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When Karin becomes handsome Kiriya's object of affection, she wonders if she can truly deal with the consequences. Upon learning that Kiriya asked Karin to be his girlfriend, Karin's schoolmate Yuka bullies her and pushes her down a stairway to depression. Later, Kiriya asks Karin to go on a trip over their summer vacation, but their plans take one wrong turn after another. Can Kiriya bring Karin happiness? Or does his love just spell trouble?

184 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2002

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274 people want to read

About the author

Kaho Miyasaka

113 books103 followers
Kaho Miyasaka (Japanese: 宮坂香帆) is a Japanese manga artist.
Miyasaka is best known for the manga Kare First Love.
Her newest manga is called We Came to Know It, which currently consists of 12 volumes.

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5 stars
536 (40%)
4 stars
413 (31%)
3 stars
276 (20%)
2 stars
69 (5%)
1 star
21 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Arlene.
1,199 reviews622 followers
June 22, 2011
It’s been a few months since I read Kare First Love Volume 1, but KFL Vol 2 is perfectly re-introduced that I fell right into the storyline and now I’m eager to continue with the next installment.

The MCs in this story are great. Karin and Kiriya make an adorable couple, with Karin’s awkwardness and Kiriya’s protectiveness over her. I have to say I’m a fan of these two characters. Their growing romance is funny and enjoyable despite the obstacles they constantly face. The scenes are fun to read, especially when Kiriya tries to soothe Karin’s insecurities with his acts of kindness. Yuka continues to play the vicious mean girl role to perfection, but it’s perfectly balanced with Nanri’s gentle intervention.

The artwork is captivating, and I love how some of the scenes slowly progress. There are some steamy moments, but overall it’s on the light side of spicy.

This is definitely a must for YA-Contemporary Manga fans.
Profile Image for Francesca.
219 reviews
December 15, 2025
Sono stata indecisa fino all’ultimo se dare 3 o 4 stelle, e credo che questa incertezza dica già moltissimo su quanto Lui, il primo amore sia un manga capace di dividere le sensazioni. Perché da un lato ha un inizio che per me era da 5 stelle piene, dall’altro una seconda metà che mi ha fatto storcere il naso più e più volte, fino a farmi scendere la valutazione.
I primi volumi sono stati una vera coccola. Mi piaceva tutto: Karin, Kiriya, il loro primo amore acerbo e intenso, e soprattutto il gruppo di amici, che è uno dei punti di forza del manga. L’amicizia tra Karin e Nanri è forse la cosa che ho amato di più: Nanri si dimostra un’amica vera, presente, leale, di quelle che vorresti avere nella vita reale. All’inizio c’è quella leggerezza tipica degli shōjo adolescenziali ben riusciti: piccoli drammi, imbarazzi, incomprensioni gestibili, sentimenti che crescono piano piano. Era tutto molto tenero e autentico.
Poi, però, da circa metà opera, qualcosa inizia a crollare. L'autrice, nell'intervista all'interno dell'ultimo volume, rivela che non inizia mai un manga con un finale scritto già in mente. E, devo essere onesta, si vede.
Quei piccoli casini adolescenziali diventano drammi esasperati, trascinati avanti per volumi interi. I misunderstanding non sono più realistici o funzionali alla crescita dei personaggi, ma diventano infiniti, pesanti, estenuanti. E soprattutto entra in scena una fissazione sul sesso che, inizialmente, poteva anche funzionare: lui che si trattiene, lei che non si sente pronta, l’imbarazzo… carino. Il problema è che questa dinamica viene ripetuta identica per tipo sei volumi, senza evoluzione, senza dialogo reale, senza maturazione, anzi. E' proprio qui che Kiriya, purtroppo, diventa una red flag spaventosa. Più volte si arrabbia con Karin perché non si sente pronta, le mette pressioni e quasi la obbliga, e arriva praticamente a sfiorare il tradimento andando quasi a letto con un’altra.
Questo è stato per me uno spartiacque. Una cosa gravissima, trattata nel modo peggiore possibile. Il fatto che tutto il gruppo lo venga a sapere (Nanri compresa) e che tutti decidano di coprirlo, senza mai dirlo a Karin, è semplicemente inaccettabile. Lì mi è crollato tutto, specialmente la bellissima amicizia nata tra le due. È sbagliato a livello narrativo, emotivo e anche etico. Se almeno questa cosa fosse venuta fuori, se Kiriya avesse dovuto affrontarne le conseguenze, se ci fosse stato un vero confronto, se avesse pregato come un cane il suo perdono… forse avrei potuto rivalutare tutto. Invece no: la cosa viene sepolta, Karin non lo scopre mai, e si va avanti come se nulla fosse successo. Per me, imperdonabile. Stronzo lui e tutti gli altri.
Da quel momento in poi, da quei volumi in poi, la relazione perde equilibrio. Kiriya diventa sempre più instabile: sparisce, mente, si arrabbia con Karin senza motivo, la manipola, la tratta male. È vero, ed è giusto dirlo, che la sua fragilità viene poi spiegata: la morte del fratello, il rapporto complicato con i genitori, il suo dolore irrisolto. Ed è anche bello vedere come, grazie a Karin e agli amici, riesca piano piano a stare meglio e a ricostruire un legame con la sua famiglia. Quella parte è ben scritta e umana. Ma questo non cancella ciò che è successo prima, né il suo comportamento instabile, che forse meritava più auto-analisi.
E poi c’è Karin. All’inizio mi piaceva molto: silenziosa, un po’ spenta, ma autentica, vera con sé stessa. Col tempo, però, diventa un'altra persona, una lagna continua. Sempre a piangere, sempre a colpevolizzarsi, sempre a fare la crocerossina ogni volta che Kiriya sparisce, mente, la ignora o la manipola. Lo perdona in tre secondi, si contraddice da sola, si fa cento volte le stesse domande. A lungo andare è stato davvero stancante leggere sempre le stesse dinamiche ripetersi senza mai una vera presa di coscienza.
Fa quasi sorridere leggere i commenti dell’autrice che dice di ricevere mail su quanto tutte vorrebbero Kiriya come fidanzato… personalmente, ma anche no, grazie. Neanche sotto minaccia.
Detto questo, voglio essere onesta fino in fondo: se non ci fosse stata tutta la questione del quasi-tradimento (che per me vale come tale, ma vabbè, opinabile) e del silenzio complice che lo circonda, questo manga avrebbe tranquillamente meritato 4 stelle. Rimane comunque uno shōjo classico, con tanti cliché che io amo, e nonostante tutto ho fatto binge reading senza troppi problemi o pensieri. Proprio per questo mi dispiace ancora di più: perché aveva tutte le carte in regola per essere davvero una lettura leggera e piacevole, pur con temi importanti e delicati.
Una storia che parte fortissima, che emoziona, ma che a un certo punto si perde nelle sue stesse scelte narrative. E fa male dirlo, perché all’inizio mi aveva conquistata completamente!
2,148 reviews30 followers
March 8, 2020
Between 2-3 stars. The series overall is probably at 2 stars for me, but I like the onset a little more. So, first few volumes are 3 stars, then it drops off. When I reread the series, I usually stop here - this volume ends with them actually getting together, and from here on out, he gets pushier, she gets more spineless, and the drama passes my Immature Angst threshold.

In short, this is a series to read if you want stereotypical formula and tropes and manga cliches galore. Oh, and we can't forget High Drama high school angst. We have the "shy and dorky and rather spineless MC girl" (bonus trope: she becomes amazingly beautiful when she takes her glasses off). We have the "best frenemy mean girl" and the "independent outsider girl" as her classmates. There's the "rough/flirtatious boy interested in MC for no discernible reason." Bonus tropes: he has a tragic past and an artistic soul. Even his two best friends are true to trope ("idiot outgoing type" and "aloof dark-haired type").

I say all this, and yet I've read all the series and have reread the first couple more than once. What can I say - the art's enjoyable and sometimes we want those stereotypical reads, right? If you're looking for something a little nostalgic feeling and requiring little critical thinking, this is a series to read. However, there's other better shoujo series out there if you want something more unique.
Profile Image for Jaylee.
Author 16 books79 followers
June 30, 2017
Karino's abusive mom gives me complicated feelings? The way it's handled, her mom magically has a change of heart after the girl's boyfriend talks to her.......... eh. This book seems to be playing with drama but not doing much sincerely. I'm not a big fan. Plus, the characters need to communicate. *Shakes them* I get they're teenagers and they don't know what they're doing but it's FRUSTRATING lmao.
Profile Image for Shae.
3,221 reviews352 followers
June 12, 2019
I continue to like this series. He is helping Karin take control of the parts of her life that she tucks away for no one to see. He helps people see her strengths, and not her weaknesses. Makes me really like him.
Karin grows stronger with each interaction with him. I am all for it at this point.
Profile Image for MargReadsManga.
560 reviews82 followers
January 13, 2024
LOVING this series so much!! It kind of reminds me of Mars mixed with Peach Girl. Yuka reminds me SO MUCH of Sae from Peach Girl. I can relate to Karin so much when I was that age. On to the next volume!!
Profile Image for Sandra Perez.
Author 1 book21 followers
June 21, 2025
Segundo tomo de Kare First love, este manga también hace que tenga muchísima nostalgia ya que el tomo 3 fue uno de los primeros mangas que leí y aunque ahora sí valoro la historia hay algunas red flags jajaj

Por eso, prefiero quedarme con el recuerdo y seguir leyendo la saga poco a poco. Pero algo que resaltó que el dibujo es precioso.
Profile Image for Kareena.
1,712 reviews24 followers
May 8, 2017
Cuter and less stereotypical than the first one. I liked the story of the mom, and I'm curious to see if it lasts...
Profile Image for Seffi Soffi.
490 reviews142 followers
November 2, 2020
Kiriya ini manis ya 😂😂😂 ngakak deh sama Karino ini.
Profile Image for Shani.
336 reviews28 followers
December 10, 2020
Reread - Why do I find this so romantic?? The plot is so basic but the way the author draws their expressions and thoughts has me <3 <3 <3 is it the nostalgia....
Profile Image for Gore.
243 reviews3 followers
April 14, 2022
Karin was being a little annoying in this volume, but I do understand she is trying to come out of her shell and let herself love and be loved.
Profile Image for RaeMisha Richard-Slocumb.
198 reviews
March 18, 2024
2 down and 8 to go

I’m just happy to see what love in a manga from my high school days. This manga just makes me feel better. On to the next manga.
Profile Image for Cecilie Elise.
152 reviews
July 5, 2020
Re-read. The only complaint i have is that i think the i love you’s happend to quikley. I diden’t believe it, but the rest was great.
Profile Image for Judyth.
1,734 reviews41 followers
September 16, 2014
~3-3.5/5

So, Karin and Kiriya break up/don’t start going out, because Karin is afraid, ‘cause of her being bullied and all. And Yuka just does not want to let up on the bullying, wanting to prove she’s better than Karin and all that. Karin suffers for a while, then Nanri helps her, and finally Kiriya saves her.

So Kiriya and Karin are going out now; Karin plays the piano for him, tells him some stuff about her life, he reveals practically nothing to her (although the reader gets hints, when we meet his sister-in-law), they sneak around and kiss a little, and go out on a date and hold hands. Oh, and say they love each other, of course, because they have reason to feel that way, right? Also, she talks to Nanri about sex and her worries regarding it and possible plans to have it.

Then Karin is forced to start studying more over the summer, but she makes plans to go somewhere with Kiriya (and Nanri, Tohru, and Hiromu, incidentally). She gets stressed and then sick and gets some things cleared up with her mom, who was previously pushing her, and pushing away from her, and disapproving of Kiriya.

That’s pretty much it for this volume. Kiriya and Karin are getting closer, finding out more about each other. The next volume will, probably, have the summer trip, so that could be interesting. I don’t feel that they’re going to have sex on it, but something’ll happen, I’m sure.

I like this series. It’s a bit ridiculous at times, and very cliché and stereotypical, but I don’t mind that too much. I want to find out more about Kiriya, Karin is alright, I like Nanri, she’s a great character. I want to get farther in the series, and am looking forward to reading the next volume.

This review is also available on my blog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jenna.
1,684 reviews92 followers
April 11, 2016
I borrowed the first two mangas in this series from my friend and it harkens back to when I would read these bad boys in middle school. The main character Karin Karino (really same name?) was very annoying and wouldn't stop complaining about everything. She was a walking doormat and didn't have her own opinion. The only redeeming quality about this manga is that the love interest, Aoi Kiriya, is a total babe and very sweet towards Karino. I liked the art style, but trying to read this block of cheese was difficult. I may or may not borrow the rest of the series because A Dance With Dragons is interfering with my Goodreads goal.

Profile Image for Gemma.
37 reviews4 followers
May 27, 2008
In this book, Karin really begins to open herself up to Kiriya, and we see the really sweet side of their growing relationship. Some stress at home makes Karin revert to her usual introversion, but her friends are ready to rally around her.

I didn't think it was possible but this volume is even more lovely than the first. I'm definitely going to keep up with this series! Love it.
Profile Image for Rossana.
325 reviews31 followers
September 5, 2015
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This review is for the whole collection: "Girls reading!". True. "Too sweet!". Also true! "So romantic!". Indeed! "Cliché!" Yep. And yet unique!
But the truth is that I got the collection on-line, and after starting the first volume, I couldn't put it down until the last one! Literally. It took me around 6-8 hours to finish. Barely stopped to have lunch.
Profile Image for Amy.
278 reviews2 followers
Read
August 20, 2009
Kare First Love, Volume 2 (Kare First Love (Graphic Novels)) by Kaho Miyasaka (2004)
Profile Image for Linnea.
15 reviews
August 16, 2011
I really enjoyed this book, I think it was really good :) Finally Karin ignore Yuka's comments and starts to do things for her own.
Profile Image for Brittany.
289 reviews28 followers
September 18, 2012
I love this series I own the entie set, a beautiful story and beautiful illustrations.
Profile Image for Sara.
2,094 reviews14 followers
December 21, 2012
It's cute but not necessarily something I recommend. Karin is shy, which is something I like, but she is also helpless, which is something that annoys me. I want to see her grow a little.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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