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

After the cliffhanger of the last volume, I could not wait to pick up this one! The cliffhanger didn't conclude like how I predicted but I really like the way that it did finish that subplot. I liked how the story focuses on the relationships and defining lines of friendships and how both Akari and Yuna strive to be more confident in their love lives. One thing that I didn't like about this book is that I wish that Yuna would move on and gain more self confidence. We are starting to see that change within her but I hope that it starts to change Yuna for the better.

I am intrigued to read the next volume because I think it will focus more on Akari and her growing distance with Kazuomi, and whether or not her romantic feelings would be returned (I think they would be).

Overall, I really enjoyed this volume and I can't wait to read the next one!

Love Me, Love Me Not Volume 4, from VIZ Media‘s imprint Shojo Beat, by mangaka Io Sakisaka has been a heartfelt dive into friendship and love. This high school romance manga is messy, and that’s by design. Yuna is a teenage girl with an idealistic view of love and a crush on her best friend’s step-brother Rio. While Yuna has been looking for a prince charming, her best friend Akari is just trying to figure out her own feelings for Yuna’s childhood friend Inou. While the two girls navigate their crushes, there is one hiccup. Rio is in love with Akari and at the end of the last volume, he decided to finally make his move no matter how impulsive it was.

Now, in Love Me, Love Me Not Volume 4 the entire plot revolves around dealing with the fallout of Rio and Akari’s kiss. While love and friendship have been complicated for the better part of the series thus far, Rio’s kiss makes the blurred lines between the two nearly non-existend and pushes each character to establish boundaries and investigate what they want. A result of being unable to rein in his feelings after he discovers Akari has fallen for Inou, the kiss ripples through each of our main characters’ lives and romances. Akari, who is working to keep the family together, and Yuna, who loves Rio, are both shocked by the action.

While Yuna has been evolving over the entirety of the series, Love Me, Love Me Not Volume 4 is where we get to see her grow the most. But this isn’t because she wants to grow, it’s because she has to. The kiss breeds awkwardness and arguments between Akari and Rio that pushes Yuna into the middle of them. At the start of the volume, which contains chapters 13 through 16, Yuna continues to place the well-being and support of others above herself.

Pulled between Akari and Rio, Yuna is once again put in a position where she has to choose between her own feelings and supporting her friends. This push and pull between her love of Rio and her friendship with Akari is complicated by her own crush. Over the course of the volume, Yuna is a friend to both step-siblings. She continues to be the only person with whom Rio can talk. She’s the only one who knows the depth of his love for Akari. And she’s responsible for making sure he doesn’t lash out, even when his step-sister refuses to speak to him. But hearing his feelings and offering counsel puts her in a position where she can’t help but be jealous. While she attempts to push down her feelings for Rio, her conversations with him and with Akari slowly chip away at her resolve to put friendship first.

While the entire situation is terrible for Yuna, Love Me, Love Me Not Volume 4 pushes her to finally choose to fight for herself. That said, she doesn’t forsake her friendship with the pair, instead learning how to balance her needs with theirs. She makes a resolution to herself, not to see herself as someone who doesn’t deserve Rio, but instead promises to be the girl for him. This is a moment that shows Yuna’s maturity, and this is commented on by the characters around her. By the end of the volume, it’s clear that the tides are changing and not only is the story moving away from it’s messy love pentagon, but Sakisana is investing a lot of time into developing Yuna as the main lead.

Ultimately, Love Me, Love Me Not Volume 4 continues a phenomenal story about love and friendship. This volume shows characters finding themselves and righting their courses while also not ignoring any of the complications that come with their frienships and crushes. Love, in this series, is as much about protecting people as it is satisfying yourself and that’s what makes this a must-read for romance fans.

Love Me, Love Me Not Volume 4 is available from booksellers September 1, 2020.

Love Me, Love Me Not is perfect for fans of Gekkan Shoujo Nozuki-kun! It's really good and I love shoujo mangas! Also perfect for fans of slice of life and I can't wait to talk about this in my next Booktube video!

THIS VOLUME WAS SO STINKING GOOD!!!!

There are some reveals and revelations for Rio and Akari both after the reveal at the end of vol 3. The things that they learn about each other through the course of this volume is amazing. We also see Akari grow in her feelings for another young man, and I am excited to see where that is going to go.

I'M TRYING SO HARD NOT TO SPOIL!! But it's really good! Go read it!

This series plays with my emotions!

You think one thing is going to happen and then a different thing happens but then it all changes and it's just so dang cute!

In each volume Yuna continues to blossom. She is becoming who she wants to be and isn't let anything or anyone get in her way. I honestly feel like I should be more like her. She started off so shy and in this one she is taking the initiative.

Akari is still going through a lot from the last volume and things aren't really in her favor in this one either. I felt really bad for her because she is really striving to make things work and people don't see how much baggage she is caring. At least Kazu and Yuna are there for her. Kazu definitely came in clutch and I was rooting for him! I really hope they get together. I ship them immensely!

I never know how to feel about Rio. He is very selfish and doesn't think things through. It's like he wants to self-destruct. I mean, we all have been there at one point in time. I know I have. I am glad that he has Yuna even if he doesn't see how much of an asset she is at times. He is starting to work through his emotions he bottles up and we can only hope they blossom into something great.

The plot still has its plot twists that I am here for! I really never know where the plot will take me but I do know that when I'm on the last page I need more! It's seriously an addiction.

Overall, another great volume! Can't wait to continue this series but I love these characters.