ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘My Love Mix-Up,’ Volume 1

Miscommunication is kind of the main dramatic driver of shojo romances – and of course, those feed directly into love triangles. In My Love Mix-Up, a love triangle becomes something new when crushes shift and teen romance blossoms in unexpected ways. Written by Wataru Hinekure, the series also features art by Aruko. Initially published in Japan in 2019 by Shueisha, the series is published and localized in English by VIZ Media‘s Shojo Beat imprint. The Shojo Beat Edition of My Love Mix-Up Volume 1 features an adaptation and translation from Jan Cash, touch-up art & lettering by Inori Fukuda Trant, design by Yukiko Whitley, and is edited by Nancy Thistlewaite.

My Love Mix-Up is an adorable and warm story about how miscommunication leads to love blossoming between two high school boys names Aoki and Ida. You see, Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, but when he borrows her eraser from his first crush, he sees Ida’s name written on it. His devastation of realizing he doesn’t have a chance with Hashimoto is quickly overwritten by his embarrassment when he drops the eraser and Ida sees his name.

If you’re not familiar, writing the name of your crush on an eraser is a superstitious practice that is supposed to lead to your crush falling in love with you. So, when Ida mistakes the eraser for Aoki’s, the two enter an awkward miscommunication that develops into something more.

Aoki is a character pushed by his emotion. He leads with his heart which at first keeps him from telling Ida the truth. Instead of revealing that Hashimoto has a crush on Ida, Aoki instead chooses to let him think that he is his first crush. But instead of pushing Aoki away, Ida pulls him closer, aiming to be his friend. While Ida doesn’t reciprocate the crush he believes that Aoki has on him, he doesn’t want to hurt him, so the two begin to grow closer. Over time, Aoki begins to realize that the miscommunication may not be a mix-up after all, as he begins to fall for Ida the same way that Hashimoto did.

While there are multiple times throughout My Love Mix-Up when Aoki pushes away all of his thoughts of romance with Ida, but while Aoki comes to terms with himself, Ida is doesn’t have the same response. Ida doesn’t call Aoki weird or say boys can’t like boys, no. Instead, Ida wants to protect Aoki, and in doing so, he extends his hand, his friendship and doesn’t push Aoki away. There is a moment where Aoki is self-deprecating. He’s struggling to understand his emotions and reactions to Ida, and he says, “I never had a chance.” While Aoki meant Hashimoto, Ida took it to mean him and responded with a kindness that is beautiful to read. This is a thoughtful story, a heartfelt romance, and one that doesn’t go like you’d necessarily expect.

By the end of the first volume, it’s clear that the story is a BL and not just a love triangle shojo romance. Instead, it’s clear that the following volumes will focus on Aoki and Ida and how the two of them grow into their emotions. The kindness in this story and the warmth it brings makes it a must-read. Whether you like romance and comedies, a typical high school romance, or BL in general, this adorable and wholesome title is worth picking up the moment it releases.

My Love Mix-Up Volume 1 is available wherever books are sold on October 5, 2021.