A very refreshing take on the crossdressing genre- overall I'd say its' a good start to a coming of age story as well. Overall the art direction is pretty cute and the characters are all likeable, definitely worth a read.

A wonderful title that gently explores identity, gender expression, and queer love. I really enjoyed the delicate touch the author used to introduce us to the characters and the setting. High school is an important time for figuring out oneself, and I'm so endeared by Saki, who's so hopeful and brimming with charm and acceptance. The art style is also very lovely. I'm interested to see how the story continues to develop between the three central characters.

Overall, I would say I enjoyed this first installment of the “Senpai is an Otokonoko” series. I may pursue this series as I hope to follow the story.

So, this is the first LGBTQIA+ comic I’ve read. I’m a little worried about how the two main characters romance will (or will not) unfold to be honest, as it currently feels like one main character doesn’t want to be pursued and the other is blatantly ignoring that. I remain hopeful that the artist/author will handle this situation carefully, but for those stepping into the first book, the back and forth interactions between the main characters feels a little non-consensual. This becomes more apparent when we consider the complicated dynamic that the best friend introduces.
I think this series has a lot of potential, especially if the audience can see characters growing/learning from problematic behaviors. And while the comic does a pretty good job of showcasing some of the hateful rhetoric that follows a person who “cross-dresses”, it also seems to sexualize the main character for the same reason. So very interesting, lots of potential so long as the subject is handled delicately. I’m excited to see how these characters grow.

This was SO CUTE!!! I'm so excited to read a queer manga and this was even better than I thought. It reminded me of anime with the exaggerated face drawings that made me laugh. This was a lovely comforting read. It was so sweet that the main character has two people fancying him but doesn't think anyone ever could. I hope the rest of the series is uploaded so we can read more of the story

4/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an arc. All opinions are my own.

This series is so cute!!! Saki is a bit crazy and over-the-top, but she does kinda give off the energy of aggressive allies who are trying their best but don’t know what they’re talking about. Both the art style and some of the classic manga cliches really remind me of the animes I loved growing up, except in this series lgbtq+ characters are treated like people instead of punchlines.

I LOVED THIS MANGA

i was sceptical and thought this was a creepy one, instead it was a cute one. And I'm really curious how this series will going

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The first thing I really enjoyed about this book is that it is fully colored, which is unusual for manga. The art and story are both cute and it gave me princess jellyfish vibes. I'd def recommend it to anyone that likes Princess Jellyfish or I cross dressed for the IRL meetup.

3.5/5 rounded down

"It seems that all things cute in this world... are just for girls."

Senpai is an Otokonoko follows Makoto, a boy who likes to dress up as a girl and his friends Aoi and Ryuji who both have a crush on him.

Considering the amount of manga that is queer without being fetishized is severely lacking, the premise of this volume intrigued me. The story delicately broaches the topics of self-expression and the challenges that come with it in a respectful way.

The art style is very sweet and cutesy. Enjoyable enough to the eye. I will be interested to pick up future volumes to see how the story progresses.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This vibrant full-color manga beautifully navigates the unexpected romance between first-year Saki and her cross-dressing upperclassman Makoto with remarkable sensitivity and charm. What begins as a simple crush transforms into a touching exploration of identity and acceptance that resonates far beyond its colorful pages.
When Makoto reveals he's an otokonoko (cross-dressing boy), Saki's unwavering acceptance demonstrates the manga's central theme: love truly transcends gender. Their developing relationship, complicated by childhood friend Ryuji's protective feelings toward Makoto, creates a compelling dynamic that avoids typical love triangle clichés.
The story is delightfully balanced with genuinely funny moments that lighten the more emotional scenes. Yet beneath the humor lies Makoto's poignant struggle—a young person trying to find themselves while fearing that their authentic identity might bring bullying or harm to those they care about. This vulnerability makes his journey both relatable and deeply moving.
This wholesome manga shows that acceptance comes from seeing someone for who they truly are. Its respectful portrayal of gender expression and focus on the universal experience of finding belonging make it a heartwarming read that reminds us how love, in its purest form, sees beyond societal expectations to connect with the person underneath.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed the juxtaposition of a crossdressing boy who's super reserved and not at all outgoing BUT I really didn't like Aoi at all. I think I would have liked this better if it was just Makoto and Ryuji with hidden feelings.

I'll probably keep reading and the art was stunning but I just didn't like this as much as I was hoping I would.

Senpai is an Otokonoko is an inspiring story about someone dealing with feeling different on the inside than then outside. I think this would be a great manga for teens. The story is humorous and light for the heavy subject it covers.

I have to say, I didn’t expect this story to touch me the way it did. This first volume might seem like a cute school romance at first glance — and yes, it is super cute, and the art is honestly beautiful!

But what truly got me was the deeper message behind it. This volume gently opens up an important and often difficult conversation: what does it mean to be yourself, when the world around you tells you not to be?

Makoto, the main character, is a boy who wears girls' clothes, and the way the story explores his identity and struggles is incredibly heartfelt. He’s not trying to “trick” anyone — he’s just trying to live as his truest self, even if it means facing judgment or rejection. That hit me hard.

This manga doesn’t offer easy answers, and it doesn’t pretend everything is okay just because someone falls in love — and that’s exactly why it feels so real.

💖 Truly recommended — especially if you’re looking for something meaningful, soft, and beautifully drawn.

4⭐

Thank you to Netgalley and Pom for an advanced copy of this manga!

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and quick this read was. The manga started the ground running with Saki, our FMC, asking Makoto out, but Saki is a new student, so she didn't know Makoto is a cross-dresser. Despite this, Saki does not care and would still like to go out with them! Makoto has a best friend, Ryuji, who is potentially a love interest, but Saki and Ryuji definitely vie for Makoto's attention.

This story was more than just your average manga; it has the difficulties of dissonance with your identity, and those around you who can't seem to understand. It definitely made me sad when Saki visited Makoto and their mom didn't know about them cross-dressing at school. It was a sad scene to see Makoto say goodbye to his identity when he goes home :(

Overall, I'm very happy to see this webtoon get turned into a manga, and I can't wait to see what else the author has in the future!

The surprisingly sweet Senpai Is an Otokonoko has already made waves via its anime adaptation. Next month, Kodansha brings the original manga to an English-speaking audience! Senpai Is an Otokonoko: My Crossdressing Classmate kicks off with first-year Saki confessing her love to Makoto, a beautiful upperclassman. But as a new student, Saki is out of the loop. Makoto is a boy! But that news, if anything, makes Saki love Makoto even more. But she’s not alone: Makoto’s childhood friend Ryuji also has conflicted feelings about his beautiful bestie.

While the love geometry of Senpai Is an Otokonoko would be enough to carry this series, the manga digs deeper. While Saki and Ryuji vie for Makoto’s attention, he contends with his identity and self-image. This is more than just a love-comedy of errors: it’s a serious interrogation of identity, why we love what we love, and why we hide who we are. Even within this first volume, the manga’s deeper themes are striking. If you loved the anime, pick this one up. If you’ve never seen the anime… pick this one up.

A cute and easy read! I expected more in-depth exploration of that tussle with gender for Makoto, but adjusted my expectations once I found out this was being ported to a book from a webtoon. There are some traces of it here in the first volume that I really liked, especially with Makoto having to hide himself from his mom— a struggle I can relate to.

This manga definitely errs more on the casual/slice-of-life side and tells the story through short snippets of their day to day. I love how unwavering Saki is in her attraction to Makoto and how forward she is with it. She leaves no room for misunderstanding, which is the perfect contrast to his doubts from past experiences.

I was really happy to see that Ryuji doesn't sabotage Makoto's friendship with Saki after finding out her intentions with him were genuine. I'm sure a love triangle ("love angle") will develop but for now, I'm glad that he has Makoto's best interests at heart. The premise is sweet and I'm definitely going to be looking into the anime!

I love how persistent and insistent the mc is! A very nice introduction to Pom’s style and storytelling, I enjoyed this first volume a lot.
5/5 stars ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha comics for the opportunity to read and review this manga. I can definitely see why people would love this but also hate it at the same time. The art though, is beautiful!!!! It reminds me of an anime as the art jumps off the page plus the color scheme is perfection. To the story itself, I think it's one that I can see myself revisiting because I am enjoying the fact that I am learning about how people can react to cross-dressing without it being in a silly way (which is why I haven't read too many of this subject). But also, it has enough humor that it is fun and not too bogged down by heavy topics. Overall! I am intrigued to see what happens next and I am glad I read this. 4 out of 5 stars.

This was really cute. I’m excited to see how the story progresses. The art style is cute and also kinda funny at times

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

I came very close to not picking this up because my own ignorance and fear of catching strays as Queer trans femme...but I absolutely loved this!

So, I was not familiar with what otokono actually means and, while there is absolutely no shame on anyone of any gender presenting however they want, cross-dressing is sometimes used with a negative inflection in our increasingly bigoted society. Now I I have a better understanding of it as somewhat analogous to femboys, masculine identifying, often cis men, who present femininely and/ or as a woman some or all of the time, without necessarily identifying with the gender usually associated with that presentation.

The manga is absolutely adorable, genuinely funny, and bursting with real emotion and understanding, without shying away from the prejudice people who deviate from the 'accepted norms' of society.

Our protagonist is Saki, a young school girl who absolutely hits all the manga/ anime tropes of the cutesy, but wildly intense and over the top avatar of infatuation. This infatuation is for the eponymous otokono, Makoto, a year above her at school. This intense crush, while comically over the top, is genuinely sweet and incredibly respectful of Makoto's identity and presentations. While Makoto isn't sure if he returns the affections, Saki persues him, somewhat like a less problematic Pepe le Pew, their friendship begins to blossom. Things are complicated by Makato's childhood friend, Ryuji, who is incredibly protective of his friend and has some intense and complicated feelings for Makoto.

I am just spellbound with how respectfully otokono are presented in this comic, which is reinforced by the enthusiastic and uncomplicated or fetishised regard of Saki. The ignorance and bigotry of Makoto's classmates and mother are present and important, but also aren't a major facet of his character. I am keen to see how the internalised homophobia Ryuji seems to be experiencing is explored.

I am absolutely blown away by the expectation vs. reality of this comic.

Loved it!

I really love this story. I have watched the anime that came out and I immediately fell in love with the characters. Makoto is such a gentle soul and you feel for them in this series. This first volume does the webtoon and anime a wonderful tribute.