Kiss Him, Not Me! Review: A Fujoshi Fan Suddenly Becomes Beautiful and Now Four Boys Want to Date Her, Which She Finds Inconvenient
by Junko
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Quick Take
- A reverse harem comedy where the protagonist actively wants the boys pursuing her to date each other instead — the fujoshi perspective inverts the genre's typical dynamics
- The comedy works because Kae's POV is consistent: she genuinely wants to write fanfiction about these boys, not date them
- Complete at 15 volumes; the anime adaptation is fun; the manga is the full story with a satisfying ending
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who want reverse harem romance with an unusual protagonist perspective
- Fans of BL and fujoshi culture who want a manga that treats this affectionately
- Anyone who wants completed harem comedy where the female lead is active and funny
- Readers who want to understand the fujoshi-as-protagonist genre
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: BL (boys' love) romance references throughout — Kae's perspective involves imagining the boys around her in romantic relationships with each other; reverse harem situations; mild comedy content
Standard T-rated comedy content.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★★☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★★ |
| Reread Value | ★★★★☆ |
Story Overview
Kae Serinuma is overweight, completely passionate about BL manga, and specifically focused on two boys in her school whom she ships together. When a beloved character from her favorite anime dies, she locks herself in her room for a week and loses a significant amount of weight.
She returns to school unrecognizable. Four boys who barely noticed her are suddenly interested. One of them is one of her ships.
Kae's interest is primarily in whether her ships will become real. The boys' increasing genuine feelings for her are the series' romantic engine, while her fujoshi perspective provides the comedy.
Characters
Kae Serinuma — Her genuine passion for BL — not performed, not something she is embarrassed by, just who she is — is the series' most refreshing element. She is not a passive reverse harem heroine; she has preferences (she prefers boys to date boys) and she pursues them.
The Four Boys — Each represents a different type and a different reason for attraction to Kae; the series develops each genuinely enough that the eventual romantic resolution requires real choice.
Nishina Shima — A female classmate who also loves BL and who develops feelings for Kae; her presence expands the series beyond the reverse harem formula in an interesting direction.
Art Style
Junko's art is lively and expressive — the comedy expressions are well-drawn, and the reverse harem setting gives the artist multiple attractive character designs to work with consistently. The BL daydream sequences (Kae's imagination) are drawn with affectionate parody of the BL genre's visual conventions.
Cultural Context
The fujoshi — a female fan of BL manga and real-person shipping — is a specific Japanese fan culture identity that the series uses as its premise. The series treats this identity with affection rather than mockery, which is what makes the protagonist work as a comedy lead rather than a figure of embarrassment.
What I Love About It
Kae never stops being a fujoshi. The series does not resolve by having Kae "grow out of" her interests — her passion for BL remains who she is throughout. The eventual romantic resolution accommodates this rather than requiring her to change. This consistency is what makes the character satisfying across 15 volumes.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers who are themselves fujoshi cite Kiss Him, Not Me! as the manga they feel most represented by — the protagonist's passion is treated as genuine and valid throughout. Readers who are not fujoshi find the premise funny and the character development sincere. The ending is warmly received.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The chapter where Kae openly explains her fujoshi perspective to the boys who want to date her — and they have to process that the person they like genuinely wants to ship them with each other — is the series' funniest and most character-specific set piece.
Similar Manga
- Ouran High School Host Club — Reverse harem, female lead with unusual perspective, similar comedy
- My Love Story!! — Romance from unusual protagonist perspective
- Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun — Romance comedy, genre awareness
- Wotakoi — Otaku romance, nerd identity treated respectfully
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — the transformation and the reverse harem establishment happen immediately.
Official English Translation Status
Kodansha USA published the complete 15-volume series. All volumes available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 15 volumes, complete
- Kae's consistent POV makes the series distinctive throughout
- The fujoshi identity is treated with genuine respect
- The ending accommodates the character rather than changing her
Cons
- 15 volumes requires commitment
- The harem structure means the romantic resolution requires choosing one
- BL references throughout — not a content issue, but a reader preference to be aware of
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Kodansha USA; standard |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get Kiss Him, Not Me! Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.