Comics / Manga

My Love Story!!: Volume 8 manga review

By Leroy Douresseaux
April 5, 2016 - 20:02

My Love Story Volume 8 cover image

Rated “T” for “Teen”

High school student, Takeo Goda, is a giant guy, who isn't the most attractive fellow.  While he has a giant heart, the girls at the school he attends, Shuei High School, won't have anything to do with him.  Then, Takeo meets Rinko Yamato, from Koizumi Girls Academy, after saving her from a harasser on the train.  Yamato falls in love with Takeo and changes his life.  Takeo's long-time friend, Makoto Sunakawa, tags along for fun.

As My Love Story!!, Vol. 8 (Chapters 28 to 31) opens, Yamato invites Takeo to her home.  He meets Yamato's parents and her younger sister, Noriko, but Takeo is so nervous that he is sure that he is making a poor impression.

Sunakawa's older sister, Ai, has felt affection towards Takeo since he was a small boy; you might say that she loves him.  When Ai returns home from college for a visit, she discovers that Oda, a college student with an annoying crush on her, is already there.  When he learns how affectionate Ai feels towards Takeo, Oda gets desperate.  Plus, Takeo learns that he has a rival in love.

THE LOWDOWN:  The My Love Story!! manga continues to evolve with the maturing relationship of its lead couple.  The series is better than one would think, just from a glance at the cover.  An unattractive romantic lead is not the norm, and Takeo is kind of homely.  For creators Kazune Kawahara (writer) and Aruko (artist), homely is not really an important thing.

My Love Story!! Volume 8 focuses on romantic rivals, whereas the previous volume focused on unrequited love and high school crushes.  There is one case of unrequited love here, but the focus is on rivalry.  That adds a bit of tartness to the chapters contained in this graphic novel.  The storytellers make the rivalry here feel like genuine conflict.  That's why I am ready for more My Love Story!!

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Readers looking for sweet love stories that are a bit different will want to try the Shojo Beat title, My Love Story!!

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Rating: A /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12