When Trying to Give Up on the Childhood Friend I Love, I Have a Fake Relationship With the Most Beautiful Girl in School, but There’s Something Wrong With Both of Them

My Thoughts on When Trying to Give Up on the Childhood Friend I Love, I Have a Fake Relationship With the Most Beautiful Girl in School, but There’s Something Wrong With Both of Them

Okay, that title is a mouthful, right? So, I went into this web novel with… tempered expectations, to say the least. The premise itself is already walking a fine line, and from what I've gathered, the execution is a bit of a mixed bag.

First Impressions

The initial chapters lay out the classic groundwork: a male protagonist pining for his childhood friend, internal conflict galore, and a sudden, unexpected fake relationship with the school's most popular girl. It's a well-trodden path in the romance genre, and whether you enjoy it or not really hinges on how well the author handles the characters and their motivations.

What Works Well

Honestly, it seems like the translation quality is decent, which is always a plus. Readable prose is a foundation upon which any story can be built, and it's good to know that's (apparently) present here. I also think the core premise – a fake relationship with underlying issues and the complications of childhood love – has potential. The "something wrong with both of them" element adds a layer of intrigue that could be explored in interesting ways.

Areas of Concern

My biggest reservation stems from the portrayal of the main character. From what I can tell, he's coming across as frustratingly dense and self-absorbed. A protagonist who's blinded by his own assumptions, especially when it leads to hurting the people he supposedly cares about, can be a real turn-off. It's one thing to have flaws, but when those flaws actively make it difficult to root for the character, it becomes a problem. It sounds like the story veers into the territory of the protagonist creating his own problems by pushing away his childhood friend before any honest communication can occur. That kind of manufactured drama can be grating.

Final Verdict

When Trying to Give Up on the Childhood Friend I Love... is a bit of a gamble. The premise has potential, and the translation appears to be solid. However, the protagonist's characterization seems to be a major sticking point. If you're willing to overlook a potentially frustrating main character in favor of a potentially interesting romantic setup, then maybe give it a shot. Otherwise, proceed with caution. I'm personally on the fence about continuing, hoping the issues get resolved as the story progresses.