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President of the Anime Club
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Expected 1 Sep 26This manga-style YA graphic novel tells a charming tale of friends, crushes, and rivalries within a high school anime club. Perfect for fans of The Manga and The new Girl!
It’s the first day of high school, and Cherie is unsure how to find her place. But then she meets Naomi, a fellow freshman and fan of Orange High School Bakery Club—Cherie’s favorite anime. Naomi’s warmth and confidence ignite confusing feelings in Cherie. Their duo becomes a trio when they befriend Miro, a boy in their class with an interest in learning about anime.
Enter a charismatic upperclassman and president of the school’s anime club. When she invites the three friends to join, it creates tension between them. As Cherie, Naomi, and Miro deal with complicated feelings, can their special bond survive? And will their love of anime endure?
It’s the first day of high school, and Cherie is unsure how to find her place. But then she meets Naomi, a fellow freshman and fan of Orange High School Bakery Club—Cherie’s favorite anime. Naomi’s warmth and confidence ignite confusing feelings in Cherie. Their duo becomes a trio when they befriend Miro, a boy in their class with an interest in learning about anime.
Enter a charismatic upperclassman and president of the school’s anime club. When she invites the three friends to join, it creates tension between them. As Cherie, Naomi, and Miro deal with complicated feelings, can their special bond survive? And will their love of anime endure?
272 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 1, 2026
3 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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February 17, 2026This was a cute graphic novel, but I definitely wish it was longer to better flesh out the main cast. I felt like it was rushed . Naomi's feeling towards Jenny felt sudden and kind of a kid crush on someone so I didn't mind it as much, but it definitely felt like the author tried to do too much in one short comic. So before I talk about that, I want to talk about the pros.
The artwork is great. It makes you feel like you are reading a manga and it is so colorful. I liked the beginning of the story. Cherie, Naomi, and Miro act like what I felt in my freshmen year of high school. Seeing them become friends over anime was a lot of fun to watch as well.
The artwork is great. It makes you feel like you are reading a manga and it is so colorful. I liked the beginning of the story. Cherie, Naomi, and Miro act like what I felt in my freshmen year of high school. Seeing them become friends over anime was a lot of fun to watch as well.
February 14, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for this book! As a Florida-based middle school librarian, it is always a challenge to find books students would want to read that are also going to get approved for placement in our libraries. This book, I believe, will be one that not only the students will want to read a whole lot and pass around to each other for checkout, but one I see no problem in getting approved. The content is right up the alley of most of the middle school students I see (and my own middle school aged child).
The story is there from the very beginning. While I'm no longer in middle school, I could relate to each character that we meet from the very start. If you are, at all, the person who was too shy to be friends and then felt crushes for a friend, this book is for you. And, if you're into anime or manga at all, you will relate to these kids and their interests, too.
I plan to put this on an early purchase list for next school year. Once this book is officially released, multiple copies will find a home in my media center.
The story is there from the very beginning. While I'm no longer in middle school, I could relate to each character that we meet from the very start. If you are, at all, the person who was too shy to be friends and then felt crushes for a friend, this book is for you. And, if you're into anime or manga at all, you will relate to these kids and their interests, too.
I plan to put this on an early purchase list for next school year. Once this book is officially released, multiple copies will find a home in my media center.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As the advisor of our school's Anime Club (now Japanese Culture Club) for almost twenty years now, I couldn't adore this graphic novel more. There were so many moments that I paused and remembered past presidents of the club and past students and moments that are forever ingrained in my mind because I loved my Anime Club kids.
Fukuda brings out the dynamics and relationships of high school with Cherie, Naomi, and Miro. And then when they meet Jenny, the president of Anime Club and Cheri and Miro decide to attend but Naomi is acting sketching, the emotions of teenagedom are on full display as feelings and thoughts are confessed and held in with glimpses into all of their home lives and school lives.
What is most fun is Jenny leading the club and what they do in club. It shows that all parts of school and hobbies are part of growing up and learning how to be yourself. Positive and fun with scenes of living in the city too and having an anime obsession and finding your people.
Fukuda brings out the dynamics and relationships of high school with Cherie, Naomi, and Miro. And then when they meet Jenny, the president of Anime Club and Cheri and Miro decide to attend but Naomi is acting sketching, the emotions of teenagedom are on full display as feelings and thoughts are confessed and held in with glimpses into all of their home lives and school lives.
What is most fun is Jenny leading the club and what they do in club. It shows that all parts of school and hobbies are part of growing up and learning how to be yourself. Positive and fun with scenes of living in the city too and having an anime obsession and finding your people.
February 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was such a cute little graphic novel. I loved the art and the message. As someone who loved anime as a kid, I could very much relate to Cherie. It felt embarrassing to be into it and it felt nerdy to be excited to talk to someone about it. I’m glad they all had anime club. I was the kid who sat alone for a while so I really get it. But why were they gonna call her mom if she had lunch alone? Why can’t you just be by yourself? That part seemed very strange but maybe schools are just different. There is also a lot of queer crushing here and it felt like I was really looking into the life of a teen girl who just wants to belong and have friends. The cuteness was just great. Also I’m really jealous they had such a cool anime store so close to them. But it also seemed like they lived in a bigger city than me.
This was such a cute little graphic novel. I loved the art and the message. As someone who loved anime as a kid, I could very much relate to Cherie. It felt embarrassing to be into it and it felt nerdy to be excited to talk to someone about it. I’m glad they all had anime club. I was the kid who sat alone for a while so I really get it. But why were they gonna call her mom if she had lunch alone? Why can’t you just be by yourself? That part seemed very strange but maybe schools are just different. There is also a lot of queer crushing here and it felt like I was really looking into the life of a teen girl who just wants to belong and have friends. The cuteness was just great. Also I’m really jealous they had such a cool anime store so close to them. But it also seemed like they lived in a bigger city than me.
February 6, 2026
I would like to thank Stephanie Evangelista Fukudo, First Second, and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to preview President of Anime Club in exchange for my sincere review.
In my school library, students are always asking for a graphic novel just like this. It was a warm story about inclusivity, crushes, friendship, and the beauty of discovering one’s true self! Visually, the panels are beautiful and convey the author’s message accurately.
Cherie, Naomi, and Miro are the perfect trio. Bonding over anime, I found that most middle school and high school students could relate to the events of the story and the emotions of the main characters!
I love this story, but was left wanting more in the end. I wanted to know what happened to the characters as they finished up their freshmen year together.
In my school library, students are always asking for a graphic novel just like this. It was a warm story about inclusivity, crushes, friendship, and the beauty of discovering one’s true self! Visually, the panels are beautiful and convey the author’s message accurately.
Cherie, Naomi, and Miro are the perfect trio. Bonding over anime, I found that most middle school and high school students could relate to the events of the story and the emotions of the main characters!
I love this story, but was left wanting more in the end. I wanted to know what happened to the characters as they finished up their freshmen year together.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
stop, drop, and put this book on your tbr!!
not only does this have such a fun story, but also cute illustrations that help tell it wonderfully. every character that walked onto the scene was so unique and eye catching, they owned their own panels (especially jenny. i mean come on, she IS the president of the anime club!!!). i love that there are books like this that encourage others to try something new. it was even informational for me and i’ve been watching anime for over ten years! i definitely want to continue to follow up on this series since it seems like there may be more relationships to develop and a dream to catch by the end of senior year ❤️
stop, drop, and put this book on your tbr!!
not only does this have such a fun story, but also cute illustrations that help tell it wonderfully. every character that walked onto the scene was so unique and eye catching, they owned their own panels (especially jenny. i mean come on, she IS the president of the anime club!!!). i love that there are books like this that encourage others to try something new. it was even informational for me and i’ve been watching anime for over ten years! i definitely want to continue to follow up on this series since it seems like there may be more relationships to develop and a dream to catch by the end of senior year ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
{Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!}
Very cute and so, so nostalgic. My friends and I had our own little anime club in middle school, so this is definitely bringing back all those memories. I'm actually surprised there wasn't a Vocaloid reference, haha. Art style is neat and very cute. The story itself I felt was a little rushed here and there but nothing upsettingly so. Just overall a fun, light read.
5/5. I recommend giving this one a look!
Very cute and so, so nostalgic. My friends and I had our own little anime club in middle school, so this is definitely bringing back all those memories. I'm actually surprised there wasn't a Vocaloid reference, haha. Art style is neat and very cute. The story itself I felt was a little rushed here and there but nothing upsettingly so. Just overall a fun, light read.
5/5. I recommend giving this one a look!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is such an adorable graphic novel. I enjoyed it so much. They presented the complicated life of platonic and romantic feeling development so well. These young teens figuring things out, watching some anime and eating snacks was well shown in this book.
thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to netgalley and publishers for giving me the arc! this was a super cute ya anime type graphic novel. the story was cute and i enjoyed where it went. i liked the explored romances in it and the feelings. the art style is stunning! it’s a perfect read for many audiences. i’m hoping for more books in the future. i recommend reading this when it comes out!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Great read!!! It a very sweet storyline. A club to find people with the same interests making friends and at the same time found love as well. The story was simple and cute. I enjoyed it.
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews