Manga Review: Nisekoi: False Love, Volume 3, by Naoshi Komi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2014

Volumes: 12+

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s hate at first sight... Rather, a knee-to-the-head at first sight when Raku Ichijo meets Chitoge Kirisaki! Unfortunately, Raku’s gangster father arranges a false love match with their rival’s daughter—who just so happens to be Chitoge! However, Raku’s searching for his childhood sweetheart from ten years ago, with a pendant around his neck as a memento, but he can't even remember her name or face!

When Chitoge transfers into Raku's class, they're forced into a false love relationship to keep the peace between their feuding gangster families. Everyone at school's fooled by their act—even Raku's crush, Onodera! Raku wants Onodera to know the truth, but he just can't seem to find a way to tell her. Meanwhile, the ever-vigilant CLAUDE sends his protégé Tsugumi to watch over Raku and rescue Chitoge from his evil intentions. What chance does Raku stand against a highly trained assassin?!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.

Review:

This series is a bit much at times, but it’s still rather enjoyable. It’s a very fluffy harem series.

There’s a storyline with Tsugumi, Chitoge’s bodyguard, who is actually a girl. I like her so far. Then there’s a chapter where Raku is sick and Chitoge and Onodera come over to take care of him and make him food, when neither one of them can cook.

The key and lock storyline is getting complicated. I was perfectly happy with the solution  being Onodera had the key, but now Chitoge has one, too, and hers is sounding more like his, even though I think it looks wrong. It also looks like the characters are pushing off finding the answer, which I don’t particularly like (although it doesn't surprise me).

And then the group goes on a school trip, and Raku is surrounded by the three girls. There’s a bath scene that is just way over the top, and a little too long. It was funny, I guess, but it was mostly too much for me. It was ridiculous. (But my brother would probably find it hilarious.)

Now the harem part: I think it’s a little repetitive how all three of them react the exact same to Raku. But I am enjoying getting to know the characters, and I do actually like all of them. Few series does it seem like all of the girls are necessary, nor do I like all of them; or the guy just doesn’t seem worth it. But here, I like all of the girls. I’m not even sure who I’m rooting for at this point, because I like them all so much. And Raku is a very good main character. He’s nice, if a little embarrassed, but a very likeable characters. That in itself makes this series stand out to me.

I am really enjoying this series, and I look forward to the next volume.