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百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。 [Momose Akira no Hatsukoi Hatanchuu.] #1
Akira Failing in Love, Vol. 1
A chaotic comedy of high school courtship between an awkward girl and a dorky boy too dense to realize they are already in love with each other.
Akira returns to the countryside for high school with a foolproof plan to win the heart of her childhood crush Hajime. Too bad they’re both fools in love… It’s an epic match made in awkwardness!
Highlights of Akira’s carefully orchestrated strategy to court Hajime include covering his eyes with her hands, tricking him into saying her name, and making his heart race… But she might have better luck impressing him with her academic and athletic prowess. Or not. Because he’s too dense to figure out that he likes him, and she’s too dense to figure out he likes her back!
Akira returns to the countryside for high school with a foolproof plan to win the heart of her childhood crush Hajime. Too bad they’re both fools in love… It’s an epic match made in awkwardness!
Highlights of Akira’s carefully orchestrated strategy to court Hajime include covering his eyes with her hands, tricking him into saying her name, and making his heart race… But she might have better luck impressing him with her academic and athletic prowess. Or not. Because he’s too dense to figure out that he likes him, and she’s too dense to figure out he likes her back!
216 pages, Paperback
Published March 10, 2026
9 people are currently reading
5463 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 18, 2026
I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes.
This was such a cute manga!
I loved the premise. It’s about two teens who have a crush on each other, but both of them are clueless that the other likes them.
Both lead characters, Akira and Hajime, were delightfully awkward and endearing. You can’t help but root for them to get together. However, there isn’t much about them other than the fact they like each other. Hopefully, we will ll learn more about them (and their friends) in future volumes.
The story was simple but very sweet. I enjoyed their (failed) attempts at flirting which were sometimes so relatable. These moments were comical but had a charm to them. I particularly loved how Akira needed some sort of script to talk to Hajime. That aspect captured being young and having a crush well.
The artwork was slightly chaotic, but in a good way. The chaos added to the humor. The art was also very expressive and dramatic which helped convey the characters’ feelings well and made reading the story feel like watching an anime.
Overall, I found this manga to be an entertaining and charming read. I look forward to seeing their romance unfold. if you’re looking for an adorably cute manga to fall in love with, consider reading this one!
This was such a cute manga!
I loved the premise. It’s about two teens who have a crush on each other, but both of them are clueless that the other likes them.
Both lead characters, Akira and Hajime, were delightfully awkward and endearing. You can’t help but root for them to get together. However, there isn’t much about them other than the fact they like each other. Hopefully, we will ll learn more about them (and their friends) in future volumes.
The story was simple but very sweet. I enjoyed their (failed) attempts at flirting which were sometimes so relatable. These moments were comical but had a charm to them. I particularly loved how Akira needed some sort of script to talk to Hajime. That aspect captured being young and having a crush well.
The artwork was slightly chaotic, but in a good way. The chaos added to the humor. The art was also very expressive and dramatic which helped convey the characters’ feelings well and made reading the story feel like watching an anime.
Overall, I found this manga to be an entertaining and charming read. I look forward to seeing their romance unfold. if you’re looking for an adorably cute manga to fall in love with, consider reading this one!
December 6, 2025
This was such a cute read! Would be perfect in springtime, but even now it felt like a bit of sunshine on a gloomy day. 🌺
In Akira Falling in Love we witness a reunion of two former schoolmates, Akira and Momose. What follows is a hilarious chain of awkward moments as our protagonists don't realise they have feelings for each other! I could see myself in some of those moments, as others probably will too, which made reading this even more relatable and comforting. Being the first volume in a series, this one served as an introduction to the story, but one that made me excited to follow along. Will be looking forward to reading more!
Thank you to NetGalley, Shinta Harekawa and VIZ Media for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。 1 aka "Akira Falling in Love" Volume 1 will be out March 10th, 2026!
In Akira Falling in Love we witness a reunion of two former schoolmates, Akira and Momose. What follows is a hilarious chain of awkward moments as our protagonists don't realise they have feelings for each other! I could see myself in some of those moments, as others probably will too, which made reading this even more relatable and comforting. Being the first volume in a series, this one served as an introduction to the story, but one that made me excited to follow along. Will be looking forward to reading more!
Thank you to NetGalley, Shinta Harekawa and VIZ Media for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。 1 aka "Akira Falling in Love" Volume 1 will be out March 10th, 2026!
March 18, 2026
They are both so dumb—and I love them so much.
Um, this is a GREAT first volume???? I had so much FUN reading this.
Watching Akira trying to charm Hajime through increasingly elaborate schemes is equal parts endearing and silly. (Until otherwise confirmed, my headcanon is that Akira is an autistic queen btw. She’s got that hot-tism.)
The humor reminds me very much of “Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun”. It’s both clever and situational with great hooks to the gags. Though some things are repeated, it never feels overwrought.
Also, these characters feel like real teenagers—who are awkward but earnest and just trying to make connections with each other and the world.
Again, it’s all SO endearing.
Highly recommend! This is an unexpected top manga read of the year so far~
Um, this is a GREAT first volume???? I had so much FUN reading this.
Watching Akira trying to charm Hajime through increasingly elaborate schemes is equal parts endearing and silly. (Until otherwise confirmed, my headcanon is that Akira is an autistic queen btw. She’s got that hot-tism.)
The humor reminds me very much of “Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun”. It’s both clever and situational with great hooks to the gags. Though some things are repeated, it never feels overwrought.
Also, these characters feel like real teenagers—who are awkward but earnest and just trying to make connections with each other and the world.
Again, it’s all SO endearing.
Highly recommend! This is an unexpected top manga read of the year so far~
March 11, 2026
This exists in a weird place for me where the main storyline isn’t quite gripping me, but I could see it doing so very easily if the next volume catches me in the right mood. It has a lot of potential, basically.
Oh, it is the most basic plot of all - ‘guy falls for girl he thinks he has no chance with, but girl already loves him and just can’t express it’. This is a story about lack of communication meeting miscommunication. It’s a slightly more functional Komi Can’t Communicate.
However, it is also cripplingly funny at times and its sense of humour has such a wacky vibe that it was hard not to get pulled along. Hajime and Akira aren’t doing anything amazing, but they aren’t a chore to spend time with.
The two things this does well are not take itself seriously and quietly give us real characters. As I mentioned, this nearly broke me a couple times. There is a running gag about an endlessly repeated chapter opening that refers to the coming of spring and it keeps getting weirder and weirder. By the time it was into the bear attacks and the salmon insemination class it was legitimately my favourite part of the story.
Hajime is nursing a crush on Akira and dares not to dream of seeing it realized, but his friend is right to the side, ready to happily inform everybody of how little he cares about this. It’s not new, but I liked having him around. His line about stress eating was great.
While he might seem like a potato, Hajime has a couple of character traits and that means he has two more than many of these protagonists. His pride in his lack of academic ability and complete aversion to getting hurt are good choices - I loved the way that last one played out during sports day.
Akira is hyper competent and smart (the montages that express this are pretty clever), but she goes to pieces trying to talk to Hajime. And that’s when she has notes to read from. She might also overestimate her athletic prowess and cooking ability, in case you haven’t seen that trope in a bit.
A lot of the less successful comedy involves Akira trying to talk to Hajime and her coming across like an emotionless psychopath. The horror movie moment in the closet was good, but that was more the exception for me.
The artwork on this happens to be absolutely stunning, which really doesn’t hurt. Whenever the comedy flags for a moment you can just enjoy the images. It really does help it go down smoother.
Which implies this is bad, but it isn’t. Far from it, but not so removed that I want to call it good. I think ‘very funny, but a little clunky’ best describes it. I am here to see how that goes next time though.
3.5 stars - I mean, it’s so basic, but dang is it ever nailing some of those jokes. I have hopes that we’ll be going up from here, but I’ll keep reading it even at this level.
Oh, it is the most basic plot of all - ‘guy falls for girl he thinks he has no chance with, but girl already loves him and just can’t express it’. This is a story about lack of communication meeting miscommunication. It’s a slightly more functional Komi Can’t Communicate.
However, it is also cripplingly funny at times and its sense of humour has such a wacky vibe that it was hard not to get pulled along. Hajime and Akira aren’t doing anything amazing, but they aren’t a chore to spend time with.
The two things this does well are not take itself seriously and quietly give us real characters. As I mentioned, this nearly broke me a couple times. There is a running gag about an endlessly repeated chapter opening that refers to the coming of spring and it keeps getting weirder and weirder. By the time it was into the bear attacks and the salmon insemination class it was legitimately my favourite part of the story.
Hajime is nursing a crush on Akira and dares not to dream of seeing it realized, but his friend is right to the side, ready to happily inform everybody of how little he cares about this. It’s not new, but I liked having him around. His line about stress eating was great.
While he might seem like a potato, Hajime has a couple of character traits and that means he has two more than many of these protagonists. His pride in his lack of academic ability and complete aversion to getting hurt are good choices - I loved the way that last one played out during sports day.
Akira is hyper competent and smart (the montages that express this are pretty clever), but she goes to pieces trying to talk to Hajime. And that’s when she has notes to read from. She might also overestimate her athletic prowess and cooking ability, in case you haven’t seen that trope in a bit.
A lot of the less successful comedy involves Akira trying to talk to Hajime and her coming across like an emotionless psychopath. The horror movie moment in the closet was good, but that was more the exception for me.
The artwork on this happens to be absolutely stunning, which really doesn’t hurt. Whenever the comedy flags for a moment you can just enjoy the images. It really does help it go down smoother.
Which implies this is bad, but it isn’t. Far from it, but not so removed that I want to call it good. I think ‘very funny, but a little clunky’ best describes it. I am here to see how that goes next time though.
3.5 stars - I mean, it’s so basic, but dang is it ever nailing some of those jokes. I have hopes that we’ll be going up from here, but I’ll keep reading it even at this level.
March 13, 2026
This was over the top ridiculous in the best way possible. It’s about two high school kids who are secretly down bad for each-other but not great at communicating or interacting with each-other. Every interaction ends in awkwardness and it’s hilarious and adorable. I a really enjoy the art style. Admittedly that is what made me preorder this volume, and I’m so glad I did because I really loved it. I already have volume 2 preordered and I’m excited to continue with this silly little love story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was even better than I thought it was going to be.
First of all, I would like to bring attention to the gorgeous cover. The colors. The art style. Chef kiss. The art inside is also beautiful. I especially love the pages dedicated just to our main characters’ expressions. The story follows Hajime and Akira. Hajime is determined that this school year is going to be the year that he talks to Akira, but things seem to go wrong every time making things awkward and strange and usually ending with one or both of them fleeing. What he doesn’t know is that Akira is also trying to talk to Hajime, but, unfortunately, all of her best laid plans keep getting derailed by her shyness and anxiety.
I was laughing out loud for most of this book. It is hilarious. I normally don’t like miscommunication plots, but these are just so funny and bizarre that I can’t help but laugh. I also like that you get to see the interactions from both sides so you can see just how bad their plans flopped (or, occasionally, how they worked despite the awkwardness). I can already tell this is going to be a really funny series. I’d recommend this to people who liked Komi Can’t Communicate and want something more comedy driven.
Thanks to Netgalley and VIZ Media for the DRC!
First of all, I would like to bring attention to the gorgeous cover. The colors. The art style. Chef kiss. The art inside is also beautiful. I especially love the pages dedicated just to our main characters’ expressions. The story follows Hajime and Akira. Hajime is determined that this school year is going to be the year that he talks to Akira, but things seem to go wrong every time making things awkward and strange and usually ending with one or both of them fleeing. What he doesn’t know is that Akira is also trying to talk to Hajime, but, unfortunately, all of her best laid plans keep getting derailed by her shyness and anxiety.
I was laughing out loud for most of this book. It is hilarious. I normally don’t like miscommunication plots, but these are just so funny and bizarre that I can’t help but laugh. I also like that you get to see the interactions from both sides so you can see just how bad their plans flopped (or, occasionally, how they worked despite the awkwardness). I can already tell this is going to be a really funny series. I’d recommend this to people who liked Komi Can’t Communicate and want something more comedy driven.
Thanks to Netgalley and VIZ Media for the DRC!
March 12, 2026
Akira returns to the countryside back where she went to elementary school. Her childhood crush, Hajime, still lives there. She is incredibly nervous to speak to him and creates a script to talk to him along with a full plan on how to get to know him. Unfortunately, she panics a lot and her plan doesn't work as intended. Hajime, on the other hand, is happy Akira is back! He had a crush on her in elementary school. Unfortunately he is too dense to realize that she likes him. Can these two dense teens learn to communicate clearly?
It's a romantic comedy and it's fairly cute. This first volume mainly focuses on our two leads-- not much is seen from supporting characters. It reads quick. The comedy is a bit outrageous over how poorly these two communicate and how dense they are, but it's part of its charm. I think it's a great start of a romantic comedy series aimed at teens.
It's a romantic comedy and it's fairly cute. This first volume mainly focuses on our two leads-- not much is seen from supporting characters. It reads quick. The comedy is a bit outrageous over how poorly these two communicate and how dense they are, but it's part of its charm. I think it's a great start of a romantic comedy series aimed at teens.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely love the outsized reactions of these two trying to fall in love but the other doesn't know that they've already fallen for them. Hajime was the girl Akira loved way back when then they moved apart but now that he's back he's determined to win her hand. He's trying but failing miserably HOWEVER Hajime is trying just as hard to impress Akira but both advances are falling flat because of misinterpretation... but it's sweet and funny. The best slice of life romance of intentions.
I will absolute follow this manga because I've fallen for both Hajime AND Akira. Whether it's sports, at school, or prepared for life, they're top notch characters and the hijinks is perfectly timed every time.
I will absolute follow this manga because I've fallen for both Hajime AND Akira. Whether it's sports, at school, or prepared for life, they're top notch characters and the hijinks is perfectly timed every time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Akira Momose returns to her childhood village and meets up with Hajime, an adorable boy from the past. She is too shy to speak to him but when she writes scripts with goals she is able to push herself to try. Despite being a dreamy manga beauty, as her friends note, she always messes up the most important part. Hajime on the other hand feels that Akira is completely out of his league. When she notices him, he is sure it is only because he has done very good deeds that week. At one point in the text Hajime realizes that he is partly nervous, because "Momose is a person but also an ideal." There were a lot of awkward comic moments in this romantic manga which help it to stand out as a unique piece. Sending thanks to NetGallery for the advance copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Viz for this advanced copy.
For me, Akira Failing in Love was an okay for me. The story was simple and like many other gag manga, it depended on 'miscommunication' trope. Sadly, it felt boring, the same gag method, the same punchline method making the story predictable. The main story in first volume was also focused on Akira and Momose. And the side characters felt one dimensional. Their only purposes were to support the main character and threw some comedic punch lines, again to the main characters.
It was an okay start, but I am excited to see how the story progress.
I think this manga would be a perfect recommendation for someone who loves Komi Cannot Communicate
For me, Akira Failing in Love was an okay for me. The story was simple and like many other gag manga, it depended on 'miscommunication' trope. Sadly, it felt boring, the same gag method, the same punchline method making the story predictable. The main story in first volume was also focused on Akira and Momose. And the side characters felt one dimensional. Their only purposes were to support the main character and threw some comedic punch lines, again to the main characters.
It was an okay start, but I am excited to see how the story progress.
I think this manga would be a perfect recommendation for someone who loves Komi Cannot Communicate
March 12, 2026
'Akira Failing in Love, VOL. 1' follows Akira who has a disastrous crush on Momose. The point of view swaps between the two characters to show how unlucky in love they both are as they hopelessly try to connect with one another through a series of mismatched conversations and attempts at contact. Both try to impress and support the other but neither can find the words to use it. The manga had a super cute narrative that was light and easy to read. I would recommend as a nice palette cleanser cause while occasionally stressful/frustrating overall its just kind of sweet and romantic. The character development is slow and you only learn little by little but I presume this would just get better as the series goes on.
Thank you to #netgalley for this EARC
Thank you to #netgalley for this EARC
December 17, 2025
I want to start by thanking NetGalley, Shinta Harekawa and VIZ Media for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Akira Failing at Love, Volume 1 or 百瀬アキラの初恋破綻中。1 (Momose Akira no Hatsukoi Hatanchuu., #1) will be out March 10th, 2026!
I really enjoyed how cute and silly this was, having been looking forward to seeing this new work from Harekawa after discovering Ranma 1/2. The structure of this manga reminds me a bit of Kaguya-sama: Love is War with Momose and Kugayama’s approach to their crushes as well as the repetitive opening of vignettes. The mutual pining, obliviousness and overall innocence in Akira’s schemes also reminds me a bit of Tomo-chan Is a Girl!
As a first volume, this did a good job establishing the story and introducing the main characters and I really look forward to seeing Harekawa expand on these characters and their story in future volumes.
3.5/5
I really enjoyed how cute and silly this was, having been looking forward to seeing this new work from Harekawa after discovering Ranma 1/2. The structure of this manga reminds me a bit of Kaguya-sama: Love is War with Momose and Kugayama’s approach to their crushes as well as the repetitive opening of vignettes. The mutual pining, obliviousness and overall innocence in Akira’s schemes also reminds me a bit of Tomo-chan Is a Girl!
As a first volume, this did a good job establishing the story and introducing the main characters and I really look forward to seeing Harekawa expand on these characters and their story in future volumes.
3.5/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A cute, lighthearted read. Akira is a super shy girl who has feelings for her childhood classmate Hajime. Hajime thinks Akira is so cool and beautiful she can't be bothered to interact with him. Miscommunication trope to the max, but make it super cute. Akira's friends find different ways to cheer her on to try to get closer to Hajime, and that's what this first volume explores. Both leads are cute (and a bit clueless), the pacing is nice and the artwork is beautiful. A fun read for fans of slice-of-life manga and romcoms.
Thank you to Viz and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Viz and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a hilarious opening to the series. I also really like the little gaggles of friends. They haven't gotten much individuality yet, but their little choruses reacting to our MCs' foolishness adds a lot of humor. The story so far is very cute alongside the silliness. I'm not sure how long the current formula of misunderstandings will be able to continue before it gets frustrating, but for now I'm still enjoying it. Both of our MCs are just absolute failures at everything when it comes to interacting, which has been charming and endears me to both characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, VIZ Media and Shinta Harekawa for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Akira Failing in Love, Volume 1 releases March 10, 2026.
This was just the silliest, cutest story of two classmates in love with each other, but oblivious to the fact. I loved how wholesome the interactions are between Akira and Hajime. Their nervous miscommunications are relatable and endearing. This is a light-hearted, feel-good introduction to the series and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next between these two unrequited love birds.
This was just the silliest, cutest story of two classmates in love with each other, but oblivious to the fact. I loved how wholesome the interactions are between Akira and Hajime. Their nervous miscommunications are relatable and endearing. This is a light-hearted, feel-good introduction to the series and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next between these two unrequited love birds.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media for this ARC!
This book is very cute. It reminds me very much of Komi Can't Communicate, except this has a better art style and both our MCs are in love from the start. This story was a sweet young love mixed with a HEAPING serving of nervousness. Overall, very cute and light-hearted. I would recommend this easy read to someone who just wants a short and easy-to-read love story.
This book is very cute. It reminds me very much of Komi Can't Communicate, except this has a better art style and both our MCs are in love from the start. This story was a sweet young love mixed with a HEAPING serving of nervousness. Overall, very cute and light-hearted. I would recommend this easy read to someone who just wants a short and easy-to-read love story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and VIZ for the ARC.
Hajime is just happy that he gets to go to the same high school as Akira. The girl he walked home with every day in elementary school. Even though she never spoke a word to him, she was his angel. She is so pretty. He is also absolutely clueless. It doesn't help that Akira is awkward. She is in love with him and he has no clue!
I loved this. I loved how silly it was and how awkward Akira is.
Hajime is just happy that he gets to go to the same high school as Akira. The girl he walked home with every day in elementary school. Even though she never spoke a word to him, she was his angel. She is so pretty. He is also absolutely clueless. It doesn't help that Akira is awkward. She is in love with him and he has no clue!
I loved this. I loved how silly it was and how awkward Akira is.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was super cute and light! I really love the silliness of Akira and Hajime. Akira likes Hajime and Hajime likes Akira. The problem is they are both so awkward in communicating this to each other. Their interactions are chaotic and hilarious. If you're a manga fan and want to laugh this is the manga for you!
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you @NetGalley and @VIZMedia for the ARC. I have started to enjoy Manga and thought this would be a good one. Unfortunately I think I am not the right age for this one. Also the miscommunication troupe is not my favorite and this book was all miscommunication. This would appeal to the younger middle or high school age.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Such a nice read about two hopelessly romantic teenagers. The manga was split up more than I usually like but it worked for this storyline. There was just enough humor and the artwork was great! Thanks NetGalley!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Stop, this is so cute!!!!!!!!!!
I devoured this one. This is a silly manga about two kids being obsessed with each other while also being completely oblivious. It made me laugh out loud. I love how terribly this goes wrong for Akira. It was so perfect. My favorite moment is the janitor's closet. Every time you thought it couldn't get worse, it did. It was so funny and charming.
My one issue with this book is the images between chapters. I know it's a part of manga culture. Lewd images are just something that comes with the territory, but it doesn't have to be that way. I want to enjoy this, and aside from the pictures, I did!
I hope that as manga becomes more and more mainstream, the sexualization will take a back seat.
I devoured this one. This is a silly manga about two kids being obsessed with each other while also being completely oblivious. It made me laugh out loud. I love how terribly this goes wrong for Akira. It was so perfect. My favorite moment is the janitor's closet. Every time you thought it couldn't get worse, it did. It was so funny and charming.
My one issue with this book is the images between chapters. I know it's a part of manga culture. Lewd images are just something that comes with the territory, but it doesn't have to be that way. I want to enjoy this, and aside from the pictures, I did!
I hope that as manga becomes more and more mainstream, the sexualization will take a back seat.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews