Have you ever found yourself wondering what it would be like to have a yandere golden retriever boyfriend? If you have, this manga can take you on a wild journey.
If not, may I suggest reading my review recap for “Watashi no Koi no Hajimekata”?
Information About the Manga
Who wrote Miniamaru Kareshi?
This series was actually written by the author of Tiger and Dragon! The authors name is Hoshino Mizuki, and you can check our their X here!
How many volumes are out?
While there isn’t an official English print (yet?), the Japanese is finished at 12 volumes.
What genre? What are the vibes?
- High school romance
- First love
- Overbearing boyfriend
- Soft yandere
First Impressions
I’m not going to lie, I did flip flop between liking and disliking this manga all throughout the first volume. In the first half, I found the female lead, Iroha, to be a little bit too naive for my liking. She did grow on me however, and by the end of the volume I couldn’t picture anyone else taking her place.
The male lead, Kusakabe, is literally insane. But like, on a tame, high school lead in a shoujo romance manga, level. While I was only mildly tolerant of him at first, he quickly grew on me with all of the craziness that he brings. He loves Iroha a little too much, and their dynamic was very fun to watch as it grew more complex.
My Favourites
- Iroha’s friends are realistically protective
- Kusakabe is rightfully called out for being a stalker
- Kusakabe and Iroha match each other’s freak to a gentle degree
My Least-Favourites
- I didn’t love how quickly the romance started
- I don’t love the trope of “dating someone just because I want a boyfriend”
Quick Story Checks!
Is the plot compelling and coherent?
At first, I would have said no. I found it to be a rather run-of-the-mill story during the first few chapters, but it did grow on me! The more the narrative follows the craziness of the male lead, the more compelling it is, in my opinion.
Are the protagonists well-developed and relatable?
I would say that the female lead does suffer from being a bit of a Mary-Sue, but I’m hoping that changes! She’s written to be absolutely inexperienced when it comes to love, and so that can excuse a good deal of her awkwardness.
On the contrary, I would say that while I don’t find the male lead relatable, I do find him to be a rather developed character. He has two sides to him, and he is by far the more rounded out character.
Is the romance slow-burn, fast-paced, or balanced?
The romance in this one is fast-paced. There is a confession in the first chapter, and they go on strong from there. While the FL is rather hesitant, the ML is overenthusiastic.
The Characters
Iroha Aoyagi
- She has never been in love, and really wants to be come the start of volume 1
- Let alone having a boyfriend, she really hasn’t had any experience talking to even her male classmates
- She’s innocent and inexperienced to the point of it almost being funny
Kusakabe
- Falls HARD when he falls in love
- His only interest is being in love
- His hobbies are linked to his girlfriend
- Is a soft yandere
Final Thoughts
While I don’t think I would add this one to my physical bookshelf, I do see myself continuing to read this online!
Maddies Manga 
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