Manga Review: My Love Story!!, Volume 13, by Kazune Kawahara and Aruko

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 5, 2017

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 12.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A gentle giant with a heart of gold finally stops being a love underdog in this hilarious romantic comedy!

Takeo Goda is a giant guy with a giant heart. Too bad the girls don’t want him! (They want his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa.) Used to being on the sidelines, Takeo simply stands tall and accepts his fate. But one day when he saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his (love!) life suddenly takes an incredible turn!

Yamato initially accepts that she has to move to Spain with her family, but her feelings for Takeo are so strong that she runs away from home! Takeo follows her with the intention of bringing her back, but what will he do when he faces a heartbroken Yamato? And just how will Takeo’s love story end?

Review:

And the series comes to a super sweet close.

Yamato and Takeo accept that she's moving away, and they accept having a long distance relationship. Everyone is surprised by her move, but they all believe they'll make it. Sunakawa tries to help by keeping Takeo distracted, and cheering him up.

But Takeo has Sunakawa. Yamato has her family, but she's struggling more. School is hard, she's not doing great, she misses Takeo, she can't understand anyone around her. It doesn't take much from Takeo to get her to admit this, though, which I liked. She's honest with him about it. Takeo freaks out in an awful way, though, and no one can understand him for it.

One of the best moments of this manga for sure, though, is when Sunakawa knocks some sense into Takeo. Literally. He needs it, and he understands why.

This all leads to a very sweet conclusion, which is no surprise.

I loved everything about this series. I hope we get more from these authors.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: My Love Story!!, Volume 12, by Kazune Kawahara and Aruko

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2, 2017

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 11. 13.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A gentle giant with a heart of gold finally stops being a love underdog in this hilarious romantic comedy!

Takeo Goda is a giant guy with a giant heart. Too bad the girls don’t want him! (They want his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa.) Used to being on the sidelines, Takeo simply stands tall and accepts his fate. But one day when he saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his (love!) life suddenly takes an incredible turn!

Review:

The first half of this volume, we get to see what happens with Tanaka. When Takeo figures it out, he becomes determined to make friends with the guy. But this leads to another glimpse of just how brutal Sunakawa can be. And just how great of a guy Takeo can be; he sees to the inner good in everyone, even when they're lying.

After that, there's some real drama with Yamato. This is another point for proving just how mature they are, but at the same time, reminding us that they are still teenagers. Yamato tries to do her best to make her parents happy, but at one point, it's just too much.

This plot reaction reminds me a bit of Kodocha, of which I think is a very nice comparison.

I won't spoil what actually happens, but I love the reaction. It proves how great a guy Takeo is, and how perfect him and Yamato are for each other. He knows just what to do for her, that even their parents aren't worried. It also says something that I don't doubt they'll be okay, and not because that's expected but because it makes sense. They really do have a strong, solid relationship. And then that cliffhanger...

I think the next volume is the last. Which is awful, but I am so excited to read it.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: My Love Story!!, Volume 11, by Kazune Kawahara and Aruko

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February 2017

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 10. 12.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A gentle giant with a heart of gold finally stops being a love underdog in this hilarious romantic comedy!

Takeo Goda is a giant guy with a giant heart. Too bad the girls don’t want him! (They want his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa.) Used to being on the sidelines, Takeo simply stands tall and accepts his fate. But one day when he saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his (love!) life suddenly takes an incredible turn!

Lately, Yamato has been making Takeo’s heart race more than usual, so Takeo tries to train himself to be more stoic. But when their respective schools take them on a trip to Hokkaido, Takeo and Yamato keep getting thrown into close contact! Looks like Takeo is in for a rough challenge…

Review:

These two are literally just the cutest.

The classes go on their school trips. Takeo is freaking out about wanting too much from Yamato, whereas she finds it flattering that he wants more. Seeing them finally talk about it is just adorable. Things don't get very intimate or anything, but seeing them talk so openly is so nice. Their mature attitudes are much appreciated.

After that, Yamato decides that she wants to get stronger; she wants to be able to take care of herself, given how strong Takeo is always catching her. Finding this out, Takeo offers to train her. He's super harsh, and it's super cute seeing how much she loves it. She loves how he yells at her, and she works hard to get better, too. I like that she doesn't want him to go easy on her, and so he doesn't. They're seriously perfect together.

The last chapter shows a guy moving in on Sunakawa, and I'm intrigued. Sunakawa doesn't seem the type to be easily mislead, but it's weird how he's acting around Takeo.

This series is utterly cute. I love it.

Manga Review: My Love Story!!, Volume 10, by Kazune Kawahara and Aruko

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 4, 2016

Spoilers?: Light.

Volumes: 13.

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

Volume: 1. 9. 11.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A gentle giant with a heart of gold finally stops being a love underdog in this hilarious romantic comedy by the author of the best-selling series High School Debut!

Takeo Goda is a giant guy with a giant heart. Too bad the girls don’t want him! (They want his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa.) Used to being on the sidelines, Takeo simply stands tall and accepts his fate. But one day when he saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his (love!) life suddenly takes an incredible turn!

Pastry chef Ichinose thinks he is best suited to be with Yamato and tells Takeo to break up with her! Takeo becomes discouraged, but he takes a stand against Ichinose even though Ichinose swears to declare his love to Yamato after he wins a famous pastry competition. Will Takeo and Yamato’s relationship survive the high-stakes baking contest?

Review:

The drama with Yamato's boss draws to a conclusion here. Even though Takeo is worried about it the entire time, sure that she's going to dump him for the "better guy", all it takes is for her boss to confess. She's caught off guard, but she's honest and upfront about her feelings for Takeo. It's sweet to see him finally seeing how much she loves him in return.

There are a few smaller chapters here, a school festival and Takeo getting a new phone. The most fun here, though, is when Takeo hears that Sunakawa is lonely now, and Takeo immediately vows to spend some alone time together, and keeps confessing his feelings and hopes that they'll stay friends forever. Sunakawa is embarrassed through all of this, just wanting to shrink away. It's a very good bromance moment and it's adorable.

Then we get a small cliffhanger before the two groups leave for a school trip, while Takeo is afraid of his want to constantly touch Yamato and is pushing her away and confusing her because of it. I can't wait to see how she reacts to this, what she does next. This series is just plain adorable and I love it.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: My Love Story!!, Volume 9, by Kazune Kawahara and Aruko

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 5, 2016

Volumes: 12+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 8. 10.

Add on Goodreads.

RightStuf Synopsis:

My Love Story!! volume 9 features story by Kazune Kawahara and art by Aruko.
Yamato starts working at a cake shop, where she meets a handsome pastry chef named Ichinose. Ichinose mistakes Yamato’s kind-hearted actions for signs of affection, and he falls for her! What will Takeo do about this persistent rival?! Find out in My Love Story!! volume 9.

Review:

Surprisingly enough, the trouble with the new guy doesn’t blow over immediately.

Yamato’s boss is clearly forming an infatuation for her, even going so far as to confront Takeo when he sees him. Takeo is already jealous and upset about this, and starts getting insecure, wondering if he’s not right for Yamato. Yamato doesn’t realize this is happening, and Suna is trying to help.

It’s sad to see Takeo like this, especially when Yamato has no idea and it’s obvious she’s in love with him no matter who else comes along. Plus, it’s good for her to be learning all this pastry-making things. And they’re just so cute together, I love these sweet, innocent moments we get between them.

This series is just so sweet, and I look forward to seeing how this plot wraps up next time.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: My Love Story!!, Volume 8, by Kazune Kawahara and Aruko

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4
Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Volumes: 11+
Spoilers?: Light.
Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.
Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Takeo Goda is a giant guy with a giant heart. Too bad the girls don’t want him! (They want his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa.) Used to being on the sidelines, Takeo simply stands tall and accepts his fate. But one day when he saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his (love!) life suddenly takes an incredible turn!


Takeo and Yamato spend their days deeply in love. Yamato invites Takeo to a date at her house, but what’s in store when Takeo meets Yamato’s family for the first time? Furthermore, Takeo now has a rival in love! What will the gentle giant do about his incredibly handsome foe?!

Review:

Takeo meets Yamato’s parents for the first time, and it’s adorably awkward, but it goes good.
And then Suna’s sister Ai comes to visit, and the guy in love with her follows. Maybe there are some iffy moments here, but I like Oda, and I like the way he feels for Ai and how he doesn’t shy from it. He maybe could be nicer about it, but I understand. I get it. And I think that Ai needed a push, because she was letting herself fall into a stale state of unrequited love for Takeo when it was clearly not going to happen. I think she’s going to be moving forward now. I do like the way her family, and Takeo particularly, were there to protect and defend her, though.
And then Yamato gets a job at a bakery, and so Takeo gets a job to follow along, make some money. I like that Yamato is doing this for her love of baking and sweets, and because she wants to learn more and get better. I also find it funny that the main baker is so full of himself that he thinks Yamato’s sweetness is her falling in love with him. This in turn is making him more friendly with her than he should be, and it’s going to make Takeo jealous. I’m not worried, because these two are so monogamous and loyal there’s no doubt here, but I do think it’ll be funny to see how it turns out.
This is a fun, cute series, and it’s so ridiculously sweet. It’s always nice to get a new volume.

Manga Review: My Love Story!!, Volume 7, by Aruko and Kazune Kawahara

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 5, 2016

Volumes: 10+

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Takeo Goda is a giant guy with a giant heart. Too bad the girls don’t want him! (They want his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa.) Used to being on the sidelines, Takeo simply stands tall and accepts his fate. But one day when he saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his (love!) life suddenly takes an incredible turn!

Every year, Sunakawa receives chocolates from a mysterious “Yukika Amami.” When the mystery girl shows up in person, she tells Takeo how she has loved Sunakawa for over ten years, and Takeo decides to give her his support! With Takeo’s help, Yukika gathers the courage to talk to Sunakawa… But how will he respond to her feelings?!

Review:

Continuing from the last volume, we get to meet a potential love interest for Sunakawa. She’s a surprising character, having stalked him for the last several years, and being in love with him but too afraid to tell him who she really is.

Sunakawa is sweet in giving her a chance, and going on a double date with her and Takeo and Yamato. Again, it’s nice to see how strong of a couple Takeo and Yamato are, honest with each other at all times, and how Yamato can also form real friendships with other girls. Fantastic characterization.

And yet it doesn’t end quite how I thought it would, but not in a bad way. Not in a typical shojo-story way, but it makes sense for the characters. It makes me wonder who really will make an impact on Sunakawa, but I like that he doesn’t worry about it. He’s a very easygoing guy, but very sweet.

This series is overall impressive, in character and story and romance. I love it so much.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!