Shoutout to my friend SiriusTimeKeeper, he makes some great points in his review.
Before I delve into the five main components of this review, I just have to talk about the title for a second. Because "Hige wo Soru. Soshite Joshikousei wo Hirou." roughly translates to "I Shaved. Then I Brought A High School Girl Home." But this title is actually incorrect because he starts shaving after he brings home the high school girl.
My personal favorite interpretation of this is that the author is just clickbaiting readers into reading something that looks as if it will be another lighthearted romcom but turns out to be something much deeper, a manga targeted at very genuine problems in society and relationships.
Or maybe it's just a mistranslation. I'll probably never find out.
STORY (8/10):
A guy gets rejected by his coworker, his crush of 5 years. He gets super wasted and goes home to find a high school girl sitting on the street. He invites her inside and eventually decides to take care of her for the time being.
It's a compelling plot, and it doesn't force any unnecessary twists and turns onto you. Rather, it gradually builds into more serious topics, introduces characters smoothly, and you could easily pick up this manga after a few weeks of waiting for the next chapter and still know exactly what's going on.
It's got a slice of life vibe but there is a linear storyline so I guess that tag would be inappropriate. The drama is a little too extra at times, but not to the point of seeming artificial.
ART (9/10)
Art is good, mostly consistent. Character design is pretty vivid but not abnormally so. There's a bit of fanservice, but it's not unbearable. In other words, it looks like a typical romance manga.
CHARACTER (9/10)
The potential in each character in this manga is immense, and I'm fairly sure that this score will have gone up by the time this manga is completed. Each character has a personality aside from their motivations or goals.
MC: He's honest, down-to-earth, and very much human. He makes mistakes and bad decisions, and he's afraid to own up to them. But when it comes down to it, he's pretty reliable. It's fun to watch his interactions with others. Initially, he only acknowledges his flaws, but after he starts living with the girl, he begins to actually work on improving himself.
High School Girl: She's been through a lot, and this has clearly forced her to adopt a playful, flirty mask with which she hides her pain. It's not directly stated, but it's obvious that she and the MC are working to break down those walls and slowly open up to each other.
Best Friend: He's funny, but he's not just a gag character. He gives advice to the MC, even though it's not always right, providing a helpful insight that is separate from the perspective we're shown.
Senpai: It's strongly implied that she rejected him only because she believed him to be in love with her outwards appearance (specifically her oppai). She's smart and professional, but knows how to kick back and relax. But she's later shown to be rather manipulative, setting up potential conflicts for later.
Kouhai: Her work ethic is actually pretty interesting, and it reminds me of procrastination: Sometimes I can't even write a sentence during the first few months, but end up finishing three pages in half an hour. She's not overly pushy or obsessive about the MC, and shows that she is more complex than just her feelings, which gives her surprising character depth.
ENJOYMENT (8/10)
I enjoyed this manga very much. All of the characters have a certain level of complexity; little hidden details give the story more depth, and there's definitely a few valuable lessons packed into it that you might pick up on. Before you judge, I suggest you go try it.
OVERALL (9/10)
I would definitely recommend this manga. Fun read and I look forward to the rest of it.
Edit: Kouhai = best girl
