Manga Review: Love at Fourteen, Volume 8, by Fuka Mizutani

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: November 2018

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kazuki and Kanata may be considered Class 2-B's mature students, but they're not the only ones getting tangled up in emotions and new relationships. Aoi quietly pines for Kanata, but her curiosity is piqued by the mystery surrounding the school nurse. The woman from the bus continues to fascinate Shota, and even class clown Kato surprises everyone when he manages to catch an unknown girl's attention...

Review:

Shiki kind of confronts her feelings in this volume, and gets to move forward in a different direction. Then we meet a new couple, this one who's age difference isn't what either of them realized, only in the opposite directions. I do quite like the diversity of couples in this series, how it mixes up normal expectations and gives a wider view. Even if the age differences might bother some people.

Other than that, mostly just some teasing and new romantic situations for our couples.

This series is fun to me. It's fallen a little in the background, and sometimes it's easy to forget some of the characters because there's so many at this point. But it's still fun to read and I'm glad we're getting more variety in our manga now.

Manga Review: Love at Fourteen, Volume 7, by Fuka Mizutani

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: April 2018

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

As Class 2-B makes landfall in Kyoto, everyone's talking about who's going to confess to whom. Amidst the mayhem, Kanata is shocked to realize that despite their developing romance, Kazuki's never actually told her how he feels about her! There's love in the air, but for Kanata and Kazuki, will this momentous confession--if it ever comes--just be too little, too late?

Review:

There's some light plot in the beginning of the volume, as the classes get together for group projects, and our characters decide to research the schools seven wonders. They're mostly either doubters or scaredy-cats, though, it seems. Throughout this, Kanata and Kazuki are still just trying to find time alone together, and Nagai is trying not to be affected by the teacher.

This leads into it being time to decide on their next step in the future. They have to decide on what school to apply for, or whether they want to work or do something else. Kanata and Kazuki don't communicate it at first, but we all know they hope to stay together. There are several unrequited crushes that struggle with deciding where to go for themselves, or to find out where their crush is going. We get a little bit of development with the minor characters during this, but in the latter half of the volume, we meet a new character that ruffles Nagai a bit.

Meeting this new character has me excited, honestly. I absolutely love the diversity in this series, and getting to see so many characters with such a range of interests and sexualities. This new one appears to be pan or bi, and I appreciate that. He also seems like fun, so I'm excited by that.

This is a really well done series. It shows a good range, even though it's a school romance. It's thoughtful and pretty and diverse. I hope to read the next one soon.

Manga Review: Love at Fourteen, Volume 6, by Fuka Mizutani

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: 2017

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

As Class 2-B makes landfall in Kyoto, everyone's talking about who's going to confess to whom. This prompts Kanata to realize that despite their developing romance, Kazuki's never actually told her how he feels about her. There's love in the air, but for Kanata and Kazuki, will this momentous confession--if it ever comes-just be too little, too late?

Review:

They finish up their class trip in this volume. Kanata and Kazuki have to figure out ways to meet without anyone noticing, and subtle, hidden ways to touch or share things without being figured out. They end up meeting in the middle of the night, but they're both a little influenced by the talk in their shared rooms—talk of love, and breasts.

When they get back, it's school festival time, and Hinohara tells Nagai that he's going to sing at it. It's a battle of wills and hidden intentions between them leading up to it, as we figure out whether Nagai will go through with it or not.

In the latter half of the volume, Kanata discovers that she's gained weight. This was handled okay, and I did like that in the end she realizes it's okay, and even enjoys the current height difference between her and Kazuki. This is always a touchy subject, and while it could have been pushed more, I didn't think this series would make that a message anyway.

It's been a while since I've read this series, and this was a good way to get back into it, I think.

Manga Review: Love at Fourteen, Volume 5, by Fuka Mizutani

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: February 2016

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

On the heels of the sports festival comes the biggest middle school event yet--the school field trip! But before Kazuki and Kanata can worry about keeping up appearances in Kyoto, they'll have to pass their midterms. Unfortunately, Kazuki's math skills don't stand up to his mature, model-student appearance, so when he finds himself in a mathematical midterm pinch, he asks for a favor from none other than...Shiki-san?!

Review:

Even though Kanata and Kazuki pretend as hard as possible to be mature in front of their classmates, sometimes they have to do that with each other, too. As we see when Kazuki is too embarrassed to admit he’s not understanding math, and has to sneak around to get tutoring.

This is adorable, really. And it leads to Kanata going out with Shiki for a day, and Kazuki hanging out with Nagai. I love these odd friendships they’ve all formed. Kazuki and Nagai are real friends, even if they don’t realize it. And I appreciate that Shiki’s crush on Kanata is acknowledged as a real thing, even if Kanata doesn’t know about it.

The class goes on a school trip, and Kanata and Kazuki are forced to help plan it, but luckily they’re in a group together. This causes a lot of fun and adorable moments, like when the two start sneaking pictures at each other. There’s a real moment of emotion, though, when Nagai goes missing and the teacher freaks out when she finally finds him. It’s rather sweet, honestly.

We meet a new character in this volume, who has a crush on a teacher, and see a little more of the pair in unrequited love with other people.

A new volume of this series is always a delight, which is good given it’s going to be a while for the next one.

Manga Review: Love at Fourteen, Volume 4, by Fuka Mizutani

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: September 2015

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

As the weather cools down--bringing with it a change of pace and uniforms--preparations for the upcoming sports festival begin to heat up. But when Kazuki is picked as an executive member of the festival committee, Kanata can't help feeling a little left behind. Will these two manage to keep up their mature smiles and endure this time apart?

Review:

Kanata and Kazuki try so hard to be mature, sometimes it’s even to their detriment. Especially since they’re trying so hard to keep their relationship a secret. Sneaking around to see each other after class, between classes sometimes. Trying to coordinate uniforms, working on the sports festival and organizing time together around it. They’re cute, even if they’re trying not to be.

Then there’s Nagai and the teacher, and how even though she teases him relentlessly, she still gets flustered by him. Real feelings are developing there, and it’s sweet how they’re both trying not to. We meet a new student, with a fascination for an older lady. Then there’s a new pair of students, a boy with a crush on the teacher, and the girl with a crush on him. Of course, we get to see more of Aoi and her fantasies for Kanata, which is sweet.

This series is a delight, every time. It’s subtle and slow and sweet. I’m always happy for another volume.

Manga Review: Love at Fourteen, Volume 3, by Fuka Mizutani

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: June 23, 2015

Volumes: 5+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kanata and Kazuki are unwittingly pit against each other during a feud between the girls and boys, and their budding relationship is put to the test when personal feelings explode their mature facades! With their perfect student reputations also on the line, can Kanata and Kazuki reconcile their differences, or will their argument become someone else's gain?

Review:

I love how realistic this series is. It’s mature, in the way that it handles first love, and the way they’re mature characters, while insecure. The way the characters look at each other, their feelings develop, is subtle and slow, but at a steady, realistic pace.

Kanata and Kazuki have a fight, without meaning to or understanding how it happened. They try keeping up their good faces in front of their classmates. And then they make up, and it’s shy and sweet. They go out together, try to do things to impress each other. Kanata tries lip gloss, and wants Kazuki to notice.

Then there’s Nagai, who tends to show anger when he gets attention. I know some people will be uncomfortable with his developing relationship with their teacher, but I’m not. Maybe I should be, given I’m not sure how far apart in age they all are. But I kind of like how she teases him, pushes him. And how, in return, he’s starting to get to her.

And Shiki. I cannot express how pleased I am this series has straight couples (potential ones), and a gay character. I love it! She’s in love with Kanata, and I enjoy the way she thinks in third-person. She gets little chapters of thoughts, showing her feelings and growing friendship with Kanata, as well as her jealousy of Kazuki. I’m so impressed with this.

Then we got peaks of new characters at the end of the volume. I don’t know if we’ll see more of them, but I love the glimpses we get of other characters. Just little thoughts from main and side characters in snipets, the subtly showing worlds of thought and growth and work. 

I love this series already. I’m wildly impressed with the development and thought and complexity. I can’t wait for the next one, every time.

Manga Review: Love at Fourteen, Volume 2, by Fuka Mizutani

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: March 24, 2015

Volumes: 5+

Spoilers?: Yes, with warning.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Now in the same second-year class in junior high, amid the hormones and angst of adolescence, the unusually mature Kazuki and Kanata go from being boy and girl friends to boyfriend and girlfriend. But with love comes intense emotions, and being teenagers, they go back and forth bottling up those feelings. Will this approach come back to bite them?!

Review:

“Some of us are mature… Some of us are childish… But we’re all fourteen.”

I rather enjoyed the first volume of this series, and yet this one was even better. I’m in love with this series at this point, and am definitely signed on for the rest of it.

It’s stated a lot that the two main characters are mature. And maybe they are more mature for their age, or at least more reserved. But they’re still fourteen. They’re innocent and falling in love for the first time, and they don’t know how to act around their classmates, and they’re still finding out who they are as people. It’s charming and adorable and funny.

The main story focuses on Kazuki and Kanata, two mature students who are falling in love and in a new relationship, while pretending in public that they don’t really know each other. There’s some jealousy here, the two of them confiding in each other and talking and waiting till they’re alone to talk for real. They dance together at one point, alone after they’re pressured not to touch during class. Holding hands for the first time, and realizing that their bodies are changing.

We also get to see more of Nagai and the teacher, who teases him endlessly. Their relationship is interesting and fun to see develop, but I also really like Nagai’s friendship with Kazuki and Kanata. Nagai tries to be all tough and mean, but he’s really not. He worries and he gets embarrassed.

We also met a new character here, Aoi. She’s quiet and doesn’t really talk to anyone and writes everything down in third-person in her notebook. And, [Spoiler!], while trying to discover what love is, she falls for Kanata! When she was first introduced, I was wondering, and hoping. And I’m so excited that we get to see an lgbtq+ character here. Diversity! Yay! [End Spoiler!] 

This is a quieter series, very slice of life. It’s innocent and sweet, but funny and so adorable. I love it, and cannot wait for the next one.