I can't get enough of this series! I absolutely tore through the first 5 volumes and can't wait for the rest to be released. This story is so fun and lightheartedly while also dealing with issues that many high schoolers deal with. The love triangle or quad (?) makes for some really interesting misunderstandings that have yet to be resolved. I really hope this manga gets an anime in the future; I think it would do really well.

Love Me Love Me Not is published in English by VIZ Media's ShojoBeat imprint. The series has focused on the lives of high schoolers, Yuna, Akari, Rio, and Kazuomi who's friendships and romantic feelings have resulted in a collision between their assumptions, their wants, and reality. Now a full love quadrangle of epic shojo proportions, Love Me Love Me Not Volume 5 reminds readers that while adult love may be complicated, it doesn't hold a candle to high school romances.

Love Me Love Me Not Volume 5 is written and illustrated by Io Sakisaka, with translation by JN Productions and touch-up art and lettering by Sarah Linsley. At the end of the last volume, readers got the chance to see Rio's feelings for Akari finally begin to reveal themselves as she makes her way into his dreams. Now, in Love Me Love Me Not Volume 5 the romances start to bloom but none of our main characters have the wherewithal to beat back their own assumptions, start asking questions, and listen to what their crushes are saying. This isn't a bad thing, it's just a high school romance.

After dreaming about kissing Yuna, Rio can’t stop thinking about her. Yuna, on the other hand, has accepted her place as Rio's friend and continues to push her thoughts of pursuing him aside. Meanwhile, Akari pursues Kazuomi, but it turns out that he may have seen something on that fateful rainy day that threw Rio and Akari's step-sibling relationship into a tailspin.

Truth be told, this entire plot could be solved if the characters just decided to listen to one another instead of letting their actions be driven by their assumptions of situations. While this is a common romance trope that winds up overdone and tiresome, this isn't the case with Love Me Love Me Not Volume 5. Sakisaka's writing feels authentic to the uncertainty of teenage romance. Each character is propelled by their insecurities and grounded by their dreams, it's where they conflict with each other where the drama takes place. And that's the point of it all.

Additionally, the dreamy quality to the light linework of Sakisaka's art helps to showcase the wispy way each emotion in the story builds on others. Without giving too much away, the art and the emotion put into is one of the main reasons why I'm excited about the next volume in this series. As jealousy becomes a harsher emotion that each of the characters has to confront, I'm curious as to how Sakisaka's soft art will rise to meet it.

With Ao Haru Ride completed, now is the perfect time to jump into Love Me Love Me Not. To put it simply, while the relationships just get messier, the commentary on the importance of platonic intimacy, growing friendships and putting other's needs before your own. Love Me Love Me Not Volume 5 is showcasing each character's growth not only in their relationships but alone as well, which makes the romance all the more enjoyable to read.

Advanced reader copy was provided to me by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This volume was another great instalment in the series. This volume focuses on everyone's feelings for one another and it was interesting to get everyone's points of view of their romantic states. There was a lot of angst and drama with the complicated feelings of the friendship group. I loved every minute of this manga. I consumed this manga faster than I finished my bottle of water. I could not stop reading, I did not want to stop reading. I was glued to every line and I desperately want to know what happens in the next volume after that cliffhanger ending.

I would highly recommend this manga if you are looking for your next shojo manga read.

I continue to enjoy the direction of this series. We are starting to see our characters connecting in a way that makes more long term sense for the series. There is one major conflict that needs to still be clarified, but I hope we see the resolution to that conflict soon, so that we can see these relationships grow and blossom!

So glad I finally get to continue with this series!

Each volume ends on such a gigantic cliffhanger. Why am I still shocked that it happened again and I just can’t stop thinking about it!?

Anyways, haha.

There is definitely more feelings blossoming in this one and we start to understand the mind of Kazu. That poor guy is quite conflicted with his feelings. I feel bad for him but at least he is such a loyal friend! Props to him.

It’s still nice to see Yuna not be so introverted and be able to talk to Rio (for the most part, ha) without being so shy around him. There are some great moments between them and I’m really rooting for them to have something happen in the next volume!

Friendship and romance are complicated things and this series does a great job of showing how hard it can be to maneuver through each one. The characters are always lovable and the funny moments are great!

Overall, this series just gets better with each volume and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next.