My Love Story!!: Volume 5 manga review

Manga
My Love Story!!: Volume 5 manga review
By Leroy Douresseaux
July 27, 2015 - 19:16

Viz Media
Writer(s): Kazune Kawahara, JN Productions, Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane
Penciller(s): Aruko
Letterer(s): Mark McMurray
ISBN: 978-1-4215-7148-5
$9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK, 184pp, B&W, paperback
Rating: T (Teen)

My Love Story Volume 5 cover image

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Takeo Goda, a high school student, is a giant guy, and he isn't the most attractive fellow. He also has a giant heart, but girls at the school he attends, Shuei High School, won't have anything to do with him. Then, he 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. 5 (Chapters 16 to 19) opens, Takeo's classmate, Mariya Saijo, continues to call him “Coach.” This is how she deals with the fact that she is in love with him, which Takeo does not seem to realize. Takeo's good-looking best friend, Makoto, thinks that the needs to step in and say something.

Later, Takeo and Rinko decide to play matchmakers to mutual friends on Christmas Eve. Also, New Year's Day is Takeo's birthday, and Rinko is thinking about kissing.

[This volume contains a bonus story.]

THE LOWDOWN: The My Love Story!! manga remains what it is, a sweet love story. As shojo high school romance manga go, this is one gentle read that goes down smooth and easy.

I like that creators, writer Kazune Kawahara and artist Aruko, continue to add tension in the series. My Love Story!! Volume 5 shows how engaging and even tense this series can get when people try to come between Takeo and Rinko. This adds dimension to the romantic lead characters, who can seem shallow at times. I think there are more surprises in store for readers.

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

Rating: B+/10