Who Wrote The Original Kiss Him Not Me Manga Series?

If you like rom-coms that flip typical tropes on their head, you'll probably already know this one — the original manga 'Kiss Him, Not Me' (Japanese title 'Watashi ga Motete Dousunda') was written and illustrated by Junko. I first bumped into the series late-night while skimming manga recommendation threads, and the author credit caught my eye because Junko uses such expressive character designs and comedic timing that you can practically hear the punchlines. Junko serialized the story in Kodansha's magazines from 2013 until 2018, and it was collected into a run of volumes that wrapped up the larger arc while leaving plenty of goofy, heartwarming moments intact.

As someone in my late twenties who devours rom-coms the way some folks inhale coffee, I fell for the premise pretty quickly: Kae Serinuma, a hardcore fujoshi, loses weight and suddenly becomes the object of affection for several boys — but her own romantic fantasies are much more BL-centric. Junko balances the satire of otaku culture with genuinely tender character beats. The art is playful, the facial expressions are gold, and the comedic pacing is sharp. I adored how Junko didn't just play up the gag of a fan-girl suddenly popular, but also explored Kae's identity and what she actually wants from relationships, all while keeping the manga light and laugh-out-loud funny.

Beyond authorship, Junko’s work on 'Kiss Him, Not Me' helped it earn an anime adaptation in 2016, which brought even more people into the fandom and gave the characters a whole new energy through voice acting and music. If you're hunting down the manga volumes, you'll find the full story spans multiple collected editions, and Junko’s style evolves a bit across them — the early chapters are particularly hyperactive and gag-heavy, while later entries let quieter feelings breathe. For anyone tempted to start, I’d recommend reading a few chapters to get the rhythm; Junko's comedic beats land best when you're in the right mood (late evening snacks and a cozy nook, ideally). Personally, Junko’s blend of humor and heart is exactly what I turn to when I want something upbeat but not vacuous — it's a series that makes me laugh, then go, "Huh, that's actually kind of sweet."