What do you think?
Rate this book
Cinderella Closet #1
Cinderella Closet Vol. 1
Haruka is a "plain jane" who left the countryside to start her college life at Tokyo. She's secretly in love with Kurotaki, a coworker at her part-time job, but she lacks the self-confidence to confess her feelings to him. Then she meets Hikaru, a glamorous but sharp-tongued fashionista who begrudingly agrees to play "fairy godmother" for Haruka. However, there's more to Hikaru than meets the eye!
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2019
15 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Wakana Yanai
12 books8 followersAssociated Names:
柳井若菜
Name (in native language): 柳井わかな
柳井若菜
Name (in native language): 柳井わかな
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
April 16, 2023
I think this might be my favorite read of this month because I LOVED this!
I took a chance on reading Cinderella Closet because I was really unsure about the makeover aspect of this story, but I VERY much related to Haruka! I haven't ever been super interested in makeup or fashion and her wanting to do both for a boy she likes, but feeling it's too late to do so reminded me so much of my high school self. I loved her honesty that she doesn't know what she's doing and needs Hikaru's help but also that she genuinely and meaningly thanks Hikaru for all their help.
I also will say that while this volume does have mini makeovers, I LOVE how Hikaru is adamant that confidence doesn't come from looking beautiful, but from how you carry yourself. That's not saying that we can't look pretty by wearing makeup because I also loved how Hikaru is supportive of that and says it's normal. Truly, there were so many little nuggets of encouragement for readers who DO and DON'T makeup that I was pleasantly surprised (even if Hikaru can at times be pretty harsh with what they say LOL)!
I also really liked Hikaru! I love the friendship they have with Harkua and how frank they are as it made way for plenty of humorous moments!
I'm earnestly looking forward to volume two! Definitely, a series to keep an eye on!
I took a chance on reading Cinderella Closet because I was really unsure about the makeover aspect of this story, but I VERY much related to Haruka! I haven't ever been super interested in makeup or fashion and her wanting to do both for a boy she likes, but feeling it's too late to do so reminded me so much of my high school self. I loved her honesty that she doesn't know what she's doing and needs Hikaru's help but also that she genuinely and meaningly thanks Hikaru for all their help.
I also will say that while this volume does have mini makeovers, I LOVE how Hikaru is adamant that confidence doesn't come from looking beautiful, but from how you carry yourself. That's not saying that we can't look pretty by wearing makeup because I also loved how Hikaru is supportive of that and says it's normal. Truly, there were so many little nuggets of encouragement for readers who DO and DON'T makeup that I was pleasantly surprised (even if Hikaru can at times be pretty harsh with what they say LOL)!
I also really liked Hikaru! I love the friendship they have with Harkua and how frank they are as it made way for plenty of humorous moments!
I'm earnestly looking forward to volume two! Definitely, a series to keep an eye on!
April 6, 2023
Haruka came to Tokyo with big dreams and wound up with no time to realize them. She’s attracted to her co-worker but has no idea how to dress herself up. Enter Hikaru, a fashionista with a sharp tongue and a killer eye who’s here to help as Haruka’s new gal pal. But Haruka’s about to learn just how wild Tokyo can get and it’s like nothing she could have imagined…
So, I would go into this book curious but knowing very little, as I did, so you too can hopefully enjoy a similar series of events, in chronological order:
1. Well, this heroine is fine, I guess, no confidence, big city dreams, guy crush, okay, got it.
2. Oh, he’s a little superficial and her dreams are kind of shallow. This isn’t great, meh. Like, what era was this written in?
3. Geeze, Hikaru is helpful but mean, is she a tsundere?
4. No, she’s just super awful, I don’t like this book much at all, ugh, it’s only the first chapter? This is gonna be a slog.
5. Right, your looks are your only worth, this is a great message story, holy, now it’s just trying to tick me off.
6. WAIT, WHAT!?!?
7. Give me the next book NOW.
Here’s the thing, I thought this story was off to a good start… at wasting a college-aged heroine who finds herself adrift after all the promises of graduation have evaporated. That’s a tried and true premise, which then utterly flounders as Haruka’s big plans involve being a traditional girl and getting a boy.
Haruka is fine as she is, absolutely fine, and Kurotaki, her crush, seems like a vapid and shallow idiot who means well, but also says things like, “You shouldn’t be lifting heavy things as a girl” and other half-chivalrous, half-misogynist nonsense. She should be way less into him, but sometimes people make bad choices.
Then Hikaru shows up as her fairy godmother and, in between acting like a shrew, helps Haruka become pretty and think better of herself. Which is fine, minus the acid on her tongue. By this point I was sharpening my knives for this review.
Then it turns out that there was a lot not being said here and when the story turns out to be playing poker instead of 52 pick-up and plays its hand, it reframes itself into something amazing.
And that transformation turns everything on its head, including my enjoyment, because suddenly these characters start to become very, very interesting and there is a depth here that wasn’t visibly there at the start.
Now, it’s not that they get better - all my complaints from above are still very valid, but they become far less of an issue and, in fact, begin to feed into the story and characterization rather than starve it of any content. Hikaru is not quite pure evil, but she’s not the helping hand that she first seems, that’s for sure.
I do not often pick sides in a story like this, but I assure you I know where Haruka’s life should take her and it’s hard not to get swept up in all this. Oh, yes, feelings are being wounded and notions are being demolished and it’s so dang good. It feels like the start of something special.
This just might wind up being a story about actually being yourself and not what you perceive the ideal version of you to be and how you don’t have to change to be appealing and I am here for it. And any other way the story wants to go.
It’s appropriate that this story is about expectations; I went in with curious eyes, then cynical ones, and then realized what was there the whole time. Maybe the story won’t drop your jaw like it did mine, but for those who get caught up in it, talk about special.
There’s no real downside here, even the bad stuff is pretty much a necessary prelude to amazing. It is thoughtful, infuriating, funny, smart, clever, and a lot of other superlatives. It may go a little melodramatic, or unrealistic, but not really (I’ve read way more coincidental stuff). Yes, this is probably only possible in a manga, but that’s a feature, not a bug.
5 stars - no, seriously, more now. Now now now.
So, I would go into this book curious but knowing very little, as I did, so you too can hopefully enjoy a similar series of events, in chronological order:
1. Well, this heroine is fine, I guess, no confidence, big city dreams, guy crush, okay, got it.
2. Oh, he’s a little superficial and her dreams are kind of shallow. This isn’t great, meh. Like, what era was this written in?
3. Geeze, Hikaru is helpful but mean, is she a tsundere?
4. No, she’s just super awful, I don’t like this book much at all, ugh, it’s only the first chapter? This is gonna be a slog.
5. Right, your looks are your only worth, this is a great message story, holy, now it’s just trying to tick me off.
6. WAIT, WHAT!?!?
7. Give me the next book NOW.
Here’s the thing, I thought this story was off to a good start… at wasting a college-aged heroine who finds herself adrift after all the promises of graduation have evaporated. That’s a tried and true premise, which then utterly flounders as Haruka’s big plans involve being a traditional girl and getting a boy.
Haruka is fine as she is, absolutely fine, and Kurotaki, her crush, seems like a vapid and shallow idiot who means well, but also says things like, “You shouldn’t be lifting heavy things as a girl” and other half-chivalrous, half-misogynist nonsense. She should be way less into him, but sometimes people make bad choices.
Then Hikaru shows up as her fairy godmother and, in between acting like a shrew, helps Haruka become pretty and think better of herself. Which is fine, minus the acid on her tongue. By this point I was sharpening my knives for this review.
Then it turns out that there was a lot not being said here and when the story turns out to be playing poker instead of 52 pick-up and plays its hand, it reframes itself into something amazing.
And that transformation turns everything on its head, including my enjoyment, because suddenly these characters start to become very, very interesting and there is a depth here that wasn’t visibly there at the start.
Now, it’s not that they get better - all my complaints from above are still very valid, but they become far less of an issue and, in fact, begin to feed into the story and characterization rather than starve it of any content. Hikaru is not quite pure evil, but she’s not the helping hand that she first seems, that’s for sure.
I do not often pick sides in a story like this, but I assure you I know where Haruka’s life should take her and it’s hard not to get swept up in all this. Oh, yes, feelings are being wounded and notions are being demolished and it’s so dang good. It feels like the start of something special.
This just might wind up being a story about actually being yourself and not what you perceive the ideal version of you to be and how you don’t have to change to be appealing and I am here for it. And any other way the story wants to go.
It’s appropriate that this story is about expectations; I went in with curious eyes, then cynical ones, and then realized what was there the whole time. Maybe the story won’t drop your jaw like it did mine, but for those who get caught up in it, talk about special.
There’s no real downside here, even the bad stuff is pretty much a necessary prelude to amazing. It is thoughtful, infuriating, funny, smart, clever, and a lot of other superlatives. It may go a little melodramatic, or unrealistic, but not really (I’ve read way more coincidental stuff). Yes, this is probably only possible in a manga, but that’s a feature, not a bug.
5 stars - no, seriously, more now. Now now now.
Read
March 20, 2024Imam problem sto ove mange prestaju da me odusevljavaju na pocetku i znam da moram da zadjem dublje da bih odlucila da li ce mi se svideti ali nekad me mrzi
June 14, 2023
I almost put this down after the first chapter, but then I remembered a friend with excellent taste loved it, so I kept reading - and I'm glad I did. It reminds me a bit of Princess Jellyfish, and that's not a comparison I make lightly!
July 15, 2025
Pretty interesting start to a manga with a somewhat unique concept. FMC encounters a very sharp cross dressing man, Hikaru, and they teach her how to dress up for her first ever date. The personality of the FMC doesn't seem to go far beyond naive country girl, but I like the relationship building between her and Hikaru.
The drama is only 2 episodes in at this point.
The drama is only 2 episodes in at this point.
March 11, 2024
ลายเส้นสวยอ่านง่าย เริ่มต้นมามีความเหมือนกับเรื่องอื่นบางจุดที่ฮารุกะ (นางเอก) เป็นเด็กเมืองรอง เข้าโตเกียวมาเรียนต่อ เป็นคนร่าเริง และอยากเปลี่ยนแปลงตัวเอง บางครั้งก็ขาดความมั่นใจ แล้วก็ตกหลุมรักเพื่อนร่วมงานที่ภาพลักษณ์เหมือนเจ้าชายในอุดมคติ ตั้งใจอยากเปลี่ยนการแต่งหน้าแต่งตัวเพื่อคนที่ชอบ จนได้มาเจอกับฮิคารุ หนุ่มแต่งสาว (ที่มองดูยังไงก็เหมือนผู้หญิงแต่กำเนิด) ฮารุกะจึงได้พึ่งพาฮิคารุในการเปลี่ยนตัวเอง จนได้เรียนรู้ว่าการแต่งหน้าคือการทำให้ตัวเองรู้สึกมั่นใจมากกว่าการสร้างตัวตนให้คนอื่นมาชอบ
เป็นอีกเรื่องที่อ่านปุ๊บและเครื่องติดทันที ตอนแรกเปิดมาธรรมดา ช่วงแรกฮารุกะมีความคิดกดตัวเองมากไปหน่อย เอาไปเทียบกับคนอื่น ๆ จนเกือบวาง แต่พอเจอฮิคารุแล้วได้รับคำพูดที่มีอิทธิพลจากฮิคารุ ฮารุกะก็ได้มี character development ที่เห็นได้ตั้งแต่เล่ม 1 เลย ซึ่งนับว่าเร็วดี
ส่วนตัวละครอย่างฮิคารุนี่ไม่แน่ใจว่าจะนิยามยังไงเพราะอาจารย์ก็ไม่ได้เฉลยในเล่มแปลล่าสุด (เล่ม 4) ว่าเขามีความสนใจในเรื่องความรัก (gender) ยังไง เพียงแต่ในมุมเราคิดว่าการแต่งตัวของฮิคารุคือการบอกว่าแฟชั่นมัน genderless ชอบอะไรก็แต่งแบบนั้น ซึ่งมันอาจไม่ได้ส่งผลต่อความรู้สึกรักชอบเลยก็ได้ ถ้าอาจารย์เอาจุดนี้มาเขียนด้วยน่าจะดีมาก จะได้เป็นการให้ความรู้ไปในตัว
คุโรทากิ (เพื่อนร่วมงาน/คนที่นางเอกชอบ) แกก็ใจดีเกินจนกลายเป็นความใจร้าย พาให้คนเข้าใจผิดนึกว่ามีใจ แต่จริง ๆ แกเป็นคนใจดีแบบนี้ก็ไม่ผิดแหละ เป็นคนที่ใจดี พูดชมคนอื่นแบบบริสุทธิ์ เข้ากับคนง่าย ภาพลักษณ์แบบนี้นี่มันคาแรกเตอร์พระเอกชัด ๆ แต่เล่มแรกนี่บทยังไม่เยอะมาก เลยดูจืด ๆ อยู่ ส่วนตัวรู้สึกทะแม่งหน่อย ๆ ตอนคุโรทากิเริ่มสนใจ (ชวนเดต) ฮารุกะหลังเปลี่ยน style แต่คิดในอีกมุมก็อาจจะเพราะเพิ่งรู้ตัวว่านางเอกสนใจตัวเองก็ได้
โดยรวมชอบความสัมพันธ์เพื่อนรักของฮารุกะกับฮิคารุ เป็นเรื่องที่เขียนให้ดี ๆ เอาหลายประเด็นมาขยี้ เช่น เรื่องชายแต่งลุค feminine การยอมรับทางสังคมและครอบครัว การทำงานในวงการแฟชั่น จะทำให้เป็นเรื่องที่น่าจดจำและน่าติดตามอีกเรื่องเลย
เป็นอีกเรื่องที่อ่านปุ๊บและเครื่องติดทันที ตอนแรกเปิดมาธรรมดา ช่วงแรกฮารุกะมีความคิดกดตัวเองมากไปหน่อย เอาไปเทียบกับคนอื่น ๆ จนเกือบวาง แต่พอเจอฮิคารุแล้วได้รับคำพูดที่มีอิทธิพลจากฮิคารุ ฮารุกะก็ได้มี character development ที่เห็นได้ตั้งแต่เล่ม 1 เลย ซึ่งนับว่าเร็วดี
ส่วนตัวละครอย่างฮิคารุนี่ไม่แน่ใจว่าจะนิยามยังไงเพราะอาจารย์ก็ไม่ได้เฉลยในเล่มแปลล่าสุด (เล่ม 4) ว่าเขามีความสนใจในเรื่องความรัก (gender) ยังไง เพียงแต่ในมุมเราคิดว่าการแต่งตัวของฮิคารุคือการบอกว่าแฟชั่นมัน genderless ชอบอะไรก็แต่งแบบนั้น ซึ่งมันอาจไม่ได้ส่งผลต่อความรู้สึกรักชอบเลยก็ได้ ถ้าอาจารย์เอาจุดนี้มาเขียนด้วยน่าจะดีมาก จะได้เป็นการให้ความรู้ไปในตัว
คุโรทากิ (เพื่อนร่วมงาน/คนที่นางเอกชอบ) แกก็ใจดีเกินจนกลายเป็นความใจร้าย พาให้คนเข้าใจผิดนึกว่ามีใจ แต่จริง ๆ แกเป็นคนใจดีแบบนี้ก็ไม่ผิดแหละ เป็นคนที่ใจดี พูดชมคนอื่นแบบบริสุทธิ์ เข้ากับคนง่าย ภาพลักษณ์แบบนี้นี่มันคาแรกเตอร์พระเอกชัด ๆ แต่เล่มแรกนี่บทยังไม่เยอะมาก เลยดูจืด ๆ อยู่ ส่วนตัวรู้สึกทะแม่งหน่อย ๆ ตอนคุโรทากิเริ่มสนใจ (ชวนเดต) ฮารุกะหลังเปลี่ยน style แต่คิดในอีกมุมก็อาจจะเพราะเพิ่งรู้ตัวว่านางเอกสนใจตัวเองก็ได้
โดยรวมชอบความสัมพันธ์เพื่อนรักของฮารุกะกับฮิคารุ เป็นเรื่องที่เขียนให้ดี ๆ เอาหลายประเด็นมาขยี้ เช่น เรื่องชายแต่งลุค feminine การยอมรับทางสังคมและครอบครัว การทำงานในวงการแฟชั่น จะทำให้เป็นเรื่องที่น่าจดจำและน่าติดตามอีกเรื่องเลย
October 16, 2025
Right off the bat, this reminds me of Princess Jellyfish. That series doesn't have a monopoly on such tropes, but the two characters are introduced in such a similar way that it's hard to ignore. I can't see Kurotaki being endgame given how shallow and boring he is. And while I do like Hikaru and thinks he has more chemistry with Haruka, I need more convincing more I'm invested in them as a couple. While my review leans negative, I actually enjoy how Hikaru is adamant about how makeup and fashion can't be used as a crutch for poor self-esteem.
July 29, 2025
this was so cute. i’m in love the concept. fashion, queerness, cross dressing, romance?? sign me UP!!! also haruka and hikaru are so cute. i adore their dynamic sm. my only real issue with this story is that it’s too fast paced for my liking lol. i know it’s a shoujo so fast paced comes with the territory but it’s only volume 1, i want at least a bit of a slow burn :,) anyways it’s whatever idk. looking forward to vol 2 and will be starting the drama !!!!!!!
September 24, 2023
went into this blind so was not expecting the main twist, but I love the premise so far! haruka’s a bit of a doormat though….her extremely low self-esteem makes sense for her character/the whole makeover premise, but damn she really was leaning into the ‘he’s doing me a favor by dating me’ thing which made me so irritated haha. also kurotaki seems okay so far but very focused on looks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2023
Feels like I've read this type of story many times before in manga. Characters and plot are a bit dull and generic so far.
August 13, 2024
i love this so much, i am obsessed, hikaru you ICON
July 13, 2025
cutesy cutesy
July 16, 2025
AH ESTO ME ESTÁ GUSTANDO MUCHOOOO
July 21, 2025
It was ok. Usually, I need more backstory on the MCs and a slower speed of story to drama ratio.This was recommended by my daughter, who loved it. I am not sure if this medium is for me, but I'll give it another try.
October 9, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
August 18, 2025
Tremenda Joya hermosa que se cruzó en mi camino, hasta ahora solo he leido los primeros dos volumenes y es el tipo de manga que me gusta, y que a medida que voy leyendo me abraza el corazón.
Hikaru es 100% mi tipo de hombre, es una green flag andante y la forma que trata a Haruka es un pedacito de cielo, sus outfits son re Iconicos, y realmente me parecen la cosa más cool del universo.
Haruka por otra parte es el alma más linda y pura l mundo, hay que protegerla a toda costa :D
Ahora, la forma en que se conocen es re random, pero muy linda, la forma en que ambos conectan es tan organica que me hace querer seguir leyendo para saber a que llegará todo.
Llegué al manga gracias a la adaptación Live action que salió.
No puedo esperar a seguir leyendo sobre mi nueva OTP.
Hikaru es 100% mi tipo de hombre, es una green flag andante y la forma que trata a Haruka es un pedacito de cielo, sus outfits son re Iconicos, y realmente me parecen la cosa más cool del universo.
Haruka por otra parte es el alma más linda y pura l mundo, hay que protegerla a toda costa :D
Ahora, la forma en que se conocen es re random, pero muy linda, la forma en que ambos conectan es tan organica que me hace querer seguir leyendo para saber a que llegará todo.
Llegué al manga gracias a la adaptación Live action que salió.
No puedo esperar a seguir leyendo sobre mi nueva OTP.
April 8, 2023
El que jo veig aquí és una noia a qui la vida adulta se li fa bola, en concret la vida de dona adulta que la societat espera d'ella, i sincerament, l'entenc a la perfecció ^^' això sí, té uns objectius vitals i un autoodi molt tòxics. La tia es desviu entre els estudis i la feina sense temps per preocupar-se per l'estètica, però a la vegada anhela tenir xicot i que la consideri mona... Els altres dos protes són el crush de la noia, el típic fuckboy petardo que anirà evolucionant al llarg de la sèrie i el Hikaru, que apareix com una noia guapíssima a l'última moda, però que acaba sent un noi transvestit i seductor que crea una relació força ambigua amb la prota. La veritat és que no m'agrada el triangle amorós perquè no em cauen bé i no hi empatitzo... El Hikaru és l'únic que sembla tenir les coses clares i una mentalitat madura, però no vull que s'emparelli amb la tòtila de la prota, no m'encaixa. Em llegiré el següent volum, però no tinc gaires esperances :(
June 1, 2022
Eine sehr süße Geschichte.
Haruka ist mir sehr sympathisch weil sie mir wirklich sehr ähnlich ist.
Kurotaki scheint ein wirklich netter Junge zu sein.
Hiraku finde ich die meiste Zeit einfach nur total gemein.
Viel passiert nicht auf den wenigen Seiten, daher lässt es sich schnell durchlesen.
Ich bin gespannt wie sich die Dinge zwischen den dreien entwickeln werden.
Haruka ist mir sehr sympathisch weil sie mir wirklich sehr ähnlich ist.
Kurotaki scheint ein wirklich netter Junge zu sein.
Hiraku finde ich die meiste Zeit einfach nur total gemein.
Viel passiert nicht auf den wenigen Seiten, daher lässt es sich schnell durchlesen.
Ich bin gespannt wie sich die Dinge zwischen den dreien entwickeln werden.
May 10, 2023
Ok, I may be slightly obsessed with this title. If you are a lover of Princess Jellyfish, I think you will enjoy this title. It has some of the same tropes, but it has a little more of a hot mess feel, but in the absolutely best way. I am so excited, and want the second volume already!
December 4, 2022
So cute!!! Really enjoying this so far!!!
September 12, 2024
I had no expectations starting this, but I LOVED it omg. I need to continue reading right now immediately
July 11, 2025
3.5 stars
February 4, 2025
(Full series review)
The Cinderella Closet manga series is incredibly underrated. It has easily become one of my favorites!
It offers a very lovely story following a young lady as she discovers herself and who she wants to be—as well as what she wants out of a romantic partner. This manga series is not at all superficial, and is NOT one of those "take off your glasses and then you'll be beautiful" sort of glow-up stories. Becoming your true self is possible even without going through a transformation in appearance.
However, makeup does play an important role in the story and is justified in its usage in a variety of ways, which really adds a nice touch to the message of the story. Even though there isn't a magical transformation for the FL, we still often see a variety of hairstyles and outfits for multiple characters, in addition to a clean and modern art style that is just incredibly cute.
Not to mention this is all wrapped up in an exciting romantic adventure!
When I first started this series, I thought it would be a more teen-focused story based on the cover, but it actually follows young adults who are either in university or just starting their careers, so the characters are all of a more mature age and headspace. The romance and storytelling is still fitting for that of a shoujo, however, so if you love a shoujo setting with a slightly older cast, this series could be a great pick for you!
I really enjoyed every aspect of Cinderella Closet; the plot, the characters, the art, and how it was all wrapped up in the end—everything about the series just felt well thought-out and intentional. I am for sure looking forward to any future series written by Wakana Yanai!
The Cinderella Closet manga series is incredibly underrated. It has easily become one of my favorites!
It offers a very lovely story following a young lady as she discovers herself and who she wants to be—as well as what she wants out of a romantic partner. This manga series is not at all superficial, and is NOT one of those "take off your glasses and then you'll be beautiful" sort of glow-up stories. Becoming your true self is possible even without going through a transformation in appearance.
However, makeup does play an important role in the story and is justified in its usage in a variety of ways, which really adds a nice touch to the message of the story. Even though there isn't a magical transformation for the FL, we still often see a variety of hairstyles and outfits for multiple characters, in addition to a clean and modern art style that is just incredibly cute.
Not to mention this is all wrapped up in an exciting romantic adventure!
When I first started this series, I thought it would be a more teen-focused story based on the cover, but it actually follows young adults who are either in university or just starting their careers, so the characters are all of a more mature age and headspace. The romance and storytelling is still fitting for that of a shoujo, however, so if you love a shoujo setting with a slightly older cast, this series could be a great pick for you!
I really enjoyed every aspect of Cinderella Closet; the plot, the characters, the art, and how it was all wrapped up in the end—everything about the series just felt well thought-out and intentional. I am for sure looking forward to any future series written by Wakana Yanai!
July 16, 2023
Upon entering college in the big city, Haruka is hoping to reinvent herself!
But, once she reaches Tokyo, Haruka realizes life is far from what we imagine. Between school and working all the time, Haruka barely has any time to do any of the things on her wishlist—especially when it comes to dating.
Haruka’s been hoping to find a boyfriend. In fact, she’s been crushing on her kind and handsome co-worker, Kurotaki, for a while now. She’s afraid he doesn’t see her as anything more than a friend. And, why would he see a “plain jane” like her as anything else?
By chance, Haruka bumps into Hikaru one day. Hikaru is tall, beautiful, and fashionable. Always put together and looking fabulous. Haruka begs for their help!
Hikaru agrees to play along but is there more to Hikaru than meets the eye…
Will Hikaru be able to be the “fairy godmother” Haruka needs?
This is SO DELIGHTFUL & SO MUCH FUN!
I really enjoyed this story! This first volume has a lot of exposition but it doesn’t feel overwhelming. I feel like readers get a pretty good understanding of the personalities of most of the main cast while enough information is withheld to keep readers interested in learning more, particularly about the backgrounds of the characters.
I really appreciate the dynamic between Haruka and Hikaru. Their snippy commentary and budding, very wholesome relationship keeps the story moving.
Overall, I’m excited about this story and I hope that we get to see sone more introspection and character development going forward. I’m very interested in how Hikaru’s character is treated as the story progresses~
But, once she reaches Tokyo, Haruka realizes life is far from what we imagine. Between school and working all the time, Haruka barely has any time to do any of the things on her wishlist—especially when it comes to dating.
Haruka’s been hoping to find a boyfriend. In fact, she’s been crushing on her kind and handsome co-worker, Kurotaki, for a while now. She’s afraid he doesn’t see her as anything more than a friend. And, why would he see a “plain jane” like her as anything else?
By chance, Haruka bumps into Hikaru one day. Hikaru is tall, beautiful, and fashionable. Always put together and looking fabulous. Haruka begs for their help!
Hikaru agrees to play along but is there more to Hikaru than meets the eye…
Will Hikaru be able to be the “fairy godmother” Haruka needs?
This is SO DELIGHTFUL & SO MUCH FUN!
I really enjoyed this story! This first volume has a lot of exposition but it doesn’t feel overwhelming. I feel like readers get a pretty good understanding of the personalities of most of the main cast while enough information is withheld to keep readers interested in learning more, particularly about the backgrounds of the characters.
I really appreciate the dynamic between Haruka and Hikaru. Their snippy commentary and budding, very wholesome relationship keeps the story moving.
Overall, I’m excited about this story and I hope that we get to see sone more introspection and character development going forward. I’m very interested in how Hikaru’s character is treated as the story progresses~
November 19, 2025
THREE STARS: this is excellent, but by my personal metric it's not something I'm sure I'll reread
So what happened is that I watched the first five minutes of the drama, and two minutes of Matsumoto Leo's performance of Hikaru made me go "okay, I need to read the manga first, because I am already way too invested."
(I don't mind being "spoiled" on a story, I am a chronic re-reader, sometimes I want to know the story in order to be able to relax and enjoy it. Although there are exceptions, I usually end up being more emotionally vulnerable to the live action version overall, so reading the manga is like giving myself emotional training wheels.)
This title got brought up at a Dragoncon 2025 panel on anime and fashion, and I forget the question, but I remember the person conducting the panel said something along the lines of romances between cross-dressing men and straight women allowed for exploration of x-gender. Which is fine, and dandy, and the panelist overall was super excellent, but I was frustrated with the answer anyway -- and it took actually sitting down with the manga to sort out why.
I didn't gel with that answer because it centers Hikaru, the guy. It glosses over Haruka, the girl, who is knowingly engaging (in friendship and more) with a cross-dresser. And once we center Haruka, the appeal of this story is so explicitly clear: the fantasy of befriending the gorgeous, "mean" femme lesbian and eventually falling in mean girl femme/soft girl femme love with her.
Japanese gender and social politics are messy as hell. I read a lot of yuri (I read everything, but I especially read everything gay) and there's... a certain bite to it that's missing. I think that's because of those superloaded, overloaded, gender and social politics. If Hikaru were a girl, their (I don't have access to the Japanese but I'm guessing Hikaru's pronouns/speech switches up depending on their presentation in the actual text, so I'm using they/them in this review) excellence at feminine performance would be read as innate, and by contrast Haruka would be innately flawed. This way, it really does center the performance AS a performance, the skill it takes, the investment, the actual work behind the scenes. I love the little asides like Hikaru's lectures on one-pieces vs separates, or carrying around band aids for dressy shoes, I love the acknowledgement that different feminine aesthetics work for Haruka and Hikaru because of hair, body type, personality, etc.
Likewise Haruka might be encouraged to be "more masculine" if this were an outright queer relationships, because that happens, even outside of stratified societies like Japan: if one partner's feminine performance is elite and more conventional, there's this idea the secondary partner might feel inferior in contrast, so they try to assume different aesthetics or even emotional nuances. But instead, Haruka is encouraged to interact with overtly performed femininity as play, and both a) a natural part of preening for an intended partner and b) an essential part of celebrating herself and her own enjoyment of the performance, for herself.
Which is not to say femme/femme relationships don't exist in yuri, of course they do, I own almost all of those titles. But people react to them weird, even audiences who should be unburdened by those specific gender and social politics: Citrus has the romantic pairing in direct conflict so people call it "toxic," Girlfriends has them friends throughout so people call it "boring." Women, especially queer women, just can't fucking win sometimes.
But Hikaru is a guy. Gender roles in Japan are rigid as fuck (the current emergence of x-gender as an embraced concept aside), so they're not nonbinary or a trans lesbian: they're a cross-dressing guy. When their mannerisms are traditionally "feminine" -- neat and clean, invested in fashion and performance, antagonistic toward the guy Haruka is actually aiming for -- they get to be refreshing and different, not a girl who makes the lead seem less-than or might actually be threatening a socially-acceptable heterosexual pairing. (Because they have an alternate heterosexual pairing to offer.) And when they're traditionally "masculine" -- confident, blunt, express negative emotions openly and freely, more or less in control of any situations involving both them and Haruka -- it's either played for laughs (instead of condemnation) to see such a feminine person act that way, or a subtextual assuaging of the (presumed) heterosexual female audience's anxieties about this unorthodox set-up: Hikaru is still a guy, in the end. (I'm just really glad that )
And it does something I personally appreciate, which is allow the partner who is still feminine but less... conventionally successful at it to still be the person who falls in love second, who gets to be admired for her qualities even if they don't meet traditional expectations. Ironic, considering it's the mean femme lesbian who got me into this storyfor tragically obvious reasons, but it's part of the essential shoujo fantasy for the more unorthodox girl to get to be the object of desire, and I didn't realize how much of that was missing from yuri titles until Cinderella Closet. And besides, Haruka is so openly, consistently, doggedly adoring of Hikaru and every aspect of their performance and personality, it's not like that's ever in question. The question becomes how will that adoration become romantic love, and I'm seated, it's an interesting narrative snarl.
It is, bizarrely, both more queer and less queer than actual queer titles: more queer in the investigation of feminine performance (because OH BOY we have not gotten into how often afab characters are policed into "feminine" emotion and expression as a "redemption" for masculine presentation, even in shoujo, EVEN IN YURI), but less queer in the dismantling of social expectation outside of that performance.
It might get more queer as we go! I'm game. I'm hoping for more development of the characters, more insight into gender as roles and performance, maybe even some queering of the "heterosexual" love between Haruka and Hikaru. I might get it, I might not! I'll be generous and give this first volume the tag, regardless.
So what happened is that I watched the first five minutes of the drama, and two minutes of Matsumoto Leo's performance of Hikaru made me go "okay, I need to read the manga first, because I am already way too invested."
(I don't mind being "spoiled" on a story, I am a chronic re-reader, sometimes I want to know the story in order to be able to relax and enjoy it. Although there are exceptions, I usually end up being more emotionally vulnerable to the live action version overall, so reading the manga is like giving myself emotional training wheels.)
This title got brought up at a Dragoncon 2025 panel on anime and fashion, and I forget the question, but I remember the person conducting the panel said something along the lines of romances between cross-dressing men and straight women allowed for exploration of x-gender. Which is fine, and dandy, and the panelist overall was super excellent, but I was frustrated with the answer anyway -- and it took actually sitting down with the manga to sort out why.
I didn't gel with that answer because it centers Hikaru, the guy. It glosses over Haruka, the girl, who is knowingly engaging (in friendship and more) with a cross-dresser. And once we center Haruka, the appeal of this story is so explicitly clear: the fantasy of befriending the gorgeous, "mean" femme lesbian and eventually falling in mean girl femme/soft girl femme love with her.
Japanese gender and social politics are messy as hell. I read a lot of yuri (I read everything, but I especially read everything gay) and there's... a certain bite to it that's missing. I think that's because of those superloaded, overloaded, gender and social politics. If Hikaru were a girl, their (I don't have access to the Japanese but I'm guessing Hikaru's pronouns/speech switches up depending on their presentation in the actual text, so I'm using they/them in this review) excellence at feminine performance would be read as innate, and by contrast Haruka would be innately flawed. This way, it really does center the performance AS a performance, the skill it takes, the investment, the actual work behind the scenes. I love the little asides like Hikaru's lectures on one-pieces vs separates, or carrying around band aids for dressy shoes, I love the acknowledgement that different feminine aesthetics work for Haruka and Hikaru because of hair, body type, personality, etc.
Likewise Haruka might be encouraged to be "more masculine" if this were an outright queer relationships, because that happens, even outside of stratified societies like Japan: if one partner's feminine performance is elite and more conventional, there's this idea the secondary partner might feel inferior in contrast, so they try to assume different aesthetics or even emotional nuances. But instead, Haruka is encouraged to interact with overtly performed femininity as play, and both a) a natural part of preening for an intended partner and b) an essential part of celebrating herself and her own enjoyment of the performance, for herself.
Which is not to say femme/femme relationships don't exist in yuri, of course they do, I own almost all of those titles. But people react to them weird, even audiences who should be unburdened by those specific gender and social politics: Citrus has the romantic pairing in direct conflict so people call it "toxic," Girlfriends has them friends throughout so people call it "boring." Women, especially queer women, just can't fucking win sometimes.
But Hikaru is a guy. Gender roles in Japan are rigid as fuck (the current emergence of x-gender as an embraced concept aside), so they're not nonbinary or a trans lesbian: they're a cross-dressing guy. When their mannerisms are traditionally "feminine" -- neat and clean, invested in fashion and performance, antagonistic toward the guy Haruka is actually aiming for -- they get to be refreshing and different, not a girl who makes the lead seem less-than or might actually be threatening a socially-acceptable heterosexual pairing. (Because they have an alternate heterosexual pairing to offer.) And when they're traditionally "masculine" -- confident, blunt, express negative emotions openly and freely, more or less in control of any situations involving both them and Haruka -- it's either played for laughs (instead of condemnation) to see such a feminine person act that way, or a subtextual assuaging of the (presumed) heterosexual female audience's anxieties about this unorthodox set-up: Hikaru is still a guy, in the end. (I'm just really glad that )
And it does something I personally appreciate, which is allow the partner who is still feminine but less... conventionally successful at it to still be the person who falls in love second, who gets to be admired for her qualities even if they don't meet traditional expectations. Ironic, considering it's the mean femme lesbian who got me into this story
It is, bizarrely, both more queer and less queer than actual queer titles: more queer in the investigation of feminine performance (because OH BOY we have not gotten into how often afab characters are policed into "feminine" emotion and expression as a "redemption" for masculine presentation, even in shoujo, EVEN IN YURI), but less queer in the dismantling of social expectation outside of that performance.
It might get more queer as we go! I'm game. I'm hoping for more development of the characters, more insight into gender as roles and performance, maybe even some queering of the "heterosexual" love between Haruka and Hikaru. I might get it, I might not! I'll be generous and give this first volume the tag, regardless.
March 25, 2024
don't know why this entry uses the german edition of the summary and title but sure whatever lol.
anyways, i found this to be a very relatable and "human" manga (not sure how else to put it) in a great way. our cast aren't just perfect little characters, they feel like actual people with nuances and flawed beliefs. it was great seeing haruka's mindset develop through her friendship with hikaru and watching hikaru further enjoy being friends and uplifting haruka.
there were times where some of the ideas rubbed me the wrong way, but i think it was intentional and they'll probably address that in future volumes? for example, i don't know how quite to describe it, but i was occasionally upset with how it feels like haruka constantly set such a rigid standard of what being feminine means to her? though i think thats addressed in the manga so whatever.
im happy to see mentions and positive depictions of other cultures and identities. like haruka's open mindedness to hikaru maybe being a different gender identity and his choice to cross dress.
overall fantastic manga--there might not be some crazy out there plot with a fast paced story, but a wonderful casual slice of life romance. cant wait to read future volumes
anyways, i found this to be a very relatable and "human" manga (not sure how else to put it) in a great way. our cast aren't just perfect little characters, they feel like actual people with nuances and flawed beliefs. it was great seeing haruka's mindset develop through her friendship with hikaru and watching hikaru further enjoy being friends and uplifting haruka.
there were times where some of the ideas rubbed me the wrong way, but i think it was intentional and they'll probably address that in future volumes? for example, i don't know how quite to describe it, but i was occasionally upset with how it feels like haruka constantly set such a rigid standard of what being feminine means to her? though i think thats addressed in the manga so whatever.
im happy to see mentions and positive depictions of other cultures and identities. like haruka's open mindedness to hikaru maybe being a different gender identity and his choice to cross dress.
overall fantastic manga--there might not be some crazy out there plot with a fast paced story, but a wonderful casual slice of life romance. cant wait to read future volumes
May 25, 2025
3.5
I can see my younger self enjoying this. At the time I was reading any slightly queer adjacent things not knowing I was really wanting to read more queer stories. This is an exploration of gender expression (the mc crossdresses, there is a lot of opinion and nuance of this pertaining to queerness). But we still have the typical, safe shoujo trappings. I do love, love atypical (from formulaic fiction) dynamics in relationships. So this kind of works for me, but when you get down to it, this feels VERY shoujo. I am curious to see how the author continues to handle the mc's expression of gender. Maybe I will continue. I just have the fear of being queerbaited/gaslit IF this story goes in a certain direction?
Love a sporty main character who isn't naturally girly
Don't care for a love triangle, but I don't hate it here 100% 🤷🏼♀️
I can see my younger self enjoying this. At the time I was reading any slightly queer adjacent things not knowing I was really wanting to read more queer stories. This is an exploration of gender expression (the mc crossdresses, there is a lot of opinion and nuance of this pertaining to queerness). But we still have the typical, safe shoujo trappings. I do love, love atypical (from formulaic fiction) dynamics in relationships. So this kind of works for me, but when you get down to it, this feels VERY shoujo. I am curious to see how the author continues to handle the mc's expression of gender. Maybe I will continue. I just have the fear of being queerbaited/gaslit IF this story goes in a certain direction?
Love a sporty main character who isn't naturally girly
Don't care for a love triangle, but I don't hate it here 100% 🤷🏼♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2023
Okay this is such a fun and exciting series! Love how volume one kicks off the story and I’m looking forward to seeing where the romance goes from here. It looks like we have a love triangle and the overall story is giving me similar vibes to princess jellyfish which was a favorite anime of mine so that already has this one feeling a lot of potential for me. I am loving the gender expression and creativity of how you present yourself isn’t this big deal to our fmc. I think having it as a no big deal I still see you are care for you as a person and not asking them to change is really nice to see and not like the whole drama plot. Obviously this is only going off of what I’ve seen so far in Volume one but let’s hope the rest of the series can be as “stress free” and respectful as possible.
January 1, 2024
Makeup and fashion are often seen as keys to the feminine kingdom. Every girl is expected to not only know how to use them, but excel and if you don’t? Well, you tend to be forgotten or ignored for those who stand out more. This lovely world is also seen as the domain of the gay man, a prerequisite in their attention to be even more fabulous than before. Haruka doesn’t feel like she fits in either of these worlds and really isn’t sure what to do to get Kurotaki’s attention. All she does is eat, sleep, study and work. How is there supposed to be time for anything else...
Read the full review at Well, Are They? A Queer Review Blog:
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2023...
Read the full review at Well, Are They? A Queer Review Blog:
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2023...
March 9, 2024
4.5 stars
Honestly, this was so good! I was a bit iffy about the whole “I need to become pretty for my crush”-theme when going into it, because I do not support girls (or anyone) changing and not being true to themselves for another person. However, though it was thematised, I LOVE Hikaru. Kinda hoped for that twist to happen, very very happen that it actually was true, and am definitely team Hikaru through and through. Love the way Hikaru tries to give Haruka confidence, not only by helping her “become pretty”, but also by talking her up, being there for her and trying to lift her spirits. Cannot wait to continue!
Honestly, this was so good! I was a bit iffy about the whole “I need to become pretty for my crush”-theme when going into it, because I do not support girls (or anyone) changing and not being true to themselves for another person. However, though it was thematised, I LOVE Hikaru. Kinda hoped for that twist to happen, very very happen that it actually was true, and am definitely team Hikaru through and through. Love the way Hikaru tries to give Haruka confidence, not only by helping her “become pretty”, but also by talking her up, being there for her and trying to lift her spirits. Cannot wait to continue!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews