Manga Monday: Having an Idol-Living Boyfriend is the Best! Vol. 1

Series: Having an Idol-Living Boyfriend is the Best! #1
Author/Artist: Mito Aoi
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Released: March 1, 2022
Received: NetGalley

Okay, seriously, who can resist a title like Having an Idol-Living Boyfriend is the Best! It’s so funny and already screams about the humor and charm snuck into the series. Or so I hope. Let’s dive in!

Akari Tachibana is an idol fan. Her idols are her world, and she isn’t keen on letting that change anytime soon. Thankfully, she can share her idol love with her coworker and friend, Onda-san. He adores his idols almost as much as she does (okay, maybe more).

Only…there’s something else going on with Onda-san. He has a secret and is ready to confess it to Akari finally. You see, he’s had a thing for her for quite some time, and he’s willing to give them a chance, even if it takes some time away from their idol worship.

I went into Having an Idol-Living Boyfriend is the Best! Vol. 1 with really high hopes. I love the idea of a romance forming from a shared interest. It’s so human but also charming. Especially since, in this case, they both worship idols.

While I didn’t end up loving Having an Idol-Living Boyfriend is the Best! Vol. 1 as much as I had hoped, I certainly enjoyed it! I loved the premise (duh), but I feel like the follow-through was a bit…weak. There were times when the budding romance felt flat, forcing readers to rely on what they’re being told (instead of being shown). So that was disappointing.

However, the first volume did manage to work in several endearing or entertaining moments to help balance out those flatter scenes. I have high hopes that the series will get stronger in time – and I hope I’m right.

Thanks to Kodansha Comics and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.