Love Me Love Me Not is a series created, written, and illustrated by shoujo icon Io Sakisaka (the mangaka behind Ao Haru Ride). While the bulk of the series has been filled with miscommunication and assumptions, Love Me Love Me Not Volume 8 shows what can happen when the characters begin to not only talk to each other but listen.

Love Me Love Me Not Volume 8 is published and localized in English by VIZ Media’s Shojo Beat imprint. This Shojo Beat Edition is adapted by Nancy Thistlethwaite, translated by JN Productions, and features touch-up art and lettering by Sara Linsley. In this volume, the love quadrangle has pretty much resolved, but the love friendship continues to hit some complications for Yuna, Akari, Rio, and Kazu.

Thankfully, Yuna and Rio have started dating and being very open about their feelings. and Akari and Kazuomi are growing closer while still having the awkwardness of knowing each other’s feelings but not being in a place to act on them. Well, that is until Akari’s ex-boyfriend wants her back — you know, the same ex who called her empty and pointed out every flaw she ever had last volume? That one. Pushed by a need to try to protect Akari, Kazu tries to find the right time to speak his true feelings out loud and ultimately keep Akari from going back to the guy who very clearly sees her as less than.

In this volume, Sakisaka does a great job of balancing the character’s inner wants and outward expressions through the great use of dialogue and emotive facial illustrations. Like all the volumes before it, Love Me Love Me Not Volume 8 has a lot of feelings, but it lacks the confusion. And that’s a good thing. One of the best things about high school romances is that you get to watch the characters grow as they learn about themselves as the series continues.



In fact, Yuna is more capable and confident while still allowing the audience to see vulnerabilities. In addition, Akari is learning to take what her ex said to heart, but in a healing way. She tries to make sure that she is thinking for herself and what she wants, instead of being a vessel for other people’s emotions and needs. Now, Rio and Kazu do have small moments of growth, but this series overall belongs to the teen girls who have come a long way from their idyllic and cynical stances. Each of them has learned to see that love sometimes exists in a gray area. It’s not always perfect, sometimes you have to work for it, and on the other end, you can’t just wish away emotions that you don’t want to deal with anymore.

That’s what’s special about Love Me Love Me Not Volume 8 and the series as a whole. It’s about the growth you can see in large ways and the growth that exists in the small moments too. Overall, this volume is a great one, and while it may not be the best of the series, it shows our characters on set paths, instead of just fumbling in the darkness.

So maybe this is overly dramatic, but the experience of love and hormones and social and self uncertainty was certainly dramatic from the inside when I was experiencing it in high school! So while the stakes are low, the emotions are real. and the characters and their mixed up knots are engaging. Love some of the little details and growth, like Rio being totally insufferable about dating someone and wanting to have a romantic Christmas. I'm sure there will be drama with Rio and Yuna at some point, but right now the push and pull and kindness and uncertainty between Akari and Kazuomi are far more interesting (and Akari's self-doubt is really starting to wear). There's nothing too earth shattering or profound here, but it's a fun, romantic, soap opera.

Another delightful volume in this series about growing up, dating and friendship. Yuna has settled into her relationship with Rio and learns to be more comfortable and trust him. Akari and Kazuomi have to learn to put themselves first instead of masking their wants and needs to please others. Overall, a fun, breezy read.

This volume made my heart so happy! It was so sweet, and I loved what was happening with our characters. We also see what happens to teens in households where parents fight, and I found that to be a touch that was so well thought out. Please read this series if you aren't.

If you would like my more in depth feelings about this title, please check out this review vlog! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6vAlr5I5CE

I feel like I was expecting more from Ryosuke (Akari's ex). He didn't serve as much of an obstacle as I was expecting him to, but I also think a lot of that come from Akari's desire to grow as an individual rather than define herself by the relationships she's in. Very mature of her. I do want Kazu to hurry up and say something to her though, the angst is killing me!

Thanks Netgalley and Viz for letting me read this early - can't wait to support it at its release!

Another great volume to this series! On top of the usual adorable strife, which has finally gained some real traction, we get an in-depth look into family life and how both Akari and Kazuomi are dealing with their strained parental relationships. I'm looking forward to more cuteness in future volumes.