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I thought it was necessary to write this review for those of you who are coming here from the anime and are curious about the manga and need to know what happens (Just like me). I BINGED this manga because I'm a sucker for a story like this and I had to know what happened. Join me on this review journey... there will be some MINOR SPOILERS ahead.

TLDR: The story is good but the pacing needs work (Although it gets better towards the end). The art is great and a constant good aspect. Some of the characters are trash. Some of the characters are ... incredible, its a mixed bag. This manga delivers what you expect it would. It doesn't break the mold for the genre, it won't change your life, but it will give you a nice romance that you will enjoy reading and look forward to reading every week.

Story: 7

This story is exactly what you would expect from the synopsis and premise. MC rents a girlfriend and slowly forms a harem of girls around him but is too indecisive/ stupid to do anything about his true feelings. The rental girlfriend aspect of the manga is an interesting plot device and great way to change up a cliched storyline, but appropriately fades from the main stage at the right time.

The story is cute and romantic, but the problem I have with it is the pacing. I know they say slow and steady wins the race, but we are 155 chapters through this bad boy and the development has been INCHING along. It always feels like 1.5 steps forward and one step back. This detracts a lot from the story because after so many chapters of nothing you start to get fed up. I truly think the story gets back on track when Mini is introduced.

Overall the story is cute and I enjoy it but the pacing and slow progress stops it from getting higher than a 7.

Art: 8

The art is great and about once a chapter they have just an incredible shot of a pivotal or important scene that truly blows me away. I am not a big manga guy so I'm not the best judge of the artwork, but I think the characters look great, the fashion is stylish and always delivers. I think the art is super high quality and a great aspect to this manga.

Characters: (6.5 -> 7)

The characters are both the high and low point of the story.

Kazuya: I get the frustration. This guy kind of sucks. He is self-deprecating and acts worthless. He doesn't have a spine and he is indecisive and timid... but he does grow. He grows both in the story and on me the reader. The first few chapters are hard to get through because that is when the MC is at his lowest. He becomes better and endearing as the story goes on.

Chizuru: She is one of the highlights of the manga. Great in all aspects. She's cute and stylish and gives the MC shit when he is being a shit. But she's kind and caring and is a constant highlight of the manga. Similar to Kazuya in the fact that she has good character growth throughout the manga.

Ruka: The "other girl." Ruka is fine for the role she needs to play but her character is played out and by the middle of the story feels unnecessary and is kept on the cause drama for the MCs. Also, I understand this is a story so I need to look at it like its not reality but IF IT WAS there is no f*ing way Ruka would still be in this story and still be around the MC.

Sumi: Sumi is the other high point of the characters. She is sweet and gentle and honestly steals the show in the limited role she plays. Every time she is in a chapter she always delivers and leaves you wanting more of her in the story. She is incredible and the Sumi spin off is everything we need.

Mami: The ex. Mami is trash and everyone knows it. She is awful in the beginning of the story and really doesn't have any redeeming qualities. Luckily she is barely in this story and hardly deserves mentioning.

Mini: Mini comes into the story later and I'm convinced she saves this manga. The pacing was at a snail's pace and the author brought in Mini to shake things up and bring the necessary developments. She is everything this manga needed right when it needed it.

Enjoyment: 8

I'm a sucker for this kind of story. Its cute and romantic and a little ecchi so its right up my alley. Its everything you expect from this type of romance manga and it manages to incorporate every cliche too. Like I said, the rental girlfriend aspect is different but you know what you're getting with this type of story. For me personally, I love this type of story and this manga hasn't disappointed.

Overall: 7 -> 7.5

Overall, the story is good and pacing is rough (but getting better). Great art, strong and weak characters, and an enjoyable story overall. I can safely say that if you liked the anime adaptation and are curious about what happens next you should read this manga. It's worth the time, it's cute and wholesome and it delivers exactly what you expect it to.