Our story opens with an all-boys school and an all-girls school merging to create a brand-new co-ed environment for their students. It is here that rich kid Arisu has inserted himself in a very creepy level of online stalker behavior to find a live streamer by the name of Apollo he knows only by voice.

Arisu hears a voice that matches Apollo during school announcements and immediately rushes off to find them. After bursting into their studio, he realizes any of these four girls could be Apollo! Thus, the stage is set for our harem shenanigans as Arisu must determine which of these girls is the one he formed a parasocial relationship with.

This really feels like it's just a standard harem series following all the same tropes. A male main character with little depth dropped into a room of girls he must convince he's worth their time makes this feel a lot like The Quintessential Quintuplets. Tune In to the Midnight Heart is more humor focused, which pushes it closer to something like Girlfriend Girlfriend, but without taking on the more sexually explicit tone.

The humor elements are really where this one shines. Masakuni Igarashi clearly is at their best writing humor, and it shows in both this series and Detectives These Days Are Crazy!. Absurd situations are consistently set up with punchlines driven home by over-the-top physical comedy and art style changes.

Personally, I do not like harem series. I generally find them uninspired and simply following the same tropes and plot structure. Unfortunately, I can't say that Tune In to the Midnight Heart deviates from this. If you enjoy harem series such as The Quintessential Quintuplets and all the tropes that come with it, this is absolutely for you. Otherwise, I'm not sure that there's enough to set this series apart to recommend to other readers.

DNF at 86pgs

IDK this one just wasn't for me. The MMC is annoying, the girls are annoying. Probably just not my type of manga and that's cool but I couldn't get through it.

Unfortunately cute girls was not enough to save this story. The pacing was quite weird and at no point was I interested in the male protagonist’s cause of finding Apollo or willing to forgive the behavior of any of the characters.

RATING: 3.5 rounded up to 4

Thank you to the author, Kodansha, and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an ARC for the first volume of the English release with this manga in exchange for an honest review.

Did you ever watch the Disney Channel movie Radio Rebel when you were younger? Did you read/watch The Quintessential Quintuplets? Tune in to the Midnight is what happens when you take the radio broadcasting element of Radio Rebel and the "MC is seeking the identity of someone they knew when they were younger" element of Quintessential Quintuplets.

The first volume follows the aftermath of two schools merging to become a co-ed high school. Arisu Yamabuki, one of the wealthier students at the school, finds himself entangled into the lives of four female students who are a part of the broadcasting club. He's convinced that one of the girls is the person behind his favorite radio show, Midnight Heart Tune, and takes it upon himself to help the girls with their dreams while figuring out who among them is the radio host that he pins over.

This first volume is a pretty solid start to the series. Arisu is introduced as an arrogant and overconfident male character, intended to be unlikable with a whole series to focus on his development. In these initial chapters, I enjoyed seeing that behind his extroverted personality, he can be considerate towards others and would go above and beyond to help those he cares for. As for the four female leads (Nene, Shinobu, Iko, and Rikka), I'm hoping to see future chapters develop their characterization since I don't feel particularly attached to any of them yet.

Outside of the characters, I do enjoy that there's no fan service (so far) and how the romance is going for a true slow burn. Definitely recommend this series if you're looking for a romance manga with a reverse harem, no spice, and an insight into fields related to voice entertainment.

Published by Kodansha and available May 6, 2025, Tune In to the Midnight Heart pinged my interest in broadcasting. This new series follows Arisu, a high schooler looking for the girl behind the voice of his favorite livestreamer-- who he has tracked down to the school's broadcasting club. Which happens to be made up of four cute girls, each with a different broadcasting career goal. This setup of a guy and multiple girls is called a harem manga and it's definitely not for everyone. It's not really my thing, I'm just here for the broadcasting. This will however appeal to fans of cute girls, dumb boys, and the interpersonal drama that comes between them. It will also resonate, I think, with anyone who has felt touched by a voice over the air, so I will keep reading.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

I've read a lot of manga in recent weeks and can easily say this has been my least favourite my a country mile.

Personally, I really hate the term 'the ick', but baybee that's what reading this gave me.

From the total arsehole protagonist who gets somewhat called on his shit, but ultimately is shown that his Great Man™ attitude and raison d'être for mansplaining are proven to be successful, to the incredibly uncomfy sexualised portrayal of schoolgirls this comic made me incredibly uncomfortable.

I understand that there's an element of fantasy and echo melododrama and the in world manga referenced in this story, but to my autistic arse there's nothing that marks this as being clearly a 'dark romance' aka knowingly exploring elements that would be problematic in real life. This seems to be more in the Fifty Shades of 'toxic masculinity (complimentary)', which is gross.

There's a chance I'm missing something, but I don't think that someone being shown to be a buffoon, but ultimately right about everything is the same as 'dark' or critical. It's like the classic issue of Captain Mal Reynolds from Firefly being an anti-hero, but ultimately framed as a hero and good guy, despite being a horrifying misogynistic wanker.


Some of the interactions were amusing, but I really didn't have fun with this at all.

Arisu Yamabuki, second year high school student and scion of Yamabuki Group, has been brought up to believe in his own excellence (99% perfect). But he won’t be completely perfect until he clears the biggest mistake of his life: he accidentally confessed to his favourite online radio host, Apollo. He needs to find the original recording and destroy it.

He’s tracked her down to an all girls school, which luckily has combined with his all boys school. With a single-minded focus, ignoring all social norms, he goes after the voice and finds it in a broadcasting club. There are four girls there determined to make a living with voice work. Rikka Inohana, who wants to be a singer, Shinobi Uzuki, who wants to be a professional announcer, Nene Himekawa, who wants to be a voice artist, and Iko Kirino, who wants to be a vtuber.

Problem is, they all sound a bit like Apollo, and all of them have some of her mannerisms. When he asks if one of them is Apollo, they deny it, but readers are instantly revealed that one of them is lying. We just don’t know who.

To find out the truth, Arisu joins the broadcasting club. He soon learns that the girls aren’t as good as they—and their fan clubs—claim to be, and sets out to make them as perfect as he is. It doesn’t go well.

This was a good start to a series, fun with a mystery element, but it had a kind of negative, sniding undertone at first that took a bit to change to more positive. Arisu was annoying with his conceited personality, but he was also earnest, which saved a lot. The girls were ok, but none of them rose to be my favourite. The ending hints of a happily ever after for Arisu and Apollo, but we don’t learn her identity yet. Art was good. I’d read more.

Tune In to the Midnight Heart
-May 6
-Volume 2 July, Volume 3 September
Rate around 3-4 stars (not quite 4 stars but somewhere in this range)

So... Compared to other eARCs I've read recently this one I didn't dislike but I also wasn't oh I want the next volume right this moment type feeling. Personally, it would fall in the category of reading in between series I'm waiting to pickup/release. Each character did bring something to the table and not feel like it was the same personality over and over, which is nice. I do feel like Arisu already has a feeling who Apollo is, but I get the feeling that all 4 will fall for him at some point- has a harem feeling. As the series progresses, it seems we'll learn more about all 5 and probably some flashbacks to the past to get more of a backstory especially for Arisu and Apollo. I'm curious if it will do Apollo's point of view at some point, even just a small portion. If we didn't get some details of Arisu and Apollo communication before Apollo stops broadcasting, you could feel Arisu is kinda stalker'ish as his mission is to find her which lasts years. His classmates seem to be aware of his desire to find the voice too, which means he is pretty open about it.

Would I continue? Potentially, other series would take priority over this one as of volume 1. I would give volume 2 a go and see if it changes my mind.

Summary:
Arisu found comfort in listening to the voice of Apollo. However, one day Apollo decided to stop with their streams. Arisu was determined to find the person behind the voice and ended up enrolling in a high school where he believes she might be attending. During an announcement he hears what he believes is Apollo’s voice and bolts to the broadcasting room to find there are four girls who could potentially be Apollo. All 4 have dreams, their voices are slightly similar with varying personalities -the real Apollo is not revealing themselves so easily. Arisu asks to join the broadcasting club, but he would be of no purpose until he proposes to buy better equipment for them. Now all Arisu has to do is learn about each one and find Apollo. Easy right?

The main thing that drew me to this manga was the interesting premises. Arisu is definitely an interesting protagonist for sure and while it’s been a while since I’ve read a harem themed manga I have to say this is an interesting one. It’s funny and well paced. I liked the characters and for a first volume it gave us enough to get us interested and wanting to continue the story.

If you are looking for a fun rom-com manga you may like this one, just remember it is an harem one.

As always thank you to Kodansha Comics for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

I picked up this manga because the cover and the girl characters caught my eye! The premise is pretty interesting, tracking down a mysterious livestreamer by joining a school club is a fun twist. But I’m not really into the harem aspect; it feels a bit generic and takes away from the main story. The MMC's appearance is, as always, so basic. Still, it’s an okay read if you’re into school drama with a touch of mystery and... doki doki love story?

Arisu has a serious problem. He fell in love with a girl without ever getting her name. Arisu fell for a voice on a podcast and asks every girl he meets to say "I love you." Its been three years, he is starting a new school and after a courageous outburst of an intro to his new class he finds his way to the broadcast club. He finds four girls who sound exactly like the girl he remembers, each one a possibility and a different personality entirely. Will he find out who his long lost love is? If he does, will she still love him, or have they grown too far apart?

Tune In is a funny rom com romp, a harem by any other name but its the heart that was sweet enough to remember. I could say a lot of buzzwords. but this is a great fun story. Who do you want to be Apollo? Which one, page by page will take your heart and inevitably either be his mysterious love or is true love better than one from memory? You will hate or love every attempt he makes to find out. Isn't that what's great about being in love? He's not perfect nor is he detective Conan. He's just a young man giving his all to find the woman he loves. What more could you ask for?

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for this novel.

Ah lads, everything about this manga is honestly annoying, didn’t even realise this is a harem even. It’s honestly the worst 😫😫😫

★★★★☆ (3.95/5)**

Masakuni Igarashi's "Tune in to the Midnight Heat 1" is a captivating journey that expertly blends elements of mystery and emotional depth. The narrative pulls you in from the very first page, with a unique premise that keeps you guessing. Igarashi's writing style is both engaging and evocative, painting vivid scenes that immerse the reader in the story's atmosphere.

The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own complexities and motivations that add layers to the plot. I particularly appreciated how the author explores themes of connection and introspection, making the reader reflect on their own experiences.

While the pacing is generally well-handled, there are moments where the story feels a bit slow, which might test the patience of some readers. However, the rich character development and intriguing plot twists more than compensate for these minor lulls.

Overall, "Tune in to the Midnight Heat 1" is a thought-provoking read that leaves you eager for more. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a story that combines suspense with emotional resonance.

This was a very cute manga. The characters were fun and cute even when the main was being annoying, which was meant to be. The story line flowed nicely and at a good pace, as well as the characters forming connections at a good pace. I will look into reading volume 2 for sure!

Imagine taking Nisekoi, tossing it into the present day, and sprinkling in some digital-age charm—this is what you get.

Our protagonist? A modern gentleman equipped with top-tier "rizz" skills, charming his way through a cast of girls ranging from VTubers to idols, announcers, and voice actresses. Yes, it’s heavy on the voice appeal—some might even call it a full-blown voice fetish. And honestly? It works.

The real question isn’t if there will be a winner—it’s when. (Spoiler: Probably not until the final chapter. No, this isn't 100 Kanojo.)

If you’re not already hooked, this probably isn’t your thing—especially if harem dynamics or the whole "voice appeal" angle doesn’t do it for you.

But if you're into charming (and obviously legal) boys with that errand-running, do-it-all energy, paired with a crew of adorable and ambitious girls, then give this one a shot. It’s quirky, cute, and surprisingly self-aware.

Off the bat, I think this series has a very interesting premise and explores an underrated art form through voice acting and radio announcements. I also think that the wordplay is successful, considering that this is a translation from a Japanese manga; I found that the puns did come off quite effectively! I also like that there are practical elements such as understanding enunciation and tone from each different character, and I think that each character is well defined and distinct from within the harem. Lastly, I like that it avoids the classic ecchi fanservice tropes that most harem comedies will throw.
That being said, I'm having trouble liking Yamabuki as a protagonist; while he comes across as a genuine fan of the girls and offers critical advice to each of them, he has very weak motivations as a character. It would have been great if he only had a desire to meet Apollo, rather than considering his remarks as a stain on his otherwise perfect career. It's hard to like him when he comes across as a rich Mary Sue (having had money to provide the girls upgraded equipment through his stocks), and how he considers the club and others as beneath him (his opening scene did not leave a favourable impression on any of his classmates, let alone the reader). His toilet-humour quirk is also rather cringey at times, even when he means it as a way to break through to others. While these qualities can be redeemed as the story progresses, it is hard to root for him because of the way these qualities come together as a character.
That being said, I did enjoy seeing the relationships develop, and it was clever how the author progressed each girl's story piece by piece, so that the series becomes more episodic. Ultimately I have mixed feelings about this manga, but I think that there may be enough potential in it to pull off a successful story.

Tune In to the Midnight Heart is a quiet, atmospheric read that mixes soft romance with a touch of the supernatural. Volume 1 sets a mellow tone, drawing you in with its calm pacing and emotional undercurrents. The characters are gentle and introspective, and the art has a dreamy vibe that fits the mood perfectly. It’s not super fast-paced or flashy, but it has a kind of quiet charm if you’re in the mood for something low-key and heartfelt.

Next year, harem rom-com manga Tune In to the Midnight Heart is getting an anime adaptation. Fortunately for curious fans, Kodansha will be releasing the manga in English next month! And we’ve got an early look at the first volume.

Join us as we dive into the story of a boy searching for his lost love. The good news is, she’s right in front of him. The bad news is, she could be any of four girls in his school’s new broadcasting club!

The Setup
Finding the voice

Tune In to the Midnight Heart focuses on Arisu Yamabuki, a perfectionist from an esteemed family. His all-boys high school has just merged with a local all-girls high school. And according to Yamabuki, he’s looking for a girlfriend. But that’s not strictly the truth. Yes, he’s looking for a girl. But a specific one. Whom he knows only by voice.

Several years prior, Yamabuki listened to a webcast hosted by a girl known only as “Apollo.” He was often her only listener, and he fell in love with her from afar. Now, with this merging of schools, he’s certain he’s found her. Sort of. She’s one of four girls in the school’s broadcast club. And it really could be any of them.

Meet the Girls
Who is Apollo?

Four girls also star in Tune In to the Midnight Heart. And between their career goals and respective vocal talents, any of them could be Apollo. Student council VP Shinobu aims to be an announcer. The shy Iko wants to be a VTuber. The outgoing Rikka has plans to become a singer. And the manga-loving Nene aspires to be a voice actress. All four of these paths are careers Apollo has considered. And at least one aspect of each girl’s vocal delivery is a match for Apollo.

To get closer to all four and find out who’s who, Yamabuki volunteers to underwrite the club. Not only will he pay for their equipment, he’ll also set them on the path to success. With close observation, he hopes to unmask Apollo. But Apollo recognizes him. She knows who he is, and she loves him too. But, at least for now, she keeps her secret.



A Secret Romance
Love across the airwaves

Tune In to the Midnight Heart has a lot in common with The Quintessential Quintuplets right off the bat. While our male protagonist is in a harem situation, only one of these girls is the one he’s looking for. Motivations aside, he is going out of his way to help them succeed and grow in their chosen fields. And, as we see at the end of Volume 1, this story is told in flashback. Apollo and Yamabuki will get together. Someday.

This is a very cute series, even if Yamabuki does start off pretty irritating. He’s got the potential to grow, as we see even in these early chapters. And readers who are less into traditional harem narratives might find themselves enjoying this one. After all, it’s not so much about one guy getting fawned over pointlessly. Rather, the couple exists. It’s just a matter of finding it. The manga hails from Masakuni Igarashi, who also wrote Senryu Girl. That genuine earnestness and sweetness carries over, even under a “harem” label.

Tune In to the Midnight Heart Vol. 1 goes on sale May 6.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this manga

This was not much my kind of story and when I cannot get into a story at all I really don't have much to say, but i can see others maybe liking this more then me

Boy goes school look for a girl and finds all these different girls

3.5.

First off I enjoyed this more than I thought. My experience with manga harem stories is from like 200 versions of Tenchi Muyo, Love Hina, etc. Quirky humorous stories that are usually lighthearted and kinda middle of the pack manga. I felt Midnight fell into this category. It was enjoyable. I snorted quite a few times with laughter and I’m looking forward to the next book, but it’s not a full captivation where I absolutely have to get my hands on the next one immediately.

What I did like about this is our Mail main character is absolutely a trip. He has such a strange character with no filter and a skewed view of himself as perfect, but he also does have qualities and confidence beyond any normal teenager. At first, I honestly thought this was a bit misogynistic, but in the lit shepherds of the book, the girls absolutely start calling out his nonsense for what it is and I appreciate that. Every time he starts being absurd, they put him in his place leaving him baffled as he seems unable to understand how he can be anything other than perfect. The fact that he does kinda start learning he’s not doing everything the right way was appreciated. And this is just early days in the series AND it’s a comedy. So the fact that he’s kind of book smart but social aptitude idiot makes most of the humor here. I would recommend for people that enjoy this type of quirky harem style manga.

Finally a note on the translation. I have a masters in Japanese and Japanese culture studies but even I really appreciate when publishers take time to note cultural or linguistic points that just translations alone don’t give background on. I think this book did a solid job of that. I recently read another book published by the same publisher that did not have that, and likely the translator with someone different but in that case, it was absolutely awful and I ended up giving the book one star. If I was reading this book on translation quality alone, I would give it five.

Thanks to Netgally for the ARC.