REVIEW: ‘My Love Mix-Up’ Volume 5

My Love Mix-Up is easily one of the best romantic comedies around. What started with mistaken identity has morphed into a wholesome look at the awkwardness of love, communication, and coming out. A BL story with some straight romance on the side, this is one of the easiest titles to recommend for those looking for a heartfelt look at love, similar to Yen Press’s Sasaki and Miyano. With four stellar volumes out already, we’ve gotten to see Aoki and Ida move past miscommunication and into dating. The two have held hands and confessed, but the lovebirds hit a snag in My Love Mix-Up Volume 5 when Aoki’s grades need improvement.

My Love Mix-Up Volume 5 is written by mangaka Wataru Hinekuri and illustrated by mangaka Aruka. The series is published and localized in English by VIZ Media through the publisher’s Shojo Beat imprint, though it was initially published in 2019. The Shojo Beat Edition of My Love Mix-Up Volume 5 features an adaptation and translation from Jan Cash, touch-up art & lettering by Inori Fukuda Trant, design by Yukiko Whitley, and edited by Nancy Thistlewaite.

In this volume, both boys have supportive friends, are supportive boyfriends, and are really just thriving in young love. Mostly past some of the initial awkwardness of young love, the two have to spend more time apart now that Aoki is struggling when it comes to his grades. Now going to cram school, Aoki is making a new friend in his instructor, who he can’t help but talk to about this relationship. When Aoki and Ida have a miscommunication about PDA —or rather, Aoki jumps to the conclusion that there is a problem, it distracts Aoki from his grades even more.

Offering some romantic advice comes naturally to the instructor, Okano, who immediately assumes that Aoki’s distraction has to do with love. But Aoki doesn’t disclose that he’s actually talking about his boyfriend and not a girlfriend, as his instructor thinks. This assumption, despite what the cover may lead you to believe, is the central focus of My Love Mix-Up Volume 5. 

When Okano finds Aoki and Ida holding hands on the bridge, he realizes that Aoki has a boyfriend. This opens Aoki up to all kinds of hostile assumptions and bigotry from his once favorite instructor. Instead of focusing on anything over the top, Hinekuri uses a mixture of overt elements of bigotry as well as microaggressions that show up in everyday life. While Aoki doesn’t know how to handle the situation, he holds true to his promise to talk to Ida about his worries which opens the two up to explore this situation together.

The support that Ida offers Aoki in this volume isn’t just wholesome; it’s a kind of understanding that shows his respect for Aoki and the situation at his cram school. Each navigation of this situation is written beautifully and thoughtfully. Ida is angry, but he doesn’t let that anger overwhelm his thoughts. Instead, he listens to what Aoki wants and tries to show Okano who they are as a couple. They’re not pleading with Okano to be accepted, only making him uncomfortable with his own bigotry until he realizes that he’s the one in the wrong

My Love Mix-Up Volume 5 is the best volume yet. It showcases love, conflict, and how Aoki and Ida are stronger together. It also finally showcases the nervousness hiding behind Ida’s stern exterior when he wants to defend his boyfriend. It’s a great read and offers up a very clear message to queer readers, you matter, no matter what anyone says.

My Love Mix-Up Volume 5 is available now wherever books are sold both digitally and physically.

Kate Sánchez

Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles.