Horimiya is a genuinely good romance anime that could have been great with more room to breathe. The first half is some of the best romance content in recent years—warm, honest, and emotionally intelligent. The second half rushes through too much material and loses the focus that made the early episodes special.

If you're looking for a romance where the couple actually gets together and stays together, this is one of the best options out there. If you want a perfectly paced adaptation that gives every character their due, you might be disappointed.

The show's core message—that being yourself is scary but worth it—lands because Hori and Miyamura's relationship feels earned. They're not perfect people, and they don't have a perfect relationship, but they make each other better. That's what makes Horimiya worth watching.