Manga Review: Kare First Love, Volume 7, by Kaho Miyasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3-3.5

Publisher: Shojo (VIZ Media)

Release Date: 2006

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: Some.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Four-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and experience first love?

Review:

"'We do too communicate well! In fact, we recently communicated naked!!” Ha, part of that is such a lie. But “communicated naked” is just too funny to me

This series is just… so much drama. Too much drama, sometimes. Sadly, I’m ready for these characters to grow up some more and quit freaking out over every little thing. And lying to each other. They need to stop that already, jesus.

Karin and Kiriya make up, Karin doesn’t want to go home, she almost goes home, then she goes to Kiriya’s place and they have sex. They talk some, they fool around, they have sex. There’s joking, sweet words, crying. My biggest problem with them is the fact that they’re not actually talking out their problems. Or telling each other things when they should be.

Kiriya doesn’t tell Karin that he kind of cheated on her, and Nanri tells him not to as it would only freak Karin out even more when she’s finally calmed down, which is true. But I don’t like lying, even a little bit, so I’m not okay with that.

Then Karin takes an actual job for another commercial-thing with Shoko, Kiriya’s sister-in-law. And Takagi, the creep photographer, ends up being the director again. And his assistant is a girl that Kiriya used to go out with. Which, of course, he lies to Karin about.

This is just the epitome of their relationship. They can literally not seem to have one actual conversation about things that are important. It doesn’t matter how you think the other person will react, not telling them the truth only makes things worse. Especially when, if nothing were a big deal, he wouldn’t have lied. But even if something were, that doesn’t make it even slightly acceptable.

But when Karin finds out, the issue is pretty much skirted around and accepted and they make up, even though nothing is okay. Like the fact that Karin makes Kiriya dinner, but when the girl calls him, he goes to help her out, Karin gets tired of waiting and goes home, and he doesn’t explain to her why he had to leave. But then they make up, even though they really shouldn’t.

Their relationship is just outrageous, and gets me a bit angry. Because they are so dumb, and they really need to grow up, and learn how to talk to each other.

Whatever. On to the next volume. Where more drama drama drama will ensue.