What do you think?
Rate this book
彼女、人見知ります [Kanojo, Hitomishirimasu] #1
Rent-A-(Really Shy!)-Girlfriend, Vol. 1
STUCK IN HER SHELL
Sumi Sakurasawa is shy. Even simple things, like ordering a donut or calling out to a stranger that they’ve dropped something, paralyze her with fear. Her plan to fix it? Become a “rent-a-girlfriend” and make some cash while she practices her people skills! But raising the stakes even higher might not be the foolproof solution she thought it was… And even worse, she needs five-star reviews to keep her new gig, and that means no freezing up or freaking out on a date… How is that even possible?!
Sumi Sakurasawa is shy. Even simple things, like ordering a donut or calling out to a stranger that they’ve dropped something, paralyze her with fear. Her plan to fix it? Become a “rent-a-girlfriend” and make some cash while she practices her people skills! But raising the stakes even higher might not be the foolproof solution she thought it was… And even worse, she needs five-star reviews to keep her new gig, and that means no freezing up or freaking out on a date… How is that even possible?!
162 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2020
25 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 11, 2021
Sumi… Can’t Communicate!? The shyest of the rental girlfriends stars in her own series, where her internal monologue does all the heavy lifting, detailing her struggles to overcome her social anxiety. And, yes, like any good spin-off, more than one familiar face is along for the ride.
At least the mangaka is nakedly honest in the afterword about wanting to strike while the iron was hot and score themselves a spin-off series. And, except for possibly the most out-of-place and unnecessary panty shot I may have ever seen, it’s far less ribald than the main series.
The lack of Kazuya thus far is kind of liberating, as it lets the girls shine far more brightly without him around. At times this threatens to be more entertaining than the core title, depending on your tolerance for Sumi’s endless dilemmas (what the poor thing really needs is therapy, but then we wouldn’t have a book).
Thus we get a lot of Chizuru being terribly sweet and having the patience of a saint, Ruka being wholly focused on Kazuya 90% of the time, and, yes, the ice queen cometh with an entire Mami chapter.
That Mami chapter is worth the whole price of admission, honestly. Mami is a terrible person, but that’s what makes her such a great character. The way she manipulates and uses a bunch of older guys who think they’ve found an easy mark is brilliantly fun and wholly in character. It meshes perfectly with Sumi’s incredulous narration.
These stories are set a little before the current series timeline and show just how hard Sumi has been trying (and why) and the desperation that lead to Chizuru getting Kazuya to rent her. It’s possibly unnecessary, but fills in some background quite neatly.
The real (very shy) elephant in the room is whether this series does enough to distinguish itself when another shy protagonist is killing it in this same space. The answer is an infuriating maybe.
Sumi gets a lot more fleshed out than Komi ever did in just one volume because of her internal dialogue. Komi is, by design, much more inscrutable. This certainly lacks the wit of the latter.
There’s also a big question over whether this needs to exist - Sumi’s motivations are never really given in the core title and these would have made fantastic side chapters there. There’s a depth of character that she doesn’t have otherwise, but should you need a side book to get the whole story?
3 stars - adjust upward if you like Mami. I scored this the same as the main title, but honestly think it is, in some ways, much better. A good read that I’ll see a second volume of before I pass full judgment.
At least the mangaka is nakedly honest in the afterword about wanting to strike while the iron was hot and score themselves a spin-off series. And, except for possibly the most out-of-place and unnecessary panty shot I may have ever seen, it’s far less ribald than the main series.
The lack of Kazuya thus far is kind of liberating, as it lets the girls shine far more brightly without him around. At times this threatens to be more entertaining than the core title, depending on your tolerance for Sumi’s endless dilemmas (what the poor thing really needs is therapy, but then we wouldn’t have a book).
Thus we get a lot of Chizuru being terribly sweet and having the patience of a saint, Ruka being wholly focused on Kazuya 90% of the time, and, yes, the ice queen cometh with an entire Mami chapter.
That Mami chapter is worth the whole price of admission, honestly. Mami is a terrible person, but that’s what makes her such a great character. The way she manipulates and uses a bunch of older guys who think they’ve found an easy mark is brilliantly fun and wholly in character. It meshes perfectly with Sumi’s incredulous narration.
These stories are set a little before the current series timeline and show just how hard Sumi has been trying (and why) and the desperation that lead to Chizuru getting Kazuya to rent her. It’s possibly unnecessary, but fills in some background quite neatly.
The real (very shy) elephant in the room is whether this series does enough to distinguish itself when another shy protagonist is killing it in this same space. The answer is an infuriating maybe.
Sumi gets a lot more fleshed out than Komi ever did in just one volume because of her internal dialogue. Komi is, by design, much more inscrutable. This certainly lacks the wit of the latter.
There’s also a big question over whether this needs to exist - Sumi’s motivations are never really given in the core title and these would have made fantastic side chapters there. There’s a depth of character that she doesn’t have otherwise, but should you need a side book to get the whole story?
3 stars - adjust upward if you like Mami. I scored this the same as the main title, but honestly think it is, in some ways, much better. A good read that I’ll see a second volume of before I pass full judgment.
January 5, 2024
I have only read the first volume of the Rent-a-Girlfriend series, and wasn't that much into it (with the characters), so I wanted to give this one a shot! In this one we meet Sumi, she works as a Rent-A-Girlfriend and is painfully shy. Yes, really painfully shy to the point that I wondered how she managed to get to her age without trouble. I mean, I am also socially awkward about things, but holy wow. She couldn't even do basic things and was constantly fretting about everything and anything. It did get a bit annoying for me at times. I felt for her dates. Yes, she looks cute, and at times has cute moments, but do you really want to date someone who never talks? Just nods? Just smiles? Don't think so. There were some cute moments and I did like that she was trying her hardest to do better, but I just wanted a bit more. The art was cute though!
November 13, 2021
It’s an all right series/spin-off, but the “communication disorder” theme is much better tackled in a series like Komi Can’t Communicate.
June 29, 2023
I love that this spinoff series follows my favorite character as she deals with her social anxiety.
November 10, 2021
This was a very lackluster spinoff. We don't really learn much about any of the characters that we do not already know from the original series. There some moments that are good but most of it is filler really. This feels like a cash grab riding the success of the original series. I love a good spin-off series but this did not come across as a good one.
April 13, 2022
☼ 96/ 108
She is so cute
She is so cute
December 24, 2025
i just read the wrong Rent-A-Girlfriend manga?😭
August 11, 2022
Never been a big fan of Sumi, but since she's not Ruka or Mami I thought I'd give the spin-off a read and it's okay. Nothing of great import happens. We do get a lot of internal dialogue. However since the afore mentioned wicked witches of the east and west make appearances in this book we get even less time with Sumi.
I'm gonna read one more, but doubt I'll make a lot of effort beyond that. If our local library gets more, who knows, but I'll stick with the main series -- which has it's onw issues -- but ones I'm more willing to forgive because I like Kazuya and Mizuhara's story.
I'm gonna read one more, but doubt I'll make a lot of effort beyond that. If our local library gets more, who knows, but I'll stick with the main series -- which has it's onw issues -- but ones I'm more willing to forgive because I like Kazuya and Mizuhara's story.
September 11, 2022
I've never read any of the original Rent a Girlfriend series...but this was super cute. Picked up volume one from my local library. I enjoyed watching this girl go through anxiety similar to myself and it felt so real to see her struggle with some of the same things I struggle with. Social anxiety is so frustrating and no matter how hard you try, sometimes it feels impossible to break free. I liked this, and I hope to continue soon💕
February 1, 2025
First Manga of 2025
I knew this would be an ultra adorable manga when I got it. In fact, I bought all three available volumes before starting this first volume. I know of Sumi and I’m 100% sure she is best girl of the main series: Rent-A-Girlfriend!
I mean, she did get her own spin-off over the other girls, sooo…🤷🏼♀️💖
I was not disappointed! Seeing her adventures, I really feel for her as someone with huge social anxiety myself. But she truly tries her best. And finding out her dream job…she’s working hard so she can achieve that.
And as someone trying to up her game and start living her own dreams, I have mad respect for her.
I’ll probably read vol. 2 very soon!🥰
(Review from my IG post, so that’s why it’s a little different, because now I need to sleep a bit more.)
(Also, I added this to Goodreads partway through my read, thus why it seemed such a quick finish!)
I knew this would be an ultra adorable manga when I got it. In fact, I bought all three available volumes before starting this first volume. I know of Sumi and I’m 100% sure she is best girl of the main series: Rent-A-Girlfriend!
I mean, she did get her own spin-off over the other girls, sooo…🤷🏼♀️💖
I was not disappointed! Seeing her adventures, I really feel for her as someone with huge social anxiety myself. But she truly tries her best. And finding out her dream job…she’s working hard so she can achieve that.
And as someone trying to up her game and start living her own dreams, I have mad respect for her.
I’ll probably read vol. 2 very soon!🥰
(Review from my IG post, so that’s why it’s a little different, because now I need to sleep a bit more.)
(Also, I added this to Goodreads partway through my read, thus why it seemed such a quick finish!)
March 4, 2022
I read the first volume of the main series, Rent-A-Girlfriend, Vol. 1 . I didn’t really like it but then I found out about this and I don’t know it just appealed to me. The premise that someone is renting a shy girlfriend is an odd premise and when reading it. It really delivers on that, however a lot of the time it focuses on the good dates and tell you a little of her bad ones but we never really get to see that. All we get is her boss having a go at her for dates going wrong, as we don’t see if there isn’t really much for us to connect to on this part.
Our lead is a bit like Komi, from Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 1 . In that she has a communication disorder though in this our lead can happily talk to her own gender with ease. This actually leads to some pretty interesting interactions, as some of the girls from the main series popped up in this and we get to see our protagonists take on them. So if you are reading this and the main series, it would be a nice way to round out these characters a bit more, what I liked about these cameos was that none of them outstayed their welcome. They had an interaction and then disappeared, so it didn’t detract from our lead whatsoever.
After reading this I’m definitely going to have to get the next one, heck I might even pick up the second volume of the main series but I do hope it picks up and this was good from the get go.
Our lead is a bit like Komi, from Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 1 . In that she has a communication disorder though in this our lead can happily talk to her own gender with ease. This actually leads to some pretty interesting interactions, as some of the girls from the main series popped up in this and we get to see our protagonists take on them. So if you are reading this and the main series, it would be a nice way to round out these characters a bit more, what I liked about these cameos was that none of them outstayed their welcome. They had an interaction and then disappeared, so it didn’t detract from our lead whatsoever.
After reading this I’m definitely going to have to get the next one, heck I might even pick up the second volume of the main series but I do hope it picks up and this was good from the get go.
November 26, 2025
This is a really cute manga spin off of the original Rent-A-Girlfriend romcom manga about one of the rentable girlfriends; Sumi Sakurasawa!
Sumi is adorable and equally relatable in how she overthinks herself into extreme situations, primarily stemming from a communication disorder/complex. She’s a sweet girl who is easy and gentle to watch, not to mention that she makes any situation involving social interaction an entire episode in and of itself.
Rent-A-(Really-Shy!)-Girlfriend is an easy and cute read for whenever, wherever you are. I also loved that we got to see some of the other girls in this volume as well! All four of the first primary girls showed their own unique charms in this volume, primarily (of course) Sumi.
Sumi is adorable and equally relatable in how she overthinks herself into extreme situations, primarily stemming from a communication disorder/complex. She’s a sweet girl who is easy and gentle to watch, not to mention that she makes any situation involving social interaction an entire episode in and of itself.
Rent-A-(Really-Shy!)-Girlfriend is an easy and cute read for whenever, wherever you are. I also loved that we got to see some of the other girls in this volume as well! All four of the first primary girls showed their own unique charms in this volume, primarily (of course) Sumi.
December 9, 2022
As someone who started out by watching RAG on Crunchyroll, picking up this spin-off series was very interesting. It shows us more of who Sumi is than we get in the anime since only 2 seasons are out at the time of writing this (I haven't read the og RAG yet). It's refreshing to see a character with social anxiety have a positive outlook on wanting to overcome their fears. Also knowing the drama & how the lives of these characters intersect makes it that much more interesting to me personally. I give it a 4/5. Well done ☺️
January 9, 2023
Super happy to have a spin-off series following the best girl from Rent-a-Girlfriend (I've only seen the anime) who doesn't nearly get enough time in the main story.
The fact that it is 90% Sumi's internal monologue and 90% of that monologue is her panicking or being anxious doesn't bother me at all - that is very true to life when it comes to anxiety disorders. Some of the monologue could have fallen from my brain right onto the page. Given that I'm also watching Bocchi the Rock atm, I'm beginning to think pink hair anime girls know what real life is like...
The fact that it is 90% Sumi's internal monologue and 90% of that monologue is her panicking or being anxious doesn't bother me at all - that is very true to life when it comes to anxiety disorders. Some of the monologue could have fallen from my brain right onto the page. Given that I'm also watching Bocchi the Rock atm, I'm beginning to think pink hair anime girls know what real life is like...
August 25, 2023
I was really excited to read this spin off from Rent a Girlfriend because the main series in my opinion is really good. And while I really like
Sumi's as a character his short series is definitely lacking the allure that the main series has.
It's not particularly bad, but you do rehash some of the main story from her point of view so it is a bit redundant if you are familiar with Rent a Girlfriend.
It's worth reading but nothing in this story is really pertinent to anything from the main series.
Sumi's as a character his short series is definitely lacking the allure that the main series has.
It's not particularly bad, but you do rehash some of the main story from her point of view so it is a bit redundant if you are familiar with Rent a Girlfriend.
It's worth reading but nothing in this story is really pertinent to anything from the main series.
March 21, 2024
Social anxiety fanservice
It's a slice-of-life style series focusing on Sumi with some cameos from other RAG female characters. It feels like a cross between Komi-san and Watamote where Sumi gets flustered and panics in various situations. Those series at least lean into the humor angle, whereas this goes almost exclusively for pity and moe fanservice. I'd only recommend it if you're a Sumi fan and/or find demuring social anxiety appealing.
It's a slice-of-life style series focusing on Sumi with some cameos from other RAG female characters. It feels like a cross between Komi-san and Watamote where Sumi gets flustered and panics in various situations. Those series at least lean into the humor angle, whereas this goes almost exclusively for pity and moe fanservice. I'd only recommend it if you're a Sumi fan and/or find demuring social anxiety appealing.
February 12, 2022
I related to Sumi as soon as I saw her in the anime, and in this offshoot series it’s even more prevalent. The first few chapters so accurately capture what it’s like to have a severe anxiety disorder, but also give a glimpse as to how others can see your good traits even when you don’t know you’re displaying them. As a bonus the artwork is downright adorable.
January 2, 2024
Sumi is a really cute lead. This isn't really needed, but it's a fun side story. Fills in the blanks of what's happening with Sumi before she meets our lead in the main story. The big plus is Sumi is a much better lead. So if like cuteness, overcoming fears, and funny situations this is pretty good.
January 16, 2022
Sumi-chan is up there with my favorite side characters from the original run so I was very excited to see her have a spin-off. I love that the side story is focusing of her wanting to be less shy and her working on it.
July 5, 2022
I didn’t read the original series so maybe that is why I’m not connecting with the main girl. She’s cute and shy and has communication issues but I find the manga a bit too simplistic. I read it in a 30 min sitting so it would be best to have the whole series in front of you.
July 13, 2022
It’s really cute. I’m actually surprised how low key and adorable it was, and how much it avoids being even a little creepy when so much of the main series is about make wish fulfilment. Honestly like it more, I hope it stays like this. Sumi is relatable!
March 9, 2023
What a cute spin off, I really like sumi as a character so she is a perfect choice for her own series. It was a nice easy fun read and I'm liking the links to the main series.
Also I really need to have a word with the last guy who left the review, strong words need to be said after what he put...
Also I really need to have a word with the last guy who left the review, strong words need to be said after what he put...
August 11, 2021
เพิ่งเคยอ่านเเนวนี้ครับ เลยไม่ค่อยอินเท่าไหร่ แต่เอาใจช่วยครับ 555
December 29, 2021
sooo cute and wholesome; sumi best girl
January 3, 2022
Not as clever or charming as Komi Can't Communicate but at least it was less pervy than what I've read of the main series.
January 3, 2022
Not quite upto the main series but will be good to see where it goes in the next one
January 10, 2022
"No wall is too high for someone to overcome!"
Read
January 17, 2022I simply love sumi
August 24, 2022
Wow, some customers can be so rude, entitled and mean! You can do this Sumi-chan!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2023
*3.75
it wasn't really anything special but as someone with pretty severe anxiety I was able to relate to some of her anxious thoughts, so I appreciated that aspect of the story
it wasn't really anything special but as someone with pretty severe anxiety I was able to relate to some of her anxious thoughts, so I appreciated that aspect of the story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews