What do you think?
Rate this book
おくれまして青春 [Okuremashite Seishun] #1
Hitting Rewind With You 1
Wakaba Kayano is a 20-year-old college student who was too busy studying in high school to experience the quintessential personal milestones of her teenage years, like going on an afterschool date. In a moment of desperation, she goes out on Halloween in her old high school uniform in an effort to take back some of those heart-fluttering experiences she never had, and in doing encounters Fumito, a boy clad in the quintessential high school boy uniform. Whisked away on the date of her dreams, she panics when forced to reveal her true age-only to find out that Fumito is in college, too!
Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
April 15, 2026
(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review)
I have not been opening that Netgalley for long until I saw my friend Bibliothecat reading this passed through my feed and liking it! Of course, I had to open them and request the same, because I love meeee some shoujo!
This manga follows Wakaba, a 20 years old college student who basically missed out on her “high school youth” because she was too busy studying. In a moment of impulse (and desperation, honestly), she puts on her old uniform on Halloween and ends up going on a date with a guy, Fumito (who ought to be a high schooler) only to later find out he is in college too. From there, they keep going on these “uniform dates” to relive the experiences they never had.
There is something oddly charming about stories where people try to “redo” the youth they feel they missed, especially when it is messy, a little questionable, and self-aware enough to laugh at itself. However, I’ll be honest, the beginning did not sit right with me. The whole idea of her knowingly going out with someone she thought was a high school student made me pause. Even if it got cleared up later, I was already a bit iffy because the setup itself can come off as weird if you think too much about it.
Conversely, once the premise settles, the manga finds its rhythm. Wakaba is just naturally awkward and a bit unhinged in the most harmless way, while Fumito plays into it with that teasing, lowkey soft tsundere energy. And I think what makes them work is the fact that they are both equally inexperienced. She spent her whole life studying, he spent his playing basketball, so they are not chasing something they never had alone; they are figuring it out together. No weird gap, no one feeling “ahead,” just two losers (affectionate) navigating things together.
This manga is also light, a little cheesy, and occasionally too convenient, but it embraces that tone well. The appeal lies less in plot progression and more in the small, intimate moments. I am not sure if I am on my You and I Are Polar Opposites, Vol. 1 residue as this manga reminded me a bit of it—not in terms of plot, but in the feeling. That same kind of simple, character-driven dynamic where the appeal is just watching two very different personalities bounce off each other and grow closer. This one lean more into the “missed youth” angle, but the comfort and chemistry gave me a similar vibe.
Be that as it may, I do think the whole “high school redo” thing can get old fast if the author drags it too much. I get the whole missing your youth fiasco, but GWORL you are just 20 and not a grandma nearing her deathbed! You are not running out of time, and it would be more satisfying to see them grow into their current stage of life rather than stay stuck reenacting the past.
Nevertheless, I genuinely enjoyed the art style. It's clean, expressive, and leans into the softness of the story. It is one of those styles that makes everything feel light and easy to read.
All in all, despite my initial doubts, I ended up enjoying it more than expected. It is a sweet, nostalgic read with a slightly awkward edge in that “I wish I did more back then” kind of way. Though I hope there will be more growth and not uniform in the future, I am still curious to see how it develops in the next volume!
I have not been opening that Netgalley for long until I saw my friend Bibliothecat reading this passed through my feed and liking it! Of course, I had to open them and request the same, because I love meeee some shoujo!
This manga follows Wakaba, a 20 years old college student who basically missed out on her “high school youth” because she was too busy studying. In a moment of impulse (and desperation, honestly), she puts on her old uniform on Halloween and ends up going on a date with a guy, Fumito (who ought to be a high schooler) only to later find out he is in college too. From there, they keep going on these “uniform dates” to relive the experiences they never had.
There is something oddly charming about stories where people try to “redo” the youth they feel they missed, especially when it is messy, a little questionable, and self-aware enough to laugh at itself. However, I’ll be honest, the beginning did not sit right with me. The whole idea of her knowingly going out with someone she thought was a high school student made me pause. Even if it got cleared up later, I was already a bit iffy because the setup itself can come off as weird if you think too much about it.
Conversely, once the premise settles, the manga finds its rhythm. Wakaba is just naturally awkward and a bit unhinged in the most harmless way, while Fumito plays into it with that teasing, lowkey soft tsundere energy. And I think what makes them work is the fact that they are both equally inexperienced. She spent her whole life studying, he spent his playing basketball, so they are not chasing something they never had alone; they are figuring it out together. No weird gap, no one feeling “ahead,” just two losers (affectionate) navigating things together.
This manga is also light, a little cheesy, and occasionally too convenient, but it embraces that tone well. The appeal lies less in plot progression and more in the small, intimate moments. I am not sure if I am on my You and I Are Polar Opposites, Vol. 1 residue as this manga reminded me a bit of it—not in terms of plot, but in the feeling. That same kind of simple, character-driven dynamic where the appeal is just watching two very different personalities bounce off each other and grow closer. This one lean more into the “missed youth” angle, but the comfort and chemistry gave me a similar vibe.
Be that as it may, I do think the whole “high school redo” thing can get old fast if the author drags it too much. I get the whole missing your youth fiasco, but GWORL you are just 20 and not a grandma nearing her deathbed! You are not running out of time, and it would be more satisfying to see them grow into their current stage of life rather than stay stuck reenacting the past.
Nevertheless, I genuinely enjoyed the art style. It's clean, expressive, and leans into the softness of the story. It is one of those styles that makes everything feel light and easy to read.
All in all, despite my initial doubts, I ended up enjoying it more than expected. It is a sweet, nostalgic read with a slightly awkward edge in that “I wish I did more back then” kind of way. Though I hope there will be more growth and not uniform in the future, I am still curious to see how it develops in the next volume!
March 25, 2026
Manga can have the silliest concepts.
A college student is full of FOMO because she never got to go on a date in high school wearing her school uniform. So she puts it on for Halloween, and through a misunderstanding and wild coincidence she ends up on a date with a guy in a high school uniform.
The rest of the manga is just her getting the guy to go on pretend dates with her in different places, including an incident of trespass.
So there's a weird cosplay fetish, but weirdly no sexualization as the inevitable romantic interest pursues our heroine in a pure and chaste manner.
None of this has any appeal for me. I obviously chose too quickly and carelessly while hoping to find a cute romantic manga.
Somehow this goes on for four more volumes, but I will not be following along.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 1. Halloween in a School Uniform -- Chapter 2. Infiltration in a School Uniform -- Chapter 3. School Festival in a School Uniform -- Chapter 4. Amusement Park in a School Uniform -- Bonus. Escape Room in a School Uniform -- Afterword -- Translation Notes
A college student is full of FOMO because she never got to go on a date in high school wearing her school uniform. So she puts it on for Halloween, and through a misunderstanding and wild coincidence she ends up on a date with a guy in a high school uniform.
The rest of the manga is just her getting the guy to go on pretend dates with her in different places, including an incident of trespass.
So there's a weird cosplay fetish, but weirdly no sexualization as the inevitable romantic interest pursues our heroine in a pure and chaste manner.
None of this has any appeal for me. I obviously chose too quickly and carelessly while hoping to find a cute romantic manga.
Somehow this goes on for four more volumes, but I will not be following along.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 1. Halloween in a School Uniform -- Chapter 2. Infiltration in a School Uniform -- Chapter 3. School Festival in a School Uniform -- Chapter 4. Amusement Park in a School Uniform -- Bonus. Escape Room in a School Uniform -- Afterword -- Translation Notes
March 21, 2026
YOUTUBE FIRST IMPRESSION VIDEO: https://youtu.be/OTaTfkmDCGo
I have been unsure of how to review this volume because I laughed SO much while reading, but I originally really struggled with the premise, and I was not prepared for that at all?
This was mainly a blind buy for me going in, but I was aware of Wakaba wanting to go back to her high school days and live out that dream of going on dates during that time. I do not know if it's just timing or what, but I was so bothered by it when reading because I personally have had absolutely no desire to relive my high school days, as rude as that sounds. I made so many friends and had a good high school experience in itself, but my home life in high school was awful. Somehow and for some reason, Wakaba's desire to go back to a time I really disliked triggered painful memories when reading, even though her life is so different from mine, and there is nothing else that could be "triggering" when remotely reading.
It caused me to unexpectedly struggle for the first two chapters, even though I LOVE Wakaba as a character! I may not find her dream relatable, but I did find her overexcitement super relatable and fun to read! Surprisingly, I really felt it was her hilarious expressions in those times that she was super excited that kept me reading, and I'm glad I did!
I might have had my own issues due to personal trauma unexpectedly resurfacing, but the story was very fun, and I liked how our male lead really just rolled with things! LOL! I do have the next two volumes on preorder and am looking forward to reading more because the blooming romance is SO adorable!!
I have been unsure of how to review this volume because I laughed SO much while reading, but I originally really struggled with the premise, and I was not prepared for that at all?
This was mainly a blind buy for me going in, but I was aware of Wakaba wanting to go back to her high school days and live out that dream of going on dates during that time. I do not know if it's just timing or what, but I was so bothered by it when reading because I personally have had absolutely no desire to relive my high school days, as rude as that sounds. I made so many friends and had a good high school experience in itself, but my home life in high school was awful. Somehow and for some reason, Wakaba's desire to go back to a time I really disliked triggered painful memories when reading, even though her life is so different from mine, and there is nothing else that could be "triggering" when remotely reading.
It caused me to unexpectedly struggle for the first two chapters, even though I LOVE Wakaba as a character! I may not find her dream relatable, but I did find her overexcitement super relatable and fun to read! Surprisingly, I really felt it was her hilarious expressions in those times that she was super excited that kept me reading, and I'm glad I did!
I might have had my own issues due to personal trauma unexpectedly resurfacing, but the story was very fun, and I liked how our male lead really just rolled with things! LOL! I do have the next two volumes on preorder and am looking forward to reading more because the blooming romance is SO adorable!!
May 23, 2026
Despite the somewhat shaky premise (two college-aged young adults going out on Halloween in their old high school uniforms and coming across one another and going on a date of sorts), it is not creepy in the slightest. This was incredibly cute and adorable and I read it three times in a row I enjoyed it so much. I really like the MCs, they are perfect foils for one another and their relationship develops so wholesomely and innocently, I just ate it up! Real life has been rearing it's ugly head recently, so having something sweet and innocent to dip into was just the balm my reading soul needed.
Definitely one I will own for my personal library and one I will be recommending at the store.
5, this was so sweet and cute-highly recommended, stars!
My thanks to Kodansha Comics for an eARC of this book to read and review.
Definitely one I will own for my personal library and one I will be recommending at the store.
5, this was so sweet and cute-highly recommended, stars!
My thanks to Kodansha Comics for an eARC of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2026
How this series will maintain its premise beyond this volume is a creative conundrum that I have to admit I find a little fascinating. It has such a specific idea and has already plumbed the depths of many tropes by the time the volume is over.
It’s a great idea though! Waka was a dork in high school and completely remade herself for university. That leads her to try and capture the moments she missed out on by wearing her high school uniform to Halloween.
At this point she bumps into Fumito, apparently a high school student, and drags him along on her attempt to experience her retroactive bucket list. Then it turns out he goes to her university and the saga of making up for lost time begins.
Fumito is a perfectly acceptable male lead for this sort of story, thoughtful and making all the right moves. But it’s Waka who raises this to the heights that it achieves; this is just shy of perfection and she is a large part of that.
Look, you can glow up all you want, but once a dork, etc… and make no mistake, Waka is a huge dork. But in the best way! Her boundless (and pure) enthusiasm for her new endeavour is positively adorable. She just throws herself into this hard.
This takes itself exactly as seriously as it needs to, which is not very. It dials itself down when Waka and Fumito’s romance vibe is waxing, but then goes for another gag shortly afterwards. This nails its mood perfectly.
One of my favourite things in shojo is good face game and this has probably the best I’ve seen since Love, That’s An Understatement. I knew we were in good hands from the first montage when Waka’s eyes bug out over some cotton candy. She will continue melting down over the entire volume.
This is a seriously fun story that gets away with a little more than a high school story, but also manages to have the same beats as those. It’s smart in that respect because it sidesteps any issues with Waka drinking beer and having sex, scenarios which are both entertained in these pages.
Genuinely, having done a regular date, after school date, festival date (this one really jabs hard at its own premise), and now an amusement park date, it’s hard to see where this can go. Also, it’s a bit weird that Waka has had multiple dates with Fumito and keeps thinking he’s not interested in her.
Still, that’s next volume’s issue, as I like to say. And I’ll certainly be here to read it. Waka is fantastic, Fumito is solid, and the two of them are a good pairing that have a strong connection. It’s not weighty, but dang if it isn’t a clever twist.
4 stars - this is probably about right for the first volume, although it’s so close to getting a far more wholehearted endorsement from me. If you are a fan of shojo this is a well-done tweak on the usual formula.
It’s a great idea though! Waka was a dork in high school and completely remade herself for university. That leads her to try and capture the moments she missed out on by wearing her high school uniform to Halloween.
At this point she bumps into Fumito, apparently a high school student, and drags him along on her attempt to experience her retroactive bucket list. Then it turns out he goes to her university and the saga of making up for lost time begins.
Fumito is a perfectly acceptable male lead for this sort of story, thoughtful and making all the right moves. But it’s Waka who raises this to the heights that it achieves; this is just shy of perfection and she is a large part of that.
Look, you can glow up all you want, but once a dork, etc… and make no mistake, Waka is a huge dork. But in the best way! Her boundless (and pure) enthusiasm for her new endeavour is positively adorable. She just throws herself into this hard.
This takes itself exactly as seriously as it needs to, which is not very. It dials itself down when Waka and Fumito’s romance vibe is waxing, but then goes for another gag shortly afterwards. This nails its mood perfectly.
One of my favourite things in shojo is good face game and this has probably the best I’ve seen since Love, That’s An Understatement. I knew we were in good hands from the first montage when Waka’s eyes bug out over some cotton candy. She will continue melting down over the entire volume.
This is a seriously fun story that gets away with a little more than a high school story, but also manages to have the same beats as those. It’s smart in that respect because it sidesteps any issues with Waka drinking beer and having sex, scenarios which are both entertained in these pages.
Genuinely, having done a regular date, after school date, festival date (this one really jabs hard at its own premise), and now an amusement park date, it’s hard to see where this can go. Also, it’s a bit weird that Waka has had multiple dates with Fumito and keeps thinking he’s not interested in her.
Still, that’s next volume’s issue, as I like to say. And I’ll certainly be here to read it. Waka is fantastic, Fumito is solid, and the two of them are a good pairing that have a strong connection. It’s not weighty, but dang if it isn’t a clever twist.
4 stars - this is probably about right for the first volume, although it’s so close to getting a far more wholehearted endorsement from me. If you are a fan of shojo this is a well-done tweak on the usual formula.
March 30, 2026
How this series will maintain its premise beyond this volume is a creative conundrum that I have to admit I find a little fascinating. It has such a specific idea and has already plumbed the depths of many tropes by the time the volume is over.
It’s a great idea though! Waka was a dork in high school and completely remade herself for university. That leads her to try and capture the moments she missed out on by wearing her high school uniform to Halloween.
At this point she bumps into Fumito, apparently a high school student, and drags him along on her attempt to experience her retroactive bucket list. Then it turns out he goes to her university and the saga of making up for lost time begins.
Fumito is a perfectly acceptable male lead for this sort of story, thoughtful and making all the right moves. But it’s Waka who raises this to the heights that it achieves; this is just shy of perfection and she is a large part of that.
Look, you can glow up all you want, but once a dork, etc… and make no mistake, Waka is a huge dork. But in the best way! Her boundless (and pure) enthusiasm for her new endeavour is positively adorable. She just throws herself into this hard.
This takes itself exactly as seriously as it needs to, which is not very. It dials itself down when Waka and Fumito’s romance vibe is waxing, but then goes for another gag shortly afterwards. This nails its mood perfectly.
One of my favourite things in shojo is good face game and this has probably the best I’ve seen since Love, That’s An Understatement. I knew we were in good hands from the first montage when Waka’s eyes bug out over some cotton candy. She will continue melting down over the entire volume.
This is a seriously fun story that gets away with a little more than a high school story, but also manages to have the same beats as those. It’s smart in that respect because it sidesteps any issues with Waka drinking beer and having sex, scenarios which are both entertained in these pages.
Genuinely, having done a regular date, after school date, festival date (this one really jabs hard at its own premise), and now an amusement park date, it’s hard to see where this can go. Also, it’s a bit weird that Waka has had multiple dates with Fumito and keeps thinking he’s not interested in her.
Still, that’s next volume’s issue, as I like to say. And I’ll certainly be here to read it. Waka is fantastic, Fumito is solid, and the two of them are a good pairing that have a strong connection. It’s not weighty, but dang if it isn’t a clever twist.
4 stars - this is probably about right for the first volume, although it’s so close to getting a far more wholehearted endorsement from me. If you are a fan of shojo this is a well-done tweak on the usual formula.
It’s a great idea though! Waka was a dork in high school and completely remade herself for university. That leads her to try and capture the moments she missed out on by wearing her high school uniform to Halloween.
At this point she bumps into Fumito, apparently a high school student, and drags him along on her attempt to experience her retroactive bucket list. Then it turns out he goes to her university and the saga of making up for lost time begins.
Fumito is a perfectly acceptable male lead for this sort of story, thoughtful and making all the right moves. But it’s Waka who raises this to the heights that it achieves; this is just shy of perfection and she is a large part of that.
Look, you can glow up all you want, but once a dork, etc… and make no mistake, Waka is a huge dork. But in the best way! Her boundless (and pure) enthusiasm for her new endeavour is positively adorable. She just throws herself into this hard.
This takes itself exactly as seriously as it needs to, which is not very. It dials itself down when Waka and Fumito’s romance vibe is waxing, but then goes for another gag shortly afterwards. This nails its mood perfectly.
One of my favourite things in shojo is good face game and this has probably the best I’ve seen since Love, That’s An Understatement. I knew we were in good hands from the first montage when Waka’s eyes bug out over some cotton candy. She will continue melting down over the entire volume.
This is a seriously fun story that gets away with a little more than a high school story, but also manages to have the same beats as those. It’s smart in that respect because it sidesteps any issues with Waka drinking beer and having sex, scenarios which are both entertained in these pages.
Genuinely, having done a regular date, after school date, festival date (this one really jabs hard at its own premise), and now an amusement park date, it’s hard to see where this can go. Also, it’s a bit weird that Waka has had multiple dates with Fumito and keeps thinking he’s not interested in her.
Still, that’s next volume’s issue, as I like to say. And I’ll certainly be here to read it. Waka is fantastic, Fumito is solid, and the two of them are a good pairing that have a strong connection. It’s not weighty, but dang if it isn’t a clever twist.
4 stars - this is probably about right for the first volume, although it’s so close to getting a far more wholehearted endorsement from me. If you are a fan of shojo this is a well-done tweak on the usual formula.
February 12, 2025
I'm feeling generous and biased towards this manga because it is basically exploiting my fantasies lol.
As a highschooler I was too introverted and sheltered to ever go out with a guy or even my friends and reading this manga is letting me vicariously experience my lost youth so yeah, I'm enjoying this a lot.
That being said, the translation is a bit wonky which made it a little difficult to be completely engrossed. Otherwise though, this is really sweet, fun, lighthearted manga.
As a highschooler I was too introverted and sheltered to ever go out with a guy or even my friends and reading this manga is letting me vicariously experience my lost youth so yeah, I'm enjoying this a lot.
That being said, the translation is a bit wonky which made it a little difficult to be completely engrossed. Otherwise though, this is really sweet, fun, lighthearted manga.
April 7, 2026
Oh my gosh this one was so, so adorable.
Give this a try if you want:
- college age mains
- chasing missed youth moments - this heroine was a 'nerd' and our hero was busy with sports so she convinces him to create her missed moments she craved in high school
- some fake dating elements
- lots of close proximity!
This is all the reasons I love romance graphic novels. So many butterflies, and giggling, and swooning moments.
I love that these two are on page the entire novel. The premise was pretty funny to me how it worked out, and as they spent more time together throughout the story I found myself just melting more and more. It is SO cute.
I loved the illustrations, especially how silly Wakaba could be. And as Fumito starts falling, so many panels I was lingering over with little touches and poses and blushes...
Absolutely going to be coming back for more in this series!
Steam - nothing yet, just some light touches and hand holding
Ages - both mains are 20
Give this a try if you want:
- college age mains
- chasing missed youth moments - this heroine was a 'nerd' and our hero was busy with sports so she convinces him to create her missed moments she craved in high school
- some fake dating elements
- lots of close proximity!
This is all the reasons I love romance graphic novels. So many butterflies, and giggling, and swooning moments.
I love that these two are on page the entire novel. The premise was pretty funny to me how it worked out, and as they spent more time together throughout the story I found myself just melting more and more. It is SO cute.
I loved the illustrations, especially how silly Wakaba could be. And as Fumito starts falling, so many panels I was lingering over with little touches and poses and blushes...
Absolutely going to be coming back for more in this series!
Steam - nothing yet, just some light touches and hand holding
Ages - both mains are 20
March 26, 2026
Thank you Kodansha for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review & rating to be adjusted once series complete.
This was not on my radar at all and I'm really glad I stumbled across the eARC (volume 1) because oh my goodness this is one of the cutest and most entertaining shoujo manga I have read in a long time. College student Wakana feels regret over missed experience during her high school years as she was just too busy with her studies. Now in her twenties, she takes the opportunity to dress up in her old high school uniform for Halloween eve, only to bump into Fumito with whom she shares an unexpected first ever high school date.
I almost want to say this is best enjoyed going in blind, though the official blurb already gives certain elements away, but it is what it is. This was such an adorable series opener and really reflects nicely on that feeling of days in our youth I'm sure we all look back to from time to time. The art is really cute and appropriately funny in the right moments. Wakana is such an adorable character - she's got a really great energy and simply fun to read about. Fumito is also a really neat character with how he encourages Wakana's unabashed excitement. This was pure, drama-free, feel good entertainment and a refreshing story that still offers many beloved shoujo tropes in its own way. Absolutely recommended!
Review & rating to be adjusted once series complete.
This was not on my radar at all and I'm really glad I stumbled across the eARC (volume 1) because oh my goodness this is one of the cutest and most entertaining shoujo manga I have read in a long time. College student Wakana feels regret over missed experience during her high school years as she was just too busy with her studies. Now in her twenties, she takes the opportunity to dress up in her old high school uniform for Halloween eve, only to bump into Fumito with whom she shares an unexpected first ever high school date.
I almost want to say this is best enjoyed going in blind, though the official blurb already gives certain elements away, but it is what it is. This was such an adorable series opener and really reflects nicely on that feeling of days in our youth I'm sure we all look back to from time to time. The art is really cute and appropriately funny in the right moments. Wakana is such an adorable character - she's got a really great energy and simply fun to read about. Fumito is also a really neat character with how he encourages Wakana's unabashed excitement. This was pure, drama-free, feel good entertainment and a refreshing story that still offers many beloved shoujo tropes in its own way. Absolutely recommended!
March 29, 2026
3.5
very cute, very wholesome. very interested in their relationship development.
very cute, very wholesome. very interested in their relationship development.
April 26, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!!
THIS WAS SO BEAUTIFUL!!
I honestly have no other words besides it’s cute 🥰 and wholesome and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series
5/5
THIS WAS SO BEAUTIFUL!!
I honestly have no other words besides it’s cute 🥰 and wholesome and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series
5/5
April 28, 2026
Wakaba is the star here. Her exuberance and joy are contagious and adorable. Fumito was a bit flat at first, but by the end I started to see how attached he was getting to Wakaba and their "dates." I hope we continue to learn more about him in the upcoming volumes. The art is very pretty too.
April 7, 2026
I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
I would recommend this one to everyone. I need more. I want more! Bring me more Fumito x Waka!
Review to come at the end of May.
I would recommend this one to everyone. I need more. I want more! Bring me more Fumito x Waka!
Review to come at the end of May.
Read
March 26, 2026
Trigger & Content Warnings
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
February 27, 2026
4.5 stars. This was so sweet and cute. I really liked it. It felt both fresh and familiar at the same time. The heroine makes great faces. The artist is good at finding moments to highlight with humor.
April 22, 2026
This book had me smiling and kicking my feet.
What an adorable story. The blurb had me a little confused when I first read it, but the plot actually makes sense in a really cutesy type of way. Two college students, who spent their entire high school careers focused on academics and clubs without having much free time to allow for a social life, find each other through happenstance and begin hanging out together to do the things they didn’t have time to do in high school. Such as going out on dates in high school uniforms and going on a date to an amusement park. What starts out as just a sort of “cosplay” of a “high school” relationship starts getting a little less pretend and a lot more real.
The story is so cute. The perfect thing after I’ve been reading so many heavier books. I love how relatable the characters are. Who doesn’t have a sort of mini crisis at certain age milestones and want to “relive the good old days?” I also really love that despite (seeming) to be a little less enthusiastic, our male lead goes along with and enjoys these outings, too. I love that he accepts Wakaba for who she is and doesn’t want her to dull her spark or weirdness. I just love both of them so much.
And the art is super adorable and very expressive. I can’t wait to read the next volume. I need it immediately.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Kodansha for the DRC!!!
What an adorable story. The blurb had me a little confused when I first read it, but the plot actually makes sense in a really cutesy type of way. Two college students, who spent their entire high school careers focused on academics and clubs without having much free time to allow for a social life, find each other through happenstance and begin hanging out together to do the things they didn’t have time to do in high school. Such as going out on dates in high school uniforms and going on a date to an amusement park. What starts out as just a sort of “cosplay” of a “high school” relationship starts getting a little less pretend and a lot more real.
The story is so cute. The perfect thing after I’ve been reading so many heavier books. I love how relatable the characters are. Who doesn’t have a sort of mini crisis at certain age milestones and want to “relive the good old days?” I also really love that despite (seeming) to be a little less enthusiastic, our male lead goes along with and enjoys these outings, too. I love that he accepts Wakaba for who she is and doesn’t want her to dull her spark or weirdness. I just love both of them so much.
And the art is super adorable and very expressive. I can’t wait to read the next volume. I need it immediately.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Kodansha for the DRC!!!
April 25, 2026
Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Hitting Rewind With You 1 by Hanamaru Kira is a lovely shojo manga for fans of love stories and lost-chance romances. The story revolves around Kayano and Fumito, a pair who decide to dress up in their old high-school uniforms. They go on a date and pretend to be high-schoolers, but later, it's revealed that they're both actually college students. They spent too much time studying or in extra-curriculars in high school, and now, they want to catch up on what they missed romance-wise. They decide not to make it a one-time thing, but to continue going on more dates.
Overall, I loved reading this shojo manga. I found the premise of the story so unique and something that hasn't been done before. I love the idea of two people going back and having a second chance at something that they missed the first time. Another thing that I enjoyed in this book was the artwork, which was beautiful and suited the themes of the book. I was also glued to the pages and finished the book in one sitting. I will definitely be reading the next volume of this series to see what happens next! If you're intrigued by the synopsis, or if you're a fan of shojo manga in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!
Hitting Rewind With You 1 by Hanamaru Kira is a lovely shojo manga for fans of love stories and lost-chance romances. The story revolves around Kayano and Fumito, a pair who decide to dress up in their old high-school uniforms. They go on a date and pretend to be high-schoolers, but later, it's revealed that they're both actually college students. They spent too much time studying or in extra-curriculars in high school, and now, they want to catch up on what they missed romance-wise. They decide not to make it a one-time thing, but to continue going on more dates.
Overall, I loved reading this shojo manga. I found the premise of the story so unique and something that hasn't been done before. I love the idea of two people going back and having a second chance at something that they missed the first time. Another thing that I enjoyed in this book was the artwork, which was beautiful and suited the themes of the book. I was also glued to the pages and finished the book in one sitting. I will definitely be reading the next volume of this series to see what happens next! If you're intrigued by the synopsis, or if you're a fan of shojo manga in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!
May 5, 2026
Hitting Rewind With You (Vol. 1) ended up being a pretty frustrating read for me. While the premise had some potential, the execution felt oddly flat and, at times, completely directionless. The story drifts without a strong sense of purpose, making it feel like not much of real consequence is happening.
A big issue is how repetitive and slow the narrative comes across—it honestly felt quite useless and time-wasting to sit through. Instead of building momentum or emotional depth, the plot circles around without offering meaningful development or payoff. The characters, too, don’t seem to grow or make decisions that drive the story forward in any impactful way.
In Addition, Illustrations were also worthless. Unnecessary expressions on Wakaba's face and Fumito made to look at most points like a girl, why his crumbled so many times? Normal conversations expressed with unrequited Awww in illustrations.
It might resonate more with readers familiar with certain slice-of-life storytelling styles common in Japan, but for a broader audience, out here in the world, it lacks the engagement needed to hold attention. Overall, it’s a concept that needed tighter pacing and clearer direction to truly work.
My NetGalley review
A big issue is how repetitive and slow the narrative comes across—it honestly felt quite useless and time-wasting to sit through. Instead of building momentum or emotional depth, the plot circles around without offering meaningful development or payoff. The characters, too, don’t seem to grow or make decisions that drive the story forward in any impactful way.
In Addition, Illustrations were also worthless. Unnecessary expressions on Wakaba's face and Fumito made to look at most points like a girl, why his crumbled so many times? Normal conversations expressed with unrequited Awww in illustrations.
It might resonate more with readers familiar with certain slice-of-life storytelling styles common in Japan, but for a broader audience, out here in the world, it lacks the engagement needed to hold attention. Overall, it’s a concept that needed tighter pacing and clearer direction to truly work.
My NetGalley review
March 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the free access to a Digital Copy of this manhwa in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this volume quite a bit. It wasn’t anything too complicated but I enjoyed our protagonists and their dynamic throughout this volume. There is something so satisfying about reading 2 college students wanting to relive their younger years together to experience the things they didn’t get to enjoy about their youth. The uniform became sort of like a time machine for these two and that was fun to read.
As someone who took their youthful school years for granted I appreciate a story like this in a way I feel rather seen. Feeling seen isn’t something I typically care about in a book but it was nice in this respect. I liked seeing the typical high school romance troupes but with characters that are adults. I can see me picking this series up in print and continuing it.
I really enjoyed this volume quite a bit. It wasn’t anything too complicated but I enjoyed our protagonists and their dynamic throughout this volume. There is something so satisfying about reading 2 college students wanting to relive their younger years together to experience the things they didn’t get to enjoy about their youth. The uniform became sort of like a time machine for these two and that was fun to read.
As someone who took their youthful school years for granted I appreciate a story like this in a way I feel rather seen. Feeling seen isn’t something I typically care about in a book but it was nice in this respect. I liked seeing the typical high school romance troupes but with characters that are adults. I can see me picking this series up in print and continuing it.
April 3, 2026
This book has a wild concept; new adults separately cosplaying as high schoolers without knowing the other is an adult. The blurb promised it wouldn't be creepy, though. And I'm not gonna lie, when I was 20, there was no way in hell you'd catch me wanting to be living those high school experiences. So with that in mind, I was a little skeptical of how that concept would play out over one book, let alone multiple volumes of a Manga.
However, by the end, Kira had won me over to Wakaba and Fumito's slow burn romance. Kira strikes a fine balance in the first chapter of humor and charm to keep things from going into creepy territory. Then, as each of the 4 chapters unfolded, the chemistry between the leads and the story grew stronger. I buy how and why these characters have ended up in such a high concept "fake" relationship. In fact, I'm looking forward to Volumes 2-4 coming out later this year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
However, by the end, Kira had won me over to Wakaba and Fumito's slow burn romance. Kira strikes a fine balance in the first chapter of humor and charm to keep things from going into creepy territory. Then, as each of the 4 chapters unfolded, the chemistry between the leads and the story grew stronger. I buy how and why these characters have ended up in such a high concept "fake" relationship. In fact, I'm looking forward to Volumes 2-4 coming out later this year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 11, 2026
These two are such dorks, but I don't think I'll be reading the rest of this. I've read a fair share of weird mangas, and this is even that weird but...I'm not fan. Maybe, it's just me but...yeah fetishizing school uniforms is a no for me.
Also, while I get her being 20 is supposed to lessen the ick factor, girl should be enjoying her college years rather than thinking she's some old maid. Because what is she going to do when she graduates, look back and see she didn't even enjoy her life then???
So yeah, there's cute moments here and there but like...nothing stands out from it besides its weird setup.
(It's my fault for thinking this would be a Re:Life...)
received from NetGalley
Also, while I get her being 20 is supposed to lessen the ick factor, girl should be enjoying her college years rather than thinking she's some old maid. Because what is she going to do when she graduates, look back and see she didn't even enjoy her life then???
So yeah, there's cute moments here and there but like...nothing stands out from it besides its weird setup.
(It's my fault for thinking this would be a Re:Life...)
received from NetGalley
April 22, 2026
This was such a cute, silly read. The whole concept of trying to relive the high school experiences you missed out on was honestly so fun and a little too relatable.
Wakaba and Fumito’s dynamic was really sweet, and I loved how lighthearted and easy the story felt. It’s the kind of story that leans fully into those soft, heart-fluttering moments.
Also- I too would like to dress up in uniforms and go on cute dates, thank you very much 😩
The art was really beautiful and added so much charm to the story, making every scene feel extra warm and dreamy. Overall, a cozy and adorable romcom that’s just fun to read.
Wakaba and Fumito’s dynamic was really sweet, and I loved how lighthearted and easy the story felt. It’s the kind of story that leans fully into those soft, heart-fluttering moments.
Also- I too would like to dress up in uniforms and go on cute dates, thank you very much 😩
The art was really beautiful and added so much charm to the story, making every scene feel extra warm and dreamy. Overall, a cozy and adorable romcom that’s just fun to read.
March 29, 2026
I received an ARC of Hitting Rewind With You thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hitting Rewind With You was a super cute fake dating romance where the main characters pretend to be high schoolers to get experiences they missed out on when younger. They are not much older than high schoolers so it works well. I also love seeing the emotions developing within each of the characters, even though you only hear the thoughts of the female lead. Definitely recommend.
Hitting Rewind With You was a super cute fake dating romance where the main characters pretend to be high schoolers to get experiences they missed out on when younger. They are not much older than high schoolers so it works well. I also love seeing the emotions developing within each of the characters, even though you only hear the thoughts of the female lead. Definitely recommend.
April 19, 2026
(Thank you NetGalley for this ARC)
Do you know that feeling when you just want the main characters to get closer and the little voice inside your head is screaming “kiss! kiss! kiss! kiss!” Yup. This was me the whole time.
What are the odds that a twenty-year-old university student who just really wants to go on a date wearing her student uniform will met a guy, also in his twenties, cosplaying a student in uniform? Low, but never impossible. This is the premise under which Wakaba and Fumito end up meeting. From the first moment on, each chapter is just a different date.
They are so cute together, and every time they go on a date I’m just hoping they’ll say something (slightly) more romantic than last time to each other. They get super shy every time.
This romcom is genuinely so cozy and the art style is BEAUTIFUL, I can’t wait to read the other ones ♥️
Do you know that feeling when you just want the main characters to get closer and the little voice inside your head is screaming “kiss! kiss! kiss! kiss!” Yup. This was me the whole time.
What are the odds that a twenty-year-old university student who just really wants to go on a date wearing her student uniform will met a guy, also in his twenties, cosplaying a student in uniform? Low, but never impossible. This is the premise under which Wakaba and Fumito end up meeting. From the first moment on, each chapter is just a different date.
They are so cute together, and every time they go on a date I’m just hoping they’ll say something (slightly) more romantic than last time to each other. They get super shy every time.
This romcom is genuinely so cozy and the art style is BEAUTIFUL, I can’t wait to read the other ones ♥️
May 9, 2026
i am considering on dropping this lmao.
it’s just so…idk what to say.
cosplaying a highschooler because you want to relive your youth (because you weren’t able to) WHEN YOU’RE ONLY 20??? what is wrong? i would’ve understand if you were like hitting 25+ to WANT to relive your youth but being 20??
also, kind of weird that she has this sort of goal to have a date on every places that they can on high school uniform lmao
i will try to read the other volumes and see what it will bring me hahahaha
it’s just so…idk what to say.
cosplaying a highschooler because you want to relive your youth (because you weren’t able to) WHEN YOU’RE ONLY 20??? what is wrong? i would’ve understand if you were like hitting 25+ to WANT to relive your youth but being 20??
also, kind of weird that she has this sort of goal to have a date on every places that they can on high school uniform lmao
i will try to read the other volumes and see what it will bring me hahahaha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
This was so stinking cute. It’s a little bit cozier than I’d like. There’s really no drama or much tension, but there are really sweet moments. I enjoy when they do something a little cringey and they blush ferociously like teens. 🥰
April 9, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really liked the art and how scenes were portrayed, but the story was not my cup of tea.
Maybe it's just the cultural differences.
I really liked the art and how scenes were portrayed, but the story was not my cup of tea.
Maybe it's just the cultural differences.
April 10, 2026
This is so cuuuute, i don't really get her passion and probably neither did he at first but her excitement is so contagious you can't not like her 🤭
Also, the picture scene was just evil, he did her dirty 🫠🤣
Also, the picture scene was just evil, he did her dirty 🫠🤣
September 30, 2025
really charming series!
February 28, 2026
Wakaba is too cute and quirky!!!! I love her already.
I like her and Fumito’s dynamic. I think I’m going to love this series.
I like her and Fumito’s dynamic. I think I’m going to love this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews