Love at Fourteen Vol. 3

I love the innocence these two share when they are together and apart. It reminds me of how much we go through as adolescents when we start to recognize ourselves and those around us. Not only are these two dealing with this, but they have to deal with the feelings of blooming love as well. Seeing them move from one step at a time is just too sweet for words.

I absolutely love her book series and this one was no different. It keeped me interested witch was great because I don't usually like to read.

What can I say? The third volume of Love at Fourteen continues its amazing story of young romance. What makes this series so impressive is how easily readers will empathize with the characters. And by the third volume, the cast of characters has grown to a point where you'll have no trouble picking out both your favorite person and your favorite budding relationship.After the events in the last volume, there's now tension between the boys and girls of class 2-B. Kanata and Kazuki who step in trying to mediate the situation actually get sucked into it themselves. This results in the couple getting into their first fight ever with delightful consequences (at least to us readers). While this arc isn't necessarily one of my favorites due to its reliance on classic romcom tropes of misunderstandings driving the conflict, the arc does contain some of the author's best drawings on the series yet. I'll try not to reveal too much, but let's just say the characters fantasize about their love interests in school play costumes and man oh man is it stunning.While Yen Press's summary advertises Kanata and Kazuki's fight as the main story for this volume, thankfully there's plenty more story to read including Kanata's first experience with makeup and a meaty arc between Nagai and Hinohara-sensei where Nagai questions whether or not Hinohara cares about him. This was definitely my favorite part of the book and as you can probably guess, my favorite couple.One last thing that must be said is Aoi Shiki wins this volume's contest of best character. Ironically, while I like her the least of the main cast, she is arguably the most interesting because of her porcupine-like personality and numerous flaws. She also has the biggest uphill challenge in her love life on two fronts, the first being that she's in love with a girl and the second being that she knows her crush loves someone else. You're going to see Aoi in this volume really struggle between being aggressive in her pursuit of love and doing what is right for her crush. When you see the results of her efforts, your heart is going to ache for her.Yen Press has done a great job with the series. I can happily report that the translation is awesome, and quality of the book is just stellar. The volume contains a few gorgeous, glossy-colored pages and an afterwards from the author. While I can't wait for the next volume, there's definitely more than enough content here that will tide me over before September's release.

~4/5I love how realistic this series is. It’s mature, in the way that it handles first love, and the way they’re mature characters, while insecure. The way the characters look at each other, their feelings develop, is subtle and slow, but at a steady, realistic pace.Kanata and Kazuki have a fight, without meaning to or understanding how it happened. They try keeping up their good faces in front of their classmates. And then they make up, and it’s shy and sweet. They go out together, try to do things to impress each other. Kanata tries lip gloss, and wants Kazuki to notice.Then there’s Nagai, who tends to show anger when he gets attention. I know some people will be uncomfortable with his developing relationship with their teacher, but I’m not. Maybe I should be, given I’m not sure how far apart in age they all are. But I kind of like how she teases him, pushes him. And how, in return, he’s starting to get to her.And Shiki. I cannot express how pleased I am this series has straight couples (potential ones), and a gay character. I love it! She’s in love with Kanata, and I enjoy the way she thinks in third-person. She gets little chapters of thoughts, showing her feelings and growing friendship with Kanata, as well as her jealousy of Kazuki. I’m so impressed with this.Then we got peaks of new characters at the end of the volume. I don’t know if we’ll see more of them, but I love the glimpses we get of other characters. Just little thoughts from main and side characters in snipets, the subtly showing worlds of thought and growth and work.I love this series already. I’m wildly impressed with the development and thought and complexity. I can’t wait for the next one, every time.[More of my reviews are available on my blog, Geeky Reading, to which there's a link on my profile.]

I read the scans of this story and loved it and just had to support the English release of the manga. Great manga about young love and can't wait for more volumes.