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Komi Can't Communicate: Making Friends and Not Scaring People
Learn to make friends and stop scaring people away with this clever book inspired by the hit manga Komi Can’t Communicate.
Do you find it hard to speak to people? Know anyone who blushes, stammers, or sweats whenever someone looks at them? Or perhaps you’d like to learn new ways to make friends and navigate social situations? If so, this fun and informational guide is the perfect book for you!
In the manga Komi Can’t Communicate, Komi attempts to overcome her social anxiety with the help of her very first friend, Tadano. This full-color book collects snippets of the practical advice, tips, and tricks Komi accumulates along the way, providing fun and useful pointers on meeting people, having conversations, and truly connecting so friendships can grow.
Do you find it hard to speak to people? Know anyone who blushes, stammers, or sweats whenever someone looks at them? Or perhaps you’d like to learn new ways to make friends and navigate social situations? If so, this fun and informational guide is the perfect book for you!
In the manga Komi Can’t Communicate, Komi attempts to overcome her social anxiety with the help of her very first friend, Tadano. This full-color book collects snippets of the practical advice, tips, and tricks Komi accumulates along the way, providing fun and useful pointers on meeting people, having conversations, and truly connecting so friendships can grow.
160 pages, Hardcover
Published March 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 3, 2026
A media tie-in that tries to meld self-help bromides for those anxious about making friends and maintaining relationships with some select and occasionally random panels from the Komi Can't Communicate manga series.
Tomohito Oda's contributions seem to consist purely of reprints. The text is written by an American freelance writer who has to work hard to insert some of the nonsensical actions of the quirky Komi characters into her advice.
For completists only, and even they might want to think twice.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Introduction -- Part I. Meeting People -- Part II. Actual Human Interaction -- Part III. Turning Acquaintances into Friends -- Part IV. Making Friendships Last -- Part V. Troubleshooting -- Part VI. More Than Friends? -- Conclusion
Tomohito Oda's contributions seem to consist purely of reprints. The text is written by an American freelance writer who has to work hard to insert some of the nonsensical actions of the quirky Komi characters into her advice.
For completists only, and even they might want to think twice.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Introduction -- Part I. Meeting People -- Part II. Actual Human Interaction -- Part III. Turning Acquaintances into Friends -- Part IV. Making Friendships Last -- Part V. Troubleshooting -- Part VI. More Than Friends? -- Conclusion
March 30, 2026
If you enjoy the manga Komi Can't Communicate and, like Komi, would like to make friends but aren't really sure how to go about it, then this book is for you.
I've seen the anime and read, I think, the first couple volumes of the manga. This book uses pages and panels from the manga to illustrate concepts and what to do (or not do) in particular situations. Sometimes there was enough context for the references to make sense, even though I didn't get far into the manga, and sometimes I just accepted that certain references were weird little mysteries. (When the weird little mysteries involved Yamai, I decided I was probably happier not knowing more.)
The tone of the text was very reassuring, and the advice was solid, if not particularly groundbreaking. Sometimes when you're anxious about doing something, it's helpful to have the steps you can take laid out in an easy to follow way. This book definitely did that.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
I've seen the anime and read, I think, the first couple volumes of the manga. This book uses pages and panels from the manga to illustrate concepts and what to do (or not do) in particular situations. Sometimes there was enough context for the references to make sense, even though I didn't get far into the manga, and sometimes I just accepted that certain references were weird little mysteries. (When the weird little mysteries involved Yamai, I decided I was probably happier not knowing more.)
The tone of the text was very reassuring, and the advice was solid, if not particularly groundbreaking. Sometimes when you're anxious about doing something, it's helpful to have the steps you can take laid out in an easy to follow way. This book definitely did that.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
July 25, 2026
This book is pretty cute in how it presents the information it contains to its teen/young adult audience. Most of the advice about socializing, communicating effectively and making/being a friend I feel is pretty sound. There was only one or two that felt not as applicable to me personally as an autistic person such as the eye contact thing, but that was just my personal reaction. I like how the text is put together with strips of the Komi Can’t Communicate Manga to illustrate the points and make the book as entertaining as it is informative. I think that will help the book appeal more to its audience and make the subject matter feel a little bit less daunting and stressful than in a more straightforward book covering the same subject. Also I personally appreciated the book calling out Yamai Ren’s very inappropriate behaviors as examples of no-nos not to follow in order to make a friend and be a good friend. Thank you so much!! So yeah all in all, a solid book with mostly good advice presented in a fun way. I’m glad I decided to take a peek.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This little self-help book was adorable! I love how it incorporated scenes from the manga series to lend examples on how to/not to behave. I felt like its actual advice for getting to know people, nurturing friendships, and navigating boundaries was also really solid. I had a fun time reading it, and I think a self-help book in this topic works so well alongside the fictional series. This is an A+ example of a nonfiction tie-in to speciifc manga.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a really cute book all about how to make and keep friends. I really liked the layout of the book and that we got to see pieces of the manga in different ways. I really like this and I think it would be a great book for anyone looking to make more friends.
March 22, 2026
Just a cute tie-in book, not a lot of new content but the advice in it is legitimately good, so I don't mind recommending this to young readers or to people who maybe struggle with anxiety and have trouble making friends.
July 27, 2026
Cute, and has some fun insight on improving social skills, but by the halfway point begins to run out of steam and starts stretching out points
August 3, 2026
I just didn’t feel into this book , personally this book didn’t help me or wasn’t meant for me. I feel it wasn’t right for me. But I appreciate Viz Media and NetGalley letting me read this book
October 6, 2026
The bad news from the book - you can't make friends without meeting new people.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
This book takes inspiration from the manga, KOMI CAN'T COMMUNICATE, and provides readers with advice on how to best navigate interpersonal relationships. Basics of communication, how to treat your friends, and other important topics for young readers are provided. Especially useful are ways to navigate tough or awkward situations, unspoken or unwritten rules of friendship, and other topics that aren't always clear, especially to neurodivergent readers. This helpful book would be a great addition for libraries where readers are looking to find ways to help make new friends or enrich existing ones. Familiarity with the original KOMI material is helpful.
Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12
This review was made possible with a digital reader copy from the publisher through Net Galley.
This book takes inspiration from the manga, KOMI CAN'T COMMUNICATE, and provides readers with advice on how to best navigate interpersonal relationships. Basics of communication, how to treat your friends, and other important topics for young readers are provided. Especially useful are ways to navigate tough or awkward situations, unspoken or unwritten rules of friendship, and other topics that aren't always clear, especially to neurodivergent readers. This helpful book would be a great addition for libraries where readers are looking to find ways to help make new friends or enrich existing ones. Familiarity with the original KOMI material is helpful.
Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12
This review was made possible with a digital reader copy from the publisher through Net Galley.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews