SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

April 8, 2022 by Renee Scott

Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love, vol. 1 | Review

April 8, 2022 by Renee Scott   Leave a Comment

Cover of Ima Koi: Now I'm in Love, vol. 1

Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love, vol. 1
By Ayuko Hatta
Viz Media, March 2022
Audience: 13+

Spring is almost here, love’s in the air, and for those looking for a cute story, Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love is perfect for the upcoming season.

Ima Koi starts with our main character, Satomi, being rescued by a fellow student, Yagyu, from a groper on the train. Discovering that Yagyu goes to the same high school as her, Satomi goes to thank him personally and develops a crush on her rescuer. Inspired by a previous missed opportunity of confessing her feelings to a crush, Satomi blurts out her feelings to Yagyu. To her surprise, Yagyu agrees to date her, marking the beginning of Satomi’s very first relationship ever!

The story was so sweet, it’s enough to give anyone cavities.

Seeing Satomi experiencing, as well as learning from, first love is so heartwarming and adorable. She knows nothing about being in a relationship (don’t we all sometimes), but gives her all in this newfound territory. However, what really makes this story refreshing is that Satomi is not being manipulated or treated like she’s a second-rate person. When Satomi asks him out, Yagyu instantly agrees in a calm manner. Yagyu treats her with patience, respect, and most importantly, as his equal. One example is when they are walking together, Yagyu notices that Satomi is walking behind him. She does this because she thinks being seen with her would embarrass him. Yagyu tells her he prefers that she walks beside him, and to never feel that she’s a burden to him. Another part that will endear Yagyu to the reader is when his friend calls Satomi a stalker, he corrects him and makes him apologize.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

There is so much to enjoy in Ima Koi, except the ruffling of the girl’s hair trope, which annoys me to no end—but I digress. First, it smashes the dating rule that girls must wait for the guy to ask her out. Learning from her previous experience where she loses her chance to tell her crush how she felt, Satomi spurs herself into action and gets the guy. That’s really brave to do. With outdated dating norms taking a back seat, it shows that not only is it okay for girls to ask guys out, some guys actually are impressed by that. She’s not treated in a shameful way, besides the horrible stalker comment.

It’s a great, relatable story for shojo fans, and I look forward to seeing how Satomi’s relationship with Yagyu develops in volume two.

Filed under: Manga, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Renee Scott

Renee Scott is a young adult librarian based in NYC, as well as a dedicated otaku and gamer. She is a lifelong fan of comics, anime, and manga. She can be found on Twitter at @libraryladynyc, and on her review blog, The Library Lady of NYC Reviews.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2023

My Sister, the Cat, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

January 2023

SHY, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

November 2022

Romantic Killer, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

October 2022

Dinosaur Sanctuary Vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

October 2022

No Longer Heroine, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#181)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

That Flag: An Interview with Tameka Fryer Brown

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Monkey Prince Vol. 1: Enter the Monkey | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Webcast Results

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

The Value of Innocence for BIPOC Students, a guest post by David Mura

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Looking Ahead: Our 2023 Preview

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

First-Person Graphic Memoirs: 17 Recommended Titles

Seven Titles with Censorship Themes

Eight Graphic Works that Offer Fresh Perspectives on the Past | Stellar Panels

Graphic Novel Series Updates for Both Die-Hard Fans and New Readers

15 Returning Faces for Graphic Novels Shelves | Series Update

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023