My Love Story!!, Vol. 1 Kindle & comiXology

“My Love Story” is the newest American release by KawaharaKazune, the author of the popular, uncouth love story “High School Debut”. Having won a slew of awards in Japan, a warm American reception was expected for this slow-starting manga that reaches for your heart (and man-card).This charming tale opens on the day of middle school graduation for Gouda Takeo, the burly Judo captain. He is attempting to escape from his adoring kouhai to find the girl he is in love with—A classic confession scenario. When he catches up with her, however, he finds that she is already confessing to someone else: his best friend, Sunakawa Makoto. He can only look on as Makoto openly rejects the girl, in a manner that Takeo finds stunningly hurtful.As the two head for home (they of course live in the same apartment building), Makoto points out a groper on the train. Angered, our Takeo stomps over and easily strong-arms the pervert off the train at the next station. The police arrive to question the parties involved, when the groper quips that the girl was ‘asking for it’ because she was wearing an ultra-mini. At this point, Takeo loses his cool and actually punches the guy smack in the middle of the face—And with a meaty hand like his, it looked as if the point of impact was pretty much the entire visage itself!The next panels are of the following day: Takeo lounging around his room eating junk food due to suspension for the violence (in front of the police, no less). Makoto drops by to pass on the notes from school that day, when Mrs. Gouda pops in to announce the arrival of a guest, named Yamato Rinko. Neither boy can place the name, but it turns out to be the girl from the station… And when she enters Takeo’s messy room, his love is born.Rinko explains that she asked the cops for Takeo’s information so that she could thank him properly. She takes out a homemade cheesecake and the trio eats together. Accidents bring them together a few more times, while Takeo struggles to come to terms with the fact that a girl so pretty, talented and sweet would never fall for him.But let’s cut to the chase: this series is called “My Love Story”, and Takeo is the main character. I could never ruin that sweet, also accidental, confession scene for new readers, so I will just leave it at that! In any case, this book is a touching view of the oft-overlooked self-critical male.Now, shoujo’s target audience is girls and women, but there are a few men out there who enjoy a sweet story every once in awhile. Taking a gander at my manga collection, I found a ratio of exactly two male-centric shoujo stories for every eleven female-centric. This is a quite a staggering number, considering that shoujo claims to be story-oriented (a feature any gender can enjoy), but usually only depicts the theme-du-jour from a female standpoint. What about us guys who yearn for a cutesy, dramatic, intricately-woven slice-of-life? There are just not many books out there for people like us.Shonen, power-of-friendship sagas are a dime a dozen, but you have to really dig through the plethora of manga now on the market to find a spectacularly ordinary story that can whisk you from the confines of your reality, to the hopes, dreams, and desires of someone in another place. And when this occurs, we start to realize how similar we all truly are. Because when it comes down to it, we have all traipsed through feelings of inferiority or unworthiness at one point or another. These darker times are part of what makes us human; our experiences build us into the complex people who we are today. In this series, there are some brilliant moments brimming with unanticipated optimism, and the first volume of “My Love Story” does a truly marvelous job of encapsulating a turning point in Gouda Takeo’s life.

I didn't know what to expect going into My Love Story, but I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this first volume. The story is sweet and funny. The characters are entertaining and relatable. The humor runs a little on the over the top side, but it also keeps the story moving at a quick pace, and Takeo makes for a great lead character. While this is a shojo series, the story is very accessible to both male and female readers, and while the back of the book shows a T rating, the first volume is very tame. Seriously, for something a little different you should check out My Love Story. It'll keep you smiling the whole way through.(And for a similar series, just with two guys instead of a guy and a girl, check out His Favorite.)

This is the kind of comedy I can actually giggle at. Make people go, "What are you reading so loudly over there?" Takeo is a great male lead, I only wish more were like him. Really, to pure for this rotten world.

It's tough to properly review a series of books without all the other reviews being, "It's as great as always." That being said, this series stays fantastic the whole way through. It's unique in the sense that the main character isn't "handsome" by typical standards, but as a person he's incredible. It's also unique in that I don't tend to like love stories or romance novels, but this one can hold my attention. Easily worth the money, but beware that if you buy one book, you'll probably end up buying all of them.

This is probably one of the cutest shojo manga I've read in quite a long time. Takeo isn't your stereotypical hero, nor is he the first thing many girls would ever consider for a protagonist of a shojo romance tale. However, after saving a girl from a pervert on the train, he is engaged in his first relationship ever.As of this volume, we haven't seen much of the pair together, but honestly, these two are adorable. Both characters are heartwarming innocent, and all of the supporting characters are super likeable as well. Also so far, the manga hasn't dragged, and its nicely paced. Things move quickly, but not in a confusing manner.So far,I strongly recommend this series to anybody who likes shojo manga. It's refreshing, charming, and overall enjoyable. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

Extremely cute! At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like it but for the kindle price I was like why not? Glad I did! it is such a cute story and I will be buying more volumes for sure. Takeo may not have the bishonen looks but has a heart of gold which is what I always like to see in the love interest is that they're caring and not mean and nasty.

I love this manga , its so cute and funny ..also it came in great condition !! Awesome !

Sooo cute! Me and my boyfriend watch it and since he loved it so much, I decided to buy it. I read it too and the only bummer is that the anime is slow paced compared to the book but whatever, can't wait to get book 2 :)

As much as I enjoy shoujo manga and anime, they can also be very frustrating. A bunch of needless drama born from love-triangles, insecurities and the inability to TALK to each other like human beings. Even some of my favorites like Lovely Complex and Kimi Ni Todoke have had infuriating periods.Then comes My Love Story!!.It's difficult to explain why it's so good without spoiling anything with some examples, which I don't want to do. What I CAN tell you, however, is that this is a story with very likeable characters. The relationship between the characters, be it lovers or friends, are all heartwarming in some way.I can't promise that the series won't go downhill in the future (seeing how it's an incomplete series), but right now I can highly recommend this to all shoujo fans and non-shoujo fans alike.

I would definitely suggest it to anyone who's a little sick of the usual 'pretty boy' routine.It's fun, fresh and a joy to read over and over again! :D

the best

A cute story with cute characters.And decent story...