Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love, Vol. 1 (1)

Doe-eyed Satomi Mizusawa decides to confess her feelings to her hunky new high-school crush, Kazuma Yagyu, after he saves her from being groped on the subway. He agrees to date her since she seems interesting. Inexperienced Mizusawa doesn’t know how to act or what to say to Yagyu. Can Mizusawa achieve her dream of finally having a boyfriend?

The art is very cute, especially when Mizusawa is very expressive and makes funny, silly, and dramatic faces. I didn’t particularly like the side profile illustrations of Mizusawa and Yagyu though. Their side profiles didn’t look like their cute manga selves.

Of the main characters, I found Mizusawa annoying and Yagyu expressionless. She seems so annoying and stalkery and obsessed with getting a boyfriend. He is so boring. I don’t understand his appeal at all. He is supposed to be the brooding hunk, but I didn’t feel it when I was reading the story.

Their love story, at least in Now I’m in Love, is very tiresome and unoriginal. However, I would be interested to see where their love story goes in alter volumes. Unfortunately, this volume wasn’t a hit with me, but it may be a hit for other Shojo manga aficionados.