreamy and atmospheric, and the way Nicole’s eyes sparkle when she’s being her best self is just chef’s kiss. 👗✨ It’s a total feast for the eyes and easily some of the best art I've seen in a shoujo manga recently! And the humor? I was literally giggling into my tea! Nicole’s sassy internal monologues and her reactions to Keios’s sudden (and very late!) confusion are pure comedy gold. Watching the clueless fiancé trip over himself and suddenly realize what he lost now that Nicole isn't following him around like a puppy is incredibly satisfying to witness.

If you love stories with a strong, feminine lead, gorgeous high-society aesthetics, and a healthy dose of you’ll miss me when I’m gone satisfaction, this is absolutely for you! 🎀 It’s sweet, funny, and so, so beautiful to look at. 🧸🌷 It really captures that feeling of strawberry macarons, fresh flowers, and the warm glow of self-love. 🍓🌸✨ Whether you're here for the romance or the personal growth, Nicole's journey is a must-read for any bookworm looking for something light and charming. 📖💕✨
Profile Image for Jessica.
47 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2026
This was so cute, and I think (as it's being pitched) it is such a PERFECT read for fans of Bridgerton. Nicole is a fun protagonist, and I love that she doesn't let the fact that her fiancé is seemingly uninterested in her keep her down. Watching her embrace her own interest and joys as she accepts that romance may not be in the cards was so satisfying, and I loved the friendships she formed both during her wallflower era and her new, empowered era. Keios, on the other hand, is immensely frustrating, but still lovable. He is loyal to a fault, dedicated to his studies, and ultimately just a big dummy lol.

I loved so much about this title, but my favorite parts have to be the stunning art style and the wicked sense of humor. The artist created some absolutely dreamy panels and really did a phenomenal job of creating some beautiful sets, costumes, and characters. As a period piece fan, costumes are such a huge part of my enjoyment, and I was excited every time I saw a new costume. Each character design was also so unique, and they were all just so pretty. The humor, though, was definitely the best part of the read. I found myself grinning and laughing out loud at the chaotic misunderstandings and the twists as they unfolded. I can't get into too much detail without spoiling, but you'll definitely come out of this title feeling a lot lighter from the hijinks.

This was one of my favorite first volumes I've read in a while, and I would 1000% recommend this to fans of romance manga, period pieces, and wallflower stories. 5/5 stars.

Thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Chandra.
188 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 17, 2026
This story follows Lady Nicole as she starts to find her independence after reaching her breaking point. She is tired of her fiancé, Keios, constantly prioritizing Princess Catherine over her, whether that means spending time with her or speaking to her in ways that clearly cross boundaries. The whole situation is messy, frustrating, and honestly way too realistic. Honestly, I loved Nicole in this and found her so relatable. Watching Keios squirm while he finally experiences the consequences of his own actions was unbelievably satisfying.

The miscommunication trope actually worked really well here because it felt believable. It was less about pointless drama and more about watching two people fumble their emotions while Nicole slowly realizes she deserves better. One of the biggest takeaways from this volume is that you cannot assume people understand what you feel if you never say it out loud. Communication matters, even when it is uncomfortable.

I also really loved watching Nicole step away from what society expects of her and start figuring out who she actually is and what she likes. There is something so satisfying about seeing a woman stop shrinking herself to fit into someone else’s world.

The story also does a great job showing how exhausting high society can be, and how quickly gossip spreads and twists the truth. It made the whole world feel realistic and frustrating in the best way. Plus, the art is lovely and really adds to the emotion in the scenes.

Overall, this was a super fun and satisfying start, and I am definitely interested in continuing.
378 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 4, 2026
This is … the most absurd and ridiculous good time I’ve had in several months. I found myself grinning at almost every page. It isn’t subtle, it isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel; this manga just wants to tell a comedic story about two people falling in love and it does it so very well.

Emilio is clueless. Every harm he does it through neglect and entitlement — knowing Nicole is already his, so he doesn’t have to woo her, knowing he loves her do he doesn’t have to tell her — and doing his best to do his duty as solemnly and maturely as he can for an oblivious high school student. Nicole, having had no sign from Emilio that he even knows her name, has decided to enjoy her life rather than waiting for Emilio to notice, let alone care, and she blossoms like a sunflower.

Her unorthodox approach earns her friends, admirers, and respect. It also earns Emilio scorn and contempt (as he deserves) but make no mistake. This is a romance, and it’s headed towards a happy ending. Once the story has had it’s fun batting Emilio around and making him grovel.

Alas, this is only the first volume and ends on a cliffhanger, so I’m going to have to go out and buy the rest of the series to see how it ends. Honestly, this is just such a silly, sweet, harmless book and I highly recommend it. The art is clean and easy to read, the pace is fast and light, and it’s a lot of fun.

Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me read the ARC!
Profile Image for Liz.
67 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 13, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for an eARC of Perfectly Fine on My Own, So My Fiancé Can Twist in the Wind volume 1.

I’m not going to lie I was fully expecting this to be stereotypical and bland. Thankfully I was completely wrong. This volume had me laughing so hard and I’m so excited to read the next volumes. I even preordered all the volumes I could find online.

Nicole is hilarious and so unbothered. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed her level of unbothered and I love it. Due to countless misunderstandings, she thinks her fiancé is in love with someone else. Instead of getting jealous and going ballistic, she decides she doesn’t care and lives her life how she wants. She realizes she’s perfectly happy on her own and gracefully prances off into the sunset all on her own leaving her betrothed in the dust.

The first few pages follow the stereotype of main-character’s-fiancé-is-in-love-with-someone-else. Except the twist is that Keios, the male lead, is completely obtuse. He spends all of his time with the princess because she’s his childhood best friend and he has no idea how to interact with Nicole. I was expecting Keios to be a jerk who wanted to break off his engagement but in reality, he’s extremely dense and doesn’t understand romance at all.

I hope this series goes on long enough to develop a full story, because I’m so excited to see the romance and relationship progress between Nicole and Keios.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Cindy ✩☽♔.
1,423 reviews986 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 19, 2026
Perfectly Fine on My Own, So My Fiancé Can Twist in the Wind has a very familiar premise. A young noblewoman is engaged to a higher-ranking noble from a very young age. Like we've seen before, the male lead neglects his fiancé to the point where she ultimately decides to abandon all hope of affection between them.

Blessedly, there is no abuse, nor physical or emotional cheating. Our female lead, Nicole, believes her fiancé is in love with the kingdom's princess. We come to learn that is not the case. Keios, our male lead, is not willfully hurtful. He is quite simply painfully ignorant.

That being said, I took pleasure in seeing Nicole remove herself from the narrative of the neglected fiancé playing second fiddle to the princess. Free of expectations, she gains independence. Nicole learns to enjoy her own company and finds peace in solitude. Something I think most people can benefit from.

Keios, like most men, realizes his mistake far too late. The volume ends with him scrambling in hopes of salvaging a potential relationship with Nicole. For while she is now content to allow their union to be little more than a marriage of convenience, he still hopes for more. I can only assume the groveling arc will soon commence in full, and I, for one, can't wait to see the male lead desperate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics | Vertical Comics for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Shiritaku.
603 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
February 8, 2026
Hahaha, wie witzig war das denn bitte!? 😂 Nicole und ihr Verlobter Kaios reden komplett aneinander vorbei, weswegen sie sich auch immer wieder missverstehen - bzw eigentlich versteht nur Nicole vieles falsch, aber Kaios bemerkt das alles einfach gar nicht. Bis zu dem Zeitpunkt, an dem sich alles ändert und Nicole beschließt, ihn nicht weiter zu belästigen und einfach alles allein zu machen. Denn bisher hat er weniger Interesse an ihr gezeigt und immer nur von Prinzessin Caroline gesprochen (mit der er aufgewachsen ist und sie eher wie ein Bruder für ihn ist). So ergeben sich super witzige Momente, in denen nicht nur Nicole, sondern auch einige andere Dinge missverstehen und so schaukelt es sich immer weiter hinauf. Kaios kann einem da schon ziemlich leid tun, haha. An sich ist der Plot jetzt nichts groß weltbewegendes, aber dennoch bringt das alles eine gewisse Leichtigkeit und Charme mit sich, dass es super viel Spaß macht, das Ganze zu verfolgen. Die Charaktere bekommen dadurch auch ziemlich schnell eine gewisse Tiefe. Das Pacing passt gut und die Charakterdesigns sind auch sehr schön gestaltet. Man kann die verschiedenen Personen gut auseinanderhalten und auch sonst ist der Zeichenstil sehr hübsch mit vielen Details.
Bin jedenfalls gespannt, was da noch so kommt und würde mich auch über einen deutschen Release sehr freuen 😊
Profile Image for Bonita. E.
183 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 12, 2026
I LOVE THIS ONE SOOO MUCHHHHH!

It's about a girl named Nicole, who was engaged to a young lord at a young age. For years, he kept ignoring her and instead hung out with his childhood friend, a princess. Her last straw was when he gave her a leftover flower and the last drop of her love had vanished that day, and she didn't give a single f*ck about him anymore.

The story is about how she finally becomes free and minds her own business, no longer needing to accommodate and beg for his attention. and of him, a man who never really understood a woman all his life, trying to mend their relationship, but it seems futile as she is adamant about her feelings and dont want anything to do with him anymore but just marriage out of convenience.

I really do love Nicole and can perfectly understand her choices, I wish that she stay that way and enjoy her singledom without the need of being humiliated by a guy or feeling lonely in a relationship. She can marry him but she has no expectation on loving and loved by him. Even if she forgive him in the end (I wish she didn't) I hope he changed a lot and atone to her wrongdoings a lot. Can't wait for the second volume!

Thanks Kodansha for the ARC! Please give us more great shoujo manga like this hahaha
Profile Image for Lanie Brown.
317 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 4, 2026
Nicole's fiancé Keios clearly only has eyes for Princess Caroline and she's had it with him. After one more time of getting Caroline's leftovers Nicole decides that she will be perfectly fine on her own!

I'm already calling this as my must read manga series of 2026, I adored this! Far too often do we have these types of really poor communication turn into one of both of the characters that make up the couple getting into another relationship, but Arase has opted to take a completely different route and have Nicole be independent in a society where there is clearly not done and I am here for it! I also am perfectly content with this being two teenagers who simply can't communicate because they are teenagers, what teenagers can? The fact that the entire student body gets involved because kids are nothing but rumor mongers is just a hilarious side note! The art is absolutely gorgeous by the way and I love that we get a bonus story with little Nicole and Keios at the end because they are both too cute! I cannot wait for volume two and I've already preordered this!

As always thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eArc!
Profile Image for Karolina.
28 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 11, 2026
It is a cute funny story about Nicole who after finally giving up on receiving any kind of attention from her fiancé, Lord Keios, decides to live her life on her own.

This story was hilarious. Nicole is very smart and confident. When she realizes that her fiancée might never take interest in her, she decides to live her life as she wants. After some time she sees that she prefers to be alone. Keios spent his childhood near princess Caroline who is more like a boy than a lady. Because of this he doesn't know how to act when he is with Nicole, which leads to many misunderstandings. He is oblivious to her feelings and to what is happening in their relationship.

I loved that people in the academy took care of and supported Nicole, especially Lobelia. The misunderstandings and rumors were hilarious. The art was very cute and charming.

If you like a cute love story with plenty of misunderstandings that will make you laugh out loud, you should definitely read this manga. I am looking forward to the next installment. I am really curious what Keios will do to show Nicole that he cares.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for literarilia.
38 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2026
It's easy to guess where the story's going to go, but it's unexpectedly funny and charming and heart-fluttering (sometimes) that it makes me expectant for the volumes.

The guy's probably gonna grovel, but I'd love to see how he does it. I also hope we dive deeper into Nicole's emotions - the coldness she received from her arranged marriage partner that led to her being independent and loving time spent alone; the surprise and shock, maybe, when her partner actually shows her how he feels towards her. It could touch my heartstrings with the perfect amount of character development, angst, romance, yearning and exploration of feelings and emotions, but based on how fast we dived into the story and how the backstory was executed, my hopes for it is 50/50 but it's a story I'm willing to take a chance on.

I do hope it's not teaching girls that a guy being disinterested in you and talking about other girls constantly equals to them being avoidant or awkward about how they actually feel about you though. Just, no.



Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Tiffany Seward.
263 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
February 13, 2026
Manga | Arrange Marriage | Misunderstandings

Thank you to Kodansha Comics for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

•Plot: Perfectly Fine on My Own, So My Fiancé Can Twist in the Wind 1 manga is full of misunderstandings for an arranged marriage.
•What I liked: The MC doesn’t wait around for some guy(her fiancé) to give her happiness; she seeks it on her own. She likes to read and do her own thing.
•What didn’t work for me: The school is basically set up for nobles & they’re expected to be married after graduation.
•Themes / Ideas: Independence. Going against the norm. Plenty of misunderstandings.
•Who I’d recommend it to: This manga is about an arranged marriage full of misunderstandings, so if you’re curious about either of those things, you’ll probably like it.

Overall/Thoughts: A princess reacts to her fiancé a Lord who appears to be in love with another princess and seems distant and cold to her. There are plenty of misunderstandings between her and her fiancé, as well as with the other wealthy students who attend her school. People are led by rumors, which leads to frustration and comical scenes.
Profile Image for Alexa Martinez.
117 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 15, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley and Kodansha, for the opportunity to read this wonderful manga early!

This was such a cute and chaotic little ride, and I actually want the second volume immediately!

The story leans heavily into misunderstandings, dramatic internal monologues, unhinged fiancé energy, and soft romcom sweetness hiding underneath all the chaos

What I really enjoyed while reading was that the humor actually landed. It wasn’t just quirky for the sake of being quirky. It felt intentionally over-the-top in that very manga romcom way.

The dynamic between the engaged couple was SO unserious but still oddly endearing. It never takes itself too seriously, and that’s part of its charm. It’s the kind of story where one person says something completely normal while the other spirals into a full-blown emotional Shakespearean tragedy, and somehow… it becomes flirting???

Is it life-changing? No.
Was I entertained the entire time? Absolutely.

It’s a light, funny, slightly dramatic romance that feels like comfort food. Perfect for when you want something quick, cute, and mildly chaotic.
Profile Image for Jess.
44 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 15, 2026
Thank you netgalley for an eARC of this in exchange for an honest review

Perfectly Fine on My Own So My Fiancé Can Twist in the Wind is the start of a vaguely regency, mostly just unspecified olden times story about a woman who is engaged to a man with the emotional intelligence of a sack of potatoes. The start of it could have easily gone a variety of ways as it is a familiar setup for those who read a lot of romance manga, but this series chose the funniest possible option of really leaning into the comedy of every single character misunderstanding what’s going on and all essentially going down their own story path.

The art, while very standard for the genre, is consistent and never seems to default to traced over 3D models or heavy reuse of panels, which are both trends that II’ve been seeing more and more often.

One of the favorite additions is at the end of it where we got an excerpt of the original light novel, and then immediately followed it with the manga adaptation. It really highlighted how the adaptation was elevating the story and making the comedy beats that much more impactful.

I absolutely intend to continue with this series as it’s released.
Profile Image for silvia.
447 reviews5 followers
February 4, 2026
now this is miscommunication done well

--

perfectly fine on my own, so my fiancé can twist in the wind is a historical romcom manga following young noblewoman Nicole as she is engaged to Keios, the son of a marquess. Keios constantly overlooks Nicole in favour of Princess Caroline, his childhood best friend, and after one too many heartbreaks, Nicole decides to choose herself and let him do as he pleases. as she embraces her independence, she appears happier and shines in a way that even Keios can't ignore...

this was such a cute read!! i just loved watching Nicole's happiness at her independence and how it kind of opened up a whole new world for her!! i also loved getting Keios side of it and understanding what is actually going on. he's such a fool and i love it. i also love his group of friends and they've got such great dynamics!!
the side characters were so fun, too, ESPECIALLY lobelia😂

i usually hate miscommunication but it was done so well in this and i cannot wait to see where it goes!!

thank you so much to kodansha comics and netgalley for the earc♡
Profile Image for Simply Stevie Nicole.
175 reviews11 followers
February 19, 2026
I just finished an ARC of Perfectly Fine on My Own by Jun Hareta and I LOVED it. It was so cute, dramatic, and honestly so satisfying.

This newly translated YA romance manga is full of academy politics, emotional tension, and messy relationship dynamics. If you love the social hierarchy and scandal vibes of Bridgerton but want it in manga form, this will absolutely be your thing.

Nicole, a young noblewoman, has spent far too long being overlooked by her fiancé, Keios, who constantly prioritizes Princess Caroline -the academy’s golden girl and his childhood friend. After enduring one humiliation too many, Nicole decides she’s done quietly accepting it.

And that’s where it gets good.

Watching Nicole choose herself, shift the power dynamic, and start thriving independently is the best part of the story.

If you love:
✨ academy drama
✨ toxic fiancé energy
✨ social rivalry
✨ strong FMC reclaiming her power
✨ maybe a little misunderstanding?

You’ll eat this up.

I cannot wait for the next volume.
Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nora Nedkova.
23 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 10, 2026
Oh I devoured this in one sitting!!! I have read a lot of manga throughout my life and hardly ever get surprised by where plots go but this one surprised me several times! Nicole is such a breath of fresh air, reading through her eyes made me feel so light because she was so optimistic, kind and understanding. I was so relieved about who Princess Caroline turned out to be - I was dreading a "bitchy" character but she was actually hilarious! Keios has a long journey before he's able to fix the mess he's created but he's got the entire student council to help him out... how hard will it be?! Really looking forward to the next volume!

The art is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!! I tried my hardest to appreciate each page, keeping in mind how much time must have been spent on each panel. I would love to read more both by the author and the artist!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kodansha comics for trusting me with an advanced copy!
Profile Image for Brittney Gonzalez.
8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 11, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGallery for letting me have an ARC of this beautiful manga.

I saw the cover art and KNEW I needed to read this! I have always been a huge fan of regency/royal and romance mangas, and this one did not disappoint. The story was extremely well done, the characters are likeable (and sometimes not so likeable!), and we get to see character growth.
I will avoid all spoilers here, because I think you should read this yourself to find out. But if you like the misunderstanding trope, you will find this one VERY well done. I was rooting for both sides and cannot wait for the second book. I badly want to see the main characters fall in love.

The art was flawless. It was beautiful and helped tell the story. There was not too much blocky text, either. The story was fast paced and enjoyable.
I did not find a single bad thing or item that could be improved with this book. It truly was a five star read for me!
Profile Image for Aura Silvershade.
13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 12, 2026
This story is a rollercoaster of emotions, and I loved every second of it. Nicole is a strong, independent heroine, but watching her relationship crumble under layers of misunderstandings had me both laughing and crying. Her Fiancé, Keios, is honestly a likeable idiot. He's blind to his own feelings, oblivious to Nicole's, and somehow can't explain himself even when it matters most.

The story does a brilliant job balancing humor and the heartbreak you feel for Nicole. Miscommunications drag on, and rumors spread, all because Nicole decides to just do her own thing, because why not, and its hilarious, relatable, and a little sad. Meanwhile Keios finally realizes the gravity of the situation, but his timing is all wrong (classic).

I'm giving this five stars without hesitation. I need the rest of the story yesterday! If you love romance tangled up in misunderstandings and miscommunications, and a slow burn realization of feelings. this ones for you!
Profile Image for devynreads.
698 reviews25 followers
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
February 13, 2026
I LOVED THIS STORY!!! Much more than I expected.

Initially, after reading the synopsis, I was worried that the MMC was legitimately in love with another woman and only started caring about the FMC when she stopped paying any attention to him. This is a trope I've come across in both novels and other manga, and I absolutely despise it because it tells me that the MMC doesn't actually care for the FMC; only when she turns her attention elsewhere does he feel compelled to action.

So obviously I was BEYOND relieved to read that Nicole's view of Keios and Caroline's relationship was simply a misunderstanding, and that he truly does love Nicole. He's just been absolutely terrible at expressing it through words or actions or gifts or....well, literally anything. He's been extremely neglectful, and I'm so glad Nicole's motivated by a sense of freedom rather than jealousy.

I will for sure be purchasing future volumes of this manga!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for E (manga_runner).
179 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 18, 2026
This is one of the series I've had the opportunity to read recently and all I can say is I ABSOLUTELY LOVED it! Yesterday I even spent most of the car ride gushing about it 😆

After being neglected by her fiance, Nicole constantly had to put up with her fiance only really talking about the princess and basically putting her first. Well this time around, Nicole is embracing doing everything by herself.
There is miscommunication but given how her fiance acted it was justified honestly. I loved the fact she is enjoying doing things by herself. Plus we get the point of view from other characters as well, which adds more to the series and it's funny seeing the princess and Keios come to the realization of what is happening. I could go on about this series, but I would hate to spoil it for you guys.

Perfectly Fine on My Own, So My Fiance Can Twist in the Wind
-@netgalley and @kodanshamanga ARC
-Romcom, shojo
Profile Image for Katharine.
595 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 20, 2026
I've been oh so mixed on the manga. I'm not the biggest fan of the comedic misunderstandings trope, and the entire premise of the series is a pile of misunderstandings. I did like that the female lead doesn't pine over a fiancé who seemingly doesn't love her. She just goes "oh well" and decides to enjoy life by herself. But her fiancé is shown to be someone who is very dense when it comes to love, and supposedly actually cares for her. He acts fairly coldly towards her and talks a bunch about Princess Caroline. They explain *why* he talks so much about Princess Caroline, but it's such a flimsy excuse, I disliked it. The art is great, I did enjoy that as well as the character designs. The story just isn't my cup of tea, but it's fairly cute. If misunderstandings of comeical nature are your thing, you would enjoy this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Nicole Reads Romance.
562 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 6, 2026
This was a fun start to a series, and I'm invested!

I was intrigued by the title, then saw that the FMCs name is Nicole which basically made this required reading for me - I'm glad I picked it up! It's a cute story about how dumb boys can be, and that you don't know what you have until it's gone, set at an academy for the children of nobles in a fictional world. Keios's reason for not spending more time with Nicole will have your eyes rolling, in a how can he be so silly way. But I was cheering Nicole on for realising she can indeed do things on her own, even if that is not the socially acceptable norm. I'm looking forward to her standing her ground a bit and seeing Keios grovel and prove himself in future volumes!

Thank you to Kodansha Comics for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Amanda.
132 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 12, 2026
This is graphic novel is absolutely adorable and the aesthetics are fantastic. It is a very fluid story following Nicole who is tired of being second best in her fiancé's eyes to his childhood best friend - so she decides to live her best life. The hijinks that ensue once Nicole begins to experience life are adorable especially once Keios learns about it. I enjoyed Keios' student council friends trying to help him actually court Nicole for once knowing just how besotted he is and awkward around her. Princess Caroline is also a super interesting character being very tomboyish and wanting Keios to be with Nicole - I am excited to learn more about her and hopefully watch a friendship develop with Nicole as well.

But also Keios needs to grovel and display some major yearning for Nicole because girl is happy to ignore him for now.

4.75/5
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