Ima Koi: Now I'm in Love, Vol. 9

今、恋をしています [Ima, Koi wo Shite Imasu] #9

by Ayuko Hatta

After missing out on love because she was too shy to confess her feelings, high school student Satomi blurts out how she feels the next time she gets a crush—and it’s to her impossibly handsome schoolmate Yagyu! To her surprise, he agrees to date her. Now that Satomi’s suddenly in a relationship, what next?

The four friends depart on a school trip to Nagasaki together. Satomi and Yagyu start thinking about their lives after high school, as do Miria and Noda. What will the future hold for these two couples who have found their fated loves in high school?

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Contemporary, Young Adult, Graphic Novels Manga, Graphic Novels

184 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2023

About the author

Also known as 八田 鮎子

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this was the perfect ending to the series. Everything felt like it came full circle. I was nervous that it would leave me wanting more but it was simply perfect in its own way. I was full of smiles at the end. ❤️

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

”On the heels of a failed middle school infatuation, Satomi starts high school resolved to go all in when it comes to romance. She's fallen hard for Yagyu, a boy from her school who saved her from a groper on the train, but she almost gives up because of his cold demeanor. As it turns out, Yagyu is actually kind, and they start to date after Satomi ardently confesses her feelings. Since then, things have been going great for the lovebirds. 💖
Right beside the happy couple, Miria falls for Noda, and after he contesses his feelings to her, she becomes his girlfriend! Around the same time, Satomi and Yagyu have a fight, but the two tell each other how they're really feeling inside, and their relationship becomes stronger than ever. 💖
Now everyone is on their way to the long-awaited class trip in Nagasaki!”

This was the final volume of Ima Koi: Now I’m In Love and, of course, it has a sickly sweet and very romantic ending! This series is just pure fluff, very heart warming. I felt a bit emotional at the end there! 🥺😭

3.6 Stars

[Ailbhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was putting off reading this because I didn’t want the series to end, and I was right I didn’t.

It is such a cute wholesome series, no major major drama so it was just an absolute joy to read.

Will definitely reread when I need something light hearted to read to cheer me up.

[Mehsi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this could have been fantastic, but the series really took a nose dive when Miria and Tenma got coupled up. I wouldn't have minded a sequel or a spin-off named B-Side or something which featured this couple. But now it felt like they took away from our main couple and I love our main couple. This side couple even took the spicy scene. Plus, also some other fun moments that I would rather see with our main couple. It is just a shame. I am happy that we saw our main couple work hard at school to get into the same college together and I was rooting for them, see them have a happy time between the studying. I did like the ending, but I feel like it could have been so much more.

Poor Nimo though, best friend but as soon as Miria (and thus the coupling with Tenma) happened she just disappeared. It felt really weird. She is barely there, in the third year she is conveniently also not in their class (but the couples all stuck together) and then in the epilogue yet another excuse. WTF. Why?

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

And the end of the series.

It was so sweet~~!

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Even if things change we need to stick together and keep moving forward..we have to put in the effort to make it happen."

This was not my favorite conclusion to a series, but honestly, I think a lot of that is because I simply just didn't want this series to end. I think it also didn't help to read the first sidebar and Ayuko Hatta announced this would be her last manga she works on. Two big journeys ending at once! 😭😭😭

But this WAS a happy ending to these characters' journey! Though I didn't realize this volume went up an age rating, after that one spicy scene, it made sense why it did. LOL!

Despite that I didn't want this series to end, I really liked the ending itself! It was different than I expected, which made it refreshing to other endings I've recently read! Everyone's end journey made sense and I especially loved the last two pages in regards to Yagyu and Satomi. They have made me so happy over and over again when reading their love story that I'm glad THEY will continue to always be happily in love for a long long time. <3

Overall, this was a very wonderful series! I'm very crestfallen it's over and won't see these four again in a new volume, but it is a series I will come back to reread again often!

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable, slightly bittersweet ending to an overall precious series 💖

[MargReadsManga · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad it’s over!! But it had a good, happy ending! 😊

[Stephanie Harkx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the ending of the series. Sad it ended but also feeling warm and full on the inside. ♥️

[aurora ❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a cute ending to this series 🥹🥹

[Libbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨

✨Writing a review for the whole series and copy/pasting. I read this a few months ago and don't remember specifics for every volume other than rating. Besides most volumes are kinda samey.✨

This was the first manga series I've ever picked up and finished. I was 23 when I read this and I feel like I was too old for it which is the first time I've thought this really for a YA book. (The joys of growing older 😭)

The romance is cutesy but that's the limit on my thoughts on it. The toxic masculinity is ripe with the MMC. Not a fan of the possessiveness or how cliché aspects of it were. But, it's not offensively bad. Just not for me.

Feel like this is more older middle grade/young YA.

[Brandee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, this is my first manga series. I would say this was about a 3.5 for me, just like the rest.

I am still really loving the art style. Hatta is an amazing artist and writer! And such a great artist considering he is drawing an actual place and after seeing it, I kind of want to travel there!

So this book starts with the class trip to Nagasaki. It is so fun to see the whole crew together. At one point, they split up to go through a maze and end up in different pairs - Yagyu and Miria, and Noda and Satomi. The conversations here are actually kind of fun and lighthearted. Maybe this group of friends will stay in touch longer than they first imagined.

Speaking of which, this book also brings up the decisions that are looming as these final years prepare for college, trade schools, or jobs. Satomi and Yagyu really want to go to the same college which is hard to get into but they vow to help each other prepare for exams and do their very best. I liked seeing this side of their relationship. They still love each other and have lovey-dovey moments but they also are supporting each other and helping each other do their very best!

We see some hints to how the future might be and at the very end we see a peek into what their lives post high school is currently looking like. Nothing is ever set in stone but it is cool to see where they ended up given what they "planned" during their last year.

I absolutely loved this series and could totally see myself reading these terrific 9 books all over again. If you are new to manga like me, I think this is a great one to start with. It is adorable, beautiful art and writing, and an actually super cute and fun story. Definitely recommend :)

[Branford White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Series has been everything I expected from the Shoujo genre. Two very solid relationships, endearing and relatable characters, real relationship problems and a wonderfully heartfelt world. Having the concept of open communication being the essential focal point of the series is so refreshing. One of my biggest issues with getting into Shoujo romance has been a lack of that quality, so it was nice to see.

Short and sweet. I’ll remember this series for a loooong time to come.

[Paola · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHY IS THIS OVERRRR

[Lailah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[madeleine!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’m so sad it’s over😭

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good ending. This was a cute and heartwarming manga from start to finish.

[Paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been such a hater if this series, but this final volume was so stinking cute!

[Natalya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Christina]

Series: Now Im In Love (9)

[Geonette]

This is a cute series, and one of the first mangas I started. It is a little bland at times but I’m glad I followed through til the end.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember when I started reading this when it first came out. It is the first and currently the only mamga series I've fully read and the ending was lovely.

[Kayla Brunson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know this was going to be the last volume! It's pretty bittersweet. We got to see our two couples through high school and a glimpse at their future. I'm happy at how the mangaka wrapped up this series.

[Jess Shumaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

UGH SO CUTE, great way to end it

[Danielle Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe it’s over…I could cry…

[kfarhanah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hey Yagyu, no matter how much time passes, my feelings from back then remain the same. They are always dazzling and never fade, since you've made them stay that way. I think I will always be in love with you.”

“Even if he had not said that, the future I've imagined for myself has to have Tenma in it to be complete. I am the one who's not letting him go.”

All good things eventually come to an end, and Ima, Koi Wo Shite Imasu by Ayuko Hatta is no exception. This delightful shojo manga, which has been one of my favourites, has wrapped up with its ninth volume. The series has been a joy to read, offering a sweet, drama-free narrative that I thoroughly enjoyed. As I turned the pages of the volume, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness knowing that this is the end of the journey with these beloved characters. Though I’m devastated that there won’t be any new volumes, I will revisit this series whenever I miss them, finding comfort in its pages once more. Miria and Tenma will always have a special place in my heart.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume started with the school trip, and was so fun to read. To see them take their trip adventures to the fullest and having fun, while making memories was stunning. Satomi and Yagyu were so cute the way their relationship progressed through out the whole volume to the end was brilliant and felt so real. Miria and Noda were a blast and seeing the progress in their relationship was stunning and enjoyable, the way their relationship works is fun and intresting. To see all of them in their third year for the short such a short time and then on to becoming adults was an intresting choice and really made the story stand out and made me so sad because it showcased that this was the end. Saying goodbye to all these characters was so hard and the way she showcased what they have in the future was brilliant and uplifting. This was such a warm and comfy volume, so heart warming and so worth the read.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a rather large time skip here where we go from studying for college entrance exams as third years in high school to passing those exams and then suddenly what their life looks like sometime further in the future. It's unclear if they're still in school at this point or not, but Yagyu and Satomi are living together at the very least and it sounds like Miria and Noda may be moving in together after Miria landing a new job. It doesn't sound like they're married at this point, though they very well could be as they definitely act like a more established long term couple, just as they are considering they've been dating for several years at this point. For their anniversary, Yagyu takes them back to the same theme park where they celebrated that first Christmas, much to Miria's joy it seems. They have both been talking long term and wanting to stay together, so it appears they got their wish.

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet and hopeful end to a series that was all about taking chances in love, being honest and open about your feelings, and pushing one another to do their best to achieve their dreams. There wasn’t much conflict in this one, other than the stress of being 18 and trying to figure out what you want to do in the future and how you can maintain your friendships and romantic relationship. Both couples did a good job being forthcoming about what they want in life, and how they can best work together to achieve that. And there’s also some spicy time, which is pretty rare for a romance manga like this! Nothing explicit, cut scenes only, but still! Makes everything seem much more realistic. Definitely a series I enjoyed reading and would recommend.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️


A satisfyingly sweet ending. I like how realistic their relationship is, with rough patches and times away, but still a strong commitment to stay together. Their school trip was adorable, with the guys being so smitten and doting🤭 even Tenma turned out to be a rather sweet boyfriend, and he and Miria really got well together.

This is one of the better shoujo series IMO, with mature characters and a clear conclusion. The mangaka announced that this will be her last work, and she’s going to explore other careers after writing manga for twenty years…but she might be inspired after a break. Fingers crossed!