A review by rereader33
ぼくたちは勉強ができない 1 [Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai 1] by Taishi Tsutsui

3.0

Okay, this is a weird one for me. I have to say, right here and now, if you are looking for an original rom com, this is not for you. The characters are pretty generic, the interactions are what one would expect in a series like this, and the artwork is simple. There is the typical "science/math girl who has trouble understanding feelings" and the "proper young lady, known for her beauty, who happens to say unintentionally harsh things", and everyone's favorite, the "energetic, athletic childhood friend who has a crush on the main character". Even if one wants to argue that these characteristics aren't necessarily always together, the basic aspects of each girl's personality is seen in practically every shounen series without anything original added in. The main character, Yuiga, is the stereotypical "busy high school student with no time for romance yet thrust into a harem situation" but honestly his character is more flushed out than the others (more on that later). And yet, with all of these complaints...I actually really enjoyed it. And, more than anything, felt like I NEEDED it right now. Let me explain:
Recently, it feels like shows/movies/books/anime with grittier/darker/edgier themes have been occupying peoples' minds, with some notable exceptions. While there is nothing wrong with wanting to read something like that (I happen to have a few series that fit at least one, if not all, of those descriptions) there comes a time when I need a break from it. The problem is, finding good lighthearted series that I am willing to spend money on are hard to find. Most of these series either have annoying characters, too much fanservice, or boring beyond belief. I don't usually read/purchase them for these reasons, but that doesn't mean I don't seek them out. That's why I was genuinely glad that I latched on to We Never Learn, because I was desperately searching for a new lighthearted rom com to read. Make no mistake, despite how much I enjoyed reading it, I can't in good conscience give more than three stars for the aforementioned reasons. However, Yuiga's desire to help his impoverished family was refreshing, the art style was simple but pleasing to the eye, and the way the mangaka consistently added doodles of the characters' speaking in their speech bubbles was adorable and enjoyable to see.
I can easily see why others wouldn't want to continue with this series after the first volume. It doesn't have a terribly original idea, the scenarios that occur are predictable, and the characters are not that interesting. However, I had fun reading it, and look forward to continuing with the series. I look forward to what volume 2 has to offer!