Boku ni Natta Watashi

I would suggest this manga to anyone who enjoys the shoujo-romance genre.

My review will be very straightforward, so let's get straight to the point. I did NOT enjoy the characters at all. Itou was like a male version of a Mary Sue, which made me cringe. I wished he had some flaws and character development. On the flip side, we have Momoko, an airheaded and foolish heroine who didn't leave much of an impression on me. Momoko and Itou end up as roommates, and from that moment on, the story became too predictable. I won't give away spoilers, but since this is a shoujo-romance, it should be quite clear what happens between the two. There was one part of the story, though, that had me in tears. Tears of laughter. And it involved a humorous dose of comedic homosexuality.

To those of you with high expectations for this manga, lower them because you'll likely be disappointed. Just read it without taking it too seriously, and you might find some enjoyment in it.

Overall, the story is predictable and unoriginal, lacking any character development. The characters are either too perfect for their own good or blatantly stupid and unintelligent.

I'm probably not the right person to write a review since I only read three chapters, but I also don't plan to continue further. Why just three chapters? I almost stopped after the second chapter following a comment like "can I be your sex slave," but my curiosity kept me going.

I enjoy gender-bending stories, shojo, harems, and all those themes combined make my inner fan girl squeal with delight. But this one? Not worth it. Yes, the art is nice, and I liked everything else except for the plot. Because of the art, I gave it a 4; otherwise, it would have been a 3. I understand that 16 chapters aren't much and things need to develop at a certain pace, but pledging eternal love (well, almost) right from the start feels way too rushed. Whatever happened to wooing? I was disappointed to drop this one as it had potential, but I'll seek out another similar manga to fill this void in my heart.

"Boku ni Natta Watashi is humorous and well-illustrated, but that's pretty much where the praise ends. Momoke comes across as naive and incredibly foolish, to the point of being cringeworthy. She lacks assertiveness yet remains stubbornly persistent, always being overly nice to a fault. Itou embodies the ideal man (indeed, without a single flaw), which paradoxically renders him dull and grating after a while.

The entire series prompts eye-rolling and head-shaking. Nothing about this storyline feels plausible; it's mostly absurd. I wouldn't revisit this manga again since I barely managed to finish it the first time. Just don't set your expectations too high for this brief series.

For your information: there are some mature themes included."

I absolutely adored this manga, though it is a bit on the short side. It was incredibly funny and delightfully romantic in a silly way! However, I felt there could have been more depth in character development and a stronger storyline. The portrayal of Itou was one of my favorite aspects; he came across as a bad boy who was also overprotective and calm. He always seemed to appear just when Momoko was in a tight spot or facing danger. It might sound silly, but I truly enjoyed it (:

The ending didn't quite sit well with me because I didn't get to see Momoko and Itou together as a couple. I also appreciated the art style of the manga! Although, I think Momoko should have been drawn a bit prettier!!

Momoko Takanashi aimed to secure her brother's admission into an esteemed all-boys school by masquerading as a boy and binding her chest daily, under the insistence of her mother. This plan led her to cross paths with the charming and elite Itou Kunio.

"Boku ni Natta Watashi (I Became a Boy)" chronicles Momoko Takanashi's escapades within the all-boys school and its dormitory. Here, she battles to maintain her guise as a boy without being discovered while also seeking love in the form of her roommate, Itou Kunio.

This entire scenario unfolded after Momoko's twin brother fled to chase his dream of becoming a photographer, leaving behind only a note. Momoko is your typical girl—her grades are average at best, and she tends to be quite clumsy, or bluntly put, not very bright. Sharing a room with the popular and handsome Itou Kunio, Momoko strives to embody the boy who passed the entrance exams and avoids falling in love.

The narrative is straightforward, and the artwork is exceptionally crafted. The pacing of the setting is just right, balancing humor and character development effectively—an essential element in any story. This isn't your run-of-the-mill shoujo manga where love blooms unexpectedly; instead, it presents a believable journey of how characters fall in love, face conflicts, resolve them, and deepen their affection.

Overall, I rate this 9/10 for capturing my attention with its art and realistically portrayed main characters.

The storyline is original and well-crafted. Although there have been other stories about girls trapped in an all-boys boarding school, the cause of this situation has never been explored like this before. To be honest, the couple comes off as a bit too perfect, and the author could have introduced more conflict on Kunio's side. Most of the conflict in the story revolves around Momoko.

The characters are deeply developed. Momoko starts as your typical girly-girl who loves shopping, hanging out with friends, and talking about boys. However, by the end of the manga, she is forced to change or risk expulsion. Her brother is self-centered and doesn't seem to care about his family's opinions. His mother hasn't given him much freedom to pursue what he wants either. Kunio worries excessively and prefers not to be bothered, but when it comes to those close to him, he acts without hesitation.

Overall, I loved the manga, flaws and all. I recommend it to anyone looking for a love story or just a good read. "Boku ni Natta Watashi" is one of my favorite shojo manga, and I hope it becomes one of yours too.

Frankly, when I dive into a shoujo manga, I don't anticipate deep storylines or complex characters, and these low expectations are seldom disappointed. This particular manga follows suit. The narrative of a girl infiltrating an all-boys school by posing as a boy is far from novel. Similarly unoriginal is the dynamic between a passive female protagonist and a strong, protective male lead. Essentially, Boku ni Natta Watashi brings nothing new to the table. There are fleeting hints at exploring traditional gender roles, but the mangaka doesn't delve deeper, keeping it superficial—as if being a girl merely involves wearing frilly dresses and flaunting one's assets (if you have any). My primary gripe with gender-bender stories is that none have provided profound psychological insights into what it means to be male or female. I was somewhat let down that Shimaki Ako raised these questions without pursuing answers.

All that said, I absolutely adore Shimaki Ako's art. It's beautiful, simple, yet expressive. Despite her stories and characters lacking originality, they remain amusing and offer a reasonable amount of entertainment. On a superficial level, I genuinely enjoyed this manga, and if you're okay with a light, cute love story, you should give Boku ni Natta Watashi a read. However, if you're easily irked by an author taking the easy way out, you might want to skip this one altogether.