Title

Rent-A-Girlfriend

Also known as: Kanojo, Okarishimasu, 彼女、お借りします, 여친 빌리겠습니다, 女朋友、借我一下, Kanokari, Dziewczyna do wynajęcia, Namorada de Aluguel, สะดุดรักยัยแฟนเช่า, Rental Girlfriend, Kanojo Okarishimasu: Rent-a-Girlfriend

by Reiji Miyajima

Score from AniList: 57/100releasing

ComedyDramaEcchiRomance

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In today’s Japan, “rental” services can deliver an afternoon with a “friend,” a “parent,” even a fake girlfriend! After a staggering betrayal by his girlfriend, hapless freshman Kazuya gets just desperate enough to give it a try. But he quickly discovers how complicated it can be to “rent” an emotional connection, and his new “girlfriend,” who’s trying to keep her side hustle secret, will panic when she finds out her real life and Kazuya’s are intertwined in surprising ways! Family, school, and life all start to go wrong, too… It’s sweet but naïve boy meets cute but ruthless girl in this 21st-century manga rom-com! (Source: Kodansha USA)

Type: Manga

Hoard Verdict

The StoryHoard editorial verdict

★ 2/5

A breezy rom-com with a clever premise, though its long love triangles and uneven tone may wear thin for many readers.

Pros

A clever premise about renting an emotional connection
Lively comedy that moves quickly
Some characters have real depth

Cons

The love triangles stretch across many volumes
The tone shifts unevenly between comedy and drama

Read this if you liked:Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Horimiya Nisekoi

Read the full take

Rent-A-Girlfriend starts with a sharp premise: a hurt freshman hires a fake girlfriend, only to discover that renting an emotional connection is far messier than it sounds. The idea is clever, and it gives the comedy plenty of room to play. The cast is lively, and some characters get more depth than you might expect. The honest knock is that the love triangles stretch for many volumes, and the romance can feel like it is running in circles. The tone also shifts between light comedy and heavier drama, which can feel uneven. Some readers will enjoy the drawn-out tension, while others will want faster progress. It is a fun, easy read with an engaging hook, but it asks for patience with its slower romance. If you want a rom-com that keeps you guessing and does not mind a long road, this is a decent pick. Consider it a long-haul romcom.