Jitsu wa Watashi wa
My Monster Secret: "Actually, I am..."

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My Monster Secret: "Actually, I am..." (Jitsu wa Watashi wa) Manga Review
Score: 8/10

Eiji Masuda’s My Monster Secret is a delightful blend of romance, comedy, and supernatural chaos that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. With its quirky characters, humorous situations, and heartfelt moments, it’s a refreshing take on high school rom-coms. Here’s a detailed breakdown of why this manga is worth your time.

1. Story (8/10)
The plot revolves around Asahi Kuromine, an ordinary high schooler known for his inability to keep secrets. His life turns chaotic when he discovers that his crush, Youko Shiragami, is actually a vampire. To maintain her secret and allow her ... to stay in school, Asahi promises to keep his lips sealed—setting the stage for a series of hilarious and heartwarming events.

What makes the story engaging is its simplicity paired with clever execution. It introduces new supernatural classmates and their secrets, each adding a layer of complexity and comedy to Asahi's life. While the narrative primarily thrives on episodic humor, it doesn’t shy away from exploring deeper themes like acceptance and personal growth.

The pacing is steady, though some arcs feel drawn out. However, the manga’s ability to maintain its charm and wit across its length ensures the reader is never bored.

2. Characters (9/10)
The characters are the lifeblood of this manga, each bringing their own quirks and personality to the story.

Asahi Kuromine: As the protagonist, Asahi’s journey from a bumbling secret-spiller to a dependable friend is one of the manga’s highlights. His exaggerated reactions to absurd situations make for some of the funniest moments in the series.

Youko Shiragami: Youko is more than just a vampire. Her shy demeanor, combined with her awkward attempts to fit in as a "normal" student, makes her an endearing heroine. Her interactions with Asahi strike a perfect balance between humor and genuine emotion.

Nagisa Aizawa: The pint-sized alien classmate and her antics add a layer of chaos to the story. Her position as both a friend and occasional troublemaker keeps things lively.

Akane Komoto: The demon principal is a standout. Her mischievous personality and unexpected wisdom bring a unique flavor to the manga.

Every character, no matter how minor, has a role to play in creating the manga’s whimsical and unpredictable atmosphere.

3. Art (7.5/10)
Eiji Masuda’s art style complements the manga’s lighthearted tone. The character designs are distinctive and expressive, with exaggerated facial reactions that perfectly capture the comedic essence of the series. The supernatural elements are drawn with enough detail to stand out without overshadowing the everyday slice-of-life backdrop.

While the art is clean and consistent, it doesn’t break any new ground. The backgrounds are often minimalistic, focusing more on the characters and their interactions. The occasional action or emotional scenes are well-executed but could have benefited from more visual depth.

4. Humor (9/10)
The humor in My Monster Secret is its defining feature. The manga excels in creating absurd, laugh-out-loud situations, often through Asahi’s attempts to juggle the secrets of his increasingly bizarre classmates. From over-the-top misunderstandings to clever wordplay, the comedy remains fresh throughout the series.

What sets the humor apart is its timing. Masuda knows exactly when to dial up the absurdity and when to rein it in, ensuring the jokes never feel repetitive or forced.

5. Romance (8/10)
At its core, My Monster Secret is a love story. The relationship between Asahi and Youko develops naturally, avoiding the rushed confessions or overly dramatic conflicts often seen in similar manga. Their interactions are sweet, awkward, and genuinely touching, making it easy to root for them.

The romance is not limited to the main couple, either. The series explores various dynamics, from unrequited crushes to unlikely pairings, adding depth to the narrative.

6. Themes and Messages (8/10)
Beyond the comedy and romance, My Monster Secret delivers thoughtful messages about acceptance and self-discovery. The manga celebrates individuality, emphasizing the importance of embracing one’s true self—whether you’re a vampire, an alien, or just a socially awkward teenager.

It also highlights the value of trust and friendship, as Asahi’s promise to keep Youko’s secret becomes the foundation of their bond. These themes resonate strongly, adding emotional weight to an otherwise lighthearted story.

7. Overall Enjoyment (8.5/10)
The manga is pure fun from start to finish. Its unique premise, lovable characters, and perfect mix of humor and heart make it a standout in the rom-com genre. While it doesn’t stray far from the conventions of high school romance, it executes them with such charm and wit that it feels fresh and engaging.

What Could Be Improved?
Repetition in Plotlines: Some arcs feel like variations of earlier events, which could be a drawback for readers who prefer tighter storytelling.
Art Details: While the art style suits the comedic tone, more detailed backgrounds and action sequences would have enhanced the overall aesthetic.
Final Verdict
My Monster Secret: "Actually, I am..." is a delightful ride filled with laughs, lovable characters, and touching moments. Its supernatural twist on the classic high school rom-com formula keeps it fresh and engaging, while its heartfelt messages ensure it’s more than just a comedy.

If you’re looking for a manga that will make you laugh out loud, tug at your heartstrings, and leave you with a smile, this is the one

I would recommend it? Absolutely yes, but if you want to get to the good parts which is already more than halfway through the manga, you have to go through chapters of comedy and some fan service, but anyway, I really give it a 10/10 I loved it too much.

So, with that in mind... let's to talk!.
I have never done a review before, but I want to do it for this manga, I really liked it a lot, maybe too much, I am not demanding much in terms of plot but I love that they have that touch that catches you, at first ... I read it on a whim of having started it when I could have thrown it away but I wanted to give it a chance to laugh a lot with those comedy scenes, maybe because I have the humor too broken, anyway, but having those serious parts where they really make you think about the relationship of the protagonists, the secondary characters, etc... I honestly loved and cried with this manga more than I wanted to.

Finishing a romance manga that I love always leaves me with a huge emptiness, this was no exception and it really left me bad, maybe because I'm too sentimental and I feel too much emotions to the point of exaggerating them if I can't contain them, I was happy to finish it but that emptiness persisted.

so I read book 1, here are my thoughts

characters, fall under some pretty stereotypical tropes.

like the characters are alright, but pretty flat bread, the dynamic aspect of them, seems as though they are one line on a dimensional scale

we have main protag, and he can't lie cause he's too obvious, but than, the premise makes no sense when, he has to keep secrets,

but everyone is on the dumber scale apparently, so that's the catch, when he getting almost caught, dumbness saves him.

if main protag wasn't sold as being a dumb honest person, I think it would do justice for unsureness, which is ... needed, the suspense in this manga is dry.

Although, I don't see much for story dynamics, evil newpaper girl that loves gossip, stirring up nonsense,

the deepness of issues seemed resolved almost instantly, which I don't find it helps the premise of keeping a secret. This occurs multiple times.

The build up and tension isn't there, so the secret doesn't feel as potent in impact to keep. So the comedy feels dry too, the punchline just whooshes before any actual crafting is made to claim it.

This book is okay enough to read, but it's like those radio songs into background you only accept as background music,

I can't see myself reading book 2. Like I am not taking a risk missing out on anything

that's why this manga gets 6/10, it's story writing was fair, integrated good aspects with main protag friends and his waifu, but the way the whole manga goes

feels like a scattered 1/3 fever dream that isn't unpleasant, but unmemorable when you wake up