Horimiya started out as a rather serious manga with comedic elements that explored people's images versus their true selves. Over time, it's shifted its focus; it's now mainly comedic with the occasional serious moment. The blurb isn't accurate at this point anymore; Horimiya is a manga, which shows glimpses into the characters' lives, how they deal with their relationships (whether it be romantic or friendship or family), how they figure out themselves and their feelings. The focus on comedic elements, however, leads to the characters becoming caricatures of themselves and many events/incidents which are unrealistic, though often funny to read about.

I personally don't find the change to be a bad thing. It's become a light-hearted manga with funny reoccuring jokes. I do wish sometimes that it had more of the serious moments; the relationships between the characters are so interesting, and sometimes its left to the wayside in favor of comedy. I like how comfortable all these characters are with each other. Hori and Miyamura understand each other so well and because of that, there's no cliche drama. There aren't evil exes or love triangles. It's just about their everyday lives and relationships.



I think its important to mention that when I read Horimiya, and I read it as glimpses into these characters lives. We don't get everyday shows of their lives nor do we see all the little moments that make up their day. Unlike many other romance manga, there isn't an overarching plot, no obvious hurdles that the characters need to overcome. They deal with issues as they come while generally living out their high school days peacefully. And that's the beauty of this manga. It's simplistic, but outrageous.

... Last updated on September 5th, 2016, 2:05pm

First of all, I love, and I mean LOVE feel good manga.

I started to read this manga because I felt it was like Bonnouji but with more chapters. Was happy with the progression in the early chapters. Jokes were hilarious as f*ck. MCs are not cliched, stereotypical shoujo protags. There's not much drama going on. Relationship progress is going slow but steady, at least there isn't much stupid misunderstandings that are becoming common with shojou mangas nowadays. It was a generally a fun read.

Then it started to slow down. It became stale, bland, boring even. Romantic progress has basically stopped, except for a few moments like the Christmas and New Year chapters. Jokes aren't even hilarious anymore after reading it for the nth time. It basically became filler. The charm that it has once had is now gone. Reading it is becoming a chore. They're going nowhere now.

Many posters say how the vibe of the seriers changed over time, especially after Miyamura cut his hair. I somewhat agree, well, but I honestly don't mind it. I'm someone who likes lighthearted comedy with a dash of seriousness here and there. And this manga still delivers that, perhaps with more comedy and a little less focus on character growth. In general, as others have said, the characters, espcially the main ones are great, the premise is good, and the story is interesting and fun.

... Last updated on May 8th, 2016, 7:30am

I really liked this manga when I first started. The female MC was portrayed as an intelligent, hard-working and dependable person, which I enjoy in a shojo. The male MC was also rather refreshing: a nice guy with a dual appearance that wanted to go through high school unnoticed. Their budding relationship was sweet and pure and you could really tell that they cared for one another.

But now the series has taken a really weird and unappealing turn. The characters are all caricatures of their former selves. Hori, for some reason, is now a sadist tsundere that barks orders and Miyamura left and right. And since , he seems like a different character as well. Not to mention that various plot lines like her taking care of her brother by herself, Miyamura's troublesome past, their "dual personalities/appearances" have completely fallen to the wayside. I feel like this manga no longer has a real plot and has become much more like a 4-coma series (which it started out as originally). I suppose that's fine, it's just not what I was hoping for.

One last thing I completely don't get is

Not sure if I'll continue, it's kind of lost my interest.

... Last updated on April 1st, 2016, 7:29pm

To keep it short, it's got the shoujo-esque moments in it, but rather than just a general "for girls" audience, it's more 15+, almost...How do I put it? It feels almost...not dark, but it's not quite the typical shoujo-fluffiness, haha. I think it adds in more serious moments that happen in real life attraction that we tend to forget exist, and while it's not necessarily like jealousy or anything, it's just the parts of passion/romance that either are not usually included in shoujo manga, or are portrayed much differently and generally in a lighter tone.

Oh, also - there isn't quite that much drama, which is nice.

It's toned down a lot since the beginning, so if you like the energy that is presented at first, keep in mind that it does settle down later on. The characters and their personalities, too, seem to be less present than before. Personally, I don't like that. Everything feels much more simple now.

... Last updated on July 22nd, 2015, 12:34pm

Edit after finishing the story: It feels completely unfinished, sadly. Not quite sure why we got glances at the MC's family as opposed to the MC and the friends that have been developed in the past 100+ chapters... Biggest complaint is that we never get a romantic partner for the adorable and lovely Sakura Kono, second biggest complaint is the lack of resolution on all the building plot points over the last couple arcs. Still beautiful art all the way through, though!

Hello all you prospective readers!

Now, I love this story- it's funny, cute, and lacks the annoying drama that overwhelms other manga with similar story lines. If you're looking to read a story with secret identities that take on the presence of Misaki's in Maid Sama, you won't find it here. These traits the MCs want to keep hidden are the premise for a funny comedy with a little bit of romance sprinkled in. The description above, with the focus on the true versus false personalities/traits is just the start of this manga. Once the MCs are able to accept these things about themselves, the manga just turns into a honest-to-goodness fantastic slice of life/school days comedy that I cannot get enough of. If you're up for a lightheated rom com to take a break from the drama filled manga of today, this is your cup of tea.

Side note, the only other thing one should take into account (besides the not focused on personalities thing) is that when I realized this was labeled shonen, I laughed. This is so typically shojo I was blown away that you could see it as a shonen. Not saying that boys shouldn't read it- I think you'd love it- but its very shojoy.

Enjoy!!

... Last updated on August 18th, 2021, 9:25am

I loved this manga, and still hold a lot of affection for it, but I don't think I'm alone here when I say that the characters' personalities have changed a lot, and their situation has changed a lot in a short space of time, for example, initially the premise was of a hard-working girl who needs to take care of her brother because her parents is never there, and now the parents are there 24/7, and the brother has been sidelined.

And it feels like the manga is trying too hard to be "weird" or "funny", and what was initially a very healthy, great, supportive relationship, has turned into one that mixes in elements of domestic violence, and abuse, but in a "funny way" that still leaves an uncomfortable pit in my stomach.

And it's so weird that these two characters who were so nervous and fidgety around each other that they hadn't even really kissed yet, suddenly did what they did in Chapter 37. And then it never gets mentioned again after that...

Now that the chapter 50 is translated, the energy that bloomed at the start of this series is long gone. The story started slightly original, but very amusing and sensitive. The two main characters were the selling point. Yet since a dozen of chapters the main characters do not appear very often, and when they do the author seems embarrassed with them. Their personalities changed totally, and for one of them I there is no reason why. Some important events of the past, that should have an impact on their relationship have purely disappeared, as if they never happened. So it's become a slice of schoollife, equally treating a dozen of teenagers, with no progress on anything. Time to drop this before the rotting stench gets to me.

... Last updated on April 24th, 2015, 1:35pm

The manga is really great, it developes the romance correctly and IT HAPPENDS; Horimiya is not is not one of those mangas that the romance is part of the story and never happends anything; but being said that, the male characters are completely unrealistic, and the things that the main one does, are the ones that only arrogant and stupid guys do; those that basic girls like. And most importantly, the parts that are crucially enjoyed by the male audience, are simply skipped!!! It's just frustrating. Anyways, the manga is still cute and fun, but shouldn't be a shonen.

... Last updated on March 14th, 2015, 7:54am

I started out reading it as it was a remake w/better art from the original webcomic and cast were closer to IRL teens than most manga. At this point the lack of no/low drama is starting to be a downside as it feels like the creator threw in random scenarios for the main cast to have fights over nothing.

It's always awkward when a series you liked and the latest story arc is not that great compared to prior chapters. Characters are recognizable and line art is clean w/OK bg. Their personalities are somewhat flat which makes sense considering the original source material but less interesting in a manga series.



... Last updated on December 30th, 2014, 3:08pm