Manga Review: Kare First Love, Volume 8, by Kaho Miyasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~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. 7. 9.

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:

"'Just let me say one thing, you need to realize once and for all that you are not alone. Not now, and not two years ago either.’” This was sweet, and much needed.

I’ve only got two more volumes of this series, and I’m really looking forward to the ending. In that, I’m looking forward to the drama drama drama to stop already.

I like this series, don’t get me wrong, it’s just a bit too melodramatic in places that it doesn’t need to be, and I want these characters to calm down and grow some more.

Although, saying that, this volume was a lot more calm and mature than some previous ones.

So we first deal with Karin’s acting job, and Takagi being a pain, and Saori, Kiriya’s ex-girlfriend, being jealous. But there isn’t much Takagi, and Saori and Karin talk, and seem fine, surprisingly. And then Karin’s acting job, and Kiriya sees the video, and that turns out surprisingly well also.

The big problem with this volume was Kiriya’s father. Kiriya’s mother is ill, and his father has decided to move Kiriya back in, not giving him a choice, and forcing him to focus solely on his studies so he can take over the family business.

This caused some angst for Karin because she can’t get ahold of Kiriya, but then they meet, and he takes her to a business party with him. This is first fine, but then we find out that Kiriya’s father is even more of an unreasonable jerk than we thought, and Kiriya stands up to him, which was nice and much needed.

The volume ends with a not-nice, but expected, cliffhanger, even though Karin and Kiriya seem to be in a good place in their relationship (although who knows how long that’ll last). I’ve got the next volume, and I’ll be starting it about now.